Rewarding Good Behavior: Promoting Wellness with Giveaways

Spring is a time of renewal for more than just nature. Every spring millions commit to revive their exercise plan, get ready for bikini season or train for a summer race. Employers, government health agencies, and wellness related brands all have a reason to encourage and reward this healthier behavior.

When you’re creating a promotional campaign that involves giveaways, “affordable” and “creative” need not be mutually exclusive. Here are a few ideas.

Pedometers

Most people starting a fitness program from scratch begin with walking. A discrete promotional pedometer can track the steps they take and help them make better choices to rack up more steps.

Digital Pedometer

• Full color imprint area on face
• Compact design
• No sharp corners to catch on clothing
  

From $1.64

Water Bottles

Everyone gives away water bottles, and for good reason. They are inexpensive, extremely useful and offer a high level of brand exposure. But, if you’re going to give away a water bottle, it never hurts to make it an exceptionally useful model - like one that can stash your driver's license and car keys.

Water Bottle with ID and Key Storage

• BPA Free
• Imprintable on front and cap
• Hidden storage compartment
  

From $2.55

Bags

Some kind of bag is useful in nearly every sport – whether one needs an entire gym bag or just something ultra light to hold their keys and jacket for a quick lunch break stroll.

Draw String Backpack

• 6 inch imprint area
• Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Red, Black, Natural
• Ultra lightweight and folds down into purse

From $0.80

Branded Premiums

If you’re sponsoring a “get fit” program, don’t forget the rewards for those that go above and beyond. For the most improved fitness or wellness levels, consider branded premiums that go hand-in-hand with the active lifestyle.

Apple iPod Shuffle 2 GB

• Holds hundreds of songs
• Headphone with built in remote & volume control
• Ultra compact for sports
  

Just $45.50

Safety

When walking alone or at night, it’s essential to remember basic safety. A super light keychain that’s also a personal alarm (whistle) and an LED light – genius!

Whistle with LED Light

• Ultra compact and lightweight
• Dual function - whistle and LED light
• Keychain included

From $0.48

The U.S. Government Saves - with Promotional Giveaways

If there is one belief Americans can unite around, it is that the government is always spending too much money on something. Last week, the Orange County Register reported that the federal government has spent almost $23 million on promotional items to promote the 2010 Census. That's about $0.07 per person by 2009 population estimates.

If the story stopped there, we could watch the fallout on every major news outlet over the next few weeks. But the government, at least in this case, has a good justification for the spending. According to Stephen L. Buckner, a Census Bureau executive, this spending is actually saving taxpayer money - potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.

When combined with the money spent on other advertising efforts, the Census Bureau is spending around $0.42 per person to ensure census forms are returned. If forms are not returned, the next phase relies on census workers visiting door-to-door to collect census data, which will cost taxpayers $60.00 per person. So, for every percent of the population the government can persuade to return the forms through ads and promotions, they can save taxpayers $85 million.

Let's do some quick math. If $23 million in promotional pens, shirts and mugs reminds just 5% of the populace to return their census forms, the taxpayers will save $425 million. If only a 401(k) offered that kind of return.

The idea of promotional items as a money savers is counter intuitive to many. Most of us think of giveaways as a way to build brand recognition or create a buzz in our market. It could be argued, however, that promotions and premiums actually pack more of a punch when used internally.

A few examples:

• Companies like UPS have found great success using branded premiums as awards for reaching safety milestones, such as five years without a time-loss accident. They may spend hundreds of thousands in iPods, Bose stereos, and Wii consoles but save millions on increased insurance premiums, Worker's Compensation premiums, increased healthcare costs and OSHA investigations.
• Some large corporations have fostered growth by offering non-cash rewards to any employee that thinks up an effective money-saving or money-making plan that the company adopts. Hundreds of previously silent employees suddenly begin offering up ideas for the chance to get a new digital camera. The company saves big on consulting fees while improving employee morale.
• IDN, a nutritional supplement company, considered launching a nationwide weight-loss contest for their product users. Instead, they first started the contest internally - offering cash incentives for the winners and promotional incentives like water bottles, pedometers, hats and t-shirts for all the contestants. Participation was high, which not only boosted the health and happiness of employees, but helped the company fine-tune the program before launching it nationwide. Employee knowledge of the product-line and team-building also improved as a result of participation.

