Promotional Products News Center by AmsterdamPrinting.com http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Default.aspx?FocusId=news.ascx news@amsterdamprinting.com How to Motivate, Recognize and Retain Employees Different businesses have different strategies for employee recognition and retention. Some may offer gifts of promotional products, others may award prizes for performance and still others may simply offer bonuses. However, a recent study shows that the companies that take an active role in employee appreciation may fall into one umbrella group - that of the most successful.<br/> <br/>The study is based on a survey of small businesses by employee management consultancy TECHNOCompetences. It shows that nearly half of respondents worry about finding qualified employees more than any other staffing issue. Employee recognition and employee retention follow in importance, but with one significant caveat - they are substantially more important to businesses with sales of over $5 million.<br/> <br/>&quot;It is interesting to see the point to which companies are concerned about the quality of recruiting and retention of employees,&quot; says TECHNOCompetences general manager Sylvie Gagnon. &quot;Developing innovative recruiting practices and retaining skilled employees is a strategic competitive advantage.&quot;<br/> <br/>Studies have shown that while pay raises are difficult to provide, recognition programs provide an affordable way to show employees they are valued members of a team. ThomasNet News reported on a Towers Watson survey showing that nearly a quarter of companies have increased use of recognition programs since the start of the recession.<br/><img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19664979-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19664979" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Successful+companies+practice+employee+recognition/19664979/Default.aspx Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:50:53 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Promote your business Though mailing out print materials like promotional calendars or catalogs is well-known to be an effective way to reach consumers who don't make extensive use of the internet, a recent eMarketer study shows that it can actually affect the way internet users interact with a company online.<br/> <br/>The study focuses on catalogs, pointing out that these kinds of promotional items have &quot;advantages over other marketing tools in creating product awareness, acquiring customers and building brand loyalty,&quot; but also observes that behavior often differs depending on whether or not the customer in question received a catalog.<br/> <br/>Claiming that customers use the catalog to guide online purchases, eMarketer shows that guiding customers toward key product lines and major points of interest often takes print motivation. Further, the presence of these materials goes a long way toward promoting a brand. The report finds that some web-only retailers have had to expand catalog promotion to develop customer relationships and diversify their base.<br/> <br/>An earlier eMarketer story on the subject consulted marketer Clement Coy. &quot;People who receive the catalog tend to use the website differently from people who haven&#146;t received a catalog,&quot; he told the website. &quot;They know what they're looking for, and they use the catalog as a guide to what the company is selling. People who show up through organic search or a corporate high-traffic site have much more difficulty navigating the website because they really don't know what the key items are.&quot;<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19664978-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19664978" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Print+materials+can+affect+online+shopping/19664978/Default.aspx Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:50:04 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com New Trends and Hot Topics Samsung has recently announced a full line of high-definition 3D products to be released in the near future. To spread the word about its upcoming line, the electronics company has announced plans to advertise not only on TV, but also with promotional products in stores.<br/> <br/>The product line will include 3D LCD, LED-LCD and plasma TVs, Blu-ray players, and home theater systems, all of which will begin shipping globally this month and through early summer. Samsung will become the first company to advertise in 3D, with a marketing campaign on both home and theater screens.<br/> <br/>Additionally, retail support and content partnerships will play a large role in the campaign. According to DealerScope, one partnership will unite the company with DreamWorks Animation, letting Samsung package the release of the entertainment company's Monsters Vs. Aliens movie with a &quot;3D Starter Kit&quot; of promotional products. These will include two sets of the company's 3D glasses.<br/> <br/>In the future, 3D glasses may become a promotional product with strong potential. The Telegraph reported earlier that some experts claim 2010 will be the year of a &quot;3D television revolution,&quot; leading to full implementation by 2015.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19662413-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19662413" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+-+now+in+3D/19662413/Default.aspx Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:07:40 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com New Trends and Hot Topics As the number of charter schools nationwide goes up and their reputation improves, public schools have faced the risk of closure and are forced to compete. The New York Times recently reported that some schools have begun to use marketing programs - which include the use of promotional products - to gain attendance.<br/> <br/>The Times follows some schools in Harlem that have redesigned school logos, which are now featured on t-shirts that staff and students are encouraged to wear. Postcards and brochures are also frequently mailed to potential attendees.<br/> <br/>The marketing funds are often raised by parents and teachers, and usually total less than $500. Often, creative staff members produce the materials, but some schools have sought the help of professional marketing firms. One school that has sought professional assistance has managed to stabalize attendance this year, the Times reports.