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The Benefits Of
Business Certification
MANAGEMENT
DECEMBER 2015 •
PPB
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PPB
Tell us about the ori-
gins of KeepSake Box USA.
What brought about the
idea of building a promo-
tional business around pack-
aging, as opposed to prod-
ucts that would need to be
packaged?
Griffin
KeepSake Box USA
was started in January 2015
and is located in Carlstadt,
New Jersey. Through our
companies Premium Color
Group LLC and HandPack
Inc., we have been serving
the promotional industry for
21 years by providing hand-
assembly, printing and fulfill-
ment services to a host of
local, regional and national
promotional products distrib-
utors. Throughout that time,
the need for short-run custom
boxes with that certain ‘wow’
factor was always evident. We
witnessed time and again as
promotional products distrib-
utors sought a high-end box
that they could customize to
the client’s needs and, more
importantly, be made here in
the USA so that they would
be readily available within the
industry’s short turnaround
requirements.
It wasn’t until 2013 that
we had the capabilities in-
house to bring what once
was a dream to life. For two
years we worked through
many different prototypes,
styles, patents and versions
to come up with the
KeepSake Box product line
that we have available today.
We believe our current prod-
uct line fills the void of a
unique, flexible packaging
solution we knew was nonex-
istent in the promotional
product industry and we are
confident our boxes fill that
void. How do we know—
because it is what we are
hearing with each phone call,
email or order we take.
PPB
What kinds of conven-
tional beliefs about packag-
ing have you encountered
with customers, and how
have you responded?
Griffin
We are finding that
many promotional products
distributors do not realize the
value that packaging brings
to the table. Though the
value of the promotional
product itself is a big factor,
the presentation in which the
end user
receives that
product is really
paramount to
the total experi-
ence. Packaging
is often an after-
thought, and
being so it is
thought of as a
budget-buster
to a marketing
campaign. Yet a
successful presentation, one
where the packaging is
planned in advance, is the
driving force around the mak-
ing the presentation more
memorable. Again, it is an
essential part of that total
experience.
Our goal is to try and
spend as much time as needed
with each distributor, whether
at Expo, on the phone, or
through emails, educating
them to sell the experience
that great packaging brings to
their end users’ needs and
goals. Add to this the
increased revenue that can be
had in presenting a brilliant
packaging option, and it leaves
many believing packaging truly
is everything.
PPB
Incentives and premi-
ums are a growing niche in
the promotional market.
How can promotional con-
sultants incorporate premium
packaging into the incentive
sales pitches they develop
for clients?
Griffin
We thought about this
very question from the begin-
ning, and we figured out a
way to deliver something
special to that incentive-
based niche. For a promo-
tional consultant delivering a
big presentation, what better
way to make an impact than
by having branded (self-pro-
motion) boxes to use in sales
pitches? Everyone is always
looking for the hottest trends
Five Minutes With
Andy Griffin
Managing Partner At KeepSake Box USA
Brain Games
PROMOTIONS
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When The Industry
Comes Together,
Big Things Happen
FEATURE STORY
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