http://ideas.epromos.com/ The Promo Know-how Zone is a blog about how to use creative promotions to enhance your brand. We feature case studies that show how businesses and organizations big and small can use promotional items and business gifts to build brand awareness, drive sales and increase employee satisfaction and loyalty. en Copyright 2009 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:23:23 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss

Challenge: Finding “green” water bottles at a pleasing-enough price point to serve as an effective fundraiser.

When members of the non-profit, civic design collaborative Urban Charrette needed an event-planning firm for ECOlution ’09, a week-long series of events focused on building a greener Tampa Bay, they turned to the region’s premier purveyor of modern American cuisine, Mise en Place.

The main ECOlution event, named Eco Festival, is a free, outdoor “green” information fair and fundraiser along downtown Tampa’s waterfront, where festival-goers sample local music, local eats, green seminars and green products hailing from the Tampa Bay area and beyond. This festival’s “green” goes beyond just skin deep: Urban Charrette had determined that, as much as possible, everything used in and for the festival would be eco-friendly, self-sustaining, recyclable or biodegradable. This included utensils, plates and cups—even water bottles.

To encourage hydration in the hot Florida sun, the Mise en Place team played it smart—environmentally and health- and fundraising-wise—by deciding to sell biodegradable water bottles, the proceeds of which would return to Urban Charrette. The team connected with another green, civic-minded Tampa business, Kimmins Contracting Group, which agreed to sponsor the bottles in exchange for logo placement to help defray the cost.

Solution: Local sponsor helps defray cost of the 24-ounce eco-aware biodegradable sport bottle.

Finding biodegradable water bottles locally, however, proved to be a challenge, sending the Mise en Place team to the Internet. After speaking to and viewing the products of several suppliers, the team decided to work with ePromos because they loved the clean-looking, sleek, biodegradable (and reusable!) water bottle available on our site, as well as its pleasing price point, which would ensure a successful fundraiser.

Result: Branded bottles raise funds for a non-profit, spread “green” awareness to Tampa Bay and beyond.

On the day of the festival, 30-some booths representing 30-some green businesses and local organizations welcomed 1,000-some environmentally conscious and curious people from the Bay area and beyond. Local bands played. Beer and wine flowed, served and enjoyed in cups made from corn. Local food was sampled on plates and with utensils also made from corn. And festival-goers drank water in their new biodegradable water bottles courtesy of Kimmins to support the Urban Charrette. The Mise en Place team reports that the bottles hit the mark: the Mise en Place, Kimmins and Urban Charrette staff, as well as vendors and attendees, loved the bottles and considered them “cool.” The fundraiser also hit the mark, proving the bottles a great investment and an excellent way to promote the Urban Charrette’s sustainable economic, social, and environmental way of thinking. The Urban Charrette team was pleased with the overall results and impact of the festival as well—they’ve already engaged Mise en Place to make next year’s ECOlution, their third annual, bigger and better than ever.

Find other products to promote your Non-Profit Organization.
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Check out products to use for your next Fundraising Promotion.
Take a look at our special collection of Custom Biodegradable Products.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/products/ecofriendly/biodegradable_branded_water_bo.html http://ideas.epromos.com/products/ecofriendly/biodegradable_branded_water_bo.html Advertising & PR Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Eco-friendly Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Food and Drink Fundraising Mugs, Drinkware & Barware Nonprofit Organizations Promotion and Awareness Restaurant & Food Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:23:23 -0500

Challenge: To give employees a tangible reminder of a fun employee event—and the good feelings surrounding it.

Each year, human resources professionals at countless companies explore countless ways to help employees feel good about being part of the corporate team: employee recognition programs, training and advancement opportunities and “fun” events such as parties and company picnics and outings. The HR team at Earthlink also taps this strategy with annual “earnings” and “summer” workday events designed to get employees out of the office; events in years’ past have included trips to the Atlanta Aquarium and barbeques in nearby parks. Earthlink, a leading Internet service provider headquartered in Atlanta, provides dial-up, high speed, voice, web hosting, networking and security services to millions of subscribers nationwide.

For one recent event at Zoo Atlanta, held specifically for the Atlanta staff, Earthlink’s HR team went a step further by directing budget and effort toward giving employees not only a special day off filled with good feelings, but also an enduring, tangible reminder of those good feelings. In the team’s collective mind was the thought that with just a small additional cost, they could also give staff a product that would enhance the experience, show appreciation and provide a long-lasting reminder of their day at Zoo Atlanta.

Solution: Ultra-sport compact binoculars with neck rope and carrying case.

The brainstorming began. The team searched ePromos’ extensive web catalog, considering products that would work for outdoor events and that would make the trip to Zoo Atlanta more enjoyable. Plenty of items would make nice giveaways, the trick was finding something that would be relevant and really enhance the experience they were providing for their employees. Ideally, they wanted something beyond the everyday, just like the Zoo event was something beyond the average company picnic. Binoculars were the perfect fit—employees could use them to view animals, and would likely keep and enjoy them for many years to come.

Account Executive Michael Bloomenthal helped the team locate from our extended catalog, binoculars that fit their budget: the Ultra-Sport Compact Binoculars with a neck rope and carrying case. The team ordered 350 in silver, with a delicate imprint of the Earthlink logo.

Result: Binoculars make Earthlink’s Zoo Atlanta Day more enjoyable and memorable.