<br/> <br/>&quot;We have to think about selling ourselves all the time, and it takes a concerted effort that none of us have ever done before,&quot; one principal told the Times. &quot;We have to get them in the door if we are even going to try to convince them to come here.&quot;<br/> <br/>Some critics of charter schools allege that their ability to pick the best students and implement unusual strategies leaves public schools unable to improve student scores to gain more federal funding, USA Today reports.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19662412-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19662412" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Public+schools+use+promotional+products+to+compete+with+charter+schools/19662412/Default.aspx Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:06:47 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com New Trends and Hot Topics Though some may search for four-leaf clovers or even pots of gold this March 17, the Advertising Specialty Institute reports that many marketers are seeking out less elusive prizes to celebrate St. Patrick's Day - themed promotional products.<br/> <br/>With shamrocks, leprechauns and even just the color green concisely symbolizing the popular holiday, the ASI's products database has shown that marketers are taking advantage of the celebratory spirit to launch holiday advertising campaigns. To mark the occasion, the ASI has published its inaugural list of the seven &quot;luckiest&quot; promotional products for this March.<br/> <br/>The items range from the wearable - Irish rugby shirts, temporary shamrock tattoos, shamrock neckties and leprechaun hats - to the drinkable - Irish pint glasses and light-up bottle rings.<br/> <br/>ASI studies have shown that more than 40 percent of recipients of promotional items had a more favorable impression of the advertiser that offered the item. With high spirits abounding for St. Patrick's Day, relevant promotional products may become even more persuasive.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19659636-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19659636" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+can+make+this+St+Patricks+Day+a+lucky+one+says+ASI/19659636/Default.aspx Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:36:55 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com New Trends and Hot Topics Avatar may have cost $500 million, but the $91,000 price tag on the consolation prize James Cameron will receive after losing the best director Oscar is hardly small change. Daily Finance recently reported on the bags of promotional products given to Academy Award nominees who didn't end up winning.<br/><br/>Product placement specialist Distinctive Assets has worked at putting the bags together. Businesses are more than willing to include their products or vouchers for their services inside, recognizing the powerful potential of stars being photographed or described using or wearing one of their items.<br/><br/>&quot;The recession has led more and more companies to explore alternative forms of marketing,&quot; Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary told Daily Finance, &quot;and celebrity placement is an obvious choice.&quot;<br/><br/>One participant said that making the donation also leads to word-of-mouth promotion, guaranteeing &quot;more bang for the buck,&quot; Daily Finance quoted.<br/><br/>The bags used to be officially sanctioned and offered by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, but in 2006, the IRS took notice and informed all parties involved that the gifts counted as income and were taxable, the LA Times reported. Consequently, the Academy discontinued the tradition in 2007, and many recipients have begun to donate the bags to charity.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19657115-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19657115" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/91000+bags+of+promotional+products+featured+at+Academy+Awards/19657115/Default.aspx Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:27:19 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Business Gifts In a world driven by the internet, it can begin to seem difficult to keep up with the free content available in many industries. But according to Josh Sommers, president and CEO of leading Hudson Valley advertising and public relations agency Focus Media, giving free promotional products to customers is a practice that pays back volumes for any business.<br/><br/>Sommers wrote in the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record on the value of free promotion, offering some examples in a variety of industries. One compelling example can be found at casinos, where the house often offers free starting slot dollars to new players. The common practice by banks of offering free household appliances in exchange for opening new accounts is a similar example.<br/><br/>&quot;Don't be the best kept secret,&quot; says Sommers. &quot;Special offers, samples and promotional giveaways can create important consumer trial of your product or service.&quot; He writes that these gifts are often &quot;what it takes for people to try, or retry, a product.&quot;<br/> <br/>Promotional products are not only free for customers, they are the least expensive form of promotion for the company. According to the Advertising Specialty Institute, cost-per-impression for each promotional product is less than magazine ads, newspaper ads, TV ads or radio ads.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19654525-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19654525" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Free+gifts+pay+for+themselves/19654525/Default.aspx Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:51:53 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Promote your business Though social media and mobile marketing seem to be the biggest marketing trends of the past several years, a new study by the Marketing Executives Networking Group and Anderson Analytics finds that the biggest marketing priorities for the coming year will be more fundamental.<br/><br/>Drawing from a survey of MENG members, the data shows marketing return-on-investment is the major priority of marketers trying to drive financial recovery. Customer retention, brand loyalty, positioning and differentiation follow - mobile marketing and social media were considerably lower in importance.