Summer is Coming...Break Out the Warm Weather Products!

After the winter we had, it's about time to look forward to warmer weather and the fun products to get everyone into the spirit for summer fun.
Are you ready to head to the beach?  Hit the sand in comfort with a a double chair/cooler combo with an umbrella to keep things cool.  Your logo will be there for all to see as everyone gathers around for a good time.  Great for tailgating too!

Of course protection from the sun is important when you step out from under your umbrella too, so make sure you have your suntan lotion and lip balm and aloe vera handy as well. 

Walking on the beach can be an experience if you're not protected, so why not let everyone know who you are or who you represent along the way with these fun flip flops that stamp your logo in the sand as you stroll along the shore?

 And don't forget to shade your eyes with the classic Wayfarer sunglasses in great neon colors!

Whatever your summer needs (or wants!)  Safeguard is more than happy to help you put the cold winter behind you and let the sun shine in.  Give us a call today at 203-371-6000 or email us at info@ctsafeguard.com and we'll get you started making this a summer to remember.

Have a pen? Look around. I’ll be you have plenty, and I’ll bet that a good percent of them have the name of a local businessperson or company on them. The business could even be a competitor of yours. Why do you keep them? Because people use pens. People also use shopping bags, something you see more and more every day. With the push to conserve and reuse, many businesses are using reusable bags to make sure their message is carried around and viewed by many people. But what else is there? Are you doomed to a life of pens and post-its? Not if you don’t want to be. The enormous selection of promotional products that are available gives you the ability to find something that fits your business or event to a ‘T’. There’s no need to lock yourself into the ‘same old thing’ when there are plenty of useful products out there to choose from.

Planning an event for the summer? Get some sunscreen, or aloe printed with your information or logo. Lip Balm, lens cleaner, anti-fog wipes, even sunglasses or beach towels would be fun. If you’re looking to make a bigger statement, you can even get a beach chair! Your information would be there for all to see, every time your chair opens at a beach, park or parade. Above all, make sure the product you use provides use to your targeted market. A perfect example is the water proof case for smart phones seen here. The number of smart phones users is growing daily and this case is the perfect gift as the summer months arrive and outdoor activities are more frequent. This useful gift will be used again and again, and those who see it will want to know where it came from and how to get one for themselves.

Trade Show Tactics

Trade Show day is finally here and you’re ready to go.  You’ve sent out mailings inviting people to attend, you have an awesome booth design and the doors are about to open. Now what?

Have an assistant hand out a reusable shopping bag to people as they enter the trade show, with your company information and booth location imprinted on the outside.  Not only will visitors know where to find you, they will carry your name with them wherever they go for others to see.  As a bonus, your information will stop at each booth with the attendees, so even more people will see and hear about you.

Once you get them to your booth, what are you going to do with them?

Make sure you have an interesting, eye-catching display which clearly demonstrates what you do and what you can do for your customer.  Because of the nature of trade shows you’ll want to make sure you can provide the most information in a small amount of time. 

Give people an incentive to call you.  Are you an insurance agent?  Provide a free quote.  Caterer? Give a discount on an upcoming event.  Your incentive doesn’t have to be huge, just big enough to create a follow-up.

Give out some presents and make people remember you.  Everyone likes to get a present!  A useful promotional product with your contact information will be used repeatedly, not tucked away with a stack of business cards.   Pens are useful, though they too might get lost in a pile on someone’s desk.  Try and find an item that ties into your business to make an even bigger impression. 

Pizza shop?  Customize a pizza slicer. Tailor?   Hand out luggage tag/sewing kits for future travelers.  Wine shop?  A simple two bottle tote or wine tasting journal will make sure people remember you.  The possibilities are really endless.

The important thing to remember when it comes to a trade show is that you don’t have to go it alone.  Contact a professional who can help you plan the day and help you expand your ideas into a concrete plan to increase your business.   It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, so make sure your efforts count!

You're Going To A Trade Show..Now What?

So you’ve signed up to participate in a trade show and you’re planning on showcasing your amazing products or services.  You’re excited to make people aware of your business, but a little nervous as well.  How are you going to present your company?  Will there be competing businesses?  How are you going to make yourself stand out?  Will people remember you?

You’ve come to the right place.

Start with your table.   Sure you can just toss a plastic cover from the dollar store over the top and call it a day, but no one’s going to be very impressed.   Instead, consider investing in a trade show display that will feature your company name and logo.  There are many cost effective items available to give a professional and classy appearance. A simple table cover may be all you need, or you might decide that you'd rather go 'whole hog' with an entire display.  Either way, use your company colors and logo so that you'll be recognizable.

Simple works.

So does the whole enchilada. 