On zoo day, the team arrived early to set up a registration booth outside Zoo Atlanta, where 200 Earthlink employees and their families could check-in and receive entry tickets, an itinerary, a map to the zoo and a new pair of Earthlink-branded binoculars. Recipients loved the gift, which made a memorable day more memorable and served to cement in their minds that it is a very good thing to be part of the Earthlink team.


Browse through our collection of products that are perfect to promote your business in the Online Services Industry.
Take a look at our full collection of Custom Binoculars.
Find other products to use for Employee Event Giveaways.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/branded_binoculars_tangibly_ex.html http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/branded_binoculars_tangibly_ex.html Computer and Internet Employee Relations & Internal Promotion Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Outdoors & Sports Promotion and Awareness Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:04:45 -0500

Challenge: Finding a truly “green,” truly desired promotion in tune with core values.

The team at Global Solutions and Technology, Inc. (GSATi) took this year’s tradeshow marketing strategy to a new level, implementing a step traditionally used by few firms: they questioned their audience pre-show to learn which promotional products would truly resonate most.

Smart move, considering the venue’s forum and audience: members of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) at the industry’s premier, three-day DSA Annual Meeting. More than 2,500 DSA members and 150 supplier members gather and share at this yearly gala, complete with receptions, seminars, an awards banquet and what has been touted as “the most comprehensive exhibition of goods and services to support direct-selling companies found anywhere.”

GSATi, a 100-percent women-owned business, helps businesses of all shapes and sizes design and implement Green IT initiatives from server virtualization and consolidation to telecommuting and IT equipment recycling. Naturally then, “green” was strong on the team’s mind when they began their research; they had initially considered recycled tote bags but discovered that roughly 25 other vendors would be doing the same. The team, thoroughly green, realized that if they gave the same product as other firms, then their product—or those used by other companies—would likely be thrown away instead of used, an unsatisfying prospect that clashed with the firm’s core values.

Solution: Bypass tote bags for GSATi-branded recycled junior notebooks & pens instead.

The team also discovered—by asking staff, sales people and clients which products they’d prefer, keep and use most often—that paper for jotting notes was very often at the top of “most wanted” lists. A recycled notebook then quickly came to mind; a simple Google search quickly led the team to ePromos.

Not just any notebook would do though: the team wanted a notebook constructed of no less than 50 percent recycled materials, ideally 100 percent or as close to it as possible. They also required a quality notebook that DSA members would want to keep and use—and one that would fit within their budget. The Recycled Junior Notebook & Pen fit the bill, with 60 sheets of recycled, lined paper, making it a truly green product rather than one with but a token percent of recycled material.

Result: Branded, recycled notebooks prove successful, will be used at future events as well.

The team’s strategy of passing over popular “green” products in lieu of a product more aligned with their core values and audiences desires worked well. They tell us that the GSATi-branded notebooks helped to extend and achieve brand awareness among existing and potential new clients; they have also ordered more to use at future events as well.


Browse through our category of products that are perfect to promote your business to the IT & Computer Consulting Industry.
Take a look at some of our other Notebooks & Journals.
Find other products to use for your next Trade Show or Event Promotion.
Check out our special collection of Custom Recycled Promos.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/gsati_finds_perfect_ecofriendl.html http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/gsati_finds_perfect_ecofriendl.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Business Gifts Computer and Internet Consulting Eco-friendly Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Office & Business Supplies Promotion and Awareness Telecommunications Trade Show Promotion Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:46:10 -0500

Challenge: Maximize the impact of the employee gift at the 10th anniversary picnic.

Arista Air Conditioning Corporation prides itself on treating employees like family. The firm, providing air conditioning, heating and refrigeration services to the New York tri-state area, boasts a low turnover, with almost one-third of employees having been with the company for 10-plus years.

This is no accident; the Arista team has long been devoted to making the firm an enjoyable place to work, offering, among other benefits, the quintessential company annual picnic complete with horseshoes, an air castle for the kids, a live band and collegial softball games.

Since launching the picnic 10 years ago, the Arista team has learned to maximize the effect of their annual company picnic giveaway, which they see not as an incentive, but as a reward to employees who take the time to attend. Two such tricks of the trade: first, the team promotes their chosen promotion in advance of the picnic to generate excitement; second, employees know they will receive the product only if they attend the event, which increases attendance and makes the gift and picnic more special.

Solution: Gift lanterns please employees and set a positive tone on picnic day.

This year’s selection: the Liberty Camping Rechargeable Lantern. On the day of the picnic, the Arista team implemented yet another smart strategy by giving the lanterns to employees at the sign-in booth. This strategy not only gets people excited, but also puts employees and family members alike in a good frame of mind. Since then, the team reports, they’ve received much praise on their decision to choose the lanterns, which have also proved useful to several employees on camping trips.


Browse through our collection of products that are perfect for promoting your business in the Air Conditioning and Heating Industry.
Take a look at our category of Custom Lanterns.
Find products to give out to your employees at your next Company Picnic.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/rechargeable_lanterns_motivate.html http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/rechargeable_lanterns_motivate.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Construction Employee Gifts Employee Relations & Internal Promotion Engineering Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Outdoors & Sports Promotion and Awareness Tools, Knives & Flashlights Utilities Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:26:43 -0500

Challenge: Finding an affordable yet sophisticated graduation gift that appeals broadly to an entire graduating class.

The New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) is home to more than 4,500 students pursuing 14 master’s and 26 undergraduate degrees. NYU-SCPS is also NYU’s fourth largest graduate school and fifth largest undergraduate college, maintaining a reputation of high standards and excellence that makes it one of the most respected post-baccalaureate continuing education programs in the country.

