Product Placement in the Media

Dec

2009

Pink Gloves Dance: Can You Spot the Promotional Products?

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon sure knows how to get down and dance! They are the makers of this very popular YouTube video – Pink Gloves Dance.

It all started with a glove manufacturer, Medline Industries, which decided to make pink hospital gloves instead of green. For each case sold in the month of October, Medline donated $1 to breast cancer research.

St. Vincent decided that the more health care workers wear pink gloves, the more people would talk about breast cancer. More than 200 hospital staff volunteered to wear the pink gloves in a video. There are lab technicians, janitorial staff, kitchen staff, nurses and doctors all showing their moves dancing in the hospital.

There are lots of different promotional products available to help support various causes, and a few ideas are featured on the Pinnacle Promotions Promotional Marketing Calendar.

We even have a specific page dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month which provides several product ideas and marketing recommendations.

Can you spot the following promotional products in the video?

1) Flag
2) Scrubs
3) Lanyard
4) Doctor Jacket
5) Hawaiian Lei
6) Pink Umbrella

One of my favorite and most effective promotional products is the pink umbrella. While it’s raining as you walk through the town, your awareness message can be seen from so many people. I encouraged the use of a fold up umbrella to one of my non-profits last year for their campaign. They received such positive feedback that they decided to use umbrellas again this year!!

Nov

2009

Promotional Products at the Movies

So in case you haven’t heard, New Moon is out today.

For any of you that don’t know, New Moon is the second – highly anticipated – installment of the Twilight Saga.

Centering on star-crossed vampire/human lovers, Edward and Bella, the Twilight Saga has quickly grown from a favorite young adult series to a nationwide phenomenon.

I have to admit, I am a pretty serious fan.

Yes, I’ve read the books. Yes, I own Twilight the movie. Yes, I feel a little guilty. And no, I’m not a stalker of any of the cast members. I just happen to really love fictional/fantasy movies and books, and this series fell right into place among the other witches, wizards and romance (no not harlequin) that decorates my bookshelves. I mean, who doesn’t need an escape from the real world now and then?

So even with all the hullabaloo focused around the release of New Moon, I cannot help but be amazed by the multitude of promotional products that are being used to generate buzz about the movie. Everywhere I turn there is another poster, another magazine, another t-shirt, another candy bar featuring the cast’s young faces!

I am amazed and absolutely in awe of the promotions for this movie. While it may be next to impossible to generate this type of excitement about a typical product or service, the power of promotional merchandise cannot be denied.

This movie has gone far and above the typical promotions surrounding a new release.

Everywhere I turn, there is an image of Edward or Jacob. “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” t-shirts are being worn by millions. There are thousands upon thousands of imprinted items available for “Twi-hards” to display publicly their eternal love for these mystical characters.

This my friends, is one of the greatest promotions I have ever seen.

This movie has successfully surpassed all previous records for advanced ticket sales, and is quickly on the way to other box office records. As I said, the books are great! The first movie was definitely good. But is New Moon record numbers good?

I’m sure everyone in the world of marketing and advertising can attest that you should never underestimate the buying power of teens and young adults. But I have to think. Would these numbers have ever come close without the posters, tees and ringtones – and of course Rob Pattinson’s appearance on the cover of oh so many magazines?

I think not.

So for all of my fellow Twilight fans out there, here’s the trailer to the movie to hold you over until you make it to the theater – that is of course if you haven’t already seen the movie!

Oh, and who plans to purchase an aluminum water bottle with Edward or Jacob on it? Anybody?

Nov

2009

Promotional products are having a wild rumpus in Hollywood

Promotional products in the entertainment industry are no longer limited to Hannah Montana beach towels. Hollywood is finding more and more that, in order to make money off big-budget films, they’ve got to have the swag.

Been in an Urban Outfitters store recently? Partnering with Warner Brothers and director Spike Jonze, for months the store has featured Where the Wild Things Are promotional products in anticipation of the movie’s October 16th release. Hipsters everywhere could shop for slippers, coloring books, t-shirts, keychains, books, CDs, toy figurines, wall art, movie stills, shadow puppets, pillow cushions, dolls, designer clothing, and even a Viewmaster themed after Dave Eggers’ hip-terpretation of the classic children’s storybook. (The Viewmaster reminds me an awful lot of the short-lived television show Wonderfalls, about a Gen-Y sales clerk who hears the voice of God in promotional products, but that’s a story for another day.)

