Laser engraving is a multifaceted and magnificent tool that we simply adore in the promotional products industry. Not only can you decorate items with laser engraving but you can also create products using laser technology. We’re going to run through both in this blog post.
Laser engraving
Laser engraving is one of our favourites for a few different reasons:
1.You can personalise your promotional products with client or employee names – a great idea for your welcome pack gifts. It’s also a great way to implement the principals of the inbound sales methodology to be able to gain the trust of prospective clients. With laser engraving, you don’t have to pay set up costs for different names either. Say hello to our friend variable data!
2. It’s classy. Think about what’s happening in fashion at the moment – all monotone, all the time. You know it, you’ve heard it! Why not do the same with your promotional products? Laser engraving is a perfect way to get a tone on tone look but still have your logo stand out. Have a look at some of our inspiration pictures below.
3. It’s current. Laser engraving is a technology which is so new to the current market that it’s going to continue to progress. We don’t know it’s limit yet! The newest innovation is called 3D laser engraving. It’s a method which takes an image or photograph and laser engraves it inside a crystal block so it appears that the image is levitating within the crystal.
Laser cutting
Laser cutting is still a relatively new art form to enter the promotional products industry. It’s a method of creating products using a precision laser to be able to cut really fine lines. Think about a saw but on a much more intelligent level. With laser engraving, you can custom make products made out of timber, plastic, leather, paper or even metals.
What does this mean for the promotional products industry?
Laser cutting isn’t widely available to us yet. However, we suspect it will be in a few years. In which time you’ll be able to expect more products which can be cut into your exact logo shape. As well as laser cut paper items – which will be perfect for fancy invitations for gala dinners.
We’ll attach a link to our Facebook page so you can see an illustrative video of how exactly laser cutting works – it’s pretty interesting.
Interested in laser engraving? Contact one of our account managers to find out more about how you can incorporate the technique into your marketing merchandise.
Just as you wouldn’t enlist your grandpa to teach you how to use the newest drone, you wouldn’t want to rely on outdated strategies to launch your company’s next campaign. We are living in the age of information, where technology and business practices are evolving faster than we blink. Common household items like landlines and physical newspapers are becoming obsolete. Meanwhile, robots tend to five-star hotels and hold complex conversations. As Bob Dylan prophesied, the times they are a’ changing, and “you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone.” As such, it is important to discuss old vs. new marketing strategies. Whether you are a Marketing Manager or have run your own business since 1985, you’d better reconcile your nostalgia with cutting edge practices.
Old Marketing Strategies
Back in the days, the travelling salesman was a respected profession. Some bloke would load up a bunch of books, vacuums, or cutlery into his car. He’d head out for a full day of knocking on strangers’ doors, ready to blindly pitch his way into a paycheck. Companies primarily based old marketing on pushing products onto anyone they could reach. It didn’t matter if it was through tv commercials, full-page newspaper ads, or sharky shop salespeople. Because companies didn’t necessarily take client demographics into consideration, everyone was a potential customer. As such, they sent out the message as loudly and widely as possible.
Pushing out products to the masses, or outbound marketing, had its serious downfalls. Not only did people feel pressured to buy unnecessary items, but businesses also wasted a great deal of time and money peddling unwanted products. Conversion rates were low, and consequently, the CPP (cost per person) of each sale was high.
New Marketing Strategies
With the emergence of the internet and the motto of “work smarter, not harder,” things started changing. Companies figured out that there had to be a better way to get clients. Hence the creation of inbound marketing, which was designed to attract the clients to the company. With websites, blogs, and social media channels, the mouse was now in charge of knocking on the cat’s door. Inbound marketing makes the client more comfortable and is also much more calculated, and therefore effective. With Google Analytics and other forms of data analysis, companies can easily find out who their ideal clients are. By honing into those demographics and creating buyer personas, they ensure that they’re not advertising encyclopedias to YouTube fanatics.
How Promotional Products Provide an Integrated Approach
Perhaps you’re ready to embrace new marketing strategies but still have your reservations. After all, strategies like email marketing are still effective when done properly. Thankfully, there is a way to reconcile the old with the new. Promotional merchandise is a perfect way to use inbound and outbound marketing tactics together. People love to receive free stuff, so why not use promotional products as an incentive? For example, you give a potential client the latest style of coffee mug she’s been wanting. Now, every time she serves a cup of joe, your logo will remind her of how awesome your company is. With your website imprinted on that merch, you have merged old vs. new marketing. This is a very effective way of moving prospects through your marketing funnel faster and turn them into paying customers. Get ready for the best results ever.
