Raving Fan Promotions News

It's Show Time (part 2)

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:44:54 +0000

It’s Show Time (part 2)

In the last article, we looked at building foot traffic and capturing contact details when exhibiting at a trade show. By including branded promotional products in the lead up to the trade show and on the day, we saw how to ensure your display is on the attendees’ priority list and how capturing contact details can be easily accomplished. In this article, we’ll look at two other uses for promotional products at your next show day.

New Product Launches
When launching a new product, we are launching a new brand. Any new brand, be it a physical product or a service, requires an impact on brand recognition to be successful. No other marketing media can generate the number of repeat band impressions or help boost the brand recognition recall like a good promotional product can. For a lifestyle focus, think of something that would be useful in the kitchen and for the office environment, aim for the top of the desk. When branding a useful item that lands in one of these areas, you’ll guarantee that your new brand is getting maximum face time with your target audience. In addition, a good quality promotional product also lends a sense of quality about the brand applied to it. You’ll be building brand awareness and creating good will towards it, in no time.

Building Customer Loyalty
In this scenario, you may have a reasonable size client base with repeat business. They know their market and their needs. They know you as a supplier of your product or services and they’re smart shoppers. It has taken time to build this relationship, with them extending their faith early on and you putting in the hard yards to deliver beyond their expectations. Now that the relationship is formed, it still isn’t over. The cold hard facts say that everyone will eventually go price shopping, especially the smart shoppers. So here’s a way to further strengthen the personal connection and assist the buyer with their cost saving pressures.

Through an email or newsletter campaign, ask your clients to register their attendance at your booth in the upcoming show. When registering, be sure to ask them their shirt size. You’ll then send them a t-shirt and the following offer. When they attend your booth and have their picture taken wearing the t-shirt you have sent them, they’ll be registering for a loyalty program with your business. The inclusions of the loyalty program are up to you, perhaps some value-added services or further gift with purchase programs; it may be a discount or some other reward.

Conclusion
We’ve looked at four ways that promotional products can empower you to make sure your next trade show exhibit is successful. Building foot traffic, capturing contact details, new product launches and building brand loyalty are the keystones of a good trade show. Promotional products engage all five senses. They can inform, educate and excite your target audience about the things you care about. Talk to a promotional products consultant today and let us know what you want to get out of your next trade show.

It's Show Time (part 1)

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 05:32:24 +0000

It’s Show Time (pt. 1)
There is no secret to making success of a trade show. There is only one simple truth; they’re a lot of hard work. The prospect of exhibiting at a trade show or expo can be both exhilarating, let’s face it they can be a lot of fun, and at the same time daunting, because they can take huge amounts of time, energy and resources to prepare for. So when you do decide that it’s show time, here are a few tips that can help you make the most of it.

Common goals for exhibiting at a trade show are two-fold, maximise foot traffic to the booth and capture as many contact details as possible. You may be launching a new product or there are also goals such as developing customer loyalty.

Promotional Products are the only media that engages all five senses, delivers an on-brand message and can excite your potential or existing customers with lasting impact. Let’s look at a few examples of how promotional products can help achieve those goals.

Maximise Foot Traffic (the two step method)

You’ll certainly want to send out a mailing announcement of your involvement with the trade show. Why not include a small token of appreciation to your existing contacts and include something like a branded drink coaster or mouse mat. The included information then offers the second part of a gift set when they visit your booth at the show. For the drink coaster, maybe it’s a coffee mug, or for the mouse mat, a nice travel mouse would be a great idea. You’ll make a bigger impact in the lead up to the show and by providing an incentive to visit your booth, you can ensure you don’t get lost in the hustle of a trade show delegate’s day.

Maximise Foot Traffic & Capture Contacts
Perhaps you don’t have a big mailing list to send out to prior to a show and what you really want is all the new prospects. You want to build that great mailing list. Try the “treasure hunt” approach. For a very reasonable fee, a treasure chest with lock and set of keys can be rented. Each key comes with an attached card, of course showing your booth location at the expo and whatever other details about product or services you would like. You nominate the percentage of keys that will open the lock. Do you want 1 in 100 of your visitors to win? Or perhaps one in two? It’s completely up to you. The keys are handed out at the entrance to the expo and now the delegates have a clear map and a reason to find your booth. On arrival at your booth, they will be given the opportunity to try their luck on the treasure chest. What’s inside? Well that’s up to you too. Perhaps it’s a gift voucher for your services, maybe a branded pen or perhaps a healthy energy snack to keep them going through the day. Regardless of what is or isn’t in the box, there should be the grand-prize draw. To enter for the grand-prize draw, the delegates fill out the information section of the card and drop it into the collection box along with the attached key. The circle is now complete! How’s that for maximizing potential foot traffic and capturing contact details?