Warner Brothers isn’t the only studio looking to promotional products to save its profits. Hollywood has recently witnessed two major firings: 1) that of Disney’s studio chief, and 2) the sacking of Universal Pictures’ two top chairmen. Disney then hired Rich Ross, who had been the head at Disney Channel, a network famous for spawning young superstars like Miley Cyrus and Hillary Duff. Universal promoted their marketing chief, Adam Fogelson. In both cases the studios opted for people with experience promoting films beyond the box office.

Kim Masters of KCRW’s The Business had this to say about the entertainment industry broadening its marketing efforts:

In the case of Disney, they went with the TV executive who’s not a movie guy, and the idea is brands, brands, brands — sell it across the platforms. Look at High School Musical, sell it as a concert, sell it as a stage thing, sell it as a — any — a t-shirt. You know, that’s the idea that they’re pursuing at Disney.

“Economy, Viewer Habits Transforming Hollywood,” npr.org

Movies failing to make enough money at the box office are old news. But with the popularity of DVR and other technologies, films are now floundering in DVD sales as well. Marketing strategies that worked for High School Musical and other children’s films are starting to look pretty attractive to grown-up movies.

Thus, Where the Wild Things Are throw pillows.

In the case of Urban and Jonze, promotional products are not only marketing a film; they are making profits in and of themselves. And record labels have been doing the same.

What do you think about all this?

a.   I hope Pinnacle starts offering promotional products for A Christmas Carol! I really want a Scrooge-shaped shadow puppet lamp to adorn my living room.
b.   Ugh. Please don’t Hannah Montana-fy my favorite movies.
c.   What’s a Dave Eggers?
d.   It’s complicated. (Please elaborate.)

Answer in the comments section! (Until we get a poll installed.)

Oct

2009

Marketing, Muggles and How to Cast a Promotional Spell

Happy International Magic Month! In this day and age, what better manifestation of the word “magic” exists than the fictional book character Harry Potter and his bewitching peers?

In 2003, due to the immense popularity of author J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the word “muggle” first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary with the definition “a person without magical powers.” In the Harry Potter books, wizards consider themselves to be superior to muggles, but the fact of the matter is that potions and wizardry are not always the best solution to tough problems.

At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry and his friends often fall prey to clever marketing gimmicks targeted at young, green wizards. If only they had been informed about the mesmerizing power encompassed by promotional products when properly utilized! Keep reading to find out which alternatives make the grade…

Invisibility Cloak: For Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest of the gang, the Invisibility Cloak is a handy tool to catch their enemies off guard. But is this sneaky tool really the best way to communicate their strength of character and determination?

Grade: B+

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Logo Apparel: To truly make a statement and belittle their enemies, Harry and his friends could opt for customized shirts or jackets to present a unified front when battling against the forces of evil. They could even market themselves as an organized team devoted to protecting the integrity of the wizarding community!

Grade: A

Nimbus 2000 Broomstick: Harry’s natural affinity for the sport of Quidditch means that his choice of broomstick is absolutely crucial. This state-of-the-art broomstick helps him soar above the opposing team and find the Golden Snitch time and time again to win the match for his school. The speed and accuracy achieved by the Nimbus 2000 are impossible to beat… Or are they???

Grade: A-

VS.

Pinnacle Promotions’ RocketShip 24-Hour Express Service™: In the Muggle world, efficiency is highly valued, especially when trusting a company to deliver a product or service. Pinnacle does not have the ability to ship products via broomstick (yet…), but our unique RocketShip™ delivery option ensures that orders will arrive at your doorstep as soon as humanly possible. Broomsticks are not 100% reliable, as they can be broken or in need of repairs, but the Pinnacle Platinum Guarantee™ stands behind every single order.

Grade: A+

Quills: The stubborn wizarding world refuses to adopt the use of Muggles’ pens and paper, and sticks to the traditional quills instead. Some of these quills have magical powers, such as Auto-Answer Quills, which provide the correct answers to exam questions, Spell-Check Quills, which automatically correct misspelled words written by a writer, and Self-Inking Quills, which refill their own ink when needbe. Still, quills present challenges when it comes to portability and longevity.

Grade: B- (for ordinary quills); A (for enchanted quills, especially the Auto-Answer and Spell-Check quills!)

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Unique Pens: Magical powers are great, but Muggles are accustomed to everyday, standard promotional pens. To add some excitement and pizzazz to a basic pen, Harry and his pals could opt for unique promotional pens instead of their usual quills. This way, whenever they were required to cross over into the Muggle world, they could share their writing instruments with non-wizards and manage to receive similar responses of awe and admiration.

