New Study Says Promo Products Beat Prime-Time TV

Logoed ad specialties cheaper per impression than prime-time TV, radio and print.

The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) today released a landmark study that proves the undeniable power of promotional products, which beat out prime-time TV, radio and print advertising as the most cost-effective advertising medium available.

The most significant findings of the Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study show marketers get a more favorable return on investment from logoed products than almost any other popular media, with a very low cost per impression (CPI), high recall among those who receive ad specialty items, and increased intent among recipients to buy from the advertiser.

Promotional products, or advertising specialties, are items like pens, T-shirts, caps, coffee mugs and high-tech electronics imprinted with a logo or slogan to promote everything from a new store opening or hot new product to a Super Bowl win or even the U.S. census.

“Promo products are used by virtually every business in America, for good reason – they work. Just check your own office. How many do you have?” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. “Using logoed items, which cost just a half a penny per impression, even smaller companies can deliver the kind of high-impact punch enjoyed by multi-million-dollar companies.”

Among key findings, study results show:

* Cost per Impression. In the U.S., the CPI of a promotional product stayed virtually the same from 2008 to 2010, at $0.005.
* Promo Product Capital. Among seven major metro markets, more people in Los Angeles own promotion products, at an average of 12.7 items.
* Gender Preferences. Males are more likely than females to own promotional shirts and caps, while females are more likely to have bags, writing instruments, calendars and health and safety products.
* Ethnic Preferences. African Americans have more promo products on average (11.3) than any other group.
* Positive Reinforcement. Seventy-five percent of independent voters prefer consumer-branded products; nearly 1.5 times more than Democrats or Republicans.
* Identifying the Advertiser. Eighty-three percent in the U.S. say they can identify the advertiser on a promotional item they own.
* Global Reach. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents from Great Britain have received and kept a promotional pen in the last 12 months. In the U.S., writing instruments are used the most often, an average of 18.2 times per month.
* Popular Products. The most commonly owned promo products among U.S. respondents are writing instruments (46%), followed by shirts (38%) and calendars (24%).

It's important to note that the pass-along rate has actually increased 11 points from just two years ago – which speaks directly to the global recycling trend. Not only do ad specialties make impressions on everyone who sees them, but messaging is reinforced every time the item is used. No other form of media can allow the advertiser to so closely tie a benefit to the recipient.

The 2.0 study, a follow-up to the definitive 2008 survey, includes new demographic information on politics, ethnicity, gender and age, since knowing the likely recipient of products is paramount for an advertiser. This year, the comprehensive report also adds global markets and includes more products, such as automotive accessories and food.

ASI's research studies are the most influential in the industry's history, continuously cited throughout the B-to-B industry and across the advertising and marketing spectrum. To complete its research, ASI conducted a total of 3,332 online and in-person surveys, including interviews with businesspeople in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, London, Toronto and Montreal metro areas.

At $0.005, the average CPI of an advertising specialty item is less than nearly any other media. According to data obtained by ASI*, the CPI for a national magazine ad is $0.045; for a newspaper ad, $0.029; for a prime-time TV ad, $0.018; for a cable prime-time TV ad, $0.005; for a syndicated daytime TV ad, $0.005; and for a spot radio ad, $0.058.

About ASI

The Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest education, media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties. Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to over 23,000 ASI distributor firms. Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain nearly every product in the industry from more than 3,200 reputable suppliers, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers. ASI provides catalogs, information directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers e-commerce, marketing and selling tools. Visit ASI at http://www.asicentral.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the CEO's blog.

* Numbers derived by ASI from data provided by The Nielsen Company, Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Columbus Dispatch and AdAgeOnline.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/4/prweb8273083.htm

Harry & David gourmet gifts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Industry supplier and food and gift retailer Harry & David (asi/59710) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning in the U.S District Court of Delaware. The company said that it already has filed a plan to reorganize its finances and has reached new restructuring agreements with the owners of the majority of its senior notes. The moves allow Harry & David to eliminate much of its debt and continue its operations moving forward without interruption. 

In its filing, Harry & David announced it had reached an agreement with UBS AG, Staford Branch and other financial institutions to receive a $100 million credit line, which will help to run its business and fund the company through its bankruptcy proceeding. The company’s bankruptcy filing follows a difficult holiday season for Harry & David. The retailer and catalog company reported that its net income for the second quarter, which concluded on December 25, had dropped by 57% compared to the same time period last year.
 
Also, in February, Harry & David's parent company, New York-based investment firm Wasserstein & Co., said it was temporarily replacing CEO Steven J. Heyer, who had been on the job a year, with restructuring specialist Kay Hong. "We believe that entering into this agreement provides the best opportunity for Harry & David to restructure its balance sheet on an expedited basis, strengthen its operations and create long-term value, while continuing to provide customers with the highest quality products and service," said Hong, chief restructuring officer and interim CEO, about the bankruptcy filing and subsequent financing agreements.

International Mailing for Libya

On March 1, the U.S. Postal Service temporarily suspended acceptance of international mail service to Libya due to the lack of transportation service to Libya.

Additional information and updates regarding acceptance and movement of international mail to Libya are posted online at usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.

Fun Promo Items fοr Summer Events

Summer іѕ a time whеn уου еnјοу іn thе open. Green grass, blue sky аnd beaming sunshine, аll set up a wonderful mood tο relish wіth thе meaningful excuse οf summer events. Picnics, golf matches, beach, parties, summer concerts, pool gatherings, cultural festivals, street fairs аrе ѕοmе οf thе very common occasions held іn summers. Brands thаt wish tο churn out promotional benefits frοm summer events сhοοѕе thеіr promo products very kееnlу. Aѕ thеѕе summer events аrе filled wіth fun аnd frolic, ѕο аlѕο thе promo items needs tο match up tο thаt occasion.

Take a look аt ѕοmе significant promotional items which аrе great fοr summer events -

3 Proven Promotion Tactics Using Promotional Wine and Beer Items

By: Amelie Levou

Are you planning to utilize promotional wine and beer items to your next campaigns? You may want to check out these marvelous business promotion methods that have made many companies successful for years now:

Engage your target buyers to your promo items.

This strategy can be understood and applied in a myriad of ways. You can make your clients excited by thinking of a terrific campaign in which people can participate such as a contest. Photography is great nowadays so you can conduct a photography contest and make the subject something connected to your company. You can use personalized wine and beer freebies as the prizes of the competition winners. These stuffs are actually pricey so various people will be happy for it. But of course, it would be normally better if you will just make these products as add-on a much bigger prize.

Hand out customizable wine and beer merchandise in parties.

Marketing is mainly about being relevant to your target shoppers. To make your gift of alcoholic drink relevant, you might want to send them to your customers during a corporate party, either as a price or as a souvenir. But since it is a little expensive than your usual logo product, you might want to make it something that people will work hard for, such as an award. But of course, you can also choose to raffle or most promising employee of the year accolade or something.

You can also turn these freebies as promo prizes in your stores.

You can make these giveaways within the reach of your buyers by placing them in your local outlets and then letting people have them after a minimum of purchase. In the way, you will not only sell your products and services, but also compelling a number of people to buy your products and services just to get the gift. Moreover, you are implicitly telling your customers that they will be able to get a greater deal if they choose you over others because of the free stuffs.

In applying these methods however, you have to take in consideration what your recipients style are because that would be your guide in the style of your gift. It is very essential that you do research first before you actually get the promotional wine and beer items that you will give away as you do not want to waste your money in any way. Also, you want to make sure that you are giving a wine opener to people that like to drink wine by the simple reason that if they are beer drinkers, they will be disappointed and you will definitely not get the promotion you want in the first place.


Article Courtesy of Informative-Articles.com

Service Resumes for International Mail to Egypt

The U.S. Postal Service has resumed international mail service to Egypt effective Feb. 22. All international mail services are now being provided to Egypt, including Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail International and First-Class Mail International.

