My Formal Introduction!

Greetings!

I want to formally introduce myself to you. My name is John Kennedy and I’m Co-Owner/GM of Kennedy Advertising. We are a Promotional Sales & Marketing Company based out of Las Vegas NV. We Serve the Promotional Marketing needs for clients in North America & Europe.

Kennedy Advertising has been a ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) Distributor of Imprinted Promotional Items & Gift-ware since 1971 when my Father, J Paul Kennedy, Opened the Company in Edina Minnesota. Through ASI, we have access to every possible Promotional Item from Over 3000 Different Suppliers.

We are Extremely Proud of Our Reputation & Excellent Track Record with Our Clients & Our Ability to Design, Produce & Decorate Products Specifically for their Target Market.

If There Are Any Promotional Needs You May Need Now or in the Future, Don’t Hesitate to Call Me at 1-888-725-4487 You Can Also Explore Our Website: http://KennedyAdvLV.com . This Is Where You Can Find Most of Our Products That We Currently Sell.

Additionally, I’m Able to Offer Prices that are Much Lower than Website Pricing Depending on Currents Discounts & Incentives that we Offer Throughout Certain Times of the Year.

Thank You for Reading My Introduction, I look Forward to Hearing From You!

Regards,

John Kennedy
Kennedy Advertising
Las Vegas, NV

Are we Facing the New Reality In Advertising?

I don't have to tell you that we are in rather disruptive time in the Advertising Industry.

As we witnessed a significant percentage one way print advertising migrate to a digital format, we hardly have time to catch our breath as we now face the growing mobile digital era. On top of it, our clients are changing the rules of engagement.

Traditional (One Way) Print and Broadcast Advertisers have been slowly moving towards an interactive relationship with customers through the Social Networks, websites and email. Every time I order something online, I'm asked to take a short survey that usually takes 20 minutes. If I don't participate, they have learned something about me and if I do, they learn even more!

I was at the nations 13th largest newspaper for 23 years up until 1995. Zip Code Targeting to Total Market Coverage were all the rage back then. Wal-Mart, Target and Sears were demanding it and Direct Mailers were beginning to eat away newspaper ad revenues, with Marriage Mail Programs at what many of us considered to be an alarming rate.

So finally newspapers, (dragged kicking and screaming), were forced to redefine their relationship with advertisers. Some have done well and some haven't. The newspaper I left in 1995 had just about 2500 employees. Today! I have been told, by an unnamed source, they are around 1000. I don't know if that's good or bad and I'm not judging... I think it's just the new reality.

So now the question is: Will Ad Agencies and Public Relations firms reinvent relationships with clients? Will they have to provide better ideas and increase the arrows in their quiver to keep clients on board? If you haven't started, you need to or you will lose the business to someone who will. From what I hear, there are many that are already on their way.

You know that at some point, the question will come: How much has to be done in house vs outsourcing to make a respectable profit? That depends on how much control you want to maintain.

One change we have made is that our interactive technology has allowed Kennedy Advertising to form strong interactive relationships with Preferred Service Providers Across the country rather than just in Las Vegas NV and Minneapolis/St. Paul MN.
Today we can design a catalog, product sample or an imprinted promotional item in Las Vegas, print it in Boston for an East coast Mailing and save Distribution Costs. Or we can launch a product fulfillment operation within days of an idea because we have the technology, distribution channel and the relationships built to handle lots of volume in a short period of time. None of what I listed above is really new! Some of you have probably created some of these ideas.

Now! What if you had a single (blind to the public) business partner that worked behind your brand to implement your ideas for you? That's an interesting question that needs more discussion. If I can help you think it through, let me know.

In the meantime:

1. Here some other opinions from some names you'll recognize: 
2. Here are 10 Proven Ways to Market Your Clients Website: 
3. Direct Mail is out Email is in for Large and Small Clients.
4. Services that will help you improve your value to the client: 

Have a Safe 4th of July!

Best Regards,

John Kennedy
Kennedy Advertising
Las Vegas, NV.
Local: 702-324-1334
Toll Free: 888-725-4487

Google has Changed our World and Helped Save Lives.

In a crisis such as yesterday’s Boston Marathon terrorist attack, people need information about their loved ones—and they need it fast.

With Google Person Finder, they have access to this important information. Google built the tool after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. People can use it to search for someone or provide information. If no information is available, users can create a new record. They can also subscribe to status updates on a particular person, and if updated, they’ll receive an e-mail with new details.

Currently, Google’s Boston Marathon Person Finder is tracking 5,500 individuals. The tool has been used all over the world to reconnect people in post-disaster situations. What a remarkable advancement over the past 10-12 years. We can’t imagine the horror of being there or desperately seeking the whereabouts of a friend or loved one.

Google! We appreciate your helping people track down their friends and loved ones after such a scary and horrifying event.

To the City of Boston! We are praying for you and with you.

A Half Dozen Great Ideas for Giving Promotional Products

The Holidays have passed, but that doesn't mean gift-giving season is over. People love getting promotional products any time of year and for any reason. Imagine your customers’ surprise and delight when you send them a gift smack in the middle of, say, January or May. They’re not expecting it, and it’ll blow them right out of the water.

Here are a Half Dozen Ideas for giving your Customers a Promotional Gift this year.

