Ideas and Tools to Help You Plan Your Next Promotion

Plan a Promo Tool

If you plan a lot of events for your business or non profit, it can be a challenge to pull all the information needed to plan the perfect event.  Which events, holidays and observances do you want to promote? Which ideas will work best for your promotion? Where can you obtain promotional product information without trolling through scattered resources. We’ve created a mobile friendly planning tool that is available on our Facebook fan page to help plan your next marketing campaign.

In addition to promoting your own products, initiatives and services, there are times when you want to motivate, show appreciation, recognize and touch base with customers, employees and prospects when you aren’t selling your own items.   It’s during these times that you need an event, observance or holiday or that shines a light on things that are near and dear to your customers, employees or prospects. 

Whether it’s a health awareness initiative or a major marketing campaign, many firms use promotional items to give participants a branded item that they can take away from the event. These items help to drive home the ideas presented during the promotion.  And who doesn’t want to receive a free item? It’s a win for everyone.

If you’re planning your holiday promotions, we have just the tool for you! The tool makes it easy to plan because everything you need for the perfect marketing campaign in one place.  It provides tools like a promotional calendar that lists many popular holidays observances on one tab, marketing ideas, articles and case studies on tab two and links to promotional items like holiday gifts, items for Halloween and awareness programs.  If you plan a lot of events, this tool is a great combination of items to make planning easier.

There is a promotional calendar that can be viewed from an agenda, weekly or monthly format and it can be printed for your convenience.  It’s based on the Google Calendar application which makes it easy to share information with team members. If you have Google calendar, you can choose the events you would like to promote and add them to your calendar. Each entry shows the website for the event (when available) so that you can obtain more information on the observance.

We have also incorporated the most recent blog posts to provide articles, ideas and case studies that show how other companies have used promotional items. These ideas may spark your creativity and take you closer to a finished plan.

There is also a link to several product categories that you can access as well as links to promotional items from Pinterest. Finding specials on promotional items can also be a challenge when planning, so we incorporated a link to product specials.  This can help you make the most of your advertising dollars using this tool.

This tool is a wealth of information and accessible from your phone, desktop or tablet.  If you are working with a team there is a link that allow you to share the app with team members.  To access the tool, use this link or visit our Facebook fan page and click on “Plan a Promo“. You can bookmark the tab on your phone for easy access.

Make sure to visit our fan page and start using the Plan a Promo tool today! If you have any questions please send us your feedback

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

If You're Planning or Sponsoring a Trick or Treat Event We Want to Talk to You!

Your Imprint on the Back of the Bag
A Pumpkin Face and Safety Tips on the Front

Halloween celebrations have gone from the traditional (beggars night) to community focused events held in church parking lots, pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Events like Boo at the Zoo, trunk or treat, hayrides and other Fall festivities are aimed at families and they are happening in many communities across the country.

If you're planning a trick-or-treating event, consider offering sponsorships to local business owners. Allow them to place their imprint on Halloween bags to promote safety and reach potential customers while everyone enjoys family friendly fun.

If you're a business owner why not buy some bags, have them imprinted and either fill them with goodies and hand them out from your office or donate them to a local organization that is having an event. 

Halloween bags are currently on sale, making them very affordable.  They have reinforced handles and

Perfect for a Scary
Halloween Movie Night

are available in orange, white and yellow plastic and silver and gold metallic materials.  Soft handle bags like the one shown (and all our bags) are available with a large imprint area for your message. Some of them have a space at the bottom that allows for a coupon that can be redeemed later (online or in person, the choice is yours) for added value and additional web or foot traffic.

Our bags are currently on sale, order early (before October 12, 2013 for the best selection. Rush shipment and production will be needed to deliver orders placed after October 12, 2013. Download our Halloween sale flyer.

Imprinted bags will allow parents and grandparents to remember your company after the event and the kids will have festive bags to carry all the goodies.  It's a win-win for all!

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

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. 

