City National Bank & Trust turned up the heat this year by throwing a “Family Fiesta” for their employees on Cinco de Mayo. “From the invitations to the employees to the event itself, we focused on the Cinco de Mayo theme,” said De Roin Motah, Marketing Manager, “and it was a hit!” 

With 35 locations across the state that are open six days a week, the event planners had to find a central location for the picnic… and it had to be on a Sunday. “The reason for the family picnic is to get our families together,” De Roin said. “They are all part of our bank’s family and we want them to meet each other. It builds teamwork and camaraderie.”

And, the event planners have learned a few things about throwing a great company party. For instance, hosting the event in early May avoided the oppressive Oklahoma summer heat, but it was also before graduations, weddings and vacations. Experience has taught them to plan plenty of activities, too. The Family Fiesta featured:

• A live DJ
• A photobooth
• A rock climbing wall
• Several large bounce houses
• Pinatas for the kids and for the adults
• Face painting
• A cactus ring toss
• A volleyball tournament
• Adult relays
• A jalapeno-eating contest (the highlight of the day!)
• And a line dance at the end of the day!

“We also learned to hire out for the family picnic,” said De Roin. “When the employees are working the event, they don’t get to enjoy it… and that defeats the purpose of getting everyone together!”

To that end, City National had the event catered by Ted’s Cafe Escondido (a VERY popular Mexican restaurant in OKC) and had a vintage ice cream truck arrive for dessert.

Next year, the annual event (which had over 400 attendees!) will probably move to a different venue, such as the OKC Zoo, where the entertainment factor is provided by the venue for a change of pace, said De Roin. However, everyone will certainly remember the 2013 Family Fiesta! 

“Real artists ship.” – Steve Jobs

“Are you a serial idea-starting person? The goal is to be an idea-shipping person.” – Seth Godin

While these two innovative thought-leaders are using “shipping” metaphorically in reference to following through on ideas, there is a direct connection to your marketing materials, too. If your branded products never make it into your audience’s hands, they do absolutely no good. The problem, of course, is shipping your collateral without breaking the bank. ROBYN can help.

With over 50,000 packages going out our doors each year, ROBYN Promotions knows a thing or two about shipping. Our clients trust us to manage their projects from creation, through the manufacturing process and into our climate-controlled warehouses. However, it’s our sophisticated shipping practices that ensure their products will arrive at the right place, at the right time, every time. And that’s what counts.

It’s no secret that shipping product is expensive. Between higher fuel costs, a shortage of drivers and more demand than ever, you need a partner who can help you avoid over-paying for shipping. ROBYN typically saves their clients between 15-30% on freight because our volume commands the best UPS rates.

There are more ways for you to save on shipping, though!

• Plan for shipping on the front-end
  • Plan on sending 5,000 mugs to that tradeshow in Las Vegas? Fantastic! What if you only give away 3,000 of them? How are you getting the rest back?
• Bank your orders
  • Instead of Angie in accounting ordering envelopes from the company store on Tuesday and Tom in HR ordering lunch bags on Thursday, it’s cheaper to order them all at once and make it just one shipment.
• Set-up standard shipping dates
  • Many of our clients have a bulk order shipped on specific dates. Unless it is an urgent situation, shipments only go out on those days. The company typically pays for the freight, which means employees do not have to pay for shipping!
• Keep enough products in inventory
  • Expedited freight is always more expensive than standard ground freight. By keeping enough products on the shelves, you avoid having to rush items for your events.
• Use branded boxes
  • Many of our clients have found that by using branded boxes for their branded materials, they are easier to identify, track and locate within their own facilities, thereby eliminating the need to re-order due to being misplaced.

ROBYN’s shipping department continuously reviews packaging and shipping methods and makes revisions as needed to ensure our clients are getting the best value for their shipping dollars. Recently, a ROBYN client ordered case quantities of five different products. A thorough analysis showed shipping these five boxes separately would cost the company $106.40 (compared to $140.15 quoted at the UPS Store). However, by re-packing the items into three boxes, the charge became $80.79 (compared to $120.31 at the UPS Store). That’s a $60 savings on just one order!

Often times, our clients are concerned about their employees incurring shipping charges on items they have been gifted. The ROBYN branded products company store provides a variety of ways for you let employees order their products without having shipping added. It’s a great solution around the shipping charge issue!

Having the perfect promotional items ready to go at a moment’s notice is just the beginning of a winning campaign. Being able to ship the right item at the right time in the most cost-effective manner is what seals the deal. That’s why shipping is a cornerstone to the success of the ROBYN Company Store Solution.

“The concept for the program was really born out of necessity,” says Tim Berney, president of VI Marketing and Branding. “Downtown has become a pedestrian environment and we’re often caught going from one building to another without an umbrella on rainy days. We thought it would be nice to be able to provide folks a courtesy umbrella to borrow – like borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor.”

Of course, a savvy marketer like Tim would never pass up a golden opportunity to gain brand awareness by putting the VI logo on these moving billboards, but his team has taken it to another level. “We wanted a more global acceptance of the brand, so we partnered with Downtown OKC and have provided an opportunity for other companies to purchase umbrellas imprinted with their logos and include them in the umbrella share program.”

The Pop-Ins umbrella share program provides umbrellas for anyone to use. They simply grab an umbrella from the stylish umbrella stands (sponsored by Bob Moore Land Rover) strategically located in buildings all over downtown and leave it in the umbrella stand at their destination. Borrow. Use. Return. It’s that easy. As Mary Poppins would say, “Why complicate things that are really quite simple?”

To launch the initiative, VI and Downtown OKC led a procession of umbrella-wielding folks down Park Avenue and around the corner to Leadership Square where a press conference was held. Not one, but THREE Mary Poppins characters were there for pictures before going different directions, in and out of buildings, to garner attention for the program. And it worked.

“We have already fielded many inquiries from companies who are interested in being a part of the program,” said Tim. If you, or a company you know downtown, might be interested in learning more about the Pop-Ins program, check this out. After all, “Well begun is half done,” says Mary Poppins. 

The Spring Beta was held Thursday, May 2nd, at the IAO Gallery with an after-party at The 404, OKC’s premier coworking space located on Film Row. With food and drinks provided, ample time for networking and a dozen speakers covering a wide range of topics in a lightning talk format, Open Beta is an entrepreneur’s dream. “The Spring Beta was a soft re-launch of the Open Beta series of events,” said Eric Granata, Director of Ecommerce at ROBYN. “It was limited to 100 attendees, but the October event will be wide open.”

