Remember a few weeks back when I mentioned that the latest thing in awards was ART GLASS? (see http://wp.me/p1EnMT-bi) Well, one of my best Art Glass suppliers is offering a FREE setup (a $79 savings) on their Art Glass Awards. See http://www.visionsawardcraft.com/visionsawards/ and let me know if you see anything that might work for you.

Outstanding in the field...

Subject: Umbrella Review from client

I have a client in NY who received 4 umbrella samples from me and their team used them on a very rainy day. This type A over achieving group just sent me their professional  analysis of the four samples.  If you have a minute or two and need to lighten up your day, it’s worth it!     Katherine

Umbrella #1

Though the label says that it was manufactured in France, I am inclined to think that it was made in Israel considering that it provides roughly the same coverage as a yarmulke. This umbrella is of the “pocket size” category, an outdated and trite group of umbrellas. The umbrella is black with sewn white border around the edge of the canopy-a gaudy over-the-top effect that seems like a desperate attempt to make up for the microscopic handle, which, it seems, could not even be properly grasped by a newborn infant or a Lego man. The mechanical function of this umbrella is its strength, the deployment was quite buttery smooth.

Umbrella #2

At first glance this umbrella appears to be of average build, handle size and coverage. I suppose it would be almost entirely average if it weren’t for its explosive and frightening deployment. Though this umbrella is armed with the standard “push button” release, we were concerned that an accidental triggering could be mistaken for a small explosion or shoe bomb, hardly what today’s professional needs while crowding into the subway car or using the public restroom.

Umbrella #3

This is a golf style umbrella-huge, impractical and embarrassing. You have to wonder about people who carry this type of umbrella. The coverage of this hand held water protection shelter is so vast, that carrying would be equivalent to operating a human sidewalk plow. Rejected.

Umbrella #4

We all seem to agree that this is the best choice. Though it takes itself a bit too seriously with a double retention strap (are you kidding me?) and a “wooden” handle, its combination of a mid-canopy vent, a pleasing and mechanically efficient deployment, and proper heft make this a clear winner. All of us are in agreement that we would be proud to distribute this specimen to our clients. A memento of our commitment to client service, high quality work product and protection from the elements.

-The Umbrella Committee

ID Followers get this at the 2500 piece price of $2.49 each, as long as you order at least 100.

If you like this product as much as I do, let’s brainstorm to see if we can strategically apply it to help you meet your marketing objectives. Call today – 608.519.0300.

Recognition and reward programs help the bottom line.

• Companies with recognition and rewards programs outperform their competition
• Recognition and reward programs are ROI compatible.
• Customer satisfaction, loyalty and profitability are tied to recognition.

The above is from an excellent article on Employee Incentives: The Time for Employee Recognition and Rewards Programs Is Now.

Today I’ll talk about another component of employee incentives: Awards.

Awards are effective for a number of reasons, but one of the most important is due to the peer-to-peer recognition that encourages and energizes teamwork and camaraderie. It’s important to recognize outstanding behavior in employees regularly and as close to the behavior being rewarded as possible. Rather than wait for  a once a year award ceremony, incorporate awards at the beginning or end of regular weekly or monthly meetings. On the spot recognition is even more powerful. Of course you don’t want to shut down production to honor an employee with a big award “on the spot”, but a well timed “attaboy” can go a long way towards reinforcing positive behavior and creating excitement in the workplace.

I discussed employee incentive programs in Part 1 of this series. Most incentive programs these days have points cards built in that you can purchase ahead of time and hand out on the spot. These cards could be custom printed with your logo and a thank you message and include a set number of points that the employee can accrue towards a purchase of their choice.

For more formal recognition, awards go a long way towards making an employee feel valued. The trend for awards today is art glass, which transforms the traditional (yawn) award into a beautiful work of art the employee can enjoy on their desk as a paperweight (highly visible to their peers) or in their home (highly visible to their loved ones). Here are a few examples: (click on images for more info)

BONUS: For MUCH more information, white papers, and research on incentives and awards, check out the website http://www.incentivecentral.org/.

Here’s a way to reward your employees with a gift of their choosing without having to set up a formal incentive program: let them choose their own gift from one of my suppliers, and I’ll get that item for you as a “blank sample”. One nice thing about incentives is that it’s not necessary to brand them; employees will remember where they got a gift they worked hard to earn.

You’ll be charged the cost of the item at minimum quantity, plus shipping. All you have to do is send your employees to one of my supplier sites, such as www.LeedsWorld.com or www.SanMar.com, they choose their gift, and you send me the order.

The reason this is a best kept secret is because promotional product distributors  MAKE LITTLE OR NO MONEY on this sort of transaction, especially when  overhead is factored in. In fact, we may actually LOSE money. That’s why most distributors are reluctant to mention this option. However, I gladly do this for my loyal customers that give me business throughout the year. Let me know if this is an option you want to explore.

That said, I will say that there is a downside to this: you’ll have to give your employee a dollar value for them to choose their gift. (Unless you’re really really happy with them!) That can be a sticky issue: how much is an insult and how much is the right amount to incentivize the behavior? It’s different for each employee. Here’s an excerpt from the e-book “5 Employee Holiday Gift Mistakes — The New Rules of Giving”: (email me for the pdf)

There’s no disguising the value of money, no matter its form. And it’s human nature to evaluate that value. The recipient’s emotions can run the gamut from “Is this all I’m worth?” to “Why not spend this money on fixing up the lunchroom?” Too much, too little, never right.

