Interviews From Thought Leaders in the Promotional Industry - Patrick Black

Patrick Black Owner and CEO of Perfect Imprints 

What were your 3-5 best selling products last year? (Bags, shirts, pens, drinkware etc.)

We have some constant sellers that never go out of style like bambams and branded apparel. However lately we have gotten lots more interest in tech products as people shift to a more flexible work-from-home environment. We love items like webcam covers, wireless charging pads, and mousepads.

What are faster growing market segments in your region? (banks, automotive, Pharma, Food etc...)

While all industries are important for us to work with, we particularly have seen a lot of growth from construction and food and beverage industries.

Do you visit trade shows. If so, which ones are your favourite and why?

Every year the Perfect Imprints team sends representatives to the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas in January. We are always excited to get back home to Florida to let our clients know about all of the new products we have found. We always look forward to finding products that match with our clients’ branding. Some of our clients have started to expect and look forward to these personalized recommendations every year.

What are the biggest opportunities you see in your industry?

Our focus is e-commerce which is still a small sector of the promotional products industry. We feel as though since we have focused on e-commerce for over 15 years, we have developed a strong online presence as more people move towards spending their days online.

Author's Bio

Here at Perfect Imprints, it is our pleasure to serve clients in various industries through promotional product distribution as well as graphic design and web design services. It is our goal to make sure marketing is an investment for our clients, not an expense. We hope to make the creative marketing process as easy as possible. 
Contact us at:
800-773-9472
https://www.perfectimprints.com/
cs@perfectimprints.com

contact us

A Throwback Thursday: Manufacturing of Promotional Corporate Gifts

We take a trip down memory lane with The ODM Group with their blog from June 2010. This goes to show that some trends in the promotional industry stays even for decades, Here is one promotional product idea and tips that stand the test of time.

Goodie bags as promotional corporate gifts in events, seminars and conferences are common giveaways. However, corporate event organisers sometimes encounter difficulties deciding over how and what to give to send the right kind of message to delegates attending these events.Picking the right promotional corporate gifts is essential as we as brands try to please everyone. These are some pointers worth considering before every event.

Consider your audience at the event 

Are the attendees generally male or female. What is the theme of the event? What type of job position do visitors hold?

For casual events such as a welcoming party, attendees are very often dressed informally. The mood is light and relaxing. Simple gimmicky gifts like toys or kitchenware could pull it off. However, formal meetings like a staged conference or educational seminar, more appropriate gifts would then often be medium to high end.

Commonly used demographics include sex, race, age, income, disabilities, mobility (in terms of travel time to work or number of vehicles available), educational attainment, home ownership, employment status, and even location. These are factors that you can consider when you picking out the perfect gift for your audience.

How convenient will the gift be to your delegates to walk around with? 

Although this point may seem simple and logical, it is often forgotten among event organizers. Imagine yourself attending the event and the door gift is a huge chopping board. The bulk and weight will probably put you off. Therefore, do consider the dimension of the gift and the carrier to load the goodies you may be offering. Make sure sufficient space and comfort level for your audience is fulfilled.

Cater to the location

Again, please plan ahead for your event attendance. If the event or conference is held in the heart of the city or busy convention centre, a huge and bulky product may not be very appropriate. It will be very disheartening to see your product left at the side of the road after the conference.

Leverage your brand exposure

Work out what logos and designs are to be incorporated into your gifts. Consider your gift types, are they disposable or reusable? Look through the route your delegated might travel. These factors aid to maximize your promotional exposure.

Take for instance umbrellas/caps – they can be outstanding and draw attention in a rainy weather when everyone uses them. Moreover, imagine the impact when the crowd dispersed through town using the same branded umbrellas/caps.

Know your budget

Promotional budget and the number of participants ties hand in hand to your promotional strategy. Build your giveaway concept around your budget to hit maximum impact.  Order really early to avoid rush jobs and higher charges.

Post event promotion

Is also vital to consider. Are the gifts useful after the event? Choose products that may aid your promotion even after the event is over. Even an inexpensive product such as a pen or T-shirt can do the job.