Accordingly, in keeping with its reputation and with tradition, the NYU-SCPS team planned to honor this year’s graduates with school-branded commencement gifts at the annual school-wide convocation ceremony. The grand celebration would take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel near Grand Central Station; the gift, they knew, would be NYU-SCPS-branded pens. The team has long given pens to NYU-SCPS graduates, pens being cost-effective in large numbers and appreciated keepsakes that last—and are useful—for years.

But with nearly 1,600 pens cataloged on ePromos’ extensive website alone, the team needed help. They called on ePromos’ Promotions Specialist Valerie Bogucharova, who provided several samples she felt might align well with the team’s requirements: cost-effective, classy, professional and sophisticated. The pen also had to write well and appeal to both men and women. When the initial samples did not suit, Valerie dove deeper, turning to our extensive offsite catalog in search of the perfect graduation pen.

Solution: The Zara RollerBall Pen with laser engraving on both body and cap.

This time, her choice—the Zara RollerBall Pen—hit home. The team found the Zara, with its metallic finish, black and chrome trims and brass cap and barrel—available in gunmetal and satin nickel—attractive, high quality and comfortable; it also wrote well and felt good in the hand. The team opted for the satin-nickel finish and laser engraving on both the pen body and cap. The school’s website address marked the cap; on the body, the text “NYU SCPS Class of 2009” sat alongside an engraving of the Washington Square Arch, the unofficial but widely-recognized symbol of NYU.

Result: NYU-SCPS-branded pens, carried with pride, thank students for choosing NYU-SCPS and invite future involvement.

In early May, 900 NYU SCPS graduates gathered at the Grand Hyatt to celebrate their achievement in grand style. Students came to the stage one by one, shook hands with school dignitaries, smiled for the cameras and received a rolled-up “paper” wrapped in ribbon and pen. The rolled paper signifies a student’s official diploma, mailed to the student later. The team tells us that the sleek NYU-SCPS-branded pens made a bold, aesthetic statement that not only “wowed” students and gave them a sense of pride in belonging to the NYU-SCPS student body. The pens also served to thank students for their investment in the college and to invite them to stay involved with the school in the future.


Find other products to promote your business within the Education Industry.
Browse through our category of Custom Pens.
Take a look at our collection of Corporate Gifts for your next event.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/industries/education/sleek_branded_pens_make_a_bold.html http://ideas.epromos.com/industries/education/sleek_branded_pens_make_a_bold.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Business Gifts Education Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Pens, Pencils & Highlighters Promotion and Awareness Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:30:26 -0500

Challenge: Keeping an association’s name top-of-mind, promoting a green initiative.

The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) has a long history of representing jurisdictions that control the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages within their borders. This Washington D.C.-based organization with a national reach acts as an information clearinghouse for and a liaison between NABCA members, research and advocacy groups and federal, state and local governments.

Each year, NABCA hosts an annual meeting that attracts the who’s who of the alcohol control operations, including representatives of federal, state and local governments; alcohol industry professionals; and research experts. For three days, members enjoy informative sessions covering the state and federal activities, alcohol industry developments, case studies and other relevant topics.

During conferences past, the NABCA team has given attendees branded promotional products—visors, T-shirts, hats, coolers—that somehow reflect the conference location, which changes every year, that act as conference mementos and, that, more important, keep the NABCA name top-of-mind all year long. Knowing that past conference giveaways have worked to meet the latter objective, the team set out again to find promotional products for this year’s event in Phoenix, Arizona.

On the team’s giveaway agenda: to find products reminiscent of Arizona’s hot, dry climate, products that not only would keep the NABCA name front-and-center long after the conference had ended but that would also help to extend the organization’s eco-friendly, green initiative. Competitive pricing and superior product quality were also at the forefront of their agenda, which is why the team performed extensive online research, developing a large list of potential products and requesting samples from various vendors—ePromos among them—so they could see and feel the products and compare the quality of the various materials.

Solution: Jumbo, insulated grocery totes and caps crafted from recycled plastic bottles.

After much internal deliberation, two products from ePromos stood out in terms of their Phoenix match, green appeal, pricing and quality: a jumbo, insulated grocery tote and a cap crafted from recycled plastic bottles.

1. The Jumbo Reusable Insulated Grocery Shopping Tote Bag, with a non-woven exterior, insulating polyester fiber and coated thermal film, keeps up to 12 cans cold or hot foods hot. Constructed of recycled materials, the tote features a zipper closure, dual reinforced 20-inch carrying handles and a plastic bottom insert.
2. The Recycled Plastic Bottle Unstructured Cap with Tuck-Away Fabric Closure, 100-percent crafted of recycled bottles, presents a clean, unstructured look with six sewn eyelets, six-row visor stitching and an adjustable tuck-away fabric strap closure.

The team knew from past conferences that both products would be highly desirable to attendees, some of whom had even asked the team to provide hats again. Promotions Specialist Valerie Bogucharova managed the NABCA order, which called for both products in black with gold embroidery for the hats and gold screen-printing for the insulated totes—the gold and black together complementing the products’ quality look. The totes, screen-printed with the conference location, logo and theme, “Building Bridges,” as well as with the text “NABCA 72nd Annual Conference,” associated well with the Arizona climate, promising to keep foods and beverages at an acceptable temperature. The team requested “NABCA” to be embroidered on the front of the caps, and “National Alcohol Beverage Control Association” in small print on the back. The hats reflected the Arizona climate as well, offering to provide shade in the heat of the Arizona sun. Both products, reusable and crafted of recycled materials, also served to reflect NABCA’s eco-friendly spirit.