1. Your customers visited your trade show booth.

Whether your exhibiting or not, you need to have great trade show giveaways. It’s also a nice gesture to send your customers a follow-up gift after the show. They’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness, and it might be just the nudge they need to make a purchase.

2. You want to Thank a Customer for a Referral.

A referral is the highest honor your customers can give you, so it’s a good idea to show them a little appreciation. They've gone out of their way to endorse you, so send them something amazing. A luxurious embroidered blanket or a sophisticated wine gift will wow them—and keep those referrals rolling in.

3. Your Customers Signed up on your Website.

Whether they signed up for a newsletter, special offers or inside information, you can make your website stand out by sending customers a small token of thanks. They don’t have to be big-ticket items to be effective—go for cool notepads or funky pens.

4. It’s Your Customer’s Birthday or Anniversary

Everybody likes to feel like a VIP on their special day, so take the time to recognize your customer’s birthday each year. You’ll be remembered as a company that cares, and it’s all because you sent them a unique promotional product to celebrate their big day.

5. You Haven’t Heard from your Customers in a While.

Everyone’s busy and it can be hard to nurture every business relationship. If some time has passed since your last customer contact, send a small promotional gift to remind them you’re there and ready to work with them. It’ll put your company name top of mind and refresh your customers on what you offer.

6. Just Because.

Oftentimes, the best gifts are those given out of the blue and for no reason at all. By sending your customers a promotional product “just because,” you’re letting them know that you’re thinking of them. Try giving promotional travel tumbler filled with candy or a custom journal and pen combo.

KennedyPromo tip:

Packaging matters regardless of the timing or occasion for your gift, so make sure you present it attractively, whether in a custom gift box or bag. 

A few December Links and Ideas to Share!

Happy December! The Holiday Season continues to be great time to celebrate with friends and family and can also be filling from the standpoint of food and drink consumption. Don't get me wrong! I love as much food and drink as everyone else and like many others during the Holidays, I'm right there with you!

My goal today is to share some Ideas and Links that will help all of us get through December and beyond. I'm going to try a few myself.. Enjoy and "HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!

1. This post is written by Mandi Woodruff, a Reporter for "Your Money", entitled: 15 Tips To Lose Weight Without Blowing Your Budget: http://goo.gl/VmdBb

2. Here's another good article written by Mandi Woodruff, a Reporter for "Your Money" entitled 5 Tips To Make It Through The Holidays Credit Debt-Free: http://goo.gl/g7ObD

3. My Mary sent this one to me from the Weightwatchers website. Merry and Bright: "Do It Yourself" Decor Ideas made of items that you already have to help you get into the Christmas Spirit: http://goo.gl/L784E

4. Thinking about going for a new Job after the first of the year? Here is an article that Identifies "6 LinkedIn Groups to Help You Land Your Next Job": http://goo.gl/yHvhG

5. I was going to stay away from the techy gadget stuff this month, but I thought that this was an especially good article and video if a Smartphone buy or gift is in your future: Can an iPhone-loving Apple fan-girl (Christina Warren from Mashable) survive using Windows Phone 8 for 10 days? Check it Out: http://goo.gl/VItRX

That's it for this month! If there is anything, last minute, that I can help you with, please contact me through LinkedIn or feel free to access my web-links through my blog at http://KennedyPromos.com

Be Safe and have a GREAT CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY!

John Kennedy

Google Continues to Impress Me More and More Each Day.

Now! I'm no major geek (I say that affectionately) on a computer, but I would probably rate myself as an intermediate user. 

Like everyone else, I need to become more efficient while learning how to perform more tasks. So I'm constantly trying to discover more short cuts and, since buying my Windows 7 computer back in June, I'm finding more and more of them on Google. I know I'm just scratching the surface, but aren't we all. 

Here are a few of tools and/or programs that I'm learning and that I "LIKE": 

1. G mail now lets you Search within Email attachments: http://goo.gl/44Tp6 

2. Google Voice Users Can Now Export Texts, Voice-mails & Phone Numbers: http://goo.gl/VhQVD 

3. If you use Gmail, you can enrich your contact profiles on the right inside of Gmail: http://goo.gl/D7L8a 

4. Google+ Launches "Tools for Business": http://goo.gl/F7Wti 

5. This one has nothing to do with business, but great for family member (Where was this when my kids were driving my cars?) safety: This App Turns Smartphones Into Safe Driving Tools http://goo.gl/QUsgE 

That's it for this week! If there is anything that I can help you with, please contact me through LinkedIn or feel free to access my web-links through my blog at http://KennedyPromos.com 

Best Regards, 

John Kennedy 

Kennedy Specialty Advertising 

Las Vegas, NV. 

702-324-1334 

KennedyPromos@gmail.com

Want to generate BIG BUZZ for your company?

You don’t need a big budget—you just need smartly priced Promotional Products.

Did you know that 83% of consumers like receiving promotional items, and that 48% would like to receive them more frequently? Deliver what your customers want, and minimize your marketing costs by using Promotional Products for under $1. Check this out!

Here’s a look at the top 10 budget-friendly promo items.

Personalized Tote Bag. It’s sturdy, tear-resistant and perfect for transporting anything from groceries to handouts. Your customers can keep custom bags at home, the office or in their vehicles, so your logo gets seen anytime they have something to haul, tote or shuttle.

