Tumbling Towards Stronger Client Relations

It is no longer a secret that the economy is abysmal.  We can run but cannot hide from dismal consumer confidence figures.  We can rejoice in some housing sale activity or wince when we read that mortgage activity is now at levels not seen since the last century.  We can believe that the situation is improving or look at ever decreasing fuel demand and realize nobody is working and nobody is driving.  None of these activities though will help you increase your own stake in whatever segment you operate.  What may help is a well-timed gift to a favored client when they least expect it.  Around this time of the year it has always been customary to give items to your clients but with the economy being so bad for the last few years it is no longer expected.

By seizing on the opportunity the economic situation currently presents you have the ability to impress your customer.  By selecting a value oriented product like the 16 oz. Color Touch Stainless Tumbler with either their or your logo on it you can capture your targets attention.  By utilizing an item that they have not already been deluged with for the last couple of years you increase the impact of your action.  Also highly perceived the 16 oz No-Slip-Grip Tumbler is another one of a kind combination of color and design.  This is directly related to the fact that the manufacturer owns and operates their own factory instead of buying from the same factory as bundles of other suppliers.  What ends up happening is a mess of similar products under various names and printed with varying degrees of quality.  The 25 oz Curvaceous Stainless Bottle is a one off style that you will not see in the current market year.  It has a slender and curved body that makes it easy to grip but also sets it apart from others.  All three of these items are not only boxed but are shrink wrapped.  We like to see shrink wrapping on any type of item that will be used for consumption because it keeps dust and debris off the surface during and after shipping.  It also extends the shelf life so that in six months when you hand it to a new prospect the tumbler looks like it just rolled off the factory floor.

It will take another two months before economists realize the much feared double dip has occurred to some extent.  The degree to which the economy bounces will determine how much of a dead cat bounce has been occurring.  The sudden and unexpected drop in consumer confidence coupled with the decrease in fuel consumption at an accelerated rate points towards an economy slowing down once again from the more brisk pace of the third quarter.  With Broder Bros. releasing sales figures that show an over 25 percent drop in sales for the last quarter there is no doubt the pain being felt by many distributors is going to continue into the new year.  The question for the entire economy will be answered quickly as the initial retail sales figures leak out in the coming weeks.  Updated to fix errors.

Maintaining a Stainless Reputation with Clients

There has probably not been a more difficult economic time in post depression America.  The ever decreasing oil consumption numbers released today only further demonstrate how far the economy continues to fall which makes successful connection with your clients incredibly important.  Using the right tools for the job are as always important.

Putting a logo on a product and handing it to your client is an age-old tradition at this time of the year.  The 16 oz. Tread-on-Me Tumbler does it in style not often seen in this industry.  With so many just reselling the same items from the same overseas factories the styling stands out.  The  earth tones of the 16 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler gives  a brushed or polished look that we have not seen previously.   Of course it is also offered in the contemporary color combinations and like all of these tumblers is provided with a gift box.  There are different grades of stainless, the 18/8 is one of the stronger and provides decent insulation.  However the Stainless 21 oz. Super Sip Bottle is single walled which means there is only the most basic of insulation but still stainless provides significantly more value and perceived value over aluminum or plastic.  One of the more lasting trends of the past year has been the inclusion of standardized graphics as an available option.  The 25 oz. Stainless Wave Water Bottle includes neat wave-like graphics along the bottom of the water bottle that are available in various colors.  This makes it easier for standard text or a boring logo to really “pop” as part of the presentation.  What we like about this bottle is that the graphics are not over done and are also not so flamboyant that they would overpower existing logos.

The news today on the economic front paints a picture in stark contrast to recent news in the markets.  Until jobs are created there is absolutely no chance of a meaningful recovery.  Despite the random rantings of market cheerleaders todays oil report screams a long period of depressed economic activity.  The fact that the alleged experts continue to botch their predictions would make one question the entire purpose behind any of their actions.  After millions of new cars flooded the market in the last month or two it would be easy to assume the glee felt by new car owners would lead them to drive more than usual.  That and the busier fall work season and beginning of the season travel time should have resulted in increased travel and consumption.  Despite all of those factors the rate at which we are using fuels continues to drop sharply over the already depressed levels at this time last year.  The truth to the matter is that although the number of people losing jobs is slowly decreasing the overall number that are out of work or that have given up finding work is likely at historic highs.  Until we begin to see a stabilization to the drop in fuel consumption any thoughts of an economic recovery is absolutely foolish. 

