Archive for the ‘Promotional’ Category
Brand Awareness – The Most Favorite Items to Receive
When I was contemplating investing money into promotional giveaways, I wanted to ensure my selected items would be well received from potential customers as well as loyal customers. When I researched several businesses that specialize in promotional items, I was overwhelmed by all the choices. Which item should I choose? What would be the most effective product? Would it actually be used or just thrown away? These were important questions that I needed answers to. Then I decided to ask my current customers what promotional items they have received in the past that were their favorite and not so favorite. Here’s a list of what they said:
Coffee Mugs
These were unanimously the least favorite thing they received. Who needs another mug? The thought that the coffee mug is the #1 best giveaway is not true, at least from the receiver’s perspective.
Key chains
There were mixed feelings about this item. Some people said that the keychain they received was also a bottle opener, which they found useful. Other styles were a mini Emory board, which became an instant favorite. Flexible key chains made of soft bendable plastic were cute; however, their kids were the ones that enjoyed them the most. The key chains that were plastic, rubber or metal that only displayed the company logo or a specially shaped design, such as a house shape from a realtor, were thrown away almost immediately. What a shame that so much money was spent on these items only to end up in the trash.
Hats
These items were in the same category as the coffee mugs. Do I need to say more?
Eco Friendly Bags
These were a big favorite. Although, there were many styles of bags, so there were opinions about items slightly different in size or style. The mesh shopping bags and cinch packs were very useful, as well as knowing you are helping with the environment. The woven lunch bags were also a hit.
Notepads
Even though notepads come in an array of sizes and styles, they were among the top favorite promotional items out of all the people I talked to. The cube pads are always helpful when searching for a quick slip of scratch paper to write on. The larger notepads with tear off pages were great when you needed more space to write on. The classic ‘sticky’ notes are useful for dozens of reasons.
When I talked to my current customers about the promotional items they would pick up during expos, I was surprised to hear their response. Many of them said that they just wanted to get through the expo as quickly as possible (sometimes there were almost 700 vendors). They would grab whatever giveaway was handed to them and toss it inside their bag. At the end of the evening, they would sift through their goodies and decide whether to keep it or toss it. So many items were not given a second look.
My advice is to offer a product that can actually be used by your potential customers, such as a notepad or eco friendly bag, and forget the traditional hat and mug. However, to ensure my product doesn’t get “tossed in the bag”, I will design an eye catching advertisement that will make them stop and look at the unique gift that has just been handed to them; just long enough for my business to be remembered.
Blue Soda Promo
595 N Lakeview Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Toll Free: (888)206-3047
custom cow bells custom gadget grips custom acrylic tumblers custom pedometers alcohol free hand sanitizers custom coffee cups custom journals custom golf shirts custom plastic water bottles custom corporate baskets
Removing Smoke Odors from your Clothing
When a fire has damaged your home, nearly everything has been affected – upholstered furniture, curtains, carpet and clothing. Fabric absorbs the odor and to remove it requires professional help and guidance. Home remedies and store bought items do not have the intensity to remove this embedded odor. If your clothing is not treated immediately, the smell will become permanent. Contact a professional immediately so the clean-up process can begin and you have greater chances of restoring your clothing.
When professionals arrive, they will begin to asses the situation and evaluate the damage. Since each fire is different there isn’t one set of guidelines to follow. Smoke odor from wood could react differently to chemicals than smoke odor from plastics. Homeowners are generally unaware of this and could cause more damage if they try to help by cleaning soot and smoke odors on their own.
Professionals use a process called “ozone treatment”. This involves placing all articles affected by smoke odors inside a tent. The tent is usually placed somewhere on the homeowners property. An ozone generator is placed inside the tent. The generator deodorizes all the items in the covered area thoroughly. The deodorizing can also be performed off property however, timing is critical in this situation. Most professionals set the tent up shortly after they arrive and asses the damages.
Deodorizing the clothing with the “ozone treatment” is the first step in restoring your clothes. It is important to complete this process as quickly as possible or the odor will permanently set into the fabrics. Trying to deodorize and clean your clothing with traditional household cleaners is a waste of time. Not only can the items be damaged permanently, the odor will never be removed completely. Sprays and aerosols only mask the odor. Once the scent has evaporated, the smoke odor will resurface.
After deodorizing the clothing, it is time to clean the soiled items. Sort the clothes by the recommended cleaning methods as you normally would when doing laundry. Separate into piles based on color and the level of soil/damage. Some clothing may only be cleaned by a professional dry cleaner, yet it needs to be “wet cleaned” in order for it to be thoroughly cleaned. Consult with your dry cleaner to ensure they know how to handle this special type of cleaning.
Other fabric blends, such as cottons and polyester blends can be easily cleaned in the washer with liquid detergent. Studies have shown that cleaning with ERA or a low phosphate powder detergent and liquid chlorine bleach. This recommendation is based on the research findings of Cloud, Bondurant and Keith at Louisiana State University in their study of removing smoke damage from apparel fabrics. Most of the clothing needed to be washed four or five times to be completely restored.
By following precise steps, you can restore most clothing and apparel that has been damaged by smoke odors.
ServiceMaster QRS
8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 388-9200