Marketing FAQs

One of the greatest challenges our customers face is this: what do we do once we have the product in hand? How do we market and most importantly, sell the product?

Hopefully you have employed some of the advice in our How to begin a custom keepsake section before you have received your product. If you are like most of our customers, you’re trying to help a favorite organization raise funds and are seeking a product that is different, easy to sell, and that will be profitable. Yet, you might not have a background in marketing and are unsure of what steps to take to create a successful and enjoyable custom ornament program.

Get the word out early – it’s never too early to let your donors, staff, volunteers and members, as well as the local community, know about your intentions to create a piece. By announcing your intentions, you allow for people to place advance orders, offer other organizations and retail stores the opportunity to help sell your piece. Start creating advanced publicity and press which can help you later to sell through your inventory,

Use your assets - electronic media (email newsletter, website) as well as traditional media (direct mail, newsletters, and flyers) are standard communication channels. But why stop there? You can send a press release to your local media organizations (radio, newspapers, tv). If your organization or the subject matter of your keepsake is historically or locally relevant, you will have a greater chance at receiving local coverage.

Engage your Community – get your local community involved. Talk to you local Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Council, work with local schools and local interest groups. The best advertising is word of mouth, so start with your staff, volunteers, and donors and start the chain reaction!

Use local stores to sell – many of our customers have said that local retail stores have offered to sell their keepsake for them – many donating 100% of the proceeds back to the organization. Organizations such as Friends of Honolulu City Lights and the Wisconsin State Capitol have had tremendous success spreading their inventory throughout local venues. Your local visitors bureau or tourism council may also be willing to promote and sell your product, where there is a high visibility of non-native traffic.