In the next article, we’ll take a look at new product launches and strategies for developing customer loyalty. In the mean time, if you would like to discuss your upcoming trade show and how you can maximize your efforts there, send us a message on the contacts page.

Will I Ever See You Again?

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 01:48:53 +0000

Will I Ever See You Again?

There's no secret about it, every business owner or sales person loves the client who walks through the door ready to spend. This client has done their research, knows what they need and knows enough about your business to believe you can deliver it. Transactions like these can result in quick sales that are several times higher than the average for your organisation. Let's face it, we love them.

However, we must see these clients as exactly what they are, a rare breed that can seem like a gift from the universe. The reality of our day-to-day work is more in tune with educating prospective clients about who we are and what we do. Our days are filled with learning about their business so we can differentiate between what they may need as opposed to what they may want. Long discussions are held in the process of developing value propositions and building the trust that is required for a prospect to become a client.

One tried and tested technique is building a value proposition based on length of commitment. As with so many other things in life, with volume comes better per unit rates. However, it doesn't take Kresto the mind-reader to see the scrolling message behind the eyes of the prospective buyer. “If I sign a multi-month contract with you, I'm never going to see you again until the time comes to renew”, this is what they are thinking. And the sad fact is, that unfortunately all to often, this is the case. While it may not be an intentional act, the reality of chasing new revenue leaves us time poor to properly service the client base we already have.

So how can adding a promotional product component to your contract sale become a win-win for both the client and for your business? Firstly, the recommendation is not to include an offer of promotional products in your value proposition of the the recommended contract. This has the potential of coming across like a late night infomercial. Free gifts is not what your business is about and your value proposition must be solidly based on the core product you offer. Sell your products and services on what you do best and leave the little surprises as just that, surprises.

Let's take a look at a case study to see how a promotional products campaign can support your business, build client relationships and even more importantly continue to add dollars to both your short term and long term revenue stream.

A local media outlet relies heavily on commercial advertisers. Some advertisers are interested in promoting their annual event or are interested only in short term burst campaigns that support strong call-to-action messages. These are not the right target clients. The majority of local businesses though, are the ones working day in and day out to get the money into their tills that will allow them to open the doors once again tomorrow. These businesses require long term and consistent messaging to their potential customers about who they are and what they do. These businesses are the perfect match for longer term commitments to advertising schedules.

Once a year, the media outlet offers annual contracts at significantly reduced rates. The program is developed from careful consideration of a percentage of overall capacity that can be sold at these reduced rates in exchange for a committed and easily forecast revenue stream. The value of the program is actually quite an easy sell to both the media outlet and its potential advertising partners.

This year, by investing less than 5% of its base annual revenue generated from these contracts, the media outlet has included a promotional products gift campaign for their clients. This program consists of a monthly gift given to each contract client. The gift selection is a mix of lifestyle and business relevant products that are all branded with the media outlet's logo. Each month, the account manager delivers these gifts to the client through face-to-face follow up service calls.

What's in it for the client? In this case, the advertiser.

A value-added extra in addition to the initial value proposition of the contract
Regular contact with the relevant account manager
A consistent feeling of inclusion from their service provider (the media outlet)
A sense of valued relationship between themselves and the service provider

What's in it for your business? In this case, the media outlet.

Ensuring consistent contact from your sales team to their contract clients
Consistent contact leads to more successful opportunities to make add-on sales (up sell) through the course of the annual contract
Increased brand awareness through providing a range of branded business relevant and lifestyle products which are useful to the recipient and visible to others
Increased potential for referral based business from the existing client base
The generation of good-will through providing value beyond the initial commitment
Increased potential of contract renewal during the next year's program cycle

For an investment of less than 5% of contract revenue, you can increase long term relationships, increase up-sell opportunities, increase renewal prospects and increase referral based business. All of this while making your client feel included, appreciated and valued.

