JULY 22, 2011 · BY RICK ORNBERG

Know your target audience

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Globe in glass

     A local organization was looking for a small, inexpensive gift that they could present as a thank you to speakers that address thier group, so I did some research and found a nice little acrylic paperwieght with a world globe sealed within.

     With a laser etched logo on top, I thought,  it could have been a potentially appropriate speakers' gift for a civic club with global affiliations and worldwide activities. 

     I sent for a sample to check the product for overall quality, proper heft, and size. In a few days, the sample arrived (see photo).  When I took it out of the box, I noticed there was no need for the "Made in China" label on the bottom, as the little globe inside was sealed in place with Asia facing front with CHINA centered in bright yellow.  The US, along with the rest of North America was barely visible from the back of the item.

     Don't get me wrong, as I'm all for national pride, but it seems to me that if your target audience is on a completely opposite hemisphere of the planet, you might want to consider a slight twist on the axis during assembly.

     Half a planet is certainly a big enough target, don't you think?

ENLARGE [+]

trash can

MAY 27, 2011 · BY RICK ORNBERG

We no longer bid on promotional product orders! Here's why:

   Unless you’re a visitor from the planet Neptune everyone knows that you can always find stuff cheaper online. It’s something we learned quickly as internet based offerings continued to fill nationa...

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Two label rolls

MAY 13, 2011 · BY RICK ORNBERG

How to avoid buying promotional products: Sometimes

   OK, you’d think we’d be the least likely source for this topic, but let’s face facts: Sometimes there’s no budget, not enough lead time or too small of an immediate need for stuff with minimum quantity requirem...

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WTCbeam

APRIL 30, 2011 · BY RICK ORNBERG

World Trade Center beam segment

   As a retired firefighter, I took a short road trip back to my old firehouse in Des Plaines, IL to check out a new arrival at the kind invitation of Deputy Chief Ron Eilken. (Gee, I remember when he was an exceptional rookie. Now h...