On Feb. 3, the Postal Service temporarily suspended acceptance of Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service to Egypt. All other international mail services to Egypt were temporarily suspended on Feb. 7.
Service updates for international mail are posted online at usps.com/international/serviceupdates.

Postal Service Price Adjustments Set for April 17

The Postal Regulatory Commission has notified the U.S. Postal Service that price changes announced Jan. 13 satisfy the requirements of the law and will take effect April 17. The first U.S. Postal Service mailing services price change in two years will have minimal impact on retail customers who will continue to pay only 44 cents for a stamp. Price changes of note for retail customers include the following:

• First-Class Mail letters (1 oz.) remain unchanged at 44 cents,
• First-Class Mail additional ounces increase to 20 cents,
• Postcards will cost 29 cents,
• Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) increase to 80 cents, and
• Letters to other international destinations will remain unchanged at 98 cents.

"Postal Service products and services offer a great value to the American public,” said Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe. “For a very affordable price, you can send letters, bill payments, packages, and other mail across town or across the nation.”
The 1.7 percent average increase is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index — although actual percentage price increases for various products and services vary.
Prices will also change for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services. Larger volume business mailers will see price increases in a variety of categories. Detailed pricing information is available online at www.usps.com/prices.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

See also: Postmaster Announces Price Increases (Thursday, January 20, 2011)

Nourish Your Business With Promotional Products

by Owaine Schaub

Gifts are the simple stuffs that can help you to get closer to others, whether he is a human being or any business organization. If you have ever used the promotional products, you must know about its power to keep your company or business name in the top of the market. Hence, one needs to be very acute while selecting promotional products. If you are going to select gifts on behalf of your business then it would be more crucial because such gifts determine the actual status of your organization. The promotional products also determine your effort to bring excellent services at the door step of your customer.

There are numerous options available in the markets. You can choose to nourish your business organization. For instance, promotional bags, mugs and bottles, key rings and lanyard, desktop promoters t-shirts and clothing and pens are few options that you can be chosen as the promotional products of your business organization. Promotional pens are not new in the world of promotional gifts. These are very simple and common gift. You can also choose promotional fridge magnets and promotional pencils for the endorsement of your business in the market.

When you go to choose a perfect promotional item, keep in your mind that your item should not mess your budget. Before making a plan for endorsement of your business or organization with such campaigns, you must consider your budget as your business and personal life can also get affected if you even think to go over the budget. Printed pencils and pens are the best options to promote your business or company and to widespread the name of your company with such kind of endorsements. Before you go and buy anything, think first about the sort of promotional pencils or pens you are looking forward to gift your customers. If your budget is low, you can go for the pens available at cheaper rate with plastic body.

If you are on average budget, you can visit the popular section of mid-raged plastic bodied pens. You can also go to the sophisticated range of metal bodied pens to impress customer however, this will let you spend more. You must consider the quality of your gifts otherwise whatever you provide would not mean good to your customers and it can ruin your business status as well. For more details on such attractive promotional gifts, you can visit the site http://www.adxpressimprints.com. Thus, get ready to air your name in the market with attractive promotional gifts.

Articles Source:http://entertainment.ezinemark.com/nourish-your-business-with-promotional-products-31f648d50ea.html
          

Top 10 Sexiest Products for Valentine's Day

All's fair in love and promotional products, as the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) today released its annual top 10 list of hottest Valentine's Day business gifts and romantic giveaways.

A search for romantic giveaways in ASI's exclusive promotional products database reveals marketers are in hot pursuit of everything from chocolate lip balm and thigh-high socks to matchbook-style condoms and custom-made bobbleheads. For a YouTube video featuring a demo of some of the products, click here. For photos and info, click here.

"Marketers trying to sex up a ho-hum promotion need look no further than our top 10 list to find products that will make anyone go 'whoo-hoo' all year long," said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. "Sex always sells, whether it's spread by a tasty lip balm or flashed on a necklace shouting 'sexy.'"

Top 10 sexiest Valentine's Day products:

1. Chocolate Lip Balm from Custom HBC. Flavored SPF-15 lip balm has hempseed oil, beeswax and other natural oils for smooth application.
2. Little Black Book of Sex Secrets from Peter Pauper Press Inc. The 160-page book by Dee Flower offers naughty tips, sexual oddities, potent positions and celebrity sex.
3. Edible Bubble Bath from Z Marketing Group makes a fun, romantic intimacy kit.
4. Thigh-High Socks from American Apparel are triple-striped, soft-knit and 26" long.
5. Feathered Bikini Top from Beistle. Adjustable Mardi Gras feathered bikini top.
6. Tongue and Lips Pin from Alight Promotional Products is magnetic and flashes.
7. Boy Briefs from Cafe Press are inspired by the classic men's briefs but made for style-conscious women.
8. Sexy Necklace from OTC/Lauren-Spencer Inc. displays the word "sexy."
9. Condoms from Stop N Go come in standard foil packaging with discreet matchbook-style packaging.
10. Bobblehead from Bobble Head Me comes with dark hair and a purple bikini. Custom dolls are 100% handmade by professional sculptors.

The $17 billion ad specialty industry is fueled by branded freebies (how many do you have?) and hundreds of thousands of American-made promotional T-shirts – there are enough produced annually to clothe everyone in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Now, businesses are going way beyond the best-selling logoed pen, with unique products like scented T-shirts that help launch catchy ad campaigns that capture consumers and deliver a positive return on investment.

According to a landmark study from ASI, ad specialties beat out prime-time TV, radio and print advertising as the most cost-effective advertising medium available.

For more information how to get these and more for your organization please contact us.

AdXPress carries over 750,000 promotional products.

No Money Down Marketing Plan

When times get tough, the first things to go are excess expenses those costs that are not absolutely critical to doing business. As your organization braces itself for tough times, how can it boost revenue without breaking the budget? Here are some steps to building your own no-money-down marketing plan.

1. Write a revised marketing plan and execute it.
Assuming you have a plan in the first place, go back and review every element to see how it fits into the current environment.

2. Uncover your opportunities.

Do you have certain products that stand out or other competitive strengths? Look for the opportunities. Check out your key competitors who are weak and whose customers may be feeling uncertain, and respond.

3. Develop new terms and conditions for doing business.
Now is the time to look at ways to exploit your opportunities with new thinking. For example, if your customers may not have the money for inventory, but you know they can sell much more if they have goods in their stores, then work out an opportunity such as consignment. Work out terms and conditions to protect your investment and make it profitable for you.

4. Don't accept "no," "We never did it before" and the big one, "Our systems won't allow it." Just because you have never done it before doesn't mean it won't work. Systems are there to serve the company--not prevent progress. As a leader, you cannot allow "no" or other objections to stand in the way of a program that has great upside potential.

5. Promote your company's major skills.
Your company does certain things very well. Look at your company very honestly and figure out the one or two things you do best. Then constantly promote these to your customers and to your own team.

6. Go back to lost customers.
When business was good, losing a customer may not have seemed important. Now that the market is significantly smaller, the customers who have survived are much more important. All it may take is a simple "we are sorry".

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Source:  John Haskell, aka Dr. Revenue®, is a professional speaker, seminar leader, marketing and sales consultant, and author of Profit Rx. As a former CEO/COO of divisions of Fortune 500 companies and as president of The Professional Marketing Group, Inc., he consistently demonstrates the value of written marketing and sales planning. He helps his clients write and implement marketing and sales plans, and his "Dr. Revenue Marketing and Sales Clinics" results in immediate sales and marketing focus.

Working Successfully With An Indecisive Prospect

When it comes to making a proposal or pitch to deliver your product or service to a prospect, remember that the question is not just the answer; the question is the cure. Keep in mind that the one asking the question actually controls the conversation. So find out early if the person you are speaking to can actually make the decision to purchase the product or service you seek to provide.

For some decision-making is not something they can do solo; they must go to someone else, a partner, manager or someone higher up in the company, in order to make up their own minds. Rather than dismissing such prospects, treat these customers with a greater degree of care since they are no doubt already uncertain, possibly insecure and maybe in a little over their heads.

