Business - Promotional Items

Editor: Ellen Cagnassola

Working from home as a freelance artist, I have dabbled in a multitude of creative avenues.  In the past, I have done hand painted furniture, faux painting, and murals.  My experiences in this field led me to design a line of children’s educational and imaginative furniture.  All in all, I am living the ultimate “American Dream.”  I get paid to PLAY!

IMPORTANT tips for remembering when creating a unique advertising or promotional idea.

1. Does it reflect the essence of your service or product? 
2. Does your slogan convey all the important information about your business? 
3. Is this promotional idea something that will be fitting to my target market? 
4. Is my promotional idea something useful?  (always a good idea!) 
5. Is this idea cost effective?  If not what can I do to make it more affordable? 
6. Does is mail or ship well? 

Creating Your Own Promotional Ideas and Products

Your main objective when selecting a promotional idea is UNIQUENESS!  The more unique the better chance you have of being remembered. (name of the game)  After all, this is the main reason you are buying a promo item!  I beg you..PLEASE..no more key rings shaped like a number one in shocking orange!  Stop  the madness! 
Keeping this in mind, you’re other consideration is cost.  An effective promotional event does not have to be expensive.  You can take an expensive concept and tailor it to fit your own budget. 

HOW?

Home computers and affordable software makes labeling and desktop publishing a snap.  If you are a beginner just know that you will learn it by TRYING.  If you can yell “try it” at your kids, the least you can do is listen to your own advice! 

Go straight to a manufacturer or wholesaler for larger quantities of items and your cost per piece will be less the larger the order. 

Packaging, packaging, packaging…. 
Did I mention packaging? 
VERY IMPORTANT aspect in drawing attention to your product or service.  Pay special attention to detail, after all first impressions are EVERYTHING.  You can immediately provoke an interest or lose a prospect at this crucial stage. 

KISS-Keep it simple stupid ( A direct quote from my design professor in college) 
These are words to live by in many different levels! 
In order to counteract high spending on some elaborate package design, make up for thriftiness by pushing your concept to a different level.  This meaning, if you are selling candy and you are targeting corporate CPA’s, then make candy in the shape of a number.  Then put a twist on it by packaging it in a nonfood related way.  Take a rectangular box and create labels  that resemble a phone book.  When they open the box, there is a card that reads,”I’ve got your number and now you have mine!”  Call me for all of your specialty corporate gift giving needs.  Then enclose a business card and list your products and services.  This same concept can work or a service just as effectively.  For instance, you are a bookkeeper looking for an edge into some freelancing accounting work from bigger corporations.  Same concept different type of business resulting in the same result…….GETTING ATTENTION! 

BARE BONES PROMO

If you are a small start up or home based business with a non existent budget to promote or advertise yourself, then listen up!  Do not fret, there is hope for us all!  Here is scenario that night spark a flame of creativity for you. 

You are a small or home based business with $100 to promote your business.  You are planning to start a home based nanny referral and screening service in your area.  A smart idea would be to take your $100 and buy some nice business cards and those pretty tropical drink umbrellas.  Punch a hole in the card an attach it to the colorful cocktail umbrella with a pretty bow.  Why the umbrella you ask?  Well, we all know the original Diva nanny was “Mary Poppins!”  Need I say more?  Take them to key places like mother centers, midwives, Lamaze teachers.  The idea is to go to a few places with the most potentials to generate new clients.  The moral of this story is, financial  challenges are the REAL mother of invention! 

From Ellen...
Today I have found my niche!  I refer to it as a micro niche because I found a way to use all of my ideas and talents and combine them into one focused memorable business venture.  My four-year-old daughter and I work together in a joint venture called MaryEllen’s Sweet Soaps.  We take the ordinary and re invented it, creating “The Extraordinary!”  We make soap that smells and looks good enough to eat.  We manufacture and sell handcrafted natural glycerin soap and bath products.  You can see our products throughout New Jersey as well as The Marriott at Newark Airport.