Archive for February, 2009
Marketing and Social Networking Ideas
Posted by Gallant in Business Tips on February 28, 2009
Social Networking
Theodore Roosevelt Quote To Live By
Posted by Gallant in Business Tips on February 20, 2009
Teddy Roosevelt: 26th President of the United States
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.”
LG’s Innovative Marketing Campaign
Posted by Gallant in Business Tips on February 16, 2009
Even for a public besotted with sexy action/adventure flicks, this one looked like a must-see. For three months, moviegoers who grabbed seats in time for the previews sat wide-eyed over the karate-fueled antics of a sinuous brunette named Scarlet who, they were promised, would star in a new TV series bearing her name. Meanwhile, billboards in Los Angeles and Dubai; ads in People and Rolling Stone; and online banners on Gawker and E! all hinted at a blockbuster flick also starring Scarlet, the smoldering femme fatale with the low décolleté and a mysterious red glint in her eye.
Too bad it was all a hoax.
Oh sure, Scarlet herself was real enough. She’s Norwegian actress Natassie Malthe. But on April 28, when the show’s launch was to be announced at a red carpet Hollywood premiere, it was revealed that Scarlet, the show, was actually a new LCD TV line from LG Electronics Worldwide. Which made Scarlet, the female action hero, little more than the face of a gutsy viral campaign via Agency.com.
By rights, that red eyeball should have tipped everybody off. The ruby glimmer and the Scarlet name itself were both selected because of the TV casing’s signature reddish hue. According to Agency.com CEO Chan Suh, the deception was a calculated risk. After all, LG went to considerable lengths to make a very fake show look very real, including hiring Sopranos director David Nutter.
However, as Suh explained via e-mail, “LG felt that if [it were all] done correctly, the target consumer would benefit and appreciate the twist, associating the entertainment campaign with a positive drive to purchase.”
Has it? LG said it’s too early to see if its global hoax has translated into TV sales but, by most indications, at least they know consumers took the joke pretty well. Said one online review site: “Kudos to LG for this decade’s best pr stunt in the consumer electronics industry.”
Courtesy of Steve Miller, brandweek.com
Custom Apparel Makes an Impact
Posted by Gallant in Business Tips on February 16, 2009
Customized Apparel Makes an Impact
When your buyer can’t decide between a candy bar and a t-shirt, offer both. LG Electronics used t-shirts wrapped like chocolate bars as part of a successful consumer tradeshow marketing campaign for its Chocolate phone.
Wearability is the key to this design overhaul. “T-shirts reach a primary marketing audience when given to a customer, but they reach a much broader secondary audience if the recipient is willing to add the shirt to their collection and wear it proudly,” he says.
Dressing Up On The Job
Despite the popularity of t-shirts, business attire fashion is leaning once again toward a more refined look. Buyers are looking for items reflecting a return to dressier offices.
As business attire becomes more refined, separate men’s and women’s collections ensure a proper fit and complementary cuts. Coordinating products in the FeatherLite collection from Sierra Pacific Apparel Group include men’s and women’s pique shirts.
Although promotional products buyers often ask for the latest and greatest items, promotional consultants need to find out how the products will be used to enhance the company’s image.
“If a product is innovative and different, has impact and adds value, it doesn’t really matter what it is,” says Brad White of Addventure
“To determine which product works best, choose one that aligns appropriately with your client’s message, products and services. Then, true differentiation can be achieved,” he says.
It’s not about the item, per se, but about the impact it has. What works for one company may not work for another because of differing promotion designs.
“Many products can be cool and different, but they must leave a strong impression and get recipients to take the desired action,” White says.
Corn Dog Thursdays
Posted by Josh in Life at Gallant on February 13, 2009
So yesterday at the office, it was officially Corn Dog Thursday. We have a GT Xpress 101, that is amazing by the way, and the recipe book has something in it for homemade corn dogs. Mike was gracious enough to stop by the store and pick up the necessary ingredients for us (corn bread mix, hot dogs & ketchup). To be polically correct, we will protect the name of the brand. So lets just call it … Jeffy Corn Bread Mix.
Now sometimes flour can attract things that not everyone may want in their food….and this can be expected after an item has been sitting in your pantry for who knows how long, but not from a box of Jeffy Corn Bread Mix that you just purchased from the store!
As you may have guessed from the picture above, we indeed found boll weevils in the mix. Now that is frustrating because Mike had to make another trip to the store and we now had to wait on these delicious corn dogs!
This picture started as joke, with some quick “photoshopping” I was able to put together a new ad for Corn Dog Thursdays. Later on Mike called up Jeffy* to alert them to the problem we found in their mix, and forwarded this picture to them. Needless to say it made everyone’s day to hear the Jeffy customer service department laughing over speaker phone at the image clearly making fun of them. Everyone needs a little Corn Dog Thursdays in their life!
Today was pancake friday, and just to be on the safe side, we decided to go with the pancake mix that comes from a spray can. Surprisely good!
Orlando Promotional Products Agency Honored for Excellence in Website Development
Posted by Gallant in Press Releases on February 9, 2009
PPAI Web Award for Technical Innovations/e-Commerce
Irving, Texas, (February 6, 2009) Distributer GallantGifts.com (UPIC: Gifts3) of Orlando, Florida, won a silver award in the PPAI Web Award competition sponsored by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). Twenty winners were recognized for website excellence during The PPAI Expo 2009 in Las Vegas.
“PPAI Web Award winners are recognized for such attributes as the quality of the images, search capabilities, visual design and overall functionality,” said Steve Slagle, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. “The winners worked very hard to earn this special recognition and their commitment to excellence is a tribute to the industry.”
GallantGifts.com was presented a silver award in the category of Technical Innovations/e-Commerce. PPAI Awards Committee members judged the entries according to the criteria specific to each of the competition’s five categories.
Promotional Products are an essential element in the marketing mix. Adding your message to a tangible product turns an ordinary message into a marketing experience your audience can see, touch, hear, smell and even taste. Promotional products are the only way to make a sensible – and memorable – impression. For more information about the PPAI awards program, contact the special events department at 972-258-3042, MelissaB@ppai.org.
For more information about Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) or to learn more about the proven power of promotional products (including research and case studies) visit the PPAI website at www.ppai.org or contact PPAI at 972-258-3041 or PR@ppai.org.
PPAI – the promotional products industry’s only international not-for-profit trade association – offers education, tradeshows, publications, business products and services, mentoring, technology and legislative support to its more than 7,500 global members.
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Gallant, Inc.
1-800-330-1343
www.GallantGifts.com
Valentine’s Day Themed Promotions
Posted by Gallant in Promotional Ideas on February 4, 2009
Heart Themed Valentine's Day Promotions
Valentines Day is just around the corner, do you have your holiday promotional items yet?
While Valentines Day is traditionally a holiday for sweethearts, it’s also become a popular holiday for special sales and marketing campaigns with slogans like “We’ve got a sweetheart of a deal for you”. If you’re using giveaways for promotion and advertising, a Valentines Day gift campaign could work very well for you.
Gallant has a large variety of heart shaped gifts and Valentine themed promotional ready for your logo!
Check out a sample of out Heart Promotions here.
For more information go to GallantGifts.com or call 1-800-330-1343 for a custom quote!