Just beCause

Car Dealerships and Cause Marketing. What to Do?

2012-03-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

A few months ago we were looking for cause marketing ideas for car dealerships. We posted the question on LinkedIn and got some great responses. We thought we'd share the results with you...

Car DealershipCause Marketing Concepts:

Sponsorshipof running races

a. Go to www.active.com and look up how many races are in your area.

b. Havecars at finish line. At the largerraces, spectators are often waiting for racers to finish. Lots of undivided attention.

c. Racesof longer distances often have photographers taking pictures of finishers atfinish line. If your cars are there thenthe cars will be in the photos as well.

d. Sponsorfinisher medals/giveaways and have participants bring them to the dealer “for$500 off purchase of car.”

Drive-a-Thon

a. Forevery mile of test-drives the dealer will donate ‘$x-amount’ to a charity.

CoatDrive

a. Filla car with coats.

b. Guesshow many coats in the car

SaturdayMorning Car Club

a. Carcollectors display classic cars at dealership

b. Attractscar buffs and families

c. Freeand family friendly
d. There is a group called Coffee and Cars that will help set this up for you.

CharityGift Card

a. Comein for a test-drive and get a gift card that can be redeemed online for adonation to a charity of your choice

b. Tiestogether offline/online concept

SponsorMovie Night

a. Displaycars.

b. Free/familyfriendly.

c. Havethe attention of people in a defined area.

KEY POINTS:

A series of events usually works better thanone-off campaigns.
Create a tradition where customers know they cancome back annually and have a great time.
Provide a quality takeaway at each event so theconcept isn’t lost when customers walk out the door.

A Trend That Charity Events Should Reverse

2012-02-21T16:09:00.001-05:00

"When given the choice of obsessing over competitors or obsessing over customers, we [Amazon] always obsess over customers."

Jeff Bezos, CEO, Amazon in The Thank You Economy

A disturbing trend is starting to become common practice in the world of charity walks, rides and races. With the number of these charity events increasing every year and the number of participants staying steady, more non-profits are being forced to be more creative than the competition to attract participants.

The only problem is, that the non-profits are choosing to be lazy rather than be creative. One non-profit decided to decrease the fundraising minimum and now it's become all the rage.

Quality over Quantity?

Doesn't this tactic defeat the purpose of fundraising? If somebody is deciding to participate in a walk and they decide to participate in a walk because the fundraising minimum is cheaper than that person probably isn't your target audience. More than likely, that person is going to write a check for the fundraising minimum and not even bother asking friend & families to support his/her cause.

Rather than discounting the value of your event, why don't you incentivize the participants that fundraise the most money for your organization? Your target audience should be the individuals that participate in your walk year after year.

Corporations know that keeping repeat customers happy is cheaper than acquiring new customers. As a non-profit you should think along those same lines. Your first priority is making repeat participants happy. Secondly, go after new participants. Offer more instead of taking things away. The things participants will remember the following year are the promotional items you gave away, the band you had at the finish line or the food tent that you provided (all stuff that your corporate sponsors can donate.) They aren't going to remember "I'm definitely doing this walk again next year because they discounted the fundraising minimum."

Focus on the quality of your participants rather than the quantity of your participants. After all, the purpose of your walk is to raise funds to build awareness programs and/or research - not to see how many people can fill the streets and annoy motorists.

Don't use the Word Fundraise

People are terrified to ask other people for money. We live in a society, where the first thing we ask is 'what's in it for me?' Most people don't understand that writing a check that supports a cause is a lot more peaceful than writing a check for your cell phone bill every month. When the person is considered a buyer instead of a philanthropist then it is more comforting.

Replace the word 'fundraise' with 'sell.' Everybody has sold something in his/her life. Watching people buy your items on craigslist, yard sale or eBay is a thrill. Making a transaction in which items are exchanged for money is a natural feeling. Make your participants feel natural.

Inexpensive items that participants can sell to friends, family and coworkers relieves the pain of asking people to 'help you raise money for Charity XYZ.'

The Albany, NY Alzheimer Association Chapter was able to increase their fundraising amount

by SELLING pins and bracelets designed by Pinnovative Designs.

Bezos is Right

The quote from Jeff Bezos is right for the corporate world and it is right for the non-profit world. Yes, there are thousands of walks every year. Yes, some walks offer discounted fundraising minimums, but that doesn't mean that you have to follow in your competitors footsteps.

Be creative. Be innovative. Make your charity event stand out from the competition.

Employee Appreciation...With a Purpose.

