“Somewhere someone is looking for exactly what you have to offer.” - Louise Hay To add on to this thought, we’d like to ask, “How will they know who you are or where to find you?” The business of branding can be a tricky one to navigate. Brand recognition ultimately leads to word-of-mouth marketing, which is the most profitable source of advertising. Here are a few simple steps to making that connection happen for your business:
REFRESH Refresh the image of your brand with the help of Olive Promotions. We offer professional artwork services to help you reinvigorate your business. New logo design, refurbishing existing imagery, and embroidery file creation are just a few of our areas of expertise. Before spreading your brand out to the public, be sure it portrays an image that is timeless and memorable. Quick association will help your brand grow! REVIVE Once you’ve revamped and refreshed how your brand appears, it’s time to think through how you want that image portrayed. Whether it’s new employee apparel, customer accessories, or other premiums, Olive Promotions is the go-to avenue for you! We will assist with all of your needs, from bags to mugs to customized trinket gifting, and help you put ink to an idea! Our services for decoration include embroidery, silk screening, patches, laser engraving, heat transfer and more. Place your refreshed logo on virtually every surface imaginable. REACH OUT This third piece of the puzzle is vital to marketing your brand. You need to brainstorm who your target audience is and determine how best to reach out. Without proper brand recognition, word-of-mouth marketing is virtually impossible! You need your business’ brand to stand out among the competition. A potential new customer should be able to see your product, make the connection to who you are, and ultimately take the action of getting involved with your brand. Existing customers are key as well. If a friend asks them where a product is from, it is necessary for your success that they are able to associate your brand’s name in order to make the connection for potential new business.
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All businesses rely on the strength of brand to push a company to new horizons. Expansion through new locations, added product lines, employee hires and promotions can all be accurately reflected through brand messaging. On the same note, businesses with a weak or tarnished brand are not likely to succeed in the marketplace. Recognizing the impact of tangible products as a tool of brand reinforcement and soft-touch advertisement is key to the discussion of tasteful promotion and engaging branding strategy.
Ultimately, the purpose of promotional products is to generate new business. Maintaining the brand image, spreading positive messaging, and getting creative with content are all crucial cogs in the wheel; However, without manifesting a sale, those sentiments fall flat. Generally speaking, people who receive promotional products for free are likely to continue engaging with a specific company. So what are the steps to offering free promo pieces? Simply put, the formula looks something like this: Recognition leads to trust, then adds value in order to generate new business. Think about all of the promotional products you currently have in your home or workplace. Are you more likely to order pizza from the local Italian shop that gave you a magnet for display on your fridge? Do you continue to return to trusted brands for your business or personal needs because of the frequency you slip on a logo quarter-zip or t-shirt? Does your morning cup of coffee typically live in the same rotation of promotional mugs? If your answers to the above questions fall into the realm of “yes,” Congratulations! You are in tune with behaviors of the general public, when it comes to brand engagement. Usefulness and frequency of visual connection through promotional products drive a large number of consumers to repeat loyalty with certain brands. Also, consumers are more likely take the plunge on trying a new company if they feel comfortable and trusting of the brand. What may be of cost to your business in the short-term will ultimately add value back to your brand. Free offers to your consumer-base will create repeated business interactions, as well as the generation of new business derived from recognition and trust. The world of promotional products for your business can be a daunting one, full of boundless opportunity and creative interpretations of brand. It can be challenging to choose what to give, when to give, and ultimately assess the added value back to your company. We’ve rounded up four of the most interesting and relevant facts about promo products to give you a glimpse into the highlight reel of what we know and do so well.