As we talked about in Finding your way through sales adversity anyone that intends on staying afloat in the current economy will need to utilize every tool at their disposal.  Times are tough, they are getting tougher in many industries and once the sugar high of the stimulus wears off things will once again go quickly in the wrong direction.

Finding Your Way Through Sales Adversity

With the critical holiday buying season rapidly approaching all eyes will be on consumer and business spending in the coming weeks.  Initial signs indicate a gradual increase in spending activity as businesses have finally reached the point in which they are comfortable with an apparent recovery.  With so much negative news coverage in the last year surrounding corporate vacations it is imperative that you select an appropriate gift this season.

Gone are the days of ultra expensive executive gifts and instead we have in their place the cautious spending of 2009.  If you are a buyer looking to purchase gifts for your own staff you need to be mindful of the fact that staff cutbacks and increased costs have taken a toll.  Spending too much money can have a negative effect on morale which is where the Wine Lover’s Gift Set hits the target.  For under the cost of a couple of cups of coffee you can present your employee or client with a cooler and wine opener all in one.  For the green crowd the Recycled Napa Wine Kit is made from 70% recycled materials and likewise has an opener.  Both pack down tightly and ship easily.  Also of interest they both will fit the new 1 litre bottles of soda that have hit the markets so they do not have to be explicitly used for wine as there are other options.  We have seen some clients insert both a bottle of water and a wine bottle into these kits.  We have also included the Pocket Aluminum LED Flashlight which will fit along the side of either carrier with velcro.  Combining these types of items into one package has the benefit of appealing to a wider customer base.   To get even more creative you can attempt to fit the Prism LED Flashlight into the front pouch on the wine kit.  They do fit but you need to be careful when they are packed so as not to damage either item. 

Probably the biggest concern you should have this holiday season in providing gifts to clients or employees is to be aware of the fact that your staff is on edge worried about their jobs or friends that no longer work for your organization.  Likewise clients do not want to get a gaudy gift from you for the same reasons.  A functional gift that has some semblance of a relationship to the mutual relationship you have is the best course of action in this current climate.  Also keep in mind organizations continue to clamp down on any type of gifts particularly in the health care industry.  Before you send something you should always check with the person to make sure they can still accept gifts even if they are directly related to the business conducted between the parties.  It is also wise to mail any type of  item like this in with related business materials.

The economy continues to recover but with millions out of work the next year is going to be difficult for everyone in the promotional industry.  There are literally millions of fewer clients than just two years ago and even those that still have jobs have much less to spend.

Lighting a Brighter Way in the New Year

Do not look now but the calendar is rapidly approaching the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.  The bad news is time is running out for all of last years resolutions but the good news is you are about to start from a clean slate.  Trick or treating is now behind us and the Thanksgiving turkey and December holidays are just around the corner.  With the decreasing time you now have to get your shopping done you will also have ever decreasing daylight until mid December.  As the days get shorter that usually spikes flashlight sales making it a wonderful time to put one into the hands of your clients.