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 Prospect for New Customers

Start by Creating a Plan

As a business owner, you are the master of your destiny, and you’re excellent at what you do.  If someone asks you about your core business, you’ll be happy to provide detailed information.  But when asked to quantify how you’re finding new customers for your business, the conversation can take a vague and indefinite turn.  This happens because with many small businesses, sales and marketing often take a back seat to other priorities. Good intentions are there, but the actions fall between the cracks.  The question for today is how can one have a successful and thriving business without a plan for finding new customers for your business? Whether you know it or not, as a business owner you are responsible for actively promoting your business, and you’re the head of sales and marketing.  No matter what business you’re in, selling is critical to your company’s ability to grow and move forward.


If you build it, they will come… sounded great in the movies, and maybe that works for a while, in some cases.  In reality if you’re not dedicating resources to sales and marketing, your business is probably not going to make it very far.  To keep your business thriving, you will need a constant pipeline of sales transactions.  This means that you have to find ways to keep existing customers happy and returning, and new customers coming in the door. Here are some tips on creating a plan for finding new customers for your business. 

Your Job as Head Salesperson

Contrary to popular belief, being head salesperson for your company doesn’t mean that you’re always in front of people or on social media “selling” and talking about your products and services.  Your biggest sales job involves not only being great at your craft, but it also involves honing your skills in the art of listening and learning as much as possible about your customer’s needs.  It means that you’re in the business of building relationships with existing and potential customers as well as in the community.  And it also means that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to balance talking about what you do with ways you can help your customers, when the time is right. 


To locate new customers, you will need to answer a few initial questions. To start, who is your ideal customer? Take time to really work on this question.  Answer the who, what, when, where and how as it relates to this question.  These answers will go a long way towards guiding your business to the right audience.  What problems does your audience have? How can your business solve them?  If you sell to individuals, where do those individuals hang out in their spare time? Do they hang out online and if so where?  Do you have an online presence that addresses their issues? If so how can you reach your audience online? What organizations or community activities can you join to support these efforts?

If you sell to businesses, consider the department that is most likely to buy your products or services, and what individual or level of responsibility would be the one who makes the final purchasing decision.  If you’re not sure who those people are, be proactive and make some calls to find out! Then consider how that individual would normally find products or services like yours. What circles do they travel in? Who are they likely to listen to or where do they look when they want to buy a product or service? Find a way to put your information, or yourself, in their path.

The Key to Success

Planning is the first step in finding new customers. Without a plan you have no direction and without direction finding new customers will remain on your to-do list, but your goals will never see the light of day.  Plans, goals and objectives sound great and look great on paper.  But without action, the best plans are useless.  We’ll cover implementation in future articles…

For now, here are some action items to consider:

1. Create a plan that includes joining and contributing to a specific number of online and offline groups that will place you in the path of your audience.
2. Make sure your plan includes a specific number of emails, postcards, business cards, handwritten note cards, and brochures you will send each month to new and existing customers.
3. Sponsor an event or that will attract potential customer. We’ll talk about this in detail later in the series.
4. Educate customers about aspects of your business to bring in new business. ( Don’t be afraid to give something away (free service, raffle, auction, etc.) to draw in potential clients.
5. If you don’t have a blog, plan to start one and commit to a realistic number of posts each week.

Make sure your blog provides a way for customers to subscribe to your information.  These are just a few simple ideas to begin the process of finding new customers.

Keep in mind that sales often happen because potential customers hear about your products and services in several different ways and from several different sources.  The more often they are exposed to you and your message, the more likely they are to consider what you have to offer when they are ready to buy.




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

Capture Wedding and Anniversary Memories on Recordable CDs and DVDs

Capture and Share
Weddings and Reunions

Warm weather is approaching and that usually means preparations for weddings, reunions and other events.  We can help with customized options that will allow the planners to keep memories alive for years to come.  Custom CDs and DVDs are the perfect solution for business and personal events.