From venture funding to bootstrapping, the Spring Beta was chock full of presentations designed to help young start-ups. “There were talks about emerging technologies, 3D printing, how to raise venture capital… even how to cold call properly,” said Eric.

“The idea is to have these Open Beta events twice a year,” says John Kerber, organizer of the event. “While the Spring Beta was more start-up focused than previous ones, we’re planning the Fall Beta to be more encompassing of all things disruptive… of people who are trying to build a better world.” Speaking of building a better world, even the swag bags each attendee received were made from recycled materials!

“It was amazing to me to hear some of the conversations that were happening,” said John. “Many people told me how great it was to see these people in the same room. They were really learning a lot from each other.”

That’s Oklahoma City for you. Silicon Prairie, indeed. 

While the concept of this “marketing closet” sounds like a marketer’s dream, often times marketers are afraid of what is involved in building their own. ROBYN Promotions has been building and managing company stores for over 20 years and would like to share 3 critical insights for developing a marketing products management system.

1. Promotional Products: Define Your Core

A quick online search for promotional products provides thousands of items you can put your logo on, but that doesn’t mean you should! When we begin working on a branded company store with a new client, we start by analyzing what has worked for the company in the past to get a feel for their culture. “After doing some research, we are able to suggest other products that might also be effective for them,” says Sara Janzen, a Client Care Specialist at ROBYN.

Your company is unique and you need a selection of products and a branded merchandise store that reflects who you are. Our research team works with you to create items that are distinctive and reflects your brand and message. Over the years, however, we have identified several core categories of products that work well for most companies and we encourage new clients to carry items in these categories that fit their culture and the message they want to communicate. Some of these categories include: writing instruments, drinkware, hats, golf shirts, dress shirts, jackets, padfolios, desktop items and usb drives.

There's more to "defining your core" here!

2. Designing Your Company Store

Over our 20+ years, we have worked with a wide variety of companies, each with their own unique needs and goals for their branded e-store. ROBYN offers companies of all sizes several packages with a wide assortment of options to build a system that best fits their needs. Each company store is built on the same platform, so upgrading from a basic store to a custom store as your needs change can be done without starting from scratch.

ROBYN’s basic store quickly provides an effective tool for you to manage your marketing collateral through a clean, easy-to-navigate interface that is branded with your logo. For companies who require a custom design, additional reporting features, support of multiple brands, customized print solutions, video tutorials and other advanced features, an advanced store can be developed to meet your specific needs.

More discussion about "designing your e-store" here...

3. Unveiling Your New Branded Merchandise Store

Once all the components are in place and your marketing collateral management system has been thoroughly tested, it’s time to invite your audience to try it out. We have found these three steps work extremely well:

• Communication – Tell your audience what you have built and how it is going to help them. Often times, our clients ask ROBYN to manage an email campaign through the store itself to invite users to try the new e-store.

• Incentivize your team – The most effective way to get users to go through an entire transaction on the new site is to give them free company swag or a discount on their first purchase. Whether it’s unique coupon codes, a points system or money in their accounts, ROBYN can manage the entire program for you.

• Ask for feedback – We have found that when employees feel like part of the program, they are more supportive of it. Plus, they often times have great ideas for additional products or features that will make the store more useful.

More tips for launching your branded merch store are just a click away!

Developing a successful system for managing your marketing collateral requires a commitment to seeing it through, planning for the many ways it can serve your audience and an experienced partner who understands your needs and can provide solutions. For more information about the ROBYN Company Store Solution, please contact one of our experts at 877.211.9711.

“The kids are BIG fans of the decals,” said Chase Harvick, Communications Coordinator for OETA, The Oklahoma PBS affiliate. “We’ve been giving them out at some big events this year to raise awareness about the new PBS Learning Media website.” Featuring over 20,000 activities and lesson plans for teachers and home educators, the new site is integrated with other media found on the OETA website.

“We reach over 1.8 million Oklahomans each week through our four channels,” said Chase. “Our goal right now is to make sure parents and educators are aware of this new resource and all the fantastic, kid-friendly programs we have.”

And these shows are not just fun to watch. A recent study found the PBS shows increased student’s test scores by 46%. Word Up, Word Girl!

On April 9th, OETA teamed up with the Oklahoma City Zoo to present Read Across Oklahoma 2013 and on April 16th, over a thousand people joined them for the OETA Day at the Capitol. This week, Chase’s team will be at a home school conference in Tulsa.

“We’re working to get our message out,” says Chase. “It’s hard to beat Curious George as a spokesman!”

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We have helped launch many corporate e-stores over the years, and the knowledge we have gained makes it easier for you – and your users – to not only navigate the new e-store, but to understand how it can become an integral part of many activities throughout the company.

1. Communication

The single most important thing marketers must do with their new Marketing Closet is to tell people about it! Post it on the intranet, send out emails, have notes inserted into paychecks… You’re a creative marketer. Find a way to get the message to your audience because they don’t know what the company merchandise store is or how valuable this tool is going to be for them.

Of course, this type of communication isn’t limited to just the initial launch. The Email Marketing feature of the Advanced Company Store is a fantastic way for ROBYN’s clients to continue to connect with their team about new products, sale items or advanced features being added to the store (such as variable print added to standard literature). Whether managed by you or your ROBYN Client Care Specialist, this is a great way to encourage your team to use your new branded merch store.

2. Incentivize them to use the e-store

When you launch your store, you want to encourage participation. There are several ways to do this, but the most effective method we have found is to give each employee a unique coupon code for a free item or a substantial discount when the store is launched. Not only does this ensure participation from your team, but it also makes their first experience on the new site a positive one.

And, ROBYN can make this really easy for you to manage (and measure!). Our team can either create usernames and passwords for each of your employees and email directly to them or we can simply send instructions to each person about how to get to the site and create their own unique username and password. Either way, your team will be excited to use your branded products store.

Many of our online corporate store clients have us send unique coupon codes to their employees throughout the year. Whether it is to celebrate a birthday or anniversary or to reward team members for achieving a goal, your branded merch store provides a fantastic – and measurable – way to show the company’s appreciation (much better than a gift card!).