“Define what your brand stands for, its core values and tone of voice, and then communicate consistently in those terms.” - Simon Mainwaring, award-winning Branding Consultant
Successful businesses expand beyond the perceived realm of external marketing by focusing on brand perception internally. Employees are the most important asset of a business, in that they hold the power to either reinforce or break a brand’s promise to the public. Highly engaged employees are 38% more likely to have above-average productivity (Workplace Research Foundation). External awareness and perception of an organization are greatly influenced by the internal culture and level to which employees embrace the company’s mission. Building brand ambassadors within a business structure can be simplified through a few touch points. An employee needs to feel recognized and incentivized to produce at their highest level, and take the company’s goals to heart. Branded materials can help to facilitate this feeling. Awarding company plaques or prizes for employee achievement can boost morale and create healthy competition to service the brand’s promise. To balance individualized rewards, a business must be prudent to the importance of encouraging teamwork. Brands build toward their ultimate potential when the entire population of the company collaborates effectively to achieve a common goal. Reiterating the necessity and benefits of team effort can be accomplished through branded apparel, such as casual logo shirts for Fridays or collared polos with the brand name. Giving branded apparel to the team will create a sense of community and connection, without needing to introduce a uniform or strict dress code. Culture will flourish under a united visual aesthetic that aligns employees with each other and the company’s brand simultaneously. Purpose-driven employees will separate your business from the competition. Those who feel trusted, supported, and undivided are more likely to reinforce a brand’s promise to the public on their own volition than anyone. Companies with a higher sense of purpose outperform others by as much as 400%, and branded materials promote an aligned company vision. Connecting internal perception with external marketing through creative eye-catching elements will lead employees to continually associate positivity and production with a company’s brand. As the holiday season swiftly approaches, it is time to put a plan in motion for your employee gift strategy. Gifting before the New Year is a wonderful practice to keep momentum moving as the holidays inevitably provide employees with distractions. Recognition is proven as one of the most effective avenues to improving work motivation and employee engagement. To simplify the decision-making process, we have broken down employee gifting into three simple categories.
Workspace Gifts Holiday gifts that can be used and displayed by team members at work are a great option for companies that operate primarily in an office space. Desk gifts also work well for remote employees, since it draws a tie back into the employees who work together in person. A fun idea for a gift in this category is a tin of sweet treats, branded with the company logo. Hershey kisses are an awesome way for employees to self-reward as they work through the long days headed into holiday season! If your company has a culture that would rather not gift food, we have another great option for desk-displayed presents: company mugs or branded thermoses. Caffeine will be key in helping employees through the holidays, and what better way to say “thanks for all your hard work” than with a reusable container for their coffee or tea consumption. Gifts of this kind also add a bit of color to an office routine that typically consists of white styrofoam cups. It’s a win-win! Take-Home Treats If you think your employees would appreciate a gift with a cozier or more sentimental flavor, consider the option of gifts they can use at home. For example, a branded Holiday Candle Set is the perfect way to send a message for the team to relax while taking time to celebrate the season. Another simple gift to engage employees emotionally with the company is a keepsake. Holiday ornaments with the company logo are a subtle route to connect positive feelings with your brand, even while employees are away on vacation. Combination Approach Last but not least, our favorite strategy for employee gifting is the combination approach. Pairing a material gift with an intangible one forms a wholesome present that employees will surely appreciate. Make an awesome impact by surprising employees with an extra day of PTO or something of that nature, combined with a gift of branded apparel or accessories. Convey the message that you hope they use their company vest, quarter-zip, or branded weekender bag while enjoying time off! Customer Appreciation Strategy.
Gratitude Game Plan. Building a Loyal Customer Base via an Integrated Approach. Buzzwords have built a layer of complexity around a concept that has been ingrained in us since we were too small to reach the cookie jar. Corporations and online training programs for businesses have draped an elusive veil over an idea that we were raised to innately understand. Let’s peel back the layers and skip the catch phrases. Our message is simple: Say “Thank You.” Why? So we’re on the same page – it’s important to say Thank You. But why does this matter? Does it really make a difference? In theory, of course. But in practice? Prove it. Forbes asserts that 68% of consumers change companies because of “perceived indifference.” Another study assessed that 82% of customers will leave because they do not feel cared for by a brand (Rockefeller Group, 2016). That’s right. Your brand could potentially lose seven out of every ten customers simply because they do not feel valued. So does saying “Thank You” truly have an impact? The answer of course, beyond shadow of a doubt, is absolutely YES! How? These facts may seem daunting but here’s the silver lining: we’ve broken down the method of saying thank you into a formula as easy as 1 + 1 = 2. Sentiment + Keepsake = Appreciation. Derive your sentiment from an honest idea. Convey a message that your brand knowingly holds true. Then combine your gratitude with a branded keepsake item. Choose something that you you know caters to your customers’ interests (and is branded with your logo!). What’s the reward for thanking those who support your business? What else is to be gained from saying thanks? The Importance of Acting Now 97% of customers will remain loyal to a brand that acknowledges their value and appreciates their business (Customer Loyalty Statistics, 2016). Virtually every consumer acknowledges the importance of feeling heard. You have the perfect opportunity this holiday season to continue thriving and growing. Add value, show appreciation, defy odds and retain business. Keep the customer thinking of you well into the New Year. All you need to do is say “Thank You.” You are walking down the street when you notice someone with a Starbucks logo on the sleeve of their shirt. Your mind immediately connects you with the familiar brand. Without any active effort, your brain is thinking about Coffee. Caffeine. Productivity. Routine. The camaraderie you share with your local barista. The warm rush. Familiar taste. The feeling of the cardboard sleeve in your hand. The communal nod of acknowledgement shared among early morning risers. All of that imagery and emotion is driven by a simple logo of a woman with flowing hair and a pleasant smile.
