Logo Pens
A pen is much more than a writing instrument. Even an individual who relies on a computer to do most of his writing work, needs a pen for simple everyday situations, such as signing a check or autograph. Few are the people who leave the house without a pen tucked in the pocket or in their schoolbag, handbag or briefcase. The pen is an almost indispensable and universal tool.
Smart businessmen have realized that giving away pens as a promotional tool is an economical and effective way to build brand awareness. A pen engraved with a company logo creates instant recall, and it can safely be said that a person will use that pen at least once a day. Chances are that others will also use the pen during the day, increasing the visibility of the logo multifold.
Smaller businesses that do not have substantial advertising and promotion budgets are finding logo pens an ideal way to not only create brand awareness, but also to motivate staff or thank customers. Handing out logo pens is like putting hundreds of miniature billboards into motion – and at a very small percentage of the cost.
Some companies send out promotional pens along with direct mailers, and studies have shown that response rates have increased substantially as a result. The reasoning seems to be that a person is more likely to open a bulky package than a regular letter that he can easily detect as direct mail, and more often than not, toss into the bin. Finding an unexpected gift in the package, they will go on to use it, even if only for a while.
Several reputed companies in the U.S. have been successfully engraving corporate logos on pens for decades. They undertake orders for as few as 50 pens to as many as thousands, and often charge affordable wholesale rates. An incredible range of pens is available in the market and customers can choose the one that fits their budget best.
Personalized promotional pens are a great way to get your message across to a large number of people. Put your logo on a pen and you never know where you might come across someone using it!
Pens provides detailed information on Pens, Ballpoint Pens, Fountain Pens, Logo Pens and more. Pens is affiliated with Fountain Pen Refills.
Banner Stands – Versatile Displays for Many Situations
When it comes to versatility and low cost in trade show or portable point of purchase displays it is hard to beat the popular banner stand. These units come in various sizes from about 2 feet wide to 6 feet high to as large as 4 feet by 8 feet.
They can be used as stand alone displays for advertising a specific product, or they can be assembled in an array highlighting a number of different products. They can even be attached with magnetic strips to form a larger backdrop in multiples of 4 feet.
For example you can use three 4 foot by 8 foot banner stands together to form one continuous backdrop that is 12 feet wide by 8 feet high. There is no less expensive way to create this kind of backdrop.
** Print on a variety of materials
Most display shops can print graphics for banner stands on anything from super cheap paper (not recommended) to heavy duty vinyl. Graphics can be printed on a high resolution full color wide format ink jet, and then laminated with a low-glare coating that protects them at the same time as making them look impressively professional.
When designing graphics for banner stands most designers will use a dramatic product photograph over the entire background, and a simple headline or one or two word slogan to emphasize the product being promoted. An experienced display shop can print this sort of graphic with impressive quality.
When specifying the material, make sure it is rollable. Banner stands are usually disassembled after the show and rolled into a tube about four or five inches in diameter. So the graphic has to be flexible enough to roll this small without being damaged. Most laminated materials will work properly, but if the laminate is too thick you may have trouble rolling the graphic small enough to fit in the carrying tube.
** Alternative designs in banner stands
There are essentially three main display types commonly referred to as banner stands. The first, and most common, is the traditional banner stand which consists of a simple mounting piece at the top and bottom with a tension bar holding the two ends of the banner apart when it is up and running. The graphic usually clips into the top and bottom pieces, and with some models is removable in case you want to change graphics from time to time.
A second popular model is the “roll up” banner stand. This main component of this unit is the base which is a cannister about 4 inches square by the width of the display (usually 36″ to 48″.) The graphic is attached to a spring loaded retracting device inside the cannister. When you erect the display you simply pull the graphic out of the base and then attach a tension rod between the base and top frame piece (similar to the previous system).
When you are finished using it, you (carefully) remove the tension rod and let the graphic retract into the base.
Retractable displays are more expensive than other types of banner stands. They are also more prone to mechanical problems because of the retractable base. It is also more critical to print the graphic on just the right kind and thickness of material so the retracting mechanism works properly.