<br/><br/>Sixty-six percent of respondents said that they are optimistic about the year's opportunities, and less marketing budgets are being cut this year than last year.<br/><br/>The Advertising Specialty Institute has released comprehensive information about the ROI potential of various forms of advertising. A national magazine ad ranks as the highest cost-per-impression, followed by newspaper ads, TV ads, and radio ads. The least expensive option is also one of the best ways to build brand loyalty - gifts of promotional products to customers.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19651917-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19651917" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Marketing+ROI+customer+retention+and+brand+loyalty+top+marketing+priorities+for+2010/19651917/Default.aspx Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:29:27 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com New Trends and Hot Topics As the 2010 Census rolls around, inevitable concern over lack of participation - which can dramatically affect its accuracy - increases. Efforts to publicize the census include advertising in various languages, hiring unexpected spokespeople and distributing promotional products.<br/><br/>According to the Washington Post, the political potential of the census has made it a hot topic in Washington. Skepticism among many about the process has the Census Bureau concerned enough to hire Marie Osmond to promote the Census on the QVC shopping network, to put its name on a NASCAR vehicle and to advertise during Spanish soap operas, the Post reported.<br/><br/>The Cumberland Times-News of Maryland described local attempts to encourage census participation, which include distributing promotional products at high school sporting events and posting ads in shop windows.<br/><br/>The tactic isn't just limited to local census departments, CBS News Sacramento found. The news channel reported that the federal government has invested $10 million into a nationwide canvas tote bag promotion for mail-in census forms. The bags will include a variety of promotional products, and the Census Bureau claims it will bring costs down in the end - every 1 percent increase in mail response will save taxpayers $85 million.<br/><br/>&quot;If we can get this message in their hands&#133;If we can hand it to him and say, 'let me tell you about the census, it's easy, it's safe, it's important,' this helps us with that outreach. This helps us get into the communities,&quot; Census Bureau media specialist D'Anne Ousley told CBS.<br/><img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19650724-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19650724" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Census+relies+on+promotional+products+to+encourage+involvement/19650724/Default.aspx Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:18:39 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Promote your business Social media may make it easier to reach a broader customer base. But websites like Facebook and Twitter can't let businesses offer customers promotional products, real-time advice or friendly service.<br/><br/>At Miami Beach's Future of Web Apps conference, online marketing expert Tara Hunt went against the grain of focus on innovation and technology by emphasizing that social media can't replace real customer service, the Miami Herald reported. She pointed out that too many companies hire employees to monitor social media when those personnel could be solving the problems customers use those media to complain about.<br/><br/>According to the Herald, she cited Canadian telecom and cable company Rogers Communications as an example. Hunt found herself unable to reach a Rogers customer service representative over the phone, but found that they had six Twitter accounts.<br/><br/>The Herald also quoted branding consultant Lisa Barone, who suggested that Twitter overreliance is becoming an epidemic. &quot;I talk to small business owners every day who have a Facebook and Twitter account but that don't have a website,' she wrote.<br/><br/>With recent data from Genesys showing that 71 percent of customers terminate relationships with companies after a bad service experience, the importance of being accessible in a variety of forums is highlighted. The study found that customers appreciate proactive service - which cannot often be relayed through social media.<br/><img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19649151-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19649151" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Social+media+cant+replace+customer+service+says+marketing+expert/19649151/Default.aspx Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:36:43 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Company Events and Interests Though there are certainly standbys and favorites among promotional products, by no means has innovation ceased in the industry. The Advertising Specialty Institute's San Diego expo features hundreds of vendors showcasing the newest promotional products to members of the advertising and marketing industry.<br/><br/>One company was displaying what it called &quot;the world's thinnest wallet&quot; - made of nylon, the wallet is said to help reduce back problems that can result from sitting on a thick wallet, the San Diego News Network reported. Another company offered a plastic grip for soda and beer cans, aimed at keeping drinks cold for longer.<br/><br/>The push towards green products was also represented in San Diego, with dinnerware made of bamboo. Promotional pens - the most popular promotional product - are readily available in bamboo as well.<br/><br/>Slinkys were also present, the news service reported, demonstrating a connection to the earlier history of promotional products.<br/><br/>The San Deigo Expo also featured a keynote address by motivational speaker Tony Robbins. Educational sessions focused on marketing techniques and best practices for using promotional products.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19641556-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19641556" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+on+display+at+San+Diego+expo/19641556/Default.aspx Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:29:52 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Industry News and Education Promotional products may not have as wide a reach as television or internet ads, but unlike those media, they have the potential to become parts of recipients' everyday lives. A new study shows that as a result, they may be an even more effective form of advertising than other media.