3. Ask for feedback

This might be the most important component. Many team members will have ideas about what products should be on the company merchandise store, how things should be organized or other payment options that were not included at the time of the launch. Encourage them to share this information!

We recommend explaining to your team in the initial email: “This is our entry into having a branded merchandise store, and we need your feedback to make it better!” We like to think of it as the 30-60-90 process:

• First 30 days – a good accumulation of ideas and feedback

• At 60 days – store tweaks/modifications (part of our service)

• At 90 days – a new infusion of modified apparel items

Online surveys provide a fantastic method for users to give feedback and for you to measure the results… and ROBYN can manage the whole process for you! From styles of apparel your team would like to see added to categories of items they think should be included, our surveys include multiple-choice, open-ended responses and voting mechanisms. In the Digital Age, this is how you ensure you are meeting your customer’s needs!

We have found that when a company includes their employees in the process of launching their new online corporate store, the usage goes up dramatically over the long haul. The process includes communicating with them, offering incentives to try the e-store and asking for feedback. Sounds like just good ol’ marketing, doesn’t it?

Deciding to build an e-commerce store to manage all your marketing materials is an easy one to make. Figuring out “where do we go from here?” is the daunting part! Fortunately, the ROBYN Company Store Solution pairs our clients with one of our store specialists to walk through the entire process, from selecting products that “define your core” to designing the features and interface of the store to launching it to your team and generating traffic.

Design

Sure, we’re talking about the colors and your logo, but it can be much more than that. ROBYN offers companies large and small many options to make their company store an elaborate, customized marketing catalog or a simple, clean and organized marketing closet. The choice is yours.

All the ROBYN branded merch stores are built on the same engine, so many companies that are new to this concept opt for a basic design… but that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective! This clean, easy-to-navigate store features our most popular support and reporting tools, yet can be launched in a very short time. Whether you want to “test the waters” before upgrading to a more sophisticated store or you simply don’t need more than the essential standard features, the ROBYN Basic Store is as robust as our most advanced offerings.

Over the years, many of our clients who started with a basic design have upgraded their branded their company e-store to better match their corporate look and to take advantage of the advanced features of our custom stores.

Aesthetically, a custom store can be designed to look exactly like the corporate website which gives the store the look and feel of your brand. We have found this to be especially important for companies with multiple offices, franchises or dealer networks. Carrying the company’s culture to the company store gives users more confidence in its ability to support them.

From a technological perspective, our advanced company stores are able to meet the demands from both sides of your online merch store. Visitors to the store crave the features they expect from online retail leaders such as: product zoom, suggested products, video tutorials and additional ordering options. On the other hand, your internal teams want detailed monthly order reports, inventory management and reporting and customer support.

With the ROBYN Company Store Solution, not only are the needs of all your internal customers met, but the systems are managed by our experienced professionals so the burden does not fall on you! This truly creates a win-win-WIN situation for everyone.

Learn more about the ROBYN’s Marketing Closet or contact one of our SwagExperts (877.211.9711) to give you a guided tour.

From face-painters for the kids to classic Corvette rides for the RedHawks’ mascots, a fly-over by a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter jet… even the mayor will be there to throw out the first pitch. Tonight’s game is a celebration, complete with fireworks at the end of the evening!

“We’re ready and excited to open the gates to the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark to begin another successful RedHawks season,” said Michael Byrnes, RedHawks president/general manager. And, get this… The Brick is turning 16 this year. Hard to believe, isn’t it?!

After the third inning, the RedHawks and INTEGRIS Health will present the season’s first “Home Run For Life” featuring 22‐year‐old Mary Beth Davis. In August, 2010, Mary Beth was paralyzed following a car accident but now uses the unique Ekso bionic suit to help her walk during her therapy sessions at the INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center. Mary Beth will demonstrate the use of the Ekso bionic suit on the field while she is honored for her determination and leadership throughout her rehabilitation.

It’s a great night for a baseball game, so grab the kids and enjoy all the evening’s festivities. Gates open at 6:00 and the first pitch is at 7:05. “Tickets are still available,” said Nancy Simmons, merchandising manager, “but you better get here early!” We’ll see you at The Brick! 

Whether your marketing closet is hidden in the darkest recesses of the warehouse or served up to you online via an online company store, having the right products at your fingertips is essential. Business moves quickly. You have to be faster. So how do you find (and keep!) the right products locked and loaded in your arsenal? The same way you solve other important issues: you go to the pros.

One of the key ingredients to the ROBYN Company Store Solution is our sourcing and research team. Not only are these experts up-to-date on the coolest, latest and greatest products available (as well as staple items that work), but they also know with whom they should do business on your behalf. Why is this important? Well, let’s see… safety, compliance, legal issues, print quality, turn times, a successful history!

ROBYN Promotions has been in the branded products business for over 20 years. In that time, we have had the opportunity to build some strong relationships with our preferred suppliers. And, because of our successful history, ROBYN is invited to attend private events where our team meets with executives from some of the best manufacturers in the industry. These relationships often times work out to be very beneficial to our clients.

“Recently, we had a bag order for one of our clients,” said Kalli Kapraun, Product Specialist. “It was a very tight turn-around that they needed, but the vendor said they could meet it. Once the order was placed, however, they said things had changed and it was going to take an extra week – which was one week too long! Fortunately, I had met the VP of the company at EME last year. I gave her a call and she was able to shave that week off. Our client never had to worry about this.”

Of course, strong relationships are important on both sides of our business. When we start working with a client to build a branded merchandise store, we get Sara Janzen, a Client Care Specialist, involved early in the process. She’s great at sharing her experience in developing branded merchandise programs and customizing the product selection to match the new client’s needs.

“There are some core categories that we discuss in our first meeting,” says Sara. Products such as: writing instruments, drinkware, hats, golf shirts, dress shirts, jackets, padfolios, desktop items and usb drives are a good starting point. “Then we move into items that are more industry specific, such as flame-retardant materials for oil field workers or depth gauges for insulation installers,” she said.

“Obviously, our clients know their company’s history better than we do in the beginning stages, so we ask ‘what has worked for you in the past?’ to get a good feel for their culture,” said Sara. “After doing some research, we are able to suggest other products that might also be effective for them. As clients start selecting products, we bring in samples for them to touch and feel to make sure the products meet their expectations.”

