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| Cheap Chinese Clocks Suck.Com is a web site I am pondering putting up. According all recent reports, we are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the Chinese for production. I want the market to know, "You don't have to buy imports!" to find inexpensive ways to market your business. A client asked me about items to pass out at recruiting opportunities for their manufacturing company. We are supplying buckle up key tags from TN that say, "Buckle on a New Career at ____" and foam puzzles that say, "Career a Puzzle? Put the pieces together at ______". Each of the six pieces that make into a cube have reasons why a person should look at this company. That item is made in CA. Message: You can help promote our economy and support fellow Americans. All it needs is a little creativity. Call today at 804-515-0300 or email, matt@logomd.com to discuss your opportunities. M |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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Last week for three days the imprinted industry got together for training and a trade show. I get as much out of the training as I do walking the 5 miles it takes to see the show. My training goal was to review the latest and greatest on marketing and networking. My show goal was to see what is available now that is made in America and what is recycled, two things that are of special interest with my federal government buyers lately.
Success was achieved on both goals--more to come on each.
A couple of quick observations:
1. Marketing is moving into a new era--just talking about features and benefits is not going to be adequate anymore. Everyone "bought into it" and now everyone sounds the same, "Our service is #1", "Our people are great!", etc. I spent a day with two good sources and will be sharing their insights as I implement them. Two things I need are a marketing kit and referral system.
2. You are going to hear a lot more from me about "MADE IN AMERICA". From a discussion I heard, prices from China are not going to be a cheap in the future (mainly due to rising labor costs) as they have been in the past as well as the safety issues we have all heard about. Look to this site for low cost imprinted items that are made here in the USA. It may require some creativity but why not give a client an item that gave an American a job? No double some items will always be made in China, calculators and flash drives come to mind. You can buy American and I will be "spotlighting" them for you.
3. Specials were on everyone's mind and you can expect me to look into them on each item request you make. Check here often or register to subscribe in order to stay up to date.
Have a great day. Matt D. (804) 515-0300 |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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Logo Dynamics exhibited at OSDBU, the Federal Government's premier business opportunity for small business, yesterday. It was a very interesting experience and hopefully will be worth the long day's effort and money spent. By far the "hit" of the show for us was the calendar done as a safety promotion featuring the safety posters of children of the employees. The calendar developed out of a need to promote workplace safety and cut down on injuries in a manufacturing environment. Each month had safety slogans added to the date block as well as a child's poster reproduced in full color. As a reward for their efforts each child got a tee shirt with his or her poster reproduced on the front. As with the client, this idea was well recieved at OSDBU. What better combination than kids and time. When we "get it right" it is at the intersection of two good ideas. In this case, I think you can add a third, meeting a need in the workplace.
This idea could certainly be adapted to other issues like a poster contest on "What the American Flag means to Me?", "Great Moments in ______ History", or the environment. With the help of my good friend, Robert "Max" Maxwell who was at the show with me, we can work together to start the calendar with any month, add special sheets to promote a business, or as with the original--emergency and often used phone numbers.
