Grab the Attention of Parents, Grandparents and Children this Halloween

Halloween is approaching and we wanted to give you a few tips on how you can use promotional items to gain exposure for your company. Learn why Halloween is a holiday that you don't want to miss.

Fall is the busiest time of year for most companies as everyone gear up for back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is also October, and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month as well as many other anniversaries, recognitions and reasons to create and support health and wellness. There are fall festivals, haunted houses, and plenty of other family friendly, events that you can use to create goodwill in the community and spread the word about your promotions.

Information is available online from trade associations, non profit organizations, the government and other web based resources have a wealth of information about your target audience and current trends. For example, we looked online and found that according to the National Retail Federation, Halloween is second only to Christmas as the biggest spending holiday, with over 170 million people estimated to participate in activities in 2012.

Spending for 2012 was projected to reach 8 billion on costumes, candy and decorations for adults, children and pets. If consumers are spending that much on Halloween, it would be wise to get in on the action with your own Halloween promotion, even if your business has absolutely nothing to do with Halloween. More than likely, some of your customers may be part of the 170 million people that anticipated participation in Halloween activities.

You can use this information to promote your business by expanding on what people normally do for Halloween.  We know that the average family will buy costumes for the kids, adults and even pets. They will also decorate and buy candy and treats. They will be frequenting fall festivals, hayrides, haunted houses, amusement parks, zoos and more. If you're one of those businesses, you'll want to have items to advertise sales, exclusive perks and special offers.

With the popularity of Halloween and Fall, your customers may also participate in family friendly activities sponsored by churches and youth organizations.  Have your advertising message distributed on a Halloween related items to grab their attention at a time when they are in the mood to receive it. 

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Help Your Customers Make the Connection with Promotional Items

Your company may spend huge sums on marketing and advertising... and it can still be easy to miss the mark when trying to make a connection with customers.  Social media is all the rage, but if it doesn't result in a tangible return on investment, how much should be invested in all that posting and tweeting?  A large number of followers on social media should translate into a relative number of visits, interactions and ultimately buyers for it to pay off.  Advertisers can spend  hours posting and tweeting to their followers with little or no actual return on investment.

When used correctly and in conjunction with other marketing media, promotional items can be extremely effective in helping your customers make the connection between your company and their need for what your company has to offer. They repeat and reinforce your marketing message in homes, offices and events where your customer spend most of their time. Most people that receive them use them or see them on a regular basis, making recognizing the name of the company that gave them out easy.  When customers are ready to make a purchase for your product or service, contact information (on the promo item) is easily accessible.  For ideas on using them with your marketing message view the slides below.

If you're not sure how to get started, begin the process by thinking about your current marketing message and how you're communicating your message to customers.  Is your marketing message reaching your customers? Is it causing customers to take the desired actions?  If so, you're on the right track, congratulations!  If not, you might want to revisit the message and/or the delivery method.

You may also want to review your brand, customer experience and consistency. Are you sending mixed messages between your marketing and the actual customer experience? How do you want customers to feel when they visit your business? How should they feel about your company when they leave your establishment? Have you built your brand in a way that supports the experience you want for current and potential customers? Is your total package (logo, marketing materials, product, service, appearance and physical atmosphere) consistent with the brand identity you've created?  For example, if your brand was built around having a sense of fun and adventure, is that what your customers get when they visit?  What about when they visit online?

Have you clearly identified your ideal customers? From the previous example, are your ideal customers looking for fun and adventure? Why should they do business with your company instead of your competition?

These are important questions to ask when creating a marketing message that really connects with your audience.  Promotional items can bring home the connection from your message to your customers when you're not around.  They're tangible reminders of the great experience your customers have had with your company and your events.  To obtain more information please email or call us today at 937-317-0252.


Contact us for help with your next project! Stay in touch on Google+, Facebook and Twitter: Visit our website and Request a Quote.

Your Logo: 5 Reasons to Invest in a Professional Design

This is where we talk about one of the critical tools used to brand  your business, the logo. We’re starting with a discussion on logos because it’s not one of the tools that you can drop into an envelope and send to your customers by itself.  For a start up,  it’s a building block that when combined with all the other marketing tools will set about doing the job of branding your company.

When used effectively, it becomes is the most highly recognized part of your marketing and advertising efforts.  The thought is that this branding will translate to increased sales and growth for your business. It’s a tried and true method used by companies large and small with tremendous success.

There’s always a question of when and how it should be created.  Some experts feel that you should invest in a professional logo design from day one.  Others think you should wait until your business is established to invest in a logo.  Here are some things to consider regarding how much you should invest in the logo whenever you decide to create your design.