What is your position on old vs. new marketing strategies? Have you found a way to successfully reconcile these practices? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!
Did you know that each year, Australians use more than six billion plastic bags? Well, things are about to change. Two major retail chains recently made waves (mid-July) by announcing that they will ban plastic bags in their stores. Five Australian states had already banned these products. Nonetheless, Woolworths and Coles’ new commitment means that New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia will catch up to speed by June of 2018. This is huge news not only for the environment, but also for businesses in Australia. It’s becoming apparent that reusable bags are now a way of life.
Plastic is Toxic for the Environment
The ban on plastic bags has become a global phenomenon, and with good reason. Plastic is a toxic, non-biodegradable material that has caused the earth major damage. Do Something! is an Australian campaign that fights for social and environmental justice. Its founder, John Dee, called this move “the first big step by a major Australian retailer,” adding that Aldi set the bar when it opened in 2001 by not giving away plastic bags in the first place. While seemingly harmless and convenient, Dee stated that “lightweight plastic bags often end up polluting waterways and the ocean, killing and maiming marine animals.”
Why Companies Like Woolworths are Banning Plastic Bags
In response to the retail giant’s major announcement, Woolworth’s Chief Executive Brad Banducci remarked: “Today’s commitment shows we are committed to taking our environmental and community responsibilities seriously.” However, the resolve to ban plastic bags in all of their stores, including Big W, Dan Murphy’s, and BWS liquor stores, is not just conservational. Banducci also stated that, each year, their stores give away more than 3.2 billion plastic bags. This translates to a hefty expenditure for convenience. When the ban is set in place next year, reusable bags will be available for purchase, costing anywhere from 15 cents to 2 dollars.
The Importance of Sustainability in Business
With this environmental movement set in place, what does this mean for the business world? As a Marketing Coordinator, it’s more important than ever to take note of this shift of consciousness. It’s clear that consumers are now demanding sustainable choices, and your company should be prepared to deliver. Reusable bags are now a way of life, and they’re also a brilliant way to reach your demographic. When it comes to promotional products, people are more likely to keep the merchandise if it’s useful. Now that plastic bags are being banned, there is going to be an even higher need for eco-friendly shopping bags. In addition, promotional bags have an incredibly low CPI (cost per impression) and are an effective form of advertisement.
Reusable Bags as Promotional Merchandise
If you haven’t yet implemented promotional merchandise into your marketing strategies, now is the time to start. Promotional products can increase the effectiveness of your campaign by 44%, and customer acquisition by 31%. In the United States, where the first ban on plastic bags began in 2007, 50% of consumers own and consistently use promotional bags. As such, reusable, promotional bags generate more impressions than any other promotional product in the U.S. With the ban on plastic bags being embraced here in Australia, this is the prime opportunity to use promotional bags as part of your marketing campaign. Doing so will show your clientele not only that you care about the environment, but also that you are paying attention to their needs as consumers.
If you need inspiration for reusable bags, take a look at our totes here. After all, reusable bags are now a way of life, and plastic bags are a thing of the past. Make sure your company reflects the sign of the times.
Do you have questions, or need help transitioning to sustainable promotional products? Let us know in the comments below!
Customer loyalty doesn’t begin after you make the sale. Their are four main stages for obtaining and keeping a client: attract, convert, close, and delight. Every single stage in this process is essential for increasing customer loyalty to your brand.
So how do you increase customer loyalty? There are various ways to increase your customer loyalty while still staying true to your brand and making your company stand out amongst the competition.
1. Implement outreach processes
Delighting your customers needs to come at every single stage in the buyer process in order to increase customer loyalty to your brand. Implementing outreach processes can be a good way to delight customers at any stage. Outbound email campaigns, providing helpful tips, and recommending resources can be a great way to delight your customers at every stage in the buyer process, even after they make a purchase.
Provide helpful content
It is much more cost-effective to keep a loyal customer happy than to continually obtaining new customers. Sending out a free eBook or a downloadable guide or template can be a great way to keep customers loyal to your brand both before and after you make the sale. It’s vital not to forget to delight your customers after you sold them your product or service. Returning customers are essential and can provide great referrals for future sales. Sending out a a genuinely helpful piece of content will show your customers you care about them even after you made the sale.
2. Sending promotional gifts to increase customer loyalty
Customers that receive a branded gift from a company are more than 85% percent likely to do business with that same company. With a strategic plan for gifting promotional products, customer loyalty towards your brand is almost guaranteed to increase. Timing and usefulness are two of the most important factors when creating a strategy to gift promotional products in order to increase brand loyalty.