Result: Green products open doors to new conversations, elicit much positive feedback.

The NABCA team reports promotional success, with their NABCA-branded products now in the homes and offices of the association’s members across the country. During the conference, the team offered one hat and two bags to each member. Some members who had initially declined the bag, returned later asking for bags because they had seen how other members were using and enjoying them. Overall, the team tells us, recipients provided much positive feedback about both products, which, they add, opened the doors to many new conversations.



Find other products that are perfect for promoting your business to Government Organizations.
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Look through our category of Custom Insulated Lunch Bags and Cooler Bags.
Take a look at our products that are perfect to Promote at your next Trade Show or Conference.
Search through our special collection of Custom Recycled Products.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/trade-show-promotion/ecofriendly_totes_and_caps_as.html http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/trade-show-promotion/ecofriendly_totes_and_caps_as.html Advertising & PR Bags & Backpacks Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Caps & Hats Eco-friendly Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Food and Drink Government Promotion and Awareness Restaurant & Food Trade Show Promotion Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:01:15 -0500

Challenge: To raise the average order size and incent customers to buy now.

E-commerce giant Blinds.com is consistently ranked by Internet Retailer Magazine as the number one online window-covering purveyor in the world. With customers customizing over 4,200 blinds online every day, it sells twice as many blinds as its closest competitor. To increase average order size and convince people to buy now, they wanted the right item to use as a gift with purchase for all orders over a certain size.

Solution: 29-piece cordless drill toolset with a Blinds.com-branded cover as purchase incentive.

The answer was a gift with purchase item that their customers found valuable: a custom 29-Piece Cordless Drill Toolset. Lightweight and compact, Blinds.com customers can actually use the promotional drill set to install their new blinds. The kit’s 29 pieces include a 150-rpm, 2.5 max-torque-force drill with a standard-head, flat-head and Phillips-head screwdriver attachment, plus various other attachments to match up to any screw, nut or bolt a customer might try to remove or place. The kit cases were Blinds.com-branded with a full-color epoxy color dome. ePromos also handled the warehousing and distribution of the gifts as the orders arrived so Blinds.com could focus on their business, not running their promotion.

Result: Drill set purchase-incentive promotion achieves e-tailers’ sales goals.

The Blinds.com team reports a successful purchase-incentive promotion that helped to raise the average order size, even during a tough time economically when many other companies were experiencing decreasing average orders. They received many compliments about the free drills and the team is looking forward to their next promotion in the future.


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Browse through our collection of Custom Tool Kits.
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Blinds.com Tool Kit Gift with Purchase (PDF Version)]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/business-gifts/post.html http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/business-gifts/post.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Business Gifts Computer and Internet Finding the Perfect Product Promotion and Awareness Retail Tools, Knives & Flashlights Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:10:00 -0500

Challenge: How to make a free product sample seem more like an elegant, anticipated gift.

TriVita, an Arizona-based firm that develops nutritional products and offers health and wellness services, recently launched a new product line called Sonoran Bloom—“Sonoran” for the Sonoran Desert, the largest and hottest desert in North America, stretching from Arizona and California into the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja; “Bloom” for the rich sources of natural food supplements that flower and bloom among plants in the region and are captured in the Sonoran Bloom product line.

Nopalea, a health drink whose primary ingredient is the fruit of the Nopal cactus, was the first product TriVita released from its Sonoran Bloom product line. As part of the launch, the TriVita team hosted a multi-month Sonoran Bloom Tour to promote the new product in 14 cities across the United States and Canada, including Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Portland, Toronto and Ontario. In each city, the TriVita team hosted celebratory and informational lunch and dinner meetings for hundreds of people, including health professionals, entrepreneurs and their guests—anyone interested in learning more about the Sonora Bloom opportunity and product line.

The TriVita team planned to give, at each event, 32-ounce samples of the new Nopalea drink to all attendees. And because they wanted the free sample to appear more as “gift” rather than as “giveaway,” the team put much thought and effort into the sample presentation, deciding to individually wrap the bottles in tissue paper and present them in attractive gift bags. At first, the team had considered using wine bags, but felt that wine bags wouldn’t generate the mood and sensation of “unwrapping a gift” they were hoping for. In addition to a bag that would highlight and “dress” the sample, the team also wanted a bag that would be easy to handle, both for them and for recipients.

Solution: Foil-stamped, glossy and laminated shopping bags with macramé handles.

In their continued search for the right bag, the TriVita team turned to ePromos’ Account Executive Mark McLane, who sent samples and suggestions of possible bags from our extensive bag inventory. It was not long before the team made their decision: the Custom Glossy, Laminated Shopping Bag, featuring matching color macramé handles, a reinforced fold-over and a cardboard bottom insert. While the bag is also available in black, hunter green, royal blue, red, silver and chocolate brown, the team chose white for an elegant look that would perfectly offset the hot pink color of the Nopalea bottle. The team also liked that this particular bag could be foil-stamped, adding even more grace and style to an already elegant presentation.

Result: Recipients express pleasure at “gifts” and reuse gift bags to help extend the brand.