Promotional Sunglasses. Planning an outdoor event? Give your customers promotional sunglasses. They provide UV protection, and they’re offered in a splash of trendy neon hues.

Promotional Water Bottle. Runners and athletes will appreciate this custom sport bottle, but it’s really the perfect promo for cyclists—it fits inside most bicycle bottle holders. A pull-top drink spout makes it easy to hydrate on the move.

Promotional Beach Ball. Give your company image a jolt of fun with a custom beach ball. Your customers can take on outings and picnics, or bring to the pool or beach.

Promotional Bag Clip. Your customers can keep their snacks fresh with this custom bag clip that’s offered in three stylish colors.

Promotional Stress Ball. Create a stress-busting health or wellness promotion with these promotional stress balls. They’re available in an array of bright colors, making your logo really stand out.

Promotional Hand Sanitizer. A tradeshow must-have, this custom hand sanitizer spray is conveniently sized for storing in a bag or pocket.

LED Light Promotional Key Tag. Make your brand shine with this rectangular, colorful key tag. An energy-efficient LED bulb shines bright white.

Promotional Pen. This marketing mainstay can do wonders for expanding your brand and still let you keep your costs down. It’s offered in six vibrant colors and writes in black ink.

Promotional Lip Balm. Your company name will be on everyone’s lips when you distribute custom lip balm. It’s chockfull of good stuff, too: moisturizers, aloe vera, and UVA and UVB protector.

Can find what you are looking for? Check out  Online Catalog

KennedyPromos.com know-how tip: Great marketing can come at a great value, so stock up on Promotional Products when they’re discounted. For more Information, give us a call at 702-324-1334 or drop an email to KennedyPromos@gmail.com

How the Smart Phone has Changed My Life!

When I think about how I used start my day 20 years ago, compared to today, life is just way more convenient today.

In 1991 I was 38 years old and headed into my last 5 years of a 24 year career at the Star Tribune Newspapers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At that point, for a very few of us who weren't in denial, the hand writing was on the wall for the future of printed newspapers. Our days of walking to the end of the driveway to pick up our daily newspaper were, for the most part, coming to an end with the first half of the Baby Boomer Generation.

20 years ago, I would leave home a 7:00 in the morning and drive 22 miles to downtown Minneapolis where I would attend sales and management meetings and take notes using a pens and a legal pad. When I wanted to write a memo about the meeting, I would write it in hand write it and hand it to a person, called a Secretary, to type in on her network computer only to read, make corrections and print again. When I think back, it's a wonder we accomplished anything.

So now that you have the idea, let's flash forward back to today! I left the Star Tribune in 1995 and became self employed along with lovely wife of 32 years, Mary. As our kids moved onto college, we moved from Minneapolis to Summerlin, near Las Vegas, NV where we operate Kennedy Advertising and Mary Kennedy at RE/MAX Central.

Today, I get up in the morning and turn on my I-Phone GS. Now I'm not Mr. High Tech guy, but I do pride myself in knowing enough to be dangerous about what I want to get out of this utility. I call my SmartPhone as a utility because that's really what I use it for. I don't need to have the latest version of the phone. In fact, I purposely lag one model behind so when the version 5 comes out, I'll go for the version 4. I don't like to be on the front end of working out the bugs. I view my time as precious and use my I-Phone GS for more work and very little play. The only game I play each day is one called "Get Efficient with your I-Phone" I have no music loaded on the phone.

I sync the phone with my computer each day so my calendar and contacts are automatically updated and look the same in both places. I use several apps that are pretty basic and can be used when I'm away from the office. I use Google Voice for my Voicemail because I have one click access to listen to my messages and the messages are logged for me up on my I-Google Home Page.

The basics are the email downloaded from 3 different accounts that I can receive and respond to. As for the apps that I can access from my personal ITunes Home Page, I downloaded the Yahoo and Google Search Apps for in the field research. My Social Networking apps consist of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Yelp. I also receive property alerts from Zillow.com and Realtor.com. I only open them when I see that I have a message.

I'm also an information junkie so I check the headlines each day using the mobiles apps for Fox News, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Star Tribune, TwinCities.com, NFL.com, Fandango and the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The only real non- business apps I use, on a regular basis, are All Recipes, Groupon, Overstock, and Kayak for travel.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not Mr. High Tech Guy and I’m sure I’m only scratching the surface with the apps that I currently use. To keep me moving forward and upward in the mobile app world, I have a subscription to the printed version of MacLife Magazine and I have the MacLife Mobile App on my SmartPhone.

If any of you have any mobile apps that really work well for you would like to share, please feel free to comment on this blog. Thanks!!

Wikipedia can be used to Help Promote Your Business!

I decided to take a break from being creative this morning and decided to go out on the Internet to look at websites that I frequently use in my business for research. For instance, when I decided to start blogging, I went to Wikipedia to read and consider it's definition of what a blog is. Although the definitions in Wikipedia are not considered to be official, it does have some good information like the definition you see below for "Blog".

 A blog (a blend of the term web log)^[1] is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites.^[2] Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (art blog), photographs (photoblog), videos (video blogging), music (MP3 blog), and audio (podcasting). Microblogging is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.