For example, for Red Tomato’s 10-year anniversary we sent out a campaign integrating email and promotional gifts. Our account managers sent out high-quality “birthday” cards to all of our clients which was also accompanied by an email. The email contained a call to action which offered our clients a free gift – a branded box filled with a 1kg block of chocolate and a little hammer to smash and share it with colleagues! These thoughtful, and well-timed gifts increase Red Tomato’s customer loyalty and brand awareness.
3. Discounts
Offering your customers (or potential customers) special discounts and exclusive offers can increase their sense of brand loyalty. Why? Because it shows that you care about your customers enough to provide them with exclusive offers. Offer these types of discounts also instills a sense of urgency for them to act on the offer.
For example, you could have a special offer in which customers share your brand’s social media post within 24 hours in order to receive a special discount or free gift with a purchase. This implements a sense of urgency to act on an offer in addition to a sense of customer loyalty because they will receive a special discount from your brand.
4. Rewards for purchase
Enticing customers to make a purchase with an offer to receive a reward, will both increase sales and customer loyalty if executed correctly. For example, Red Tomato’s “Ugly Christmas Sweater” campaign encouraged customers to place an order before the end of the financial year. If they did, they would receive a free ugly sweater. The campaign was both fun, and a win-win for both Red Tomato and their clients.
Customer loyalty using a points-back system
This is probably one of the most common examples of a customer loyalty program. Grocery stores and coffee shops that offer “points” for purchases that can be exchanged for discounts or free items. A points-back system is a good way to both increase revenue and customer loyalty.
5. Input
Customers, especially millennial customers, want to contribute to the evolution of a brand. Customers want to feel like they are part of the brand and can identify with its message. Asking customers for input can increase customer loyalty because they feel loyal to a brand they helped build.
A perfect example of this is Lego’s “Kronkiwongi” campaign. In this campaign, Lego asked kids to build a “Kronkiwongi” (a word Lego invented) and encouraged kids to use their imagination. Kids all over the world submitted their creations and explained what a “Kronkiwongi” does. The campaign was heartwarming, viral, and increased international customer loyalty towards Lego.
Golf is good for your business. Whether you run a technology start-up or specialise in aerodynamic golf clubs, incorporating golf into your marketing strategies can be highly beneficial. It doesn’t matter if your only experience with the sport was playing putt putt as a kid. We can still show you how to use golf to promote your business with promotional merchandise.
The Facts of Popularity
Studies done by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Australia have shown that the sport’s popularity is consistently growing. While national participation was at 1.18 million in 2013, by 2015 this figure had grown by 7.2 percent. It is clear that golf’s 2016 Olympic debut in Rio and overall global interest have continued to increase. Some of the world’s best golfers are now attending Australian tournaments. Based on the facts, it appears that the sport’s popularity is here to stay.
How Golf and Business Promotion are Related
So, what is the link between golf and business promotion? First off, the demographic of golf players tends to be a successful, business-minded individual. Tapping into this demographic will allow you to forge connections with people you otherwise might not have access to. These people tend to favour quality products, and this could translate into a profitable relationship.
Ways to Use Golf to Promote Your Business Using Promotional Merchandise
One way to break into the realm of golf is to host a Golf Day for your company and clients. This fun, memorable occasion will allow you to further your bond with attendees, enhancing brand loyalty. Make sure to plan ahead and have plenty of promotional merchandise on hand. There’s nothing more enticing to golfers than free golf products. If you’re not sure how to use golf to promote your business during your Golf Day, be sure to check out our helpful list here.
Another way to get your foot into the world of golf is to become a sponsor at a tournament. Something as simple as sponsoring a hole or holding a raffle is an excellent way to spread the word about your business. Brand exposure is priceless, especially among high profile players and other organisations. By sharing your passion and networking effectively, you could also potentially collaborate with big names on the course, such as Titliest, Callaway, Taylormade, and Adidas. Remember to present yourself in a professional manner, but also to keep the atmosphere enjoyable. There’s nothing more irritating than trying to play a round of golf while having a salesperson forcing you to buy their product.
If hosting a Golf Day doesn’t seem like a fit for your business, there are plenty of other ways you can use golf to promote your business. Look up local charity events and donate golf-related promotional merchandise. If you are a knowledgeable golfer, consider volunteering to give kids free lessons at your local golf club. Remember that, by being creative and thinking outside the box, there are an endless amount of ways that this sport can help bolster your sales and brand recognition.
Have you used golf to promote your business? Do you have any tips that we missed? Please share your experiences or questions with us in the comments below!