The third type of banner stand is called an “X banner”. This unit uses a frame in the shape of an “X”, held together at a hub in the middle (back) of the display. The “X” design gives you a tension rod at each corner of the display. The graphic has a grommet (reinforced hole) in each corner which fits over the tension rod.
This type of display has several advantages. First, the graphic itself is completely separate from the display hardware, so you can much more easily change graphics. Second, you can use less expensive vinyl for your graphic because it will be stretched taut from the corners by the tension bars.
Third, you can vary the size of your display by simply changing the shape of the “X”. And, fourth, it has a more substantial appearance, and is less precarious. The “X” banner is also less expensive than the rollup type of display.
Rick Hendershot publishes Linknet News | Banner Stands and Trade Show Displays | Vinyl Banners and Vinyl Graphics
Promotional Marketing Products – Selecting the Perfect Item
People are known to shop on impulse- buying an item just because it is on sale, or purchasing something because it looks great in the store. When shopping for promotional items, you really can’t succumb to impulses. Instead, you must carefully decide on an item that will help meet your objectives.
A career school admissions representative who worked with the high school market once wanted to buy magnets to give to people. Although magnets were in the budget, they would not really do the job of spreading the word among other high school students, as the magnets would be at home on the fridge where maybe a handful of other students would see. A better idea was to give out day planners (only to enrolled students) that they could carry to school everyday where hundreds of classmates could see. “Oh- that’s where I’m going to school after graduation” they would say when asked about the school’s name on the planner. Rachel, the rep, was hurt that the magnets she liked did not get ordered. But, Rachel does not have a marketing background and she didn’t understand that these items served another purpose.
So, when ordering your items before you even browse the pages of catalogs or websites, you want to have some objectives in mind. You would not want to invest money in an item that doesn’t match the tactic. Think about these:
-Do you want to stimulate trade show traffic?
-Do you want to use these as sales aids?
-Are these going to be premiums?
-Are you introducing a new product/service?
-Do you want to thank current customers?
-Are these for an event giveaway?
-Are these to motivate employees?
-Are you trying to gain back lost business?
-Are you trying to improve customer service?
-Are these going to be used as gifts?
-Are you using them to supplement a direct mail campaign?
These are just a few questions you will want to ask yourself. If you are looking to supplement a general direct mail campaign, you will want to keep postage costs in mind. Perhaps mailing a magnet, sticker, pocket calendar, pen or pencil would be something good to use. You would not want to mail a t-shirt or mug- that would be very pricey for the response rate of direct mail! If you are doing a campaign to target past customers or are just doing a smaller-gauge mailing, perhaps something a little bigger would work.
On the flipside, if you are looking at motivating employees, thanking customers, buying gifts or building premiums chances are you will want to budget more money per item. However, there is likely to be fewer items ordered. I don’t think a pen would be ample to thank someone for years of service! Items for these categories would fall under desk supplies, plaques, acrylic awards, clocks, engraved items and more.
If you are using these items or sales purposes, perhaps if you have traveling sales people, you will want something that will be left behind to keep your name top of mind. Things like a note cube or coffee mug are things that can sit on a decision-makers desk for a long time.
If you are looking to promote your business at an event, such as a concert or festival, passing out t-shirts could be a great idea. You can easily tie t-shirts up in knots and throw them to the crowds. Lower ticket items for events could be things like pens, pencils, keychains, magnets, calendars, tape measures and more.
Finally, cost is something to keep in mind too. You don’t want to spend the same amount on a prospect as you would on a loyal customer. Use this as a suggestion:
Under $5- Prospect
$5-$25- Reward
Over $25- Loyalty
The important thing here is that promotional items should not be ordered just because you like it. The item should clearly be in the plan to help meet your business objectives.
Cindy Carrera is a freelance creative author who’s written numerous articles about PR including: business promotional items, custom promotional products and wholesale promotional items.