We have found that our client’s field teams begin soliciting feedback about the products on the new e-commerce store soon after launch. Knowing the types of products they feel would best serve their customers and prospects helps our research team find even more useful branded merchandise for marketing closet.

This continuous dialog helps to propel the store to becoming even more useful for everyone. And, as the ROBYN team becomes more familiar with our clients, we are better able to suggest products ahead of time, which saves clients time and money down the road.

There are many reasons so many reputable brands look to ROBYN to manage their branded product needs. At the top of the list, however, is our experience in sourcing the best products to meet our client’s needs.

And that’s the problem. You have great marketing materials. You and your team develop killer collateral; you just don’t have a good way to manage it all (because you’re busy marketing!). Maybe you need a professional, affordable way to manage your stuff so you know what you have, where it is and how to easily get it where you need it, when you need it. Maybe you need a Marketing Closet.

ROBYN Promotions has been building and maintaining company stores for some major brands for over 20 years. With climate-controlled warehouses, managed inventory, a web interface for ordering materials and trackable shipping to any location, the ROBYN Company Store Solution is world-class. Now we are making these tools available to marketing departments of all sizes.

Chock full with many of the features of the biggest and baddest online company stores we’ve built, the Marketing Closet is a robust branded e-store at an incredibly low price: $250 for set-up and $50 per item that is added (which includes professional photography!). And, it’s built on the same dynamic engine as our advanced stores, which means:

• Full reporting capabilities
• Inventory management
• Purchase options
  • Coupon code
  • Points-based
  • Purchase Orders
  • Credit Cards

Plus, you can easily upgrade to completely custom-designed store (with all the bells and whistles you choose) down the road without having to start over. This makes it a low-risk way for you to try it out, kick the tires, and see how your team likes it before you put all your marketing materials in The Closet.

It’s so affordable and easy to use, in fact, that some of our clients use this tool for just a single annual event such as shirt and jacket give-aways to their employees. Instead of having their team manage hundreds of items in multiple sizes and colors, plus shipping them to different locations, The Marketing Closet takes care of all the details.

Talk with one of our experienced marketing consultants today about ways The Marketing Closet can help you get control of your stuff. And, we’ll hook you up with some great swag as well!

“We make a commitment as a franchisor to continue to educate our franchisees,” said Rachel Rudisill, Advertising Manager. “It’s not just something we talk about. It’s even written in our franchise agreement.”

Part of this on-going training takes place at the company’s International Leadership Conference (ILC). Held in a different location each year, ILC provides the franchisees with many unique opportunities to learn. “While we provide structured training for the attendees, they are also learning from each other,” said Rachel. “They get to talk with other business people who are experiencing the same types of challenges and rewards as they are.”

One of the highlights of ILC is the awards banquet, where over 350 awards are given out by the CEO and Chairman, Bob Funk, and the Vice Chairman, Bill Stoller. “Express values people and their accomplishments,” said Sonja Bearden, Interactive Marketing & Creative Services Manager. “We want to make sure we recognize them and give credit where credit is due.”

The beautiful, handcrafted crystal awards represent over 40 categories of excellence. “We award offices for various reasons, such as best gross margin and number of new clients,” said Sonja. “And we have a Circle of Excellence award that includes criteria such as ethics and legality.” This year, Express awarded 216 offices with Circle of Excellence awards. 

“Bob Funk [chairman of the board and chief executive officer] loves to recognize people and their accomplishments,” says Sonja. To that end, Express has worked with ROBYN to develop an annual awards program that includes over 40 categories with more than 350 personalized awards given out each year.

“Express recognizes the efforts of our most successful offices in many different categories,” said Sonja. “From highest gross margin to going above and beyond to further the company as a whole… we even have a helping hand award.”

“The Express awards program is a carefully crafted, completely custom awards program,” said Bobby Lehew, Chief Branding Officer for ROBYN. “When designing an awards program for a company, we take great care to ensure that every nuance - every embellishment- reflects the passion that is behind the achievement. The award should reflect the accomplishment: the more passionate the accomplishment, the more formidable the obstacles overcome, the more exquisite the award should be.”

 One of the most popular categories in the awards program is the Circle of Excellence award. “There are 7 levels to this award,” said Sonja, “with criteria that includes gross margin, no legal issues and conducting business in an ethical manner.” In 2013, there were over 200 offices awarded the Circle of Excellence.

“We also award the individual efforts of our franchise owners,” said Sonja. “One of the top awards is the Chairman’s Club which recognizes the highest sales revenue per franchisee.”

“Express understands the value of recognizing members of the organization for their efforts and has put together a first-class awards program,” said Becky. “We have a system for ordering, proofing, physically checking and shipping every one of these awards to the recipients. It works really well and that makes everyone happy!”

Express Employment Professionals don’t just encourage their own associates to become better leaders, though. They also help their clients and friends improve their skills with the Refresh Leadership Simulcast.

The Refresh Leadership Simulcast will be held on Wednesday, April 17th, and is absolutely FREE for you to attend! Presented LIVE in Pensacola, Florida, the event will be shown in over 150 locations across the US and Canada. Kicking off first thing in the morning, the event will feature dynamic presentations from Guy Kawasaki, Terry Bradshaw and Amanda Gore. Seats are going quickly, so reserve yours now!

For our friends in OKC, the day begins with a complimentary breakfast at the Museum Café at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art at 7:00 am. The program will begin at 7:45 and is scheduled to end at 11:45 with breaks between each presenter. Join the Express team for breakfast, door prizes and a morning of leadership awesomeness. 

“Express recognizes the efforts of our most successful offices in many different categories,” said Sonja. “From highest gross margin to going above and beyond to further the company as a whole… we even have a helping hand award.”

“The Express awards program is a carefully crafted, completely custom awards program,” said Bobby Lehew, Chief Branding Officer for ROBYN. “When designing an awards program for a company, we take great care to ensure that every nuance - every embellishment- reflects the passion that is behind the achievement. The award should reflect the accomplishment: the more passionate the accomplishment, the more formidable the obstacles overcome, the more exquisite the award should be.”

One of the most popular categories in the awards program is the Circle of Excellence award. “There are 7 levels to this award,” said Sonja, “with criteria that includes gross margin, no legal issues and conducting business in an ethical manner.” In 2013, there were over 200 offices awarded the Circle of Excellence. 