2012-02-06T20:13:00.001-05:00

John Williard Marriott was a fanatic about making sure his hotels were being run properly. So much so, that he vowed to visit every one of his establishments at least four times a year. Priority #1 for his visits was to make sure that his good employees were being recognized and to figure out what he could do to improve his underperforming employees.

If one of his employees provided excellent guest service or went above and beyond the call of duty, he would personally deliver a plaque honoring that individual. Today, your employees are putting their best foot forward to represent your company in a positive light. Never turn down an opportunity to recognize your outstanding employees

Marriott made it a point to deliver plaques to his employees, but you have more options. The promotional product industry keeps expanding and it's at the point that if they make it, you can personalize it. Then there are companies like Pinnovative Designs that work with clients to completely customize commemorative gifts for grand openings, galas and trade shows.

Ultimately, giving away items that have a purpose is the number one way to make your company stand out both in the eyes of your employees and competition. Imagine starting a job and on the first day a welcome package with a portfolio, pens, pencils, etc greets you at your desk.

Or instead of giving away something at a sales meeting that ends up being a dog toy you give out corporate branded iPad covers for the iPads that your sales force uses.

Tradeshows. Best giveaway wins. No doubt about it. Your stress ball is not better than the other hundred that the attendees will collect in a two day timespan. If your promotional product vendor is not constantly coming up with creative, more importantly, effective, products then you need to find another vendor.

J.W. Marriott had an intense focus on making sure his employees were happy by surprising them with a handshake, plaque and company wide recognition. Take a page out of his book and make it your priority to take care of your employees with gifts that let them know you value them.

Fundraising is Out. Selling is In. Ways for Charity Events to Spend Less Donations

2012-01-30T19:39:00.000-05:00

"Sneaker Pin"

Here's an interesting article:

Worth the Effort?

The author, Anne Kadet, brings up a valid point. Are charity walks, rides and runs worth the effort to a) organize and execute and b) participate in? It's gotten to the point where charity events overlap each other and in essence cannibalize each other.

There are two questions to be examined here.

Question: What percentage of your donation is going to help the cause versus what percentage of your donation is going to put on the post-event festivities?

Answer: It depends. According to Kadet's article some organizations don't use any of your donationsto put on the event. Others use up to 52% of your hard-raised cash. The organizations that use over half of your donations claim that you arewalking for the cause rather than how much money it takes to put on theevent.

As a participant, youshould be aware of how much of your time, money and effort is going to helpfind a cure versus how much is going to put food in your belly post-event. The Pinnovative Designs Team had this in mind whenthey developed the 'Sneaker Pin.' It's been a crowd pleaserand attention getter at events all over the country. Most importantly,it's inexpensive.
That leads us to the next question...

The "Hope Bracelet"

Question: At what point to participants get tired of fundraising?

Answer: Next topublic speaking, fundraising is probably the most feared activity on theplanet. Not many people WANT to do it, rather they are faced withthe daunting task of raising the minimum for their walk, ride or race.

Once again, the PinnovativeDesigns team had this in mind, when creating items that participants wouldSELL rather than ask for donations. Everybody has sold something intheir lives. Setting up a lemonade stand as a kid, selling junk (treasures)at a yard sale and a lot of people sell things for a career. So whynot have inexpensive/quality items that participants can sell toco-workers instead of having to join the annual-springtime-walk/ride/race-donation-email-train? Makes sense, right?

Exactly. Once again,the Pinnovative website is: www.pinnovative.com. Explore away!

Employee Satisfaction: Fail

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

"One cannot lead a life that is truly excellent without feeling that one belongs to something greater and more permanent than oneself.

- Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi

The debate surrounding the question "does money really make people happy" has been rampant for decades. Many studies have made the case that indeed rich people are the happiest, but other studies prove, for various reasons, that, nope, money is only part of the story.

Researchers Lara Aknin, Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton took this question one step further and found that how people spend their money may be at least as important as how much money they earn.

In other words, people's well-being improved when they spent money on other people rather than on themselves.

In Dan Pink's book, Drive, he writes that Dunn and Norton took this research and recommended incorporating this 'pro-social' spending in a corporate setting.

"...companies can improve their employees emotional well-being by shifting some of their budget for charitable giving so that individual employees are given sums to donate, leaving them happier even as the charities of the choice benefit."

Here's the article from the Boston Globe where Pink got this quote from: Happiness: A Buyer's Guide.

So, the research has been done. The recommendation has been made. Now, it's in the hands of corporate leadership.

At one point, most companies offered a gift-matching program for it's employees. If an employee made a donation to a non-profit then the company would match the gift. With the recent economic hiccup, those programs have screeched to a halt. What are non-profits going to do now?

