Early History Of The Promotional Products Industry

According to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), the first known promotional products in the United States are commemorative buttons, tracing back to 1789, when George Washington was elected president. Dating back to the early and mid 1800s are advertising calendars, wooden specialties and the Farmers' Almanac. But it was not until the latter part of the 19th century that an abundance of promotional products were developed and marketed, leading to the birth of the industry as it is known today.

Trends and Data

Independent research studies conducted for PPAI demonstrate the effectiveness of promotional products marketing. Here's proof that promotional products really do work:

2006 Estimate of Promotional Products Distributor Sales

The 2006 sales volume figures reflect an increase of 4.25 percent in distributor revenues. With this increase, sales for the industry for 2006 are at $18,779,654,661.



Top Buyers of Promotional Products

The following list ranks the top purchasers of promotional products according to the findings of a 2003 study by Louisiana State University and Glenrich Business Studies. Industries were ranked by distributors according to the volume spent on promotional products by each industry.



Advertising Campaigns

Promotional product mailings can dramatically improve response rates.



Customer Goodwill

Promotional products foster customer goodwill (positive attitudes and feelings) toward a company and its salespeople.



Customer Referrals

Generate customer referrals using promotional products.



Direct Mail

Make a significant difference in direct mail response rates with the use of promotional products.



Employee Awards & Incentives

Awards and incentive programs improve performance and motivate employees.



Repeat Business

Customers come back more frequently when you implement direct mail programs using promotional products.



Three Dimensional Direct Mail Packaging

Packaging of promotional products can evoke curiosity, as well as increase direct mail response rates.



Tradeshows

Promotional products increase traffic to an exhibitor's tradeshow booth.

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THIS INFO WOULD BE GOOD UNDER A TAB for new members to learn how to do business --- How to Build a Successful Promotional Campaign



Seven Steps to a Successful Promotional Campaign



According to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), successful promotion campaigns don't happen by chance. To realize goals, promotional products programs must be carefully planned, taking into consideration the audience, budget and, of course, the ultimate result to be gained.



Ready to plan your next promotion? Use the consultant search engine to locate a PPAI member consultant in your area. You and your consultant will discuss these seven important elements to help you plan the best promotion for reaching your objective:



1. Define a specific objective.

Whether the goal is to increase traffic at a trade show exhibit or to boost sales with current clients, the first step in any campaign is to clarify the purpose of the program.



2. Determine a workable distribution plan to a targeted audience.

Distribution of a promotional product is as important as the item itself. Research shows that a carefully executed distribution plan significantly increases the effectiveness of promotional products. For example, a pre-show mailing to a select audience delivers more trade show traffic and qualified leads than simply distributing items to passerby at the show.



3. Create a central theme.

Linking a recognizable logo and color to all aspects of a campaign, from promotional products to sales sheets to product packaging, helps create an instantly recognizable image.



4. Develop a message to support the theme.

Supporting a campaign's theme with a message helps to solidify a company's name, service or products in the target audience's mind. For instance, to promote its services to small businesses, a bank created the theme "Are you tired of being treated like a small fish?" and sent fish-related products to its prospects along with promotional literature.



5. Select a promotional product that bears a natural relationship to your profession or communications theme.

A good example is a company that developed a magic motif for its conference at Disney World. Attendees received magic-related products to tie in with the theme "Experience the magic at Disney®."



6. Don't pick an item based solely on uniqueness, price or perceived value.

Don't fall prey to the latest trends or fads. The most effective promotional products are used in a cohesive, well-planned campaign.