The finished bags, foil-stamped with the Sonoran Bloom name and logo in a hot pink to match the color of the Nopalea bottle, looked lovely as a singular table display, which also worked to build a sense of anticipation as attendees wondered when they would receive their gift bags. The TriVita team tells us that they enjoyed the expressions on recipients’ faces as they received their gifts, as well as the words of praise that seemed to fill each room in every city: “great” … “very nice” … and even “beautiful!” The team also reports that recipients continue to use the bags in other ways. Some recycle and reuse them at home, generating more exposure for the firm’s brand; some passed their bags on to prospective TriVita members interested in the Sonoran Bloom product line—both of which are exactly the effects Team TriVita had hoped for.


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Take a look at our category of Custom Gift and Paper Shopping Bags.
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Trivita Gift Bag for New Product Launch (PDF Version).]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/new-productservice-launch/elegant_foilstamped_gift_bags.html http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/new-productservice-launch/elegant_foilstamped_gift_bags.html Advertising & PR Bags & Backpacks Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Corporate Gifts Finding the Perfect Product Healthcare New Product/Service Launch Sales & Marketing Trade Show Promotion Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:56:03 -0500

Challenge: To identify a message-matching, affordable and useful conference promotion.

Western Kentucky University’s Gordon Ford College of Business (COB), located in beautiful Bowling Green, Kentucky, offers more than just lush scenery and rolling green hills; the school also offers undergraduate degrees, graduate certificates and select master’s degrees, as well as experiential learning opportunities through six specialized Centers of Excellence.

Each year, the COB team attends the annual conference of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a multi-day event that brings together more than 1,000 educators and business leaders from around the world for sessions on pressing issues and new initiatives, keynote presentations and networking opportunities galore.

The team, following a long-accepted conference tradition, gives COB-branded promotional products during the event to promote the school and keep its name in recipients’ minds. In years’ past, passersby received gifts such as padfolios and keychains. This year’s conference in Orlando, however, would be special: the college, already accredited by the AACSB, would announce that it had also received its accreditation in accounting. Considering that less than five percent of all business schools worldwide are AACSB accredited, and that less than one percent of accounting programs worldwide have received both business and accounting accreditation, this is no small achievement.

To celebrate, the dean of the college and the new accounting department chair wanted to brand the upcoming event promotions with a message that both revolved around the achievement and equated the quality of education provided to the quality of the school’s professors. With that thought in mind, the team developed their AACSB theme and slogan: “A True Measure of Quality.” Next on the agenda: to find a promotional product that matched both the message and the school’s red color—something of quality that would not break easily, something affordable, something that recipients would want and keep and use.

Solution: A quality 12-Foot, translucent message-branded tape measure.

It was not long before the team discovered just the right something—a tape measure, which perfectly suited their new event theme and slogan. After examining samples from various vendors, the team decided to trust their order to ePromos since they had worked with us before. They selected the 12-foot Translucent Tape Measure—in red—a durable product with a metal blade just like those in the tape measures used by professionals. Featuring a belt clip and power lock, the tape measure is also available in translucent clear and blue.

Result: Tape measures “measure up” and help the business school reach its goals.

Promotions Specialist Jason Wallace managed the order from start to finish. Once at the conference, the College of Business team handed out the newly branded tape measures to deans, associate deans and professors from other universities as they entered the room. The team reports that the tape measures helped the school achieve its goals. They also shared several recipient comments that illustrate the promotion’s success: “This is great” and “I can really use this” and, even better, “Can I have another?”

Find other items to promote your business to Colleges & Universities.
Browse through our product category of Custom Tape Measures.
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Western Kentucky University Tape Measure Event Promotion (PDF Version).]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/products/tools-knives-flashlights/conference_themebranded_tape_m.html http://ideas.epromos.com/products/tools-knives-flashlights/conference_themebranded_tape_m.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Education Finding the Perfect Product Promotion and Awareness Tools, Knives & Flashlights Trade Show Promotion Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:17:02 -0500 Challenge: Putting together a summer-themed promotional gift package to strengthen OMA’s relationship with younger patients.

Oregon Medical Association (OMA) supports the cooperation and unity among its physicians statewide and aims to maintain high ethical, educational, and professional standards among the Oregon health care community. Every year, OMA distributes promotional products during all four seasons to foster more personal relationships with its patients, spread awareness about its services, and inform people about how they can make Oregon’s physicians more efficient. These promotional campaigns have been successful in establishing long-term relationships with OMA’s customers and setting itself apart from competitors.

During its most recent summer promotion, OMA had the task of finding a promotional giveaway that offers a personal touch while increasing the company’s brand exposure. In the past, the association has distributed custom t-shirts and beach towels, but this time the team wanted a combination of practical products which would be useful for the summer season. More importantly, OMA wanted products that would interest its patients in age range of 12-22 – products that wouldn’t be thrown away and would last all summer long, providing a better return on investment for its promotional spending dollars.

Solution: Sunglasses set and UV detector kit to provide recipients with a hip promotional package that enhances band recognition.

After consulting with ePromos Promotions Specialist Caitlin Powers, OMA put together a summer gift package that they were confident would appeal to the younger market and be used throughout the summer. The gift set included custom sunglasses with a laminated strap, a sunglass case with a clip, and a waterproof UV detector kit, all of which were given away in a promotional OMA bag. The company felt that this was a stellar promotional package that the teens and younger adults would see as stylish and specifically great for their age range.

Result: OMA patients find gift set to be cool, fun, and useful for the summer months.

