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Fast Track Products Newsletter

Welcome to Fast Track Products Promotion Corner Newsletter, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. Read Promotion Connection to spark ideas and find out about upcoming marketing opportunities for your organization.

Promotions That Make Sense

March 2009 Boru Takes Battle of the Bands Online

Anyone who has ever attended college has likely experienced at least one battle of the bands competition. The scene generally involves a few wannabe rock stars with semi-tuned instruments and loud amps. Boru Vodka, for the second year, decided to pay homage to these rockers via its online “Defend the Bar Band” competition.

Consumers were invited to visit www.borubarband.com and vote for their favorite bar band. A panel of judges spared viewers’ eyes and ears by selecting 14 semifinalists from among 800 applicants representing 47 states.

To generate interest, Boru brand ambassadors hit the bars hosting “Defend the Bar Band” nights. Patrons were spurred into competing in impromptu Guitar Hero competitions. For their hard work and hard rocking, they received promo kits containing posters, T-shirts, hats, tattoos, coasters, napkins and other items.

A band called The Loveblisters emerged victorious after voting had ended. The band received a professionally produced music video of their song Devotion as well as $10,000 in new equipment. The Castle Brands-owned Irish vodka also delivered the track to 650 radio stations using Yangaroo’s eNotes technology.

“This year’s Boru ‘Defend the Bar Band’ competition was extremely successful, with more than eight times the number of bands participating over last year’s number,” says D’Arcy King from C2 Creative, Castle Brands’ agency of record. “Fan involvement through online voting helped The Loveblisters, capture the top spot in the competition and claim the title of the most passionate and authentic bar band.”

Thanks to the success of the campaign, Boru is looking to vastly expand the competition in 2009 in hopes of finding the next The Loveblisters.

OrangeSoda Uses Promo Products to Make Things Pop

Small- and medium-size businesses have a lot of online marketing agencies from which to choose. Still, agency OrangeSoda feels it has the best search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click offerings. The problem is how to stand out from the pack. A strong brand name like OrangeSoda helps, but to really drive the point home they decided to give away, well, logoed orange soda cans and bottles to prospective clients, partners and investors.

They also distributed standard promotional giveaways like pens and note pads. But the actual soda works best because it ties directly back to the company’s overall branding and positioning., says Jay Bean, CEO and co-founder of OrangeSoda.

Bean says he didn’t lose a great deal of sleep over deciding which item would be best to use for his marketing efforts. “The choice to give away orange soda as a promotional item was actually pretty simple since it’s in our name. But, more than that, we wanted to give something away that’s nontraditional and would help us stand out like our product and services do.”

Well aware of the pun involved, he says, “It’s also a part of our culture and brand since we try to put some fizz into the online marketing we provide for thousands of clients.”

While many online agencies lean on the Web for their marketing efforts, OrangeSoda has proven its faith in offline tactics. It also runs local billboard ads in Utah that prod drivers to first ask, “What the heck is SEO?” and “What does OrangeSoda have to do with it?” When it comes to promotional products, apparently a lot.

Dickies Honors the American Worker

America hasn't exactly had a strong run of late when it comes to its workers. Many are struggling to make ends meet; others are fighting for their jobs. Dickies, the brand that outfits many of our hardest workers (as well as some hipsters), decided to honor the hard working men and women who give it their all each and every day.

Through the summer months, beginning June 1, consumers were invited to name themselves the hardest worker in the country. Entrants were given the chance to win a grand prize of $1 million and VIP trip tickets to the Dickies 500 race at the Texas Motor Speedway.

The "Dickies American Worker of the Year" sweepstakes honored farmers, builders, teachers, electrical lineman and other strong-willed workers. Six regional finalists were selected. Each received a prize package including a trip for two to the American Bull Riders World Finals in Las Vegas.

Dickies, the "voice of the American worker," also awarded each with a new Yamaha Grizzly 450 4x4, a Dickies gift certificate and logoed bags and clothing.

Hal Hughes was named the winner. For his honest day's work, he received a new 2009 Ford F-150 with a B&W hitch, a Yamaha Rhino 700 FI 4x4 as well as the chance to win $1 million by picking the number of the Sprint Cup car that would win the Dickies 500.

Dickies rep Misty Otto says, "The American Worker of the Year contest really embodies what our company stands for - hard work and determination."

This One is a Real Cutie

Cuties, a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese mandarin, knows that things can go ugly without the right marketing support. That's why when Cuties hit stores in November, it did so with a $7 million integrated marketing plan that included ads, promotions and events that positioned its product as a healthy snack option, especially for children, in a fun, playful way.

Print ads read "Root for the fruit" and show a healthy Cuties mandarin orange chasing away a slice of pizza. T-shirts bearing the ad were also created, as were branded adhesive bandages, custom ice packs that say "Cuties. They're so cool," temporary tattoos and iPod covers that say "Root for the li'l guy."

