Program Selling to the Financial Services Industry

Posted on January 14, 2022 Written by 2 Comments

From direct mail outreach to in-branch brochures, and from outdoor and indoor signage to handouts at trade shows and events, banks and credit unions continue to need copious amounts of printed materials. Print communications remain powerful marketing tools for the financial services industry, yet streamlining ordering and maintaining brand cohesiveness between branches prove to be hurdles many have yet to master.

All the feels

Because print advertising connects more on an emotional level with readers than digital, it continues to be the go-to medium of financial services companies. It offers readers a chance to linger over product and service messaging in a way that other channels don’t. Print advertising provides prospects a tangible way to engage with the brand message.

  • Print lasts longer (digital ads disappear in seconds)
  • Print is viewed as more trustworthy
  • Print is cost-effective

However, there is without question a significant focus on online banking, and digital access to banks has increased greatly. Accordingly, mixed marketing such as a postcard with a QR code or Bitly link to online banking will help provide direct access to products and services.

Time to think like a financial services company
What do you suppose keeps their marketing decision-makers up at night? For larger institutions, they may be considering the demand for consistency across multiple branches, indicating the need for a program solution that ensures uniformity in messaging, seamless installation and access to additional products. For medium and small institutions, they may be contemplating local business investments, signifying the need for a collaborator like you to partner with them. They may also be looking to the local chamber of commerce to bring in more opportunities and to demonstrate the value of such investments to the community. For maximum trajectory, think mailing campaigns, vibrant signage, and community canvassing, as well as developing investment guides and infographics depicting top areas of growth.

Here are more ways to get into the minds of your financial services clients:

Trust is numero uno.
Every one of your financial services company clients will tell you that ensuring their customers or members feel trust in their financial institution is priority number one. This includes trusting that both their personal AND financial well-being are being looked after. Refining branch-to-branch and branch-to-member information flows while quickly distributing new collateral based on changing interest rates and economic conditions is paramount to a financial services company’s success. They also lock in that trust by maintaining a positive perception and core position in the community while upholding compliance and regulatory mandates across print.

Renewal and revitalization matter.
More than ever communities are thinking local (shopping, supporting, frequenting) and banks often support “Shop Small” sponsorships or local events to further promote their role in the community. Events require communication efforts, signage, giveaways, apparel and residual marketing products. Special financing, payment forgiveness and small business loans are a few examples of advertising offers that banks and credit unions will consider as an important part of recovery efforts.

Branch distribution is a big deal.
When they roll out a program, financial services companies want their vendors to help coordinate the distribution of their products and may require kitting and project management. Both standardization and compliance are very important across branches, but often your bank and credit union clients don’t have the internal staffing to ensure proper installation and execution. This works to your advantage … with our help, you can really deliver the goods here.

Going online is inevitable.
While digital marketing tactics aren’t as touchy-feely as print and can quite honestly leave bank customers and credit union members cold, online banking is certainly the preferred choice for most, and we don’t see this changing. At the same time, having a local presence is important to a financial services company’s growth. Therefore, maintaining a consistent brand image across all mediums (print, online, signage, promo, apparel, business identity, folders, etc.) is crucial for connecting the digital world to their local community.

A holistic approach

This is where multi-product selling (or program selling) makes its grand entrance. Whether starting small with individual product sales and then building on the offering over time, or introducing a whole suite of cohesively branded products to their financial industry customers, our distributors can really bank on our technology platform designed for program selling. Let’s walk through some case studies that really illustrate the benefit of our solutions:

