This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...


... wallet/pocket-sized calendar cards with conversion charts on the reverse side for employees of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates.



... holiday cards and computer monitor calendar strips for CapRelo.



... and bright yellow T-shirts for the cast and friends of the Suessical Musical at JCC San Antonio.

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every Tuesday to see some of the work that's going on in our office.

In our line of work, we see cool products every day. We receive samples of said cool products just as often.

At first it's a really awesome job perk. During my first few months at Sonic, I shared the wealth and brought home goodies for my friends and family- tote bags, lanyards, pens and candy that would have otherwise ended up in the trash or donation pile. I still really enjoy never having to spend money on lip balm or notepads. 

A few months later, the novelty wore off and I stopped getting as excited about free samples. In a way, I've even become resistant to free samples. Every time a flexible flyer is offered to me at a sporting event or a branded hand towel is extended at the gym, I manage a polite nod and stuff my hands deeper into my pockets. I really don't mean to be rude or ungrateful. It's just that I already have ten back at the office!

The upside to this "problem"? It ensures that any product that actually catches my attention is something new and different. It's something that I want to share with my clients and friends because it's just that cool. You see where I'm going with this, don't you?

These three ingenious products are on my radar right now:

1. A Cell Phone Charger Stand
It's really amazing how often I use this thing. Just this weekend I was staying at a relative's house for Thanksgiving, and I couldn't find a good place to charge my phone. There was a free outlet against the wall, but I didn't want to leave my phone on the floor and risk it getting stepped on. Cell Phone Charger Stand to the rescue!



2. A Coffee Cup Stopper
Yes, I am aware that those little green sticks at the Starbucks counter are there for a reason, but I'm normally so lost in the moment of my first sip that I forget to grab a stopper on my way out the door. And now I have sticky drops of dried latte in my car's cup holder. It's really hard to clean that space too. I may or may not have already ordered a sample of the keychain stopper to prevent similar incidents in the future. I love that it's reusable too- less waste!



3. A Portable Purse Holder
Apparently these have been around for some time, so I'm a little late to the party. Even still, I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who will be as delighted to discover this gadget as I was. Have you ever read those terrifying consumer reports that list surprisingly germ-ridden objects and surfaces? Paper currency and airplane restrooms (duh) always seem to make the list, as does the bottom of your purse. Just think about the number of places you set it down...

This week at Sonic Promos...

We're in the holiday spirit! Well, considering a lot of our clients' holiday gifts require significant advance planning and production time, we've been in the holiday spirit since late September. But that's beside the point.

Wondering if that should be "besides the point"? I was too. Here's your answer.

For every gift idea that was chosen, at least five were not. That's a lot of ideas left on the table! Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Branded Gift Cards for Phone/MP3 Player/Laptop Skins

Custom skins are a really neat product, but it's not easy to do them as a gift for multiple individuals. It's nearly impossible to decide on one design that's going to suit everyone's unique taste, and you also don't know what kind of laptop or phone they use. A branded gift card is the perfect solution. Your branding goes on the card, and the recipient can redeem it for the skin of their choice.


2. A Customized Coffee Table Book

A good book has always been my go-to gift idea. More specifically, I like giving colorful coffee table books or cook books with beautiful photos- the kind that you would never buy for yourself but still enjoy having. Nowadays, there are customization options available that make books a good choice for branded, corporate gifts too. Choose a title that relates to your business or that would interest your client base, and decorate it with a custom belly band, book jacket, front cover imprint or insert page. I suggest a coffee table book, because it's something that the entire office can enjoy. Their clients will enjoy it too if it finds a home in the office's lobby or reception area.




3. Edible Gifts with a Leave-Behind

Food towers, chocolates and gourmet snacks are always a popular choice for corporate gifts. As employees sample the goods and ride their sugar high, your company's name will undoubtedly be the subject of positive chatter. The only downside to edible gifts? They get eaten! It's a good idea to include a branded piece- something more permanent than a card. We suggest an engraved cutting board, decorated drinkware or a small set of kitchen knives that will be be seen and used long after the last chocolate-covered almond is consumed.



Is your company still trying to decide on an end-of-year gift? Give us a call at 301.869.7800. We've got lots of creative ideas. Better yet, we have ideas that can be produced, packed and delivered before offices start to empty for the holidays!

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.

Driving home last night, I passed a Chick-fil-A restaurant and did a double take. The sign outside read- "Come in today for your 2012 cow calendar".

Now, I'm accustomed to reading fast food advertisements that boast hamburger creations eight patties in height, seasonal "crab" cake sandwiches or fifty-cent Flizzard milkshakes with chunks of Snickers and Reese's Pieces and whole cupcakes blended right in. But a calendar? Now that was something new.

Turns out it's not anything new. I'm just a little behind on this trend.





Chick-fil-A's cow calendars have been printed annually since 2007, and they are a wildly successful promotion for the fast food restaurant. Each year has a different theme, but the primary message never changes- eat more chicken. Customers will also find coupons inside that they can clip and redeem throughout the year to further support the cows.





I really love this idea. With one simple promotional piece, Chick-fil-A has taken their brand mascot outside the realm of television and billboard and placed it right in their customers' hands.

Brand mascots are highly effective marketing tools because they are relatable and memorable. Characters like Flo from Progressive Insurance, Mayhem from Allstate Insurance and the Old Spice Guy from, well, Old Spice, have a personality that we all either love or hate. We almost come to think of them as real people, and we talk about them with our coworkers and friends.
 
Did you see Mayhem's new commerical?

Did you see what the Old Spice Guy said to Alyssa Milano?

If a brand mascot becomes popular enough, it can create a new profit center for the company. Sure, Progressive makes the vast majority of its money by selling insurance policies, but they also now see some revenue from sales of Flo bobble head dolls. Likewise, Chick-fil-A earns its money selling fast food, but they can also count on their cows to bring in some additional moo-la. Heh.

In my opinion, a calendar is a much smarter choice of promotional product than a bobble head. It's more likely to be seen every day, and the concept can be reused year after year. A custom calendar is also much less expensive to manufacture, ship and distribute than a custom doll. Finally, it's easy to incorporate coupons into a calendar and thus track how effective the promotion is. Chick-fil-A will earn a profit from the sale of the calendar, will see increased food sales generated by the coupons, and will be able to ascertain if the promotion is profitable enough to continue in the future. Genius.

If you didn't pick up on my sarcasm earlier, I'm not a huge fan of fast food. I am a huge fan of good design, witty puns and effective promotional marketing, though. For those reasons, don't be surprised if you see a Chick-fil-A calendar hung above my desk next year.

This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...



... hooded zip and pullover sweatshirts with a distressed design, sold as a fundraiser for Matsunaga Elementary School.



... padfolios for Zalco Realty Inc.



... and Sonic-branded bookmarks and pedometers for the recent Pedorthic Footcare Association (PFA) symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seth distributed these items to build traffic for his speaking session titled "Are You Taking the Right Steps Toward Marketing Success?". 130 pieces were handed out, and 70 people attended the session.

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every Tuesday to see some of the work that's going on in our office.