In this increasingly complex world, many businesses practice a division of labor, especially where purchasing goods and services is concerned, and particularly when money is tight and times are tough.

Let's imagine such a scenario. Albert, your prospect, has been listening to the options you have outlined and now says one of three things:
• "I need to think about it."
• "I'll have to talk to my manager about that."
• "That's awfully expensive (or a big project). I can't make that kind of decision independently."

In the first example, Albert has elected to share very little information. Understand, he is actually telling you a great deal, namely that he's too uncomfortable to share the actual objection or that there may be a third party involved. That's a tip-off that a greater degree of trust is necessary before any disclosure about the real issue can take place.

The second example shows that Albert is revealing his dilemma and not just brushing you off, so don't brush off his remark. Although you and have spent time getting to know him and his business, and presenting your information in his style, it's now time to find out more about his manager. In the third scenario, an actual objection is stated -- it's expensive, or time consuming -- and Albert tells you he needs help with the decision. Knowing the objection and that another person is involved in the decision makes it a great deal easier to proceed.

In all three examples, your concern is how to encourage the person who isn't present to consider your proposal. Your job is to give Albert, your walking, talking marketing tool, the opportunity to send a beneficial and acceptable message to the person who will make the final decision.

So what do you say to Albert? "In addition to you, is there anyone else who might influence the decision?" Or, "Besides you, is there anyone who might also be interested in the proposal we're discussing?" Neither question demeans Albert, exploits his indecision or forces his hand in any way. It's a natural outcome of the conversation expressed with curiosity. What might the prospect reply? "Yes, my manager (or company owner, etc.)"

Your next question should be: "What might his or her concerns be about this proposal?" Or: "What is it he or she might want to know about this product or service?"

You can never know until you find out more, and you can only find out by asking with care, concern, respect and non-judgment. The more information you can find out about your prospect's concerns and objections, the more material you have at your disposal. The art of persuasion is nothing more than building a roadmap that establishes value and integrity for the product or service.
Many individuals simply can never say "yes" to anything. Structure your presentation or pitch so you make it easy for the indecisive customers to do what you want them to do, and hard for them to do what you don't want them to do.

Source: JoAn Majors is a professional speaker, a two-time business founder and a three-time author. Her latest book is Encouragementors:16 Attitude Steps for Building Your Business, Family & Future.

Not All Promo Products Are Created Equal - How to Avoid Costly Mistakes

By Rob Stillman

It goes without saying but not every promotional product will be the perfect fit for your marketing campaign. Those mouse pads may look cool but that doesn't mean your customers will think so. The best way to avoid making costly mistakes is to do your homework. This article will attempt to clear up some of the confusion surrounding promo products, as it directly relates to perceived value versus actual value.

The case of the typical online shopper

Let's say you got $500 to spend on branded ad specialty items (also known as promo products). So you jump on Safari and start searching for "eco-friendly promotional products." You click through the first couple of web sites that appear on the first page of Google and come across items you think will complement your direct mail campaign.

"My customers would definitely appreciate those eco-friendly pens made from corn plastic. It sends the right message. Wait...let me check. Ok. These pens are about the same price as its petroleum-based cousin. Actually, I come out ahead on this model. Looks good."

So you place your order online for a few hundred pens and it goes out in your mail package. Let's fast-forward to the day some of your customers open the package.

* Suzy Q. could use another pen, but she can't accept your gift due to strict company guidelines.
* Rob happens to be a writing instrument aficionado, so when he sees your corn plastic pen he isn't impressed. It quickly finds the recycling bin.
* Melissa absolutely loves the pen. She quickly anoints it as her favorite and religiously uses it every day. But before long she has a disappointed look on her face: the cheap pen just couldn't stand up to the rigors of daily use.

The anatomy of the gift

Suzy Q. - What are the chances an employee of a company cannot accept a gift as harmful as a pen? Believe it or not, some companies won't allow their employees to accept anything on behalf of a vendor...not matter the cost of the item.

Rob - Yeah guys like Rob do exist. Just because something is free doesn't mean it bears value in the recipient's eyes. This scenario is hard to plan for; Suzy's situation can be cleared up with a simple phone call before hand.

Melissa - This is what I have coined, 'The case of the crappy mouse pad.' Choosing bottom dollar promo products versus spending a little more coin can make the difference between a successful campaign and one that falls flat on its face. Giving someone a lesser quality item than what they already have - it could be anything from a mug to a mouse pad - does not make sense. It makes you and your business look bad. Anyway, the point of giving away promo items is to create multiple impressions each day.

How to avoid these costly mistakes

Before you incorporate a promotional product into your advertising mix you first have to take into consideration 5 components:

• Gender preferences
• Age
• Lifestyle
• Hobbies
• Scope of work

Remember, as much as you would like to think you brand has the same reach as Starbucks or FedEx or McDonald's, it doesn't. Small business owners have to understand the promotional product you slap your logo on has to represent your company in the best light. Give away a cheap item and you will be perceived as cheap. And that may lead to the false belief that your business isn't run properly, even if your customer is wrong for thinking that. But you know the deal: perception is reality.

My advice is to seek the counsel of a professional, someone who assists businesses with the selection of promotional products that will generate the greatest ROI. If you decide to take me up on my suggestion, here are three ways you can tell if a distributor is looking out for your best interest from one that just wants to push profit-laden units.

3 sure-fire ways to tell if your supplier knows the advertising biz

* Emphasize offer not brand: Does your online supplier suggest you combine an offer with your branded promo item? If not, dial another one. Branded bait pieces work well in this instance.
* Get creative: Is your distributor lacking quality promo ideas? If he is qualified there should be no shortage of ideas when it comes to eliciting a call to action, working in a USP, tagline or discount on the item. It is also important to consider choosing an item that is different, an inherently unique product that stands apart from what the competition is already giving away.
* USP: If you can clearly demonstrate how your product or service is different or better than the competition, and how this advantage benefits the customer, than you have what Rosser Reeves identified as a unique selling proposition (USP) in his book, "Reality in Advertising." Reeves stated that the benefit must not be trivial, but strong enough to motivate prospects to buy your product (or service) over others. Example: In an effort to keep customers loyal, a car wash might offer to clean your car for free if it has rained within two days of your car wash purchase. A tag line to that effect would be imprinted on a keychain so your USP is never forgotten.

AdXPress carries over 750,000 promotional products.

Custom Lip Balm As Low as 49¢ each

As Low as 49¢ each!

Yesterday, I went to a promotional products showcase featuring all hottest new items that one can place a logo upon. I especially like these lip balms. I'm sure you will, too. I picked up several different sample scents, and I must say, the coffee scented one is phenomenal!

You really can't go wrong with AdXPress Legacy Balm because it feels and acts just like the lip balms we have all purchased on the market for years, with one difference:


AdXPress Legacy Lip balm Tastes Great !!!

Legacy Balm is Petrolatum-based. And we ALL know what Petrolatum is: It is what our grandmothers knew to be the best skin protectant around, and marketed as Vaseline(R). It has been used for over a hundred years for protecting the skin against the elements. This balm comes in many flavors, with or without SPF.

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate, 7%; Oxybenzone, 4%. Other Ingredients: Petrolatum, Ozokerite, Beeswax, Mineral Oil, Coconut Oil, Flavor, Saccharin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Safflower Seed Oil, Aloe Oil, Vitamin E Acetate.

Container: White Polypropylene (PP) Propel-Repel Style Tube / White Polypropylene (PP) Cap
Unit Net Weight: 4.5 Grams (0.15 oz)
Label Options: Thermographic Spot; CMYK Digital.
Packout Options: Bulk
Flavor: Tropical

Imprint Area: 1.75" x 1.25"
250 piece minimum
Production 5 working days
Set up Charge $45
6 Day Production after approval
Thermographic Print: Colors Available are Blue, Green, Black, Navy,
Orange, Purple, Red, Wine (1 Color Spot, No Lamination)

Tropical Flavor 250 pieces plus - 49¢ each
All Stock Flavors & Natural Flavors 250 pieces plus - 54¢ each
Over 50 stock flavors.