<br/><br/>Promotional Products Association International recently published the results of research it conducted with the aid of independent research company MarketTools, based on a survey of more than 1,000 consumers who had received a promotional product in the past two years. The results show that consumers were much more likely to remember companies, brands, products or services from promotional products than from television, print and online advertising.<br/><br/>Of respondents, 94 percent could recall a promotional product they were given in the past two years and 89 percent could recall the advertiser. Though television commercials and other ads are often considered a nuisance, 83 percent of promotional product recipients said they liked getting them, and nearly half of respondents wanted to get them more often. Nearly 70 percent keep the products, and 60 percent reported using the promotional product several times.<br/><br/>Consumers made a purchase after getting a promotional product 21 percent of the time, more often than after viewing a print ad at 13 percent, a TV commercial at 7 percent, or an online ad at 5 percent.<br/><br/>The Advertising Specialty Institute estimates the average cost-per-impression of a promotional product at $0.004, suggesting a significant return on investment.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19638566-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19638566" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Customers+remember+promotional+products+better+than+any+other+advertisement/19638566/Default.aspx Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:51:09 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Industry News and Education Promotional products are one of the best ways for a company to demonstrate its commitment to the environment, providing customers and employees with increasingly popular reusable containers that help reduce waste. Ecological tracking resource Greenopolis.com recently lauded the promotional products industry for helping keep these concerns present in consumers' minds.<br/><br/>Citing Advertising Specialty Institute figures showing that nearly 90 percent of people have had a promotional product for 9 months or longer, Greenopolis points out that green products not only offer proof of a conscientious business practices, they make a company's brand part of a customer's own day-to-day efforts to help preserve the environment.<br/><br/>Eco-friendly promotional products include promotional pens made of recyclable materials, tote bags crafted from non-woven biodegradable materials and reusable stainless steel water bottles, increasingly popular for presenting a reusable drink option made without toxic BPA-containing plastic.<br/><br/>&quot;These small gifts are still one of the best ways to market your brand, which means this industry will continue to grow,&quot; Greenopolis said in a statement. &quot;With more green products and with green products one of the fastest growing segments, it can continue to be a great way to market a business, nonprofit or school, but in a much more sustainable way.&quot;<br/><br/>Burst Media recently published the results of a survey that found 90 percent of consumers reporting that they have incorporated green habits into their lifestyle.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19638401-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19638401" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+industry+recognized+for+contributions+to+green+consumer+activity/19638401/Default.aspx Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:16:22 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com How to Motivate, Recognize and Retain Employees Studies have shown that giving employees gifts, from company promotional products to bonuses rewarding hard work, is highly likely to improve morale and productivity. One thing companies may not need to provide for their employees, however, is a fancy cell phone plan.<br/><br/>An article at Entrepreneur offers some guidelines to businesses on company cellphone use. Beginning by just assessing total company usage, companies can decide whether certain accounts are expendable. Some applications and extras may not be necessary, and some may actually be worth implementing business-wide. Putting a cap on employee use or considering a pay-as-you-go plan can help in some circumstances.<br/><br/>Remarkably, just calling a provider to inquire about better deals often bears significant savings. &quot;Thanks to the downturn, carriers are trying even harder to keep your business,&quot; a representative of a management consulting firm told Entrepreneur. &quot;They're offering shorter contracts, reduced rates. And free phones are pretty much up for grabs.&quot;<br/><br/>A recent eWeek article reports that employees are increasingly using personal devices for business activity. Though it becomes difficult to keep track of considerations like this, it is clear that company-specific policies can help make the profusion of mobile technology more manageable. <img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19635817-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19635817" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Managing+company+cell+phone+plans+can+help+keep+business+expenses+low/19635817/Default.aspx Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:00:27 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Promote your business Email is quick and cheap, but is not without disadvantages - unsolicited messages are frequently ignored or sent straight to junk mail folders. On the other hand, direct mail - particularly when useful gifts like promotional calendars are included - can make an instant impression.<br/><br/>For example, search engine optimization company Medium Blue is not too high-tech to use mailed promotions to acquire and retain customers.<br/><br/>&quot;Some channels,&quot; CEO Scott Buresh wrote in PromotionWorld, &quot;still provide exceptional returns.&quot; He added that &quot;direct mail, done properly, still works for us.&quot; Buresh suggested that online marketing techniques work best in combination with effective offline ones.<br/><br/>According to Buresh, the impact of internet marketing may have compromised the effectiveness of magazine and newspaper advertising, but direct mail remains worthwhile.