  1. A large financial institution wanted to deepen relationships between their lending officers and customers by personalizing essential documents. With custom printed Post-it® Note business cards and notecards, the company achieved its marketing objectives without a costly overhaul of existing print collateral. The custom adhesive notes included the lending officer’s contact information and photo, and could be applied to all communications with the customer. As a result, lenders used fewer of their higher-cost business cards, reducing overall print spend. Personalizing generic financial documents with custom branded adhesive cards allowed lending teams to engage with their clients and community.
  2. A distributor just getting started in selling print placed their initial orders manually because they were not very confident with the medium, let alone Navitor.com. Eventually they progressed to placing a couple of orders on Navitor.com and quickly realized just how easy it was to simplify and streamline the ordering process – especially around improving timeliness. As they kept working with their client, they discovered five more locations that were going to need similar branded products, and decided that time/order management could potentially become a bottleneck. We set up a white label ordering platform that their client can order from directly. This program started with a few orders for five-dollar name badges and will likely mature to a five-digit sales growth within a year. The program includes business cards, badges, envelopes, letterhead, presentation folders, decals, labels and more.
  3. Brand control on a large assortment of products was a challenge for one company that faced a surge in requests from their clients looking for ways to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The need for communication and marketing materials increased exponentially. With the rapid increase, the company realized they needed to lock down brand standards. Working with Navitor on product fulfillment and utilizing our online ordering platform customized to meet the specifics of their organization saved the day. Locations can log on and order their pre-branded business stationery, their new customer kits and the rest of their marketing materials.
  4. Technology integration and brand control were sticking points for one distributor’s large client with 2,000 locations. They were having difficulty maintaining brand standards and controlling expenses since each location was ordering their print ad hoc from various vendors. After the client established their own brand portal to centralize sourcing, it was vital to find a print provider that could integrate quickly with their existing e-store ordering platform. By partnering with Navitor, the distributor was able to spin-up an ordering platform that incorporates brand compliance and efficient ordering while controlling the quality and brand conformity of the end product. In addition, the client has sourced several additional print items Navitor produces, resulting in BIG business for our distributor.

Content you can count on

Our newly updated flyer for the financial services industry is available here, and our industry dollop has up-to-date information regarding selling to financials, designed to help you position yourself as a thought leader and problem solver in this market. For social posts you can copy, paste and post from your social media accounts in order to prompt conversations, click here.

We are keeping our fingers on the pulse of the financial services industry and are working on your behalf to provide useful content and relevant solutions to keep you selling. Staying on top of market trends and industry conditions gives us the means to help you deliver the best customer experiences. To make sure you’re giving your customers what they need and addressing topics important to them, rely on us as your go-to resource for thought leadership and innovation.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Education, Folders, Labels, Marketing, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources, Stationery

Is it Time for Your Customers to Reorder?

Posted on November 21, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

The New Year is fast approaching, and that means it’s time for your customers to reorder the print pieces they rely on! Whether their print needs an update before 2020 or they want to freshen things up, it’s a great time for them to reorder the pieces they use every day. It’s also a good time for you to remind your customers of the products they might want before January. Here’s a checklist of the things your customers should consider reordering before the New Year.

Stamps and Embossers
Stamps and embossers are some of the most common products that need to be reordered before the New Year. From notary stamps and embossers that require updating to dater stamps that end in 2018, freshening up your customer’s stamps is a good way to ensure that they have everything they need on January 1st.

Business Cards
Whether your customer has updated their branding or just wants to ensure that they have enough on hand, the end of the year is a good time for them to place an order for updated business cards. It’s a good time for customers to update these business essentials with new job titles, updated photographs, and other important details.

Promotional Products
If your customer’s tradeshow schedule is anything like ours, they’ll probably try to start the year strong with event attendance. This means that it is an essential time to update their promotional products! Not only does this give them a chance to replenish their stock after holiday giving, but it will also give them the chance to consider new promotional products for 2020. And, speaking of promotional products…

Calendars
Whether your customer keeps branded calendars in the office or wants to create a promotional piece that will last throughout the year, calendars are a great option. Ordering soon will ensure that they will give 365 days of marketing impressions.

Awards
The end of the year is also a great time to update awards. If your customers have an employee of the month program (or are looking to start one), the end of the year is an ideal time for them to make sure they have personalized plates for all of this past year and a new plaque for next year. Navitor’s cherry finish perpetual plaques let your customers reward their best employees every month and encourage other employees to work hard, too.

More information about Navitor’s wide range of useful products can be found on the Help and Resources page of our website. There, you can view all of our updated catalogs and see the new options and old favorites we currently offer.

Is it time for your customer to reorder? What print pieces are a yearly must-buy? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Marketing, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources

Perfect Print for Boutiques

Posted on September 5, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Whether your customer creates the products for their own store or gathers the very best to offer consumers, boutiques are a market where print is one more chance to make things extraordinary. Print can help add branding and style to every angle of a boutique’s business, from personalizing the building to adding an extra special touch to every product. Here are our picks of print pieces perfect for boutiques.