Contact us to get flavor list and a full quote including shipping. Minnesota pays sales tax of 7.125%.

There are specials on full 4 color process imprinting as well. Please inquire.

"Must-Have" Social Media Profiles For A Great Marketing Campaign

Social media platforms are the most popular destinations on the Internet. It started with the personal profile phenomenon, quickly evolved into video sharing profiles and then the floodgates opened up. Now internet users--including small businesses--have more than 400 social media platforms to consider.

Business people need to develop a social media advertising formula, a mix of sites that business owners must have in order to run a successful social media advertising campaign. Each social platform plays a very specific role, and the combination of the sites below along with keyword optimization on these sites will take your social advertising campaign to the next level.

Today, AdXPress Imprints takes a look at three popular platforms and gives tips on how you can optimize your presence through the use of keywords.

Linked In:  A popular business profile site, LinkedIn ranks very well in search engines and is a great platform for sending event updates out to business associates. Tip: When optimizing your LinkedIn profile, select one core keyword (or search term you would like to be found under), use it frequently without sacrificing consumer experience and watch your profile skyrocket in the search engines.

Facebook:  This is the best choice if you want to have a personal profile online. However, optimizing your Facebook profile with your business keyword can make it an invaluable marketing effort. Tip: Optimize your Facebook profile for one keyword and become the “go-to” expert in your industry for the more than 500 million Facebook users. Also, include some personal touches, but beware of putting too much personal information online.


YouTube:  The main video sharing platform, YouTube is one of the best forums available to create a viral marketing campaign. From publishing client video testimonials to creating social proof of your abilities, YouTube videos are a great way to get other site owners to link to your website.  Tip: Each new video is a new opportunity to optimize for a different keyword. For each video, be sure to include your keyword in the title and at least once in the description section.

Tomorrow, AdXPress Imprints will look at two more social media platforms:   blogging and Twitter.

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Source:  Heather Lutze has spent the last 10 years as CEO of The Findability Group, formerly Lutze Consulting, a search engine marketing firm that works with companies to attain maximum internet exposure. A nationally recognized speaker, she is the author of The FindAbility Formula: The Simple and Non-Technical Approach To Search Engine Marketing (Wiley & Sons). Lutze is a lead speaker for Pay Per Click Summit, and previously spent two years speaking for Yahoo! Search Marketing.

U.S. Postal Service temporarily suspended Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service to Egypt

Keep this in mind if youare planning on shipping or receiving anything from Egypt:

Egypt Post has advised Universal Postal Union member countries that it has not been able to provide postal services since Jan. 25. This situation will continue until security conditions have returned to normal. Egypt Post will assume no liability during this period regarding damages or inquiries concerning mail items in the UPU international network (parcels, letters and EMS). Egypt Post will inform other UPU designated operators when the situation returns to normal.

Then today this was received:

WASHINGTON — On Feb. 3, the U.S. Postal Service temporarily suspended acceptance of Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service to Egypt due to the lack of GXG transportation service to Egypt.
Post Offices are continuing to accept international letter mail and other package services destined to Egypt.

Currently, this international mail is being temporarily held by the Postal Service until international mail transportation service to Egypt resumes.

Any GXG items currently in the U.S. mailstream destined for Egypt are being returned to the sender, and postage fees will be refunded upon request. GXG items enroute to Egypt are being held at international airports.

Updated information regarding acceptance and movement of international mail to Egypt will be posted online at http://www.usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.htm.

The world of promotional items

By: Ann Christopher

Promotional goods can be good marketing for your enterprise if done properly. Two types of people should receive your promo solutions, current customers and potential customers. Giving promo gadgets to everyone can be costly and not worth the effort.

Promo pieces should reflect your company. They should be useful and quality gadgets. Cheap items will make people look poorly upon your company. Promo gadgets that aren't useful won't be applied by your customers and will be a wasted effort. The pieces you choose should fit in well with your company. Try to think outside the box and give products based on your customer's unique needs. Giving rulers to mechanics and carpenters are functional. Giving pens and office supplies to those that work in an office are also useful. Giving needed gadgets to your customers shows that you understand them and value their time.

You also want to choose items that are long lasting. This will maximize your marketing efforts for your investment. If you give something consumable such as a notepad, you want to make sure that your customer can use it for a while before it runs out. This keeps your company name and image fresh in their minds and gives a good impression.

Nice marketing merchandises make a good impression for your company. The customer will feel appreciated and that their business is valued. This gives your customer a positive experience and when they think of your company, they will think of better of you.

Your advertising gifts should be targeting for potential customers. Giving promo items for people or companies that have no use for your product or service is a waste of time for you and them. You should know your target market and directly market to them with useful products.

The effect of your marketing campaign can be seen with promotional products. If you have a lot of face to face interaction with your customers, you will be able to see if your products are being employed. Since you determine who receives your promo solutions, you can compare the results with new orders and repeat orders. You can see how order size has increase in size and price or increased in frequency. When you give marketing gadgets to prospective clients, you can see how many have placed orders.

Promo solutions can be a very useful promotional tool for your small business if done properly. Remember that promotional solutions are gifts and you should keep your customer's needs in mind when selecting a product. Products that aren't useful will not be implemented and be a waste of time and money.

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Who really sees marketing items

If you've ever wondered why companies give out advertising products, there's one very good reason: it's something that almost every potential customer might see as they interact with the outside world. Promotional gear are applied by companies of all sizes. No corporation is too big to benefit from this kind of advertising and it always saves funds on the advertising funds.

The visibility of advertising objects might have been debated when they first appeared in public, but when people as who really sees promotional solutions, it's a resounding "everyone." Few people go without seeing a promo gadget or two for very long. They exist in offices, grocery stores, banks, homes, schools, and other enterprises. They're everywhere, something that makes them one of the most effective advertising tools imaginable.

When a firm gives out a marketing gadget such as pens or hats, those are put to use by the people that get those items for free. Just about everyone loves a good freebie. When the owner of a new free hat wears that hat, everyone they speak to sees that hate. When someone uses a advertising pen, they see the name of the corporate and might call them when they need the service or product offered. They might loan the pen to someone else and that individual may forget to return it, thereby passing on the advertising to another person. People that borrow the pen will see it.

The success of advertising products is overwhelming. No one can measure just how much business is created because of promo items, but most people can remember a time when they've seen the name of a venture on a promo merchandise and used that enterprise later on. Recognizing the name of a corporation is extremely important. It's always possible to go back feel that the name you already know might be the right business for the job. This makes marketing gadgets even more important to corporations. It helps to make them completely recognizable to people.

The next time you ask yourself "who really sees advertising merchandise" you can answer more quickly. Just about everyone on earth will benefit from a free advertising product at some time or another and many of those people will implement the merchants listed on those solutions. By getting your business name out there, you are increasing your visibility in the community and increasing your chances of landing new clients that will appreciate the kind of products and services you have to offer. Best of all, this method of getting your name out in public view is extremely economical when compared with other methods.

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Greet the New Year with Promotional Sunglasses

They unceasingly say that you should start the year right so that everything will be great from henceforth. But how can we do this in reality? One of the best ways to wish our corporation luck for the New Year is by giving promotional products that your prospects would love to have, such as promotional sunglasses.

Be the first one to give your purchasers a memento to take home this New Year and give them custom logo sunglasses with your name and logo imprinted on them. This gesture will easily make your patrons remember your brand in their hearts for the whole year round. Just make sure that you place your company name and logo at the right spot in the promotional souvenirs that you will bestow. This is by virtue of the plain truth that a mistake in design can lead your endorsement to an utter waste of time and money.

Make sure to hire or consult an expert in promotional items due to the fact that they know very well how to effectively design customizable items such that they can generate a quality amount of brand recall. There are many experts that you can find online and they are likely the suppliers of the promo items so you hit two birds in one stone if your find a company like this.