If you're new to the promotional products industry, don't get stuck thinking of promotions as only for customers. Sometimes it pays to first look within.



Travel Dominoes
From $4.86


Double Wall Travel Mug
From $1.85


Metal Steering Wheel Keychain
From $1.24


12" Ruler with Calculator
From $1.49

Runners do it (in part) for the Goodies

In almost every town across the country, the foot race season is swinging into high gear with a race hosted by nearly every charity and municipality.

Recently I participated with a friend in my city's annual marathon and 5k. It was by far the biggest and most expensive race I'd run in to date. The day before the race, we picked up our numbers and shirts and were directed to the "goody bag" station where we were given a large branded sack full of...air and a few ads. My friend and I just looked at each other, confused.

Previous races had always included goody bags with a few promotional items and I'd been looking forward to what this bigger, more expensive race might offer. Thinking I might be just a bit more interested in promotional giveaways than the average person, I brought the topic up to other participants and running friends over the next few days.

The feedback went something like this:

"What, not even a cruddy water bottle?"
"That happened to me too so now I stick to smaller races because they give better stuff."
"You didn't even get a coupon in the ads? Just ads? That's awful!"
"How can they still call it a goody bag if they don't give us goodies?"

Clearly, people don't train themselves into runners for the free promo items. There are easier ways to get water bottles, cow bells, pedometers, and energy bars. However, they do take the goodies into consideration when selecting a race.

Why such a focus on promotional items?

It's actually pretty simple. Social rules prevent most of us from walking into the office or gym and bragging about how we just finished first in our division in the local 5k. Most of us couldn't get away with wearing the t shirt or the medal to work either - even on casual Friday.

We can, however, carry our commemorative Boston Marathon water bottle with us to the water cooler for a refill. Naturally, this will spark conversations like "Wow, Chuck! You ran in the Boston? You clearly deserve a promotion!"

OK, maybe not. But you can't stop a runner from dreaming.


Full Color Imprint Pedometer
From $1.64


Pedometer with Belt Clip
From $1.65



Mini Pedometer with Belt Clip
From $1.20

Volunteerism Makes the World Go 'Round

Most of us (especially if we don't benefit from a charity) don't realize how much volunteers really touch our lives. I know I had no idea until recently how many volunteers and how many man-hours it required to make our small town's little league come together each spring.

In our town of just 5,000 people there are about a dozen teams, each with two or three coaches plus team mothers that keep everything organized and all the children comfortable. At a league level there are six umpires, two field maintenance dads, two secretaries, a treasurer, a finance controller, a president, a concessions manager and countless other parents that pitch in to make sure the children get to participate in this great American pastime. Without volunteerism something as simple as little league baseball would be completely impossible.

We're only one game into the season and I'm already planning my personal "thank you" gifts for the people that coach my son's team.

If you're organizing an event that relies on volunteers, remember to reward your helpers with a lasting memento of their contribution. Not only is it good manners, it goes a long way toward getting their help again next year.

Thank You Gift Ideas:



Metropolitan Business Tote
From $2.27


Acrylic Magnetic Photo Frame
From $6.25



25 Piece Tool Kit Flashlight
From $4.68


Aluminum Water Bottle
From $1.75

Make Your Promo a Problem Solver

Men are not known for their gleeful embrace of holiday shopping. These events, although they tend to fall on the same day each year, have a way of sneaking up on guys. When you're considering your next promotional giveaway for a male audience, keep this in mind. Often you'll find you can create a program that solves one of life's big problems for guys: shopping.

A late spring campaign to sell lawn mowers, for example, could creatively solve a shopping dilemma by offering a feminine garden tool kit as a giveaway with purchase. Mother's Day? Solved!

The Larry Miller auto dealership in Salt Lake City Utah has a novel promotional campaign during the competitive holiday season. The dealership includes a generous package of coupons for free restaurant meals, tickets to NBA games, and movie tickets with every new car purchase in December. The idea is that these coupons, worth about $2,000 in total, can gifted to everyone on the car buyer's Christmas list - solving their holiday shopping problems.

The Larry Miller dealership chose these offers because they are owned by the same parent company as the basketball team, movie theaters and restaurant in question - but that's not necessary to employee a similar technique.

Examine your demographic and decide who else they might shopping for in the near future. Then offer appropriate "re-giftable" promotions like iPod accessories, tool kits, laptop bags and video cameras.