Should The U.S. Extend Its Helping Hand To The World

The ongoing economic threat has pushed America to reconsider its worldwide financial aid when things at home front are looking bleak. Many believe that the Federal Government should take cognizance of the fact that economic hardships are growing for Americans and home issues should top the priority list for any policy formulation. However, looking at history, it was never in the American spirit to ignore things even at the darkest hour, even in times like the Great Depression or economic struggle that would otherwise affect general life. The American spirit of courage, sacrifice, and passion to bring a change has always won and survived the onslaught of economic turmoil.

Fact is that you can help others when you yourself are strong enough to survive. Is US fit to help others? With an unemployment-rate of 9.2 percent in June 2011, and the Great Recession in 2008 unemployment is still a massive problem. The Federal Government’s unemployment benefit schemes are just a Band-Aid and no lasting solution to the problem. The ever-growing trade deficit is a perennial concern along with the surging Chinese economy. Moreover, the valuation of Chinese currency (kept artificially low) is further affecting the American Dollar. With all this going on, critics believe America should hold back its humanitarian aid to the world.

It is worth mentioning that even with the global economic crisis, an average American still has a better lifestyle than his counterpart anywhere else in the world. People in third world countries and in Africa still don’t have access to basic amenities like pure drinking water, proper education and still fighting with diseases that have a cure. The counter-argument is that helping others is not all about resources. All it takes is courage, sacrifice, and a solemn obligation towards building a bigger community. The American dream is characterized by equality, freedom of living, and upliftment of communities worldwide.

However, there is another school of thought—one that believes the world is no longer taken in by American philanthropy and there are countries which don’t like America meddling in their internal affairs. This faction says that instead of trying to help others, America should focus on its own affairs.

These debates are never-ending. We just wait and watch—how much of these donations will affect the home economy and will the US economy improve with the immediate suspension of these aids?

The Progressive Evolution That Made Promotional Items Effective Marketing Tools

Giving away promotional products to loyal customers, recognizing an employee’s effort or expressing gratitude to someone you really care about, as a subtle way of marketing, is something that has become the norm for businesses universally.

However, this marketing methodology has its roots back in the golden pages of history. During the inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the U.S. on April 30, 1789, promotional items were used to good advantage back then just as they are today to promote an idea, a cause, an individual or a group of people.

 

This idea was further boosted during the latter part of 1800 when business enterprises realized the benefits that could be garnered by distributing promotional products—like shot glasses given away to customers. Eventually their business grew both in revenue and volume.

Initially promo items like fans, bags, and calendars were used. However, the exponential growth of industry competition made people bring in some innovative ideas like imprinting company logos, taglines on these items and it was observed that their business gained better market visibility. Thereafter, promotional giveaways like corporate gift items have emerged as reliable and measurable methods of marketing that promises a better brand recall.

So if you are still biting your nails, then we would recommend you go with this marketing strategy and give your brand a new lease of life. Check out this study conducted by ASI just to understand how promotional items are received in the market and by the end-users.

Here it goes:

  • 85% respondents could recall from whom they have received promotional gifts—better Brand Recall.
  • 24% are ready to do business with the advertiser they received the items from—better Business Prospect
  • 62% already had done business with the advertisers they received gifts from—measurable ROI from Promotional Items

So if you would like to propel your business to a new dimension, consider promotional items as your perfect marketing tools.

Super Bowl 2012—lights, camera and commercials

Millions of eyes were geared up to capture every single minute of the action that would be broadcast during the grandiose Super Bowl XLVI held at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, February 5, 212.

As per the market observers, irrespective of which team won the trophy, the real time game winner would be promotional companies, which printed more than 25,000 T-shirts overnight. Report released by the ASI suggests that hundreds of promotional companies worked during the wee hours of Sunday to get those much-awaited promotional items out there–T-shirts, jackets, and other logoed items.

According to Timothy M. Andrews, president and CEO of ASI, the $18.5 billion promotional industry churns out huge sales during such national events, most of which comes from promotional t-shirts which are a favorite with football fans. Leading sports stores were seen running back and forth in the wee hours of the morning to ensure their promotional apparel was ready in time for the event.

