#1. Do not wait until the stroke of midnight

Although awesome promotional product companies (i.e. Bullpen Marketing) can turn orders on a dime, some unknown factors can be hard to control such as inventory, shipping errors and acts of God. Also, waiting to the very last minute on orders can incur hefty expedited shipping costs, not to mention unhealthy stress and agitation levels. If possible, allow time for unforeseen events and place orders well in advance to avoid these last-minute headaches.

#2. Do not give a pork chop to a vegetarian

Not knowing your targeted audience for your promotional product campaign is a disastrous mistake leading to wasted time and money. There’s a simple reason for this: People will not keep something that doesn’t resonate with them. You wouldn’t give a vegetarian a pork chop, would you? No matter the case, the promotional items you’re handing out should have the goal of getting more sales and better customer response. Take some time to think about your intended audience and ask yourself “Would they like this item?” Better yet, use your promotional product company (such as Bullpen) as a resource for product selection advice. This isn’t our first rodeo…or trade show…or client appreciation dinner…or employee safety program…or…well—you get the picture.

#3. Do not have unrealistic expectations

If it feels looks like a $0.25 pen, and writes like a $0.25 pen—it’s probably a $0.25 pen… While there are several items that make for fantastic money-saving deals, in most cases you undoubtedly get what you pay for. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with giving out $0.25 pens at a trade show. But keep your expectations in check. These pens may not last as long or look as appealing and therefore not have the same impact or staying power than another priced pen or item.

#4. Do not keep things to yourself

The promotional item is important to the recipient, but what is on the promotional product itself what’s most important to you. Just as a billboard, you need to share all the vital and relevant information. If you’re trying to drive traffic to a website, make sure your URL is on there—or, for the tech savvy recipient, perhaps a QR code that opens a mobile friendly webpage. If you’re only putting your logo symbol on there, will the recipient be able to identify it and make the connection to your company? Or would it make more sense to have the company name written out? Get the most out of your promotional marketing by having the correct information on your items.

#5. Do not have good intentions

Don’t get me wrong. Good intentions are…good. However, if you order 200 calendars and give away 100 of them while intending to get the rest out as soon as you can isn’t a good strategy. Promotional items don’t do any any good if they’re sitting in your company’s storage room intending to be distributed. Unless there’s a lot of unsought after business in there.

They’re everywhere and on everything. But what the heck are they? Where did they come from? And why should anyone use them?

A QR Code (short for Quick Response Code) is nothing more than a square, funny looking bar code with your smart phone acting as the scanner. It can direct your phone to a website, display text (up to 250 characters), and even open up a phone number on your phone.

QR Codes were created in Japan in 1994 and have spread throughout the world (with a little slower uptake on the western hemisphere). And ever since, they have proven to be a valuable marketing tool…given the right circumstances.

Before you take up a full page ad in the Houston Business Journal with nothing but a QR code, there are some things to keep in mind:

• A QR Code requires a smart phone with a built-in camera to be read—and not everyone has one of those.

• If you do reach an end-user that happens to have a smart phone, they must also have an app and internet connectivity in order to read the QR code.

• After the technological hurdles have been over come, it still takes motivation from the end-user to take out that phone, open that app and scan your code. Say, for example, scan here and receive a special Bullpen offer!

That being said, why would anyone use one of these silly things? Well, it’s a great way to provide lots of information (leading you to a website) with a limited amount of space (for example, an advertisement). This code becomes an extension of your ad or your billboard or your product brochure and can provide a limitless amount of supplemental info that you couldn’t necessarily print in that medium. It’s also acts as a shortcut key. Instead of having to type a URL into your phone (with risks of typos) it leads the user directly and exactly to where you want them to end up. Not to mention, there is certainly a coolness factor with these little buggers. So go ahead and try it out. Here are some tips and tricks to help you along:

• Don’t have a QR Code app on your smart phone yet? There are tons of apps available that are free for download. Click here if you need help finding one.

• Don’t have a code? QR Codes are easy and free to generate. Here’s one of many sites that provides this service.

• When applying codes to printed materials, make sure codes are printed at a minimum size of 1″ x 1″. And although people have learned to be creative with their codes using colors and icons, we recommend keeping it simple and printing them black on white.

• Need to see some creative application of QR Codes to be inspired? Check out this image gallery and let your imagination run free.

So go ahead. Have some fun with QR Codes! And if you need help applying these things in your marketing, just call Bullpen Marketing (by scanning here!)

Wallets carry everything we need whenever we leave the house; it keeps our money, credit/debit cards, ID, and anything else we may need for the outing. Being responsible for yet another item causes distractions in a time when we should be enjoying ourselves. We may appear to be enjoying the African Wildlife exhibit at the Natural Science museum, but we are actually 3 seconds away from making sure our wallet is where we assume it to be. Wouldn’t it feel nice to not have to worry about carrying that thing around in our back pocket or purse? Yes. Yes it would.  

Now comes the good part: there’s an easy solution. The Shoe Wallet opens up a new wallet-free world that decreases worry and increases enjoyment. This item contains a strap that is fed behind your shoe laces and is secured with a hook and loop. The Shoe Wallet is useful in any situation, whether you’re running the 5K, out at the zoo, or walking through the aisles of the grocery store. It’s a great gift to anyone, anywhere and for any occasion.

The Shoe Wallet comes with a side zipper pocket and a fold-over top pocket to provide additional storage space. This item is 3 7/8” w x 2 1/2” h x ¾” d with the screen print on the top measuring 1 ½” w x 3/8” h with maximum 1 color. It comes in black/blue or black/gray. The imprint color comes in gold, white, or silver and is as low as $1.98. Call Bullpen today for more information!

