Everything changes. Today change is happening at an even more schizophrenically bionic rate than it was just two years ago. In this new “iLife,” advertising agencies and marketers drill into us that “we just gotta have” the latest and greatest technology of today and that the high-tech gear of yesterday is now as obsolete as casette players. Balancing new and old technology as a mindful sales professional, particularly in promotional products arena, can be difficult at times.
For example, the latest in smart phone technology, the 4G, will get my information to me two mbps (that’s megabits per second) faster than my old, dinosaur-of-a-3G-phone that I purchased several months ago. Honestly, while my understanding of the speed of mbps is pretty meager, all the techie research out there confirms that the rate is not that great of an increase; a second, perhaps? But the marketers are all saying “so what, throw away that old junk—you gotta have the new stuff!” And herein lies the dilemma.
I use the word schizophrenic up above for good reason. As American consumers, distributors and suppliers, this conflicting information is throwing each of us into a bit of a quandary. Are we trying to recycle, not waste, go green and save rain forests and the planet? Or are we confident consumers who are spending money, thereby helping to drive the economy back from its great fall? Are we sales people just giving the people what they want without regard to what they need? Can we be all things to all people and causes?
It is not easy to work this one through. The old saying, “you don’t need to throw the baby out with the bath water,” is true. While my 3G phone might be more than six months old (not more than a year though, heaven forbid) it still serves me well. However, my case is getting shabby, the charger had to be replaced and I have purchased a solar charger to do my small part for the environment.
Sales professionals in our market are fortunate: there are enough imprintable peripherals for this booming market that when you come across the client who just doesn’t “gotta have everything immediately,” there are still endless opportunities. Check out the electronics article in this month’s issue. The most fascinating trend I discovered is that this niche is no longer controlled by the USB. Accessories for portable devices are developing a foothold in the promotional industry and by helping your end-buyers spruce up something that has a little age to it with a new case, a microfiber cleaning cloth or a new skin, you can go a long way to helping us all balance the old and new.
