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JANUARY 2017
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Promotional products help us remember
howmuch and in howmany ways they can
help. The key, say experienced consultants,
is effectively combining messages with
memorable products.
Livi Dalmau, a Coral Springs, Florida-
based franchise and ecommerce specialist
for distributor American Solutions For
Business (PPAI 469883), has worked with a
restoration services company for 10 years,
helping craft relevant promotions with
successful results.
“The company specializes in water, fire,
mold and biohazard property damage and
over the years has purchased a plethora
of promotional items like hand sanitizers,
microfiber cloths, lip balm, note pads,
t-shirts, candy, magnets and cookie tins to
promote their business,” says Dalmau.
One of her more creative solutions
included a red syringe pen, since the
customer provides trauma cleanup
services. “This was an effective
promotional item, since it tied well to
the theme of the company and was a
memorable piece that many people had
never seen before,” she says.
Dalmau also listens to her customers
and helps develop their ideas into
memorable promotions, for example a
duck-shaped stress reliever with its own
birth certificate and a line on which to
write the duck’s name. “This promoted
their services of performing duct work
for their customers,” Dalmau says. “They
then challenged the agents to post photos
on social media of the ducks in unique
locations and ran a contest for the most
creative posts.”
By incorporating something cute and
creative, she says, the customer was
satisfied by the engagement they got from
their agents and online presence.
Jen Alexander is associate editor of
PPB.
What messages are most
consistently communicated by these
groups to their target audiences?
Safety and situational awareness.
We have done drawstring
backpacks for police-sponsored
safety and personal defense classes.
What do’s and don’ts can you suggest to
distributors who want to work with first
responders and other similar organizations
or agencies in their community?
Many uniformed services will require
USA-made goods. When making
recommendations or soliciting business,
proposing domestic products is a good idea.
What types of budget restrictions or
purchasing rules do you most often
see with first responder groups?
We see a good deal of the costs covered
by sponsors wanting to be involved in
community outreach programs. On
outright purchases we are sometimes
asked to provide a quote or bid.
What are the most frequently requested items among clients in the uniform services/
first responder fields for use in the areas of public relations (community relations)
and fundraising, and who are the primary audiences for these programs?
Water bottles have been continually popular for fundraising and youth outreach. Fire safety
programs use coloring books. Some police departments have used junior badges for
youth programs and bicycle items for bike safety education in elementary schools.
Reaching Out To First Responders
Gregg Emmer, chief operating officer at Batavia,
Ohio-based distributor Kaeser & Blair (PPAI 103148),
shares insights into working with police
and fire departments, and other response agencies.