This is probably the one category of gift that has absolutely no restrictions.  Your clients boss won’t care if they receive a flashlight.  It does not carry the same security risk as portable storage devices, the stigma of a knife or the redundancy of another piece of clothing that will shrink to nothing after a few washes.  Truth be told flashlights are one of the few areas where quality is still exceptional in most cases.  The Garrity Power Lite – K23 not only provides long life it is also environmentally friendly as it does not require batteries.  The unit is fully charged by simply cranking a handle that provides hours of light.  The technology has continued to improve and a minute of turning will now give up to an hour of light.  On the same self-powered theme the Leeds Dynamo Multi-Function Flashlight runs off the hand crank mechanism.  When cranked you have the versatility of an FM scanner, emergency siren and flashlight all in one.  To be a true emergency device it should be self-powered which is why we rate these devices highly as items to store in your car or in your home especially as we approach the winter months.  For overall utility we like the Multi-Purpose LED Screwdriver which has a clip, bright light and a set of screwdrivers all in one.  I think what is most attractive about this package is that it just looks good and is unique.  You will also see it in a major national catalog arriving in your mailbox this week.  That’s right, that “major”  national retailer sells from the same sources as the rest of us.  For a quick and easy solution the Garrity Multi-Function Auto Emergency Lite provides everything you would need in a dire situation.  As recently seen in documentaries power windows in your car present a major hazard if your vehicle were to become submerged.  This type of safety lite provides a hammer punch which when used properly breaks out the window so you can get to safety.  It also includes a belt cutter in case that jams.  In addition to all those functions it is also a lite and or strobe.  I wish these safety items were bigger sellers than they are or better yet that the manufacturers would include them in a safety kit for automobiles that goes beyond the basic kits we already see in the marketplace.

A month ago we discussed the contradictions in many privacy policies.  An interesting situation was relayed at a recent business meeting at which an associate revealed a vendor had given out their name without permission.  One aspect not mentioned in the earlier piece is that you should always get permission prior to using a client as a reference.  Some are prohibited from giving anything of that nature, others just don’t want to do it.  Check first to avoid an embarrassing situation that benefits only your competition in these difficult economic times.

Inking Your Way to Better Client Relationships

As we rapidly approach the holiday gift giving season we are presented with an important opportunity to further develop your client relationships.  Most organizations allow for their employees to receive gifts during the holiday season.  There are still some that strictly prohibit receipt of any types of goods and it is important to keep that in mind.  When in doubt check with the intended recipient prior to sending anything or showing up at their door with a gift.

One of the all time favorite executive gifts continues to be pen sets.  Even with the advent of modern technology the pen will never be replaced and in fact may be gaining additional prominence.  The Cutter & Buck Collectors Edition Pen Set is one of our favorites as it includes two top of the line pens and a prestigious box.  The perceived value is outstanding and it will certainly impress your client.  The Balmain Concorde Pen Set provides a slightly more impressive value but still delivers on the quality promise.  In fact we prefer the gift box that this set comes in over most others.  It looks like it is significantly more expensive than it actually is in terms of cost.  Consideration needs to be given during this particular recession to cost, spend appropriately for the client.  On that thread the Cutter & Buck Midlands Pen Set brings affordability into the equation but still carries the prestige of a major name brand.   A study conducted several years ago concluded that writing instruments had one of the highest rates of retention of any branded item other than apparel.  If you spend time selecting the right product you have the opportunity to keep your name out there for years.  If you customer has a multiple color logo pay attention to the item and make sure it can represented the logo in multiple colors like the Balmain Allee Pen Set which can be imprinted in up to three colors.

The economy was dealt another blow late last week with consumer sentiment sliding again.  What is not helping is the fall of the dollar.  As it continues to drop the price of commodities bought with dollars will increase much like oil.  The unfortunate part of that is that although this would be a great development if we still produced goods here in the USA, the fact that we produce very little here but rely on oil so heavily is a conundrum.  We do not get the benefits of increased exports that a lower dollar would normally bring but instead have to pay the price with higher gas and oil prices despite dropping demand.  Despite some rumblings of good news as we discussed in binoculars to see through the story it is blatantly clear to any observer that the road to recovery is going to be long and bumpy.  Even more alarming is the potential for additional slides in the asset markets.  The promotional industry was dealt some heavy blows in 2009 as several major suppliers became insolvent, others were merged or bought out and still more are stumbling towards closing and are relying very heavily on this holiday season.  If consumer confidence slips in the next two weeks and the buying season disappoints it may be more than enough to push many first and second tier suppliers and dozens of distributors over the edge.