From the Moment They Walk Through the Door
One of the first ways that consumers connect with your customer’s brand is in their storefront, from their window display to their signage. And that signage is an essential way to personalize storefronts of all sorts. For an unexpected touch, your customer should consider clear window clings or vinyl wall art to reinforce architectural signage; these decals can be used to show off brand imagery and colors, display store hours, and add a bit of extra style.

Badges and Signage Bring Branding Indoors
The consumer is in the door—now what? Signage can also be used to brand a store’s interior to keep that branding going. Wall art can add style to the décor, signage can help guide guests through the store or provide necessary instructions, and decals can be used to highlight new products or special buys in glass product cases.

And your customer should be sure to match their badges to that signage. Even when employees don’t wear uniforms, branded badges create a polished look and make them easy to find when a shopper needs assistance.

Business Cards Add Polish and Professionalism
Business cards are a classic piece that many businesses use to connect with customers and investors, and boutiques are no exception. For boutiques, however, your customer might want to add an extra special touch to their business cards to match their extraordinary product offering. Consider adding color core stock for an unexpected pop of color, glitter color core for sparkle, or pearlized stock for a subtle shimmer.

Labels and Tags for Products
Boutiques specialize in well-chosen products, and the right product labels and tags can help add a special touch to this hand-selected flair. Your customer should consider using labels to add a branded touch to boxes, brown paper bags, and other preexisting packaging.

Branding with Every Buy
Does your customer want to keep the branded appeal going when a purchase has been made? They should consider adding personalized plastic bags to their business. Not only do these bags give them the chance to create one more touch point for their brand, they add a polished advertisement to each additional person they pass by.

And keep an eye out for new products that your customers who own boutiques will love!

Do you do business with boutiques? What print pieces are their favorites? We’d love to see your feedback in the comments below.

Filed Under: Design, Education, Labels, Marketing, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Stationery

Doing More With Less: Creating Great Minimalist Design

Posted on July 26, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

do more with less minimalism for personalized print typographyMinimalism has been on trend for some time, and if your customers come to you to ask for your design advice you want to create something eye catching. If what they’re looking for is minimalism, you need to ensure that your design does more with less. Here are our tips for achieving great minimalist design.

Highlight What’s Most Important
Minimalist design relies on choosing only the most important details and leaving the rest behind. If you’re creating a design for your customers, be sure that they pick the information that’s essential. For event invitations, that’s the information necessary for RSVPing and attending. For a business card, that’s your customer’s essential contact information. Use those details as the foundation of the design.

And stick to what’s most important in terms of color, too! Focus on your customer’s brand colors or the colors for their event to ensure that their minimalist design contributes to a cohesive overall look.

If you’re looking for some design inspiration, check out this post from 1st Web Designer to look at some eyecatching minimalist business cards.

Embrace the Unexpected Detail
Sometimes, an unexpected detail is what you need to make minimalism really work for your customer’s print order. A touch of spot gloss or raised print can add unexpected texture. A heavyweight stock can catch attention immediately. A pop of bright, branded color in an otherwise muted business card will stand out all the more because of the minimalist design.

Choose Just the Right Stock
Because minimalist design is focused on only the most important details, your customer’s stock choice is even more important. Minimal designs let the space around the text do much of the talking—and that can make an impact that’s anything but minimal! Minimalist designs allow the texture of the stock to take center stage, whether the stock is smooth and sleek or features a subtle texture with handmade appeal.

Stock can also be the source of those unexpected details I mentioned before. A subtle shimmer from a pearlized stock adds a luminous touch. An extra thick stock has a surprising heft when held. And for an additional pop of color, consider color core stock.

Consider The Print Process
Minimalist design is also a chance for your customers to use print processes that add an extra touch of professionalism to their design. Full color print is a great option for many customers, but when your customers are interested in minimalist design they should consider the many other options available to them.

Thermography is a great place to start. Whether paired with full color print or spot color, thermography adds depth and texture to your customer’s design. That texture can add a lot of interest to their print piece.

Speaking of depth, for a truly extraordinary finishing touch, consider enhanced finishes. Spot gloss and raised spot gloss can be used to enhance your customer’s minimalist design or on their own for a subtle, shiny look. Raised foil creates a classic metallic look with style.