As of today, the are almost 15 million register users on Wikipedia. As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence. If you think about it, this may be a good time to post your business profile on Wikipedia and if you haven't yet, start a blog using the Wikipedia definition.

Our Favorite Realtor Links on Realtor.org

We were at a RE/MAX Central Real Estate Training Session here in Las Vegas last week listening to a presentation on the potential of becoming an International Real Estate Specialist. At one point in the presentation, the instructor spoke  about the available resources (FREE with your Membership) on the National Association of Realtors web site that are rarely accessed. He thought that to be pretty unusual because most Realtors are members, but they rarely access the resources.

It took a minute and than it dawned on me about what a lame ass I am for not taking advantage of the opportunity to take a closer look. Now let me clarify! If you haven't looked at the site either, I am not calling you a lame ass. Just Me! I tend to be a little harder on myself because I pride myself in organizing information that people value. It just kind of ticks me off that the resource is sitting in front of me and I tend to get wrapped up in so many other tasks and this is something that's a given. It's just so...... LAME! OK enough ranting about it! Time to move on!So while Mary was out with clients over the weekend, I decided to login for a closer look and share my Top 5 FREE Resources that you can use to market yourself on the National Association of Realtors Web site or most commonly www.Realtor.org

1. Newsletter content for Home Buyers and Sellers. If you can't spend alot of time writing, or are not very good at it, there is content available for members to use and it's well written.2. NAR Apps and Toolbars The Apps are for your Smartphone and there are Toolbars for Ipad, Windows and Mac based computers. There are also links that will connect you to the NAR pages on the most Social Networks for Real Estate. If you are not linked to them yet. Do it while you visit this page.3. NAR Realtor Benefits This page does have a Marketing component, but you will also see other benefits from FEDEX Discounts to Health or Dental Care. It's a page that is worth a visit if you want to save some money.
4. NAR Web Feeds This pages lists NAR's latest headlines by topic. When you choose to subscribe, the content and resources are delivered directly to your RSS reader. Again, this is good information to share with buyers and sellers. But you have to be a reader. I suggest starting with 1 or 2 feeds. We get enough e-mail!
5. NAR Technology This page brings you up to date on the latest technology available to the Real Estate Industry.

We hope you found this information to be helpful! For more Ideas and Targeted Information, visit the Kennedy Advertising Blog and if we can help you with any Promotional Ideas, please let us know.

You can also visit Mary Kennedy's RE/MAX Central Blog for the most up to date information on the Las Vegas Valley Real Estate market. If you have clients that are looking for a great buy in a warmer climate, send them our way. We'll take good care of them.

Have a GREAT July!

Are you ready to exhibit at your upcoming Las Vegas Convention?

We hope that you have an outstanding time at your upcoming Las Vegas Convention. As I work with my Tradeshow Exhibitors to deliver high impact Printing and Imprinted Promotional Items to their Hotel or Tradeshow Booth, I get a chance to refine my Checklist for Las Vegas Tradeshow Exhibitors. Here is my latest!

1. Establish goals for your Las Vegas Convention at the outset that includes guidelines for measuring your success.

2. Remember sometimes bigger is just bigger. Over spending at Trade Shows can send potential clients the wrong message.

3. To give yourself plenty of time, order your Printing and Imprinted Promotional Items from Kennedy Advertising in Las Vegas, NV.3 to 4 weeks in advance. How to Order From Us!

4. Choose your attending representatives wisely. Make sure that they share the same company vision.

5. Consider your audience when selecting displays, uniforms, give-a-ways, and booth personnel.

6. Promote your booth in the weeks and months leading up the show, using everything at your disposal.

1. Email Blasts.
2. Social Networking.
3. Direct Mail Invitation to visit Your Booth.
4. Direct phone calls from Sales People to invite attendees to meetings or the trade show booth.

7. Establish booth responsibilities in advance of the show, including schedules and media training.

8. Set up meetings with key clients and prospects, as well as industry media in advance of the show.

9. Once “on the ground, begin “Tweeting, blogging, posting LinkedIn and Facebook updates to keep your customers and prospects who could not attend, up to date on what you’re doing.

10. Obtain a scanner or use your Smartphone to scan the bar codes on the attendees name badges that visit your booth or hospitality suite.

11. Collect business cards of people who visit the booth. Ask permission to email them additional information and/or add them to your email newsletter.

12. Offer product literature in a convenient fashion, like a CD ROM, instead of sending large folders of information with them.

13. Remember – It’s not just “Party Time” – Keep dinners out and entertainment to an appropriate level.

14. Take advantage of every opportunity see clients, prospects and put on a presentation if you’re asked to.

15. Sponsor an event if budget allows. Ask about having your message included in event emails and web pages.

16. Follow up once the show is over. Don’t let those business cards sit in a drawer. Get that contact information into a database and work those leads until you sell them or they turn cold.

Thanks for reviewing my list! Feel free to leave a comment and if you need any help as your event draws closer, feel free to call on us at anytime.

Best Regards,
John Kennedy
Kennedy Advertising
Las Vegas, NV.
888-725-4487

Customer Acquisition Programs are designed to attract rather than attack your customer.

                                                               
Do you want to attract and acquire more targeted customers?  We know competition to obtain customers is brutal. Traditional Marketing efforts are not always effective in acquiring new customers.

