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Pens

Posted 15th October 2007 by Jen Creer, tagged marketing, pens, free swag, conference blues

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Yesterday, as I was thinking about the marketing swag I bought last year for my company, I was looking at my box of pens.

Last year, I gave away so many pens with my logo, and yet how many clients did I get a result of this? Well, not enough to make it worth my while to do it again this year. 

I am happy to give away the post-it notes and the brochures and the postcards. I even have a couple of mugs I should bring with me and give to favorite clients. 

But these are really good pens and my husband and I use them all the time. Not expensive pens, not nice pens, but they do write well, and we like that. 

So, is it terrible that I am not going to take and give away all of my pens this year?





6 comments so far...

  • (My ulterior motives are showing) If you have extras that you might not use, consider donating them to a school. The students will appreciate the quality pens, and who knows? It might put your name out to potential clients in the form of parents.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Daisy on 1st November 2007

  • No, not terrible at all. If they were a business investment that hasn't paid off, you may as well get the most benefit you can from them! (But if they're all that great, I'm always on the lookout for good pens...) *snort*

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by MaryP on 16th October 2007

  • Swag is a hard thing to target. I say keep your pens, there will probably be a lot of pens floating around from competitors and quite frankly I don't think pens bring business. It's been my experience that swag is best when given to current customers to remind them of you - well designed company literature brings new business.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by CursingMama on 16th October 2007

  • haha, keep 'em if you love 'em (much like friends, no?). I did the same with Sharpies and haven't given away nearly enough (had to buy the minimum) but we use them constantly and they are the ones that only just came out in stores so for a brief period we were really cool. These things pass too fast.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 15th October 2007

  • I'm with Kate - you might consider sharing the pens with the special clients who you'll give the mugs to. I'm an office-supply junkie, and always looking for a great pen.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Florinda Pendley Vasquez on 15th October 2007

  • nah! but if they are that great - maybe include a couple in the mugs you are saving for your favorite clients. more because they write well than anything! i am always on the hunt for a pen that rights well and get so frustraited when i think i am getting a cool vendor pen only to have it skip and not work or clog. grrrr! so if you have good pens, same them for the special people!!!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 15th October 2007

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