Bankers Advertising

One of the hottest trends in promotional products these days is portable power chargers. Did you know…

• The average person checks his/her phone 110 times a day
• The average smartphone battery lasts less than 8 hours
• The average person spends 2.7 hours a day on their phone just for fun

Bankers Advertising is excited to bring our clients  myCharge® by BIC Graphic – a leading retail brand! Sold by over 20 major retailers, myCharge® is #1 in market share for portable power banks. Trust myCharge® for an impactful, quality gift executives and road warriors will appreciate and count on.  They make the perfect client gift or sales incentive item.

Learn more about portable power chargers:

What are Milliamps? Mili Ampere hour (aka Milliamps, aka mAh) measures the energy charge that a battery will hold and how long a battery will run before the battery needs recharging. Most smartphone batteries range from 1400 to 2800mAh, while tablets range anywhere from 4000 mAh up to 12000 mAh.

• We offer the 2200 mAh myCharge® AMPMINI 31878 and the 6000 mAh AMPMAX 31879.

What is “output”? Output defines the total amount of amperes (A) that the device can release. For most smartphones, 1.0A is sufficient and will charge at the fastest possible rate. For tablets, you need a minimum of 2.0A to charge at the maximum rate.

• The myCharge® AMPMAX 31879 has a 2.4A output, perfect for charging tablets.

What impacts Charging Time? Charging time is impacted by a variety of factors, including capacity, power supply and device you’re charging.

• myCharge® offers Peak Power™ technology. This technology allows us to maximize the amount of available power into the portable charger based on the input source (car, wall outlet, computer) which allows for faster recharging.
• New myCharge® portable power banks recharge their internal batteries at rates up to 200% faster based on the input source.
• When you charge both the myCharge® portable charger and the device in parallel, you can reduce charge time by 25% or more.

Worried about compatibility? Compatibility refers to the ability of two devices being able to be used together.

• myCharge® offers Smartsense™ technology which allows full compatibility with any device that recharges via USB.
• myCharge® products automatically recognize the device being charged for faster charging and deliver the maximum power to your device.

Why does “efficiency” matter? It’s the ability to minimize the loss of energy created through the transfer of power. Many portable chargers are less than 80% efficient.

• All myCharge® products are more than 90% efficient, maximizing the power to your device

Worried about Battery Power & Protection? Seen the recalls in the news?

• myCharge® products have all been developed using the thinnest, lightest, high density Samsung batteries, allowing for more power from a smaller footprint.
• All myCharge® products meet FCC requirements and are tested to UL1642 and UN38.3 requirements to ensure safe operation.
• myCharge® offers two layers of battery protection (active & passive) to prevent products from  overcharge, undercharge, overcurrent, over-temperature and short-circuit .

We’re proud to offer our clients the leading retail brand of portable charging devices. Check out our top sellers below.

myCharge (R) AMPMINI Portable Charger

myCharge (R) AMPMAX Portable Charger with Flashlight

Use your Year-End Budget Dollars for Effectively for Your Business

If you’d had a reasonably good business year, you might be thinking about how your tax liability will affect your bottom line results.  It is a shame how some businesses see having a large end-year budget as an excuse to throw an elaborate end of year party.  As fun as those are, there are more effective ways you can help your business in using your year-end budget to help increase your business next year! We came up with the best way on how to use your year-end budget effectively for tax planning through marketing! If you need some ideas you have come to the right place!

Using your Year End Budget Through Marketing Products

Imprinted promotional items and advertising expenses are great way to reduce that tax liability of having a huge year-end budget.  Did you know that some imprinted promotional items can be considered an office supply purchase and not an advertising purchase? Products such as imprinted pens, memo books, calendars, key tags or even employee uniforms such as embroidered Polo-style shirts or jackets could fall into this category. Even if your imprinted promotional item budget has been spent, check to see if there are office supply dollars are available. If the budget allows, think about purchasing your office supply items for the New Year now… it could be advantageous from a tax standpoint!

Here are other suggestions for the best way to spend your Year End Budget through Marketing:

–        Purchase imprinted promotional pens for your employees to keep on-hand for their own use, and to hand-out to your customers. Everyone loves pens, and it’s always frustrating when you can’t find one. Why not be the person to make them available all over town? Bonus… your business name is on them!

–        So, now that you’ve got imprinted promotional pens… you need something to write on. Consider Memo Books. We sell millions of these babies, and that’s a true testament to how useful and appreciated they really are. Plus, these can definitely pass for a supply item. Once again, your employees will use them on the job, and so will your customers…and see your name each. Why buy? Because, marketing!

–        Do your employees need a uniformed look? It’s important that they’re clearly identified as an employee, plus they look clean-cut and professional. Embroidered apparel is a nice way to accomplish that, and they keep your employees comfortable. It will fall in the supply or uniform category.

So, as you wrap up your budget this year, consider imprinted promotional items to use up the remaining supply budget and reduce your tax liability. We’re not the IRS, but we’re certainly creative, aren’t we?

Interested in making some custom logo products for your business? Click here to SHOP NOW.

What are you thankful for? Click here for a free printable – and get your family involved!

Promotional Calendars are literally a billboard for your message. Did you know that 70% of logo product sales are made up of promotional calendars? So… what does that mean? It means that 70% of businesses who’re incorporating logo products into their marketing mix are using advertising promotional calendars. It also means that your competitors are likely using these powerful little marketing tools.

With that being said, it is TIME to think about promotional calendars. The year is coming to a close, and it’s time to think about how you can thank your customers for this year’s business. It’s also a good way to send loyal or new customers into the NEW YEAR thinking about you from the very beginning. If this isn’t enough to convince you, here are 4 more reasons you need advertising calendars for your business in 2015:

Timely…

There is no gift or product that is timelier at the year-end than the promotional calendars. Your customer’s 2013 calendars are about to expire. Plans for next year are already in the works! A new calendar is sought-after, appreciated and put to good use immediately at home or work (or both)! People know EXACTLY who gave them their calendar last year… did it come from you? It should!

Personal…

Calendar advertising is the definition of personal advertising. Whether distributed in person or by mail, the advertising calendar is referred to daily, multiple times becoming an integral part of the recipient’s life. We offer many logo products to select from, but promotional calendars are the ONLY ones that are in your customer’s lives 365-24-7.

Engaging…

People always respond favorably when they’re presented with a product they deem valuable. They’re engaged from the START. You’re the advertiser, and you’re getting the opportunity to “engage” with your recipient every time the calendar is used.

Shareable…

Promotional Calendars are seen and tell YOUR story to numerous people every day – family, friends, guests, colleagues, and more. The calendar constantly tells people about who YOU are, where YOU can be found and the products or services YOU offer.

If you haven’t incorporated calendars into your quality logo product stash, now is the time to do it!

Need we say more? Check out our product database to peruse the calendar options available to customize and order! Looking for something super special? We’ve got 100’s of additional options available to you. Simply give us a call at 319-354-1020 or email us at sales@bankersadvertising.com. We look forward to serving you!

Iowa City, IA, October 31^st, 2014 — Bankers Advertising Company, www.bankersadvertising.com, a promotional products distributor has been recognized by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) as a Powerful Partner.  Bankers Advertising, along with three other promotional products industry companies, was chosen for their keen ability to forge collaborative partnerships with their suppliers through clear communications and a higher level of creative selling.

This fall, PPB Magazine asked industry supplier readers to nominate distributors who exhibit the best examples of true teamwork. Bankers Advertising Company was nominated by Cedar Crest Manufacturing – an imprinted writing instrument supplier in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Douglas C. Miskimen, President at Cedar Crest Manufacturing submitted a nomination to letter to PPBstating, “In its 113^th year of existence, Bankers Advertising committed to distributing our brand new line of writing instruments. Sales steadily grew over the ensuing four year period… This dedication for our start-up company had a dominoes effect on helping us get established in the industry. A high level of business integrity and professionalism is demonstrated consistently by Bankers Advertising Company.”

Bob Kral, Vice President of Marketing at Bankers Advertising said, “We are honored to receive recognition for our partnerships within our industry. These relationships make a powerful impact on our ability to serve our clients with the best in promotional solutions, quality products and fair pricing,”

Established in 1896, Bankers is one of the oldest and largest promotional products distributors. Bankers specializes in providing promotional products for marketing, tradeshow promotions, sales meeting supplies and communication tools, business gifts, awards programs and advertising calendars.  For more information about Bankers, call (319) 354-1020 or visit www.bankersadvertising.com.

Although the year is approaching the end, it’s the beginning of the big holiday season. No matter what you celebrate in the upcoming months, everyone considers it gift season of some kind. It is time to start thinking about how you will recognize and celebrate the loyalty of your top customers and employees with branded gifts.

10 According to a recent study, 76.1% of respondents could recall the advertiser’s name on a promotional product that they had received in the past 12 months. In addition, 75.4% of respondents said they kept their logo product because it was useful.

9 Whether you call them SWAG (stuff we all get), promotional products, advertising specialties, or trinkets, promotional products are the only medium that engages all five senses. Your customers can see, hear, touch, taste and even smell them.

8 Open New Accounts – Stimulate interest and action during your off-season to avoid stagnant accounts and backward slide!

7 Promote New Facilities – Use a promotional product to notify existing and prospective customers of your new locations.

6 Motivate Employees – Don’t forget the reason your company is successful – employees need motivation, just like your customers! Help grow a healthy and positive work environment using higher-end promotional products as a ‘thank you’ gift or incentive to meet safety goals or a sales achievement.

5 Change Your Company or Product Name – Don’t lose out on this opportunity to keep everyone informed about changes in your company. Put a reminder in front of them that they’ll hang on to for years to come.

4 Develop Tradeshow Traffic – Skip the candy and think out of the box at your next meeting, convention, or tradeshow with a unique promotional product. Visitors will be swarming your booth for a piece of the action!

3 Improve Customer Relationships – Each customer wants to know you appreciate their business, why not give them a solid gift to hold in their hand to make them sure?

2 Start Conversations – Searching for new business? Snazzy promotional products will get you in the door. Make it unique and personal to be certain you are not forgotten.

1 Brand Building – If your name is forgotten, you’re in big trouble. Create a continuous presence with promotional products that promote your brand. They are the perfect solution to boredom with standard advertising.

Make promotional products from Bankers Advertising Company an integral part of your marketing mix and watch clients grab onto your message. Our website offers a great selection of promotional products. Get your creative juices flowing, and check it out here!

**This article was published in our weekly newsletter.

I am halfway through my 14th year at Bankers Advertising. For most of that time I have been handling the issues that may arise with an order after it has been shipped. A common call I receive is for billed freight charges. When you’re selling an order it can be fairly easy to overlook the freight costs that will be added to the total. If the product that is being purchased is heavy or ships in large boxes – that cost can add up quickly. If rush shipping is needed, those costs can skyrocket and the freight can be almost as much as (or even more than) the product cost. If the client is not aware of those charges they can be shocked when they receive their invoice.
If you know that the product is going to be heavy or shipped in large boxes, I always recommend getting a freight quote. The same goes for any upgrade to the shipping method. There can be a huge difference between ground shipping and overnight. Even 2nd day Air can be expensive. There are many shipping options available and knowing exactly when your client needs their order can save a lot of money. Even with overnight shipping via UPS you can choose between Early AM – before 8:00, Regular – before 10:30 in most locations and Saver which gets it there before the end of the day. The later in the day it can be delivered, the less it costs. If you know there will be several large boxes or the product will be heavy, using a trucking company can often save money as well. Determining how a product
should be shipped or what might cost more can be difficult. I found some very useful information in an article by Jenna Markowki called, “Why Does My Shipping Cost So Much?” She does an excellent job of breaking down the pieces and explaining how the shipper determines the cost per box.
Weight: This factor is pretty straightforward. Your order will cost more or less depending on how much it weighs when placed on a scale. The more it weighs, the more expensive your shipping will be.
Dimensional Weight: Weight is all well and good, but not all of our items are very heavy. For example, items like Koozies, lunch coolers, and tote bags are actually pretty light. However, they are typically shipped in large boxes. This is where dimensional weight comes into play. Even though your items may not weigh a lot, a large box still takes up a lot of room on the truck (or train, or plane). Dimensional weight is the cubic size of your package. This is calculated by multiplying the height by the length by the width, or height x length x width. You can measure in either inches or centimeters.