Using Recordable CDs for Weddings and Reunions

Record and share personal celebrations like weddings, special services, anniversaries, birthdays and reunions on custom printed CDs and DVDs. Recordable media will provide unique keepsakes that family and friends will enjoy long after the event. Minimum quantities are as low as 25 pieces so there are enough for the wedding party and family.

Recordable CD-Rs and DVD-Rs make the perfect keepsake for your guests. Ideas for using them include the following:

1. Creating a video journal of celebrations leading up to a wedding. For example the engagement celebrations, showers, parties and the big day!  Great for anniversaries, reunions, and birthdays.
2. A playlist of favorite songs from the engagement, wedding, and reception to capture moments in time. 
3. Capture the thoughts, plans and wishes in an electronic journal and include it on your disk.
4. Capture photos taken during the event and send a photo gallery of pictures on cute mini discs that fit nicely into thank you cards as a special gift of gratitude. 

CD Duplication Services Are Available

If you would like to burn your own CD-Rs as a Do It Yourself (DIY) option, you can have your favorite photo, message and text placed on the CD to commemorate your event. The CDs or DVD-Rs will be printed with your imprint and shipped in about 5 business days. CD-Rs and DVDs are purchased with no media recorded on them (blank) unless duplication services are requested.  If you would like to supply the media, duplication services are available and the data will be placed on your CDs/DVDs.

Each media type, CD-R (700 MB), DVD-R (4.7 GB), 3" mini CD-Rs (180 MB) and 3" DVD-R mini (1.47 GB) offers a different level of storage capacity. Audio, video, documents and images can be placed on all media. Mini CDs are great for mailing and stuffing into cards, envelopes and bags. Create customized CDs and DVDs that will store your memories forever.

If you're planning an event, contact us for help with your next project! Stay in touch on Google+, Facebook and Twitter: Visit our website and Request a Quote.

What Can Salons and Spas Do to Thrive in Today's Market?

We love being pampered and most of us consider impeccable grooming to be a personal and professional requirement.  However, because of the sustained downturn in the economy, the success of beauty industry professionals is not only attributed to skills and ability, success also depends on economic factors as well.  Because these services are typically considered as extras (nice to have, but not as much as food and shelter), changes in the economy have a direct impact on the industry and the ability for salons and spas to thrive or even survive.

There is a growing number of people that are either forgoing these services altogether or learning to perform core services themselves.  Additionally, the high end skin and hair care products sold in salons are now being replaced by lower cost items sold in retail stores. Clients that frequented salons and spas before the recession have been forced to become more budget conscious.

Whether clients have been deeply affected by the economy or not, they want more value for a dollar.   These changes should cause salon owners to take stock and begin asking some of the hard questions. For example who is the new recession conscious audience for salon and spa services? How has the audience changed over time and has the industry kept up with the changes? This information may be different based on location, services offered and the experience level of the salon operators.

10 Questions for Salon Owners to Answer as a First Step

Here are some questions that salon owners, managers and operators should ask if they plan to not just survive, but thrive during the economic challenges facing large and small companies alike: 

1. What changes have you noticed in your salon or spa? If you haven't noticed any changes, and everything is humming along, you can skip the rest of the questions.
2. Are there other factors (than the economy) that have contributed to the current changes in client behavior?
3. Has your salon changed to accommodate the needs of your customers?  
4. Does your salon create an "experience" for the client that exceeds their expectations?  What does the typical customer experience when they visit your salon? Is it the experience you would like for them to have?
5. How does your salon communicate information to current and potential customers? Is your salon on board with using technology to communicate specials, company news, and other useful information?  
6. Are you showing clients that you respect their time? If they have a short wait, are you providing an atmosphere that makes the wait pleasant?
7. Are you offering value added services or are you charging the same pre-recession prices?
8. What are you doing to make it easy for customers to do business with you?
9. What can you do to make the customer more engaged with your business? 
10. Is your business a good corporate citizen? What role does your salon play in the community? 
11. Are you taking a passive role (only looking for business to come to you), or are you reaching out to the areas where your customers work and play? 

