I just returned from Palm Springs where I spoke at the Western Home Furnishings Association's annual conference on how retailers can increase their sales through networking and encouraging their staff to network. Fellow speakers and friends Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz, who wrote an excellent book for salespeople called Go for No!, invited me to dinner at the renowned LG's Prime Steakhouse. I had a delicious rib eye steak but it was the smart marketing that will make the meal unforgettable.
Richard and Andrea bought me a set of four steak knives with the LG logo etched on the blades. Now, every time I eat steak at home I'll be reminded of the wonderful meal I had in Palm Springs. Surely, when I go back to the area, I'll stop at LG's for one of their great steaks.
I have a jar on my desk full of pens with business logos plastered on them. I barely use them since I do almost all my writing on the computer. I wonder how many billions of dollars a year companies spend on putting their logos on pens that never get used. Instead, businesses should learn from LG's. It make much more sense for companies to get their logos in front of people when they are engaged in an activity related to core products or services.
There are many outside-the-box promotional products that relate to your business which your customers would love. It's worth finding a promotional products provider with creative flair who can help you find unique items that will make your customers say "wow." I turn to Steven Lutz of Lutz & Company in Portland (503-880-2413) for all my promotional product needs. He's a smart marketer who will brainstorm with you to identify innovative products that he can source at reasonable prices.
Yes we had a great dinner! The other thing we like about what LG's has done is that they are offering these knives at an incredible price. This super-high quality set of 4 steak knives is $25 but could sell for $100! But the goal is to give an amazing value and get something in return too - their knives in the kitchens of their customers!
Posted by: Andrea | May 10, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Good point on the value of the knives vs. the actual price for which they're sold. When you compare the cost of one ad that LG's buys, which appears one day and is gone the next, to the lifespan of the steak knives, it's clear that the steakhouse is making a savvy marketing investment.
Posted by: Patrick Galvin | May 11, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Patrick, Your comments about the steak knifes is exactly the message I have been trying to get across to my customers for years. Useful, quality, targeted promotional products will be kept for many years. When someone at your house needs a steak knife they will probably say "Give me an LG Steak knife". Particularly if your have other knifes. Larry Margolis, Support Marketing Services.
Posted by: Larry Margolis | June 14, 2007 at 01:56 PM