These items were distributed at American Youth Soccer Organization games, Radio Disney events and other kid-friendly happenings. Members of the press also received these items, as well as Cuties branded lip balm, shoelaces and a USB port shaped like a business card. And, more than 3.5 million first through fifth grade students were exposed to the brand through custom-designed lesson plans, book covers and reward stickers.

As the rollout of the product continues through May (when mandarin orange season ends), other promotions including a Valentine's Day effort will hit markets. "Cuties are a fast-growing citrus brand," says Dominic Engels, vice president of marketing for Cuties, in a statement. "Increasing our marketing support throughout the season will continue to grow the category, especially in today's market where we know consumers are looking for quality, health benefits and convenience."

February $1000 Drawing Winner

February $1000 Drawing Winner is Jennifer Harris from Sunnyvale, CA. Congratulations!

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.

April

The week of April 27th is National Volunteer Week Thank all of your volunteers with a small memento of their efforts. Hold a thank-you celebration and include table favors that commemorate their contributions. Select a Volunteer of the Year and award them with a larger commemorative gift. And, be sure to get pictures and send to the local papers.

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

Alcohol Awareness Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Holy Week

National Donate Life Month

April 1st: April Fools Day

April 2nd: International Children's Book Day

April 3rd: Tweed Day

April 4th: Victims Of Violence day

April 5th: National Fun At Work Day

April 6th: Teflon Day

April 7th: No Housework Day

April 9th - 15th: Egg Salad Week

April 10th: National Sibilings Day

April 11th: Trivia Day

April 13th: International Plant Appreciation Day

April 7th - 11th: National Public Health Week

April 13th - 19th: National Library Week

April 27th: National Volunteer Week

April 15th: Income Tax Pay Day

April 17th: International Ford Mustang Day

April 19th - 27th: National Wildlife Week

April 22nd: Earth Day

April 24th: Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day

April 27th: Mother, Father Deaf Day

April 28th: Cubicle Day

April 29th: National Dance Day

April 30th: Spank Out Day USA

May

May 11th is Eat What You Want Day

Have salespeople deliver snack baskets to their customers when they visit on this day.

Create a promotion based on the Eat What You Want Day making the connection between feeling like you can't eat what you want and you can't seem to get what you want when it comes to (plug in your product or service category). Tell them that on May 11th they can not only eat what they want, but they can have what they want when it comes to (plug in your product or service) by scheduling an appointment with one of your sales reps. When the rep makes the call on May 11 he or she brings a logoed basket of goodies or cookies.

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

May 2nd: No Pants Day

May 3rd: Free Comic Book Day

May 4th: Respect for Chickens Day

May 5th: Cinco de Mayo

May 5th: Teacher's Day

May 4th - 10th: Be Kind To Animals Week(R)

May 5th - 11th: National Wildflower Week

May 8th: World Red Cross Day

May 10th: Mother's Day

May 11th: Eat What You Want Day

May 12th: Stamp Out Hunger

May 11th - 17th: National Police Week

May 14th: National Receptionists Day

May 16th: Armed Forces Day

May 16th: National Pizza Party Day

May 17th: Armed Forces Day

May 18th: International Museum Day

May 18th: Victoria Day (Canada)

May 19th: Armed Forces Day

May 18th - 24th: National Dog Bite Prevention Week

May 20th - 26th: World Trade Week

May 21st: National Employee Health & Fitness Day

May 23rd: World Turtle Day

May 24th: Brother's Day

May 25th: National Missing Children's Day

May 26th: International Jazz Day

May 26th: Memorial Day

May 30th: Hug Your Cat Day

May 31st: World No-Tobacco Day

June

June 14th is World Juggling Day

Everyone is juggling something so recognizing that can be used for a broad spectrum of promotional needs. There are juggling balls, juggle sets and juggle stress relievers.

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

National Dairy Month

Adopt - A Shelter-Cat Month

Children's Awareness Month

National Candy Month

National Rose Month

June 1st: National Leave The Office Earlier Day

June 1st: National Cancer Survivors Day

June 1st - 7th: National Business Etiquette Week

June 7th - 14th: International Clothesline Week

June 2nd: National Bubba Day

June 4th: National Tailors Day

June 5th: Hunger Awareness Day

June 6th: D-Day Anniversary

June 8th - 14th: National Flag Week

June 14th: Flag Day

June 14th: World Juggling Day

June 15th: Native American Citizenship Day

June 16th: Fudge Day

June 20th: Toad Hollow Day Of Thank You

June 21st: Summer begins

June 21st: June Solstice

June 21st: Father's Day

June 21st: National Aboriginal Day (Canada)

June 21st: Baby Boomer's Recognition Day

June 22nd: Stupid Guy Thing Day

June 23rd: Let It Go Day

June 24th: Discovery Day (Canada)

June 24th: Celebration Of The Senses

June 24th: Fête Nationale (St. John the Baptist Day) (Canada)

June 26th: Hand Shake Day

June 27th: National HIV Testing Day

June 27th: Canadian Multiculturalism Day

June 28th: Marble Day

June 29th: Log Cabin Day

June 30th: Please Take My Children To Work Day

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