Maintaining the status quo may no longer be feasible with the current economic dynamics.  Consider that (1) the average family's hectic lifestyles are even more hectic, (2) the ability to use technology provides free communication to the masses, and (3) the need to consider value based options for customers who need them will allow more customers to consider your business as an option.

Word of mouth advertising and holding the line on pricing may not allow you to reach your goals if you're not reaching more clients with your current offerings or if no one can afford your services.  Now more than ever, it's time to look at the way you market your products/services and make any reasonable changes to keep your business thriving and relevant.

Review the slides in this presentation and consider using promotional items to rebuild, rebrand and reinvent yourself as a leader in your industry.

Gremon Marketing from Gremon Marketing/Custom T-Shirt Makers

Promotional items that are geared toward your salon and spa clients can also help you improve your image, and spread the word about new ideas and ways of doing things.  They can also help your company play a greater role in your community.  More positive activity in the community will help to establish your company as the "go to" business in your area.

Effective marketing is the key to continued success and the book below is available on Amazon, 12 Months of Marketing for Salon and Spa: Ideas, Events and Promotions for Salon and Spa by Elizabeth Kraus helps to answer some additional questions below:

1. How can new stylists and estheticians carve out clientele as they launch their career? 
2. What can industry professionals at any stage of their career do to create a new normal that transcends economic factors? 
3. What should they be doing to take control of their business, growth of their client base, retail sales and income? 

You can click the link below to be taken to Amazon where you can buy the book. You can have a sneak peek inside to see if it will give you the insight needed to move ahead. If you decide to read it, please send us a note to let us know how you like it.  

Contact us via email or by phone at 937-317-0252 for help with your next project! Stay in touch on Google+, Facebook and Twitter: Visit our website and Request a Quote.

Improve Your Reach Using Holidays and Observances

If you're stumped for a reason to connect with your customers, we have the answer!  Holidays and national observances create the wonderful opportunities to connect with your customers.  They provide a reason to sponsor a holidays that are meaningful to your target audience, to create awareness about a cause you support, educate customers on an interesting topic, or offer a coupon or discount in honor of a special moment in time. 

Ideas for Celebrating National Women's History Month

For example, the National Women's History Project's 2013 theme for National Women's History Month is Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. They are honoring women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

During the month of March, in honor of Women's History Month, one idea would be to feature women who have excelled in science and technology now and throughout history.  Make the observance even more meaningful by including local women.

Enhance the celebration by creating an offer for women who sign up for your newsletter (at your brick and mortar facility or website) to receive a free promotional gift.  The promotional gift should include your logo with a message in support of women's contributions.  If customers sign up online, make sure to provide them with a promotional code that they can use to get their free gift.  

Complimentary Beverages
Anyone?

Another example includes the theme of health and wellness.  Even if your company isn't in the healthcare field, many consumers are concerned about health and fitness.  Health related observances like National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and National Nutrition Month provide an opportunity to provide general health information or encourage customers and potential customers to pay attention to their health by scheduling screenings and regular check ups.

Partnering with hospitals and clinics can boost awareness in your community and provide information on resources that are available.

We have items like t-shirts, napkins, balloons, drinkware, pillboxes, first aid kits, candles, stress reducers and more. Placing your logo on items with an inspiring message shows customers and potential customers that you care about topics that are important to them and the community.  Call us for more ideas or to order promotional items for your next campaign.

March Holidays and Observances

The following observances are approaching in March!  Find more observances by taking a look at our Promo Calendar.  It's constantly updated so check it often.


Great American Cleanup
Irish American Heritage Month
Mental Retardation Awareness Month
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Nutrition Month
National Professional Social Work Month
National Women's History Month

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

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.

Why You Should Use Promotional Items, Especially Today

In  today's competitive market everyone wants more value. Consumers are watching their spending and tend to gravitate toward anything that will help their money go further.  Companies are doing more with fewer employees, and customers are dealing with rising expenses and wages that are at best staying the same. 