Here’s a common scenario… You’re just starting out, maybe your budget is tight and you’re not sure if you should invest in graphic design services for your logo.  You have no graphic design experience, but how hard could it be, right? With all the off the shelf graphic design programs and royalty free clip images, you get the idea that you can use your computer to create a logo for your business.  Problem solved. Right?  Well…maybe not.  Before opting for this do it yourself (DIY) choice, please take a moment to think about your business, and your long term goals.

A poorly designed, low quality image may send the wrong message to potential customers.  There are a number of things to consider beyond the image itself.  Think of the impact your logo will have on your ability to do the kind of business you want to do, as well as the kinds of relationships that will be impacted by your logo design: 

1. First Impressions Last - Have you ever received a business card that was printed on the family ink jet computer? Think about how that made you feel when you saw it, versus how you’ve felt when you received a professionally printed business card.  Low quality, home printed materials are a good indicator that you’re a rookie who may not have the resources to obtain quality items.

It creates doubt in the minds of your customers. They think that if you don’t have the resources for professional printing, what else is missing?  It’s important to present a professional image and highlight your strengths to build confidence with your customers.  Remove as many doubts, blaring red flags and fears as possible about your business and your ability to handle the job.
A professional marketing package will take you a long way to reaching that goal.  Therefore your logo, coming out of the gate should be polished to present the best possible image for your company. Remember the saying: You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.

In essence, your logo will play a major role in setting the tone for your business and it should speak to the character, values and quality of the products and services you’re offering, as well as the audience you want to attract.  For example, if your business theme is happy, fun and carefree, that should be reflected in your logo.  If your logo design unintentionally sends the opposite message, you may miss the audience and the business opportunities you’re looking for.

2. The Long Haul - Over the life of your business, your logo will be placed on every marketing piece, every piece of letterhead, invoices, business cards, advertising, signs, billboards, apparel, proposals, business plans, your website and so much more. This is your brand, the icon used to identify your company.  It’s a unique combination of symbols, colors, and shapes that your customers, employees, the general public, and even your competitors will associate with the great experiences they have (or will have) with your company.  You want it to represent you well over the long haul.

3. Credibility – Even though money may be tight in the beginning, investing in a professional looking image  will go a long way toward seeing your business recognized and taken seriously by investors and those you intend to do business with.  Changing logos can be devastating for any business. Once your customers get used to seeing your logo and they make the connection between the symbol and your business, there’s no turning back.  Change the colors, change the background, but when you change the logo, you’re forcing your customers make the transition to learning what that represents all over again. In some ways, it’s like starting from square one.  When was the last time you saw a major brand change their logo?  You won’t see it much unless there is some catastrophe that is associated with a brand that makes it virtually useless.  Brands become intangible assets that companies spend a ton of money to maintain.

4. Pride… Not Embarrassment -  Think of how you feel (what descriptive words come to mind) when you see the logos of popular brands.  When I’m out riding in the car with my three year old grandson, he already recognizes “Toys R Us” from viewing their signage.  It brings a reaction that usually results in his asking me or his parents to visit the store.  This is  branding at its best.
Think of how you want your customers to feel when they see at your logo.  How will your employees feel wearing your logo or handing out their card with your logo imprinted on it?  When they look at your marketing materials, what feelings do you want them to have? Pride or anxiety? You certainly don’t want them to give out marketing materials with a low quality clip art design, do you?

Think of your business, and what you hope will come to mind when potential customers, investors and prospects receive your materials? Do you want them to think of descriptions like excitement, strength, integrity, stability, happiness, style, class, fun, tranquility, energy etc.  Or do you want them to anxiously smile and say something like, don’t call us, we’ll call you?  If you want to be recognized for the image you’re trying to project, consider these factors when selecting the method for creating your logo.  A great logo will work well to promote your business and will eventually stand on its own.  A low quality logo can make the most knowledgeable person seem lack luster.


5. Print-ability- When you think of how your logo will be designed (DIY or graphic designer) keep in mind that a professional designer will (or should) provide you with camera ready, color separated art files that can be taken to any printer that will handle your marketing materials.  This means that your logo will be created in a vector based program like Illustrator and ready for high quality printing.  Raster based programs will create images that result are low quality and when enlarged, will result in a stair step, pixel based image that has blurred, distorted edges.  Printing companies, including promotional product manufacturers will charge more to convert your files to a vector based format.

All things considered, that simple little symbol, shape or combination thereof along with colors, word choices, and fonts; when pulled together, says a lot about your business.  Make sure it says the right thing, and will illicit the responses you want from your customers when they see it.  Once you have a prototype, ask your team members, friends and family for feedback.  Ask them how they feel or for words that describe how they feel when they look at your logo. If there’s a match between your intentions and their impressions, you’re on the right track.