It's called cause marketing...

Scientific research occurs when there is a hypothesis that needs to be proven or denied. In this case, human motivation was in the cross-hairs. What motivates humans? Well, the research shows that people are happiest when they are helping others.

Take a look at your company's cause marketing program and ask:

Are we supporting the community that supports us?
Are we supporting causes that our employees care about and/or volunteer with?
Does our workplace have an environment where employees can sell fundraising products and make a big impact in the community?

It's a win-win situation for both the company and your employees. If your employees are considered fundraising pros in the community that label will ultimately get back to your company.

How a Small Business Can Make a Big Difference in Cause Marketing

2012-01-17T10:29:00.000-05:00

Your community is a special place. As a small business owner in a small community you are almost required to support causes in your community. Whether it be donating goods, money, time, an area to hang a poster, etc. One thing that most cause-minded business owners know is that once you give to one organizations ten more will be knocking at your door! Here are six tips to assure that you are regarded as a cause-minded business owner in your community.

Be consistent. If you donate two cases of products to one philanthropy be sure to do that for others. You don't want to get in the game of "thank you, but I know you gave twice that much to XYZ Charity." Fundraisers know each other and talk quite frequently.
Be honest. If you can't donate be honest with the person. Try to strike a deal with them. "Hey, times are tough, but I really appreciate what you're doing. Is there any other way I can help?"
Be nice. Most likely, this person is volunteering and doesn't deserve to be yelled at or spoken harshly too. They volunteer to make your community better. People involved with non-profits develop tough skin rather quickly, but still no one enjoys being yelled at when all they're trying to do is help out.
Offer advice. If you have heard or seen of successful causes share them with local non-profits.
Create a strategy. If your clientele are more involved with bike rides rather than road races then don't be afraid to turn down the non-profit who asks you to support a road race in favor of a non-profit whose main fundraiser is a bike ride.
Be different. Non-profits are going to put your name on the back of a t-shirt. That's not enough. Participants won't remember any of the supporters on the back of the t-shirt. Ask to volunteer, offer other giveaways for participants, etc.

Most importantly, get involved and help make your community one of those special places. This is probably one of the easiest ways to create a buzz about your business in a close-knit communities.

How Your Charity Event Relates to the Heinz Pickle Pin

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

H. J. Heinz distributed pickle pins at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893

If you are an event organizer for a non-profit there is no doubt that your spring event planning is in full swing. Location...check! Marketing material...check! Volunteers...check! Traditional giveaway...che...wait...what?

One of the most competitive industries is non-profits. Here in New England, from April - November, you could find a charity walk, ride or race to do almost every weekend. In fundraising terms, it'd be impossible to do one of these events every weekend. So, as an event coordinator, how do you keep people coming back?

Create a tradition. If you give away t-shirts at your events it probably has the date of the event on it, but people have a lot of t-shirts and most likely yours is thrown on top of the pile. So what can you do?

Pins are an inexpensive item that have played many different roles and created many traditions. One of the earliest recollections of pins becoming a tradition is when H.J. Heinz distributed pickle pins at the 1893 Chicago's World Fair. He distributed the pins to entice people to come visit his booth. Sound crazy? He ended up handing out over 1 million pins during the Fair. For the next 110 years Heinz handed out these pins to the delight of many.

When you are thinking about a giveaway or fundraising gift to give to your participants think long-term. What dated item can you giveaway year after year that will keep people coming back? In business terms, how can you make your walkers, riders or racers loyal customers?

Coming up with a collectible for your charity event will keep participants coming back year after year. That is how Pinnovative Designs got our start over 15 years ago. We'd love to evaluate your non profit's events and determine how you and your sponsors can get the most out of your events.

Feel Good: We Will Win the Fight!

2012-01-06T08:36:00.000-05:00

The Pinnovative Designs Team LOVES good news. This week the American Cancer Society released some absolutely awesome news.

Lately, we've only been hear about emotional cancer deaths. This past week you may have missed this promising news. The number of cancer deaths continue to decline.

All those small donations you have made to your friends, family and colleagues charity walk, rides and races are paying off! The cure for cancer is out there and we will find it. For now, keep participating in those fundraisers and lives will continue to be saved and research will continue to be done. There is still plenty of room for improvement.

Great job America!

A New Year; A New Cause Marketing Approach

2012-01-03T10:47:00.000-05:00

You can feel a new vibe as 2012 is only two days old. From a consumer's aspect they are all expecting big things out of themselves and out of the companies they do business with.