Use the contact tab above to ask how Raving Fan Promotions can assist you in growing your business.

Keeping it Clean

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:19:12 +0000

Keeping it Clean

“GiddyUp!”, reverberates across South East Queensland every Saturday morning during Danny Hoyland's Great Weekender, a life-style, radio program hosted on River 94.9fm. This short catch phrase sums up a man of action who's personal energy is infectious. Wether it is talking to Dr. Deb about how to avoid Dehli Belly when travelling abroad or interviewing some of Australia's greatest sporting legends about a champion's attitude to over-coming life's difficulties, Danny Hoyland puts everything he has into everything he does.

Danny started his radio career in 1980. In the 31 years he has been on air, he has seen and done more than most people could dream. As a self-described, down-to-earth, deadset Aussie character, Danny Hoyland is never afraid to say it as he sees and feels it. Danny says, “I love communicating to people. Hopefully I make them think, have a laugh and I make people feel good. I try to inform them, give them something of interest to think about and stir their emotions.” Simply put, Danny Hoyland is a man that cares.

When researching a promotional product that Danny Hoyland could use as a special give-away item, it needed to be something that reflected who he is and what he stands for as a man that cares about life, people and families. Danny Hoyland is a man that believes in clean radio and a clean life-style. What else would do but a promotional hand sanitiser? As a busy man that relates well to people of a sporting and active life, Danny chose to go with a pen-style hand sanitiser that could be easily clipped to a shirt, bag or even on the visor of a 4WD as it rumbles down the golden sand beaches of tropical Queensland.

You can catch Danny Hoyland's Great Weekender program on http://www.river949.com when it is streamed live across the website from 6am to 9am (AEST) each Saturday morning. If you're a SE QLD resident, you may even see Danny out and about in the River 949 Jeep Patriots as he broadcasts live on location and lends his special energy to events in the area. Who knows, you may even score a special gift.

'Tis the Season to be Gifting

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:50:23 +0000

'Tis the Season to be Gifting

The holiday season presents a traditional opportunity to show appreciation towards your employees and clients for their hard work, loyalty and the contributions they have made towards the success of your business during the previous year. Client gifts, employee incentives, corporate gifts and loyalty rewards provide an opportunity for you to show your recognition that these people and organisations are vital to the health of your operations. These gifts also provide an excellent means for you to reinforce your brand recognition, build on existing loyalty and gain further exposure to your unique branding image. There are a few things to consider when choosing an appropriate gift program for the upcoming holiday season.

Stay on Target
In choosing the appropriate gift, be sure to weigh in on all of the potential variables that will affect how your gift program will be received. A successful gift should be something that meets the interests or needs of the recipient. A successful gift should be useful, aesthetically pleasing or both. A really successful gift will be one that continues to remind the recipient of the value that your organisation adds to their everyday life. An extremely successful gift will be one that the recipient wears, uses or refers to every day. What type of gift will best suit your clients’ needs and also speak volumes about your organisation?

To Brand or Not to Brand
Ultimately, the decision to place your brand image and logo on a gift is a personal one. However, it may be difficult to pass up the opportunity to reinforce brand recognition, gain further exposure of your brand image and to remind your clients and employees just who this gift was provided by. A gift of suitable form and function will get regular use. And with your logo on it, there will be a regular reminder of your brand image. In addition, when the gift is an item such as an umbrella, a bag or a piece of apparel, your brand is made visible to the general public every time the gift recipient goes outside. Is this an opportunity for you to gain branding leverage at the same time you are rewarding loyalty and showing thanks?

Spreading the Joy
How exactly will you be distributing your gift program? Will you be holding a holiday function and providing gifts at the party? Will you be conducting a mail out and be required to provide postage costs? If your gift of choice includes edible items or drinks, are there customs or postage regulations that need to be considered? Easily mailable items may include calendars, office accessories, apparel or a variety of slim-packed novelty items. For gift programs that include personal delivery or if delivery costs are not a concern, you may consider gift baskets, health and beauty kits or executive desktop accessories.

