Silent communicators are as popular as ever. Stickers, magnets and buttons are used to tell others what’s important to us, and to a large extent who we are. From fundraising and awareness building, to comical sayings, to popular brand logos, these silent communicators are an easy and bright part of any promotional campaign.
And suppliers say that sales of these three products are up. In fact, Joe Durand of LarLu notes the company has had a “very strong year going on all three products. We have been positively impacted by the local and national elections where buttons and decals in particular are favorite products!”
Jennifer M. Hoyt of Stouse, LLC observes that sales for magnets, decals and labels are on the rise. “We’ve seen increases for these items across most vertical market segments over the last few years,” she reports. She adds that businesses spanning a wide variety of focus or specialty will use these products in a variety of ways. For example, a retail business uses labels for inventory as well as point-of-purchase applications. HVAC companies for example, often affix a decal on the furnace to provide the homeowner with warranty service or contact information. Other service companies or restaurants that deliver will give away magnetic business cards when they make house calls or deliver food.
“This is a great way to stay top of mind with their clients,” she says. “Schools and organizations use decals and bumper stickers to promote their school or event. Many use the back liner as advertising space and sell it to a local sponsor which helps to cover the cost of the printing and allows the distributor to provide the decal free of charge to a school or nonprofit. This is a win-win for schools and nonprofits that have very limited budgets.”
Josette Bosse of Bay State Specialty Company adds that magnetic clips would make a great promotion for schools because students can use them to keep important papers, including lunch menus, calendars, notices, schedules, and upcoming events, in view on the kitchen refrigerator. Physicians’ offices and other healthcare providers can give these away to patients who can use them to clip appointment reminder cards, information on vaccines, office hours and contacts. ”Magnetic clips for the refrigerator are the best because they provide a function that people appreciate (clipping an appointment card or a recipe), and they are always in view,” she says.
Hoyt advises to present more than one, because some bundling opportunities are sensible and attractive. For example, she offers, many service companies often give out both magnets and decals during service calls. Also, booster clubs give out membership packages that often contain a decal, membership card, license plate, and schedule magnet.
Buttons, explains Durand, are one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to communicate any message. “They are especially effective for retail applications because the customer views the message at point of purchase,” he describes. Also, hospitals love the Keepsake buttons for their maternity wing to give new mothers and family members; this is a perfect idea also for ob/gyn doctors. For a brand or business celebrating a silver anniversary, consider offering bright silver mylar buttons.
LarLu, Durand adds, will offer a new Fatheads® decals line in the new year. Fatheads are removable and reusable decal sheets, “and it is a strong brand that is popular with parents because they are safe on any surface,” he explains.
Here’s another idea: any client that wants to heavily promote a tagline or motto can combine buttons, decals, magnets and T-shirts, caps and tank tops, all emblazoned with just the phrase. It immediately sparks curiosity and questions, the answer to which is your client’s name – which comes across as an endorsement.
There are many ways to utilize buttons, decals and magnets, alone or in combination with numerous other promotional objects, and garments. Finding out what each client’s marketing and promotional goals may be for the upcoming year is a great start to figuring out when and how a magnet, button or decal may fit perfectly.
CASE STUDY
Joe Durant of LarLu: “A large, well-known amusement park is selling our mylar buttons and donating half the proceeds to pet rescue centers around the country. We believe this is a pretty cool idea, plus the margins are there to make the program a great success!”