Stressed Out!

Did you know that some of the Most stressful cities in america today include Detroite, Michigan; New York City, New York; and Chicago, Illinois. With the state of the economy and all that is going on in the world today it is no wonder everyone is so stressed. That is why todays product of the day is perfect for the time that were in. We have a long line of items that will help even the most stressful person calm down.http://www.poorrichardspromos.com/TRAFFICBUILDERS/GlobeStressBall.html

New DC tax on Plastic Bags

It began on January 1st, 2010 in Washinton DC. All businesses that sell food or alcohol are required to charge customers $.5 for every disposable plastic bag used. As a result Reusable Grocery Totes are becoming extremely popular. Our new product of the day, which is featured on Twitter, is perfect. Check it out on www.twitter.com/poorrichardspro or on our website http://www.poorrichardspromos.com/BAGS/PolypropyleneTradeShowBags.html.

Twitter!!!

Poor Richards Promos is now on Twitter. Twitter is a great website that allows people to follow not only friends but celebrities and companies. It shows updates (aka Tweets) on what the people you follow are doing. I am happy to say that Poor Richards Promos now has a Twitter page where we will show great new products from our website. It is a great way to check out new hot products. So become a follower of ours today and visit our twitter page!

https://twitter.com/poorrichardspro

An inside Look at Golden Globe “Gift Lounges”

Down the street from the 09′ Golden Globes, Celebs walked away with some goodies at GBK’s Gifting Suite held at the 9900 Club in Beverly Hills

Gift Lounges continue to be a fun “Trade Show” for celebs. Here they can check out and walk away with exciting new products and check out new trends in fashion. They also see the new and innovative technology products.

This year VIP’s and Celebs were introduced to the PakSeat, a backpack that turns into a seat, the Mophie Juice Pack, which recharges your iPhone battery so you can use it a lot longer, and ShareBuds ear phones, which allows two people to listen to music on an mp3 player simultaneously.

What better way for these companies to get their brands out there than to have a celebrity sample them?

There is no doubt about the power of promotional gifting… whether it be a $1500 gift certificate for botox or a $.32 post it note, businesses continue to see the value of using promotional gifts as a way to brand themselves and foster good will towards potential customers.

Poor Richards Promos on Facebook!

Poor Richards Promos is now on Facebook! Check us out, become a fan, start a discussion, chat with us – we would love to hear from you! Status updates include exclusive discount offers!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poor-Richards-Promos/226148489357

7 Exhibitor/Event Staff Sins (Part 1)

At any event, the exhibiting company expects to showcase its best – products, services and staff. But what happens when the exhibit was great, the products and services super – and the response as not up to expectations?

One possible reason could be that Management was haphazard in selection of its staff – the subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors of its most visible representatives were not up to par.

Choosing your Event/Exhibit staff should be one of the critical decisions you face. In the midst of preparing your marketing plan and “sales pitch”, buying retainable promotional giveaways, and effectively setting up your exhibit, the decision of WHO to send could be a make it or break it decision.

Keep any eye out for these ‘7 Event Staff Sins.’ I’m sure one or more may be all too familiar to you!

Event Staff Sin #1 – PRIDE

PRIDE is excessive belief in your own abilities – also known as vanity.

AT A SHOW – Your staffer is a peacock, strutting around. They are the know-it-all, the one who interrupts conversations, talks over the demo and gives unsolicited opinions. They talk twice as much as they listen because they like the limelight.

Event Staff Sin #2 – ENVY

ENVY is your desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.

AT A SHOW – Your staffer is the gossip-monger, the one who makes snippy comments, drops pseudo-truths about competitors and passes along company secrets. They think that by denigrating others, they raise your own stake and others will choose you over your implied competitors. Remember, bad mouthing competitors or attendees only makes you and YOUR company look bad.

Event Staff Sin #3 – Gluttony

GLUTTONY is your inordinate desire to consume more than you require.

AT A SHOW – Your staffer is the addict, maybe not in the literal sense – but regardless of their vice, they push it too
far.  They may slough off show duties or more commonly show up with a hangover, glassy eyes or a thick tongue.  Sure these events are there to network as well as showcase your products or services, but are your staffers going too far and losing the professionalism you would expect from them in representing your company?

Keep an eye out for "Part 2" and the other 4 Exhibitor Staff Sins!

Get Rid of Trade Show Booth Barricades

Here’s a couple quick tidbits that will help at your next Trade Show.

Avoid using tables as barricades.

This is simple…Leave the center of the exhibit open and it will increase your traffic 25%. Make sure you place your tables off to the side and always have an open entry.

Here’s another quick tip that’s important to pass on to anyone else involved in the sales process…

Avoid radar vision

The first thing reps usually do is look immediately at the visitors badge to determine who the person is and whether the person is worth speaking to. The problem? No eye contact!

Here’s what to do to avoid looking impersonal. Make eye contact first, introduce yourself, and then look at the persons badge.

