Do you remember learning about fixed costs and variable costs in high school economics? Fixed Costs (FC) + Variable Costs (VC) = Total Cost (TC)

In short, the total cost of a project is comprised of fixed costs that are independent of output and variable costs that vary with output. 

Why the lesson in economics? The reason I bring this up is to help explain certain aspects of promotional products that people sometimes find unfavorable. Chiefly, order minimums and set up charges.

We often have clients request a small number of an item, only to be discouraged by a large minimum. Minimums are in place to protect the manufacturer's profitability. If they incur X amount of start up costs to burn a screen or create a die, set up the machine and prepare the order, they have to recoup that cost in some way, or it makes no sense for them to take on the project.

Does that mean you have to scrap the idea when you had your heart set on branded reusable bags for a 50 person event? Absolutely not.

It might just mean you have to think creatively and use the same item on multiple occasions.

Here's a creative example from client Victory Fund. At a brunch event in San Diego, they used branded Flexi Vases to hold flowers as a centerpiece for each table. Flexi Vases are an inexpensive item, so you can't just run 25 of them for each of your 25 tables. No, a larger order was placed, and the extras were either stored for future brunches or gifted to guests. 

Another good example is paper napkins. Instead of ordering the minimum for a small event, think ahead to your needs throughout the year. Place one large order at the start of the year, and reduce your inventory through events, cocktail hours, and breakfast or lunch sales meetings with clients. 

Ready for another trade show focused post? I bet you are! And if you aren't? Well, I'm going to talk about it anyways.

If you've been reading our blog for a while or have worked with Sonic Promos before, you'll know that we really emphasize practical and meaningful promotional materials. Why?

One of the primary advantages of promotional products over other forms of advertising media is that they have a relatively low cost per impression (CPI). The longer a person holds onto your product, the greater their exposure to your brand. According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), the average CPI of an advertising specialty item is $0.004 (source).

So, to get the biggest return on your investment, you want your promotional piece A) to be used for a long time and/or B) to be used often. Hence why practical and meaningful choices are so important.

When it comes to trade show/conference materials, one of our favorite concepts is the custom kit. Custom kits are practical, meaningful, and easily adaptable to a variety of events/occasions. We've done hangover kits, back office pain kits, first aid kits, outdoor kits, safe sex kits... you name it!

In last week's project round up, I gave you a sneak peek of PCMA's survival kits for a conference in Las Vegas next month. At this point, production on each component is complete and we're wrapping up fulfillment.

We've gone from this...

To this.

Nice, right?

When you're confined to a convention center or conference hall for multiple hours per day, basic toiletries and snack foods become prized items. Nothing is more obnoxious than a grumbling stomach, bad breath or a mild headache when you're trying to absorb material and network with colleagues and peers. 

Not everyone has the foresight or pocket space to pack these essentials, so do your guests a favor and consider providing the goods yourself. 

They'll appreciate the practical and meaningful gesture.

Want to learn more about our fulfillment services for your own project? Contact us at info@sonicpromos.com. 

Saturday afternoon, you would have found me browsing antique stores in Navasota, Texas. I was on the hunt for a sofa table when I discovered this little gem instead.



An identification and value guide for McDonald's promotional drinkware? Can you believe it?!

I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. McDonald's has produced thousands and thousands of promotional cups and collectibles; at some point they become rare and appreciate in value.



The items in this book are catalogued by campaign type and drinkware material. The page above shows some pieces that were made custom for various radio and TV stations across the country and around the globe. The tall mug at far right, bottom row, has a two-sided imprint. "McDonald's Guam" on one side and "Hit Radio 100, Guam's Party Station KOKU FM Hagalma, Guam, Malafunkshun" on the other. I'm not sure I understand the humor there... The author values this piece at $15.00 to $25.00, since it's a very limited edition.





These sports drink containers and Happy Meal paper cups also caught my attention. The little soccer ball cup was done for the USA-hosted FIFA World Cup in 1994, and it made me realize just how intertwined McDonald's is with recent American history. They've been a part of so many important events!

The paper cups featuring popular late nineties characters made me nostalgic for happy meals as a kid. Do you recall the characters' names?

Anyways, I found this book interesting, and I hope you do too. Think I should tweet about this under #McDStories? It would certainly be more positive than some of the other Twitter attention they've gained as of late. Yikes!

A few weeks ago, I met with a client to discuss upcoming projects and the company's event schedule for 2012. Not surprisingly, our conversation quickly sidetracked to more personal topics: Kindles, time at the beach, holiday plans and family.

Honestly, I love it when this happens in a meeting. I always learn something useful.

My client has a young child with autistic tendencies, and at one point we found ourselves discussing teaching techniques used in school to help children focus. Apparently, fidget toys and stress balls that get hands and fingers moving provide a calming influence to children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Toys are especially helpful in the classroom, as they help kids focus and absorb the lesson, without distracting other students. 



My client's son has had great success with this method. During our meeting, she politely asked that I keep her in mind should my desk become overcrowded with promotional toys and gadgets.

Of course my mind went to Sonic's trove of George Washington head stress balls. Although we had managed to find creative ways to "use" them, I felt their purpose would be better served in the little hands of history class students. A quick phone call and shipment later, and the squeeze toys had found a new home with a local special needs school.

Don't worry, we only sent the undecorated toys. Something tells me Pinhead Washington would do more harm than good.

You've heard me say it on this blog many times before... the primary advantage of a promotional product is its shelf life.

Other forms of advertising, like radio, billboards and TV, only offer you a matter of seconds in which to get your point across. When was the last time you made a stellar first impression in 30 seconds?

Promotional products, on the other hand, offer multiple opportunities to connect with your consumer. How many opportunities? Well, that really depends on the kind of item being used. A disposable coffee cup or an imprinted butter mint wrapper might only be in your target's hands for a matter of minutes.

Other products, like a T-shirt, travel mug or calendar, can buy you a year or even a decade of marketing potential.

A decade?

Oh, yes! Allow me to introduce you to the T-shirt quilt.



Have you seen these before? A friend introduced me to this concept a few years ago, and I stored the idea away in the recesses of my brain. Recently, while cramming yet another shirt into my already over-stuffed T-shirt drawer, I decided it was time to clean house and part with my beloved collection.

It surprised me to discover that there is an entire category of internet companies out there who will accept your old T-shirts and recycle them into a fabulous quilt or blanket. If that many companies are in business, there must be a large demand. Glad to know I'm not the only one who saves her old camp and race tees.



I received the completed quilt yesterday, and I can't stop looking at it. I'm elated with my purchase. I know that I'll treasure it for years to come.

So, what does this teach us about promotional marketing? It tells us that a T-shirt is sometimes much more than an article of clothing. That a brand is sometimes much more than a graphic design. Done correctly, promotional products can be memories.



When I look at my quilt, I don't just see a collage of event logos and corporate brands, I see myself singing and dancing in the rain with the Stones as a college freshman. I see my aunt and me walking arm-in-arm across the Avon 2-Day Breast Cancer Walk finish line. And I see myself frantically corralling unruly campers during a summer spent as a counselor with the Girl Scouts of Northen California.

Sure, I would have those memories with or without a T-shirt, but there's something special about being able to touch, smell, and feel those snapshots in time.

Even if I'm only able to use my blanket for a few more years, these brands have my support for life.