After distributing the gift sets, OMA received very positive feedback from its patients. The staff was pleased to hear the kids say “these are cool” and “these are awesome”—revealing that OMA was on point with giving its younger patients useful promotional products that were trendy and upbeat. The company also put a TGIF certificate inside the bag to give its patients an item that would enable them to spend more time with friends and family. Overall, the UV detector supplied recipients with an item for health care, while the sunglasses and other items provided patients with products for personal enjoyment—a combination that’s tough to beat!


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Browse through our category of Custom Sunglasses & Accessories, and Waterproof Products.
Check out other products that are perfect to use to Build Brand Awareness.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/brand-awarenesspromotional-mar/oregon_medical_association_pro.html http://ideas.epromos.com/uses/brand-awarenesspromotional-mar/oregon_medical_association_pro.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Finding the Perfect Product Healthcare Medical Outdoors & Sports Promotion and Awareness Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:07:44 -0500 Challenge: Find a relevant giveaway for attendees at a major national breast cancer conference.

Sister’s Network Inc is a national not-for-profit organization whose mission is to increase awareness of the impact that breast cancer has on the African American Community. Each year, the Sister’s Network organizes a major national conference which serves to drive attention to their cause.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Annual National African American Breast Cancer Conference, in Houston, Texas, Sister’s Network wanted to give something back to attendees to thank them for their support over the last 10 years. They turned to ePromos to find a useful and relevant promotional product that would be appropriate for the event.

Solution: Promotional tote bags imprinted with the conference logo and information.

With assistance from ePromos Account Executive Corey Boyer, Sisters Network selected a tote bag as the official conference giveaway. The Tahitian Lined Tote Bag featured a large imprint area for plenty of information and fit in with the organization’s budget.

With such a large imprint area to work with, Sister’s Network was able to not only imprint their company name, but also the name and date of the event, as well as the website address for Sister’s Network.

Result: Tote Bags increase breast cancer awareness and are a hit at the conference.

The tote bags really caught the attendees’ attention, and being imprinted in the traditional breast cancer awareness pink, they fit the theme of the conference. Recipients loved the gifts and feel that it was the perfect gift to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The Sister’s Network team thought the tote bags were a great investment and can’t wait to hear how their recipients use the bags after the show.


Find other products to promote your business for Not-for-Profit Organizations.
Browse our category of Custom Tote Bags for your next event.
Take a look at our other products that are perfect to use for your next Event Promotion.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/industries/nonprofit-organizations/sisters_network_inc_enhances_t.html http://ideas.epromos.com/industries/nonprofit-organizations/sisters_network_inc_enhances_t.html Badges, Buttons & Lanyards Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Eco-friendly Event Promotion Finding the Perfect Product Nonprofit Organizations Promotion and Awareness Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:48:47 -0500

Challenge: Attracting promotional product sponsors with useful, visible conference giveaways.

The power of tradeshow and conference marketing is undisputed: 80 percent of people who attend exhibitions represent new leads—and 40 percent of exhibition leads successfully move through the sales cycle to close—this, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.

It is partly this power of exhibition marketing, partly the opportunities for networking and learning, that attracts the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to the conference and tradeshow venue. SEIA is the nation’s leading trade association for the solar energy industry, working on behalf of solar industry professionals to expand markets, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers and improve education and outreach.

This year, SEIA hosted its first conference and tradeshow exclusively for the nascent photovoltaics (PV) industry. PV is a way to harness solar energy by converting light to electricity—think solar-powered calculators and flexible solar panels that charge and run portable electronics like cell phones, PDAs and laptops. The event, called PV America, would take place over three days in Philadelphia.

Sponsor organizations gain, in return for their conference sponsorship, opportunities to brand various promotional products used at the event. And because the SEIA team planned to choose products they knew would be useful and valuable to recipients, such as name badges, they knew sponsors would welcome the increased brand awareness and visibility both during and after the show.

Name badges in particular are powerful promotional tools: 98 percent of show attendees wear a name badge, regardless of which sponsoring company’s name is on it—meaning it’s very likely that, if your firm is the sponsoring organization, your competitors will be wearing your logo! Branded name badges also illustrate your firm’s support for an industry and keep it top-of-mind throughout the event.

The SEIA team has had successful experiences with branded name badges and other promotional products at various conferences and shows, but still wasn’t sure which products—out of the thousands and thousands available—would best meet their criteria: the products must be attractive to conference attendees and sponsors, useful over the long-term to extend reach and brand awareness, and also appealing to the budget.

Solution: Sponsor-branded name badges, plus eco-friendly totes and pocket notebooks.

Enter SEIA’s promotional product expert: ePromos’ Promotions Specialist Omer Cohen, who pointed the team to two products he knew—and the team agreed—would work: a reusable tote and a notebook.

The Jumbo, Reusable Grocery Shopping Tote Bag, our best-selling, eco-friendly tote for its jumbo 13”w x 15”h x 10”d size, large 5” x 10” imprint area, premium durability and low price. The jumbo tote, with dual-reinforced 20” carrying handles, 10” side and bottom gussets and matching covered cardboard insert, is also crafted from recycled material, 100 percent recyclable and reusable, and tear resistant and water repellant. Because the team has noticed how eco-friendly totes have become ubiquitous, appearing at conferences and tradeshows wherever they go, they felt totes for PV America was a necessity.