Good presentation layout 

Gives your delegates a good impression of the company. Having your goodie bags neatly placed and settled before the guest arrives shows them that you value the gift, which in turn creates a high perceived value.

Packaging 

Packaging can make all the difference with perceived value of the product.  Making the packaging part of the promotional corporate gift such as a good quality bag – all the better !

Branding

If people perceive themselves as a walking billboard, then the perceived value of your gift is lower.   Give a gift where the colours tie in nicely with your brand, where the shape and function are more unique.   Using more discreet logos or none at all usually make for higher perceived value.

This sums up the tips and tricks you can use when picking out a corporate gift event. While it may seem challenging, following these steps will make sure that you get the perfect gift and the best results for your marketing budget.

How can ODM help?

Finding the perfect promotional corporate gift for your audience during an event if a great promotional strategy that can increase your brand awareness. Interested in having the perfect corporate gift for an event? Feel free to reach out to us and our team will be happy to assist you. We manufacture high quality custom promotional merchandise and gifts. Our team is here to provide you with a pleasant experience from brainstorming, designing, and to manufacturing of your product. Let us bring your ideas to life! – We’d love to hear from you!

Find out more about ODM at https://www.theodmgroup.com/ and endless inspiration from The ODM Magazine or contact us

Our Top 12 Picks for Promotional Products for May

As we approach the start of the month of June. Keep updated on what is going on in the promotional industry by taking a look at our top 12 gifts here at Promogift Blog from some of the leaders in the industry for the month of May.

Promo Marketing

An interesting read, definitely made it to our top list. Why T-shirts sellers Aren't Happy About NASA's SpaceX Launch.

For most people a trip to Cape Canaveral to watch a space-shuttle launch is something we won't have the chance to experience. Read about the experience in this blog by Promo Marketing of a NASA space shuttle launch and why this affects T-shirt sellers.

Promotional Products Association International 

PPAI is a trusted leader in the promotional products industry. PPAI's goal during these times has been to actively stay in touch with their customers while providing updates through this pandemic.

For 18 years the promotional industry has gathered at Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre. The PPAI Expo 2021 is definitely an event to look forward to, although we can't say for sure how things will be in January 2021 there will be measures taken into place to secure the safety of the convention. Regardless of the adjustments that will have to be made, this gathering of a strong and passionate of the promotional products industry will be a community gathering like no other. Are you in?

Pinnacle Promotions

Being forced into working from home and conducting business remotely has driven innovation within companies like never before. Now it is time to return to the office - Returning to the Office During Covid19 Crisis.

Thankfully, we are seeing many businesses beginning to open up and it is the business' responsibility to keep employees safe. In this blog, look at how Pinnacle Promotions approaches the guidelines and tips a business or employee can follow or implement. To ensure that employees return to a work environment where they feel safe and content.


Boost Promotional Products 

Here are Boost Promotional Products explore promotional advertising and the latest promo trends. Marketing is key to any business and perhaps one of the best forms of advertising comes in the form of promotional offers.

With a variety of blogs ranging from infographics, digital and custom print and corporate gifts. Consider the blogs of Boost Promotional Products to be your ultimate guide to promotional product offerings when marketing your brand.

The Promo Direct Blog

The Promo Direct Blog recently published an article titled, Which is The Best Healthcare Promotional Item?

Should hospitals be sticking to traditional promotional gifts like mugs and pens? Well, to create an impression on your customers, personalisation as to your industry is important. Here in this blog find out what promotional healthcare giveaway items can stick to your customers from a pharmacy or hospital.

Perfect Imprints 

As we approach the middle of the year, Perfect Imprints plans ahead with an article on Best Promotional Jackets and Hoodies for Winter Workouts.

Who says a good sweat is the only thing that determines a good workout. Due the lower temperatures it is important that one keeps your muscles warm in the cold weather. Check out Perfect Imprints best promotional winter workout jackets, specially designed jackets for men, women and even kids can be part of promoting your business with your winter wear.

E-promos

As public places begin to reopen, E-promos reminds readers of the importance to keep our hands clean - 10 Places You Don't Want To Be Without Hand Sanitiser

Branded Hand Sanitisers are great opportunities for brands to encourage customers to stay safe while promoting your brand every time someone washes up. And there are ten places your customers won't want to go without it.

