Customer Service

Many sociological and corporate trends have contributed to growing importance of the promotional product in the marketing mix. We have become a society where shopping for new, interesting and amusing products has integrated into our social lives. We like our gadgets and we shop for fun.

Corporations, retailers and manufacturers want to add-value to that experience. Also building a successful brand in any market is about coverage. Promotional products provide coverage for an extended period of time. Longer than your above the line media, for less money.

Competition has grown fierce to win corporate loyalty and increase sales. Strategic marketers are finding by adding product based incentive programs they are winning quicker brand loyalty and increasing sales almost immediately after a campaign’s launch.

Many, especially the ‘Gift With Purchase’ programs have steadily performed in increasing sales for retailers and brand managers.

These programs in many cases become “self liquidating” (when increased sales results cover more than the promotional product’s cost and the campaigns implantation).

Many, especially the ‘Gift With Purchase’ programs have steadily performed in increasing sales for retailers and brand managers.

These programs in many cases become “self liquidating” (when increased sales results cover more than the promotional product’s cost and the campaigns implantation).

Inexperienced marketers think of promotional products as an after thought, a give-a-way without any value. The best way to utilise a promotional product professional is to work closely with them early in the marketing process and ask them to offer what we call the “Product Perspective” to the marketing mix. If correctly utilised, this perspective can save companies thousands of dollars.

The “Product Perspectives” and the creativity coming out of the leaders in our industry are now driving above-the-line campaigns and in many cases for a fraction of the cost of utilising the creativity of an ad agency.

In short, what has changed is promotional product professionals are providing more “creative” for less investment. Compare the value of promotional products to other forms of advertisement and consistently research shows your marketing dollars go further with promotional products.

The current trends in promotional products are rapidly changing and include movements towards high perceived value items over the cheap and nasty.

Price used to drive the market but now marketers are tired of getting cheap product that fall apart or arrive late. Marketers are finally realising a professional promotional product provider can make their jobs easier, supply their company with additional creativity and help diversify their overall marketing coverage.

Employee Incentive Programs & Service Anniversary Recognition Programs.

Experts agree that tenure recognition should be given early, since most turnovers are within the first five year. Companies often only get half the equation right. They create attractive employment packages but fail to invest in retaining these staff when the honeymoon is over.

There is ample evidence that motivated employees boost a company’s productivity and revenue.

First and foremost, marketers should ALWAYS use a company who is a member of APPA.

There are a lot of small, inexperienced and unethical promotional providers out there. Of the approximately 2,000 so called promotional product providers in Australia only 300 are legitimate APPA members.

Source: Australasian Promotional Products Association