A few yards away, there’s a man exiting the gym with a McDonald’s branded tote. You laugh at the irony. He turns to cross the street and your mind is instantly conflicted. The rest of his apparel is branded with the Nike swoosh. Your brain subconsciously wrestles with the paradox. French fries and quarter pounders do not equate to wind sprints and push-ups. This exercise in recognition demonstrates the most undeniable factor in branding: emotional connection. Consumers’ brain chemistry shifts from visual recognition to an actual feeling. And this is the place where branding becomes vital for your business. Recognition creates a feeling of reliability. Your brand can be counted on for consistency and comfort. Whether it be an employee sporting a casual company t-shirt or a customer toting a branded bag to the gym, visibility is key in accelerating the brand of your business. Creating crisp and uniform brand exposure will lead to a connection with consumers’ trust. Reliability leads to return. Your business needs current and potential consumers to trust in what your brand provides. Loyal patrons are created when a business continually makes the emotional connection, ranging from follow-up phone calls to holiday gifting. Reinforce the message of what your company represents with visual cues in the public eye. Build your reputation from the sweet spot of brand. The Nike swoosh, the Golden Arches, the Starbucks logo … each of these images immediately connects your mind to a familiar brand. Without a company name or mission statement in sight, you are able to recognize what that brand provides simply by its presence on an item of apparel. Your business can conjure similar connections for consumers when your brand is recognizable, reliable, and consistent. Branded apparel is a vital component to accelerating your business. No matter the size of your business, whether it be two employees in a basement or 10,000 in a skyrise, it is vital to take stock of the path to growth and success over time.
Without a past to serve as guidance, how can a company adequately shape the future? Establishing an Anniversary Program creates space for entry-level employees, stakeholders, and C-suite executives alike to come together, discuss, and reflect upon the business. There is no greater opportunity to create a company-wide marketing message of the journey than an Anniversary. Anticipation and excitement for updated designs, new gear, and creative awards will keep employees engaged during the stages of planning and execution. Lackluster attitudes can shift to full-blown enthusiasm with the help of a few freshly branded materials. Below are some suggestions on introducing or revamping the marketing for an Anniversary Program in your business: Think Ahead Choosing a timeline is key in creating anticipation within the company. All employees should be made aware of the Anniversary Program’s timing in order to prepare and organize their thoughts and suggestions. It also creates space for collaborative creative ideas, whether it be redesigning the logo or adding a new adjective to the slogan. When the Anniversary Program commences, employees will be thrilled to see that their ideas have already been put into action. Boost Morale Throughout the Anniversary Program, it is vital to stay focused on overarching themes. A few examples are Productivity, Company Culture, Rapid Growth, or a combination of multiple patterns within the business. Think out of the box with how to physically relay this message to your team. Productivity? Think branded coffee mugs. Company Culture? Print the internal motto or mission statement on pullovers. And the list goes on.. There are plenty of ways to make an impact through marketing during an Anniversary Program. The key is to keep employees feeling positive in a potentially vulnerable environment. Get Creative Looking back at a year’s progress from multiple perspectives is one of the most valuable outcomes of an Anniversary Program. Checking in with employees will make them feel heard. Do not allow the participation to stop at jotting down problem centers on a white board. Always be sure to take it to the next level and show everyone how sincerely you value each individual’s effort. Communicate and collaborate on effective strategies to transform the business. Make updates to what is outdated, transform policies to benefit culture, and draw outside the lines. Refresh the mindset of the business and promote knowledge sharing in an exciting and positive way. Reinforce who you are as a company by sharing newly branded materials with the group. Sweatshirts, drawstring bags, pens, and clipboards with your logo will create a sense of unity while everyone works together throughout the Anniversary Program. In addition to the company logo, consider including the Anniversary date and year as well. Over time, employees will have collected the history of your company in tangible gifts. Spread the Love Don’t stop at internal distribution. Think bigger! Share branded materials from your