According to UPS, to determine the dimensional weight for domestic shipments, you divide the cubic size of your package (height x length x width) by 166 to get the dimensional weight in pounds. For international shipments you divide the cubic size of your shipment by 139 to get the dimensional weight in pounds. Or, if you measured in centimeters, you divide by 5,000 to get the dimensional weight in kilograms.

So which one will you be charged for: actual weight or dimensional weight? Well, it depends on which one is bigger! Whichever of the two weights is the largest is your billable weight, and will be the weight that is used to calculate your shipping cost.
You can think of it like this: Let’s say you have a box of USB drives that weighs 20 pounds in a 6” x 8” x 10” box, so a dimensional weight of 3.5 pounds. You also have a box of custom stress balls that weighs 20 pounds in a 24” x 14” x 15” box, so a dimensional weight of 36.3 pounds. Even though both boxes weigh the same amount, since the stress balls come in a larger box, and therefore have a larger dimensional weight, they will cost more to ship simply because that box takes up more room on the truck.
Transit Distance: Another important factor in calculating your shipping is how far your promo items have to travel. The more distance between the factory your items are shipping from and your delivery location, the more expensive your shipping will be.

A few other items that can affect the cost are damage resistant packaging, flammable or perishable items, international shipping, drop shipments and  whether you are shipping to a business or residence. It sure is a lot to keep in mind. If you are ever in doubt you can call your sales manager and ask for a freight quote. We’re always happy to help!
-Keisha Tompkin

by Bob Kral, Vice President of Marketing, Bankers Advertising

In today’s market there are several things we need to do to maintain and grow our business. Keeping “Top of Mind” position with our clients (we want them to know who to call when they are ready to order) and creating a position of value are two critical areas that will affect our sales success. To help you add value, your Bankers Staff is excited to introduce a New Sales Tool “Bankers Award & Recognition Handbook” to the Bankers sales force.
Recognizing and Awarding employees is one of the most important things any business can do. Studies have shown that companies that offer recognition programs out perform their competition, increase employee loyalty and are more highly thought of in the community. Recognition and Awards are not just for businesses. Many Non-Profits, Schools, Civic Groups, Clubs, and Fraternal organizations are large users of awards and recognition items.
Your customers (nearly everyone you work with has some kind of recognition or award program) use awards for such things as: Sales Achievement, Retirement, Promotions, Years of Service, Dealer and Customer Recognition and more.
Schools, Civic Groups and others use recognition to: Recognize Membership, Award Donors, Show Support, Thank Sponsors, Commemorate Special Events and more. There are lots of opportunities to add extra sales to your total by letting any customer know you are their Award and Recognition source. The Handbook  offers you many pieces of information to share with any client. In fact we suggest that you leave a copy with your best prospects as you are making your rounds for fall sales. (Most awards are determined at the end of the calendar year, so leaving a copy now will help you get a top of mind with the client as someone they can turn to when they are ready to order).
Here is a quick review of what is included in your Bankers Award and Recognition Handbook:
• Pages two and three outline the advantages of A&R for the client and recipient.
• Page four outlines benefits gained from an A&R program.
• Page five lists the most popular types of awards.
• Pages six and seven identify Top Markets for Award sales and the area of a business to contact for the different awards.
• Page eight is a quick reference for the different types of awards and benefits each offers.
• Page nine is a key to your success. The Worksheet helps collect all the information you need to help your client select the perfect award and other promotional items that are needed to make their program successful.
• Pages ten and eleven include examples of different award types and layouts.
• Pages twelve and thirteen share success stories about A&R programs that are currently being sold by your Bankers Sales Force Peers. (This core group and others are your experts and are willing to discuss any concerns you might have.)
• Pages fourteen and fifteen include a Glossary of Terms that will be helpful to you when talking to your client about the different types of awards and techniques used in the manufacture of A&R products.
If you only share one thing with your client it should be the statement on the back cover. In a very few words this conveys the importance and benefits of a program that recognizes achievement. You are in the driver’s seat. Only ONE in TEN of your competition is showing or selling awards. Award sales are not price sensitive and you can sell without the threat of online competition, you‘ll earn higher commission levels, and A&R orders repeat every year.

REMEMBER – Your customers are already buying awards. WHY aren’t they Buying Them from YOU???
Good Selling!