Experts are divided whether we will be going through another recession, but no matter, business is still a challenge for most businesses. You can power your business forward in 2011 with economical ideas for effective promotions.
Creatively maximize marketing dollars. What regular supplies in your business could work functionally and promotionally? Rather than buying plain sticky notes, or writing instruments for your office staff, choose imprinted versions that do double-duty as leave-behind gifts for your customers. Retailers can substitute inexpensive imprinted reusable totes for disposable paper bags when a customer spends $50 or more. We can examine your everyday supply needs and recommend ways to cost-effectively leverage them for promotional purposes.
Stay consistent. We’ve said it before: you must continue to build customer relationships even when budgets are tight. Quarterly promotions remind customers of your company so that they’ll be ready to buy again when times are better. Planning for a 2011 series promotion allows us to watch for suitable supplier specials that can be snapped up for your ongoing outreach efforts.
Showcase successes. Now is the time to share examples of work you’ve completed that helped save money or improve efficiency. Consider, for example, Walmart’s campaign, “Save Money. Live Better.” In what ways does your business provide cost savings to your customers? A promotional product with a clever tagline can tangibly reinforce the concept. Rulers, piggy banks, calculators all symbolically say that your product or service provides ROI.
Avoid last-minute orders. Rush charges and expedited shipping sap your budget without providing real value. Let’s look ahead at your calendar of events/campaigns to eliminate such waste. (When those unavoidable 12th hour emergencies do occur, however, our preferred suppliers have stocked, ready-to-ship merchandise that’s reasonably priced.)
Lock-in discounts. Whenever you plan promotions in advance, there’s the potential for quantity discounts. For example, the item you want to hand out at this month’s festival could also be used for next quarter’s trade show. We can even hold and release the product for you on an as-needed basis.
Give us a call today so that we pinpoint specific ways to make 2011 the year you replace recessionary blues with recovery green.