E-mail me at matt@logomd.com or call me on 804-515-0300 to discuss your needs. We look forward to seeing all the new friends we made in Upper Marlboro and hope the event was good for you as well. MD |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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| It was 1992, I had just been laid off from what appeared going in as the best job I had ever had. I had great people to work with and the company was paying me an excellent salary. There was opportunity to use my creativity as well as I found the satisfaction of helping others succeed. Then came the news, "We have to eliminate your position in a cost cutting move". I was devastated. Along came the opportunity to do what I have been doing since then, joining the imprinted item industry and I committed myself then to give the same customer service excellence I talked and taught others was important. It's kept me in business since 1992 and I need you help to continue to be in business. If you have a good experience dealing with LOGO Dynamics, let me know. If not, I want to see what I can do to make it up to you and avoid that issue in the future. Let me know below. Thanks. Matt Davidson, Principal, LOGO Dynamics. |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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| Our special pricing was extended into 2008 with Bic. We get 10,000 piece pricing on as few as 300 units. See www.bicgraphic.com for information on a huge variety of pens. I like the Clic Stic as a good value priced pen but you may find others that work well for your business like the Tri Stic (three sides of imprint at not extra charge). The roller pens Bic offers is an especially good value as well. See Bic also for business card magnets and adhesive pads. Call today at 515-0300 for the latest values to help promote your business or organization. M |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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| I was in a quandry as to what to do for my clients for a holiday gift. I deeply appreciate the help people give me to meet my goals but never have had the cash flow to feel like I can spend lavishly on holiday gifts. I looked at food baskets for $25-30 a piece but just couldn't see bringing myself to making that kind of expenditure. We were at Michael's and saw some creatively decorated holiday boxes and got the idea to make our own gifts. With about $50 worth of candy from Costco and a going out of business sale at Garden Ridge, we got 25 gifts for under $100. I did spend another $75 on Richmond calendars and added that item to several of my stops. I can tell you the personal touch was well received and I think I did well cost wise. I would heartily suggest it for your business and expect to do it again later in the year as well as thinking about a mid-year round as well. Bottom line: You don't have to spend a lot to say, "Thank you". |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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| Starting Jan. 24, the Glen Allen Exchange Club will be meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:30 at JJ McFarley's in the CrossRidge Shopping Center on Staples Mill Road. We are a networking group and will also be offering helpful information on marketing, human resources, finances, as well as community issues. We have been helping sponsor an Armed Forces Day celebration and will continue to do so. (This year it is on May 17). Call me to discuss. We have identified over 1200 businesses in the 23060 and 23059 zip codes and will be contacting them about this opportunity. MD |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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| Hope the year is off to a good start for you. One of my New Year's resolutions is to make better use of this avenue of communication. Everyday I am bombarded with helpful information to pass on. Unfortunately, the good "stuff" is often buried under a pile of useless materials. I will endeavor to sift through it and an pass it on. "Tune in" on a regular basis and I'll do the best I can to help you find ways to promote yourself and establish your identity. All the best in this new year. Matt D. |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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Several people have asked me about holiday gifts. Yesterday we placed an order for umbrellas for a local manufacturing facility and they are certainly a good holiday gift in light of the recent heavy rains. See www.aaaumbrella.com for one good source with a good variety to pick from. I suggest the golf umbrellas and like the automatic ones. It is a big help when you are getting out of your vehicle with an armload of stuff to pop it open first before the rain hits. Double ribbed umbrellas are nice as well with the winter wind we see in Central Virginia. Also good is desk top items and my old standby, at www.elramcorp.com have a good variety and will do as few as 12 items with an imprint. I was amazed that someone asked me to suggest items in the $200 range. Seen them in catalogues often but never expected to be asked. Good thing I don't throw any catalogue out. See www.andrewphilips.com for very nice leather goods. There is a clearace section with some very nice values. Will keep adding ideas as I see them. Halloween is here, time to get moving on this. M |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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I don't do may trade shows and the ones I do are usually very short and inexpensive. The VA Dept. of Business Assistance held a good one Friday and did a good job attracting new business owners. I heard some interesting business concepts. I wish all of them well and will help with marketing as much as I can. "Welcome" to those of you who are now subscribers who were at the show.
A couple of quick comments:
Most have a business plan but I encouraged them to have equal investment in a marketing plan and the few i talked to didn't. Plan where you are going and who are you going to talk to in the first 90 days of your business and you will be well on the way to success. Need help getting started? Imagine you died. Who would be there to say "Good bye". That's who you need to see. They may not all be able to help you, but may know people who can.
Do "personal marketing" with a leave behind and if you leave something more than a business card, they will be more likely to remember to pass your name along. The "things to do" list and grocery list I had on display are good expamples. See www.tradenetpublishing.com for them and other ideas. Click on "catalog".
The goal in every business should be to take the mundane, routine, and every day and make it memorable. Disney did it for amusement parks and you can do it for your venture. I am convinced the key is attitude. Think daily how you can make like interesting, fun, and a thrill for others and your efforts will not be in vain. More later on this issue.
Have a great day. M |
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| Posted by Matt Davidson at | | | |
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