Acdo Marketing 

As we continue to face the covid19 pandemic Acdo Marketing are offering their FDA certified medical masks in stock in the US to ship. Acdo Marketing has adapted their promotional product business going beyond their usual promotional product offerings.

It is tough for businesses to thrive within this pandemic and the damage it has caused to the economy. In times like this, it is crucial that businesses implement adaptation to work processes to keep their brand afloat in the industry.

Sourcing City News

Sourcing City News has some Product News report recently published on a Miniature Tennis Racket Set from Brightways.

Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since World War 2. It is a great opportunity for brands to show their support to one of the biggest tennis competitions in the world.


The ODM Group

Power up your Brand Promotion with a Custom Charging Cable Set

They make great custom promotional merchandise for giveaways, employee gifts or travel accessories. Customisation of promotional tech products make powerful marketing tools. Read about the benefits this branded promotional merchandise can bring for your brand!

Enjoy what you have read above and want your article published as one of the our top picks next month? To submit a guest blog to be posted on the Promogift Blog - click here
Alternatively you can also submit an interview - click here, where we publish interviews with thought leaders from our industry.
contact us

Merchandising from Starting Point to Bulk

When you're running around, always busy, you may feel like you need eight arms like an octopus.

Octopus Energy certainly have been busy and that's in large part to their promotional toy Constantine, an Octopus.

During the early days of promoting Constantine as a giveaway to their customer base it was working well using an independent machinist making the plushies by hand.

And the early days worked well.

In fact the campaign took off, it went very well.

“Our octopus toys (also known as Constantine) were initially handmade by a lady in Wales... However, as we grew, the demand for our octopus toys also increased and understandably this quickly became way too much for one person to handle. With that in mind, we began searching for a new supplier and came across Custom Toys UK. One of the most important things to us when considering a new supplier was that we wanted to make sure we were working with a supplier who could ensure high ethical standards and meet all toy licensing rules and regulations. Thankfully, Custom Toys UK do just that”.

While Custom Toys UK can also do small batch runs of merchandise, it had become clear that their ability to adapt to popular campaigns would provide the level of scope and support that Octopus Energy required.

Christian at Custom Toys explained that this was a slightly unusual case as Octopus Energy had already got a character that they wanted supplied to them.

"Most people don't know where to start when trying to create a character so stop short of developing those ideas for a marketing campaign, Octopus Energy had already developed a solid brand idea"

It is more common that a customer would work with a designer at Custom Toy UK to come together and create a character.

The five strategic steps to consider to embark on your own custom toy are:

1. Who's it for? Which audience are you trying to attract?

2. What do you hope your toy will achieve?

3. Where will it be used?

4. Do you have branding guidelines that you would like followed?

5. Sketch out a few ideas with a designer and work with them for a while as you get to know your custom toy

Octopus Energy successfully developed Constantine from a set of illustrations so much of the design phase could be omitted, this saved a few days in the early stages of the process.

Constantine the Octopus made her debut appearance for a TV ad. Then, ever since the debut, Octopus Energy have been getting requests from viewers for their very own Constantine.

Demand has been strong.

Teaming up with Custom Toys UK meant that the demand can be met.

With a character that popular, the next area to get right was the quantities, ensuring stock levels for the twelve weeks that an order typically takes to fulfill. Balancing supply and demand is completely possible and a customer can order the exact amounts that they require.

It's gone well, As Jess Hunter, Marketing Executive at Octopus Energy says,

"The octopus family continues to grow with help of Custom Toys UK"

And the unexpected benefits of adding a character toy to the marketing campaign continues to this day?

"People absolutely love the toys and love to share images on Twitter and Instagram.... The amount of hype we get from them has done wonders for our brand"

Perhaps there’s more Constantine merchandise to come?

Following the five strategic steps to creating your own branded custom toy is certainly worth a look for anyone wishing to promote their offering. Perhaps you already have an idea? Or, maybe teaming up with the right supplier will help deliver similar results to Octopus Energy.

For more information visit www.customtoys.uk/ or call 01304 806 960.

