Increasing Your Promotional ROI

Kingwood, TX, August 18, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Promotional product advertising is the goodwill gift that keeps on working, much longer than other media ads have long gone. Because of this it is one of the most cost-effective forms of marketing and/or advertising today. A simple calendar, for instance, is seen by many people every day, all year long, making the cost per impression only a few pennies a day. The fact that this tool works is enough to give the smart buyer a good ROI.

Coffee mugs, mouse pads, totes, pens, shirts -- yes, even living plants -- are among the hundreds of thousands of items given out every day that can tell the world about a company, place, organization or event. Such is the nature of the promotional products industry, which transforms ordinary products into marketing vehicles for businesses looking to say thanks or attract new customers as imaginatively as possible.

“The many products available for promotional use doesn’t always include an imprint,” says veteran independent promotional products consultant Ted Baida, of Kingwood TX. “Sometimes how they are distributed, or just the receipt and selection of certain gifts and premiums can accomplish the goal of the buyer.” Representing 128-year old national distributor, GEIGER, Ted specializes in finding marketing solutions using the best promotional products to meet the client's objective in a unique way. “That very same product can be used for a completely different purpose for another client. And, just because the item was designed and offered as one thing does not mean it can't be called something else and used in another more innovative way.” The variety of promotional product solutions available also includes recognition and incentive gifts and awards, executive gifts and apparel, among other products.

“The economy, and this industry have turned around and companies are more positive; even looking to spend money on higher-end promotional products such as executive gift sets rather than novelty items,” says Baida. Something must be working as the industry itself reached a record 18 billion dollars last year. People are getting back into a spending mode. However, the cost of goods due to foreign wage increases and fuel are the culprits this year, and spending may be stymied until suppliers and manufacturers work around these unavoidable changes, rearranging whatever's necessary to accommodate the buyer, and in the long run the consumer usually benefits.

“The successful distributor and consultant have learned to develop a strong relationship with quality-conscious product suppliers, choosing only those who are reliable and have the needs of the buyer and his/her goals in mind. Buying the cheapest product is not a smart business decision. Also, a consumer that buys online or via mail-order without proper professional input and recommendations can ruin a program’s chance of success and waste their hard-earned money, or the money of the company or organization for which they are serving. The smart buyer should do the same when selecting his/her distributor/consultant. Choosing and trusting one who is industry knowledgeable, can save them time and money by effectively meeting their marketing challenges, and who regularly instructs them on ways to buy wisely, makes for a great team. Don’t blame the product when the use of that product or program isn’t successful. It’s usually the uninformed, poorly trained, or volunteer buyer that blew it.”

Baida adds, “Being knowledgeable of the new digital technologies, graphic design, and decorating options can be a plus for the smart distributor and consultant. A professional image can enhance branding, one of the most pervasive tool in the industry today. Working with a distributor that is on top of all of these factors and can offer one-stop shopping works is a plus for the buyer. In this, Geiger happens to be a leader.”

The industry has learned and grown with the times. Those that continue to use it will continue to benefit from the knowledge gained, the effectiveness of the promotional products at hand, and the diligence and creativity of those that serve them. All this adds up to a high ROI.

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