Secrets to Saving Money On Promotional Products!

There are countless blogs and promotions out there on how to save money on car insurance so we thought why not pass on some industry secrets to help you save money on promotional products!

 

 

• Plan Ahead.  If you have an event coming up or you know that your current stash of promotional products is running low, ORDER NOW!  By ordering at least one month in advance chances are your distributor will be able to find the products cheaper by getting them during a sale period. You also do not run the risk of paying rush processing/shipping and are sure to get exactly the product you need.

 

• Don’t Wait.  By waiting until the last minute you are penalizing yourself and your budget.  Last minute shoppers never win and all most always incur extra fees such as overnight manufacturing and rush shipping.

 

• Be Art Work Ready.  If you don’t have your art work in a vector file (eps, ai) or a high resolution Jpeg (300 dpi or more) the chances are that our suppliers will not accept them.  Art work that isn’t ready delay a product and will add dollars to your bottom line to make it print ready.  If you’re not sure as to what vector art is please email us at sales@canyonpromos.com  or reply to this post and we will be more than happy to clarify or answer any other questions you may have.

 

• Clearance or Discontinued Products.  Because clearance/discontinued products are cheaper, they tend go very fast.  This can turn into a problem if the product is desired by the client but the order approval does not happen quickly. Another problem I have witnessed with discontinued products is that a client will receive rave reviews on their promotional item and are unable to order more because the product is no longer offered. However, a good promotional products distributor will be able to locate a similar product to replace a previous order.

 

• Imprint Colors.  When at all possible stick to one color.  I know that everyone loves their logo in full color as it is meant to be but color costs money and a lot of it when you look at printing 500 items in 4 colors.  Stick with one color and your savings will be huge! 

 

• Imprint Locations. Like colors, multiple print locations can raise the price of your product. Ordering a mug with a one sided print instead of two sided or wraparound will save you money on setup and location fees. This applies to all products including apparel, business stationary, and more!  

 

• Quantity.  The more you order the more you save – it’s as simple as that!  Imagine the savings on an order of 1,000 pens instead of only 600.  The price per pen can drop significantly if you order a larger quantity. Changing your ordering habit from a quarterly basis to annually or semi-annually is a simple change that can save you a bundle. 

 

• Local Suppliers.  It never hurts to ask your sales consultant if they can get your product locally.  This doesn’t make sense for everything but if you are ordering 100 glass mugs then you could save BIG on shipping alone.  

 

• Calendars, Calendars, Calendars.  If you are planning on ordering calendars please do yourself a favor and order them before April 1^st for the coming year and you can thank me later for the money and time you will save.

 

• Specials.  Many distributors shy away from running self specials and promos however if you keep a close watch on their blog, chances are you will run across one from time to time.  Companies like to reward their reading faithful from time to time to keep them coming back.  Regardless of whether your promotional product supplier runs self promotions there is still a way that you can get them.  Inform your sales consultant months in advance that you going to be ordering a certain item and ask them to keep an eye out for any new specials. 

 

• Call Your Distributor.  Two of the main reasons for this are clarity and customer service.  By speaking directly with your provider they will have a better understanding of your needs and can help you out in a lot of different ways.  Talk to them about product special, ideas, etc…  This is our job and we would love to help you out.  If your current sales consultant won’t take your calls or help you out with ideas give us a call and we would be more than happy to do so!!!

Maintain Market Share in an Economic Downturn

Now more than ever companies are tightening their belts in order to cut costs.  In an economy like the one we see today, it can be trying for new and established businesses to keep the business clients they have while also trying to gain new business. Those who have had the opportunity to establish themselves as a household name may be under the impression that they can slow down on marketing in an economic downturn. This is a myth. According to David Poulos, no brand is strong enough to survive without advertizing. When the economy bounces back, you will find that your brand is a shell of its former self and is suddenly unable to keep up with others who worked to market themselves while your company cut back.

Prevent this from happening to your organization by continuing your efforts. Do not stop marketing yourself even if you are trying to make reductions. Fact: Businesses that continue marketing maintain profitability and gain market share. When the economy bounces back, your company will have a larger market share over those who were less aggressive when you were bold. You might even rule out the market completely if the downturn lasts longer than expected.