Write Yourself Into Your Customers Memory

As the rebound continues in the economy there is no better time to get your organization’s name into the hands of your clients and potential customers.  Rather than printing out traditional catalogs or sending expensive mailings across the country or the globe try utilizing a USB memory device.  With an ever-expanding capacity and in many cases features these devices are a wise choice for holiday gifts or employee recognition year-round.  There are a couple of considerations which we will discuss later on that may apply to your clients.

A new player on the scene the Jetson USB Flash Drive V2.0 2GB is a pretty basic USB device that offers a large imprint area, extensive storage capacity and a sleek profile that make it easy to carry.  It is compatible with the latest operating systems and can be paired with a lanyard.  Basic devices such as this one appeal to a wide audience and for the most part prices are down from a few years ago.  For those looking for more the Dual Function Laser Pointer USB Memory Pen V 2.0 2GB combines the benefits of a fast storage device with a laser pointer that can reach a significant distance from the point of origin.  Please keep in mind any unit with a laser pointer should only be used by those that understand the laser portion can do potential damage if aimed at the eyes.  In most cases the pen portions will take off the shelf replacements.  These combination pieces have been around for a few years and continue to be tremendously popular especially amongst the executive clients.  To extend along this line further a premier brand is available, the Cutter & Buck American Classic USB Pen 1GB carries a lot of prestige as it comes in the branded box and is made of solid brass.  Solid brass has the advantage of providing a more consistent feel and ease of writing over plastic pens.   If you are looking for a more basic option but one that is on the leading edge of the available technology the Credit USB Flash Drive V 2.0 2GB offers the same large storage but will fit in about any wallet.  This is important because it can be given with a complimentary gift item such as a wallet or briefcase. 

Some organizations place restrictions on what employees may bring onto the premises.  If your potential client is one of these organizations obviously memory devices will not work as a promotion.  Plan accordingly but overall these are great items that appeal to the masses.  Much like the ideas discussed in emerging from a recession there are many ways in which you can begin planning towards a better economy in the months ahead.  As the economic data today indicated the overall economic situation is at the very least stabilizing and more than likely improving.  As the effects of the stimulus begin to wear off the distorted growth of the last quarter will subside but the lasting effect is that it helped to change the momentum towards the positive.  Underlying this all is the need for a strong holiday season which is yet to be determined.

Oil Experts Worse than Weathermen

When we are all looking back next Spring wondering how the economy took another tumble think back to the days of illogical price increases in the market.  Sure the dollar is weak and that does directly impact what we see at the pumps but the irrational nature of the swings of the past two years speaks more of the same exuberance we once had in the housing arena.    The expectation among traders is that there will be justification down the road for what we are now seeing as we fill our tanks but the reality has been that these experts have been horribly inaccurate as detailed on many other blogs. 

Perhaps they have all been enjoying the finer things of life such as a top quality bottle of wine delivered in an Alicia Klein Wine Carrier that is made from one of the most exclusive names available today.   People use this carrier as a holiday perk and it does the job for which it was constructed.  The padding is excellent and it keeps bottles from rattling but for the price we would really like to see a higher grade of material versus the vinyl used.  The Cutter & Buck American Classic Wine Valet definately steps it up a notch and is made from the finest genuine leather.  It also carries a more recognized name than the earlier model which is more of a niche brand.  The handles are stronger and there is more than ample room for two bottles and as earlier indicated there is virtually no noise or jiggling when carrying.  The leather also passes the sniff test in that it is genuine and not the low grade stuff we often see at the lower price points.   Both of these products do a great job and look great with a logo debossed.  If you are looking to spend a little less the Cutter & Buck American Classic Coaster Valet will get the brand into the hands of your client without the expense of some of the previous entries.   Until they run out the manufacturer is also throwing in a free wine opener of the same brand which is great as it increases the perceived value.  When deciding on the product you will ultimately gift to your client or associate choose both quality and value.

What many manufacturers are doing at the end of the year is packaging products from within the same lines to dump inventory.  They are all bracketing it as a special but without a doubt it is clearing out warehouse and capital to begin the 2010 product cycle.  The packaging of products we are seeing is no different from what we have previously discussed among furniture retailers.