Grade: A+

Tri-Wizard Tournament Cup: This award is a shining cup that is bestowed upon the winner of this rigorous competition, and it is kept by the winning school until the next tournament takes place. In the fourth installment of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory reach the cup at the same time, and grab hold of it simultaneously. Unbeknownst to the champions, the cup is a secret portkey that transports them to a graveyard to battle Lord Voldemort. Diggory is killed by Voldemort and Harry escapes back to Hogwarts alone, leaving a furious Voldemort in his wake. He receives the promised 1,000 galleon (wizarding currency) prize, and gives the galleons to Fred and George Weasley to start a joke shop.

Grade: F

VS.

Crystal Awards: In retrospect, the enchanted Tournament Cup was probably not the best way for student wizards to be recognized for their victories. The competing schools would have been much better off by choosing crystal awards to customize instead, as winners could hold onto them for eternity as a reminder of their exceptional accomplishments. Also, these awards are affordable enough to award to more than one winner, and second and third place entrants could be honored for their efforts as well.

Grade: A+

Overall, the magical product options didn’t fare so badly, but for all of the Muggles reading this entry in hopes of gaining valuable marketing advice, I would definitely recommend acquiring the latter item in each pair from Pinnacle Promotions!

Oct

2009

“So then we put a tourniquet on the CEO…” What Happens When You Forget Promotional Products

There have been a lot of posts on here lately about television shows, but… well, there’s going to be one more.

I just started watching Mad Men this season, after I caught a few episodes on a Delta flight and got hooked. (I have no idea what twist of fate dropped this gem in my lap and spared me several hours of Two and a Half Men or Jon and Kate Plus Eight, except that I have a history of fortunate flying, and have been seated next to more than my fair share of wildly attractive strangers. Don’t worry; I’ll get what’s coming to me.)

Everything I had heard about Mad Men is true: The episodes progress as slowly and meticulously as chapters in a Dostoevsky novel, Don Draper is an unequivocal womanizer, and the dresses are real pretty! Wardrobe aside, I enjoy the slow pace and rich shots because I watch television very closely and can’t stomach the shaky cameras of reality shows. After following the show for only a short time, the characters have become fixtures in my life, and when I clicked over to the Emmys directly after an episode last month and spotted Betty Draper standing on stage, she looked as still and deathly serene as she always does, and I couldn’t get it through my head that she is an actor, not a housewife.

As Mad Men received the Emmy for Best Drama that night, on another channel at the same time the show was throwing a bomb at its unsuspecting viewers.

The episode was more boring than most. For 45 minutes it had waded through corporate meetings, reorganization flowcharts, quiet conversation after quiet conversation, and was about to arrive at a long-awaited conclusion during an office going-away party for Joan, replete with birthday cake and bounties of booze, per usual at Sterling Cooper Ad Agency. Peggy and Joan were talking about something boring, a few people in the background were playing around on a lawnmower on loan from John Deere, and then — then, the totally unbelievable happened:

Warning: If you get offended or nauseated easily, do not watch this video. If you are a good parent, do not let your child watch this video.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you invest in promotional first aid kits.

Acree
Creative Writing Intern

Oct

2009

Promotional Products Around The Office

I’m not a big television watcher, but I have to admit that I have an unhealthy obsession with The Office. It’s the only show I watch, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. My roommate knows not to talk to me during that special half hour on Thursday nights and my parents have learned not to call at that time. I sit on my couch, talk to my TV and act like I am a part of the funny office pranks and lunchroom gossip. In fact, when Jim and Pam got married last week, I was almost a little hurt that I wasn’t invited to the wedding.

The plus side of not actually knowing Jim, Pam, Dwight and Michael is that my work life is much calmer, more enjoyable and productive. And while Pinnacle certainly doesn’t have employees as extreme as any of the individuals on The Office, over the past six seasons I’ve come to appreciate that these characters are based on universal office truths.

With that being said, here are a few recommendations for promotional gifts to increase brand visibility among clients and employees who resemble the following characters:

Pam- Pam would love a custom journal so that she could practice her drawing any time inspiration hits. Or, keep her warm and stylish by giving her another classic cardigan sweater to wear.

Jim- Now that he has earned a well-deserved promotion, Jim would benefit from a personalized, executive-style briefcase. And of course, he can never have enough office toys in his desk to help him annoy Dwight.

Dwight- Nerdy and hard-working, Dwight would appreciate an ID badge to ensure that his identification never gets lost during adventures on his farm or a calculator (in particular one that fits right in his pocket) so that he can always maintain efficiency.