The team also selected the Eco saddle-stitch notebook, which, though not available in our extensive web catalog, Omer was able to source by tapping his deep network of suppliers. The team knew from past technical conferences and events with international attendees that notebooks are among participants’ standard operating tools, as attendees without laptops tend to take notes vigorously during sessions and while networking in exhibition hall. They wanted an eco-friendly notebook that would provide good logo placement for the sponsor; a multi-functional notebook that, lacking bulk, could easily slide into a briefcase or back pocket without feeling cumbersome. The notebook they envisioned would also hold enough pages to be useful after the conference, but not so thick that it would take a long time to fill.

Omer initially showed the team several notebooks available on our site that met criteria, but none matched the size the team wanted. That’s when Omer turned to our reliable supply sources, through which he quickly found a smaller-version notebook that perfectly fit the team’s vision.

Result: SEIA on-boards sponsors quickly; some 4,000 industry professionals carry sponsor brand messages home.

During PV America, nearly 4,000 professionals in the solar industry field met and mingled, lunched and learned, and took home with them SEIA-branded and sponsor-branded promotional products. Attendees represented a wide mix of PV manufacturers, distributors and installers; industry financiers, analysts and investors; federal, state and local governments; researchers and technical specialists; and large scale users and project developers. The team reports that sponsors, who on-boarded to the sponsorship program very quickly, were pleased with the branded products, feeling that they received “more than their money’s worth” in brand awareness.


Take a look at our collection of products that are perfect to promote your business in the Utilities Industry.
Find other Reusable Grocery Totes for your next event.
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Browse our special collection of Custom Reusable Alternatives.

Solar Energy Industries Association Conference Notebooks (PDF Version).]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/name_badges_totes_and_notebook.html http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/name_badges_totes_and_notebook.html Bags & Backpacks Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Finding the Perfect Product Office & Business Supplies Trade Show Promotion Utilities Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:57:49 -0500

Challenge: Building trusted relationships with association members, prospects and stakeholders.

Golf has been a quintessential business development tool ever since the modern form of the game took root in 12th century Scotland. What’s the attraction? A former executive director of the Executive Women’s Golf Association has been quoted as explaining it this way: “There are so many opportunities for emotional connection on the golf course that don’t exist when you are sitting around a conference table or having lunch. Emotion allows people to open up, to connect. Once you’re connected, you can have meaningful discussion and these meaningful discussions lead to good business.” Something akin to “good business” on the green is what staff at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) seeks. SEIA, being the nation’s leading trade association for the solar energy industry, puts its considerable Washington, D.C.-based muscle into expanding markets, strengthening research and development, removing market barriers and improving education and outreach for solar energy professionals.

Slightly tweaking the “golf as a business development tool” model, the SEIA team uses golf as a relationship-building tool to forge and maintain connections with important members, prospective members, service providers, vendors, industry analysts, journalists and thought leaders. And in a clever use of golf-related promotional products, the SEIA team uses branded golf balls as invitations to the longer, more involved conversations that happen naturally during the game. SEIA representatives offer golf balls along with an invite to the tune of “Let’s play sometime” or “When can we use it?”

And the more relationship-building / golf meetings SEIA staff have with individual members of their audience, the stronger the relationship between them. SEIA ultimately hopes to build trusted connections secure enough that stakeholders and staff both feel comfortable picking up the phone when they need information or to speak frankly on sensitive or hotbed topics.

The challenge was to find the product that would be respected enough on the golf course to actually use, but also fit within the SEIA budget that would allow them to purchase a lot of them.

Solution: SEIA-Branded Callaway® Big Bertha golf balls.

ePromos’ Promotions Specialist Omer Cohen worked with members of the SEIA team, who ultimately chose for their unique “invitations” the Callaway® Big Bertha Golf Balls, a classic packaged and sold by the dozen and pad-printed in two to four colors. The redesigned Big Bertha, with a standard ionomer cover, is designed for distance, features a proprietary core that yields ultra-low compression and has a highly resilient polybutadiene core for a very soft feel. In other words, it is a golf ball of choice among discriminating golfers—the kind courted by the SEIA team.

Result: Stronger relationships, increased brand awareness and goodwill among audiences.

The SEIA team looks forward to reaping the full potential of the “golf invitation” program as they flesh it out over time. But they tell us that they believe it is already working, positively impacting staff-to-stakeholder relationships. Today, members of SEIA staff give “golf ball invitations” to important guests who stop by their office, as well as to key stakeholders they encounter in meetings around the country. The balls not only serve as keys to strong relationships; they also enhance brand awareness as recipients take the SEIA-branded balls back home and use them on their local courses. And because golfers love free golf goodies—one can never have enough golf balls and tees, after all!—recipients also take home with them a positive impression of SEIA as well. That’s an “ace” any day in our book!

Browse through our products that are perfect for promoting your business to the Utilities Industry.
Check out our category of Logo Imprinted Golf Balls.
Build stronger relationships with your clients with Custom Business Gifts.
Take a look at our special collection of Callaway ® Products.

Solar Energy Industries Association (PDF Version).]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/branded_golf_balls_invite_stak.html http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/branded_golf_balls_invite_stak.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Business Gifts Education Finding the Perfect Product Golf Accessories Government Promotion and Awareness Utilities Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:32:16 -0500 Challenge: Identifying a promotional product that customers find useful and can be distributed with business literature to generate brand recognition.