Last year, the statistics for the number of people who bought and supported the use of promotional sunglasses are impossible-a lot of people just love these cuties! And decidedly this year, it will still have the same success is has last year so expect that a number of companies will utilize it. So what you got to do is make an effort to stand out and be different from the companies that will use this particular merchandise of promotion.

Getting your target patrons interested into your brand over and over again will require you to provide them test promotional products around as gifts. This means that you have to spend for it but it will easily be worth it so don’t worry to much about this kind of approach in campaign. Fortunately, promo materials such as promotional sunglasses are around to guide us save on marketing costs since it’s only cheap if you are going to use this in your promotion.

Amelie Levou

Advertising Gifts: Most Prominent Items to Add Wings to your Business

Advertising gifts have a consequential role to play in the promotion of your business, provided that you leverage them in the right direction. Ahead of many other modes of business advertisements, the strategy to offer advertising gifts have been highly successful in boosting the sales of small and big businesses. It is now your turn to make the most of it.

Items that could be used as advertising gifts

Why Freebie Products Are Cool

Promo products are great for any type of advertising. Freebie products are a very well known and well used form of advertising and marketing for corporations and individuals alike. It is a great way to "get the word out" of a specific merchandise or entire inventory of items for someone or some brand to promote and induce business. Many corporations use promo products in various ways. The main goal is to attract consumers to their business in hopes that the customer will take a look at other products and services that the organization sells and purchase those items. Promo items are also a good incentive for clients and establishes a good repport between the seller and the buyer. Typically, when a consumer gets a good deal on something, or even receives a product for free, then the user will spread the word to family and friends. This has a positive effect on the business as those family and friends who were informed of the brand will be inclined to give the organization a try themselves. A domino effect of good business relationships then ensues.


How Does A Organization Utilize Promo Products

A good option to compete against the rising cost of cotton in clothing

By John A Stefani

On Monday, January 10, 2011 I wrote the article: Cotton Prices Driving Brands to Increase Prices, Alternative Fabrication. The promotional product industry has noticed an increase in t-shirt and other cotton made items prices and it is beginning to be seen in the prices the customer pays.

Texas drought last summer, super weeds, like the herbicide resistant Pig Weed (see the above video), within cotton crops in Arkansas added to the international shortages of cotton due to floods and poor crops is causing clothing prices to increase.

On Jan. 18, 2010, quotations for the base quality of cotton averaged 67.66 cents per pound in the seven designated markets measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On October 15, the average had increased to $1.06.52, the highest price recorded since May 26, 1995, when the average was $1.11.53 cents per pound.

As we watch cotton prices soar, we are left wondering "Now what?"

Opportunity for Synthetics?

With increased cotton prices and the resulting cost increases for cotton fabric we should see an upsurge in interest for a cost-effective, quality alternative: Microfiber.

What is microfiber and why does it out perform cotton?

Described to be hundred times thinner than a single strand of human hair and ten times finer than silk; microfibers are extremely fine compared to that of a cotton strand.

Microfiber out performs cotton because of its admirable polyester and polyamide fibers that are strong and ensure durability. It's resistance to stretching and shrinking that guarantees shape retention. Other than that, it is also wrinkle, mildew, abrasion resistant due to its highly elasticity.

Moreover, it is resistant to most chemicals, retains heat-set pleats and crease, and is easily washed even only with clear water or mild soapy water. In comparison to cotton, a microfiber will absorb 98% moisture, while cotton can only absorb at best 70%.

Why Freebie Products Are Cool

Promo products are great for any type of advertising. Freebie products are a very well known and well used form of advertising and marketing for corporations and individuals alike. It is a great way to "get the word out" of a specific merchandise or entire inventory of items for someone or some brand to promote and induce business. Many corporations use promo products in various ways. The main goal is to attract consumers to their business in hopes that the customer will take a look at other products and services that the organization sells and purchase those items. Promo items are also a good incentive for clients and establishes a good repoire between the seller and the buyer. Typically, when a consumer gets a good deal on something, or even receives a product for free, then the user will spread the word to family and friends. This has a positive effect on the business as those family and friends who were informed of the brand will be inclined to give the organization a try themselves. A domino effect of good business relationships then ensues.

How Does A Organization Utilize Promo Products

Organizations who use promo products are very strategic about their promotions. They are very detailed in the way they deliver the product or items to the customer. For instance, when one enters a particular place of business, one may notice that promo merchandise are set up in front of the establishment and immediately presented to the client by very friendly and courteous representatives. For example, restaurants whom offer promo merchandise are strategically set up at the entrance awaiting consumers to offer them free samples of a particular food item. They may have a platter of finger food attached to toothpicks for an immediate try for the consumer in attempts of the customer buying more of that item. Places where there are plenty of competition usually use this strategy, like malls and food chains. One may almost be bombarded by a sea of restaurants reps offering a free food sample in hopes that the consumer eats at their place of business over the competitor next door. Conventions of merchants is another place where one will see promo merchandise being used. Places like a flea market of convention center where several vendors are set up will offer promo items to passing spectators to include them in business.

Promo products are also a good incentive for returning customers. The feeling of being rewarded for their business is what most customers want from a corporation and a free promo gift is a great way to not only show appreciation, but to also keep customers loyal to that place of business. Some companies even go as far as to offer promo items exclusively to returning customers. This also inclines others to "join the club" when they see the abundance of perks one whom is a returning and loyal consumer receives for their good business.

Promotional Products Are Worth the Investment

The main reason why free merchandise are very common today is because they are a great way to raise awareness about your merchandise. To be perfectly honest, the main means through which organizations exist and succeed is by getting the world out there to be aware of what they have, therefore encouraging them to sell their items. Most brands are firm believers in the more ‘modern’ ways of marketing like using TV commercials, the internet, radio, posters, banners, car stickers and so on. Freebie products, however, are one way that will probably outlive all those other methods of marketing.

Freebie products are merchandise used day to day by consumers that have the logo, information and merchandise of a certain organization. Some of these products are pens, t-shirts, books, calendars and other merchandise. The biggest advantage of these items, as mentioned before, is that they are for every day use. A corporation could, for example, print the name of its products, services, prices, contacts or any other vital information on a t-shirt and then find ways of distributing these shirts free to the world out there. As people walk around wearing these t-shirts as they carry out their activities, they are accidentally marketing that business.

Another great advantage that these items have is that they are inexpensive. The price of printing a huge advertisement that is only seen by motorists and people who live within its locale is probably the same as the cost of printing ten thousand t-shirts. The same applies to say, the cost of airing a TV commercial is the same as the price of buying and engraving a specific number of thousands of pens with the company's website. Considering the number of customers who get to see the look of your items, then by all means, it is a great investment when one wants to advertise their merchandise. It is essential to point out, however, that this is not to say that TV ads and outdoor advertisements and other freebie products are not good enough.

Finally, another large advantage that these free products have is their longevity. A billboard could be used for a month or two and then replaced by another, simply because it becomes quite costly to have them up for long times. A calendar, however, will stay on someone’s wall or desk all year, and if the product is attractive enough, it constantly attracts the attention of a number of probable consumers of the merchandise. So if a brand is looking for a beneficial way to promote their products, these three reasons, among others, should be enough to convince them.

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Implementing Promo Items In School

By: Richard C Joseph

Schools are productive ground for the usefulness of advertising things. Kids need plenty of school supplies and these school supplies will travel with them from place to place, including places where potential customers of a enterprise might be found.

While establishments give away promo gear to schools, they increase their chances of being visible to a very large number of people. It's an especially good idea if working in an industry that makes any kind of children's things that children might want. A toy company would do well to hand out marketing things to school children.

The type of promotional gadgets can be everything from pencils, erasers, and pens, to T-shirts and drinking cups. The kind of advertising item should always be age appropriate and completely safe for use by children of the specified age.

When children get these free pieces, they feel extremely good. Children love gifts of all kinds, even cool pencils and T-shirts. Getting something for free is definitely on a to-do list for kids. Every marketing item that they can actually use will be something that they love.