Your first contact to create a positive lasting impression is crucial. Our Customer Acquisition Programs are designed to attract rather than attack your customer. We can show you how to use of imprinted promotional items and the proper delivery systems to achieve higher customer acquisition rates and increase the number of customers you have!  

An “automated” program is the only way you can put in place a reliable, measurable, and repeatable method to ensure that you attract the most targeted prospects.

Want to promote your Real Estate business in an Eco-friendly way?

Want to promote your Real Estate business in an Eco-friendly way? Depending on the climate you live in you can promote the sustainability of the properties you offer by driving potential clients to your website with an eco-friendly self-promo product.

In addition to using the traditional refrigerator magnets and mouse pads, you can do something that is eco-friendly this time, that could be used in an eco-friendly way.”

To help spread the word about your business, consider ordering  Imprinted Tote Bags made of recycled plastic material. The bags, can feature a your custom logo and message, as well as your contact information and branding for your personal Real Estate Brokerage or Agency.

Your Eco-Friendly bag promotion should have wide appeal to reach across the community and touch a wide range of demographic profiles. – an idea could be “Just about living in (Your City) and having an eco-friendly bag … That way people will want to use them while promoting your brand at the same time..
You can send the totes to neighbors, clients and potential clients. You can also distribute them at Community Events when the opportunity arises. Maybe an Earth Day event or a Church Festival.
Part of message on your tote should be to direct people to your website. On this informational and self-promotional site, you can post information or tips on how to save energy in your community, post PDF's of advice and offers from your local utilities that can be printed and used by readers. You can become the local energy expert when you implement this kind of promotion and stay with it.

One Realtor I know that has done this, gave me this quote. “I’ve had people call me or e-mail me saying, ‘I’m so grateful for this tote. It’s so sweet and is becoming recognized in the community. People stop me on the street to let me know that they have seen them,” she says. “It’s really been very good for me.”

Make it a Date to Remember

Thousands of organizations and Presidential Proclamations set aside specific days, weeks and months for political, cultural and historical events and causes. Many of these occasions offer you an opportunity to promote your business, organization or product.

December

December 1st – 7th is Cookie Cutter Week

Hold a contest for new cookie cutter designs or other uses for cookie cutters besides cookies. Draw people into your place of business to pick up entry forms and again for the awarding of prizes. Use imprinted kitchen items as prizes.

Use cookie cutter week as a backdrop for business-to-business promotions based on the negative connotation of cookie cutter. The idea is that your product or service isn't "cookie cutter." Include shapes appropriate to your industry or business or have custom shapes made to be sent in direct mail pieces.

Some other designations for December that you might be interested in are:

• AIDS Awareness Month
• National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
• National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
• National Tie Month
• December 1st: Apple Krinkle Day
• December 2nd: Play Basketball Day
• December 2nd - 9th: Hanukkah
• December 3rd: Let's Hug Day
• December 4th: Cracker Jack Day
• December 5th: Play Hookey Day
• December 6th: Saint Nicholas Day
• December 7th: Pearl Harbor Day
• December 8th: Bad Hair Day
• December 9th: Night Gown Day
• December 10th: Get a Poinsettia Day
• December 11th: Say Hi To Your Neighbor Day
• December 13th: New Calendar Day
• December 14th: Buy a Tree Day
• December 15th: Bill of Rights Day
• December 16th: Sleep Comfort Day
• December 17th: Cookie Cutter Day
• December 18th: Play Bingo Day
• December 19th: Chocolate Pizza Day
• December 20th: Crossword Puzzle Day
• December 21st: Fore Fathers Day
• December 23rd: Popcorn Popping Day
• December 24th: Family Caregivers Day
• December 25th: Christmas
• December 26th: Boxing Day (Canada)
• December 27th: Fruitcake Forever Day
• December 28th: Eat Chocolate Day
• December 29th: Pepper Pot Day
• December 30th: Bicarbonate of Soda Day
• December 31st: New Year's Eve

January

January is National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month. Encourage self-defense awareness among both your customers and your employees through the use of promotional products like flashlights and personal alarms. For more ideas, check out the 'Alarms and Protective Devices' category in our Product Search!

Some other designations for January that you might be interested in are:

• Celebration of Life Month
• National Thank You Month
• National Get Organized Month
• National Glaucoma Awareness Month
• National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
• National Personal Self-Defense Month
• National Book Month
• January 1st: New Years Day
• January 2nd: National Science Fiction Day
• January 3rd: Festival of Sleep
• January 4th: Tennis Day
• January 5th: Take the Cake Day
• January 5th: Bird Day
• January 6th: Apple Tree Day
• January 8th: World Literacy Day
• January 8th: National Clean Off Your Desk Day
• January 9th: National Static Electricity Day
• January 9th: National Apricot Day
• January 10th: Volunteer Fireman's Day
• January 11th: Amelia Earhart Day
• January 14th: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
• January 15th: Hat Day
• January 16th: National Fig Newton Day
• January 17th: Ben Franklin's Birthday
• January 18th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 19th: National Popcorn Day
• January 20th: Basketball Day
• January 21st: Hugging Day
• January 22nd: National Blonde Brownie Day
• January 23rd: National Pie Day
• January 24th: National Peanut Butter Day
• January 25th: First Winter Olymics Began
• January 26th: National Peanut Brittle Day
• January 27th: National Chocolate Cake Day
• January 28th: National Blueberry Pancake Day
• January 29th: Carnation Day
• January 30th: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Birthday
• January 31st: Jackie Robinson's Birthday

February

February 14th is Valentine's Day

Send your salesforce out with logoed boxes of candies to leave with clients on this day. Create a promotion that delivers balloons, cards and heart shaped candies to your clients.