THAT. IS. AWESOME.

As you and your colleagues ease back into your office chair for the start of a promising year, it's time to reevaluate your cause marketing program. You may not use that fancy new term, but that is where you should start. Instead of telling people that 'you support XYZ Charity,' tell them that your company 'has a strong cause marketing program.' Their ears will perk up with curiosity and intrigue.

That's step #1. Next, be a linchpin in the cause marketing field. What's a linchpin? Seth Godin wrote a book about it Linchpin - Are You Indispensable? As Godin states, "There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Success was defined as showing up for work and collecting a paycheck."

He goes on to state, "Now there's a third team, the linchpins. These people invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there's no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art."

It's easier to see where this blog is going...do the same with your cause marketing program! Get your company's name off the back of a t-shirt and do something creative! You started by rewording your 'we support these charities' program to an intriguing 'cause marketing' program. Now follow it up with a promising giveaway at walks, rides, races or galas. Something that people take home and look at instead of use as a dog chew toy!

The Pinnovative Designs team is here to help you think outside the box.

What American Idol Teaches Us About Cause Marketing

2011-12-20T09:07:00.000-05:00

Advertising on TV these days has gotten more and more innovative. With the advent of TiVo andDVR, companies have had to get more creative with how they reach theiraudiences. Almost everybody that hasTiVo or DVR will fast forward right through the commercials. More and more often you are seeingcelebrities doing product pitches and a TON more product placement intelevision shows.

Whether it is the bag of Snyder’s Pretzels subtly placed on top of the refrigerator or the not-so-subtle Coke cups placed in front of the judges onAmerican Idol (aren’t you just dying to know what’s in those cups?)

It’s definitely become necessary for these companies toplace these products on the sets of television shows. It has also become necessary for companies toplace their products in the communities they serve.

If you’re having trouble grasping the concept of causemarketing then think of it in American Idol terms. Cause marketing is basically productplacement in the community.

In order to fulfill their role in the community, companies provide items for charitywalks, rides and races and/or they give their employees the opportunity toraise money for a specific cause. These acts of socialresponsibility get their company’s name/product placed in the community.

Cause marketing is becoming more of a ‘must-have’ ratherthan a ‘should-have’ and it’s definitely a win-win situation for thecorporation and the employees. Thecorporation’s employees not only feel like they play a part in a sociallyresponsible company, but now they play a large part in the betterment of theircommunity.

The best part of this socially responsible product-placementis that any size company can do it. Youdon’t have to be a large corporation to make an impact. Just like there are companies of every size,there are also non-profits of every size. Pick your cause and do your part!

Your Comfort Zone Has Been Warned.

2011-12-05T08:14:00.000-05:00

Steve Jobs' biography is awesome. So many lessons about life, business and management. He may have been harsh (understatement) to work with, but this guy was a visionary and we will soon realize what we lost when he died.

Remember some of the first Apple TV ads in the 80's and 90's? Here is one of the best ads in the history of television. Watch it then read the words from the ads.

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

People's reaction when Apple releases new products are hysterical. "Why the hell would I need that" are usually the first words uttered when a new product announcement is made. Eventually, most of those people will possess at least one of Apple products. Why? Apple's products stand out, make a statement and make sense.

When you look at your organization's involvement in the community does it stand out, make a statement and make sense? Or are you one of a few dozen sponsors that get your logo on the back of a t-shirt at a charity walk or get your picture in the paper holding a giant check that nobody can read (and will forget about seconds after they see the picture?), and basically do what your competitors do.

Yes? Not good. You need to get outside your comfort zone. NOW. Your customers are expecting your community involvement to match the high quality of your products or services.

The same goes for University Relations. Impress your alumni with the innovative products and programs you offer them. This goes a long way towards building a sense of pride in one's alma mater.

Read the words from Apple's ad, but this time replace "they" with your organization's name. You'll see what we're talking about.

www.pinnovative.com

Your Alma Mater is Calling...Again

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

WAIT! Before you hang up on that poor student caller...think about it.

In spirit of the the year-end blitz that many Colleges &Universities are about to embark on, I thought I’d give you my 25 reasons onhow and why you should get involved with your Alma Mater.