Whenever children go home, they take these school supplies with them. This results in the people at home seeing the marketing gear, and therefore the name of the company on these gadgets. Parents, friends of parents, and extended family are able to view the advertising products and become familiar with the name of a business. A phone number might be attached to the enterprise. It's possible that some of the people will have heard of the enterprise and will use them in the future because of the confirmation of the promo item.

Kids are helping a firm to give them something great, while at the same time making the company more visible to everyone they come in contact with. The result is that there is a great chance for an increase in profits for the business, and a 100% chance that the kid will have received something that they can really use and love. This is a wonderful benefit for students and establishments. Teachers, likewise, can experience the joy of receiving advertising goods for free and use them to help out in everyday activities. They can also take their supplies home with them to be seen by their family members and friends.

Any company that wants to get its message out is doing itself a favor when it uses marketing things to spread the word. It's a quiet, simple way of marketing that helps schools, kids, and the businesses that support them in their hard work.

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Promo Products for the Youngsters

If you study the present trend of how business organizations approach their audiences, it would show a very focused measure that they take. They target that very segment of their audience to whom they provide their services. For example, the Youngsters who form a large section of the audience base are also catered separately. There are promotional products available in the market today that are meant particularly for this age group. So why would one settle for anything less? Addressing the youngsters specifically have a better impact resulting in an improved brand awareness. This is where the promotional items satisfy their basic intentions.

Let us discuss some of the popular promo products for youngsters:-

Keyrings & keychains:

Youngsters are generally more fond of riding, be it bicycles, scooters, motor bikes or cars for that matter. Keys are an integral part of operating these vehicles which are attached to keyrings and chains. Youngsters like keys with keyrings or chains for the reason that they prevent the keys from loosing as well as add some style to their carrying keys. Thus, being extremely preferred by youngsters, keyrings and chains are excellently used as promo products.

Pens:

It is the youngsters who use pens more than any other audience segment. Therefore, youngsters can be addressed both extensively and intensively with promotional pens. They use these promo items for writing, drawing, sketching, highlighting or scribbling to be precise. Every time these promo products are brought into application, the branding components come in visual contact, leading to a firm brand positioning in the youngsters’ minds.

Clothing & caps:

Matching clothing and caps to the latest fashion is what, the youngsters are fond of. Moreover, they use a more number of clothes and caps as they engage in many outdoor activities like sports, parties in clubs and other hangouts. Using clothing and caps as promo items thus acts as a proficient transit advertising medium.

Games & puzzles:

Games and puzzles are apt promo items for youngsters. In free time, youngsters involve in playing games and puzzles for enjoyment or just for whiling away time. They come in varieties of card games, chess games, puzzle trays, sudoku games and umpteen others. These team and individual games emphasize the brand identity in the mind of the user while informs potential audience about the brand presence respectively.

Computer Accessories:

Computers are a must have for youngsters. Not only do they help them in their studies, but they are widely used for playing games, pleasure reading and for listening to music. Thus, different computer accessories like Counter Mats, Mouse Mats, USB Drives & Products, and Wrist Rests serve as brilliant promotional merchandise.

For more information on promo items for youngsters or other promo products, visit www.adxpressimprints.com

Let's Get Motivated!

Leaders today, more than ever before, have to win people's cooperation. And there are two main ways of doing so:  motivation and inspiration. Although the two words are often used interchangeably, they actually mean quite different things depending on what you want to achieve.

Motivation is about moving people to act in a way that achieves a specific and immediate goal. When you're motivating people to do something they may not necessarily want to do, you have to offer them something they want in return.

When coaches give their teams a pep talk during halftime, they are using motivation. They want their players to charge back onto the field or the court with renewed energy and focus, even though they may be too tired or disheartened to try. Their reward? Victory.

• Tell people exactly what you want them to do. Motivation is all about getting people to take action, so don't be vague. Avoid generalities like, "I want everyone to do their best." Say, instead, "I need you to come in over the weekend so we can get this project done on time." 
• Limit the amount of time or effort that you're asking for. It's easier to ask people to work late work one night or even every night for a week than to expect them to work late indefinitely. Set an end date. 
• Share in the sacrifice. Leaders don't ask people to do what they themselves aren't willing to do. Roll up your sleeves and share the load. 
• Appeal to their emotions. People are also motivated by (and prefer to be motivated by) positive emotions such as excitement, pride, a sense of belonging and the thrill of achievement. 
• Give people multiple reasons for doing what you want them to do. You can give your own reason or the organization's reason for requesting the action. "If we don't get this project completed on schedule, we'll lose the contract." But the best reason of all is always personal. It would be nice if you could give your people extra days off or even a bonus.

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About the author: As an executive speech coach with more than 25 years of professional experience, Chris Witt is author of the newly released book, Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint, and founder of Witt Communications. He helps CEOs gain board approval and company-wide support for initiatives. Witt also empowers newly promoted managers and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses through the power of effective speaking and presenting. In addition, he works with technical experts to simplify their presentations to win multi-million dollar contracts.

Keep Your Workday Sanity

For information about Stress Balls, inquire with AdXPress Imprints.

With all the recent layoffs, those who are still employed face a tough dilemma. On the one hand, they're grateful for their job, but on the other hand, their workload may have become too much for one person to bear. In fact, many people are now doing the work of two or even three people. Their mantra has become, "There's simply never enough time."

Whether the issue is that you have too much to do, too little help, too daunting a task or all of the above, you can feel like there's no way to keep up. Fortunately, you can start to take control by learning to maximize your time.

Select from over 850,000 promotional products.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME

Strategy No 1: Go to the Calendar
You stop taking every e-mail, phone call, meeting and problem as it comes up, and instead you start scheduling things in a way that makes sense. Going to the calendar means literally opening up your calendar, turning on the PDA, getting out your schedule, and physically putting into place a written, concrete plan to use every hour in the most productive way.

The key to making this work is to start with a blank calendar and address the tasks, projects or activities that matter most to you first, before you take those calls and e-mails. Ask yourself, "What's the best use of my time?" and "Where am I going to get maximum value?" Schedule those things first. Then you can see where the other tasks can go in your calendar. You may find that not everything can fit, and that's okay. If you're focusing on what matters most, the secondary items can usually slide. Either you'll realize they are just "busy work" that doesn't really need to be done, or you'll suddenly see shortcuts to the tasks that you did not realize before.

Remember, just as you can control your time, you can also control your calendar. Don't let it control you.

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Source: Dr. Joelle K. Jay, Ph. D., is an executive coach and the senior managing partner of the leadership development firm, Pillar Consulting. She strategizes with business leaders to enhance their performance and maximize business results. Her clients include presidents, vice presidents, and C-level executives in Fortune 500 companies. Joelle is the author of The Inner Edge: The 10 Practices of Personal Leadership.

What is a General Certificates of Conformity (GCC) mean?

by John A Stefani

General certificates of conformity (GCCs) will be required for the flammability standards for non-children's products made into vinyl plastic film, clothing textiles, carpets and rugs beginning January 26, 2011 certifying that a manufacturer's products comply with these standards. GCCs do not need to be based on testing done by a third-party laboratory. Rather, certification testing can be done by the manufacturer of the product based on a test of each product or on a "reasonable testing program."

A GCC must accompany the product whether imported or manufactured in the United States and be furnished to the product's distributors and/or retailers. Firms must supply GCCs for their products to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) upon request.

What does this mean to promotional products?

Logo or personalized apparel would fall into this category. What might come to your mind when you hear the phrase “logo apparel?” Custom t-shirts are the most common answer, but the apparel category includes other wearable products like baseball caps, fleece jackets, business polo shirts, knit scarves and more.

The manufacturers are required to supply GCCs for their products to the U.S. CPSC. GCCs do not need to be based on testing done by a third-party laboratory. Rather, certification testing can be done by the manufacturer of the product based on a test of each product or on a "reasonable testing program."

The manufacturers of the printed clothing need to comply with the new General Certificates of Conformity (GCC) standards. I wonder if this is a contributing reason why logo apparel prices are going up.


