Sign of the times, there are a LOT of things on sale right now. Retailers are offering all kinds of bargains and some of those may be so good that even if you don’t quite need that new pair of slacks, shirt or blouse right now, it might be worth buying. But when it comes to business, is that really true?
I can’t keep up with how many emails I receive from suppliers every day, well they do refrain from emailing on at least one of the weekend days, with “some fantastic new low price” on an item. The thing is, I don’t think about business, especially marketing, purchases the way I do personal purchases (note: I try not to be foolish about buying items on sale for personal use as a general rule). If it is not going to help my business, or in this case my customer’s business, I’m just not interested. I’m pretty sure I could compete fairly well in a “how quick can you hit the delete key” race now.
So, newsflash to promotional product suppliers and distributors, I don’t want what’s on sale. I WANT WHAT’S GOING TO STIMULATE SALES! So if you are going to put those flashlights, flash drives, coffee mugs, pens, padfolios, bags (I”m trying to see how many keywords I can work in here) on sale, SHOW ME A USE FOR THEM!
If I sell my client a case of computer bags because they are half-price, and they’re still lying around in their storage room at year’s end, what good have I done them and how are they going to feel about that purchase? Perhaps I should interject here that a premise for this is that you actually want to help your clients, not just move product.
The funny thing is, if we all did this…shhhhh….we could probably make more profit off what we sell! If the client sees a way they can use it to stimulate sales, thank customers, motivate employees or do whatever to help the bottom line, they are not as likely to question the price. And if I give my client an idea they better not shop it elsewhere, or they get no more Kev ideas.
Seriously I’ve received 3 emails of items on sale while I’m writing this!
So let’s all raise our imprinted mugs or travel mugs, or maybe write a note in our debossed padfolios with our logo pens, maybe even screen it on a t-shirt so we’ll remember, to sell useful ideas that will help our client’s bottom line…not SALE items.
By the way, this column of advice is actually FREE. ; O For other great ideas visit www.kevinspromos.com.
Filed under: Imprinted Items, Marketing, Newsletter, Promotional Items, Promotional Products, Promotional aids, Promotional ideas, Sales, Unique | Tagged: how to say "Thank you", promotional, Promos, promotional items, direct mail, Trade Show, Employee Morale, Creating a profitable Future, Promotional Products, Advertising Specialties, Advertising