I was at a conference a few years ago, and a gentleman from the Class of 1944 was awarded an “outstanding alumni” award for his volunteer work since he graduated. This award was named after a Class of 1931 alumnus who remained involved with the University since the day he graduated. If you are fortunate enough to live long enough to celebrate your 60^th Reunion (at least) wouldn’t you want to be honored by your alma mater?
By the way, the alumnus from the Class of 1931 was in attendance at this conference. If you live long enough to celebrate your 75^th Reunion (at least) wouldn’t you enjoy getting a standing ovation at every event you attend?
You might still be paying student loans many years after graduating. It stinks. I know. However, you’ve been living with that expense for sometime and probably have gotten used to paying that check. Challenge yourself to write a check that actually makes you feel good.
Whether you realize it or not, the college you attended helped to shape you in one-way or another. So why don’t you help shape the college?
If you can’t give money then give time. Make sure you’re on the alumni mailing list (i.e. your contact information is correct). Inquire about alumni interviewing and other volunteer opportunities.
Attend alumni events. Everybody enjoys in-expensive entertainment. Take advantage of these events. You never know whom you’ll meet!
“My $25 wouldn’t help anything.” WRONG. It’s a piece of the puzzle. Sort of the way gift certificates help you buy that big-ticket item you’ve long wanted. A relative gets you a gift certificate for your birthday and BAM you can now afford to buy that item.
A $1,000 pledge is only $83 a month. That’s less than your monthly iPhone bill.
Why should you give to an institution that has so much money when other charitable organizations need my support? Colleges train the people to run those organizations. Your friend with an engineering degree designs the water systems that get fresh water to remote villages. Your Pre-Med friend helps individuals in third-world countries get the medications they need. Support the place that teaches people to run these programs.
Back to the Class of 1944 alumnus. During his acceptance speech he mentioned that he doesn’t do what he does because of the founding fathers, past or current presidents, faculty or staff. He gives back because of all the great people he met while on campus. Without your alma mater, you would not have met the great people that you keep in touch with today.
Alumni have a strong say in what goes on at colleges. It’s hard to find a larger and more prestigious organization that you have such a strong say in what goes on.
60% of people who have given $1m+ gifts had first gifts of less than $50.
A student’s tuition only covers 2/3 of the school year.
If you got financial aid as a student ask yourself if you would have been able to attend school without that financial aid. Now, with the current economic climate, think about how many more students need financial aid.
With all the negativity in the world today, take advantage of the place that allowed you to escape the hardships of “the real world.”
Your alma mater is always looking for new places to hold alumni events. Offer suggestions.
If you have been “meaning to get back to campus” reunions are an amazing time to do so – so go!
Better yet – help plan your reunion!
Colleges have been around for hundreds of years. It’s up to us to make sure they’re around for hundreds of more years.
Just try giving a gift. It’ll make you feel good.
If you have multiple degrees – congratulations! You are fortunate enough to have had multiple colleges help to shape you as a person.
When you receive mailings – don’t throw them away right away. They were sent to you because of your affiliation with that part of the college. Read beyond the quotes and wording used. Use it as a stepping-stone for your memories of your time in that program.
Any other investment is, at this point, is too risky.
The sports team you played on, music group you played in or Greek organization you were involved in wouldn’t be possible without alumni support.
A pack of cigarettes in New York City is going up to $11.90 a pack. Couldn’t think of a better reason to give up smoking and do something that’s good for you!

Pinnovative Design's sister company, Promote It Nationwide Sales has a team of fresh thinking individuals focused on improving the promotional and give-away items that Colleges and Universities use for alumni. So put down your cheap Bic pen, contact us and be prepared for some new ideas!

A Refresher Course...

2011-11-15T11:26:00.001-05:00

In Malcolm Gladwell’s best selling book The Tipping Point he describes three different types of people:Mavens, Salesmen and Connectors.

According to Gladwell, Mavens are informationspecialists. They connect us with newinformation. The group of people thatyou ask “how do you know all this stuff?”

Salesmen persuade us when we are unconvinced of what we arehearing.

Connectors link you up with the world. People with a special gift for bringing theworld together. So called ‘peoplespecialists.’

The Pinnovative Designs team is here to be your connector to the causemarketing world.

Cause Marketing is the newest buzzword in marketing. In it’s simplest sense, it is pairing thenon-profit world with the for-profit world. These relationships don’t happen automatically though.

There are over 1,500 non-profits in the United States andmillions of philanthropic companies and individuals that don’t know how to a)find these non-profits and b) support these non-profits in an effective fashionthat both parties benefit from the relationship.

In Gladwell terms, there has to be connector. That’s were we come into play. Let us explain…

Non-Profit meetCorporation

First, the bad news. Corporations community involvement budgets are being squeezed more thanever.

The good news? Corporations are still supporting their local community through localcharities and organizations…just more strategically. Corporations are participating more in causemarketing and less in philanthropy.

