Charitable Giving

Some corporations are generous with their donations to local charities. They spend thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars on worthy causes over the years. Usually, the recipients are the decision of the president, maybe a group of vice presidents or even some local managers have the say. It depends on the organization.  Some companies are not as fortunate or they feel they need to bestow more of the profits to their employees, so they encourage the workers to make the donations. That spreads out the wealth and the donations are many, but maybe not as significant.

Here at parsonsKellogg, we've come up what we feel is a better way to make donations to organizations. All of our employees are involved in some group and would like to see some of the money going to that fund. So we decided that instead of having an executive decision on where the funds are allocated, we would let the employees do it. We also don't limit it to once a year, but all year long.

Here is how our scheme works. Each month we donate a set amount of money to a charitable organization. It is the same each month, so there is really nothing hard to that. However, in addition, we choose a specific employee to make the determination of where that money is going. So, one month it is a shipper on the floor, the next it is perhaps our embroiderer, and maybe one month it is even me, the President. Each has the right to choose the destination of his or her choice.  The only stipulation is that it is a genuine charity, with 501C3 status and recognized as a worthy cause.  We don't make other restrictions, such as it can't be a religious organization, or the location of the group. It just has to be a needy cause. 

The advantage to our approach is the involvement of each individual into the decision process. We feel it gives each employee a right  and respect for the decision. It also has the added benefit of unearthing some unique organizations, which we might not have been familiar with. Over the past several months we have donated to the Southland Community Land Trust, Edesia Global Nutrition Solutions, Food for the Poor, and the United Way. We are  proud that our employees are the ones making these decisions.

Can you implement something like this. We are sure anyone can copy us and are more than willing to help others plan out the approach.

However, there are other ways to make the charitable contribution even more localized and not even to a recognized group. I heard of a local bank in Maine who had a program where they gave some money to a radio station and specifically asked the drive time personalities to highlight the approach. Here what they did. Each week, they had their employees search the area for someone in need. They then had the local Radio host invite those folks to their show and offer them what amounted to an unexpected act of kindness. One week it was a local woman who had her bicycle stolen and they replaced it. Another was a local drop in art studio, where people can come in off the street and learn art, practice art, or just try their hand at it. That week the donation went to the group, but for one long time patron of the place, they also provided some new brushes, which he desperately needed. 

So, no matter how you do it, the unexpected way to make donations empowers all and makes your facility a desirable place to work.

What's the Most Popular Competitive Sport?

Name a memorable sporting event and things like the Super Bowl, the Olympics, Baseball's World Series, the World Cup of football (soccer here in the US), the Tour de France, and Nascar's cup challenge series come to mind. The older generation might think of the Kentucky Derby and the other Triple Crown races. So, then ask the question: what is the competitive sport with the largest participation in the US and I am sure you will be stumped. That is, unless you are among the 43 million who enjoy rolling a 16-pound spherical object along a wooden floor at great speed towards ten objects arrange in a triangle shape. That's right, bowling.

Part of it has to do with the capability to play well into retirement age and it also attracts the young. Even “The Dude” in “The Big Lebowski” was an avid bowler. Then, there is the space requirement. You don't need large arenas (though some bowling lanes are tremendous in size), there is no need for tall ceilings, nor does it encompass hundreds of acres of rolling green fields. It can be placed in a basement, why even some private homes have two lanes set up in the lower level, (the White House has one lane under the North Portico, down from the two lanes built for Harry Truman in the late forty's.). So, you have multiple generations enjoying a sport in harmony.

The sport is relatively easy for the novice but requires dedication to achieve the level of performance to compete with the 0.1% in the professional level. It is just easier to learn than say golf and much easier to gain the competency skills needed for the sports of tennis, football, basketball and baseball. It is also one of the few games, which can be done by oneself. Head on down to the bowling alley and start rolling away if you want. The competition is real. Bowling leagues abound and usually are active on every night of the week. Then for the truly gifted, the USBC awaits you with a strong league, many highlighted venues throughout the nation and significant prize pools. Their Open Tournaments are the largest competitive sporting events in the world, with between 75,000 to 100,000 participants each year. The draw is amazing at the events and the locale doesn't need to be in a 60,000-seat arena costing billions of dollars to build. The local bowling alley can be the setting for some interesting sporting drama.

2012 PGA Merchandise Show

I recently attended the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show and was blown away by the progression of golf equipment and apparel. With so many advancements in recent years you’d think that manufacturers had little room to grow but they are truly pushed the boundaries. Golf is stronger than ever and we’re excited to showcase these premium brands.

