Robyn recently donated 1,000 bags for the Edmond Running Club’s “Frigid Five”. The Edmond Sun reports:

“Another “first” this year is the use of reusable goodie bags, Wohltmann said. Adding an echo-friendly element fits in with an event that takes place in an outdoor setting, she said.

Molly Brill, who serves on the event oversight board, said the bags, donated by Oklahoma City’s Robyn Promotions and Printing, cost about the same as plastic. Brill said 1,000 bags were ordered to match the expected number of runners.

The reusable bags are a way for the event to give back to the community, Brill said.”

At ROBYN, we’ve seen some companies get very creative with their logos.

Using chalk or washable paint, firms have covered streets and sidewalks with their corporate brand. Stickers have been placed on quarters that were left in vending machine coin returns. Sandals with logos embossed on them have left their mark on popular beaches. And, get this: People have rented out space on their bodies and had company brands and web addresses temporarily (sometimes permanently - yikes) tattooed on them. Hot-air balloons and hang-gliders have offered themselves up as airborne billboards. Cars are covered in shrink-wrap ads from bumper to bumper. Even apples and oranges can be specially “masked” so your logo grows right into them.

If you are intrigued by the concept of daring to be different, talk to ROBYN. We’ll brainstorm unique ways to showcase your company’s brand and message. Call us at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.

Success involves a number of factors, all contributing to what we call “perceived value” – the connection, satisfaction and excitement recipients feel when they hold that item in their hands. Still, if you can save some money in the process, all the better. And that’s where careful planning and a little flexibility can make a big difference.

Manufacturers and retailers occasionally offer discounts to move excess inventory or bump up sales. Promotional companies do, too! So don’t be afraid to ask ROBYN about specials and sale items. With literally hundreds of thousands of promotional products in the marketplace, chances are you can save money on your next promotion.

If you want to explore what’s on special and how some of these items might fit with your needs, call ROBYN at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email. 

All employees need to be motivated to stay healthy, happy, and productive. What lights a fire under most of them? Branded Merchandise.

Not cash, you ask?

Participants in a study by the Incentive Marketing Association labeled cash an “unemotional” reward, noting that it’s most likely used to pay bills or stashed in a checking or savings account, taking with it the memory of why it was given in the first place. Conversely, a whopping 80% of respondents agree that branded merchandise is remembered longer than cash.

What kind of merchandise is ROBYN talking about here? It can range from brand-name luggage, watches, writing instruments, and other items typically associated with sales incentive programs and length-of-service awards to everyday promotional products like logoed wearables, pins, certificates, trophies, electronics and binders.

The key is to maintain a connection to the company. The choices are limitless. Just keep in mind that this kind of recognition becomes a basic part of your business management plan, a way to promote teamwork, productivity, and quality.

If you want to discuss ways to protect and motivate your most valuable asset – your employees – call ROBYN at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.

Most employee of the month programs are b-o-r-i-n-g. They recognize a worker for his/her performance with a certificate and access to a prime parking place for a few weeks. Don’t get us wrong, these are nice gestures, but are they really all that motivating?

ROBYN has some suggestions :   

A picture is worth 1,000 words. Take a photo of the employee when presenting his/her certificate. Then place the photo in a picture frame, engraved with the month/year of recognition. Now that’s a desktop reminder of your corporate appreciation!

Talk is cheap. Give the honored employee a prepaid-phone card. It can be imprinted with your corporate logo and a message of thanks. The employee can then call distant family or friends to share the good news.

Send flowers in an etched glass vase. Everyone loves fresh flowers, and the vase will be a remembrance of the month and year the employee was recognized.

Provide a online company store/catalog with corporate branded merchandise to allow honorees to choose their reward. (Ahem, at ROBYN we specialize in online company stores... can we talk?)

Encourage repeat performance. Set up a tracking program that periodically honors employees who’ve received this award more than once. Three-timers could receive a special gift, such as a watch, to symbolize the time they’ve given to your company.

Spread the word. Remind staff what you’re looking for in an employee of the month. A customized calendar could highlight special qualities or achievements that qualify (e.g., feature one goal per month). The calendars could serve double duty -- inspiring your employees as well as illustrating to customers your corporate values.

Want help making Employee of the Month a meaningful program in your organization? Put us to the task! Call ROBYN at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.

Need to create a safer work environment? At ROBYN, we’ve found the most effective safety programs take several principles into account.  

The program must be measurable and attainable. Set your goals and decide how they’ll be measured. Is your aim to reduce injuries or to eliminate safety infractions? Either way, set thresholds at which you’ll recognize performance along the way to the ultimate goals.

Successful safety programs are ongoing. They reward leaders who have the best records after so many days, weeks or months. Special awards are given for those who have the best yearly record, or best record several years in a row. By creating a safety mission statement, objectives and strategies at the beginning of your campaign, you’ll be able to better communicate your goals, measure progress and reward achievements at intermediary steps over the long term.