#PromoProducts - 500 Key People on Twitter

We followed the hash tag #promoproducts on Twitter to track all the tweets in our industry. As a Promo Gift blog, where we publish articles on promotional products case studies, successful marketing campaigns and interviews from thought leaders in the industry.

We are constantly reviewing and tracking what is going on the promotional products industry. Looking for new inspiration and trends of promotional products to keep ourselves as well as our readers as updated as possible.

Tracking the hashtag #PromoProducts

We gathered information from the tweets with the hashtag #promoproducts and formed the wordcloud below. Each word size is varied based on the frequency of mentions, the bigger it is, the higher the number of mentions. Do you see yourself in this wordcloud?  

Leave a comment or suggestion on what might be missing.  Given so many in our industry have pivoted recently, I am surprised no mention of PPE !!

Looking at the wordcloud, we can immediately tell "marketing" and "branding" stands out the most, apart from promoproducts. This is expected as the main purpose of promotional product is to market your brand to an audience.

We can also see a prominent appearance of "custom" this is due to the increased importance of customisation of a promotional product tailored to the needs and personality of your brand. The level of customisation not only gives customers what they want but also forms a closer bond between the customer and your brand.

This word cloud is a great way to find out what people in the industry are interested and tweeting about. As a fast moving and thriving promotional products industry, this enables us to see the growing trends and trends that stick.

Top Tweeters for #Promoproducts 

We also tracked the top users on Twitter over 5000 tweets on this topic and who used the hashtag #promoproducts. Hashtags not only categorise content on Twitter and makes your profile easier to discover by users. They are a highly effective way on social media platforms to boost followers, your brand visibility and engagement while expanding your reach on the platform.

Here are some of the top users on Twitter in the industry that used the hashtag #promoproducts to spread the word on promotional products on social media and the number of times they used the hashtag. It takes dedication of tweeting to spread the word!

Promotional products are an amazing way to shape the way you want your brand personality portrayed to your customers. Customisation takes promotional products up a notch, and these products come in many forms for choosing which suits your marketing campaign the best. Whether it is gift with purchase, POS displays, on-pack offers or corporate gifts, you are spoilt for choice! Using these tools effectively can boost revenue and drive sales for your brand.

Keep up to date in the Promotional Products Industry

Promotional Product Industry News

Get a spark of inspiration from some of our top picks of promotional blogs in the last month of April. Find out what the leaders in the industry are up to and what they have to say of the upcoming trends of promotional products!

Top 7 Promotional Products for April 

As we are spending time at home take a look at a list of promotional case studies that we really enjoyed. Look at some of the insights and different perspective companies have towards promotional products. From Covid19 related products, information on print marketing and even promotional umbrellas.

If you are interested in promotional products. Don't hesitate to contact us for a guest blog or interview publishing on our page. The sole purpose of publishing guest blogs is to spread inspiration on case studies from leaders in the industry. It is a completely free service, where the blog will be credited to your company. contact us

Top 7 Promotional Product Blogs for April

As we approach the end of another month in 2020. Let’s take a look at the 7 Top Promotional Products Blogs for April as we are all spending time at home.

Promotional Products Association International

PPAI is a trusted leader in the promotional products industry. Closely monitoring and providing up-to-date information as the covid19 situation evolves. Here is one of our personal favourites, recently published is Business NOT As Usual.

This blog is a message from the PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone on their latest update of how they are adjusting with the covid19 situation. Plans they have made to ensure that business continues to thrive and communication within the office and with customers are maintained. Take some practice tips and advice to approaching this global crisis.

Pinnacle Promotions

Pinnacle Promotions has published this blog with very practical tips and tricks on an issue almost every company would have faced. Definitely made it to our top 8 list.

This novel coronavirus (Covid19) has been the cause for the disruption and cancellation of hundreds of events around the world. There comes many things to deal with when an event big or small gets cancelled or postponed.

Here in this blog pinnacle promotions has a number of steps that can help you deal with the cancellation of an event in an effective way. Find out how through these simple tips to try as hard as possible to keep your customers satisfied.

Sourcing City News

Sourcing City News gives us one of our favourite blogs this month on updated pledges for #PromoteTheNHS.