“We also award the individual efforts of our franchise owners,” said Sonja. “One of the top awards is the Chairman’s Club which recognizes the highest sales revenue per franchisee.”

“Express understands the value of recognizing members of the organization for their efforts and has put together a first-class awards program,” said Becky. “We have a system for ordering, proofing, physically checking and shipping every one of these awards to the recipients. It works really well and that makes everyone happy!”

“These basketballs are an ENORMOUS hit with people,” said Andy Greene, Manager of Marketing & Enrollment. “We have done orange ones in the past, but the professionals at ROBYN suggested switching to our school colors, which has made them even more popular!” And, the basketballs tie in perfectly with the new tagline for the SNU Graduate Studies in Management program:

 You can do this.

“When we’re at job fairs,” said Andy, “we meet many people who are realizing they need to advance their education to advance their careers, but they are afraid and they ask ‘Can I do this?’ We tell them, ‘We don’t have a program for other people. We have one for you. You can do this.’”

Of course, the branded basketballs are just one component of complete campaign that features: billboards, radio spots, print ads, direct mail and online advertising. SNU also sponsors events, attends career fairs and meets with the human resource departments of companies who offer their employees tuition assistance.

With a game plan that covers each position, it’s easy to get your message in the goal… nothin’ but net.

However, one cannot underestimate the importance of your physical marketing collateral. From business cards, stationery and envelopes to catalogs, brochures and branded give-away items, you need to have these items ready to go at a moment’s notice. Somebody has to it.

Good news. Somebody does!

The ROBYN Company Store Solution is a feature-rich platform that makes ordering, managing and shipping your brand’s physical assets a hassle-free process. With several standard packages sized to meet your needs – and more add-on features than any other provider – ROBYN is truly a one-stop shop for managing your marketing supplies.

	Branded Apparel – Whether it’s six logoed golf shirts for a golf outing in Long Beach or 6,000 printed t-shirts for a tradeshow in Chicago, you will always know exactly how many you have on hand and how quickly they can be where you need them.
	Company Literature – Catalogs, brochures, information sheets, business cards, sales kits, tradeshow handouts… There are literally thousands of different types of printed pieces companies might use in their marketing efforts. We have the space to store all your branded merchandise, the technology to manage the inventory and the systems to ship them where you need them… when you need them.
	Templated Print Ads – What about when one of your remote offices needs an ad to run in the local paper… by 3:00 TODAY?! One of the most cutting-edge features of the ROBYN branded merchandise store is the online ad-builder. With pre-determined sizes, layouts and images approved by your marketing department, your employees in the field can create customized, high-resolution art files with just a few clicks of the mouse.
	Swag – We have it. And we can help you get it (we are the SwagExpert.com, after all!). Need a couple of grills with your logo on them for a client’s company cookout? No problem. What about 5,000 logoed keychain pocket knives (thank you, TSA!) for your sales force to give out? You bet. Our seasoned team of experts help you find the perfect promotional products to meet your needs, whether it’s for a one-time give-away or an ongoing campaign.
	Tradeshow Materials – Sure, we can manage all your posters, literature, logoed give-away items and marketing supplies, but we can also store and ship your tradeshow booths, too. Our experienced shipping department knows the ins and outs of getting your packages to even the most remote locations for any kind of special event.

You hired your marketing team to create more sales opportunities for your brand, so let them. ROBYN provides an affordable way for your team to easily manage your brand’s marketing products… via the web… at any time, day or night. Now, that’s smart marketing!

Ski Camp. The name alone conjures up all kinds of thoughts and feelings, doesn’t it? For these teenagers who are battling cancer, though, Ski Camp has a meaning much deeper than most of us could ever imagine. As one of six camps the Cavett Kids Foundation puts on each year, Ski Camp gives 20 young adults a chance to go to Winter Park, CO, for a well-deserved week of fun in the snow.

Accompanied by the same doctors and nurses who help them battle their various types of cancer, the kids spend their days learning to ski, and their evenings learning about each other. “It’s a big bonding experience for these kids,” says Jenny Rodgers, a Cavett Kids staff member and former camper. “It’s tough to be a teenager anyway, but many of these kids have image issues, too. This gives them a chance to connect.”

Each night during the camp, the young adults boot out the doctors, nurses and other volunteers so they can bond with each other. “This connection is the most powerful part of it,” Jenny said. “They are all going through the same thing and in talking with each other, they find that they fit in. The group says, ‘We get it. We understand.’”

The transformation these kids go through during the week at Ski Camp is amazing. “They are different kids than when they left,” says Jenny. “While there, each camper writes a letter about what the camp means to them and it’s incredible to see these phrases appear over and over:”

   I feel normal for once.

   I’m not an outcast.

   I’m understood.

   People get me. 

In addition to the six camps the Cavett Kids Foundation organizes each year for children with a variety of illnesses, they also host many special events and have created a Diversionary Play Program at the University of Oklahoma Children’s Physicians. The foundation hopes to expand this program throughout Oklahoma to help over 65,000 patients, siblings and parents each year.

The Cavett Kids Foundation does not charge the patients or their families for any of their programs. “They have plenty of medical bills to worry about,” said Jenny. “They don’t need to worry about this, too!” Instead, the group relies on generous donations, both cash and in-kind, from companies and individuals who want to make a difference in these children’s lives. You can help, too.

ROBYN Promotions donated hoodies to the Ski Camp and helps supply campers with other apparel throughout the year. As many of our friends know, ROBYN’s CEO, Bobby Lehew, has witnessed first-hand how helpful this organization is. You can read more on the ROBYN blog.

And... check out this awesome video the group made during the week. 

“The IT department catches a lot of flack, but they really bail us out when we need them,” says Chris Forbes, author of Guerilla Marketing for Nonprofits. “I stumbled across CWD six or seven years ago and thought it was hilarious. It seems like a great event for businesses with an IT department to show their appreciation.” And with that, the CheeseWeaselDay.com website was born.

April 3rd has become the official Cheese Weasel Day when tech workers around the world are rewarded for their good work with a piece of cheese under their mouse. This year, however, the Cheese Weasel has teamed up with ROBYN to make ordering official Cheese Weasel Day gifts and cheese trays a piece of… cheese?

In the Information Age, technology is the backbone of every business. Cheese Weasel Day gives us all a chance to join in the spirit of fun and say “Thanks” to the folks who make the digital magic happen.