Want to add a little colorful splash to your workplace? Because as we all know, it can be a little bland at times. Now, I’m in no way suggesting a complete remodeling of the place with an obnoxious color palette splattered around, but I am going to provide you with small, but significant, solution. Reward your clients, co-workers, or just yourself for any occasion with the Stemz Flexi Flower Vase to brighten the environment with those exquisite flowers you’ve been wanting to purchase.

This is no glass vase that you have to cart from home, bring to the office, and maybe even accidentally break. This is a vase made of soft and flexible PVC material to replace that annoyingly heavy (and possibly pricey) glass vase. It arrives in flat form and as you add water for those beautiful flowers, the vase will begin to stand on its own. The form of this special vase makes it easy to store, as well as simplify shipping to that client(s) or co-worker(s) you wish to spoil with this clever accessory.

The Stemz Flexi Flower Vase is as low as $1.79 and comes in red, purple, neon pink, black, and green with a clear upper body; it also comes in solid blue. The size of the vase is 10 9/16” h x 5 11/16” w and the imprint area is 4”h x 3”w. The vase comes in a white envelope so that it’s ready to be mailed.

These skins are like a moving billboard—with your brand on it! They can be cut to fit up to a 17 inch laptop and offer an gigantic imprint area of 14.5″ x 10.5″. These high quality vinyl skins protect laptops from scratches and fingerprints. The advanced adhesive technology allows these skins to be placed and removed with leaving any sticky residue behind—which means they can also be reused! This idea is perfect for school campuses (college and high school), corporations and computer-based businesses.

These 4-color process promo items sell for as little as $3.50 per item. And if you are thinking of these for a trade show or give-away promotion, give yourself some time. Standard production time is 25 business days. For more information or a quote, contact Bullpen today!

Bullpen has recognized that giving is on the rise as the U.S. economy struggles to rebound from 2009.  The start of Christmas and the gift-giving season is fast approaching.  We will be focusing our attention on gifts that have more sustenance – gifts that do, in fact, give back.

We are working tirelessly with our factories to develop ways for companies to give for charitable reasons, as well as promotional needs.  One initiative is the Hope and Green Grass collection of promotional products that display your logo.  10% of the revenue from Items purchased in this collection will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and American Forests, respectively.  Giving a gift that gives back creates such a wonderful culture within a company both internally with employees as well as external clients and stakeholders.  It shows a compassionate heart of a company that is not only looking out for its bottom line, but looking to help change the world in a small but important way.

To see the Hope and Green Grass collection, contact Bullpen today at 713.652.2030 or email us here.

As far as advertising your brand, it couldn’t get any better. Careful targeting, clear messaging and long-term visibility make these calendars a high-impact low-cost advertising tool compared to other media. Why else are these remarkably cost-effective promo items great?

Meaning. To customers, a calendar isn’t advertising, it’s a thoughtful gift—more than just “another ad.”

Endorsement. When a customer displays your calendar, it’s a personal recommendation of your brand to everyone who sees it.

Relevance. The functionality and visual appeal of a calendar keep your brand personally relevant day after day.

Value. A calendar overcomes the “tune out” common with other forms of advertising, maximizing your advertising dollars for an entire year.

Call or email us today and let Bullpen find the perfect calendar to go with your brand.

*Information for statistics and chart provided by Dr. Kenneth W. Lawyer, retired Marketing Department Chair as Case-Western Reserve University.

Ever wonder if some promo items have a greater ability to effect change more than others? According to brand new research, “Effectiveness of Promotional Products As An Advertising Medium” conducted by PPAI through MarketTools, Inc., the answer is YES!

A study of 1,005 average American households revealed that when it comes to creating a favorable impression of an advertiser or motivating the recipient to take a particular action, the following promo items had top honors:

[1] Gift baskets of food
[2] MP3 player
[3] Clock or watches
[4] Digital picture frames
[5] Luggage
[6] T-shirts/golf shirts
[7] Wallets
[8] Tote bags

And, for greatest advertiser/message recall, the following items were ranked highest by responents for their usefulness and/or uniqueness:

[1] Pens
[2] Calendars
[3] Coffee mugs
[4] Magnets
[5] MP3 players
[6] T-shirts/golf shirts
[7] Tote bags/bags
[8] Gift baskets of food

No, you didn’t miss hearing the name of the product in it’s rhythmically hip voice over. And no, there were no words on the screen hinting at the name except for that floating  G. The first few times I saw this ad, I was confused, stunned and pondered, “What IS G?” My mind lingered on the question for a few seconds before the following commercial wiped the slate clean. The next couple of times, I tried to pay extra attention to the words in the voice-over desperately trying to discover what it was a commercial for. I even used the DVR once to rewind the commercial. After that, I tried to identify the people in the commercial to find a link, but didn’t know who half of them were. I was at a loss. Why did the makers of this commercial not want me to know what it was selling?

At about the 6th viewing, I decided to do some quick interneting to find an answer to what I ruled was an extremely ridiculous and inefficient ad. I was baffled to find that this was the same sports drink which once asked “Is it in you?” Whose black and white commercials once showed athletes working hard while the brightly colored liquid sweat from their pores. And (dare I say it?) actually showed it’s product and repeated it’s name in the ad—more than once.

So, what can we learn from this cryptic message? It’s as simple as this—Don’t be cryptic! Especially not in your marketing or branding. Don’t assume your consumers or potential clients will go through the trouble of researching your ad to find out who you are. Luckily for you, Bullpen’s here to help you with all your marketing needs. If you think you may need some help, give us a call at 713.652.2030.

Have you figured it out yet?
To keep in line with the cryptic ad, here’s a slightly less cryptic pictogram to provide the answer: