Inklings…Print Tips from BGE

WATCH YOUR STEP: Using Floor Graphics for Marketing Impact

May 7, 2012 · Filed under Branding, Print, Promotion, School Branding, Trade Show · Tagged Branding, custom, decals, design, display, flooring, graphic, logo, mats, print, promotion, rugs, Trade show, vinyl flooring

These decals send subliminal messages to the kids as they repeatedly use the stairs throughout their school day.

From vinyl decals to customized mats and rugs, floor graphics provide a low-cost, high-impact way to get value out of otherwise unused space. Indeed, studies show that floor graphics raise brand awareness, resulting in increased sales.

Floor graphics can be used indoors or out, and both customized and off-the-shelf options are available. Choices include:

Vinyl Floor Graphics

Whether full flooring or carefully placed floor decals, vinyl graphics are quick and easy to apply, and do not damage floors or leave marks when removed. Full color short-term promotional floor graphics can be used for retail display, while more durable graphics make excellent aisle markers. Try using vinyl “footsteps” as a clever way to lead customers where you’d like them to go! What’s more, we can even add matching wallpaper for a full custom space.

Anti-slip finishes ensure that vinyl floor graphics comply with Health and Safety regulations.
Tough anti-scratch coatings make them resistant to spiked heeled shoes, making them practical for nightclubs, theaters, trade shows, museums, and more.
Graphics are printed with fade-resistant Eco inks onto specialized 3M self-adhesive vinyl material that can be laminated to retain its “brand new” look for up to 12 months.

Rugs and Carpets

Customized welcome mats and rugs are frequently used throughout offices, retail space, schools, hospitals, museums and galleries. They’re water-absorbent and can be easily cleaned with a hose or power washer, vacuumed or shampoo. Options are available for high-traffic areas.

Clear, detailed photo-realistic images can be printed on mats. Impervious to sunlight, they can withstand high traffic use for many years to come.

For a quote or more information on how you can use floor graphics in your business, please call Barbara at BGE (203) 855-9897 or e-mail barbara@bgeprint.com

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Top 10 Tips For Trade Show Success

March 28, 2012 · Filed under Branding, Conference, Print, Promotion, School Branding, Trade Show · Tagged achieve, Branding, Conference, corporate gifts, design, display, Environment, exhibiting, goal setting, logo, Trade show

In our recent series about trade show marketing, we’ve posted tips for increasing qualified traffic, preparing for trade show success, and effective booth design. Today, we’ll round out the series with the top 10 ways to ensure a successful trade show:

Set Your Goal. Be specific about what you want to get out of every trade show. Is your goal to sell product? Generate qualified leads? Explore a new market? Introduce a new product line? Gain publicity? Setting a specific goal is crucial for focusing your efforts and measuring success.
Research in Advance. Before you exhibit at a trade show, it’s wise to visit it as an attendee to see if it’s a good fit. If that’s not feasible, ask show management for details on the number of attendees from past shows, the industries they represent (if applicable), and a list of previous exhibitors. Before you commit to exhibiting, make certain that your target audience represents a significant portion of the attendees.
Estimate Your ROI. Calculate your budget, including travel, hotel, meals, sales material, promotional handouts, and shipping. (You can probably amortize your booth costs over a number of shows.) What results do you need to make the show worthwhile? Are they realistic? As a rule of thumb, one employee can usually talk to between 6 and 15 prospects per hour.
Plan Your Display. Above all, make sure your display communicates your sales message concisely and memorably. Click Here to Learn about Designing Your Own Booth Rely on large, professionally formatted images and graphics to convey your benefits at a glance.
Available as a mobile app or printed fold-out map for the destination city or event floor.
Prepare Handouts. You’ll need plenty of sales literature and extra business cards. In addition, unique promotional giveaways can attract visitors and create a lasting impression of your company. One of my favorites is, a handy informative map of the destination city branded with your logo.
Market Before the Show. The overwhelming majority of show attendees know which exhibitors they want to see before they arrive. Get on your prospects’ radar beforehand with pre-show advertising and mailings. Contact your most important prospects personally in advance of the show to make appointments.
Rehearse Your Sales Points. Make sure every person working the show is crystal clear about what your message is. Why should prospects buy your products? Why should they buy from you, not your competitors? Why should they buy now? Distill those points to a few sentences, and rehearse them until you and your staff can speak them confidently.
Be Welcoming. Attendees typically walk the floor looking for reasons not to stop at a booth. Don’t encourage them to keep walking by blocking the entrance to your booth, chatting on the phone or with co-workers, chewing gum, or sitting at your laptop. Stand ready to greet visitors with a warm and welcoming smile.
Keep Good Notes. Have a system in place for collecting information about each prospect, either by scanning or collecting business cards. But don’t stop there; be sure to keep good notes on what the prospect was interested in, when they’d like you to follow-up, what their budget is, and any other information that will help you prioritize your leads and close sales.
Follow Up Quickly. Following up quickly makes a great impression. Even if a prospect asked you to call them in six months, write an email or letter immediately to thank them for visiting your booth and confirm
Follow-up software is available, to make this task a little simpler.

when you’ll contact them again. Streamline your follow-up emails and letters by writing form letters beforehand and adapting them as necessary after (or during)the show.

Exhibiting at trade shows can be an amazingly efficient way to reach buyers, prospects and the press. Given the amount of time and money you’re investing, don’t just show up and hope for the best. Follow these tips, and you’ll maximize your return on every show.

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A Tribute to a Friend, Colleague and Mentor

March 11, 2012 · Filed under A Tribute · Tagged accomplish, achieve, James Williams, mentor, tribute, WIBO

Today, I want to pay tribute to a friend and colleague who has helped shape my life in countless ways.

Thirty years ago, I met James Williams at a workshop offered by WIBO, (The Workshop in Business Opportunities). Many of you have heard me speak of this wonderful organization over the years, as it transformed both my professional and personal life – thanks in large part to James.

James and some other key people within the WIBO organization gave me the confidence to start my business, and supported me every step of the way. They helped me recognize my guiding principles which in turn influenced how I structured my business back in 1983. Not only was James instrumental in all this, but he and another WIBO friend later introduced me to my husband.

James Williams, a consultant to Collegiate, the JAMAA assembly for Upper School students addressed the complex issues related to differences—perceived and actual—and the feelings engendered in those who are seen as different and in those whose differences are not immediately apparent but are no less real.

At the time, James was a table leader at WIBO, volunteering his time to help others build strong and profitable businesses. Thanks to his keen insight, leadership qualities and strong work ethic, he eventually became Chairman of the Board. I had the pleasure to serve on the WIBO Board with him for many years.

When I moved to Connecticut twenty years ago, he and I lost touch. Other than a handful of WIBO events over the years, we had little time to catch up with each other. I did learn he married a lovely woman who made him extremely happy; later they had twin boys.

Sadly, James recently passed away. I attended an incredibly moving memorial service for him, where I learned of the many more lives that James had touched.

After honing his skills and providing business consulting, he moved on to practicing Conflict Resolution, working with Teachers College at Columbia University, and conducting nationwide training workshops. Later, as a human resources consultant and training specialist, he worked with clients such as NASA, the UN Secretariat and Columbia University.

James joined a group of men who mentored boys living in a group home. There he met Quincy, at the time 15 years old. Not only did James help Quincy prepare for college, but James took him under his wing and they remained close for the rest of James life. James and Cynthia’s young twin sons Jeremy and Elijah look up to Quincy, who is helping to pass on their father’s values to them.

As I listened to the eulogies given by James’ colleagues, it was evident, although not surprising, how much he was respected, loved and admired by people from all walks of life. Clearly, mine was just one of many lives he had touched deeply. I’m blessed to have known James, and my heart goes out to his wife and sons. For those of us fortunate enough to have been touched by his kind heart, high standards and infectious laughter, let’s practice what he taught. James’ goodness leaves ripples in our lives and impressions on our heart and soul. Good bye, James. You will be missed.

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3 Essentials of Effective Trade Show Booth Design

February 29, 2012 · Filed under Branding, Conference, Print, Promotion, School Branding, Trade Show · Tagged association, booth design, Branding, Conference, display, logo, Trade show

When it comes to trade show booth design, the choices can be daunting, and a bigger budget doesn’t always mean a better result. Start by considering some basic questions about how the booth will be used:

What is the most important message you want to convey? How much room, both for product and text, will be required to convey it effectively?
How frequently will it be used? Do you exhibit at shows monthly or only on rare occasions?
Who will be assembling the booth? Do you need to consider their strength and/or mechanical ability?
Pop-ups and fabric retractables make it easy for anyone to carry and assemble.
What’s your budget? Be sure to consider the life expectancy of the display. The ability to update graphics easily if they become outdated or damaged can be a big plus.
Will the booth need to be shipped, or are you transporting it locally?

Enlisting the help of a company that regularly designs trade show booths can pay for itself many times over. They can help sort through a multitude of design options — pop-ups, pipe and drape, tabletop, banner stands and more – and customize them professionally, while maximizing your budget. What’s more, they’ll ensure that your booth design incorporates these three critical elements:

1) Stopping Power. Most trade show attendees walk a show with a highly selective filter in play. They stroll the aisles looking for reasons not to stop at any given booth. If your booth doesn’t convey a benefit to them within the first three seconds, you’ve lost them.

Many companies, if not most, fail the three-second rule. Sometimes booths don’t offer enough information, and sometimes there’s too much to comprehend quickly. Either way, if prospects can’t grasp what’s in it for them at a glance, they’ll move on. Choose one compelling benefit and make it predominate with large, clear type and supporting products and visuals.

2) Easy Traffic Flow. Once you have a trade show attendee’s attention, make it easy for them to learn more. Make sure your booth design invites people in. Don’t block the entrance with podiums, counters, or staff. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll need about 50 square feet of empty booth space per staff member to allow for adequate traffic flow.

When evaluating a booth design, also consider functional details, like where staff will stand, where you’ll store supplies and equipment, and how you’ll demonstrate products to prospects without blocking traffic flow.

3) No Hidden Costs. When budgeting for your trade show booth design, consider more than the actual cost of the booth itself. Often a few extra dollars may save you a tremendous amount of setup and knockdown time at the show, or a huge amount on shipping costs. Keep in mind that the cost of the booth itself is just one element, and shipping, setup and storage are likely to be more important in the long run.

If you’d like to explore the options for trade show booth design for your business, I hope you’ll give us a call. We’d be happy to help!

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Preparing for Trade Show Success

February 2, 2012 · Filed under Branding, Conference, Print, Promotion, Trade Show · Tagged association, Booth, Branding, Conference, display, exhibiting, Trade show

More than half the success of any trade show comes from careful preparation. Our last post discussed 10 things to do before a trade show to boost traffic from qualified prospects. Today, we’ll discuss 7 other pre-show preparations that will help increase your success and reduce your stress:

1. Choose Your Shows Carefully. If possible, visit a show as an attendee to get a sense of whether it’s a good match for you. Does it reach the right audience? Ask show management for a profile of the attendees and an estimate of traffic. Find out whether it’s an order writing show or not. Ask non-competitive exhibitors about their experience with the show. A trade show is a big investment of time and money, so choose your shows wisely.

2. Plan Your Show Calendar. Some companies exhibit at just one show per year, others at 20 or more. Decide which shows you intend to exhibit at over the next year or two, and you’ll save money on ordering supplies, and reduce the stress of pre-show planning.

3. Design an Effective Booth. An effective booth requires plenty of thought and planning. We will cover this topic further in an upcoming blog post.

4. Order Product Information. Naturally, you’ll want a supply of product brochures, catalogs or sell sheets on hand. Consider whether you want to leave them out for prospects to take, or hand them out judiciously to your strongest prospects. Many people appreciate the offer to send information to their office instead. It lightens their load and ensures you capture their contact information for future followup. You may also get more consideration when your material isn’t buried in a bag of trade show handouts.

5. Develop Lead Forms. Have you ever collected business cards at a trade show, only to forget who wanted information on which products when you got back to your office? Avoid that mistake by developing a form and filling it out while you’re talking to a prospect. Include questions such as what products the prospect is interested in, whether they’d like you send written information or samples, what their budget is, what their objections and concerns are, and when they’d like you to follow up. Staple their business card to the lead form, and your sales team will have all the information they need to follow up efficiently. Your prospects will appreciate the fact that you listened carefully to their requests and followed up accordingly.

6. Consider Giveaways. Giving away small product samples or other free gifts can encourage trade show visitors to stop at your booth and learn more about what you’re selling. The more closely a giveaway is related to your product line, the better your prospects will be qualified. If you’re looking for giveaway ideas, ask us; we offer dozens of affordable premiums that can be imprinted with your company logo and contact information.

7. Organize a Master Notebook. One of the best stress-busting practices you can adopt is to develop a master notebook for each trade show you exhibit at. Include everything you might need during the trip: copies of your exhibitor contract, airline and hotel reservations, booth set-up instructions, appointment list, correspondence with prospects, schedule of who is working the booth when, your goals for the show, and anything else you may want to have at your fingertips. Not only is it helpful during the show, but it’s a great reference for future years.

Start well in advance to prepare these seven key components, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful show. And of course, if you need help with booth design, printed materials, or giveaways, we’d be delighted to help!

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10 Tips For Increasing Qualified Trade Show Booth Traffic

January 19, 2012 · Filed under Branding, Conference, Promotion, Trade Show · Tagged association, Branding, Conference, display, exhibiting, Trade show

Exhibiting at and attending trade shows are vital activities for many businesses. Our next few blog posts will focus on tips to help you get the most out of your trade shows this year. We’ll start with ways to increase qualified traffic to your booth.

Crowded trade show floor

Studies show that 76% of all trade show attendees know exactly what booths they want to visit before they arrive at the show. How do you make sure that your booth is on the ”must-see” list for your best prospects? Here are 10 tips to head you in the right direction:

1. Develop a mailing series. Starting two to three months before the show, send out postcards, brochures, letters, or some combination every two to three weeks. Mail to your in-house list of prospects who are likely to attend the show.

2. Supplement with e-mailings. You may not have e-mail addresses for every prospect on your list, but it’s worth e-mailing to those addresses you do have. Intersperse e-mail with postal mailings, and you’ll heighten awareness.

3. Rent show lists. Most trade shows rent attendee lists to exhibitors. At a minimum, send them a postcard before the show. A series of mailings may prove even more beneficial. It may be worthwhile splitting the list and testing a single postcard against a mailing series to see which works better for you.

4. Consider association lists. You may find that trade association members are also a valuable source of prospects. If so, think about mailing to those who are likely to attend the shows at which you’ll be exhibiting.

5. Send new product releases. Introducing a new product or service at an upcoming show? Send a press release to appropriate magazines and trade publications ahead of time, giving the details and mentioning the show where the introduction will take place.

6. Advertise in magazines. Research shows that booth traffic increases by 40% for every 4 pages of pre-show advertising. Don’t forget to include your booth number in your ad!

7. Adapt your e-mail signature and OGM on your voice mail. Add a line to your e-mail signature mentioning your next trade show. It’s a subtle way to keep it top-of-mind for your prospects. Also consider updating your outgoing voice-mail message with the specifics of the show, especially while they are placed on hold.

8. Update your website. Be sure your website tells prospects which shows you’ll be exhibiting at. You can include a link to the show sites as a service to your web visitors.

9. Mention in your newsletters and outgoing mail. If you publish a newsletter or e-newsletter, remember to include information about upcoming trade shows in every issue. It costs nothing to add to the bottom of your business correspondence: “P.S. I’m attending the XYZ Conference on June 2nd thru 4th. Can I count on you to stop by booth #3412 and check out our latest products?” Write this message on several Post-It notes and attach them to invoices you mail.

10. Use social media. Think about every other way you connect with customers and prospects. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or your company blog, chances are you have one or several opportunities to spread the word using social media.

Of course, getting qualified traffic to your booth is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more tips on how to get the most out of the show, and how to follow-up with prospects afterward. If we can help you attract visitors to an upcoming conference or trade show, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

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New Year, New Focus

January 3, 2012 · Filed under School Branding · Tagged dress code, Environment, fundraising, logo, print, promotion, PTO, school branding, schools, signage, students, uniforms, wearables

Happy New Year! 2012 is bringing with it some exciting changes at BGE. Our long-term customers know that we specialize in taking the headaches out of buying print and promotional products. Over the past several years, more and more schools have been calling on our services to help with their branding needs, and that’s become a major focus for the coming year. If your school or office is in need of signage, decals, welcome mats, banners etc., you know you have come to the right place.