Cost and Quality
There is no doubt that we must all be cost conscience in these, less-than-ideal, economic times. However, a successful gift program is no time to forgo quality. A key lesson of promotional gift programs is that the quality of the gift will be directly attributed to the quality of the organisation that provided it. When a poorly made promotional pen leaks ink and destroys a shirt, it is not the pen manufacturer that catches the negative impact, it is the organisation who provided it that wears the result. Promotional gift programs, employee incentives, loyalty rewards and corporate gifts can be expensive, but they do not have to be. These same programs can also be of poor quality, but they most certainly should not be. How can you be assured that your gift program is receiving the best quality product and at the same time remaining true to your budget needs?

Guidance
Seeking the assistance of a promotional products consultant will help ensure that your gift program delivers the impact you desire, maintains the quality you demand and still fits the budget you define. Raving Fan Promotions provides quality promotional products, sourcing from only from the most reputable suppliers and decorators. Contact a Raving Fan Promotions consultant today, to begin a discussion on your upcoming holiday gift programs.

Helping People Feel Better

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:33:00 +0000

Helping People Feel Better

Paula Holmberg started Cuffley Nutrition with the idea of helping people feel better in their everyday lives. Paula holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Nutritional Medicine) from the Australian College of Natural Medicine. Through a series of programs and services offered by Cuffley Nutrition, Paula's goal is to provide nutritional advice to help people prevent illness and overcome disease.

“My clients need to have accurate measuring spoons for powder supplements and I found that many did not have these in their kitchens”, she says. This idea lead Paula to begin looking for a solution that would both benefit her clients as well as act in on on-going component of Cuffley Nutrition's brand recognition. No other aspect of marketing can meet these needs to the same level as a promotional product. By providing a useful tool with a direct tie to the services provided, Paula can assure that the Cuffley Nutrition brand and name will be a regular reminder to her client's and those close to them. The right solution was decided to be a 4-in-1 adjustable measuring spoon.

Paula believes, “People will be able to use the measuring spoons not only for their supplements but in everyday cooking. It is the time to think about nutrition when they are cooking and how changing their diets can help them feel better.”

Paula will be distributing the Cuffley Nutrition measuring spoon to her clients and to those that visit Cuffley Nutrition's trade show and expo presence around the Melbourne area. By providing a useful, high quality promotional product with superior decoration quality, Paula can be assure that the product will remain in use and the branding message will continually be reinforced. No other form of marketing media can deliver the impact, branding message and longevity of a well planned promotional product.

Ask about how a promotional product component to your marketing strategies can increase repeat business, increase trade show traffic, promote good will towards your organisation and provide a highly cost-effective means of building brand name recall.

Contact Raving Fan Promotions to discuss your promotional product interests today.

We would also like to congratulate Paula Holmberg from Cuffley Nutrition as the first recipient of the Raving Fan Promotions Gift Set.

Promotional Products Weather the Storm

info@ravingfanpromotions.com.au (#1 Raving Fan) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:47:22 +0000

Promotional Products Weather the Storm

According to reports throughout the industry, the promotional products business has felt the hardships of the global economic crisis like anyone else, but has been able to weather the storm. In a series of belt-tightening decisions, the companies who regularly purchased promotional products have had to remain cost conscious and ensure the value for dollar in all marketing campaigns. To add to the distress, one of the largest consumer markets of promotional products, the financial sector, was also one of the hardest hit during the recent downturn. Promotional product distributors have reported seeing a shift from some of the higher-end and technology gadgets towards the tried and true promotional product sector of pens, mugs and clothing.

The recent winter months also saw a shift in promotional product interests. Surpassed only by pen sales, a surprise second place item of demand was hand sanitisers. The fears of infectious diseases such as Swine Flu, drove a huge increase in demand for bottled hand sanitisers. These were particularly popular among another large consumer sector of promotional products, the health care industry. Hand sanitisers are thoughtful, community sensitive, useful and keeps the client's logo literally in the hands of the target audience.

It is this type of adaptive nature that the promotional products industry must maintain to meet the needs of the companies they do business with. A well thought out and properly targeted campaign which includes promotional products can have long-lasting brand recognition, create positive attitudes towards the organisation and show community consciousness. This trend is also expressed in the widely growing market of “green products”. A wide range of recycled, nature fibre and carbon offset options are now available from most promotional product suppliers.

If your business or organisation is planning a marketing campaign, fund raising event or membership drive, you should consider adding a promotional products component to your plans. Speak with a promotional products consultant who can advise you on the range of options available in product types and provide assistance with decoration and art work requirements.

Use the contact tab to send a message to Raving Fan Promotions.