Electronic Process Solutions (EPS); a manufacturer of medical emergency equipment, operates in a large network of manufacturers and clients within the health care industry. Because the company functions in such a competitive landscape, finding unique ways to promote its products to hospitals and other prospective clients is a difficult task. However, EPS has had much success distributing promotional tape measures. For the past several years, he had used tape measures produced by Zippo as premiums to go along with his company information. EPS included these tape measures with binders that contain information about their products and services. The tape measurers are imprinted with their company logo along with the logo of one of their top advertisers – Metro.

Recently, however, Zippo stopped producing these tape measurers and EPS found itself in a promotional standstill. Without its most effective promotional product, EPS would lose the brand exposure it was able to generate through the tape measures. In order to fix the problem, EPS turned to ePromos to find a similar style tape measure that yielded the same benefits.

Solution: Chrome tape measure to improve brand awareness among hospitals and other potential clients.

Promotions Specialist Valerie Bogucharova found a custom chrome tape measure that served as a close replica of their beloved Zippo. The EPS team felt that the tape measure would go well with its informational binders, as the old tape measures did, and the company was confident that customers would find the same practicality in these tape measures as the ones previously used.

Result: EPS customers find the tape measures to be cool, practical products that can be used anywhere.

The tape measures were a hit – EPS reported that customers liked the practicality of the tape measure; they could use them in and out of the workplace. Customers also viewed the item as a generous gift that made them feel “warm and fuzzy,” something that is not expected when receiving business literature from a medical equipment manufacturer. These results made EPS extremely pleased with its investment, confirming that promotional products are great way to enhance your company’s image.

Find other products to promote your business in the Manufacturing Industry.
Check out our full category of Custom Tape Measures.
Provide your sales team with Custom Business Gifts when they meet with new clients.]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/practical_promotional_tape_mea.html http://ideas.epromos.com/case-studies-by-challenge/finding-the-perfect-product/practical_promotional_tape_mea.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Business Gifts Finding the Perfect Product Healthcare Manufacturing Promotion and Awareness Tools, Knives & Flashlights Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:16:57 -0500

Challenge: Garnering statewide awareness for a public-health-related, toll-free hotline.

Family Planning Health Services, Inc. (FPHS), a community-based, non-profit reproductive health care provider in central Wisconsin, offers family planning and health services, such as screenings for sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy education, prescription and over-the-counter birth control supplies and emergency contraception (EC) services. Several years ago, FPHS launched its Wisconsin EC Hotline, where Wisconsin women interested in emergency contraception can call for information and arrange for services.

Since the hotline’s launch, the FPHS team has been promoting it through brochures, business cards and coasters. To round-out the promotion, they sought to add one more promotional tool: a low-cost product, to allow them to give away many; also a product that would be relevant to the hotline. In addition, the team wanted a product that people would use often and keep handy—something that would be available to the individuals to remind them of the hotline when they might need it most.

Solution: On-message, refillable condom-in-a-keychain branded with hotline phone number.

Their solution, the Condom-in-a-Keychain, met criteria in every way. Made of durable, clear acrylic, the keychain, which holds one high-quality condom and a custom graphic, is coin-opened and refillable, making it a long-lasting and useful promotion that ties in well with FPHS’s reproductive health and promotional missions. The keychain is available with a multicolor screen print or a four-color-process imprint; its condoms, too, are available in a multitude of eye-catching colors. Promotions Specialist Valerie Bogucharova worked with the FPHS team to produce their order, which included an imprint of the hotline’s toll-free number in bold, blue print, along with two imprinted messages: “Because a little peace of mind goes a long way” and “Emergency Contraception. Get it today.”

Result: Keychain successfully promotes reproductive health, achieves hotline awareness goals.

For the past three years, the branded keychains have proven very popular at health fairs, baby fairs and conferences hosted by the Wisconsin Poverty Committee, Wisconsin Public Health Services, county hospitals and FPHS in the 72 Wisconsin communities it serves. FPHS purchases the product and distributes it, free of charge, to organizations and individuals willing to help spread the product—and word of the hotline.

The FPHS team tells us that the condom keychain giveaways are a sound investment—and that they have become a key component of their ongoing hotline promotion. At one recent hospital fair held in a local mall, where more than 1,400 people attended, the FPHS team distributed information about their services—and their hotline promotional products—from a booth. The team reports that the keychains attract people to the booth, where they examine them and look at the information, many times opening the doors to conversation about EC and the EC hotline.

The team is also pleased to report that, thanks to their promotional efforts, many health organizations, teachers and coaches throughout the State have called and continue to call FPHS to request a supply of condom keychains, - which the team sends for free. Also, with parents picking up the hotline-branded product for their children, and teachers taking handfuls for their students, at events throughout the state, the FPHS team is moving closer to their mission of encouraging safe-sex practices, as well as their ultimate goal of generating statewide awareness for their toll-free EC hotline.

Find products that are great for promoting your business to Non-profit Organizations.
Take a look at our category of Promotional Condoms for your next event.
Check out our category of products that are perfect for your organizations next Cause Awareness campaign.
Browse our special collection of Healthcare Products for your next promotion.

Family Planning Health Services Condom-in-a-Keychain Brand Awareness Promotion (PDF Version).]]> http://ideas.epromos.com/industries/nonprofit-organizations/branded_condominakeychain_help.html http://ideas.epromos.com/industries/nonprofit-organizations/branded_condominakeychain_help.html Brand Awareness/Promotional Marketing Education Finding the Perfect Product Healthcare Medical Nonprofit Organizations Personal and Healthcare Promotion and Awareness Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:51:52 -0500