For our friends in the OKC area, there is a Cheese Weasel Party at the 404 on Film Row on Wednesday, April 3rd, from 11-1. See you there! 

“When you stop worrying about the people who will never love you, you actually find the ones who do, and will,” says Erika Napoletano, author of the very popular book, The Power of UNpopular, who will be speaking at the AMAOKC luncheon on Thursday, March 14th. 

Erika is the “Head Redhead” at RHW Media, “a brand strategy firm that gets businesses UNstuck and over those annoying problems that keep them from being awesome” and will be in OKC to share her insights. From identifying your audience and focusing on them (while ignoring those who are not your targets) to creating a brand that is shareable and scalable… it’s going to be an intense luncheon.

It will be so intense, in fact, that 45 minutes will only whet your appetite. That’s why ROBYN has teamed up with the AMAOKC to give the first 75 people through the door a personalized copy of her book. How cool is that?! SwagOn!

And, a little birdie has told us that Erika will also be doing a half-day seminar at the MarketingProfs B2B Forum in October (you can save up to $800 by enrolling now). 

Each company is unique and every brand has their own internal challenges. However, we have found that a company store is one of the best ways for companies to manage their marketing collateral. Take 30 seconds to see the 5 Keys to a Company Store. We think you'll agree.

5 Keys to an Effective Company Store

from

ROBYN Promotions

It’s easy to get hooked on the ‘Profs (they’re that good!). So, you might want to step up to the PRO membership, which gives you a whole extra level of tools, reports, articles, seminars… and discounts on all kinds of cool things. Plus, when PRO members renew their memberships, they get some killer swag that just might entice them to do their own little “happy dance”. (Full disclosure - Michael submitted that video in anticipation of the Marketing Fuel mug. If that's not a fan of the brand, what is?!)

“People tend to see MarketingProfs as an online company only,” says Nicole Rodriguez, marketing manager for PRO memberships. “But we’re real people on this end and we’re trying to get a more personal touch with our PRO members.” Of course, ROBYN is all about the personal touch!

“We try to encourage PRO members to renew early,” she said. “Some of the most effective ways have been to send postcards and offer incentives like the mugs, discounted renewal rates or a month of membership for free. We want them to remember that ‘there’s this great community of smart people… they know me… and they’ll miss me if I’m gone’.”

Trend-setting content marketing online plus stellar offline marketing with a personal touch. Brilliant. That’s why they are the MarketingProfs.

“Spring Training” is right around the corner. Become a Basic Member today (it’s free!) and stay in the know. Tell them your friends at ROBYN sent you.
 

The Buffalo Lounge is a collaborative effort to spotlight Oklahoma musicians, filmmakers, companies and innovators at the massive SXSW conference, which last year attracted more than 50,000 visitors in areas of film, music and interactive software.

This year, more than 30 Oklahoma companies, agencies and organizations are participating in the numerous events held at the Austin venue (known as The 512 throughout the rest of the year) as well as a booth at the SXSW Exhibit Hall during the conference and festival. And, ROBYN is the official marketing partner for the group!

We don’t want to give away any surprises, but there will be some very cool items being used by the Buffalo Lounge to promote Oklahoma music, film, technology… and business. To get things started on the right foot, we want to make sure everyone going to SXSW has their #SwagOn! But, wait! Even if you’re not going to SXSW, we want you to get your #SwagOn, too! 

Jump over to the ROBYN's #SwagOn page and get your free shirt today. Then, wear your gear! If one of the ROBYN SwagExperts catches you with your #SwagOn, you will be happily rewarded.

And, don’t forget to check out our latest innovation, SwagExpert.com, for even more cool gear. There’s a lot going on these days… and we’re glad you are a part of it! 

The “Zero Inventory” Store

Some branded e-store providers advertise an e-commerce solution with “zero inventory”. While the idea of not tying up money in inventory may be appealing, there is much more to this story, so be sure to dig deeper.

Often times, these suppliers have purchased large quantities of specific products from China, and these are the products to which you are limited. The problem arises when you want a specific product, not one that is offered. Too bad. With this this option, “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!”

For smart, creative marketers, this is not a viable option. There is no flexibility to respond to market demands or initiate new, innovative campaigns. You are contractually stuck with the products the supplier has in stock (the same stock they are selling to your competitor!).

The “No Cost” Store

There are a few branded merchandise store providers who promote a “no cost” company store solution. Of course, savvy business people know there is always a cost involved when a service is provided. Why be sneaky and try to hide this fact?

Usually, the “no cost” aspect of these stores relates to building the e-commerce website (which is a basic, no frills store) and monthly maintenance. In order to have them host the store, however, companies are required to buy specified amounts of inventory.

Now, who knows better than you how much of any given product you want to keep in stock? Who knows better than you when one promotional product needs to be phased out because you have another campaign rolling out? With this option, companies are often times stuck paying for thousands of items they did not want and will not use simply because they are under contract to do so.

The ROBYN Company Store Solution

We realized years ago that each company has specific needs and pain points to address for their business and there isn’t a “one size fits all” solution. This is why we offer a variety of types of stores, from very basic to technologically advanced, with options ranging from on-demand to completely inventoried, plus a hybrid store that benefits from the best of both ends of the spectrum.

With an experienced team of merchandise experts, award-winning creatives and web-savvy developers, ROBYN provides more than a storefront for companies to showcase their swag. ROBYN provides an effective way for smart marketers to effortlessly manage every aspect of their physical marketing materials. Inventory, Warehousing, Shipping, Tracking, Reporting… Completely turnkey.

ROBYN is not the right solution for every company. We know that. However, we want to help every company find the right partner for their needs. That’s just good business!

In past years, the company rewarded employees who had zero DARTs with a nice gift, such as a high-quality jacket with the SandRidge logo on it. Coordinating the correct sizes for each recipient and shipping them to the right locations for the award dinner in each town proved to be a logistical headache for the company. Plus, not everyone wants the same thing, no matter how cool it is. There is a better way, though!

“We saw how the ROBYN VIP Store lets each person choose their own gift, and we loved how it worked,” said Christy Kruchten, Communications Specialist II. “In the past, our guys didn’t have any options. This year however, they get a card to choose their own special gift on the new Award Site for Safety.”

