Mike Tyson famously once said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Corporate marketers and event planners can relate to this sentiment, as even the best-laid plans can fall apart due to delays in decision-making, changes in direction, or miscommunications. At Ideation, our experienced staff of over 100 years has seen it all and worked miracles to make our clients look like rock stars. Walt Disney’s quote, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible,” is a favorite of ours and embodies our approach to tackling challenges head-on.
While we excel in pulling off last-minute projects, we have some tricks up our sleeves to help our clients create branding experiences quickly and efficiently, minimizing stress. Here are three tips to help save the day and reduce costs:
Stock small, branded items on hand – One of our Fortune 50 clients set up a “swag closet” in our warehouse stocked with items like stickers, magnets, lapel pins, pens, golf items, small drinkware, and tech. This allows us to quickly pick, pack, and ship anywhere in the country within 24 hours to meet any urgent needs. Keeping these items on hand can save money in the long run, as rushing projects on demand can be costly.
Use custom and semi-custom packaging – Custom packaging, like boxes, tape, and tissue paper, is a great way to get your messaging to the receiver and create an impactful experience with your brand. Some clients opt to package non-branded items in custom packaging, which is also be an effective branding tool. Using blank boxes and adding branded stickers, tape, and note card inserts is another flexible option.
Keep heat transfers on hand – Heat transfers are a great way to get branded apparel and hats quickly. We’ve worked with a technology manufacturing company that needs polos for their sales team. Each salesperson oversees ordering their own need. Inevitably someone forgets to order until the last minute, or a person is added to the team just before an event arises. A solution we’ve implemented for them is keeping black polos on hand and printing using heat transfers to meet last-minute requests.
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” At Ideation, we live and breathe this mindset, helping our clients navigate even the toughest challenges with ease. By keeping small, branded items on hand, utilizing custom packaging, and having heat transfers at the ready, are just a few of the ways we can help our clients create impactful branding experiences on the fly. We understand that sometimes plans fall apart, but with our expertise and innovative solutions, we can turn a potential disaster into a resounding success.