The UK Gift Industry has gone above and beyond to offer support to The National Health Service. Bringing smiles to medical staff who work tirelessly in these unprecedented times, with tranche bags and thank you insert cards representing all contributing companies. To show our appreciation to the front-liners fighting for their country.

E Promos

E Promos a promotional site providing a range of services, has provided us with another blog for the month of April. Keeping Kids Entertained At Home: Promo Gifts Worth Sending

Keeping Kids entertained is tough, and with the change in lifestyle due to Covid-19, families at stay at home notices are facing some new challenges. In this blog E Promo has a list of kid-friendly promos that can help families with the work/life balance, keeping children entertained while at home.

Perfect Imprint

Perfect Imprint goes creative with their marketing this month with this blog: How to Use Promotional Umbrellas.

As much as individuals can refuse the need of bringing out an umbrella, once rain begins to pour down, everyone will wish they had one. In this blog Perfect Imprints shows us how promotional umbrellas make perfect promotional gifts for any company.

Rc Denver

Rc Denver a promotional products blog gives us this innovative idea that comes in incredibly handy in times where we do not want to be risking getting germs on our hands.

In this blog we see how this new product, the Kooty Key can help us never worry about touching filthy, high-contact surfaces again. And how this can put our minds more at ease in the current Covid-19 situation.

Promo Marketing

Promo Marketing gives us some useful tips and tricks that we can make use of the next time we use print marketing.

When marketing, one of the biggest challenges is the task to identify the ROI in any marketing initiative we take. With digital marketing growing in the market, it is easy to forget the effectiveness of print marketing. In this blog, look at how you can utilize print marketing as a marketing professional.

The ODM Group

From The ODM Group look at how Custom Printed Food Packaging – Make Customers Hungry For More.

contact

In this blog, understand how your company can utilize POS Displays and product packaging to attract customers attention and leave a great impression. Look at the example of the famous chocolate waffle brand, Loacker for some inspiration.

Promotional Product Industry News

Check out out top picks for global promotional products blogger news for the month.  Dive in into our most popular blogs in April!

Many times, getting fresh ideas and sharing promotional and marketing ideas can produce a spark of inspiration for your team. 

Top Picks for Promotional Product blogs in April 2020

E-promos has published a very important article to educate readers on the protection of face masks for the safety of your loved ones and the public. This article covers it all, levels of protection of different types of face masks, guidelines from the CDC and other facial coverings that can prove useful too.

Social Distancing Promotional Products

JEM promotional products created an amazing range of products that encourage everyone to keep social distancing together, keeping our loved ones and the professionals fighting for us safe.

Covid19 Medical Supply Sourcing

Covid19 Medical Supplies: ADCO Marketing has a wide range for selection, from FDA certified masks to hand sanitizers. Lending a helping hand in providing medical suppliers where demand is growing large than supply.

Branded Merch: Work & Study From Home Collection

RC Denver branded has specifically designed products for spending time at home. Working and staying at home has become a normal globally, and is the responsible practice. Stay productive, connected and relaxed as ever completing tasks from the comfort of home.

3 Steps To Using A Beer Bucket The Right Way

Did you know? Different beer buckets are made to suit different drinking needs? Even though they can all look the same. Different beer buckets serve individually, different purposes. By the end of this article, impress your customers with your knowledge on beer buckets with Perfect Imprints' blog.

One by one story: Trenton Military Family Resource Centre

The military members who spend months on end away from their family so that we can always be with ours. The Trenton Military Family Resource Centre writes about their annual community event to support military families with backpack giveaways by 4imprint promotional products

Get Your Brand Heard with a Custom Cardboard Speaker

Being environmentally friendly is trend to stay, and with sustainability a growing factor in driving purchase decisions. Here are 9 reasons why your company should have custom cardboard speaker as a promotional gift, by The ODM Group.

The Power of Power Banks as Promotional Gifts

With a staggering 2.5 million who own a cellphone, who doesn’t have a power bank nowadays? Bet you didn’t know that other than saving you from the horror of 1% battery display, it is an amazing way to keep your brand at the forefront of a client’s mind. 

What differentiates this power bank as a promotional gift is the design and development that makes it sustainable, impactful and affordable.

contact us