Your job as a non-profit is to make a difference in thecause you are supporting. If you spent amajority of your time searching for partners then you wouldn’t be doing yourcause justice.

By serving as an extension of your team, the PinnovativeDesign team creates custom products and programs that make sure you reach yourtarget audience and exceed your philanthropic expectations.

We take pride in our abilities to think outside the box andbrainstorm ideas that encourages corporations to get more involved with your organization.

Corporation meetNon-profit

For your corporation’s philanthropy program, we don’t justsell you the products – pat you on the back – and say go get’em tiger! No, we are there every step of the way withyou. Whether it be supplying marketingmaterial, training your employees on how to sell fundraising products orcreating a social media strategy for your campaign – we are here to providemore than just products.

According to our past experiences with non-profits andcorporations, we’ve found that simply displaying products and information bythe water cooler simply does not work when trying to raise money. Understandable. Your main job is not to make sure everybodysupports your philanthropic cause. That’s why we want to work with you. We’ll do it! We love thisstuff!

Your employees want a sense of ownership in the communitythey work in. An effective fundraisingprogram can instill a sense of pride for their workplace. Let’s do some math:

Effective FundraisingProgram + Good employee morale = Productive workforce!

Combined, the Pinnovative Team has over 30 years experiencein the non-profit fundraising and promotional marketing world. Withour powers combined we form a powerful team interested in getting your nameoff the back of t-shirts and permanently infused in the minds of the communitymembers you do business with!

Checkout our online store for an idea of our creativity: http://www.promoteitnationwidesales.com/stores/Demo

"Would Have..."

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

Certainly Joe Paterno 'would have' done something
differently a few years ago...

Those two words should be eliminated from your vocabulary.

Whenever the words "would have" are used, you can assure that the remaining sentence phrase is not one of optimism. The Pinnovative Designs team was in a meeting, when one of the team members mentioned that he grew up above a funeral home and how he would get frustrated listening to eulogies.

Every eulogy would consist of a message about "how great this person was..." All he could think about was if the person giving the eulogy ever said that stuff to the person when he/she was living.

This morbid topic came up because we were discussing the Steve Jobs memorial service that Apple posted on their website. It was lead by Apple CEO, Tim Cook, and every Apple employee was on the front lawn of the office building listening to performances by Norah Jones and Coldplay. The service was very well down. Mr. Cook started off the service by saying "Steve would have loved this..."

What an awful phrase...'would have'...

Again, the Pinnovative Team huddled and decided that we never want to use those words again...'would have'.

"I wish we would have..." GONE

"If we would have done this instead of that..." GONE

"If we would have done what so and so said maybe they wouldn't have left..." GONE

Think about this personally and professionally. Personally, do you only say good things about people when they aren't around? Stop it. Say it when they are around. Professionally, does your organization have more would have's and should have's than remarkable success stories?

We've taken the challenge and eliminated 'would have' from our vocabulary - try it yourself. Next time you are at a trade show or event, don't come home and say "if we would have given that away instead, maybe more people would have visited us." If you're out of ideas when it comes to your organization's cause marketing and/or promotional items contact us and get some fresh and innovative ideas.

Oh and one more thing, the season of thanks is upon us. Treat your employees well. Happy employees are productive employees and you'll never have to think about "If we would have done what so and so said maybe they wouldn't have left..." Visit our sister company: Promote It Nationwide Sales to get some ideas for those Holiday season employee and client gifts!

A Balancing Act...

2011-11-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

Mom and Pop's taking a stand against the big box stores!

Local businesses have begun taking back what the big box stores took away from them in the 90's and early 2000's...that is business. One factor in this renaissance is time. Basically, what goes around comes around, but any expected that it would take longer for mom and pop to regain their foothold, but it's starting to happen.

Another factor is Cause Marketing. Cone Communications puts out a report on Cause Marketing every year and in 2010 they revealed some astonishing numbers. According to Cone’s 2010 Cause Evolution Study:

83% of Americans wish more of the products, services and retailers they use would support causes.
80% of consumers are willing to switch from one brand to another brand that is about the same in price and quality, if the other brand is associated with a good cause.
61% are willing to try a new brand or one they’ve never heard of if associated with a cause.

Here in Newburyport, MA there is a shopping complex called The Tannery. It is a great facility that has everything from a dance studio to a bookstore. The owner, David Hall, is extremely philanthropic in the community...and it shows. Every day from 8:30 - 7pm his parking lot is packed. People in our community make it a point to shop there because David is so involved in the community.