<br/><br/>A recent survey by BluePoint Venture Marketing found that Medium Blue is not the only company using a direct mail marketing strategy. More than half of companies in a variety of industries said that direct mail was an effective way to generate business leads.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19635764-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19635764" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Direct+mail+still+a+relevant+marketing+channel/19635764/Default.aspx Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:51:33 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Promote your business &quot;Branding&quot; has nearly overtaken &quot;marketing&quot; as the most important way for today's businesses to promote their products and services. An effective name and image can make promotional products stand out and websites communicate efficiently, encouraging customers to commit a company to memory.<br/><br/>At the recent Future of Web Apps conference in Miami, branding was a hot topic. CNET asked Aaron Patzer, founder of personal finance management site Mint.com, which he recently sold for $170 million, his thoughts on the subject. He said the first place to apply careful evaluation is the most obvious - the company name.<br/><br/>&quot;Choose something with meaning, even if it's expensive and difficult to acquire, rather [than] based on domain name availability, because otherwise, you're going to kill word-of-mouth,&quot; he said before his scheduled keynote at the conference, CNET reported.<br/><br/>CNET points out that when Mint.com emerged, its competitors had names like Wesabe and Geezeo, making its subsequent success seem like almost a foregone conclusion. Patzer had to offer significant equity to the owner of the Mint.com domain name to ensure that it was his, and recalls it as being one of his most difficult negotiations. &quot;That's how important branding is to me,&quot; he told CNET.<br/><br/>The Advertising Specialty Institute has reported that eight out of 10 recipients of branded promotional products remember the name of that company.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19633013-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19633013" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Optimizing+a+brand+takes+thought/19633013/Default.aspx Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:16:57 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com How to Motivate, Recognize and Retain Employees With budgets increasingly lean under economic difficulty, recognizing employee achievement has become difficult for some companies. Though affordable but effective means of affirming employees like certificates, celebrations and gifts of promotional products can make a significant difference in morale, some companies still refrain from practicing employee recognition.<br/><br/>A report from specialized staffing service Accountemps surveyed more than 1,400 CFOs from a random sample of American businesses on how they acknowledge employee efforts. Startlingly, the results show that more than one out of 10 companies makes no effort at all to reward employees.<br/><br/>According to most businesses, cash bonuses are the most effective tool to encourage employee achievement, while time off follows. However, Accountemps points out that for many companies, these sorts of incentives are just not possible.<br/><br/>&quot;When resources are limited, budget-friendly ways to reward staff &#133; can help boost spirits and motivate teams,&quot; says Accountemps chairman Max Messmer, who is also the author of Motivating Employees For Dummies.<br/><br/>A recent McKinsey Quarterly report found that &quot;nonfinancial motivators&quot; can help maximize employee engagement, encouraging growth by helping employees to feel responsible for a business' success.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19632838-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19632838" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Some+companies+making+no+effort+to+recognize+employees/19632838/Default.aspx Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:02:52 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com How to Motivate, Recognize and Retain Employees Many entrepreneurs may believe that great ideas and a dedicated commitment to their work can lead to success and growth of a business. An equally critical element though is the team that puts a business owner's ideas into practice - employees. An article at Fox Small Business Center suggests that showing appreciation for employees, whether by giving them gifts of company promotional products or refusing to cut pay even during periods of financial difficulty, is a major factor in leading a business to prosperity. <br/><br/>Though any business should put customers first, the article says, employees should ideally come before the owners. For each employee to excel, experts say they need to feel like a valued, integral part of a team. The article emphasizes that cutting benefits and other employee compensation should be a last resort, as it can send the wrong message.<br/><br/>Businesses should share a sense of ambition - with a team that is as excited about the prospects of a business as an owner is, there is a greater likelihood of growth.<br/><br/>&quot;In business, if you're static, if you're not growing, you're not successful,&quot; National Association of Women Business Owners president Helen Han told Fox Small Business Center. &quot;Being in the same place continuously is a place of great risk for small business owners.&quot;<br/><br/>A recent study by Durham University showed that offering workers flexibility could increase productivity and reduce working time lost to illness, according to ABC News. The report suggested that flexible work environments could have a positive effect on the quality of work.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19630232-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19630232" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Employees+are+the+key+to+business+growth/19630232/Default.aspx Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:33:57 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Industry News and Education Research shows that measures like loyalty programs, gifts of promotional products and solicitations of feedback keep customers engaged, but are businesses making enough of an effort to build these relationships? New data shows that they may need to try harder.