There is no denying that this has been a tough year. As a young (founded in 2006) and growing promotional marketing firm, the recent economy has hit us very hard here at Quintain Marketing. In previous years, our goal was always to hit certain sales targets. This year, the goal was to still be in business by the year’s end. I’m thrilled to say that - so far (knocking on wood) - it looks like we will achieve that goal.

I’m someone who tends to look on the bright side of things and stay upbeat, so I like to think that some good things have come out of this very difficult time. The very best thing that happened this year was that I gained a new appreciation for so many things that I used to take for granted. There is really no better time to celebrate all of these positive things in life than now – Thanksgiving.

This year, I’m giving thanks for:

• Incredibly loyal customers who have stuck with us through trying economic times. I’m proud to say that not only have we not lost any customers this year, we’ve built our customer base and are working with an exciting array of organizations from a diverse range of industries. Many of these firms have had to dramatically scale back their spending this year, but they continue to come back to us with jobs and we’re happy to work with them, whether the projects are small or large. Thank you so much for sticking with us!
• The most amazing employees who have put their heart and soul into making sure that we provide top notch customer service. Thanks especially to Jessica, our principal Project Manager, for her incredible attention to detail and the professionalism she brings to the office every day!
• Vendors I can really count on to deliver for both Quintain and our customers. We’ve worked hard these past few years to develop strong relationships with a core group of vendors that we think have top quality products. That work has really born fruit this year when we needed items produced or decorated on a tight timeline, or when shipments got lost and our vendors reproduced items on a rush basis to ensure our clients wouldn’t miss their deadlines. They do this all very much “behind the scenes,” but I hope they know how much we appreciate them.
• The best business partner in the whole world – my husband John. Somehow, we work together on a daily basis and still manage to have a great marriage. I’m so lucky that I get to share this crazy ride of entrepreneurship with my best friend and husband!

As we head into the holiday season, I’m hopeful that the experience of the past year will make us all stronger and more focused on what really matters, but that we will all retain this feeling of gratefulness. I can’t help but believe that 2010 will be the year we exhale, relax a little, and rejoice in the knowledge that things are slowly returning to normal. And maybe – just maybe – my goal can once again be to hit my sales targets!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

By Kathleen Booth

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One of the most - dare I say genius? - yet totally ridiculous inventions of the past few years has weaseled its way into the promotional products industry. That’s right, I’m talking about the SNUGGIE.

I know you’ve been dying to get your logo on a snuggie and the opportunity is now all yours. Since the snuggie is only, after all, an extra long fleece blanket with sleeves, decoration options for promo snuggies are pretty much unlimited. Screen printing, embroidery, laser etching, appliqués, or dye sublimation - the choice is all yours! Promotional snuggies are even available in a rainbow of color options-choose from burgundy, red, colbalt blue, camel, green, black, pink, navy, or brown.

Think the snuggie is only for grandmas and those too lazy to put on a jacket? Think again. The band Weezer cuddles up in snuggies too! They’re even including their new cd “Raditude” with every Weezer Snuggie purchase. Sweet deal!

Hmm … seems like the only place the snuggie hasn’t invaded yet is Microsoft Word spell check. But neither has the brand name “Crayola,” and they’ve been around since 1885!

By Jessica Matase

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Finally! There is a rewards program that doesn’t “reward” you for accumulating debt! Don’t get me wrong, the popular Rewards Programs offered by Chase and American Express are great ways to recognize customer spending, but I’m not going to use my AmEx to pay my bills just to get free stuff.

PNC’s Points Program allows you to earn points for using your Visa check card (with or without a pin) and PNC Visa credit cards. Along with everyday purchases, you can also earn points for adding direct deposit, paying bills online, or receiving your checking account statements online.

Now, I admit I may be a little biased in my opinion of PNC’s program because I am already a PNC customer. But even if I wasn’t, their incentive program would definitely make me consider switching banks. How great is it that I can now get free stuff for doing things I would do anyway? Plus, the rewards range from gift cards and airfare points, to products from Apple, Bose, Movado, Nike, Krups, DeWalt, Flip Mino, David Yurman, Garmen, Michael Kors, Mont Blanc, and Dyson (just to name a few.)

Not only is the program itself awesome, PNC set up a really informative and interactive website to help its customers understand it. Unlike most rewards programs, you don’t have to already be a member to see the options for rewards. So if you are a little skeptical about signing up, just take a few minutes to surf the site. You’ll learn more about the program or you can check out the points calculator that helps “guesstimate” how many points you’ll get for your purchases, etc.

Setting up customer reward programs is an effective way to attract and maintain customers. Whether your budget for a rewards/incentive program is large or small, Quintain Marketing can help you set up a successful program for your customers.

By Jessica Matase

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I don’t know about you but I hate desk clutter- I can’t focus with a million things on my desk! One of the very few accessories I do keep on my desk is a perpetual calendar- I just adore this thing! Perpetual calendars are great for people who don’t write on calendars but still like to have a calendar in front of them (like me- HELLO BlackBerry Calendar) plus I can’t fit my plans/appointments/birthdays into those tiny blocks anyway!

Unlike the usual 12 month calendar, the perpetual calendar lasts forever. So if you order perpetual calendars your client or prospects will be looking at your logo for years instead of just the current year. They range in price from about $3 up to $35. I’m currently using Pidio, but I also really like the Oceanus Series (both are from LogoMark.)

Incase you’re wondering how well received perpetual calendars are-A few months ago one of our clients used a perpetual calendar as a dimensional mailing promotion for a vacation. We showed the calendar they chose at a tradeshow a few weeks ago and somebody swiped it (go figure!)

By Jessica Matase

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If you want a gift to give this holiday season that will stand out above the rest, consider a wine opener or wine stopper from Laguiole®. Inspired by hand craftsmanship perfected over the centuries by French knife makers, Laguiole® is synonymous with unrivaled quality. The symbolic bee that marks each Laguiole® product signifies a level of commitment to precision and function.

One of our favorite classic bottle stoppers is from Laguiole® and is packaged in a wooden keepsake box that can be branded with your logo or message. We also love the stainless steel wine opener which features ergonomically designed handles and lever allowing one-stop wine opening. The opener is also packaged in a beautiful wooden box.

By Jessica Matase

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