While SandRidge already has a corporate branded merchandise store to manage their collateral, this special programs store serves a specific program. Instead of being handed the exact same jacket as the other 200+ award recipients at the celebratory dinner, the guys are given a card with a web address and their own personal log-in information and told they can pick out whichever item they like the best.

How is the employee incentive program working?

The website just launched this week, but before the first celebration dinner was over, ROBYN was already receiving orders from award recipients who were logging-in from their smart phones. Gotta’ love technology! 

“It gives the guys options and we don’t have to track shipments to each location, which is fantastic,” said Christy. “We do a similar program with our new hires and I can see a special programs site like this working for them, too.”

Simple, managed, turnkey solutions that are customized to meet your specific needs. It’s easy to see why so many of our savviest clients are utilizing our company stores in so many creative ways.

And, if employee retention is one of your needs (as it is for every company!), check out this post about why this is such a smart way to reward your team! 

Competitive pay, of course, is a top requirement to retaining employees, however there are many other ways to earn the loyalty of your top performers. One of the most effective strategies is an employee rewards program, which can be easily implemented through a branded merchandise store.

Whether you want to gift every staff member, provide incentive programs where employees accumulate points, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries with gift cards or offer company branded apparel at a discount to employees, the ROBYN company stores can be customized to meet your specific needs. But why a branded e-store? Wouldn’t gift cards be easier?

Giving a gift card from a local retailer to an employee as a reward might appear to be an easier, more efficient way to recognize your employees, but consider this: 2 minutes after the recipient uses the gift card, your gift is gone. And with it goes that sense of appreciation.

However, when a company gives their employees premium branded items as rewards, incentives or appreciation gifts, the brand lives on… and so does the reason for the gift. Taking it one step further, giving the employee a choice of premium items with your company logo on it gives the recipient the opportunity to pick a gift that fits the individual’s lifestyle.

Many of our savviest clients have latched onto this concept with tremendous results. Not only do the employees walk away with a reward that fits their interests and style, but they carry that feeling of appreciation or accomplishment with them. Plus, because ROBYN handles all the details (technology, warehousing, fulfillment, etc.), our clients are not bogged down with them. They are free to focus on other strategic aspects of their business.

We like to talk about the cool things our clients are doing with swag (promotional products). Today, however, we want to give you a heads-up about something incredibly cool we are doing to help you find the right swag. The stuff that's going to catch people's eyes and get you on their radar. Meet our latest innovation...

SwagExpert.com is not like any other site. Taking insight, experience and creativity from ROBYN's 20+ years in the industry and combining it with cutting edge technology, SwagExpert not only shows you the best products available, but also shows you how to use them effectively. That's what makes us the SwagExpert. 

The official launch of SwagExpert.com is still a couple months away, but we want to give you a taste of the goodness that’s coming now. So check it out… refer some friends… and get some killer swag! If it’s from ROBYN, you know it’s going to be good.

Speaking of good... We have some more fantastic news to share. Last month, at the Promotional Products Association International Expo, ROBYN Promotions was recognized with not one, but TWO international awards! We received a Gold Pyramid Award for our work on the AMAOKC Marketini Campaign and a Silver Technology Award for our Swag or Spam video. 

That's all the chest-thumping we're going to do here. You can read the whole story on our "High 5" page. The 2013 Marketini campaign planning is in full force, though, so get ready for another "stellar" invitation to hit your mailbox. If you aren't already on our list, now is the time sign up! 

A company store provides companies with an efficient way to manage their branded merchandise, marketing collateral, forms, etc. From managing inventory to fulfilling orders, the branded e-store serves many purposes. However, these products are useless if they are not shipped to the end-users in a timely manner. But who pays for this shipping? The ROBYN Company Store Solution offers a variety of options to best fit our clients’ needs.

• The Online Retailer Model – Virtually everyone has ordered something from an online retailer and they understand that shipping costs are in addition to the price of the item they ordered.

• Shipping Included – Some stores include the cost of shipping in the price of the items listed on the store. While this does make it easier for visitors to estimate the total price for the items they are ordering, the higher listed price might deter an individual from ordering the products (ie – a $15 shirt with $7 shipping included in the price makes it a $22).

• Free Shipping – Many of our stores absorb 100% of the cost of shipping to encourage their employees to purchase company apparel and promo items. It is a small investment in expanding the brand (and it makes employees very happy!).

• Reduced Shipping Cost – It is also possible for a company to set a flat fee for shipping on their store and then pay the rest themselves (ie – that $15 shirt would only be charged $3 for shipping while the company paid $4 of the shipping cost).

• Consolidated Orders – For franchises and branch offices, one of the most cost-effective ways to order products from the company store is to consolidate orders. Instead of ordering 100 pens on Monday, three different forms on Wednesday and 25 coffee mugs on Friday, all the items are ordered on Friday so our distribution center is able to pack things together and reduce the total cost of shipping the items.

• Bundled Items – Some things just go together. For instance, the ROBYN assembly team has put together bundles of items for clients such as a padfolio, a pen and a flash drive in one package. When a salesperson comes to the store to order a client gift, they can select this bundle and pay one low shipping rate.

• Minimum Quantities – Rather than offering small items (ie – pens, mousepads, etc.) as individual items, some of our clients require minimum quantities to order, which keeps shipping rates low per item.

Being able to offer so many options (and customizing them even further to match our clients’ unique needs) is what makes the ROBYN Company Store Solution a leader in the branded merch store business… and that’s why we never stop innovating! Check out some more ways to design a store that works for you.

 Today, about 18% of Oklahoma’s population is 60 or over. By 2030, however, OHAI expects 1 in 4 people in the state to be in that group. “The numbers are growing… and that’s a good thing!” says Gayle Semtner, Community Development Specialist. “As you age, it’s important to see a geriatrician because they are trained in multiple disciplines. Usually, when a senior has an issue, it’s not a single issue. There are many factors involved.”

With a network of partners across the state, OHAI works to establish new primary care clinics that integrate senior-focused medical and social services as well as educate people about aging health concerns. “We want to catch everyone while they’re healthy,” said Gayle. “And we want to keep them that way.”

As part of their awareness and education campaign, OHAI worked with ROBYN to create a variety of branded products that not only reinforces the agency’s brand, but are also focused on their target markets. While a grippy jar-opener isn’t ideal for every company, when connecting with seniors, it’s a perfect promotional device.

