Happy New Year! I hope you’ve enjoyed the holidays and are ready to make 2020 your best year ever! As you start a new decade, here are some powerful trends, some new-- some have been happening for the past few years that are sure to increase your sales now and into the future!
Clients Know More and Expect You to Know More. These days clients are more knowledgeable than ever. They have a plethora of choices when purchasing promo items. In order to stand out and become the vendor of choice you have to be better educated and have a more thorough understanding of your client’s business, their products, their end users and their marketing goals. If you want to increase your sales, become an expert in your client’s business.
More Demand for Sustainable Products. In the past few years, in many parts of the USA, we’ve seen a ban on plastic bags, plastic straws and plastic bottles. This trend is spreading across our nation and is here to stay! It’s not only good for the environment, it can help increase your promotional products sales. Marketing sustainable products such as reusable grocery totes, water bottles and straws can help boost your sales and align your company with like-minded businesses.
Podcasters and Promotional Merch. I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely hooked on podcasts. I love listening to them at the gym when I’m working out, or in my car on long drives. I’ve noticed that some of my favorite podcasters are now promoting their own line of promotional merchandise. With the proliferation of podcasters growing, there are opportunities for you to help provide promotional products to spotlight a podcaster’s brand.
Niche Marketing. You can’t be all things to all people, but you can be a star in your target market! When you have niche market expertise clients will seek you out. Contrary to popular belief, narrowing your market will not decrease your sales. If anything, niche marketing will bring you more opportunities and referrals. Plus, when you strategically use keywords that your target market is searching for, your website will come up higher in search engines.
Election Year Products. Advertising and promotional merchandise spending will be enormous during this election year. Regardless of which side of the political fence you’re on, there are opportunities to promote not just the candidates, but election year events and parties.
Quality, Safety and Value. With product recalls frequently in the news, and companies more concerned than ever about their reputation, quality, safety and value will continue to be of primary importance. Align your company with suppliers that adhere to safety and quality guidelines and the value that you bring to your clients can increase your sales.
An Enhanced Client Experience. These days, it’s easy to start a promotional products business, but not easy to be successful unless you provide a better client experience. Having a top-notch client focused website, sending a “welcome package” to all new clients, finding the right product to enhance your client’s marketing message, consistently providing order and tracking updates, taking care of any problems quickly and finding unique ways to thank your clients are just a few of the things you can do. I’m sure you can think of more. The important thing to remember is, when you make the experience of working with you and your company exceptional your clients wouldn’t dream of working with anyone else.
Here’s to following these trends, being well-informed, staying aware of what’s important to your clients and dramatically boosting your sales in 2020!
Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach, is a promotional products business expert, coach, and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher margins to better clients. Get a free special report: 10 Proven Ways to Thrive in Promotional Products at www.promobizcoach.com. Contact her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com