Your safety campaigns should also be educational. Teach your employees what they need to know and then recognize them for learning it. You can create games such as “safety bingo” to make the process fun, and give small, useful imprinted gifts to winners. Create a “degree” program in which those who complete a certain number of hours of training or pass occasional testing will be given diplomas, emblems or branded apparel specifically created for graduates. Use branded products such as banners, posters, calendars and clocks that educate employees by outlining key practices.

Lastly, safety programs must be appealing to be motivational. The awards and incentives should be carefully selected for the age, gender and psychographic make-up of your audience. You can learn a lot about what employees would enjoy by watching what they bring to work or have on their desks. Listen for clues as to what hobbies or organizations outside of the job they participate in. More than likely, you’ll need a range of items at a variety of price-points to keep your employees engaged and working toward attainment.

To learn more about how ROBYN can help you implement a safety program, call (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.

And the winner is... Branded Merchandise!

At ROBYN we pay close attention to research conducted in our industry. Here’s something we uncovered recently that is good for promotional buyers to know: Studies conducted over the past decade reveal that most employees would rather receive tangible items than cash bonuses.

The Incentive Marketing Association asks business leaders every few years about their opinions concerning various types of motivational awards. In survey after survey, respondents say that cash is an “unemotional” award. True, cash can be used to purchase a lifestyle award, but it’s more likely to be used to pay bills or get stashed in a bank account. (There goes the memory of why the gift was given in the first place.)

Other interesting bits of info:

• Nearly 75% of respondents say they can build a more exciting, memorable program around branded merchandise than around cash.
• 53% feel that employees tend to look at bonus payments as something they’re due as part of their standard compensation package.
• More than 80% of respondents agree that  branded merchandise is remembered longer than cash.

In other words, branded merchandise is the way to go. So when you’re ready to put together an awards/recognition program or incentive plan, call ROBYN at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to email us and we’ll help you use your cash for something that will make a more lasting impression!

It makes sound business sense. For starters, calendars have an impressive shelf life – 365 consecutive days! Plus, because your clients and prospects will need a new calendar every year, it’s the perfect “renewable” promotional product. (We’ve heard lots of stories from clients about how their clients expect to receive a new calendar every year… how they even call to ask for one if they think they’ve been left off the list!)

Another reason calendars are a sure thing is their diversity. At ROBYN we offer wall calendars, desk calendars, date books, magnetic and erasable calendars. You can even give a calendar with space for daily or weekly messages custom-made to your specifications or featuring detachable coupons.

What you’ll also like: Price-wise, calendars are among the most cost-effective promotional product you can use. Considering the prominent place most calendars enjoy in the home or office, you can’t beat the exposure for your investment.

The bottom line? Calendars will keep your name and ad message in front of your target audience all year long.

When you’re ready to make a date with ROBYN to talk about calendars, call (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.

What better time and place to expose yourself to clients and prospects than on the golf course? With 30+ million players in the U.S., odds are a bunch of the people you are targeting get out several times a year – or more.

Here are some of ROBYN’s favorite golf-related promotional ideas: 

A travel-friendly putting set – a good way to score an eagle with executives. For your next executive gift program, consider this idea. A collapsible putter, balls and putting cup are all packaged in a handsome carrying case to allow your key contacts to take relaxation on the road.

Give out matchbook-sized packets of golf accessories. Imprint the exterior with your contact information and company logo. Then, inside, you can brand enclosed tees, ball markers, divot fixers, etc., with your corporate logos.

Golf accessories are ideal for direct mail. For example, imagine a clip-on stroke counter with a note card saying, “Count on us for superior service.” Or a viewfinder that measures the distance to a pin with the reminder, “We go the distance for our clients.” Golf gloves are great for a two-part campaign; mail a single glove to key prospects asking for an appointment to “hand deliver” a sales presentation, at which time you give the glove mate.

If you’d like ROBYN to help you reach clients and prospects when it’s time to hit the greens, call us at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.  

There are many environmentally-friendly promotional items that will make your customers feel special as well as make a point about your company’s care for the planet.

A few examples...

Think recycled products. Recycled plastics have been made into everything from ice scrapers to mugs. Recycled cottons make t-shirts all the more appealing. And recycled paper creates the perfect palette for notepads, holiday cards, calendars and diaries.

Think biodegradable gifts. For example, ROBYN works with a supplier that offers a range of items created from corn resin – from bookmarks to canisters. We can fill the canister with holiday peppermints. Or, how about sending a live tree seedling that is mailed in a tube (way cool, huh?).

Want to make an even bigger statement? Make it easier for your customers to live green in the New Year with a green lifestyle gift. Retailers, for example, can gift burlap or hemp shopping totes to their customers so they can stop using plastic bags. Another idea: we can fill recycled paper gift-bags with a few organic herbal soaps and spa products with a message about hoping your client has a stress-free, healthy holiday.

Choosing to tie your holiday wishes into the concept of caring for our planet is a good thing! According to the 2007 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey, 91% of Americans say they have a more positive image of a company that is environmentally responsible. In translation? Going green this holiday season is certain to lead to increased consumer loyalty.

At ROBYN, we’d love to show a variety of ways your holiday gifts can be eco-friendly. Call us at (877) 211-9711 or Click Here to send us an email.