Think of other ways you can scale back your costs instead of heading straight for the marketing budget. Other areas to think about are the IT department or employee perks. Cutting from these areas might not make people happy but they’ll keep money in the budget to continue to build your business. You might consider buying a companion marketing item instead of the larger items. Companies such as UPS, Chase, Liberty Mutual, etc. have started buying smaller promotional items at a lower cost which has enabled them not only to promote in a down economy but to promote even more reaching a bigger audience all while conserving costs.

Miniature promotional products do conserve costs; however, there is a very fine line between a low cost item and a “cheap” item. You may think that purchasing a cheaper item is the correct option because you will save money and you are still marketing. What you are actually doing is cheapening your brand. Your customers may look at your flimsy marketing material and think that you offer equally an equally flimsy service or product. Working with promotional items company or an advertising agency is a great way to ensure you do not fall into this trap. First impressions are lasting even in today’s market where no company is above a potential client. There are a variety of products and options to fulfill your needs but it’s important to use materials that are polished, useful, and give your brand the image it deserves while also meeting your budget.

Reasons to purchase miniature or low cost promotional products:

• Lower cost, higher return on investment
• Continues marketing and advertising efforts
• Smaller items are easier to store and hand out
• Smaller items can reach a larger target market than bigger items

Client Success Story!

A client of ours located in the Lake Ozark area was looking to expand his business via promotional products after last year’s economy left him in the red.  After collaborating with him on the product that could grab and maintain his desired audience coupled with his budget, it was decided that t-shirts would be the best way to fulfill his business advertising needs. Clothing can be reused for years and therefore gives you a higher rate of return on your business exposure.  Depending on the size of your order, a customized shirt with your screen printed logo can range in price from $8 each to as low as $3 each. Potential and current customers will begin to recognize your logo and information and remember you instead of competitors when it comes time to do business.

Before our client had a chance to distribute shirts to potential or current customers, the new shirts had all ready done the trick.  During a trip to his local bank, our client experienced his first return on his promotional clothing purchase. A man approached him and inquired about what he did for a living; the boat on our client’s logo had grabbed his attention enough to ask him questions about his business.  After a brief discussion, the gentleman decided that our client could indeed provide the services he was looking for.  The man also noted that if it were not for the logo, custom created for our client by Canyon Promotions, he would have never stopped our client to inquire about his services.  Since then our client has bid and won the job in question and will begin construction soon.

We received a phone call thanking us for the work and suggestions that helped him gain more business in such a short amount of time.  As it turns out, this transaction was beneficial to us as well. Because of his experience, he will now place additional orders for other marketing and promotional items. This is a success story that we can share with our clients. We at Canyon Promotions pride ourselves in the fact that we search for the best possible way to help our clients grow their business. We strive to provide a valuable service to our customers through collaboration and creative ideas. Let us help create your own success story – contact us for innovative product solutions today!

Hot Summer Items

Summer is an excellent time to advertize your business! People are in a laid-back mode thanks to sunny days and lazy nights. There are a variety of products you can emblazon with your logo to tie into the fun of summer.

 “Play ball!”

Baseball and soccer are two activities that involve families and the outdoors. To get your logo associated with the ballgames under the sun, perhaps you might think of sun protection. Embroidered ball caps or shade-loving hats with a brim and a logo band may be two of your best options. They will be used for the duration of the summer and give others the opportunity to ask the wearer “Where did you get your hat?” or “Who is (insert your business name here)?”

Seating is another method you can use to your advantage. Folding chairs are popular with outdoor games as are coolers. Why not combine the two and purchase a cooler chair? Your guest can sit in comfort while watching their favorite game and enjoy a cool beverage or snack at the same time. We can also provide beach chairs and our favorite chair – a folding director’s chair with side table. Everyone who sees this chair wants to know where it came from and how they can get one.

Pop up tents are perfect for a small group of people, tailgating, barbeques, and are reusable for other community events such as block parties. These tents can be customized with your logo on one side or all four sides depending on your desired exposure level and budget. Remember, there is a promotional product for all budget levels.