Larger companies are starting to recognize the pressure that local businesses are placing on them. Take for example, Starbucks. For the longest time, most of Starbuck's Cause Marketing proceeds went overseas to Africa and other impoverished countries. Starting November 1st, all Starbuck's stores started selling bracelets to support the non-profit Opportunity Finance Network. This is an organization that was started to help create and sustain jobs in communities across AMERICA. Starbucks is a very well run company and they recognized that being in touch with its communities is just as important as supporting efforts to improve impoverished countries.

All across the country local companies are gaining steam by supporting the communities that support them. You don't have to be a huge corporation to make an impact in your local community. Be a community leader - get involved - get noticed.

At Pinnovative Designs we recognize the importance of being involved in local walks, rides and runs. We'd be happy to share success stories that we have gathered from all over the country and help you get noticed in your community!

Team Pinning Hopes at the Jeanie Geiger Walk Against Violence

First Impressions Count

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

For so many reasons, Catch Me if You Can, is a classic movie. The fact that it's based on a true story is probably the most amazing thing. The way it brings you 'back to the good ole days is also really amazing.'

One thing that stands out are the Pan Am stewardesses in the movie. For the younger generation in the United States it's hard to imagine that stewardesses and pilots used to dress to the nines for every flight. I'm not sure when it happened, but not all stewardesses...errr...flight attendants are created equal anymore. If you are on a Cathay Pacific or Quantas flight the art of dressing to the nines and impressing customers has not been lost. EVERY flight attendant is sharply dressed, attentive and courteous. Unfortunately, here in the States that is not always the case. For the early morning flights it's become common practice to run into grumpy and unkept flight attendants. It's unfortunate because despite what some people claim - first impressions really do count.

The same goes for Cause Marketing. If you are a non-profit and you put on an event that does not include something that makes an impression on the donor and/or participant then there is a good chance that person is not coming back. They are going to look for a non-profit that can make them feel wanted.

People participate in charity events because they believe in the cause, but most also have a 'what's in it for me' type of attitude as well. It's human nature. Your non-profit has to address that. To fulfill their 'belief in the cause' needs you most likely provide informational signs along the walk/ride/run route or provide informational flyers in the participant bags.

What do you do for the 'what's in it for me' needs? Being innovative and giving people a reason to come back next year and participate in your event is becoming an art form. It's a must that you think creatively and make yourself stand out from other non-profits. Pinnovative Designs is here to help you think outside of your non-profit headquarters and supply ideas and products that are proven to help raise funds.

On the other side, if you are a company and want to be socially responsible, you have to a) find a cause that you are truly passionate about and b) figure out an effective way to support that cause. Supporting a cause is an awesome feeling, but gaining customers that "come to you because you made an impression on me at XYZ Charity Walk" is an even better feeling. Consumers recognize that you are a community supporter...Wow. That impact of standing out at a charity walk/ride/run goes further than just putting your name on the back of a t-shirt at an event.

When you are looking to add a WOW factor to your cause marketing contact us and let us be an extension of your marketing team.

It's Not Only the Leaves that are Cha-Cha Changin

2011-11-01T08:46:00.000-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thereis no doubt about that. You can't walk two feet without seeing pink on aperson, place and/or thing.

As the calendar switches from October to November sodo the designated awarenesses for the month. During the month of November, 16 differentdiseases and illnesses will be addressed. Information on everything from COPD toDiabetes Awareness will be seen in hospitals, stores and billboards.

One movement is really starting to get a lot of lipservice. “Movember” is a Men’s CancerAwareness movement that started in Australia and has now spread all over theworld. During the month of Novemberheads are going to be turning all over the place…not just in the Doctor’sOffice (in conjunction with a cough.) Women– if you don’t understand that joke than ask any man that has gotten a physicalexam in the last 100 years. Men ofall ages are going to be growing mustaches for the entire month of November toraise awareness for cancers that effect men – namely testicular cancer andprostate cancer.

Why do we wish we thought of this? Check out the video below:

The creative and innovative nature of this cause isoutstanding. This is exactly what wehere at Pinnovative Designs are talking about when we say we love to bedifferent. Growing mustaches? What a great idea! Nobody is saying that walks, runs and bike ridesaren't effective and fantastic, but spice it up a little bit. Don’t be afraid to hire outside eyes to look at what your organizationis doing and see how it can be different than what everybody else isdoing.

Want to be an innovator for your company's cause or non-profit? Start here: Ronna@pinnovative.com or Chris@pinnovative.com

What Do You Have to Lose?

2011-10-28T10:12:00.000-04:00

Who are these individuals?