Do your customers love the look of minimalism? What details are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, Education, Folders, Labels, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Stationery

Print to Add Polish to Nonprofit Fundraisers

Posted on July 24, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Nonprofits of all sorts will soon be hosting the last outdoor fundraisers of the year, and just as soon they will be preparing for the events they host at the end of the year. When they’re planning their events, they should also be planning the print that adds a great finishing touch to their fundraisers. Here are our choices for the print pieces that will add profit to your customer’s next nonprofit fundraiser.

Posters
Are your customers trying to get the word out to a wider audience? Posters could be the best way to raise interest in their community events! And with a variety of quantities available, posters could also be a colorful addition to event promotion even in smaller communities.

Announcements and Postcards
Some of your customers’ events focus on previous donors or top donors, and announcements and postcards are a great way to add polish to those event invitations. Choose postcards for a more informal feel, or use announcements to make the occasion feel a little extra special.

Brochures, Rack Cards and Sales Sheets
Whether your customer wants to include them with a mailing or wants a piece to show donors what their gifts will be doing, informational pieces are an essential way to get the word out about the good work that they do. Brochures, rack cards, and sales sheets are classic pieces that can include text to show off essential statistics or photographs that highlight the people who benefit from a nonprofit’s work.

Event Tickets
If your customer is hosting a raffle or fundraising event, event tickets are essential! These tickets feature practical details like perforated ends for easy raffle use and numbering to make it easy to keep track of attendees. Even better, when your customer chooses full color print they can help make their nonprofit’s branding more memorable.

Folders
Whether it’s organizing instructions for volunteers, putting together forms and information for donors, or keeping documents organized afterward, branded folders are a good way to keep organized. As a bonus, using branded folders is a good way to add that extra touch of professional polish to every document.

Badges
Speaking of event volunteers, badges are a great way to show which people at your customer’s event are working and which are simply attending. Choose labels as temporary name tags for events with a lot of short-term volunteers, or consider window badges, chalk badges or erasable badges  for flexible badges that can be used at event after event.

Banners, Signs and Other Décor
Once your customers are actually at their event, indoors or out, it’s time to personalize the space. Banners are a great fit for events indoors or out, adding a splash of color in your customer’s choice of a variety of styles. Freestanding a-frame signage can guide attendees through buildings, personalize stages and accent sidewalks outside outdoor event venues.

Do you work with customers in the nonprofit sector? Which print products are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Folders, Labels, Marketing, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources, Stationery

Spectacular Spot Gloss: What You Need to Know About Designing for this Enhanced Finish

Posted on July 18, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Whether flat or raised, spot gloss is a finish on the rise, and for good reason! This Enhanced Finish is becoming a popular option for a variety of print pieces, and it can be an excellent addition to your customer’s business card, announcement, or postcard. However, the real strength of spot gloss and raised spot gloss are in the design. Here’s what you need to know about creating spectacular spot gloss.

Having Your Formatting Right is the Foundation of Great Design
Great design starts with great execution. That means having your fonts correctly sized, using the right file and color formats—and, for spot gloss and raised spot gloss, taking a look at our instructions for file creation. Having these basic guidelines in mind will help ensure that your design choices are executed perfectly, making your whole design more impressive. Click here to download our design guidelines, or take a look at our youtube video if you’re more of a visual learner.

And don’t forget about the option to bring spot gloss to new heights. Raised spot gloss can be used in a similar way to spot gloss, but with extra depth added to the shiny accent. It’s a slightly different look—and an interesting, tactile texture—that your customer should consider for their print pieces.

Do You Want Your Spot Gloss to Stand Alone or Make Details Stand Out?
Gloss is a particularly versatile finish because of the sheer number of ways that it can be used—emphasis on “sheer”! Because spot gloss and raised spot gloss are transparent, they can be used to create a wide variety of different looks.

Spot gloss can be used on its own or over a flood coat to create a subtle design element. This option will appeal to customers seeking a minimalist look for their business cards, but it can also create stylish patterns, interesting borders, or subtle text.

When paired with a full color design, on the other hand, spot gloss and raised spot gloss can highlight different bits of the design. Be strategic about the design. Spot gloss can be used as a glossy accent on the most important word of a message or to add a luminous quality to elements of an image like the stars in a night sky or the fire in a fireplace.

What Does Your Customer Want to Emphasize?
Whether it’s your customer’s brand colors, their logo, or a particular part of their marketing message, spot gloss can be an unexpected detail that helps emphasize what’s essential. An unexpected touch of spot gloss in the shape of their logo can be a memorable way to change things up. Using spot gloss or raised spot gloss over the most important part of their message on a postcard can ensure that message is noticed.