I can’t think of any instance where you would want to send a  message that says low quality, cheap or amateur if you’re trying to build and grow your business.  You don’t have to spend a fortune on your logo but you should invest time in finding a professional to create your design.  You should also have a general idea of the theme, color, fonts etc that you might want to use.  And by all means, consider the factors above before crafting this very important business tool.

Contact us for help with your next project! Stay in touch on Google+, Facebook and Twitter: Visit our website and Request a Quote.

Using Promotional Items to Gain More Leads at Trade Shows

How Promotional Items Work at Trade Shows

Promotional items are a wonderful addition to your trade show exhibit.  They work best when they are combined with other marketing activities to reach your target audience.

They work to hold your marketing message and keep it front and center in the minds of perspective buyers after the event ends.

Keep in mind that the best promotional items are ones that your prospects can use and see on a daily basis. for example, items that sit on desks, hang on walls and stick to refrigerators and file cabinets.  Items that hold family photos like magnets, picture frames, and clips work well for this.  If you need ideas, we can help!

Trade shows will be in full swing during the Spring and summer months. Use these tips to learn more about your customers, have fun and book more appointments.

1.Learn something about your potential customers. Ever had a burning question you always want to know about potential customers? Give away a promotional gift that is imprinted with your company brand in exchange for completing a survey. Make the survey available online for convenience and provide the ability to share the survey with colleagues. Give respondents an email confirmation when they complete the online survey. They can show you the email to receive the promotional gift when they visit your booth.

2. Keep it lighthearted. Make a promotional product part of a game or other fun activity that draws attention to your booth.  Nothing hard,complicated or unsafe, but make it fun and profitable at the same time. For example miniature golf, some form of bingo or trivia that ties into your product or industry.  

3. Make an Appointment. Give out promotional items to each person that schedules a free sales consultation.

4. Create a Sneak Peek. Offer a free sample to each visitor with a promotional item that has information on how to order the full sized product.

Contact us for help with your next project! Stay in touch on Google+, Facebook and Twitter: Visit our website and Request a Quote.

How to Brand Yourself as a Stylist, Spa or Salon Owner

By Guest Blogger Gerard Fairley

Branding your salon or spa is a crucial part of your business development for long term success. So, what does branding really mean? Branding is the proprietary visual, emotional, and rational image associated with your company.  Branding is communicating your businesses core attributes and qualities, and creating a simple but strong emotional (and visual) association of those qualities in the minds of your potential customers. Branding creates loyalty. The name of your salon or spa is the first step. Creating a slogan that communicates the qualities of your business might be a second means of branding. Does your spa offer premium styling and coloring services that costs a bit more for the quality, or does your salon offer inexpensive, fast service? The purpose of having people remember the brand name and have positive associations with that brand is to make their selection easier and enhance the value and satisfaction they get.

Building a brand around your spa or salon will help you generate instant recognition. It is all about synergy and in this day and age, many times it starts with your website. Why? Because more often than not, this is what your potential customer sees first.

People are not picking up the phone book any longer, they are now firing up Google or Bing and conducting searches for reviews or coupons and special offers. Does your brand carry into your physical store? Has your website been updated to at least keep up with the times? Do you maintain a weekly blog? All these questions are important when building the brand of your spa or salon. Do you answer emails, questions and acknowledge comments? Do you do good work? Do you have a logo? What are people saying about you?

Your customer is asking these questions:  Who are You? What are you about? Who has used your service…and did they like the experience?

Be your own brand;…. brand yourself first, and then extend this to your company.

Brand yourself as a leader, as an expert, an innovator and this will immediately allow you to stand out from the crowd of the other people in your beauty niche. This will generate that positive talk, feedback and buzz. You want your customers to “ooh and ahh” about you to their friends. This is far more valuable than a Facebook Fan Page update, or a paid ad on Yelp.

Don’t be cheap, spend a little money and get a professional logo design that embodies the essence of your salon or spa. If you are a mobile stylist without a brick and mortar, this is even more important for you. Get a nice logo and while you’re at it; have it imprinted onto some promotional giveaways.  Think of your customer as you select a relevant item like a beauty bag, a nail kit, water bottle, hat etc.  These giveaways can be used in contests or just as a thank you to your current customers. Your existing customers are your most powerful form of advertising. A quality promotional item like a hand bag with your logo on it, in the hands of your customer…now doesn’t that sound like a powerful piece of marketing?

Gerard Fairley is a Salon and Spa Consultant based out of Atlanta GA, with over six years of Internet and Social Media Marketing expertise. Feel free to contact him and find out more about marketing your spa or salon business by visiting his website, Spa Salon Mobile Marketing.