Michael- Where to even begin? He would go crazy for an acrylic award, especially one imprinted with the words “best boss” (think The Dundies episode) and he is definitely in need of a digital or atomic clock so that the employees of Dunder Mifflin can never set the time forward again.

No matter what you choose, personalized promotional products will win you awards for your marketing campaign.

Oct

2009

Live from Atlanta… Its Promotional Products Live!

The word “promote” generally encompasses the acts of advertising for, making publicity for, or trying to sell something, namely a product, service, or idea. There are many ways to promote a product, service, or idea, including through the use of media coverage, networking, and/or the distribution of promotional products.

Television is one particular media outlet that has proven to be effective at promoting individuals and brands, and Saturday Night Live has been an integral way for up and coming musical artists, actors, and other celebrities to gain widespread exposure through weekly guest appearances and performances. On October 11, 1975 Saturday Night Live premiered with host George Carlin. This sketch comedy and variety show has reached legendary status, and has featured such prominent figures as The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Candice Bergen, and even several former American presidents!

Whenever I am in need of a good laugh, I often turn to reruns of classic Saturday Night Live episodes for comic relief. One of my personal favorite segments on Saturday Night Live is Weekend Update, and with the upcoming holidays, I thought the following clip would be appropriate.

Please note: Christmas is NOT cancelled this year! In fact, you can make this holiday season even more memorable for valued customers and staff by giving them promotional Corporate Holiday Gifts imprinted with your brand’s name and logo.

Oct

2009

Pinnacle’s Lyrics Lounge: Promotional Products Inspired by Music

Today featuring: Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 – the opening track from their album The Joshua Tree, released in 1987.

I have chosen to feature U2 specifically because this past Tuesday night U2 held a concert at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and two of our Pinnacle employees were lucky enough to go! The tickets were purchased by Pinnacle as a reward for meeting company sales goals and Pinnacle employees Shelley and Jodi won the tickets in a company drawing! Here’s some pictures they took at the concert!

I wanna run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame (1)
Where the streets have no name

I want to feel, sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear
Without a trace
I want to take shelter (2)
From the poison rain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building, then burning down love
Burning down love, and when I go there
I go there with you, it’s all I can do

The city’s a flood and our love turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind (3)
Trampled in dust
I’ll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building, then burning down love
Burning down love, and when I go there
I go there with you, it’s all I can do

Our love turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind, oh, and I see our love
See our love turn to rust

Oh, we’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there, I go there with you
It’s all I can do

Lyrical References:

1 – A Promotional Candle to feel a real, as opposed to a metaphorical, flame.

2 – A Promotional Umbrella to take shelter from the poison rain.

3 – A Promotional Windshirt to handle all weather elements.

Sep

2009

Say Anything… with Customized Pens

Here I go again on another 80’s tangent. I can’t help it, I am stuck in the 80’s and I am not afraid to say it. What really got me thinking about this though was when I visited my parents’ house a couple weeks back and I got caught up in the movie “Say Anything”. I hadn’t actually ever really seen the entire movie so I had to watch it, especially since I didn’t have anything better to do. For those of you not familiar with the movie either, the premise is basically about 2 teenage students who have just graduated from High School. The male lead, Lloyd Dobler(played by John Cusack) has had his eyes on Diane Court all throughout High School and he plans to ask her out and make her his girlfriend before she goes away to College. Lloyd’s plan actually begins to work, after he invites her to a house party, they start spending more and more time together thereafter. The only problem is as they become closer, Diane’s father becomes more worried that his daughter is getting too involved and wants her to break up with him.

One pretty interesting part of the movie that somewhat oddly relates to Pinnacle was the scene in which Diane has a discussion with her father about breaking up with Lloyd and her father says to her- “Give him a pen”. I mean that is harsh, but no matter who you are, what occupation you have, you always need a pen. That is where we come in, we have just about any price range and quality pen you can think of, starting with the most basic BIC Clic Stic ® or a mid-range such as the Geneva Twist or something higher end like a Waterford ® Arcadia ™ Ballpoint Pen. By the way, Lloyd did get a customized pens, but you will have to watch the movie to see what happens next…

Product Placement in the Media

Pink Gloves Dance: Can You Spot the Promotional Products?

Promotional Products at the Movies

Promotional products are having a wild rumpus in Hollywood

Marketing, Muggles and How to Cast a Promotional Spell

VS.

VS.

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“So then we put a tourniquet on the CEO…” What Happens When You Forget Promotional Products

Promotional Products Around The Office

Live from Atlanta… Its Promotional Products Live!

Pinnacle’s Lyrics Lounge: Promotional Products Inspired by Music

Say Anything… with Customized Pens

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