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t he g r ea t ou t doo r s
by
Jen Alexander
A
comfy camp chair, a snug sleeping
bag, and a cooler that won’t quit on
the hottest of days—these are just a few
of the typical items that make the great
outdoors even greater. And when coveted
gear is gifted in the form of a promotional
incentive, reward or thank-you gift, it
becomes even more cherished.
The key to effective use of outdoor gear in
promotions is, as with any other promotion,
choosing the right product for themessage.
A lightweight, BPA-free water bottlemay
seemperfect for amountain-biking group,
but if it can’t be stored safely on long rides,
that bottlemay never make the trip.
You can’t overlook performance, either.
In fact, outdoor gear is likely to be judged
by how well it holds up to the elements
and by how well it lives up to its intended
purpose. The Coleman Company has
been outfitting outdoorsy customers with
lanterns, camp stoves and coolers since
the early 1900s, turning the company into a
household name.
Kevin Sephton works with Mason,
Ohio-based supplier Vitronic (UPIC:
ACHIEVER) to supply Coleman coolers
to clients for a variety of programs.
“We’ve sold a 28-quart cooler to a fishing
tournament in the Florida Keys that was
part of the gifts given to each tournament
participant, and we’ve sold a number of
them to marinas as a giveaway to fishing
fleets,” says Sephton.
Sephton’s clients have also used
Coleman products for aquariums to use
in feeding programs; for seafood festival
organizers, who sold branded coolers to
customers; and for a utility company’s
service award program.
The most unusual quote request
Sephton says he has received for the
coolers has been for an organ donor
transfer program. “We didn’t get the order,
but the fact that it was [for] organ transfer
stayed with me,” he says.
Outfitted
For Adventure
Outdoor sports afficionados appreciate durable,
portable and multi-functional promotional items.
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