Would Coated Stock Be a Better Choice?
If your customers are excited about spot gloss, we understand the temptation to use it everywhere, but it really works better as an unexpected accent. If your customer wants a lot of shine for their piece, they might be better off using a glossy coated stock and leaving spot gloss for a special occasion.

Have your customers ordered spot gloss or raised spot gloss? How have they made sure that their design is extraordinary? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, Education, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources

Perfect Print for Real Estate

Posted on June 13, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Whether you’re working with a small realtor or a large company, print is an essential part of their repertoire of sales tools! Print pieces add professionalism to their office, help bring together open house events, and more. Here are our top suggestions for print pieces perfect for the real estate market.

Signage
With versatile full color print, different styles to suit different budgets, and a freestanding style that makes them easy to display in front of houses, yard signs are a classic print piece for the real estate market for a reason! Full color plastic yard signs are a lightweight and eyecatching option that your customer is sure to love. If your customer wants to make a bigger investment in their signage, on the other hand, they should consider full color metal yards signs; these durable signs are easy to reuse time and again.

Business Cards
Another business classic that real estate professionals should keep on hand is a business card. They should particularly look into including realtor photos on their business cards because it is one more way to reinforce the personal connection that realtors build with home buyers.

Folders
No matter how many homes are on a buyer’s list, it can be hard to keep their information straight. Offering them a branded folder is a great way to keep that information organized and to add a polished finishing touch to the home buying experience. Branded folders can also be used to hold paperwork, create welcome packets to be given at closing, or to hold files in the office with professional polish.

Promotional Products
Promotional products are an ideal way for your customers to get the word out about their business. Your customers in the real estate market can attach key fobs to keys at closing, give business card magnets to remind new homeowners of their realtor’s contact information, and hand out a variety of other promotional products at community events to connect with new buyers. They can also create personalized napkins perfect for adding a branded touch to any refreshments offered at an open house.

Labels
In addition to more traditional uses like address labels and name labels, labels are also a popular addition to open house events. Use labels to personalize water bottles at the refreshment table, seal paperwork, and more.

And this only scratches the surface of what print can do for the real estate market. Want more ideas? Consider requesting a copy of our property management vertical market kit for your next sales meeting!

Are there any other products that you would recommend for real estate? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Deals, Folders, Labels, Marketing, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources, Stationery

Promotional Power for Your Customers is Just a Click Away!

Posted on May 22, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Is your customer looking for a way to promote their business this summer? Will they be promoting their business at a tradeshow, networking event, or local fair? Do they want to tell their customers about new products? Some of the best options are only a click away! Here are just a few of the options that you can find on Navitor.com.

Why Buy Online?
Ordering through Navitor.com allows you to benefit in a variety of different ways. The direct web-to-press path of orders allows your order to be completed faster, and digital proofing allows you instant access to a PDF proof for you and your customers to review before you finalize your order.

Buying online also makes it easier for you to reorder your customers’ favorites. Online reordering means that you can place a reorder from any location where you have an internet connection and your artwork will be where you need it when you reorder. If you want to know more about reorders, check out our quick guide to learn more.

Promotional Products with Power
If you haven’t taken a look at the promotional products we offer on our website, you could be missing out on easy ordering and reordering of some of our most popular options! Napkins are a popular addition to events where food will be served like open houses or banquets, and calendars are a classic option that your customers should keep in mind throughout the year. Drinkware and bags are popular and practical, and a variety of options are available online. Silicone card sleeves are a great fit for customers looking to promote their business and create something with high tech appeal.

Picking Up the Pace with Print Pieces
When your customer is preparing for an event, promotional products are a promising way to bring people into a conversation. However, it’s essential that they support promotional products with print to keep that conversation going! Brochures and sales sheets are ready-made for the job. Not only do these print pieces offer your customer the opportunity to pair informative text with full color images, but they’re portable enough to tuck into promotional bags, folders, invoices, and more.

Pocket Sized Print for Promotions
Is your customer looking for a smaller print piece for their summer promotional goals? When they want to highlight a single new product or focus on the high points of what their business offers, smaller print pieces could be the perfect fit. Bookmarks are a great choice for showing off the features of new products, and they offer the versatility of full color print on a convenient small canvas.

