Welcome to our first e-newsletter! Every month you’ll receive a brief bulletin featuring promotional marketing strategies we hope you can put to good use. Be sure to browse our web site for product ideas regularly(see sidebar, left) because we will update it frequently to showcase a range of promotional products.

Chances are you’re excited about the start of the new year. Sales meetings, trade shows, product launches, direct-mailings, recruiting fairs, get-togethers for staff – lots of opportunities to promote and celebrate! But don’t kid yourself: the dates on your calendar are closer than they appear!

It’s critical to get a jump start planning how to promote these activities so you don’t wind up settling for a humdrum, potentially ineffective promotion just days before a scheduled event. Plus, waiting until the last minute practically ensures rush charges and expedited shipping, which is a poor use of your budget.

As you review your ’07 calendar, keep in mind a few of the ways we can help you:

Pre-Show, At-Show, Post-Show Promotions. Trade shows are a huge endeavor. You’ve invested in exhibit materials, sales literature, and the expense of sending staff to a show. Don’t drop the ball when it comes to promoting your presence. Let’s brainstorm how to attract pre-registered attendees, clients and prospects to your exhibit, impress them once they get there, and, equally important, entice them to talk to you after they are back in their office.

Quantity Discounts. Sure, it can be a challenge to anticipate your needs 6-12 months out. But it’s worth the effort to try. If you expect to use a large number of padfolios over the course of a year, for example, place the order in full, get a quantity discount, and we’ll release product as needed -- monthly, bimonthly or quarterly. You’ll save time, money and storage space!

Product Specials. On an ongoing basis, we’re notified by promotional products manufacturers of merchandise available at a special price. If we have a list of your promotional needs for the year, we will always be on the lookout for products that are suitable for your target audiences. An apparel item that’s “retiring” in July might be an ideal holiday gift for your employees. But unless we know your holiday gift interests and budget, we wouldn’t know to contact you about the offer.

The bottom line? The more we know about your year-round promotional needs, the better equipped we’ll be to help you make the most of your marketing dollars this year. Let’s get together in the next few weeks to start planning your ’07 promotions. Give us a call at 888-344-6060 or send me an email.

Best Regards,

Chris Hartley