Apart from the promotional industry, other businesses also scored quite well in successfully running their own campaigns during the big event. The auto sector giant GM won a standing ovation from the audience for their commercial. The ad showed a Chevy Silverado surviving the Armageddon which was based on 2012 apocalypse of the Mayan calendar. While some outperformed their competitors, the latter went home with gloomy faces. Giants like Coca Cola stuck to their old themes and failed to win over 100 million estimated spectators, the largest TV audience of super bowl 2012, in the US.

Though several brands stayed out of the limelight, they made an impression on their audiences by sheer brand power that they command in the market. Even so, promotional industry stole the show—as it does each year because people love freebies.

Brands That Might Not See The Light Of 2013

A brand must deliver its promise. That is what guarantees its survival in the long run and the company must keep its brand alive in market memory, which otherwise is short. Your competition never sleeps. A little over-confidence, one misstep and your competition will supersede you easily. The moment that happens you are history.

There are several brands that we always thought were invincible, but eventually wrote their own epitaphs. And, the demise of several ‘big boys’ continues to make headlines…even into 2012. Take a look at who’s likely to bite the dust

Research In Motion–Blackberry

Blackberry—once the most popular smartphone in the world—was the pride of Research In Motion (RIM). But RIM has seen a steady and sharp decline in sales and earnings over the past two years. It has lost its ability to sustain operations independently. Its competition soon overtook it—Apple’s iPhone and the Google Android together brought down Blackberry’s market share to 10% in 2011. Rumors are rife now that several companies are eyeing it for a takeover, Microsoft, Amazon, and Samsung being named being amongst them.

 

 

American Airlines

The airline along with parent company AMR went bankrupt on November 29, 2011. At that time it claimed that it would restructure its costs and continue normal business operations. However, this cutting costs is exactly what might tighten the noose on the company. The grapevine has been whispering that US Airways, Delta, and private equity firm TPG are getting their bids ready for .

 

 

 

Kodak

The once top-notch film company is looking to either shut shop or sell—including its printing and digital photography operations and metamorphose into a patent licensing company. Kodak revenues fell from $1.756 billion to $1.462 billion last year, and lost $222 million. It then managed to get a $950 million debtor-in-possession credit facility and the company claimed it could keep itself afloat during bankruptcy. But, this seems unlikely and Kodak is certain to perish.

 

 

 

OWN

The queen of shows, Oprah Winfrey, was who viewers turned their televisions sets on to see, but they scarcely got to see her after The Oprah Winfrey Network entered 85 million homes in 2011. Winfrey didn’t even make an appearance until the start of 2012 and most of the program line-up failed to impress viewers. TRPs took a heavy toll and the 1 million audience at its launch crashed to a sad 300,000! Discovery Creations the partner of OWN says it does not see itself supporting a venture that is unlikely to be profitable in the long run. So it will soon be ‘bye-bye’ OWN!

New Year Top-Selling Promotional Items—Market By Brand Insistence

Promotional products that guarantee marketing success and help increase ROI are the ones that companies choose year after year for advertising campaigns. Why these products work each time is because they are effective as promotional tools. People recall the advertiser with them more than they do with other promotional products, and they retain these promotional giveaways.

Promotional pens are top-selling promotional products that customers respond well to. Pens are high-utility business gifts. They are functional and offer an optimum print area for logos to be imprinted on. When you imprint your company logo or message on the barrel of a promotional pen, it is visible clearly to its user. As your customers use the imprinted pen on a day-to-day basis, they and people around them are reminded of your brand. This is marketing by brand insistence.

The same holds true for promotional bags and totes. By giving away these advertising specialties, you are gradually moving your customer from brand awareness to brand insistence. By frequent use of these promos, you are subtly conditioning the customer to choose your brand over and above your competitors’. With a low cost-per-impression for both promotional items, they are perfect promotional tools for businesses of all sizes.