Which print pieces do your customers use to promote their business? Which are their favorites? We’d love to see your recommendations in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Education, Marketing, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Stationery

Boost Summer Sales for Small Business

Posted on May 8, 2019 Written by 2 Comments

Are you looking for a way to boost your sales this summer? We’ve got news for you! The latest of our vertical market sales kits is here, giving you a chance to speak directly to the print needs of small businesses. Here’s what you need to know about this new kit.

small business kit brochure, business cards, announcements, letterhead, forms, postcards, announcements

What’s In It?
We’ve created this kit around a lawn care business, and all of the products are hand-picked for that market. Practical pieces like business cards, forms, and letterhead are just the start. “Thank you” notes can help build rapport with customers at the end of the season, brochures are a great way to inform prospective customers of new services, and other pieces like Post-it® Notes and door hangers make great leave-behinds if your customer is going door-to-door to drum up business.

These products might be tailored for lawn care, but they’re a great fit for a wide variety of small businesses looking to give a boost to their marketing strategy. Use the kit as an example of how your customer could create a complete print suite no matter what market they’re working in.

How Can You Use It?
Ready to put this sales kit to work? Be sure to bring it with you when you meet with potential customers, especially if you work often with small businesses. It’s also important to keep the samples within reach for when customers walk into your storefront, because you never know when a small business owner will reach out to you.

These kits can be used for much more than samples, though. They are also a great way to highlight cross-selling opportunities. Did your customer come to you for letterhead and business cards to stock up for the summer season, for example? This kit will show them how they could create other print pieces to give their small business an additional boost.

Ready for the Summer Slump
With so many people heading out on vacation, summer can be a slow season. That’s why we are debuting this kit now. A new sales tool for reaching out to a new market could help you connect with new customers even during a slow season.

Best of all, this new sales kit is available free of charge. Simply contact your customer care team to request yours or visit our website to request a kit online.

What do you think of this new sales kit? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Folders, Labels, Marketing, Misc, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources

Quiz: Do You Know the History of Promotional Products

Posted on May 3, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Summer is coming soon, and that means it’s time for your customers to purchase promotional products for their summer events. You might not realize this, but the promotional products industry has a long history. Do you know that history? Take this quiz to find out.

1. The history of promotional products goes a long way back, and got its start in the earliest US elections. What year’s election saw the first commemorative button?
A) 1789
B) 1792
C) 1796
D) 1800

2. That wasn’t the end of campaign buttons. Who was the first presidential candidate to have the image of their face featured on a button?
A) Andrew Jackson
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) Teddy Roosevelt
D) Ulysses S. Grant

3. Promotional products have been around for a long time, but one businessman is most often credited as the first to produce them commercially in the late 1800s. What was his name?
A) Isaac Young
B) Abraham Brown
C) Jasper Meek
D) Everett Hill

4. If you work in the promotional products industry, you know that there are a variety of different trade associations. Which organization got that started?
A) Advertising Specialties Institute (ASI.
B) Promotional Products Association International (PPAI.
C) Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP.

5. Sometimes promotional products are popular enough to become products on their own. Which of these products got their start as a promotional offer?
A) Hall’s cough drops
B) McDonalds hamburgers
C) Singer sewing needles
D) Wrigley’s chewing gum

ANSWERS:
1) A. The first promotional item in US history was a commemorative button made for the George Washington in the election of 1789.
2) B. Abraham Lincoln was the first presidential candidate to have his face featured on a campaign button.
3) C. In the late 1800s, Jasper Meek wanted to keep his newspaper presses running during slow times. He then started printing burlap bags with advertising messages. A local shoe store then gave them to school children to promote his business.
4) B. PPAI got its start as the Advertising Manufacturers Association in 1904. ASI got its start in 1950.
5) D. Believe it or not, Wrigley’s sold baking powder before their promotional gum became a smash hit. Their baking powder was also a promotional product that was a hit; they originally sold soap.

The promotional products industry has come a long way since the commemorative buttons in the 1789 election. With nationwide trade organizations, tradeshows, and publications, it is now a booming business, and we’re happy to be a part of it!

What’s the most memorable promotional product you have ever received? How did you do on the quiz? We’d love to see you join in the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Misc, News, Print Products, Promotional Products
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