Skip to content

Category: Business Tips

Case Studies: Custom Promo Products for Schools and UniversitiesCustom Card for University Homecoming

Case Studies: Custom Promo Products for Schools and Universities

Published August 8, 2017

Schools, colleges, and universities are always looking to increase awareness about enrollment, campus events, school clubs and programs, fundraisers, alumni support and community involvement. Whether your goal is recruiting more students for your university, or your boosting attendance at athletic events, custom giveaways help schools get the word out. Here are a few fun ideas to help schools reach their goals using promotional products.

Objective: Promote School Athletics

A school’s athletic program was struggling to pay for recurring expenses. Game attendance had dropped over the previous year, and alumni attendance was weak. The school wanted to increase game attendance to boost ticket revenue, concession stand sales, and encourage alumni donations.

School Athletics Case Study by Warwick Publishing

Product

#1820 | Custom Wave Calendar

Personalization

Calendar with highlighted home and away games printed on pop-out waves. Men’s schedule was printed on one side of the calendar, women’s schedule was printed on the other. The full schedule, including opponents and locations, were printed behind the pop-out wave calendars.

Method of Distribution

Every athlete was given one to take home to parents. Calendars were available at the ticket table and concession stands at every game. Calendars were also mailed out to alumni and local business owners with a letter from the coach, as well as notes from the team captains, thanking them for past support, and encouraging them to attend some games. There were calendars placed on tables in the cafeteria and library to inspire school pride.

Marketing Outcome

Game attendance went up by 33% for both the men’s and women’s teams. More students and alumni were present. Due to increased attendance, the program could make necessary investments, like better training equipment and new uniforms.

Objective: Unify University Re-branding

A university had just completed a major rebrand complete with a new logo and wanted to make sure they had all the necessary branded items for functions throughout the year. They had previously been using different pocket folders for various events and functions.

University Case Study by Warwick Publishing

Product

#STANDARD-INK1 | Standard 1-Color Printed Pocket Folder, Style V1

Personalization

For the front cover, the school simply used their logo. The slogan and social media info was printed on the pockets.

Method of Distribution

Staff handed out these custom branded folders out to prospective students and their parents, alumni, faculty, and board members.

Marketing Outcome

Since the design was basic branding and folders are a supply item for the college, the university was able to buy their folders in bulk, saving money on an otherwise recurring expense. They unified their look for a consistent image across all departments.

Objective: Increase Alumni Engagement and Donor Support

A university wanted to increase alumni engagement and attendance at their Homecoming week events. They also wanted to increase donor support and raise funds for campus programs. By engaging alumni and past donors by inviting them to Homecoming week, the university hoped to increase donations by 15% over the previous year.

Custom Card for University Homecoming

Product

8000-DP-57 | 5 x 7 Flat Printed Card

Personalization

University campus photo showing students on the grass studying with a red banner overlay designed with a simple university logo and Homecoming dates.

Method of Distribution

These custom cards were mailed to all alumni as invitations to the Homecoming week events, paired with a letter asking for a donation to support campus program development.

Marketing Outcome

The university saw an increase in RSVPs for Homecoming events and got a great response from donors. The alumni association saw an 18% increase in monetary gifts received in the month following the Homecoming celebrations, allowing them to give back to campus programs and support student clubs and organizations.

Leave a Comment
Compliments: A Powerful Gift in the WorkplaceCompliments in the Workplace

Compliments: A Powerful Gift in the Workplace

Published July 25, 2017

The power of a compliment

You’d be amazed at the positive psychological impact a compliment can make in the workplace

Just like a thoughtful promotional gift, a compliment motivates people to keep up the same great behaviors that bring praise and recognition from others. Your employees and coworkers will stay encouraged to perform at a high level when they’re recognized for their success. Studies show that participants who received a compliment after completing an exercise perform better even a full day afterward, compared to those who completed the same exercise without being complimented on their performance.

The scientific reason for this? A compliment given in a genuine, professional, and appropriate way triggers the reward center in the brain, releasing dopamine. This neurotransmitter sends feel-good signals to our mind and body. When a compliment is well received, the exchange actually boosts the self-esteem of both the recipient and the giver of the praise.

Compliments release dopamines, which sends feel-good signals to your mind and body. Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash.

How can a compliment improve your work life?

Need another good reason to compliment someone for a job well done? You just might learn something! Here’s an example from one of our Warwick customer service representatives, Melanie:

“Yesterday, I  had to do some quick research on a PO. The first place I looked, there were detailed notes from another account manager. It directed me to an email thread with exactly what I needed. Because of how well she does her job, I was able to quickly resolve my question. I took the time to send her a quick email complimenting her thoroughness, and let her know how much she brings to the table. Then something amazing happened! She showed me a coding trick within our email system to remind her of any special pricing agreed to. It was an amazing time-saving hack and I started doing the same!”

When recognition is due, take the time to verbally compliment your co-workers, fellow distributors, your sales team, and even your suppliers.  What do you admire about them? Is their work ethic off the charts? Did they meet or surpass a big goal recently? Give them kudos. Doing so creates a positive energy in the office and boosts morale.

How to praise clients and prospects the right way

It’s fine to compliment your customers and your prospects, too. But as with any compliment, be sure to keep it sincere and reserve it for noteworthy occasions.

“Compliments can be subject to the laws of economics, meaning that the more often you give them out, the less they mean,” warns Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., and Professor of Psychology UMass Amherst.

With a new prospect, you don’t want to give off the appearance that you’re trying too hard to make the sale. “If it’s clear that you stand to gain from your compliment, your compliment may seem insincere,” says Whitbourne.

When researching a new prospect, take note of their background. Are you truly inspired by how they built up their business? Do they have a knockout website or slogan? A sincere compliment is a great way to start a conversation out, build rapport, and warm up your prospects.

Why is this valuable in the sales process, you ask? It just so happens that the dopamine-producing part of the brain (the ventral medial prefrontal cortex) also handles social decision-making. In the world of selling, this is important because many buying decisions are emotionally based. Know how to work the compliments, and you could be on your way to a better bottom line.

When it comes to complimenting clients, keep it sincere and reserve it for noteworthy occasions. Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash.

Keep compliments genuine and work-related

A word of caution on complimenting, though: if you don’t have anything genuinely positive to say, don’t force it. 

A compliment should be natural and sincere.  False flattery is easy to detect. If delivered inappropriately or disingenuously, a well-meaning compliment can completely backfire. Instead of creating a feel-good self-esteem boost, an inappropriate compliment can create an awkward relationship or uncomfortable situation.

With that said, make sure to keep your compliments business or work related.  While it may be flattering, complimenting someone’s outfit or physical appearance may cross a personal boundary.

Compliments motivate, improve communication, and build trust

You don’t need to be an expert or even a social butterfly to master this skill. You only need to be sincere. People always give more when they feel appreciated, and often, they’ll become more relaxed, more trusting, and more communicative as a result. Start a culture of awareness for the positive developments around you. Co-workers, vendors, and clients all benefit from knowing that we notice and value them. We challenge you to send at least one person some much-needed kudos for a job well done today. You might get back more than you expect!

Did you compliment someone today? How did it impact you? We’d love to hear your stories. Leave a comment below or share with us on the Warwick Facebook page. 

Leave a Comment