<br/><br/>Agency Targetbase Claydon Heeley based a study on extensive conversations with more than 90 senior marketers, Marketing Week reported. Though 82 percent claimed their companies had customer engagement strategies in place, and 78 percent believed they were effective, an earlier TBCH survey found that 77 percent of 1,200 consumers disagreed.<br/><br/>&quot;Increasing customer engagement by just 1 percent generates an almost 3 percent increase in the positive effect on the value that customers deliver to that brand,&quot; TBCH CEO Steve Grout told Marketing Week.<br/><br/>Grout cautioned that marketers should not view engagement as an email-oriented concept, adding that &quot;true engagement is the customer feeling that the brand is reaching out to them with a relevant message and relevant offer.&quot;<br/><br/>Though the recession has caused cuts to many marketing budgets, Marketing Week cited Grout's recommendation that they instead invest in engagement strategies that last. One way to keep customers aware of a brand is with useful items they can take home - the Advertising Specialty Institute reported that nearly eight out of ten recipients of promotional products keep them for longer than 6 months.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19627405-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19627405" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Businesses+should+stay+in+touch+with+customer+preferences/19627405/Default.aspx Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:16:43 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Company Events and Interests Elvis Presley is as famous as an icon as he is a musician, with myriad items - including the famous &quot;velvet Elvises&quot; - emblazoned with the face and figure of the King of Rock and Roll. Scholar Greil Marcus has even written a book, Dead Elvis, about Presley's symbolic status in global culture. It is no surprise, then, that the Collingwood Elvis Festival extensively features promotional products made in the King's image.<br/><br/>At its Let's Talk About Elvis forum last week, participants outlined plans and considerations for the festival to take place in July, the Collingwood Connection reported. General manager Rosemarie O'Brien shared information about the festival's licensing agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises, which handles uses of Presley's image. The Festival pays an annual $8,000 fee to EPE to ensure their rights to manufacture and distribute promotional products that represent Elvis.<br/><br/>O'Brien emphasized that businesses should be careful to align their products with the festival, to avoid any potential licensing violations. &quot;Ultimately if we lose our license, we lose the festival,&quot; Collingwood Connection quoted her as saying to vendors. &quot;We want to see you succeed and the festival to succeed.&quot;<br/><br/>According to Brunswick News, the Collingwood festival is the largest gathering in the world devoted to celebrating Elvis.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19624845-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19624845" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+a+highlight+of+Elvis+Festival/19624845/Default.aspx Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:36:44 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Industry News and Education Big Ten, the nation's oldest Division 1 college athletic conference, announced last year that it would be adding another team, bringing the total to 12 since the addition of Penn State in 1990. Speculation has ensued over which team would be selected, and rumors suggest that the University of Texas is a major contender.<br/><br/>According to Channel 39 Houston, the motivation for this decision could be due to Texas' healthy sales of promotional products. As Houston Chronicle sports columnist Richard Justice told Channel 39, &quot;Texas is a giant right now in terms of merchandising, what attracts a national TV audience.&quot; <br/><br/>He adds that Texas could give the Big Ten &quot;the potential to build a national TV network along the lines of what the SEC has.&quot;<br/><br/>In the end, however, Justice remains skeptical that Texas will split from the Big 12, citing local politics and loyalty concerns among fans.<br/><br/>There is no doubt, however, that the acquisition of Texas would be profitable for both the University and the Big Ten conference. The University of Texas takes the top position in terms of collegiate promotional products sales, according to the Collegiate Licensing Company's most recent statistics.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19619570-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19619570" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+product+sales+have+Big+10+eyeing+Texas/19619570/Default.aspx Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:32:53 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Industry News and Education A recent report from Northern Nevada Business Weekly finds that in spite of a weak economy, sales of promotional products are strong.<br/><br/>One owner of a promotional product distributor based in Reno, Nevada claims that aggressive marketing has enabled his company to persist through the recession and even gain in market share. &quot;We practice what we preach,&quot; he told NNBW, &quot;consistent marketing.&quot;<br/><br/>Though his company's marketing approach may not have changed, its sales trends have. High-end promotional products have become less popular, giving way to classics like promotional pens and mugs, a trend he attributes to increasingly popular &quot;grassroots&quot; marketing strategies.<br/><br/>Another owner of a vendor of promotional products, reported to NNBW that 2009 sales were up from last year. She attests that her company has substantial reason to believe in the effectiveness of promotional products - they use them extensively for the company itself.<br/><br/>The Advertising Specialty Institute's most recent data shows that while the promotional industry has gone through difficulty like any other in the last couple years, trends might be poised to reverse - a 17 percent decrease in sales during the first quarter of 2009 decreased by nearly half to a 10 percent decrease last quarter.