 Once you've decided on how to face the public, you have to figure out a way to get them to your table.  Usually everyone tries to stop at each table, but it's much better to have people consider your display a 'destination.' Word of mouth is the simplest solution.  If you give the people at the show a reason to talk about you, they will. If they talk about you, people will want to see what you're up to. One idea is to hand out 'Tabbers'.  Everyone who stops at your display gets a wrist band, branded with your company information.  Attendees hand tear off tabs from the wrist band to other attendees, who then rush to your booth to get a bracelet of their own when they present you with the tab.  Why would everyone be so excited to help your cause?  At the end of the trade show you hold a drawing, choosing from the tabs that have been returned to you.  Whether you're raffling off an i Pad or a 50 percent discount on an order, everyone likes the chance to win. And if there are four other businesses at the trade show that provide the same service or product you do?  You will be the one that people remember.

Tabbers, a great way to draw a crowd. 

 Check back often for more ideas to make your trade show not only a great  investment in your business but a great time too!

 

Keep Your Resolutions

Resolutions.  Everyone makes them, but they're not always the easiest thing to keep.  Some resolutions are unrealistic, such as a massive weight loss in a short time.  Some are unattainable, such as becoming president of the United States. (Especially if it’s not an election year) One thing we can all do, in our business as well as our personal lives, is break things down into manageable tasks.  

Below are a few tips that will help make the resolutions you make more attainable. Following these simple steps in your personal and business life will give you the chance to keep your resolutions this year.

Focus:  It’s important to focus on why you want to accomplish something as much as what you want to accomplish.  If you set an unrealistic goal for yourself and don’t even know why, it’s going to be impossible to complete.  How can you motivate yourself when you don’t even know why you are doing something?  Break your goals down into smaller steps, making them easier to concentrate on.  This will also provide you with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn motivate you to move forward with your resolutions.

Clean up:  It’s easy to forget what you’re trying to accomplish when your work is buried under piles of tasks.  Though they are all important, clear your desk of everything but what you need to complete the job at hand.

Manage Time:  Voice mail is a wonderful thing.  Though we all instinctively jump for a ringing phone, there are times when it’s best to let calls go to voice mail.  Allowing yourself time to complete a task without interruption will give you the satisfaction of doing it well.

Have a List:   Writing things down will give you something concrete to work from.  Seeing something rather than trying to remember it is always easier, and allows you to prioritize accordingly.

Delegate:   Though it’s easy to try and control every aspect of a task, delegating parts of a job will make it easier to complete in the end.  In addition, allowing others within your organization to help out will make them feel like part of a team.

Have a Beginning and an End:  Start each day by spending a little time planning what needs to be done and how.  At the end of each day spend a little time clearing your desk and putting the finishing touches on what has been completed.  Starting the day with a clean desk is much easier than trying to dig through clutter to see where you left off the day before.

Who Should Consider Promotional Products?

Whether you’re the marketing manager of a large company or the director of a small charity, advertising and promotions are an important part of your business.  Promotional products are a cost effective way to get the best results for your dollar.  Here are a few key points to consider.

• People love presents.  If you choose a product that appeals to the people you are marketing to, you will already have their attention.  If you choose a quality product that will last and is useful, you’ll have their attention for a longer period of time. 
• Make sure it lasts.  Whether a promotional item, such as a pen or a quality piece of apparel, if it’s made well, it will be used and worn.  A pen that runs out of ink in a month will be in the garbage, and a shirt that is thin or tears easily will be headed there as well. 
• Whatever you choose, it doesn’t have to be expensive in order to serve your needs.  There are so many options available when it comes to promotional items, it’s fairly easy to find something to fit your budget.  If you’re not sure of the best way to go, contact someone who knows the industry and let them help you. Despite the ease of shopping on-line, it is often better to let someone who is in the business guide you.  You’ll get more value for your dollar and you’ll find an item that suits your needs.  Over 17 billion dollars (yes, that’s a ‘B’) will be spent on promotional items and apparel this year.  Don’t let your items get lost in the shuffle. 

Remember, three out of four people have some type of promotional item in their work space. (Look around, we bet you have some too!)   People will keep useful things, and use them again and again.  Every time a product you’ve supplied is used, it’s seen, a visual and useful reminder of you and your business.

Cool Stuff

From one of our favorite vendors, take a look at the WineTaster's Journal from Journalbooks.  This classy little number give you everything you need to track your wine experiences with 100 sheets of their special wine tasting filler, where you can document which wines you've tried and rate them.   The journal also features an 8 page section of wine facts.

Put your company logo on the cover of this stylish and beautifully designed journal and make sure your clients have exactly what they need for your next event.   You can be sure they'll keep coming back for more! 

You can see more of the exciting products that Journal Books has to offer at their website, www.journalbooks.com