by Amanda Hueneke
Remember when you were a little kid, visiting the dentist office and you got to raid the treasure box after you finished your treatments? I recently began my rabbit hole journey into TikTok (much to my two teenagers’ chagrin); and I came across a video of a dentist lamenting the fact that he had never thought to have a grown up treasure box. And he’s right to lament….. why isn’t there a grown up treasure chest at the end of something like the dentist’s office? Don’t adults deserve that thrill of pawing through piles of “treasures” to find just the right thing to make them smile?
People remember experiences. What could be a sore/scary/painful memory as a child sticks out to us in a positive light, because the dentist office ended something unpleasant with something pleasant. We remember the positive part, more.
Taking that treasure box concept a step further; as things begin to get back to “normal” and we’re starting to visit with each other more in person again, why not create your own treasure chest that clients can visit as they leave your office? I mean, who can resist the child-like anticipation of looking, digging around for a favorite piece? And why not encourage them to come back and “collect them all”? There is something to be said about creating child-like joy in times like these.
The comments on that TikTok thrilled this girl’s marketing heart. Followers were quick to make suggestions on what to fill the chest with. Which proves, people still get excited about well-done/selected quality promo. Suggestions included things like gel pens, seed packets, pop sockets, all of which can be branded. I’d add to the list- car coasters, air fresheners, pen/highlighter combos, high end lip balms, mini candles, mirrored nail files, and more. There are so many items that can be branded so that the recipient is walking away with not only a positive brand experience, but also a token to remember you by. Select two or three items to start, and maybe add one item a quarter to keep it fresh without breaking the budget.
As you venture into second quarter and select your marketing promo pieces, remember that it’s not just about handing someone a pen, or having some coffee mugs on hand to “hand out”. Remember that promo is a piece of the puzzle in your marketing; and when you combine it with an experience- that’s when you have a positive brand message that truly brings a return on investment.
If you or someone you know needs help building brand experiences through promotional merch, apparel, signage or print- contact Hello Imprint to get started.