 

Other items you may think about are koozies – the insulated foam liners for canned beverages, sunblock, Frisbees, umbrellas, ponchos, handheld fans, backpacks, tote bags, pocket sized hand sanitizer, lip balm, water bottles, t-shirts, bandanas and insulated neck wraps to keep you cool!

The Importance of Branding

What is Branding?

Coca-Cola is the number one most recognized company logo in the world. Though the words may be printed in different languages, the style and effect remain the same. The Coca-Cola company has achieved the most important aspect of a successful business – Branding. Other companies such as IBM, Macintosh, Nike, and Ford have achieved similar heights. The goal of branding is for a potential consumer to look at your company logo and immediately recognize your company.

 

Branding can also allow you the opportunity to create a relationship with your buyer. When they see your logo, consumers can associate it with a positive value, characteristic or experience they have had with your business. Follow through with your customers. Make them feel as though their time with your company was worthwhile.

 

How do you get there?

Media, marketing, and public relations. Is your business a member of the local Chamber of Commerce? Do you wear name tags or business uniforms? Can you offer a new contact a professional and informational business card? Do you have promotional products for your customers such as pens, note pads, key chains, and other like items? Do you send communication to recent customers thanking them for their business? If you answered no to any of these questions you may need to think about how your business is presented to the buying public.

 

Obtaining a uniform business presence in your community is important. If you do not have matching stationary, business cards, fax cover sheets, etc. you may be unwittingly telling your buyer that you’re not as professional or as reliable as “the other guy.” Do not drive customers to a competing business by failing to appear skilled in your area of expertise. This does not mean you need to spend thousands of dollars and this does not mean that a small business cannot compete with larger businesses. Purchasing business stationary is important and necessary. Canyon Promotions can create and produce business stationary, name tags, and uniforms that can meet any budget.

 

Likewise, joining a local chamber of commerce puts a face with your business name. Local businesses will begin to associate you with your business and will also begin to recommend you to their own clients and customers. You will be surprised at how joining a network can allow businesses to grow from one another. Customers also appreciate chamber of commerce members as they are seen as organizations that invest in the local community.

 

These are a few ways to brand your business. For more ideas, visit canyonpromos.com

Roll Out Special

Hello all,

We would like to invite everyone to check out our new website at canyonpromos.com!  Our new site has over 850,000 promotional products for your viewing pleasure.  We have decided to give everyone a 10% discount on all items purchased between now and the last day of May.  Why would we do this?  We are hosting this special as a roll out promotion for our new website and our new blog.  Feel free to come back here and let us know what you think of our new site and the ease of use.  We look forward to your comments, have a great day!

Always, Canyon Promotions!

Canyon Promotions Intro

Thank you for visiting our blog!

Canyon Promotions was founded in 2007 after Kyle and Carissa relocated from Tucson, Arizona to the Kansas City area. Carissa has been working with promotional products since 2003. Kyle and Carissa met in Tucson, Arizona where Kyle was stationed in the United States Air Force. Throughout Kyle’s enlistment, he has proudly served his country for 6 years and through two wars. He has seen many areas of the world he would not have had the opportunity to were it not for the USAF. During his time in the service, Kyle completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Professional Aeronautics. Kyle grew up around the Lake of the Ozarks area. He and Carissa visit the area often as it is where most of his family continues to reside.

Carissa has worked for multiple companies in the Tucson area and settled on a 7 year career with the City of Tucson. There, Carissa worked with several departments such as Plant Design, Mapping & GIS, Administration, Finance, along with the area in which she worked – Tucson Water’s Construction Department. Carissa was involved in multiple Capital Improvement Projects and has cultivated relationships with many of the subcontractors and vendors in the area. Carissa began working with promotional products around 2003 where she began to learn the business and how promotional items can assist a company in creating brand awareness.

Carissa and Kyle have an understanding of the different ways that companies can use promotional products to reward their clients, customers, employees, vendors, and more! Visit our blog often to learn how your organization might benefit from the knowledge and service that Canyon Promotions can offer. If you have any questions, please contact us – we’d love to hear from you!

canyonpromos.com 

 

sales@canyonpromos.com