Direct-to-garment is a great option for small decorators that outsource screen printing but want to offer something in-house for smaller runs. It’s also a good choice for those who want to use inkjet technology, since it doesn’t have a color limit, a large equipment footprint or setup charges. But there are a few misconceptions about this decoration method…
Read MoreEditorial Type: Best Practices
How Data Can Take Your Promo Business to the Next Level (and 4 Metrics to Monitor)
You don’t have to be a guru or a numbers person to capture and digest the data that will help focus your promo business efforts. Depending on the size of your company and the type of insights you want to acquire, there are a variety of options. Here are some questions data can help you answer and metrics to focus on…
Read MoreContent Marketing for Promo Businesses: Questions and Answers to Get You Started
Content marketing is inexpensive, but when done well, it’s a great way for promo businesses to gain exposure. We asked our supplier and distributor marketing experts for answers to some common content marketing questions. Hopefully, you can use them to get started (or get better) at content marketing for your own business…
Read MoreThe Golden Rule(s): 4 Keys to Five-Star Customer Service
We talked to Jeff Bourland, owner of Proforma Southwest, to find out what works when it comes to managing sometimes demanding customers, turning challenges into successful sales, and customer service do’s and don’ts. Bourland has been in the industry for more than 20 years, so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about good customer service…
Read MoreCreate Longevity for Your Promo Business With These Simple Succession Planning Steps for Every Stage of Your Career
At any stage in your career, the goal for every distributor should be to structure a business that’s strong enough to continue when you’re no longer running it. Impending retirement is not the time to slowly run down your company until you’re ready to close shop. When you’ve done the heavy lifting up front, the business is more likely to thrive—making it all the more appealing to your successor when the time is right…
Read MoreSearch Party: What to Know About SEO for Promo Businesses
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is nothing new. It’s a strategy businesses have actively employed for years to rank their web pages higher than their competitors in order to generate new leads and sales opportunities. These days, it’s a necessary component to any digital framework, promotional companies included. So, whether you’re ready to graduate to…
Read MoreInsider: Why It’s Never Too Early to Have an Exit Strategy for Your Promo Business
What happens when your professional goals are met, your business has grown and matured, and you’ve decided to transition out of it? You’ve built your business from the ground up and you have a proven track record of success, which can translate to big resale value—if that’s the way you want to go. Now is the time for you to plan for the future…
Read MoreInspired Employees, Happy Customers: Core Values, Company Culture and Continuous Improvement
Companies grow and evolve. Culture and values have to evolve with them. Our first Core Values were about who we are at work. Our new ones are more about how we work together. The biggest learn for the management team through the Core Values project was that people want to be part of something that inspires them. If employees are inspired and happy, it shows—and it leads to happy customers…
Read MoreSelling Promotional Pens and Writing Instruments: 3 Things to Consider
Owing to the ubiquity of writing instruments, some observers might think that it requires little effort to sell them. But if distributors want to up their pen sales, there’s a few things they’ll need to know. Promo Marketing connected with Bill Mahre of ADG Promotional Products and Amy LaPlante of Pilot Pen to learn how a few practical steps can help distributors take their writing instruments sales to the next level…
Read More9 Promotional Products Sales Prospecting Tips
Prospecting is a necessity for any promo business, but it definitely has its ups and downs. It can occasionally feel like all your hard work just isn’t cutting it. In a world of competition, standing out against other businesses can be one of the most challenging aspects. Distributors have to constantly think about what will grab the attention of potential clients. Strategies that worked in the past might not necessarily work today. Whatever your approach may be, the good news is that there are ways to make prospecting go more smoothly…
Read More