PPB June 2020

Creative Promotional Marketing Agency Edmonton, Alberta Gold Winner OBJECTIVE: To increase attendance for the distributor’s annual open house and increase revenue by a minimum of 20 percent from the same period in the past year DETAILS: The team designed a theme by drawing inspiration from the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and integrating promotional products into the campaign. This campaign, which showcased the company’s creative and collaborative abilities, was characterized by live music, beer gardens, a food truck and a VIP seating area. The distributor’s open house attracted 400 prospects and clients, and the campaign featured a fan invite, promo-filled bags, sunglasses, beach balls, wristband headphones, and new and top-trending products on display by 18 of the company’s preferred vendors. RESULTS: The agency targeted 500 prospects and clients with the final attendance just shy of 400 people surpassing its previous attendance record. Sales grew from the same period of the year prior by 43 percent, smashing its original goal. Insights from Pete Kmech, MAS, FAM Certified, president and director of marketing: What was most challenging about this campaign? “Putting on an event like this is a massive undertaking but we were blessed to have such an amazing team—they do whatever they need to do to get it done. The challenge was … in September it’s generally 20 degrees Celsius. A week before the event, we found out that we were going to have a snowstorm. We pivoted—we changed the name of the event from Swagchella to Swagchilla. We ordered 300 pairs of gloves that could be used with phones and toques and we had a heated tent put up for all vendors. We had more than 400 RSVPs before the event and because we pivoted so quickly, we had 400 people show up on a snowy day outside in a tent. Everybody loved how quickly we pivoted—it was an opportunity to showcase what we could really do and how clever our team is.” Why do you think it was so successful? “We put out a teaser video that made our clients want to submit their RSVPs. Hosting our own event and showing our clients how to use products also made it successful because our clients love getting ideas from our events for their own events. We are recognized as a company where people come to get ideas, learn how to put the events on and what promotional products are successful. We are providing our clients with an opportunity to learn.” Self-Promotion Campaigns FEATURE | 2020 PPAI Pyramid Awards 20 | JUNE 2020 |