February 2009
THE ALTERNATIVES
With the bad economy looming, my husband, the financial guru, suggested we sit down, take precautionary measures and save where ever possible. Sounded like a plan. “Let's see - manicurist, pedicurist, aesthetician, you don't really need them, right? he asked. That was easy, I thought, just one foul swoop and all the simple pleasures in my life were on the chopping block. Ummmmm, no don't really need them, but I think new base guitars, subwoofers and speakers are easier to remove from the budget, don't you? I said posing the alternative. “Easier than a manicurist?”, he looked perplexed. “It's just simple math”, I said, “one of your items are like equivalent to 50 of mine!”
Everyone, including your clients, are looking to cut corners, spend less money, be a little more frugal. But don't let them throw in the towel and cross off promotional products from their budgets all together. You need to find them the alternative item, the one that costs less than the ones they've been buying. We figure there are plenty of ways to help keep your clients interested, help keep them exposed. Be the hero in this difficult time and show them that you're creative enough to help figure it all out.
LAPEL PINS - Inexpensive and Extremely Visible! $1.62 (P)/250 pieces. As quickly as they are handed out, they are on the recipients lapel. Great exposure! They can be fun and colorful for tradeshow giveaways – great for branding. When your clients say that bonuses and award programs have been temporarily eliminated, suggest a two tone die struck pin as a beautiful alternative, because recognition is still important. Easy for the recipient to wear and proudly display their accomplishment. (Avaline is offering a FREE DIE on all emblematic jewelry until March 30th)
EMBROIDERED PATCHES – Colorful and EyeCatching! Less than a buck (0.96 P)!/500 pieces. No more money for the expensive zippered sweatshirts, jackets and pullovers in their programs , suggest an embroidered patch instead. No sizes to contend with! With a permanent or non permanent heat seal backing, the recipient can put it on any of their own favorite apparel items. They'll wear it more – hence more exposure.
ZIPPER PULLS – Because we all have zippers! 1.40 P/500 pieces. A tradeshow giveaway, a fundraiser, a token for a youth program, radio remotes and more. These fit into all programs because they're utilitarian – we all have a zipper somewhere – jackets, coats, backpacks, pocket books, luggage. Durable and colorful, tell you're client they'll keep their message exposed longer than the economy will be deposed.
WATER BOTTLE/TOWEL SET – Value Added! 4.00 R/120 pieces. Who doesn't like “getting more” for their money. A generous white microfiber towel packed in a water bottle. Tell them it's a two for one offer! A great item because we'll all be spending a lot more time in the inexpensive outdoors to entertain ourselves.
LUCKY CHARM.
Don't you think instead of “Good Luck” it should be “Great Luck”? I want someone to wish me “Great Luck”. “Great luck” from the convenience store clerk as a I buy my weekly lottery ticket. “Great Luck”, would have been totally appropriate and actually prophetic nine years ago as I marched down the aisle. Hey why not “Great Luck”, every morning, as I step out the door. Nowadays we all could use it, and it certainly doesn't hurt to have a lucky charm. Shamrocks are said to bring Good Luck, maybe even Great Luck. And with St. Patty's Day approaching, what a golden opportunity to sell some Lucky Charms.
Avaline's Declaration Rings can take on an Irish twist for March 17th, all you need is a little imagination. Design and create your own lucky charm for St. Patty's Day. They are a fun and trendy way for all who join in St. Patty's Day festivities to display their Irish pride! Suggest them to bar/restaurants as unique bar promotional items, vendors at parades, Irish clubs and associations, town celebrations and parties, beverage promotions, party planners, stores, community banks. After all aren't we all Irish on St. Patty's Day? They are hip urban jewelry, and unlike those green mardi gras beads, the recipients might even wear it after the occasion. No better charm than that.
Need some good fortune, perhaps make a little bit of green? Well here's some luck - right now Avaline is offering a FREE DIE on all Emblematic Jewelry. So you can create whatever Irish charm you want! (Shamrock above is not a stock piece, but if you like it, the design is all yours!)