Companies have held the line on spending and their marketing and advertising budgets are frozen in fear.  The "necessities" have been paid at the expense of anything that has to do with frivolous things like marketing until things turn around.  I'm just being sarcastic, but some people have been waiting for a turn around in the economy since 2008, and they won't spend another dime for advertising and marketing, until things are better long term.

How To Use Promotional Items to
Make Things Better

Believe it or not, now it's more important than ever to promote your business.  If you're not advertising and actively promoting your business, you are probably losing some of your loyal customers who are hearing nothing but the news that ranges from bad to cautiously optimistic, which in turn makes them more leery of spending.

To counter this information, you will need to find ideas that will give these customers a message that motivates them to do business with you.  Coupons, two for one specials, buy 10 get the 11th one free, manufacturer's specials, a contest or something creative that will bring these customers out of hiding so that you don't lose loyal customers. If not they may not return after things get better.  Even worse they may find another resource for your products and services.

By not advertising, you are also missing opportunities to capture new customers who are doing well and may be looking for someone who does what you do.  Additionally, while your competition is not spending on advertising, it presents a great opportunity for you to obtain a larger share of the market. Going down to zero expenditures for marketing and advertising is a recipe for disaster for any business.

Promotional items are powerful marketing tools that have a low cost per impression. According to research conducted by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) promotional items are in about 80% of homes in the U.S.  They travel well at home and in the office.  If you're on the fence regarding the power of these great marketing tools, please view this video and contact us for help with your next order. If you can't view the video here, please use this link.

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.

Attract Potential Customers to Your Trade Show Booth with Promotional Items

Have you ever walked up to a trade show exhibit or booth that didn’t have any items to hand out i.e. promotional items?  Maybe the exhibitor looked interesting from a distance, but when you approached and moved closer you found that they seemed unprepared.  They had very few marketing materials.  People were there to answer questions (hopefully) but there was still a feeling that something was missing.  How did you feel about that company? Do you have a positive image of the company when this happens?

Need Items for your Next Trade Show?

While it’s not written in stone that companies give away promotional items at trade shows, it's come to be an expectation that there should be some sort of takeaway item.  Not because people are greedy and need to be given something to do business with a given company.  But because having promotional items is an indication that the company has given their visitors some forethought, they're prepared, and they have a clear marketing message that they are supporting with a take away item.

When promotional items, samples and/or marketing materials are present, the exhibitor has taken advantage of the opportunity to not only have face to face conversations with groups of potential buyers, but it also presents an opportunity to get these items into the hands of their target audience. Why would a company want to pass up on that opportunity? 

Trade shows are a great opportunity to learn more about your industry, rub elbows with experts and most of all learn about your customers. Make the most of the experience and use the opportunity to distribute items that will give the visitor a way to remember you after the event is over.  Armed with giveaway information, potential buyers have a way to better absorb and learn more about your company, set an appointment or make a purchase.  

When a company appears to be unprepared, it leaves one with the need to fill in the dots on their own.  It may not be a deal breaker, but it puts more pressure on the folks in the booth to provide a compelling reason to do business.  If no one is in the booth to have a discussion or answer questions, that sends a strong message as well.  The Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) conducted research that shows the following:

• ·        62.6% of trade-show attendees stated they had received a promotional product.
• ·        71.6% of attendees who received a promotional product remembered the name of the company that gave them the product.
• ·        76.3% of attendees had a favorable attitude toward the company that gave them the product.

Their findings indicate that most companies surveyed (maybe some of your competitors) are giving out promotional items.  And it confirmed that they help visitors remember the experience they had with the company after the event is over. Most importantly, it helps to improve the attitudes of customer toward the company that gave them out.

Trade shows are happening all the time, and Spring shows will be in full swing in the coming months. We have plenty of items for your next event, including Quick Ship items.  Contact us and take advantage of these tips and a wide selection of promotional items.

 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.