This is a picture that went viral on Twitter afterNESN Rinkside Reporter Naoko Funayama posted it on her Twitter account(@NaokoFunayama). Did you ever think that you'd see Stanley Cup Championsdressed up like Prince Charming, a pink rabbit (from the Christmas Story,) aCrayola crayon and Fred Flinstone? You have now! Brad Marchand,(6'9") Zdeno Chara, Jordan Caron and Adam McQuaid, from the Boston Bruinsvisited children at the Boston Children's Hospital earlier this week.

Boston Bruins fans probably got a kick out of thispicture, but fans of other NHL teams probably immediately thought of using thispicture as fodder when the Bruins came to town.

Take another look. This time put down yoursports fan hat and put on your goodwill hat. How awesome is it that theseguys put away their inhibitions for the day in order to bring good spirits tothe children and staff at BCH (and the rest of the NHL for that matter!)

People wear so many different hats these days thatit's hard to forget the proverbial business and parenting hat and put on thegoodwill hat. But really - what do you have to lose? Halloween isthe one time of year that you can be anybody but yourself. It's not tolate this year to volunteer at a cause worthy event and show that you and yourcompany care about your community.

Take it one step further and plan to host an event atyour office for children or do what the Bruins did and go to a non profit andhelp the children celebrate the season. Last I checked, you don't have tohave "Player on Stanley Cup Championship Team" on your resume inorder to help sick or underprivileged children.

The staff here at PinnovativeDesigns hopes that you have a fun time getting in thespirit of the season! Go out and be different.

One of the areas that Pinnovative Designsis passionate about is thinking of new products and programming for causemarketing and promotional marketing. If you are tired of the norm, allowus to help you create a program that will make your consumers remember you!

We look forward to hearing from you! Email usat: Chris@pinnovative.com or Ronna@pinnovative.com

Who Are We and What Exactly Do We Do?

2011-10-24T13:37:00.000-04:00

Checkout this Xerox commerical:

Now try to make the connection - what does a Xerox commercial have to do with Pinnovative Designs? It's simple - what Xerox does for companies is what we do for non-profits and companies. We take the legwork out of necessary projects that might slow down your company's main focus.

If you work at a company read this section:

What is Cause Marketing?
Cause Marketing is a [newer] buzzword that you should be aware of...and quickly because your competitor may have already beaten you to the punch. Since the number of information outlets has increased by a million (possibly billion) percent, your consumers are more interested in how your company gives back to the community.

Think of it this way, if you need service done on the air conditioning unit in your office building are you going to use an HVAC repairman that does business with you or a repairman that chose to do business with your competitor? More times than not you are going to use the repairman that uses your product.

The same goes for consumers. If one company has a strong presence in the community and/or major supporter of a specific cause a consumer is going to recognize that and use their product/service simply because 'that company gives back to my community.'

Here is what Pinnovative Designs helps with:

Find a non-profit organization that matches your company's philanthropic interests.
Develop custom-designed products and a Cause Marketing program that will effectively get your company recognized in the community.
As an extension of your Marketing/PR Department, we will offer suggestions and proven advice on what works and does not work.

Just like Xerox does for Ducati, we help your company develop an effective Cause Marketing program that gets your name in the community and does not interrupt your company's main focus.

If you work at a non-profit read this section:
First, believe in this statement - People are still donating to non-profits, they are just giving to fewer recipients.

Secondly, Pinnovative Designs can help your organization stand out in a crowded industry, in-turn, make sure you are on the annual giving checklist for individuals and corporations.

Here is what Pinnovative Designs helps with:

Provide a third-party view on current fundraising/event strategies and help you get more creative in how you reach your target audience.
Connect you with corporations and individuals that have a philanthropic interest in your organization.
If you do not have a large staff, use us to be an extension of your team.

For Everybody:

In addition to Cause Marketing, we have two other focus areas.

Corporate Promotional Marketing: We think outside the box. You may be tired of staring at promotional catalogs that grow in thickness as you are reading them. Here's some advice - walk to the closet door and put the catalog down at the foot of the door. Congratulations you have a new doorstop!!! Now, contact us. You give us a rough idea of what you want and a price range and we'll do the searching for you.

Alumni Relations Giveaways: If you work in University Alumni Relations and Development here is something you'll never hear: "I love your pens, luggage tags and chapstick - it's so creative!" You and and the other 2,618 Colleges and Universities in the US give away the same things. Be a leader by contacting us and getting some fresh ideas!

We are a small company that will remain small so we can be as flexible as possible to create an effective and unique marketing experience for your company or non-profit.

Look forward to hearing from you.