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EW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTIONAL SUC-
CESS are as ubiquitous as our local governments and civic
agencies. But the many arms of a municipality can make suc-
ceeding with clients a formidable task. However, with a little
research and a lot of creativity under your belt, you’ll have
municipal clients in the bag.
Where are the opportunities?
Local governments often oversee multiple agencies, including law
enforcement, community development and emergency response.
Debbie Million, owner of iPROMOTEu distributor A Million
Promotions Ltd. (UPIC: IPRO9320) in Orland Park, Illinois, worked
with the Orland Fire Protection District to develop a new slogan, and
she sourced promotional items that reinforced the department’s fire
safety and education messages. The program
received a 2015 PPAI Pyramid Award.
To make connections with municipal agencies
and departments, Million recommends attending
community events sponsored by these groups. “See
who’s chairing the events. Dig further to get a meet-
ing,” she says. Additionally, stopping by an office to
introduce yourself and make a face-to-face connec-
tion can also lead to success. This move, Million says,
is what led to her partnership with the fire district.
“I went in to introduce myself and they hap-
pened to be in a meeting to discuss products for fire
prevention education,” says Million. “They invited
me into the meeting , so I explained my expertise
and showed them some samples I happened to have
in my car.”
The providential encounter led to Million help-
ing the Orland district craft relevant messages about
fire safety and pairing them with items such as
kitchen tools, plastic firefighter hats, flashing safety
lights and children’s backpacks.
Who are the decision makers?
Look to the stakeholders within an organization or department
that spearheads campaigns.
The Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau in Dublin, Ohio,
serves as the city’s official sales and marketing organization, and is
tasked with creating campaigns for citywide marketing and publicity
efforts.
When the city launched a new logo and slogan to encourage
tourism, the staff at the CVB turned “Irish Is An Attitude” into a brand
awareness campaign that included logoed promotional products. Katie
Rich, visitor experience specialist for the Dublin CVB, says the nonprofit
organization typically sources products from local distributors.
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PPB
• NOVEMBER 2015
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MARKET TO MARKET
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MUNICIPAL MESSAGING
LOCAL AGENCIES BOOST BRANDING AND AWARENESS THROUGH
TARGETED PROMOTIONS
By Jen Alexander