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19617160-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19617160" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+a+growing+industry/19617160/Default.aspx Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:07:50 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Company Events and Interests This Sunday, New York will host its annual Toy Fair, and the star attractions will be familiar to any moviegoer. As with any business, promotional products in entertainment help build interest in the main attractions. Characters from Toy Story 3, Iron Man 2, Dora the Explorer, Twilight, Avatar and other hit movies and shows will be appearing in toy form at the event.<br/><br/>Reuters quotes Toy Industry Association spokeswoman Reyne Rice as saying that this year will include &quot;a lot of sequel or legacy film product,&quot; which usually sell better than first runs. Rice expects, for example, that retailers &quot;will support Iron Man 2 more, because they know how well product for the first one did.&quot;<br/><br/>The value of branding is clear. Shrek, for example, may have seemed strange at the release of the first movie in the franchise. But now, thanks to the green ogre's presence in many homes through Hasbro promotional products, it is a recognized and beloved brand.<br/><br/>Approximately 25 percent of money spent on toys in an average year goes toward promotional products associated with a licensed or entertainment property, says Reuters. In 2009, sales of licensed toys totaled $5.4 billion.<br/><br/>MarketWatch reports that Hasbro expects sales this year to increase 7 percent.<br/><img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19611911-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19611911" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Annual+Toy+Fair+introduces+this+years+entertainment+promotional+products/19611911/Default.aspx Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:41:51 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Business Gifts With all the buzz over social media and ecommerce, many companies make the assumption that promotional products or rewards programs will not reach their younger customers as well as text messages or Tweets. But a study by the Gerson Lehrman Group finds that &quot;the rather old fashioned tactic of loyalty marketing&quot; still appeals to young consumers.<br/><br/>A January survey reports that one in six teens and college students are active in at least one brand loyalty program, while a third of respondents report interest in joining a program this year.<br/><br/>An &quot;overwhelming majority&quot; of respondents active in loyalty programs said they were pleased with their experience.<br/><br/>The report suggests that loyalty marketing programs are valuable not only for retaining customers, but for accruing customer data.<br/><br/>In perhaps the most essential piece of data, the study found that satisfied young members of loyalty programs are more than twice as likely to recommend a brand or service to friends.<br/><br/>An earlier survey by CMO Council found that 79 percent of overall loyalty program members report satisfaction with the experience.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19609280-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19609280" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Young+consumers+drawn+to+traditional+loyalty+programs/19609280/Default.aspx Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:04:31 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com How to Motivate, Recognize and Retain Employees As companies increase national marketing spending, U.S. advertising sales could increase as much as 3.5 percent this year, says Barclays Capital. With advertising competition on the rise, the need for customer outreach measures like distribution of promotional items is more and more critical.<br/><br/>Anthony J. DiClemente, a New York-based analyst with Barclays, wrote in a note to clients today that as the economy recovers, corporate America will go to greater expense to market products and services, Business Week reported. Ad sales could reach $167.6 billion in 2010.<br/><br/>These ads will mostly take place at the national level, on television and online.<br/><br/>Business Week quoted DiClemente as saying, &quot;While we expect modest aggregate growth for local media advertising in 2010, we also expect national advertising to outpace the growth of local advertising and take share from local overall.&quot;<br/><br/>In a recent survey by Deloitte, 50 percent of surveyed executives called &quot;acquiring/serving/retaining&quot; customers the strategic issue requiring the most management attention.<br/><br/>Many companies will find that service and retention of customers will require an approach different from the corporate strategy of acquiring masses of customers. Promotional items, newsletters and increased interactivity may become valued strategies to set companies apart.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19585502-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19585502" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Advertising+to+increase+35+this+year/19585502/Default.aspx Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:01:42 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Company Events and Interests The Plymouth, Massachusetts Community Chamber of Commerce will allow local business owners to distribute promotional products to help raise name recognition at an upcoming winter festival, according to an article published Thursday.<br/><br/>The Plymouth Ice Festival will take place from January 22 to January 24, Hometownlife.com reported. Each business owner in attendance will be allowed to bring 75 promotional products of any kind to distribute to attendees, along with brochures and coupons.<br/><br/>&quot;Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce members can easily promote your business during the Ice Festival through a special offer from the Chamber of Commerce,&quot; the news site wrote.<br/><br/>The chamber distributed 200 gift bags at a recent holiday event, and the upcoming festival will provide local business owners with additional promotional opportunities, the article noted.<br/><br/>Promotional products such as promotional pens, custom calendars and personalized pencils often play an essential role in trade shows and other business events. These items allow companies to attract visitors to their booths, and to create lasting impressions by providing useful items that will last long after the event is over.