Nelson Mandela's Insight to Guide Us In 2014

When reading about Nelson Mandela last December, one quote stood out, at a particularly challenging moment for me in business. I thought I would share this because when I repeated this quote at a small gathering, it seemed to resonate with everyone in the room. This is from Bill Keller's December 6 New York Times obituary:

Tthe question was put to Mr. Mandela in an interview for this obituary in 2007 "after such barbarous torment, how do you keep hatred in check?"  Mandela's answer was almost dismissive: "Hating clouds the mind. It gets in the way of strategy. Leaders cannot afford to hate."

May we take these words in 2014 and strategize our way to success. 

HERE’S OUR ALL-STAR LINEUP FOR THE TOP 10 MOST THOUGHTFUL GIFTS OF 2013

THESE GIFTS ALL SAID THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IMPORTANT TO THE GIVERS. THEY ALSO CONTINUED TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR THESE CLIENTS. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

1. FOR STUDENTS NOT GOING AWAY FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY:  One college gave them blankets so that they would have a warm and cozy feeling from the school.  And when they use their blanket, it will hopefully continue to give those students a warm and cozy feeling – even in their alumni years.
2.  THANK YOU TO CLIENTS: A French Bank gave Michelin Restaurant Guides to their clients in each of the US cities that Michelin covers. “Parfait” as a gift to use continually all year long.
3. THANK YOU FOR A DONATION: One college gave out a small bag of jelly beans to thank anyone who gave to their fund raising drive. Who doesn’t love jellybeans? They re-ordered 3 times.
4.  THANK YOU FOR A YEAR’S BUSINESS GIFT BASKETS: Both an elevator company and an investment house gave generous gift baskets that their clients’ offices could share.  ”Nothing like spreading it around” to reinforce the clients’ good will.
5.  NICE OUTERWEAR – An HVAC company gave their staff particularly nice polo shirts and woven button-down shirts that they could wear to represent their company in the best light possible. 
6.  SUPPORTING A GREEN INITIATIVE: An international bank put their money behind their values and gave all their staff mugs and other drinkware, eliminating wasteful (and expensive) disposable cups    Employee feedback was very appreciative.
7.   HIGH CLASS MEMORABILIA: An international investment bank brought in high profile speakers , took their guests’ pictures with them and put those pictures into  unimprinted silver picture frames. The value of that gift? Priceless.
8.  GIFTS TO CHILDREN IN AFRICA: This is just nice: A nursing school gave out medically themed school supplies to children in Africa to support a medical awareness program.
9.   THANK YOUS TO TIME SHARE PEOPLE: A resort gave corkscrews to time share guests so that they could further enjoy their time at the resort  and then  take them home to keep the good times flowing .
10.  CELEBRATING MEMBERSHIP IN A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION- The leader of this organization gave lovely crystal awards to members who had achieved the most improvement and/or seniority in this organization. The awards are an ongoing source of pride while reinforcing commitment to their membership. 

Nancy Larick Speaks Out on Brand Name T-Shirts: Not All T-Shirts Are Created Equal

American Apparel, Bella, Canvas, Hanes, Champion, Gildan,….so many brands…which one should I buy…when does brand name matter?

Clients often ask me if they should buy a name brand when selecting a tee shirt. Quality, style, and fabric matter, but often, so does price.  Evaluate how the tee shirt is being used: is it for an event, to create awareness for a new product or brand, or is it a form of recognition? How many times will the tee shirt be used? Will the client be best served with a basic tee shirt? Or, will the client want their shirt to be worn as many times as possible, thereby showing their brand as much as possible?  Answering these questions helps us determine which brand and price point to select.

In the case of a university fundraising campaign, the extra $1.00 spent on their tee shirts reaped dividends. They sold the tee shirts as a thank you for a contribution. The Development Office invested in a soft, stylish unisex Canvas tee shirt and it worked! The campaign exceeded expectations generating more money than originally anticipated. They now have placed their third reorder.

Does brand make a difference? If you're not sure which brand to choose, ask Larick Associates or your professional promotional consultant.

Here are 3 brands that reveal differences in the t-shirt market:

Item #QLKII-HQSRK Alternative Unisex  3.7 oz. Dean Slub Crew Shirt

Item #FNKHC-GDXUU Canvas Unisex Jersey Tee

Item # ZGLNG-IFUTO
Bella + Canvas Unisex Short Sleeve V-Neck Tee Shirt

For more information, please click on their respective links.

The Added Value of a Promotional Products Professional or When a Giveaway Becomes a Throwaway

When I pitch a new client I am often confronted with the question of why do I need a professional product professional? What added value do I bring to the table? Let me answer those two questions with two recent examples that could have been handled better.

Client A attended a high-level networking event where a promotional pen was distributed. Client A liked the pen and wanted to write with it. It didn’t work. After trying unsuccessfully to make it work, he threw it out. That’s a wasted promotional gift: money literally thrown into the garbage. My client was left with his negative experience, not an effective advertising gift. Professionals who know their products save clients time and money in a world of endless products. Professionals come armed with expert information and an ability to represent the client’s brand in the best way possible and could have advised this advertiser to make a better choice.

Client B recently told me about a gift he received from a vendor. This client awarded his vendor a $30,000 contract. The vendor thanked my client with a $5.00 gift card. My reaction much like my client’s was better not give anything than the wrong gift. A gift of gratitude can be a very powerful tool when used appropriately. A thank you gift represents your company’s image and should be a genuine reflection of appreciation. The wrong gift makes the wrong impression.

At Larick Associates, as with other professionals, it is our job to know which products will get you the best results!

Would Phil Mickelson Wear a Generic Golf Shirt?

Then why should your clients?

When you give a brand name gift, it demonstrates how much you value your clients.  While clients will certainly appreciate any gift, a brand name item says a lot about you… and your company.

Adidas Cap

Izod Shirt

One of our financial clients recently chose an Izod Pique Polo shirt over a less expensive item.  Why? Izod is the original, gold standard of polo shirts -- an established name, high quality and impressive.  By spending a few dollars more, our client reaped the dividend of the brand’s image.  

It’s still golf season.  Why not let us show you how Name Brand Golf Attire such as Ashworth, Cutter and Buck and Izod, Greg Norman and Adidas  are names that will “wow” your clients?