TaylorMade-adidas-Ashworth Golf

TaylorMade-Adidas-Ashworth was “all-in” at the show and clearly made the strongest push of the manufacturers to showcase their new 2012 products. They had an isolated section at the end of the convention center that created an experience for users rather than just a traditional line presentation at a booth. Products like the RocketBallz line certainly helped make TM the most crowded exhibit at the show. They had a private hitting/demo area to display first-hand the distance gains and showcase all the subtle nuances. TM offered free hotdogs and beer so you could sit back and relax in the bleachers as teaching pro’s break down the advancements for each new golf club. They had a VIP concert area that treated fans to a Thursday night concert by George Thorogood and the Destroyers.  There was also a lot of buzz around the apparel lines and footwear from Adidas and Ashworth.  

Callaway Golf

Callaway also had a big presence at the 2012 show and made the decision to combine their equipment and apparel into one large area, which was a big step-up from past years. They had a private runaway that at least once every hour walked you through each of the new apparel lines and created a fun environment within their section. Callaway created a more intimate environment compared to other manufacturers with leather chairs that allowed you to have relaxing conversations with their sales reps and take a break from the endless walking around the convention center. You also couldn’t miss the new Odyssey tour truck with putting lessons from highly respected instructors such as Dave Peltz.  Callaway continues to be a great brand and markets towards the average golfer. 

Nike Golf

While Nike Golf did not have the most square footage they still took advantage of the opportunity to highlight their new equipment and always popular apparel lines. We all know that Nike has had great success with their apparel as it applies well towards corporate markets since they are a brand that transcends across all sports and is not specific to golf. Nike Golf provided parsonsKellogg with a private viewing with our key clients in a room outside the main convention area to walk through all of the new styles for their 2012 collection. Their new Dri-FIT fabric is better than ever and we are excited to distribute their styles to the corporate market. They made a push to have a few more fashion forward styles and the Tiger Woods Collection should be more marketable this year as they moved away from the medallion on the sleeve and now have the traditional Nike swoosh (with of course a unique outline to distinguish the collection from other styles).  Nike bags and accessory line are great gifts for clients and as always they meet the highest standards in terms of performance, look and quality.

Titleist

Titleist was as popular as ever and highlighted their golf balls which continue to be the #1 ball in golf.  They set the standard for advancements in golf balls and when more tour players play with the ProV1 than any other ball in golf you can’t argue the performance. Titleist reps walked us through each of the golf balls along with their equipment lines and Footjoy apparel/shoes. They are clearly proud of their equipment and have always presented themselves as the elite of the golf industry, which was visibly obvious from their white suites. We were also excited to see the newest member of the Titleist family, the Velocity golf ball. When Titleist releases a new ball it’s always big news and they didn’t disappoint. It features "explosive distance," according to their representative. The ball number is also printed in distinctive yellow-orange ink.

Puma Golf

One other brand that deserves attention is Puma Golf. They are without question the most fashion forward apparel brand and our proud to be different from each of the other golf manufacturers. With Ricky Fowler being their most marketable player, and an Oklahoma State graduate, they have embraced the color orange. Each of the Puma sales representatives were wearing bright orange clothes and their booth was without question the brightest within the convention center. They have great apparel lines and for corporations looking for a little more “pop” and visibility look no further than Puma. They even had Johnny Damon walking around with orange pants and a mini-mohawk. 

Our Other Friends

While it would take days to review each of the different manufacturers that attended the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show we wanted to make sure to highlight those who stood out above the rest. It was great to see the new styles from brands such as Fairway and Greene, Vineyard Vines, Peter Millar, Imperial Headwear, Ahead, Ralph Lauren, Maui Jim, Under Armour and many others. There were also a lot of great technical products and accessory lines. You would think that core items such as ball markers, divot repair tools, and headcovers could not change much but we saw quite a few advancements. 

As always the 2012 PGA Merchandise show did not disappoint and it was a great opportunity to showcase the latest golf products to our clients and soak in all the knowledge from our corporate sales representative from each golf manufacturer.  

Fresh Eyes at the ASI Show

Last Week we attended the  the ASI show in Orlando. The Ad Specialty Institute is the largest media and marketing organization serving our industry. Annually, over $46 Billion is spent on high end motivational products to incentivize employees or reward customers and clients. With over 300 exhibitors showcasing fresh new products, and extensive educational sessions, the purpose of the ASI show is to get ideas, connect with suppliers and learn ways to improve business practices.

