Jan 25, 2017

Tips for Winning Big at Your Next Trade Show


Hi everyone, Ping here. It’s Q1, and you know what that means: it’s the beginning of another tradeshow season! There’s no better time of year to get your brand in front of the masses, meet tons of new contacts, and show potential customers how you can help make their lives better.

We at The Icebox pride ourselves on being experts in the tradeshow sphere, and I’ve got some of my top tips for tradeshow success to share with you.

Swag

Promotional products help build brand awareness and have a much longer shelf life than any other form of advertising. If you’re looking for greater ROI from your next event, consider offering takeaway items. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when selecting the perfect giveaway.
  • The promo item is the true staple of any tradeshow booth, but one size may not fit all. Consider having multiple tiers of promo items. You could have a small, more cost-conscious giveaway for anyone who passes by your booth, and have another more high-value item to present to visitors who show greater interest in your products or services.
  • Ensure your booth will be remembered by being unique with your giveaways. If you want your business to stand apart, get creative with your promo items. Lucky for you, The Icebox has a team of Creative Experts to help you drum up some unconventional ideas that only we can provide. Contact us to get started!
  • Order your promo items liberally. It’s true, people love a good freebie, especially if it’s super cool (like I know yours will be), so prepare for a run on your giveaway item. Our team of Creative Experts can help you determine an appropriate quantity to order based on the expected attendee count of your event.
Your Booth
Of course, promo items alone are not enough to get people to visit your booth. Catch the eye of passersby and set your booth up for success with these tips!
  • Set your reps apart from tradeshow attendees so visitors know who to approach when they enter your booth. Logo shirts, pins, uniforms, custom clipboards, special badge holders or branded name tags are all great ways to set your employees apart.
  • Keep your brand at the forefront of your booth design. Whether it be through signage, banners, interactive graphics or display screens, ensure that your logo is prominently displayed and the message of what you do is quickly and easily communicated to anyone who stops by your booth. Visitors should be able to determine who you are and what you do within three seconds.
  • Keep it clean! During busy moments, your booth may fill with people. Keep the space organized and tidy with only the essential elements, so there’s plenty of room for potential customers!
  • Keep your booth open. Avoid placing a table at the front of your booth. This blocks the entrance and may feel uninviting to potential visitors. Use a small podium instead so that attendees can move freely in and out of your booth.
  • Be prepared. Don’t forget to pack a mobile office with basic supplies you might need during the show like tape, note pads, a stapler, and of course, business cards.
Tradeshows can be a fruitful way to drum up new business and build brand awareness. With a little booth preparation, and the perfect promo item giveaway, you can set yourself up for tradeshow success. If you’re looking for a partner who can get you prepared, look no further than the Creative Experts here at The Icebox. Our team stays up-to-date on the latest and greatest giveaway items, and we can help you create an exceptional strategy for your next show. Contact us to learn more!
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Jan 15, 2017

Employee Appreciation: Show Your Gratitude with Cool Swag


Thinking Outside the Box to Build Loyalty Among 
Millennials


Hi everyone, it’s Ping here. I love coming to work every day. The work we do here at The Icebox is highly fulfilling and fun. But do you want to know the number one reason I love working here? My colleagues are always letting me know how appreciated I am. It sounds silly, but those little pats on the back add up over time and give this ice-cold snowbird the warm fuzzies inside. I’m not alone, A study by Cicero Group shows that 50% of the employees surveyed believe being thanked by managers not only improved their relationships, but also built trust with their higher ups.

This mindset is especially important when working with millennials. Millennials were raised in an economy where companies like Apple and Google reign supreme. This generation can easily navigate a competitive environment built on innovation and growth. While this makes them valuable when driving companies toward new goals, it also makes them susceptible to turnover, as they constantly strive to grow and move up. The average tenure of a millennial at a company is two years; so how do you create loyalty among these millennials from the beginning? Show them that you see them as more than just a cog in a big machine by recognizing their efforts!

Millennials possess a keen ability to innovate and think outside of the box to solve problems. They’re known for fresh ideas, so an ordinary gift won’t always cut it for this innovative crew. They want products and gifts that align with their ways of thinking and lifestyles. When they can have state-of-the-art technology outside of the office, they don’t want to switch gears inside of the office. Imagine the impressions that your brand would receive from giving a top performer a traveling Bluetooth speaker, versus a plaque or certificate. By giving quality gifts, you are building brand awareness and brand loyalty simultaneously.




Here’s another great idea: why just show employee appreciation at the end of the year or after a milestone is met? Why not start the appreciation from day one with a welcome gift for new employees? Let your new hires know up front what they can expect from you as an employer—gratitude for a job well done.

When you show your employees that you are as invested in them as they are in your business, it leaves a lasting impression. This method of employee engagement may cost more than bringing in bagels to the break room on a Friday morning (although I also recommend this—delicious), but a reusable vacuum insulated water bottle will stick around a lot longer!







For more great ideas for using swag to show appreciation to your employees, reach out to our Creative Solutions Experts. We know the millennial market better than anyone, and we'll show you the latest tech and trends to make any employee feel valued!
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