To learn more about creating Custom Declaration Rings and your FREE DIE offer
THE R.P.E.T. ACRONYM
Roy G. Biv. Famous politician? Athlete? Member of the music group: Bell Biv DeVoe? No, Nope and Nada. If you don't remember him from your school years, Roy G. Biv was quite a colorful character. Actually he's the popular acronym used to remember all the colors that make up the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet). It works. Several decades later and I still remember it! So when Avaline introduced our newest eco bags this year, made from Recycled Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (talk about a mouthful!), I thought there's got to be an easier way to remember that. Abbreviated to RPET – the newest of green buzzwords - these bags are made from 85% recycled plastic bottles. Poly Ethylene Terephthalate is actually the plastics name used in the manufacture of most water bottles. Here's some ideas to help you remember that RPET is also REZS (really easy selling!)
R – Restaurants. In this economy, consumers are still eating out, but instead of the expensive eateries, they're heading to take out and fast food restaurants. Now's the perfect time to pitch one of these RPET bags for their customers take out orders, even if it's just for a limited time. They'll carry their meal home and then broadcast the restaurants message when using it again and again.
P – Pharmacies. Any local one or national franchise. I know CVS is still using plastic bags! Give them to customers when they sign up for their CVS CARES card or other pharmacy programs. Being Green will let customers know they care. Other great P's are Police. Post Office. Parents (schools), Politicians (especially those fighting on the hill for changes in our environment).
E – Employment Agencies. These agencies are booming right now. These bags will work hard, keeping the agency's name circulating even after the economy recovers and the unemployment rate drops. Who wouldn't want a free useful token for their efforts?
T – Tradeshows. A nice sturdy bag on the tradeshow floor. Our R4500 – Tradeshow Messenger Bag - is made specifically for that purpose. Any company can use them and spread a word of social responsibility while giving recipients an appreciated giveaway on the tradeshow floor.
To learn more about Avaline's RPET Bags
BTW, here's a good website on the explanation of RPET if you needed the information for a client:
http://tomlarsen.typepad.com/act2/2008/07/what-is-rpet-polyester-fabric.html
EARTH DAY - APRIL 22
Whoa! It was a blast of cold air that hit me square in the face. And I was walking into my house! A quick look at our thermostat confirmed it was once again set on the line marked ”arctic ”. There's an ongoing battle taking place in my home. Actually it's quite similar to a yo yo. Up and down, up and down, up and down. My husband pushes the thermostat down to “arctic”, I push it back up to “tropical”. And so the yo yoing continues on a daily basis. “I'm just doing my part to help the environment”, is his argument. “Save it for Earth Day,” I said facing off with him the other night in front of the thermostat. “Isn't every day supposed to be Earth Day? “ he grinned.
I hate when he's right.
But in case you haven't heard, there is in fact a day set aside every year, April 22nd, as Earth Day. Intended to create awareness about the environmental crisis, educate the public on what can be done, and inspire appreciation for planet Earth. Events take place nationwide; everything from outdoor events to music and the arts. And of course if your client is looking for an eco-friendly/green/recycled bag for this special day, we have all they could ever want. Folding, RPET, shopping totes, coolers, duffels, you name it. And actually in all the colors they could ever want (Our Spectrum Bag line is available in 26 colors). But we thought it was time for a different spin on Earth Day. These natural hardwood yo yos from our Falcon line can easily be customized to look like our spinning earth. With your message on the other side it's a fun and unique way to get your message whirling around. After all who can resist the urge to slip one on and take it for a quick revolution. They're biodegradable and imprinted with lead free inks. Is there a company sponsoring an earth day event, a program educating children, a community gathering, science museum exhibit, a company highlighting a new eco-friendly item? These yo yos make a clever giveaway. Suggest them to a car dealership to encourage customers to come in and take a spin in a Prius, Civic Hybrid, or Insight. Help bring attention to the environment while having a little fun because we want the earth to keep spinning. They're on EQP. 100 pieces are 3.19 R (Earth imprint not included).
To learn more about Natural Hardwood Yo Yos from our Falcon line
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