As a first time attendee, I was struck by the seemingly infinite number of ways there are to promote your brand. With items like inexpensive give aways, apparel, or luxury gifts, there is something for every budget and for every unique message that a company may want to convey. Seeing it all at once is overwhelming, or in my favorite analogy, “like taking a drink from a fire hose.” However, no matter what, one comes away from the show recognizing the importance of being a partner who will listen to the customer, understand the message behind each campaign, and come up with creative and fun ideas to convey that message. After all, a successful promotional items campaign is all about improving our customer’s bottom line.

The promotional products industry continues to grow and is larger and more exciting than most people ever imagined. The possibilities are endless.

On the product front, here are some of the more interesting items we saw and thought earned a mention here in our blog.

My picks:

Just in time for the Super Bowl . . . Custom Eye Black
You can combine your corporate logo with a sports team to reach your potential customers.
Or you can use your imagination to come up with clever messages a la Tim Tebow... John 3:16 anyone???
  
Game Day Drink Cup
This is a great promotion for any outdoor or sporting event. You just clip it onto your chair, the grill or a table - and you have an instant cup holder.

Cool Bar
The epitome of innovative design. This double-walled cooler serves as a side table until thirsty guests arrive. The telescoping arm raises the table top. Holds up to 40 12 oz cans and 30 lbs of ice.

My Favorites this year were:

Tech 3 Pen  –  AT Cross
A multi-function pen with two inks, a pencil and a stylus. This is one of the first pens  to incorporate a drag mechanism and with an electrode at the top allowing it to replicate your touch. It works with the touch screen technology of ipads, tablets and iphones. You no longer have to write with your fingers or thumbs.

Salt Box – Totally Bamboo
Totally Bamboo is our go to vendor for eco-friendly products. With the rise in popularity of cooking shows on TV, this item has become popular for at home chefs who want a handy reservoir from which they can add that pinch of salt. For those who never set foot in the kitchen, the salt box makes an attractive desktop accessory for paper clips, etc.

Drinkware
Drinkware continues to be one of the most popular promotional items. The game changer is what can be done with photo graphics. This new decorating method allows for a complete color wrap  using a four color process on a piece of drinkware. This is ideal for logos with lots of color gradients and intricate logos. Leeds has 50 different glasses that can use this process.

And Finally, we need to recognize the value segment -  those under $5 items. The following items from Bullet Line are great.

Caption stress ball - You just put your message on the stress ball and it sits on the desk.

The Flex Calculator – Made of flexible rubberized material, this funky, brightly colored calculator livens up any desk.

Customized Gift Cards

The credit card generation is still with us for now, and many folks are extremely comfortable with the idea of using plastic for purchases of items, either at the local stores or through the internet. Over the recent years, gift cards have become an interesting item to give that person who you want to reward or bestow a gift on, and MasterCard, Visa, and American Express have filled that void with dollar denominated cards for general use. Sometimes, you can go to a local store and receive a similar card for purchase at there premises.

But what about the person wanting to have the capability to brand a card to their company, a specific event or to a special promotion. They can now do just that. Promotional gift cards are available on which you can have your brand imprinted, highlight the current marketing plan, or just have an interesting one time event with that information lasting a long time.

Tied to e-commerce stores or to specific brands of merchandise, the customizable gift card is the way to have your company logo hang out there in the public domain and still provide a service of value to the recipient. It also can have other information emboldened on the card to make it a bit of marketing piece, company slogans or general information which may be of use to the holder for the next year.

Here's an example using a minor league baseball team. Instead of the game day give away of a cap, where you need to have 5000 caps on hand, you do a promotional give away with the ability to get a cap, ball, or some other sporting good item related to your sport, branded with the team logo, and delivered to the customer. But on this credit-sized card, you have your logo, information about the giveaway, perhaps the rest of the home game schedule, and some trivia facts, all on the customized piece of real estate. Each card could be worth different values, so, one of ten lucky people may be able to get better value items, while most have the ability to get the cap. You only have to display a few of the items right there. The rest is sitting in a warehouse ready to be shipped to the fan, and then you can get the demographic of the people as they sign up to receive their promotional item.

It is easy to do. We have done gift card promotions as part of successful automobile test drive incentives for GM and Mercedes. These promotions combined our customized gift cards to select products from Nike, where the consumer who came into the showroom to test drive the cars received a gift card worth a defined value. They then redeemed products using the card. Merging recognized brands with your promotions is a great way to build some buzz around your company.