So many things we see are on a screen, lacking depth and texture. Online we are bombarded by ads and all types of clickbait competing for our attention that we may be somewhat desensitized.
Magnets may seem “quaint,” but they are still quite the viable vehicle for your clients’ ad messages. And now, like our cellphones, magnets also are multitasking, making them more appealing and relevant.
“I believe you need additional features on the magnet to ensure that it gets used and the advertisers get their return on their investment,” opines Gwen Brey of Beacon Promotions. For example, she says, all of Beacon’s magnetic items have other features besides the magnet, such as a bottle opener, jar opener, clip or a scissor. “All of our items include other useful features. I think you’ll continue to see that the advertisers want more from their magnet.”
“If you’re going to present a magnet as part of a promotion,” make it a useful magnet,” emphasizes Josette Bosse, program manager of Bay State Specialty Company. “One that can hold things, clip things, and open things, such as our Multi-Use Magnetic Clip Bottle Opener (#K289), which allows the user to clip notes and coupons on the refrigerator, has a handy bottle opener for fast action and a pen clip for jotting notes.”
Beth Friese, marketing services manager for Fey Promo/Fey Industries, asserts that magnets continue to be an excellent product to promote a business because of where it is used most commonly – the kitchen, specifically the central point of most kitchens, the refrigerator. And it’s useful. “By choosing useful graphics such as a calendar, emergency numbers or helpful tips, the magnet and its promotional message will be viewed often,” she states.
Chalkboard magnets have been trending in 2018, says Friese, and these also pull double duty. The chalkboard magnets have the look and feel of a chalkboard and come with a white liquid chalk pen and an adhesive clip. Fey Promo’s Chalkboard Magnetic Calendars have the look and feel of a chalkboard and come with a white liquid chalk pen and an adhesive clip. Choose a small size with an attached calendar for a quick giveaway, or make a bold statement with a jumbo stock graphic calendar that is re-usable with write-on dates and a shopping or task list. These chalkboard magnets are suitable for promotions in restaurants, schools, and sports, for example.
Another multi-functional magnet is Fey Promo’s Outdoor Magnet/Sked Combo, a 2-in1 outdoor magnet. The magnetic sked (schedule) comes with a choice of an additional square or round car magnet to promote a team or company, Friese suggests. The Sked Combo helps keep track of game schedules plus shows off team spirit with the additional car magnet included. This product can be sold for sports teams, schools and universities, bands, and clubs. Or, use as a standard calendar for restaurants, cause awareness organizations, and any other business “that wants their message seen 365 days a year with the calendar and bonus exposure with the magnetic car sign,” she describes.
Friese adds that to make the magnets fun and appealing, there are many unique shapes, sizes and graphics to choose from, but, vibrant, eye-catching, unique pictures will have the most impact. With process-color printing available for magnets, the opportunities are limitless to create promotional magnets that appeal to everyone. “Vibrant colors and photographs are on the trend,” she says. “The opportunities are limitless on how to make your message attract attention.” Fey Promo’s magnets, she describes, are printed with its exclusive ColorVastTM process-color printing that showcases the design and imprint.
Full-color has been very popular on magnets, Brey agrees. “The beauty of these products is that they will fit in with most any market; agriculture, automotive, energy, finance, healthcare, insurance, hospitality, real estate and so many more,” she comments.
Many other suppliers provide a variety of magnets, and at a low cost, they can be used as freebies, such as an appointment reminder, a thank-you for a service (appliance repair, carpet cleaner, etc.), and as a trade or consumer show giveaway.
CASE STUDIES:
Gwen Brey of Beacon Promotions: “A heating and air conditioning company wanted an inexpensive, but useful product that could be handed out at the community home show. The company used the magnetic bottle opener coaster (#HW47BC). With the magnetic back and large imprint area, they were placed on the refrigerator and became a constant advertisement. Plus with the additional coaster function, the advertiser got even more ad exposure. The three in one magnetic bottle opener coasters were so popular that the company reordered them and used them as a leave-behind ‘business card’ at every home where they made a service call.
“Whether it is the kids’ artwork, work schedule, appointment cards, etc. we all need clips to keep on the refrigerator. A local appliance repair company handed the GP100 clip out at the local home show. The clip is kept and used in a spot that is seen daily - thus keeping the company’s name top of mind whenever appliance repair work is needed.”