What do you think?  Feel free to leave your comments.

Postmaster Announces Price Increases

Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe signaled a new direction in continuing to improve customer relations within the mailing industry by consulting with industry representatives on the effective date for new prices and by relaxing some guidelines on implementing Intelligent Mail services.

"Working together as an industry we can address continuing economic challenges in a way that allows the postal service to generate much-needed revenue while being more responsive to ongoing customer needs," Donahoe said.

The Postal Service filed new mailing service prices with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Price increases are limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) cap of 1.7 percent, consistent with the Postal Law of 2006. Actual percentage price increases for various products and services will vary. It has been nearly two years since the last increase.

After consulting with key industry association representatives, the new prices would become effective on April 17, giving the mailing community more than 90 days to make the necessary technology and system changes to accurately handle the new prices.

"We heard concerns that we were moving too fast on discontinuing POSTNET coding, and we will continue to offer the automation prices for mail with POSTNET barcodes beyond May 2011," Donahoe said.

Donahoe emphasized the value of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) to mailers and reiterating the Postal Service commitment to implementing the IMb. To date, more than 41 billion pieces of mail have been processed using the IMb.

Recognizing ongoing industry concerns with challenges associated with implementing the IMb, Donahoe announced that mailers can continue to use POSTNET barcodes to qualify for automation discounts. The POSTNET code was to sunset this May to enable broad adoption and use of the IMb. There will be no Full Service Address Change Service (ACS) charges.

Single-piece, 1 oz. First Class letters will remain 44 cents with additional ounces increased to 20 cents. The price for mailing a postcard will increase one cent. The overall increase is capped at 1.741 percent-at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. More detailed pricing information is available at www.usps.com/pricesOpens in a new window. This does not affect Express Mail and Priority Mail prices.

Prices for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services, also will change. Business mailers will see price increases in a variety of categories.

The proposed price changes are expected to generate $340 million for the balance of the fiscal year and $720 million if implemented for a 12-month period.

For more information, visit www.usps.com

For more information see also: Postal Service Price Adjustments Set for April 17 (Friday, February 18, 2011)

Great Pens - Super Low Prices. Last Chance Before It's Too Late

 

If you are ready to grab a great deal when you see it, do it now. These won't last!

Available until sold out.

612.804.1275 

AdXPress Imprints Promotional Products

adxpress@charter.net

Graphic Design Reflects Your Business Online

 by: Tarjinder S. Kailey

If you want to promote your business or product and consumer awareness, the best possible way to do this is through the internet. The internet is a powerful tool that is used by millions of people worldwide. Advertising your product on the net will allow the millions who access the net everyday to view and possible buy your product, thus increasing your sales and giving you a better shot at success.

Graphic design is an excellent way of promoting your business through the internet. A graphic design is a logo or image that represents the ideas that you want to convey to the viewers – your would-be clients. It is the first thing that people would remember about your business. Thus, it is logical to ensure that your graphic design would be of good quality in order for it to communicate to the people that your business is trustworthy, reliable, and produces only high quality products or services.

Internet marketing companies are abundant. Choosing the right company could mean the success of your business venture. An effective graphic design is one that customers would readily recall when they want to purchase a particular product. In able to be on top of the game, your business must reflect innovation as well as quality. Graphic designs done by reputable companies will make your business a cut among the rest, a most trusted brand that would be top of mind, and would reflect the customer’s needs.

A quality graphic design will give credibility to your business and will attract customers to buy your product. Thus, it is imperative that you hire an efficient company to create a graphic design that is geared towards giving you the optimum opportunity to promote your product, paving the way for a more lucrative and rewarding business.

Who doesn't like a FREE gift? Giving Free Promotional Items Can Effectively Promote Your Business

All businesses are looking for ways to push sales figures upwards. And one of the most proven and popular ways of doing this is through distribution of promotional items.

When you distribute gifts, you will always have a business edge. The core idea behind these items is to promote your products and brand name aggressively to the market. You are wrong if you think that buying gift items can disturb your budget.


AFFORDABLE & EFFECTIVE
These items are very affordable. They can serve as investments in the long term. If you give away gift items together with your main product, it will complement your product in terms of popularity and importance.
It has been proven that companies who are giving gift items enjoy a lot of customer attention. They can also encourage new customers to patronize their business.

For example, if you have a travel business, you can easily gift an umbrella or promotional camera to your loyal customers. They will surely be confident and contented of your commitment and service to them.

THE PREFERRED WAY TO INCREASE PROFITS
Gift items are now very popular - they are the most preferred way to increase business profits. Therefore, choosing the right gift requires serious thought process and a lot of research.

Although there are already huge innovations for the past years, your gift items should perfectly match your company genre and product line. It would certainly help if your corporate identity is branded to your gift items.

With today's latest technology, you can print, emboss, or engrave your company logo, name, slogan, marketing message, website URL and contact details to the item. And when you give these items as gifts to your clients, they will see your company name every time that they use it.


SILENT SALESPERSON
Promotional items can act as silent salespersons for the products and services of your company. They can do all the walking and talking on your behalf.

While designing your gift items, remember that they will represent your company's image. So try to be as creative as possible. Some famous and market-proven gift items include baseball caps, coffee mugs, calendars, and pens. But there are still other innovative and unique items in the market.

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About the Author:  Lottie Carrot works in the promotional items industry for Argon Promotions, the leading company in terms of innovative business gift ideas. Lottie works closely with businesses to help market their products and services by providing information and help in the selection of suitable promotional items for their advertising campaigns.

Continue client loyalty with executive gifts for 2011

Personalized executive gifts go a step further, offering not only quality, beautiful products that the recipient will appreciate and admire but also the ability to customize each executive item.

2011 is quickly approaching, and one of the best ways to ensure a continued profit into the New Year is to show customer appreciation, especially towards your loyal and important clients. Both big and small businesses should take a cue from Santa Claus and get in the gift-giving spirit this holiday season.

Studies have proven for years that advertising specialties are one of the most cost effective marketing tools available today, even compared to TV and print advertising. Personalized executive gifts go a step further, offering not only quality, beautiful products that the recipient will appreciate and admire but also the ability to customize each executive item so that it is a one of a kind gift. An aesthetically pleasing personalized design with your company’s name and logo will remind your clients to whom they can thank for such a thoughtful gift. Your consideration will make a great impact by showing that you invest in their continued business and know how to show your full appreciation for their loyalty.

Great executive gifts used to be difficult to find, but now many online advertising specialty businesses like www.adxpressimprints.com make the search easier by grouping their highest quality products in a separate category for executive gifts, and offer customer assistance to help you choose the most appropriate product to personalize. Executive gift baskets are one of the most popular products ordered since they are pre assembled and contain a selection of different items. A specific theme unites the different items comprising executive gift baskets, such as the Now & Zen Basket with body wash, candles, green and chai teas, and many other soothing products. Humidors are another popular choice of executive gift, as are crystal products such as wine carafe sets and vases; their luxury item status instantly impresses recipients, and the classic, timeless styles look even more impressive when you personalize them.

Even just choosing products made from high quality materials will give clients and important staff members a favorable opinion of your business; upgrading portfolios, computer bags, and briefcases to leather styles with your personalized embroidered logo turns a functional item into a gift fit for any executive!

Grow Your Business (Organization) with Media Relations

Yesterday's issue focused on the value and effectiveness of the practice of media relations as a low-cost, high-results option to your marketing mix. Reporters and journalists can be intimidating, but these tips will help you to position yourself as a dependable and helpful source of knowledge for reporters.The end result will be free exposure for your business that's more far-reaching and valuable than advertising alone.

1. Reporters and editors often spend most of their time in the world of ideas. When you are engaged in conversation, remember to bring up the topic they like to talk about. In a similar vein, if you see a subject come up in the news you know will interest a reporter, copy and send it to him or her.

2. Don't let months pass without contact. If you stumble across an event or idea related to an area of the reporter's or editor's interest, call and leave a quick voicemail about it. The goal is relationship building. If the reporter or editor you would like to get to know is local, you can drop by the office (with appropriate notice) or even invite him or her to lunch.