OHAI has also worked with Third Degree Advertising to create several radio spots that will be focused on the northeast quadrant of the state over the next three months. “We did a great deal of research and have identified a real need in this area,” said Gayle. “In 2013, our Tulsa office will be giving 2-4 education seminars in each of the 19 counties it serves and we will use these products to remind people of who we are and what we do.”

Good health is the key to successful aging, says OHAI. Educating ourselves now allows us to live life to the fullest, even into our senior years. 

“We gave all our full-time coaches this beautiful padfolio as a Christmas gift this year,” said Marianne Reeves, Athletic Operations Manager / Senior Woman Administrator at ECU. “They were all thrilled with it!” Marianne worked with ROBYN to find something that was nice, but also very useful. “We’ve done a variety of things in the past – pull-overs, shirts… that kind of thing. This was by far the most popular item ever, though,” she said.

Funded through the East Central University Foundation, Inc., the gift giving didn’t stop with the coaches. “We gave all our corporate sponsors ECU umbrellas,” said Marianne. “Ironically, it was during the three or four days that we actually had rain in December, so it was perfect timing!”

Perfect timing. Giving the right gift to the right person at the right time. Coaches who will use their branded padfolios on their next recruiting trip… sponsors who will use their branded umbrellas on their way to the next rainy home game… and magical moments that were created by smart, practical thinking by the Athletics department. Yep. That’s perfect timing. 

From a 20,000-foot perspective, this sounds like a sound business strategy. Unfortunately, in our 21 years in the business, we have found that less than 5% of your employees will actually pay to wear your brand. With this jarring statistic in mind, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate why you want to build an employee store.

Sell vs. Give

Most employees don’t buy branded merchandise because they expect the company to give it to them. If you put yourself in their shoes, it is a legitimate point-of-view. If they are going to spend money on apparel, why would they want your logo on it? For the same price, they could buy a golf shirt that sports a lifestyle brand they like (Nike, Disney, etc.). These employees are not at fault for taking this approach; it’s human nature. If you want them to wear your brand, you will have to give the product to them or make it available at a substantial discount compared to the list price.

Sometimes, employees are required to wear branded merchandise (uniforms, casual days, event gear, etc.). Regardless of the reason for the clothing requirement, a sure-fire way to create hostile feelings is to force these employees to purchase the required clothing and accessories at a premium price.

There are, however, two highly desirable customers for whom the selling approach works: stakeholders and fanatics. Franchisees, sales people or anyone in your company who is directly impacted by a boost in sales is happy to pay to wear the brand. Heck, it just means more money for them down the road! And, if you’re one of those few brands that some people just love (think Apple, Budweiser or Ferrari), then you’re set. However, those brands are the exception to the rule.

So, what’s an executive to do?

The ROBYN Company Store Solution is flexible enough to offer a variety of custom solutions to relieve your pains. For starters, though, we suggest stepping back and analyzing why you want your employees wearing your brand (note – we realize your branded products include many items besides clothing, however, clothing makes up the majority of the items purchased on the company store, so we will use it as our example here.).

• Company requirement – Whether your employees wear a uniform every day, branded gear on casual days or matching shirts for tradeshows.
• Walking billboards – A great way to promote your brand is by having your logo strategically placed on items your employees will wear when they are out and about on their own time.
• Gifts and rewards – What better way to show your employees your appreciation than by giving them a nice article of clothing or another item with your logo on it? Everyone enjoys receiving a nice gift. Why not be the one who creates that magical moment?

We work with our clients to find creative ways to use a branded merch store to meet their needs. For instance, the Sam Noble Foundation (based in Ardmore, OK) states in the employee handbook that the foundation is to provide each employee with a new hat every year. In the past, this has been a very complicated and cumbersome process because different people want different styles and different sizes of hats.

However, utilizing standard features within the ROBYN Company Store Solution, the foundation is able to provide each employee with a unique code to go online and order the exact hat they would like. The fulfillment team at ROBYN then makes sure each person is shipped the right hat. The marketing team for the Sam Noble Foundation never has to touch the product!

American Fidelity Assurance Company recently celebrated their 9th consecutive year to be named to Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”. To share the recognition with their employees, the marketing team worked with ROBYN to build commemorative t-shirt in their choice of color. While this portion was managed by unique codes, employees were also able to purchase additional shirts via credit card or by purchase order.

A branded e-store focused on your employees can work… if you’re smart about it. Instead of expecting employees to offset the cost of the store and your branded gear, think of it as an investment in your business and use the store to motivate, reward and gift your employees instead. You might just be amazed with the results!

Each January, the Oklahoma City chapter of the American Marketing Association kicks off the new year with a meeting focused on helping their members improve some aspect of their business in the year ahead. It’s a perfect fit for this time of resolutions and self-improvement. In 2013, however, the chapter really stepped it up by bringing in Paul Roetzer, CEO of PR 20/20 and author of The Marketing Agency Blueprint, for a half-day seminar. For “Smarketers”, this was BIG! So big, in fact, that the AMAOKC asked ROBYN to develop a campaign to promote the event.

In putting together a campaign like this, the creative team at ROBYN first identifies the key elements:

• New Year (the meeting was during the first full week after the holidays)
• Blueprint theme
• Marketing agency focus
•  Seminar – not just a luncheon 

With these points in mind, ROBYN created a direct mail piece that included a New Year’s party horn with gold and silver shred, a beautifully designed insert from Loose Lid Creative and a bookmark (for the free book attendees would receive at the seminar) all packed into a festive tube mailer… just like blueprints are. And, since Roetzer’s topic talked about creating a marketing agency, the mailing list was expanded beyond just AMAOKC members to include contacts at various ad agencies across the metro.

The tubes were scheduled to begin arriving the Friday before the long New Year’s weekend… And they were a hit! Pictures began popping up on all the social media channels with great remarks, such as: “@ROBYNpromo did it again!” and “I got back from lunch and there was a party in a tube waiting for me!” The campaign was certainly generating the desired response. But it didn’t end there.

Each attendee not only had their brains expanded three sizes by the insightful words of Paul Roetzer (seriously… this guy is smart!), but they were also given a copy of Paul’s book, courtesy of ROBYN Promotions. The book, which was branded by ROBYN with a custom tip-in page, will ensure the campaign lives on because everyone will want to keep this book handy as a great resource.