PPB August 2019

Taking It To The Next Level The good news is the more time people spend at the office, the greater the number of advertising impressions they get from the promotional products on their desks. Since desk and office products command so much real estate in people’s daily lives, using those products to advertise and promote brands makes good sense. “Office items are great because they aremost often practical, useful items that remain front and center in the workplace,” says Carrie Lewis, marketing/ communicationmanager for Clearwater, Florida-based supplier BICGraphic North America. “Themore times someone sees the imprint information, themore likely they are to remember the companymessage.” Gina Addison, marketing coordinator for Stuttgart, Arkansas-based supplier Drum- Line, Inc., says desk and office-related promotional products are used and seen daily, which generates unlimited exposure for your client’s brand. “Every time your customer touches a promotional product, it’s one more chance for you to make an impression,” she adds. Office promotional products are ideal when used as incentives, or for recognition and thank-you gifts, says Vince McDonald, vice president of promotional products for St. Louis, Missouri-based supplier Incentive Concepts. “Whether it’s a small gift for fun, or a larger gift to celebrate a big accomplishment, the recipient will truly appreciate showcasing the gift in their office for all their coworkers or teammates to see,” he adds. Push The Envelope For tips distributors can use when selling office promotional products to their clients, PPB turned to Alisa Nickel, marketing director for North Mankato, Minnesota- based supplier 3M Promotional Markets, who suggests reviewing what your clients already have in their offices when meeting with them. This will tell you which office products your client values the most. “Office desk space is a key marketing tool to advertise your brand message, so it is important to get it right,” Nickel says. “Understanding who your market is, is key to your success.” Brandon Brown, vice president of marketing for West Jordan, Utah-based supplier SnugZ USA, agrees. “The goal is to always provide something that is highly functional and that the end user will actually keep and place on their limited desk space. People don’t need more clutter in their lives.” The key is to focus on function—to recommend those ultra-useful products that people will use multiple times a day when they are at work. “Functional products like journals and calendars are at home in many different places,” Addison says. “People like to use organizational tools that bring them joy, so an eye-appealing photo, graphic or motivational saying effectively promotes your brand.” To determine the most effective office-related promotional products for a particular audience, get to know that audience first. Identify the demographics to know who will be receiving and using the items. Once you know who the audience is, you can determine what items will fit best for their specific work environment. “More importantly, look for something unique that the recipients will be proud to display,” McDonald says. This additional research has its payoff. “Taking time to choose the right product will ensure it is kept in a visible location within the office or desk workspace,” adds Lewis. However, many office and desk products are so versatile, they can be used by people from all age groups, industries and demographics. “There is such a broad selection of useful office products you can easily find a solution with a great imprint area that will fit almost any budget,” she says. Start The Ball Rolling With Office Products Perfect for office workers because of its multi-functionality, the Collapsible Desk Lamp with Fan features a task light, fan and phone stand all in one product—and it collapses to save space on the desktop. This useful promotional product features three modes—fan only, light only or fan and light, and has a large, visible imprint area on top. BIC Graphic NA / PPAI 114187 www.bicgraphic.com The perfect fit for a recipient’s favorite writing instrument or a flower stem, the Pen Holder/ Bud Vase adds crystalline sparkle to any desktop. Featuring plenty of space for your logo and message, this promotional product makes a stunning corporate gift. Crystal D / PPAI 112326 www.crystal-d.com | AUGUST 2019 | 29 GROW