If you’re a regular reader of our e-newsletter, you know that we like to feature clients’ promotional projects. It’s our belief that real-life success stories are helpful brainstorming tools.

When we showcase clients’ projects, we offer to identify their company and link to their web site. In exchange for allowing us to share your story, we strive to increase awareness of your organization. (Don’t forget we archive past issues of our newsletter on our web site, which can lead to even more exposure.) If you’re interested in having your organization featured in an upcoming issue, please call me or send me an e-mail.

And speaking of awareness, we recently joined an important nonprofit organization you might not be aware of – The Fair Labor Association (FLA).  FLA is dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide.  The safety and comfort of workers has always been one of our primary concerns.  For this reason, we only work with highly-reputable companies.  Membership in FLA allows us to go one step further, as the group provides access to independent external monitoring reports and exerts its power to address the most serious labor rights violations.  We will now be using the monitoring and verification processes developed by FLA to select only the most compliant suppliers of promotional items.  To learn more about FLA, visit their website.

Finally, kudos to C.S.E.A. Local 614 for its recent recognition event for employees who had reached a special, impressive milestone. Read about it – it may give you ideas on how to recognize your most valued employees!

As always, when you’re ready to talk about upcoming events and activities, please call me at 516-935-0553 or send me an e-mail. I’m here to help.

Beth M. Levine
516-935-0553
info@mmpromos.com

P.S. If you missed any of our previous newsletters, click here for back issues.

Over the summer, C.S.E.A. Local 614 and the NYS Partnership Program in conjunction with Stony Brook University Management, held its first Annual Employee Recognition Dinner in honor of C.S.E.A. employees who had 25 years or more of State Service as of June 22. Local President Carlos Speight presented the awards to members. The gathering was planned by the organization’s Award Recognition committee, Joseph Longo, Committee Chair, and members Maryann Phelps and Jeffrey Quinichette.

Multi Media Promotions produced the awards for members. They received a stunning Men’s or Ladies’ Two-Tone Watch, featuring a precision Japanese quartz movement (accurate to within one minute per year), scratch-resistant mineral glass crystal and lifetime limited warranty in a hinged presentation box.

The employees who were recognized for their service also received a Mini Classic Box or Mini-Milano Music Box featuring a custom tile with the C.S.E.A. logo. The Classic Box is a solid wood, cherry piano finished, hinged box lined with a deep green velvet material and large enough to hold business cards, keys, coins and other personal belongings. The Milano Box is solid wood, dark cherry piano finished, designed to showcase the musical element within a clear, crystal compartment, and mirrored with room for jewelry.

Now is the time to plan for year-end recognition gifts – for employees, clients, VIPs, everyone who has helped you navigate the economic storm you’ve weathered this year. We understand that budgets for this activity are tighter than in the past, and we are prepared to help you show your appreciation in creative-but-not-costly ways. To start the gift-giving process, call us at 516-935-0553 or send us an e-mail.

Have you ever heard self-help gurus talk about building an “emotional bank account”? Basically, you invest enough positive interactions with loved ones so that when spats occur you’ll have a basis of trust and caring to buffer the relationship.

The same can be said for maintaining a strong brand bank. This means investing in brand recognition and customer relationships. This is particularly important when economic times are challenging.

The instinct for some marketers is to curtail advertising and promotion. You may even be faced with mandatory budget cuts. Not continuing to build brand recognition and customer relationships during a recession, however, puts your long term potential in peril. Your brand bank becomes depleted. You risk losing customer mindshare. Then, when the economy turns around and people have money to spend on their brand or services again, they’re susceptible to your competitors’ overtures and you’ve lost your customers’ loyalty.

Promotional products provide many cost-effective ways to sock away some brand clout. A few examples:

• Offer highly valued customers a regular discount with an inexpensive imprinted “Key Customer” keychain. Those who visit your business, showing their keychain, receive a 10% discount on products or services.
• Host a customer appreciation event, providing useful information to help attendees get more out your products and services. For example, a mechanic might teach customers about the better mileage they get from their cars with regular oil changes, therefore saving them money on gas. For less than $1 per piece there are wallet-sized calendars that can be imprinted as a reminder for regular service.
• Check in with clients you haven’t heard from in a while to show that you care even when they aren’t spending money with you. Keep the message positive. A note with a pennies-per-piece jar opener might read, “Our doors are always open for your service needs.”
• Retailers can give out small plastic or cardboard banks with the slogan, “We’ll help you save on things you need” to highlight specials and price reductions.

We can help you continue to build your brand bank so that you come out the other side of this recession stronger than ever. Give us a call or send us an e-mail today!