It’s the little things that can make a big difference.

Now go make it happen!

7 Things To Remember To Have a Successful Trade Show

7 Things to Remember to Have a Successful Trade Show

To summarize the key points of the "7 Deadly Mistakes Trade Show Exhibitors Make When Purchasing Promotional Products for Trade Shows let me quickly recap some of the highlights. These “Rules” should burn in your mind the next time you think about purchasing promotional products for your next show.

Poor Richards Rule #1: Retention, Retention, Retention. Remember, do not EVER buy any product that will not be retained and re-used. Keep in mind, you can’t expect 100% results – but when someone calls you 3 years later and they are still drinking out of your stainless travel mug… You will know you did something right.

Poor Richards Rule #2: Quality, Quality, Quality. Would you want your company represented with cheap items? (I am not talking price cheap, I am talking about products and are perceived to be low quality and that do not last.) I didn’t think so!

Poor Richards Rule #3: Objective, Objective, Objective. Any promotional product you buy MUST be tied into an objective. Wise buyers do not buy “give-aways.” They buy tools to increase traffic, manage booth time, qualify, disqualify, build loyalty, retain customers, and convert post show sales. The point of buying any promotional item must be to increase the results of your specific objective.

Poor Richards Rule #4: Be wise if it’s last minute. The turnaround time should not cause you to double your expense. Focus on the objective first and then the best product to fit your time horizon. “Wise Buyers” buy early. Ben Franklin wrote “He who riseth late must trot all day and shall scarce overtake his business by night.” Order early or adjust.

Poor Richards Rule #5: Execute, Execute, Execute. There have been many great plans left on the drawing board due to poor execution. Make sure everyone involved in the show not only understands the goals and objectives – but they commit to following them through.

Poor Richards Rule #6: Finish, Finish, Finish. Believe it or not, the post show is where the money is made. Hold people accountable and find a way to measure results.

Poor Richards Rule #7: Educate, Educate, Educate. There’s a saying, “Ignorance is the mother of failure.” We must strive to consistently keep up with the latest information available. Trade shows are a science. And it really is easy to tap into other people’s experience. Time
to put your ego aside and learn from other’s mistakes so you don’t repeat them. Remember, just because you saw someone doing it at the show doesn’t mean it worked.

Clarify Your Trade Show Objectives

This entry is from Part #7 of the 7 Deadly Mistakes Exhibitors Make When Purchasing Promotional Products For Trade Shows – “One Size Does NOT Fit All”

Clarify Your Objectives

Truth is, every successful exhibitor has a clear set of objectives for every trade show. They know exactly what their goals are – and what they will be using their trade show giveaways for.

Keep this in mind. Your exhibiting effort should be supported by your promotional item and not driven by it. The objective MUST come first. Then pick your products accordingly.

Let me give you some examples of objectives that you should be thinking about for your next trade show. These are the main objectives that promotional products will help you to execute. Which will you focus on?

• Increase pre show awareness
• Drive traffic to your booth
• Generate qualified leads
• Manage “trick or treaters”
• Solidify brand recognition
• Strengthen customer loyalty
• Reinforce a new product, service, or message
• Increase post show results

Once you are clear about your objectives, you will then have a strategy and idea of what direction you should go in with your promotional products.

One Size Does NOT Fit All

This entry is from Part #7 of the 7 Deadly Mistakes Exhibitors Make When Purchasing Promotional Products For Trade Shows – “One Size Does NOT Fit All”

Now pay attention… because just because this is the last lesson doesn’t mean it’s the least important. Here it is in a nutshell – If you’re giving
customer gifts at your show, you NEED to carry different levels of customer gifts to give to different customers.

Think about it this way – say you get 80% of your business from 20% of your customers. Don’t you think those 20% deserve the MOST of your attention and appreciation? I can’t stress this enough. You need to give that 20% something fitting of their contribution to your success.

If you’re giving out a cheaper priced trade show traffic builder at your booth and one of your high end customers comes over? What are you going to do… hand them the same item? Don’t do it! Think and plan ahead to reward your best customers with something that will make them feel appreciated. There are plenty of higher end executive gifts that come in small quantities.

Now keep in mind, for the average customer it may not be important to spend a lot, but it is still important to give them something nice. Remember, they are still your customer… and this is a great way to secure their loyalty. And don’t forget… your competition is likely lurking somewhere around the same show looking for an opportunity to gain your old business.

Here’s something else you might not have thought about. What do you think it says to your customers when the “gift” you give them is one of the items that your company makes? Say I’m a widget maker and I gave you a nice widget as a gift. What would you think? Pretty cheesy right?

It all comes down to this. Your customers will acknowledge the fact and appreciate it more if went out and bought something.

Remember my story about the T-shirt supplier who gave me a pen? I distinctly remember that pen. I remember thinking “Wow this is different – they didn’t hand me a T-shirt or some other product they get for next to nothing.” That thought sticks with me… and it will stick with your customers too.