Some other designations for February that you might be interested in are:

• National Black History Month
• American Heart Month
• American History Month
• National Dental Month
• Chocolate Lover's Month
• National Bird Feeding Month
• February 1st: National Freedom Day
• February 2nd: Groundhog Day
• February 3rd: Chinese New Year
• February 4th: Rosa Park's Birthday
• February 5th: World Nutella Day
• February 6th: Babe Ruth's Birthday
• February 7th - 11th: International Networking Week
• February 8th: Boy Scouts Day 
• February 9th: Toothache Day
• February 10th: Umbrella Day
• February 11th: White T-Shirt Day
• February 12th: Lincoln's Birthday
• February 13th: Get a Different Name Day
• February 14th: Valentine's Day
• February 15th: Susan B. Anthony Day
• February 17th: Random Acts of Kindness Day
• February 18th: Pluto Discovered
• February 19th: US Landed on Iwo Jima Anniversary
• February 21st: President's Day
• February 21st: Love Your Pet Day
• February 22nd: Washington's Birthday
• February 23rd: National Dog Biscuit Day
• February 24th: National Chili Day
• February 26th: Carnival Day
• February 27th: International Polar Bear Day
• February 28th: National Tooth Fairy Day

Charmin's Social Bathroom Breaks

Sometimes a great event is one that shows customers how your product can solve their problems, and there are few problems as pressing as the need to find a public bathroom in a big city. That was the thinking behind Charmin's Restrooms, which the brand has been bringing to New York's Times Square for the last six weeks of the year since 2006. The company rolled out comfy, clean bathrooms similar to what individuals would have in their home, with not only sinks and toilets, but televisions and iPods.

Since the event takes place over several weeks, the people at Charmin want to be sure that there are new things happening often. In the last event held at the end of 2009, there was a cause promotion with four celebrities including Mario Lopez and Martina McBride painting special toilet seats, which customers could use by donating a dollar to the charity of that celebrity's choice.

There was a graffiti wall where users could write messages, and a "confessional" where they could record video that would be uploaded to Charmin's site. Branded boxers, T-shirts and other souvenirs were also available for those looking to take home a memory of the event.

"With any brand, especially those in a very low-involvement category, it's about showing up at the right place and making a difference, having the benefit of your product come to life," said Jacques Hagopian, brand manager for Charmin.

For last year's event, the brand also recruited five bathroom enthusiasts to act as the Charmin "Go Team." The five ambassadors greeted and entertained guests at the Charmin restrooms and around the city, while also blogging, Facebooking and tweeting about their experiences and the nuances of "going."

"The brand didn't lead us there, our consumers did," said Hagopian, who emphasized that it was consumers who had first begun putting up Youtube clips or Facebook posts about their Charmin Restroom experiences in previous years. "You gain fans and friends as a result of what you do, you don't have to actively recruit them."

Bringing the Brand Home to the Consumer

To really connect with customers on a personal level, you can bring the event directly to their home. That's just what Purina did recently, hosting 1,000 "house parties" where individuals, their friends and pet dogs got together so the dogs could sample the Chef Michaels' K9 Creations line of dog food.

"It was our first dual-species event," joked Kitty Holding, CEO of House Party, which organized the Purina events and specializes in consumer-hosted in-home parties. "House parties are all about passionate consumers, and it's tough to find something that people get more passionate about than their pets."
For these "Sunday Supper" events, House Party conducted an initial promotion to get a list of qualified hosts together, reaching out to its own mailing list and the client's until it had 1,000 individuals that fit what Purina was looking for (in this case, women dog owners).

Once they settled on the list of hosts, House Party created an interactive website for the three weeks or so leading up to the event, where hosts could get suggestions for how to host the party, what games to play and food to make (for the people). "We want to give people lots of ideas and suggestions, but we want people to have the kind of party they are good at having," said Holding. "Consumers are so savvy anyway, and if you're going to have a party with your friends, you don't want me to tell you how to have your party."

For the event itself, each host invited 12 friends and their dogs over, and used the promotional products and supplies provided by Purina. Besides the Chef Michaels food itself, hosts received branded serving plates, tablecloths, napkins and even food-shaping tins that could put the dog food into a bone or a heart. Every guest received a gift bag that included coupons, recipe books and other goodies.

There were a total of 12,000 human participants, and 7,500 canine participants, with what House Party calculates to be over 50,000 hours of brand engagement (from the humans, that is). The events also greatly boosted the brand metrics, which House Party measures, including awareness, favorability and intent to purchase.

"It becomes a really personal, intimate experience with the brand," said Holding. "That experience last so much longer, so that when they are at a critical moment of purchase or recommendation, that favorable view is really cemented in their mind."

How to Buy Flash Drives That Won't Fail!