<br/><img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19571838-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19571838" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Massachusetts+businesses+distribute+promotional+products+at+winter+festival/19571838/Default.aspx Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:52:03 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Company Events and Interests A community health center in Kansas will use promotional products to help encourage healthier living during an upcoming nutrition and wellness program, according to an article published Thursday.<br/><br/>The Flint Hills Community Health Center will distribute free coupons and promotional products from Subway and other organizations during a new patient-centric wellness and nutrition program called The Right Step on January 19, the Emporia Gazette reported. The event will be held at 6 p.m., and will be open to everyone.<br/><br/>Nonprofit groups often use promotional products such as logo pens, personalized calendars and custom pencils to help drive their message home, or to sell during fundraisers.<br/><br/>Promotional products can be very effective for nonprofit groups, because they stay visible all year, and because they help groups establish personal relationships with members of the public that they cannot establish through other advertising channels such as print and broadcast. Each year a number of groups nationwide use promotional products such as logo pens, personalized calendars and custom pencils to support new public education campaigns or raise awareness about signature issues.<br/><img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19561519-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19561519" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Kansas+health+center+uses+promotional+products+for+healthy+living+event/19561519/Default.aspx Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:31:18 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Business Gifts Even though most Christmas marketing focuses on individual consumers, there are many great options available for small business owners to give as promotional products, according to a recent report.<br/><br/>Personalized calendars are fun to look at and can provide humorous or motivational messages for employees, according to Kentucky's Lexington Herald-Leader. Supplies for office parties can also go over well with business owners, as can office furniture.<br/><br/>&quot;Sure, your computer, cell phone and everything else tells you the day, but old-fashioned calendars are still fun for the eyes,&quot; the newspaper wrote.<br/><br/>The report also noted that electronic devices such as Google's Android and office appliance such as printers and computer monitors can also make good holiday gifts for businesses or employees, and can boost productivity as well.<br/><br/>Custom clothing and other promotional products such as custom bags and custom lapel pins can also make good business gifts. They serve as tokens of appreciation for employees and can boost company spirit. Some budget-conscious businesses are doing away with pay raises and bonuses this year and are giving away gifts to employees instead.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19494910-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19494910" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+can+make+good+holiday+gifts+for+small+business+owners/19494910/Default.aspx Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:45:50 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Business Gifts Business gifts and promotional products can help small businesses show customers just how important they are, according to a recent report.<br/><br/>Companies can choose to spend as much or as little as they want on business gifts, the Associated Press reported. Gifts can be small, but meaningful, and small businesses can choose to focus their giving on their most valued customers.<br/><br/>&quot;I think it's important to acknowledge the people you work with and who are contributing to your success,&quot; Terri Slater of Healthy Lifestyle Publicity told the wire service.<br/><br/>The report said that personalized gifts are often the most effective for cementing relationships with customers and building name recognition. Custom gift baskets filled with promotional products can often be even more effective than single items would be. Special holiday discounts and donations of time or money to charities can also help build relationships.<br/><br/>Other promotional products that can be effective all year long include imprinted pens and custom pencils. Promotional calendars can be especially effective in the holiday season as businesses and consumers prepare for the next year.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19492305-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19492305" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Promotional+products+help+small+businesses+show+they+care/19492305/Default.aspx Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:25:43 GMT news@amsterdamprinting.com Business Gifts Looking for a holiday gift that's not only practical and inexpensive, but completely customizable? Imprinted pens allow your company to show off its sense of style with a gift it knows clients and employees will use and appreciate.<br/><br/>Imprinted pens come in many different forms, so your firm can always find a pen to match its personality. There are Delane pens with a polished, metallic surface and professional silver accents. There are artistic Inspire pens with double anodized finish. And for a completely customized experience, there are pro-wrap digital pens with displays you design.<br/><br/>Pens can make excellent gifts for organizations ranging from schools and churches to doctor's offices and beauty parlors. Want to raise school spirit and give students a handy tool for their semester exams? Imprinted pens can do the job. Want to give your customers a new instrument to write down the date of their next hair appointment? Imprinted pens might be perfect for just that.<br/><br/>So if your business or organization is looking for a practical and customized holiday gift that's also friendly to the budget, you might consider purchasing some imprinted pens.<img alt="ADNFCR-2478-ID-19490768-ADNFCR" src="http://feeds.directnews.co.uk/feedtrack/justcopyright.gif?feedid=2478&itemid=19490768" /> http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Imprinted+pens+are+practical+and+customized+holiday+gift/19490768/Default.aspx Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:19:50 GMT