company’s Anniversary Program with current clients, prospective clients, business partners, and sources of referral. A commemorative gift will show how greatly you value their connection to your company. Creative assets to mark this milestone will work wonders on your network. Talk is talk, but action affects change. Show people how much you care. Say Thank You As a token of gratitude to employees for coming together in a collaborative setting, demonstrate thanks through giving. Providing a gift will create incentive and positive associations with the Anniversary Program moving forward. Consider an awards banquet on the last day, or an unveiling ceremony. Add new plaques to the office space, acknowledging the milestones that have been reached in the last year. They can be funny, sincere, factual or nostalgic - just be sure to stay in line with who you are as a brand. Confirm Commitment As the icing on top, choose a post-Program gift to thank everyone for their effort. Anyone who contributes to the overall success of the organization should feel equally valued, appreciated and acknowledged as they reflect upon the time spent shaping the company during the Anniversary Program. As an example, perhaps throughout the course of the Program, your employees decided that more out-of-office community gatherings would boost productivity. Be sure to show you are responsive and confirm your commitment. Thank everyone by gifting a branded baseball cap to be worn at the first official company-wide softball night! At Olive Promotions & Apparel, we emphasize three values: Relationships, Service and Reliability. When it comes to trade shows, we know exactly how to tie in these ideas to move your brand from dimly lit to brightly exposed.
Arguably the most important aspect of a trade show is networking, so let’s dig in on relationship-building. Attendees and vendors trade business cards, premiums, and pamphlets to stay relevant on the scene. This practice covers the “During” component, which covers a few bases. We suggest you get ahead of the crowd to make your mark both “Before” and “After” as well. Your brand can earn a home run! Building Relationships Before: Prior to the trade show, do some leg work in your network. Alert clients and friends of the upcoming show. Like, Share, Comment, Hashtag and Add any company or contact of relevance to your brand. Prep yourself and other brand representatives on the highlight reels of the competition. Be sure to set a clear narrative of how your business stands out. And, if you have an attendee list, send them an email in advance with a special offer to stop at your booth. During: Leverage your social media presence to draw in listening ears and curious eyes. Curate meaningful conversations. When you make a connection, be sure to nail down next steps. Get into the habit of discussing, “Where do we go from here?” Keep an organized list of contacts’ information. Jot down specific talking points from your interaction to inform a personal follow-up. Can you offer a giveaway to guarantee a follow up? Or, can you create some buzz and excitement with your booth display? After: Once the show has concluded, do not stop the momentum. Send thank you notes, confirm scheduled meetings, and offer freebies or discount codes to anyone who stopped by your booth. Keep in mind, business deals typically do not launch until the sixth or seventh touch. Keep folks engaged. Stand out and keep moving. Olive Promotions & Apparel will host Olivetober Fest as their flagship event to showcase their new showroom. Attendees will be entered into a raffle, enjoy Lakefront Brewery’s Oktoberfest, and experience Milwaukee’s polka band - The Tom Brusky Band. In addition to entertainment, Olive Promotions & Apparel has brought together their preferred vendors who will have their top products available. The event will be held at 2965 North Brookfield Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045 from 4pm until 8pm.
The annual event expects more than 200 attendees from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. While having a strong local and regional presence, Olive Promotions & Apparel services customers across the United States. Olive Promotions & Apparel is the source for company stores, holiday gifts, and other promotional products. “We truly appreciate all of our customers and the relationships that we’ve established with them throughout the years. This is our way to say thank you,” said Patti Pavlic Bohne, President. Olive Promotions & Apparel assists businesses with all of promotional products and apparel needs from bags to mugs, from shirts to accessories. Olive Promotions & Apparel specializes in employee apparel, customer appreciation gifts, and all other premiums. Additionally, Olive Promotions & Apparel offers complete tradeshow packages for companies looking to have a positive impact and see results on their tradeshow participation. |
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August 2019
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