Among the products and services we offer schools and Parent / Teacher groups are:

School dress code
Team clubs and sport uniforms
Interior and exterior signage
Fundraising products and programs
Spiritwear for teams, parents and fans
Printing for educational fairs

Not only are we competitively priced, but we love being involved in the planning process. More often than not, our suggestions can give you a better product on a lower budget than other options – and do it headache-free. Even better, our expertise doesn’t cost our clients a penny, as our income comes from commissions allowed by our vendors. We have a DOE vendor # with both the City of New York and the City of Norwalk, CT. Please contact us for references, bids or to arrange a walk-thru of your building.

While schools and PTO’s are a major new focus for us, we continue to welcome other print and promotion projects. We regularly work with marketing and ad agencies, non-profit organizations as well as small to mid-sized companies. I hope you’ll think of us when the need arises.

Wishing you success with whatever the new year holds for you!

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Happy Picto-graphing!

December 24, 2011 · Filed under Holidays

This year, since our family traditionally celebrates both Chanukah and Christmas, (not to mention my eldest son Justin’s birthday on the 27th), you can imagine how hectic things get around our household. We will be eating Latkes for our Christmas Eve dinner! They are our families favorite-but least healthy meal…fortunately, we only eat them once a year.

As part of the madness, I enjoy getting creative, so this year, for fun, I made a Holiday Pictograph to share with you. Solve my pictograph below and I will randomly select 12 winners. Each will win 12% off their first order in 2012. JOIN IN OUR CELEBRATION & ENJOY!

Winners will be selected on Jan 2, 2012

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YIKES! The holidays are HERE!

November 30, 2011 · Filed under Green Printing, Holidays · Tagged gifts, giving, Holiday, raffles, support, swim team, zeus

Sick of buying ties, gloves or slippers? If your stuck on what to buy this year, these make SUPER Gifts or Stocking Stuffers.

Help me support my son Tristan’s Swim Team and at the same time, get a fabulous gift…this raffle has some really great prizes. Why not take a chance?

Questions? Give me a call 203 855-9897

Need corporate of staff gifts, I got those too. You know where to find me.

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I am grateful for you, my family, my friends

November 22, 2011 · Filed under Green Printing

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. There’s something so special about bringing awareness to all the wonderful things you have in your life…things we many times take for granted.

Be thankful for what you have, and share with those who have not!

This year I will be spending the holiday with my parents, my aunt, my niece and nephew and their significant others, my husband and my boys at my sister and brother-in-law’s beautiful home on Long Island.

I love how everybody gathers together, arranging their hectic schedules and setting aside precious time to make happy memories. I love the smells of all the good food. I love that everybody contributes something, be it bringing a favorite or traditional dish, or helping set the table or clean up.

The senses awaken to the chattering of familiar voices, laughter and yes, even the sound of the football game coming from the next room or the dogs barking outside trying to get my boys to toss a ball to them, and the sound of the basketball dribbling on the pavement.

I especially love that my mom and dad are still able to join us each year, and I am grateful my aunt Ellie has arrived with my parents from Florida and they are healthy enough to make the trip together another year. I so wish my brother and his wife and daughter could be with us this year as well. They live in California and we are lucky if we see them once or twice a year. I am grateful they visited with us this summer.

We will spend Thursday night there as well. The next day is even more special to me…less hectic, everyone is relaxed and we can enjoy leftovers, play games or take walks together. It gives us some one-on-one time with each other, which we couldn’t get the night before. We may play dominoes, charades or my mom’s favorite, Yahtzee. Some of us may choose to watch a favorite movie.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Thanksgiving came more often, when we could actually take the time to relax and enjoy our loved ones.

I am grateful for the good health of my family, and that I have the most wonderful friends anyone could ask for. I am grateful for my dog Tex. If you are receiving this blog, I am also grateful you are in my life.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving…

Best,

Barbara

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« Previous entries

Inklings…Print Tips from BGE

WATCH YOUR STEP: Using Floor Graphics for Marketing Impact

Vinyl Floor Graphics

For a quote or more information on how you can use floor graphics in your business, please call Barbara at BGE (203) 855-9897 or e-mail barbara@bgeprint.com

Top 10 Tips For Trade Show Success

A Tribute to a Friend, Colleague and Mentor

3 Essentials of Effective Trade Show Booth Design

Preparing for Trade Show Success

10 Tips For Increasing Qualified Trade Show Booth Traffic

New Year, New Focus

Happy Picto-graphing!

YIKES! The holidays are HERE!

I am grateful for you, my family, my friends

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