What you should do when you find flash drives on the Internet for next to nothing!

Flash Drives can be confusing! I have over 7400 to choose from on my website. 1 GB at $5 a similar item at $9.50….what’s the deal?

At the heart of the problem there is a lot of misinformation about flash drive prices and the cost of memory.

Many customers believe they can buy flash drives at below or at unusually low prices. These prices are generally found online and are often quoted direct from the Chinese manufacturer or through their North American or European agent.

The reality is quality memory costs are the same for every manufacturer as demand for flash chips far outstrips the supply. Kennedy Advertising pays the same for 1000 1 GB pieces of memory as we do for 10,000!

So how do you work your way through this? Please read below as there are some important things you should know.

USB Flash Chips are divided up into 4 different classes/standards.

Grades A, B & C. And the sneaky, Grade D

Grade A:

Tier 1- These are bona fide premium chips with the flash chip manufacturers name & serial number imprinted on the chip itself. These chips are produced by manufacturers such as Samsung and Hynix. They are the most expensive, but also the most reliable offering a lifetime warranty. These are the chips Kennedy Advertising uses.

Grade B:
Tier 1 OEM flash chips. These are made by the same legitimate chip manufacturers in Grade A but are without the manufacturer's brand name imprinted on them. These chips are as reliable but may not be of the same standards that the manufacturer would consider putting their name on it. Kennedy Advertising also sells Grade B. A and B are both fine to use.

Below is where the quality issues & problems begin. These will be some of the least expensive flash drives but also have a very high failure rate.

Grade C:
These are called recycled or reclaimed flash chips (not to be confused with the recycled plastic housings) . These chips are considered waste from the "wafer" that the original manufacturer does not want and considers to be garbage. These have a 30% - 40% failure rate. They are sold by the pound. Literally!!!

Grade D: (The Sneaky Grade)
A Sneaky flash drive supplier will actually imprint an original manufacturer's name on a Grade C chip. It may say Samsung or Hynix, etc. but its most definitely junk/knock-off flash drive. Until The Sneaky Grade Flash Drive land’s at your customer’s door you will not know that they don't work very well.

Payment: People don't always think about this.....All off-shore purchases are pre-paid to a Chinese bank before shipment. What is your recourse if the product fails? A reputable agency such as Kennedy Advertising gives you protection under US commerce laws and the insurance provided by Visa or MasterCard. Plus, we don’t deal with suppliers that sell us anything less than Grade A or B Quaility.

Conclusion: You may find flash drives cheaper than at Kennedy Advertising , but they won’t be better….or even the same! As the old saying goes………The taste of a bargain is easily replaced by the bitterness of being fooled.

If we can be of any help...please do not hesitate to give us a call at 888-725-4487 or in the Las Vegas Valley at 702-324-1334 or you can send an e-mail to john@kennedyadv.com

If you would like, feel free to pass this along to people you know that buy Imprinted Promotional Flash Drives. You may help them save a lot of money.

Visit the Kennedy Advertising Website to Search Product Ideas and Enter the $1000.00 Drawing for Imprinted Promotional Items.

It has taken us a little while, but I think we have finally built our website to the best user friendly level that we have ever had to this point. Over the last few days I went over it with a fine tooth comb so let me share with you.

You can visit the Kennedy Advertising website using two URL’s. They are www.KennedyAdv.com or www.KennedyAdvertising.net You can also perform a Google Search for Kennedy Advertising, Las Vegas and end up at Kennedy Advertising Google Search

The home page gives you:

a. A General Overview of what we do, with a blend specific links of the most popular products that we offer and are purchased by our customers.

b. A Search for Promotional Products Search Engine if you are in need of a specific product at a certain price and want more information.

c. A CALL ME BUTTON that will connect you to me for FREE.

d. A Products Specials Link that will show you what my suppliers are closing out or liquidated from their inventory. (SOME REALLY GOOD BUYS are located here)

e. A Featured Products Link to show you what I currently have ON SALE.

f. A $1000.00 Promotional Product Drawing Link for you to fill out an entry form.

Then, of course, there is your relationship with the person with all the ideas. ME! My goal is to find the best promotional items to fit your promotion and give you the best results possible. If there is anything I can do to help you, please feel free to call on me at anytime.

Best Regards,

John Kennedy
Kennedy Advertising
Las Vegas, NV.
Phone: 702-324-1334
Toll Free: 888-725-4487

6 Warning Signs of Bad Customer Service

I subscribe to several customer service and newsletter blogs. If I see one that to the point and aligns itself well with my message, I'll forward it. The following article by Bob Harris at The Attrition Busters doe it for me....Feel free to read and pass it along to others in your organization. A little refresher from time to time always helps and if I can be of any help please don't hesitate to call on me. John Kennedy, Kennedy Advertising, 702-324-1334.

6 Warning Signs of Bad Customer Service
By Bob Harris, Managing Director, The Attrition Busters

Many business owners and managers seem to be ignoring the main signs that customer service quality isn't as good as it should be, according to Bob Harris, managing director for The Attrition Busters, who has compiled a list of the six key signs to watch out for.

Businesses that deal with consumers seem to be suffering from a definite disconnect between the level of service they want to provide and the service that their employees actually provide.