Once you offer a cash-based gift, you’re also setting a precedent. Over time, employees will expect you to increase the amount of the gift, i.e., as the cost of living rises or company profits increase, so should the value of the gift. It’s the escalation principle in action. Conversely, if budgets are cut or the management changes direction, your gift-giving program may take a big hit and knock out your employee morale.

Two of my clients recently asked about employee incentives:

“What are some creative ideas for employee incentives instead of the usual things that everyone else does?” – Sandra, CEO of an HR Company

and

“…with a diversified group of employees at a small business, how do you find employee incentive items (gift rewards) that will feel rewarding to each person, since each person has different wants/needs/values for what they find rewarding.  I don’t want to waste time/money on items that only a few people appreciate.” – Julie, Manager of a veterinary clinic

Today I will discuss Incentive Programs:

Remember those programs way back in the day where your boss gave you a catalog full of cool gifts for you to choose from? Well, those programs are still alive and well today, available on-line in addition to print catalogs. These programs are highly successful for one very good reason: your employees choose their own gift.

There are at least two ways these programs can be implemented:

• Memorable Gift Booklets – recipients choose their own gifts from preset price tiers.
• Incentive Point-Programs  – participants accrue points redeemable for merchandise.

Memorable Gift Booklets: A simple gift redemption program with no minimums. You choose the value of the gifts and pay the costs up front. Your employees never see a price, and they choose their own gift. This is typical of a holiday gift giving program or years of service program, but can also be used as an incentive program where you want a fixed up front cost for a limited period. An example of how this works can be seen here on this short video:

Memorable Gift Booklets

Incentive Point-Programs: This is a pay as you go type program. The fixed cost of points based incentive programs is 20% – 30% of the program. But here’s the best part: the remaining 70% – 80% does not get paid out until the program has achieved its goals and the rewards have been issued and redeemed. This makes the program highly measurable, and as such, also possible to calculate how much to invest to achieve your best ROI. For example, if the behavior change you are incentivizing will result in higher sales volume, you can calculate the average Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) and decide what kind of investment makes sense for you return. (CLV is the amount of revenue a typical customer will generate for your company during his or her engagement with your brand.)

The cost of this type of program is based on how much or how little you want to be involved in administering it. It is more expensive to do a points based program than to, say, give the employee a choice between a cool water bottle and a tote bag, but you stand a far better chance of getting a return on your investment when your employee can earn the gift of their choice.

To see an example of current gift selections with one of my suppliers, see their online catalog: www.gifthdq.com/cag18.

BONUS: email me at laurel@IDonTheWeb.com for a FREE e-book that relates to Holiday Gift Programs:

Here are some ideas:

GIFT CERTIFICATES & CARDS: don’t just hand them an envelope, give them a gift certificate in something they’ll use often. If it’s for a coffee shop, slip it into a clear travel mug with your logo on it. Gift cards can be presented in this mini metal business briefcase or a useful jotter. Slip a restaurant gift certificate into a branded wine tote with a nice bottle or wine or sparkling cider.

FOOD GIFTS OR GROCERIES: put them in a branded insulated re-usable tote bag  they’ll be able to use over and over again. Or create a custom food gift which includes your own branded merchandise and/or your imprint on ribbon or on a reusable item such as a cutting board. And here’s a nifty coupon/shopping list pocket-book to slip a grocery store gift certificate into.

GYM MEMBERSHIPS: this is a great gift to give your employees and your company: the gift of Health. Slip a gift certificate into a branded waterbottle or gym bag to make it yours.

Need more ideas? Email me back; if I publish your solution I’ll send you this cool little “tech trap” for your next trip!

http://mashable.com/2011/11/11/qr-code-marketing-tips/

As luck would have it (or somebody/something wiser watching out for me), I came across an excellent article in one of my industry mags on new research on the “ideal” amount of customer contact. Here’s the article:

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH CLIENTS THROUGH MAIL, TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL IS A GOOD THING–TO A POINT. NEW RESEARCH DECLARES THE IDEAL AMOUNT OF CUSTOMER CONTACT.

Message Received
By: Tama Underwood

Which of the following unsolicited forms of communication would you prefer to receive from a company with which you once did business: a surprise phone call, an unanticipated e-mail or an unexpected letter or package in the mail?

Whether you realize it or not, the third one is correct.

New research has found that most consumers tolerate twice as much direct mail as phone calls and e-mail. This is outstanding news for the promotional products industry because fitting a stress ball through a phone line or wrapping up a t-shirt in an e-mail just isn’t going to happen. However, slipping a product—no matter how small—into a mailing is sure to increase its acceptance on the recipient’s part.

A study conducted by marketing professors at University of California, Riverside; Boston College; and Southern Methodist University looked at the communications between auto dealerships and their customers for 39 months. It found that, during three-month increments, the ideal level of client communication is three telephone contacts, between three and four e-mail messages and nine to 10 mailings. Exceeding these volumes, the study found, generates an increasingly negative customer response.

The common idea is that businesses need to communicate with customers all the time, but it’s time to rethink this, says Andrea Godfrey, an assistant professor of marketing in the School of Business Administration at the University of California, Riverside, and a co-author of the study.

Contrary to past marketing studies on the same topic, this latest study shows that combining marketing channels can also be detrimental. For example, one telephone call brings the number of ideal e-mails to between five and six. Yet, when there are three to five telephone calls, the ideal number of e-mails drops to two or three.

For direct mail, the study found that one mail contact allows for five e-mail contacts before a customer starts to spend less. Five mailings, however, indicate e-mails are best limited to one.

The research focused on personalized communication with existing customers through various channels. Such communications can remind customers of needed services, announce new products and locations, survey satisfaction or introduce promotions.

Hope this article is helpful; I’ll behave now.