3. When you are interviewed, give good quotes. Strive for simple, declarative sentences. Use concrete images. Answer the question. Help the reporter do a good job, and once again your effort will be appreciated. At the end of an interview, ask about other stories the reporter is currently covering. Explain how you may be able to contribute and offer a unique angle that may interest their audiences. And make it clear that you're eager to be an accessible source of information in the future.

4. Don't forget to maintain your relationships once they are established. Sometimes the reporter will call you as a source, but you just aren't right for that particular subject matter. You can still be helpful by suggesting another person to call. Or, if the reporter needs a second or third source to interview, suggest names of other people. The reporter will remember this and be grateful. Effective media relations are all about relationships. If you develop, nurture and maintain good relationships with reporters and editors, you will become the expert source they seek out time after time, which will help you stand out from the competition and boost your sales.
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Source: Pam Lontos is president of PR/PR, a public relations firm based in Orlando, Florida. She is author of I See Your Name Everywhere and is a former vice president of sales for Disney's Shamrock Broadcasting.

Ten Odd Promotional Items That Work

By: Josh Stone

Promotional items are usually pens, calendars, desk clocks, stress balls, and even T-shirts. Others are more unconventional and bizarre, but nevertheless, effective. Promotional items help develop a company's brand or product. Anyone from entrepreneurs to large financial companies use it to promote their business. Here are ten odd, but effective, promotional products.

1. Bendable figures. Bendable figures work quite well for holding office supplies. Their appendages make it easy to store paperclips and tacs at hand. Bendable figures would work best as desk promo items or children's promo products.

2. Body tape measure with BMI scale. This product is ideal for health and wellness businesses. Health food markets and gyms would be able to gain a wider clientele with this useful and informative promo tool.

3. USB mug warmer. For the cubicle dwellers out there, this will help promote your business and keep their drinks warm and at hand. No more trips to the coffeemaker for fresh hot coffee.

4. Bingo Dobber. A useful game tool that would be popular at schools and senior centers. This promo product is great for all ages.

5. Multifunctional keylight pen. With Swiss Army Knife features and design, this tool combines functionality and portability. It includes tools like a pen, flashlight, and knife and is a keychain for portability ease.

6. Flexible big key calculators. A calculator that can fold in half. It comes with large buttons and a large display and will never break (unless you cut it). Say goodbye to broken or cracked calculators in purses and bookbags.

7. Wortlicht "word light" candles. These candles are not your ordinary light bearers. As it burns, your message appears on the sides. The Wortlicht comes with custom packaging and a bellyband around it. The candles are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.

8. Swiggies. The wrist water bottle has finally arrived. Available for any sized wrist, the Swiggie can be frozen to keep the bottle cool or used as a regular water bottle. This promo product is ideal for runners and people on the go. The Swiggies are "green" with mostly recyclable materials, BPA free, and is FDA food grade approved.

9. Stabletable. A nifty keychain that will fix any wobbly table. It comes with eight plastic strips that can adjust to fit the needs of the table leg. The logo will appear on each one so you don't have to worry about losing product name visibility.

10. Water guns. Although it may cause a ruckus in the office, these promo tools are popular among kids and adults. At company picnics, make sure that you hand these out towards the end to avoid an all out water war.

These promotional products may be odd, but they work well and they are fun. Some are more useful than others (and others might find other uses than intended), but they all promote the company's brand in a unique and inviting way. When you're looking for a new promotional item, think outside the box, or cubicle, whichever works best.

Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Ten-Odd---Promotional-Items-That--Work-/1972927#ixzz1B1d511YS

The Pros Of Remarkable Advertising

Advertising is very significant for businesses who want to gain more customers and more profit. They invest more funds on advertising because results are positive and most companies are relying on it to promote products and services.

Why do companies spend millions of dollars on marketing their products and services to prospective buyers? And why are there plenty of advertising agencies sprouting in the market promising to make one a brand for a certain product? The answer is simple. Customers all over the world want to see results. They need to be convinced all the time that they are actually paying for a good or service that works.

Here are some of the important discussions on the pros of advertising:

First, advertising improves customer base. Using promotional products will improve your customer base and your customers will appreciate the gift even if it is as small as cheap bookmarks. This is a great way to show your company details on an item that you know will be used daily and carried around. Also bookmarks are often passed on to other people ensuring that your brand name is seen over and over. When deciding what promotional gift to have produced you have to consider the environmental issues. Using items which are multi functional like bookmarks is a great way to promote your business and help the environment as well.

Second, advertising influences buying behavior. As you will notice, people who watch most commercials on televisions never stop to think for once that this could be all make-believe. As soon as they see a commercial, they begin to actually dream of acquiring the actual product. That's the awesome power of advertising that has been utilized by some of the well-known companies to sell their products and also been used as a medium by some other companies to actually take advantage of potential buyers. Many advertising agencies used too-good-to-be-true taglines and other superficial cliches just to attract customers. Now, television serves as the major medium of advertising industry. Many customers perceive that whenever a particular product was aired in the television, it has quality and has a brand or even made by a reputable company or manufacturing firm. But this doesn't last long because once the customer used the product and find out the advertising is not true, they wont buy the product again.

Third, advertising boost economy. Needless to say that advertising companies now form a major part of the development economy of many nations. Aside from that, advertising industry created numerous forms of employment for artists, computer scientist, graphic artists, public relations personnel, modeling agencies and models to mention but a few. Almost all listed fortune 500 companies owe a part of their success to their utilization of efficient advertising companies. In this regards, there are various types of advertising companies. Like in any other industry, there are leaders and there are toddlers.

Advertising truly achieved its pedestal in the industry. Even though it has its cons, its pros outweigh the former. Advertising made a dynamic innovation from television to other forms of media and multimedia like the computer and the internet. Most businesses indulged in internet advertising because these days, customers mostly do their purchasing and selling through the World Wide Web. You can even see advertising sites for free so that it would be easier for you to link your company website.

Articles Source:http://business.ezinemark.com/the-pros-of-remarkable-advertising-31dbf76abd3.html
Author:Brad Kartel

What You Should Know Before Handing Out Promo Items

What You Should Consider Before Handing Out Free Products.There are a few things to think about if you plan on incorporating the use of promo items in your PR plans. Using free items to advertise your organization or to try to win new customers can be a very effective tool providing you strategize with care and select the items wisely. If you do not do this you may recognize that you end up wasting funds with very little profits received.

The product you select as your free promotion should be something that is related. Many times, products handed out are not useful and as a result they end up being tossed aside. Even pretty gifts are not as successful when used in advertising strategies as items such as pencils, cups, bags and apparel. The benefits of giving out a wanted promotion is that not only will the recipient use the gift every day and therefore be reminded of the corporation that gave him the item, but others around him will also notice the logo on the item. For example, if free bags are given out as free items the brand logo printed on the side of the bag will be seen by all those around the recipient as they pass by; this translates into a lot of advertising.

Another important fact to take into consideration is that the gift not only needs to be useful but it should also be geared towards the people it is given to. If you are giving away promo gifts such as flash or pen drives to construction workers, it is less likely that they would use these as often as would someone who works at a computer regularly. However, those in the construction corporation may use a bag or a cap on a more regular basis than someone who works in an office. Try to tailor your promotional freebie to the people who will be receiving it for better results.

Quality is also important. The better quality the item is the more likely it will be used regularly. Providing high quality promo gifts will also increase the respect and worth of your brand in the eyes of others, as they will notice that you are concerned about quality products. That will be a direct reflection of your organization and products.

Keeping these few things in mind should help you when it comes to planning your advertising and promotional campaigns. As you are going to invest in purchasing or making items to use for promotional purposes, it is in your best interest to make the money invested give the best returns possible.


By Rick Thomas
(ArticlesBase SC #3511084)

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-tips-articles/what-you-should-know-before-handing-out-promo-items-3511084.html#ixzz1A0kgJrXC