Six signs of poor service
As a result, Harris suggests the following six key signs that customer service may be in need of some attention - and most probably some staff training - to help restore the customer's faith:

1. Poor employee retention
If employees are leaving too quickly (i.e. within three years), there can be no real opportunity for them to build up relationships with customers. Knowledge about individual customers leaves the company with every lost employee. If this is the case, consider bringing in an outside HR (human resources) consultant to talk to employees and find out what needs to be done to change the situation; employees will often tell an 'outsider' things that they would never tell their manager.

2. Customer complaints
On average, only around 6% of dissatisfied customers will actually take the time to complain. So, out of all the customers who encounter a problem, 94% won't tell you (but they'll tell their friends and family, of course). When these dissatisfied customers do gather the strength to actually complain, many front line employees have a natural instinct to refer the customer to someone else or, worse still, to deny that there's really a problem. So if management sees that there are very few complaints, that doesn't mean that customer service is perfect at all. If employees have not built relationships with customers, many customers will defect without any further prompting. Make sure that your front line teams are required to record all complaints and any action taken to solve them. Complaints data should be treasured, documented, and shared with management. If you're not getting complaint data from the front line, there's a serious problem.

3. Employees aren't empowered to handle problems
Unless front line employees are empowered to resolve customer complaints and problems without resorting to calling supervisors or referring the customer to a manager, customer service - and the company's reputation - will suffer greatly. Customer issues should be handled from start to finish by the same person if at all possible. Customers do not want to wait or, even worse, be transferred to multiple people to have their problems solved. There is nothing worse than having to repeat the problem over and over again to different people. This is where you need employee training and empowerment: give the whole customer-facing team the knowledge, tools, and authority they need to defuse angry customers.

4. Loss of long-term customers
When a long-term customer leaves, you need to notice it and query it. When you have built a long-term relationship with a customer, your ability to retain that customer significantly increases. So when a customer who would normally give you the benefit of the doubt takes their business elsewhere, the problem is almost always the service they've received. Try to find out the real reason they defected, and use that information to prevent it from happening again. Remember that flexibility is needed in order to make changes in the company based on information from lost customers.

5. Fewer referrals
A business with delighted customers should always be gaining new customers from referrals. If your service isn't good, referrals will drop off first - even before your existing customers defect to a competitor. This makes the continual monitoring of referral levels one of the most powerful indicators of ongoing customer satisfaction. To quote a wise mentor, "Satisfied customers buy from you, but delighted customers sell for you." Also, if you're gaining lots of new customers but losing just as many existing customers, this indicates a serious disparity between what your brand is promising and what it actually delivers.

6. Low morale
Employees' morale is something that shows whenever they interact with customers, and the customer is quick to pick up on negative sentiment toward the company. While low morale is not always a result of poor customer service (although it can be due to a lack of empowerment), it always creates poor service. If this is the case, the management needs to try to instill a sense of pride throughout the company, and offer employees some well-deserved rewards and recognition. Empower employees to make decisions (within reasonable limits), and train them to make good decisions that have both the customer's and company's interests at heart.

While there are obviously more than six signs that identify bad customer service, these are certainly among the main ones to watch out for. If you recognize any single one of these six signs, the time has come to focus attention on fixing it urgently. If you recognize more than one of these six signs, there's no time to waste: you're already losing market share.

---Source: Reprinted from The Wise Marketer Feb 22, 2008 newsletter www.thewisemarketer.com.

Kennedy Advertising Launches New Web Site

Las Vegas, Nevada- Kennedy Advertising, http://www.kennedyadv.com/ , recently launched a Web site to continue giving custom printing and promotional products buyers the best service possible. The new site features an electronic catalog of more than 155,000 promotional products along with a detailed list of custom printing services.

Customers can now go to http://www.kennedyadv.com/ and research products for any promotional opportunity including: custom printing, business gifts, awards, recognition items, motivation, event promotion and product fulfillment. With the advanced product search function, visitors can search for products by price range, production time, or product category.

Kennedy Advertising also serves up promotional ideas in Promotion Connection, the company’s monthly online newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. Just visit the store, click on Promotion Connection and read about a successful promotion. There's even a planning calendar that lists well-known and not-so-well-known events throughout the year.

Kennedy Advertising has a secure server that accepts orders directly from the Web site in a secure setting. The server uses the latest encryption technology to ensure that all sensitive information is transmitted virtually risk-free. Still, many people prefer to place orders by phone. Users who wish to research the products online and then place an order by phone may call Kennedy Advertising at: 888-725-4487

As an added bonus, each month visitors to Kennedy Advertising’s web site, can register for a chance to win $1,000 in promotional products of their choice. Just click on the moneybag icon that says, "Enter $1000 Drawing."

Kennedy Advertising is a Full Service Custom Printing and Imprinted Promotional Products Company located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Established in Minneapolis Minnesota in 1971, Kennedy Advertising, has been a member of the Advertising Specialty Institute for over 35 years. As the company expanded its selling capabilities on the Internet, they relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 to centralize fulfillment operations, expand fulfillment capabilities and trade show services.

For more information contact:

John Kennedy
Kennedy Advertising
Phone: In Las Vegas: 702-324-1334 or Toll Free 888-725-4487
E-mail: john@kennedyadv.com
Fax: 702-974-0119
Date: March 26, 2008