Incentive - April 2008 - (Page 62) THE INCENTIVE MERCHANDISE BUYER’S HANDBOOK CHAPTER 5 Findng the Right Partner important questions to help narrow down the choices. Here are some questions to think about when selecting a merchandise provider partner: • Does my prospective merchandise partner have extensive experience working in the incentive industry? • Does my prospective merchandise partner have success stories and referrals they can share? After answering these important questions and pinpointing potential merchandise partners, it is time to determine what the selected third parties can offer and at what cost. Don’t make a decision by cost alone. Take into consideration everything a company can provide you in relation to the price. Bottom line, the whole purpose of partnering with another company is to provide merchandise and make the planning process as hassle-free as possible. I ASSISTANCE FOR THIS ARTICLE WAS PROVIDED BY DESIGN INCENTIVES IN LIVONIA, MI; THE INCENTIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATION IN NAPERVILLE, IL; LONE STAR INCENTIVES IN ALLEN, TX; AND USMOTIVATION IN ATLANTA. • What are my merchandise needs? • What is the approximate budget? • What are the planned dates of the program (does it have a history in any form?), estimated size, the target audience, the objective, the hoped-for results? • Does the awards program require brand-name merchandise, custom promotional products, or both? • Do I need help with program design, execution, and administration? • What company will provide the best pricing for the merchandise awards? ©2008 Tumi, Inc. www.tumispecialmarkets.com 800.669.3181 62 | April 2008 SPECIAL SECTION http://www.tumispecialmarkets.com http://www.tumispecialmarkets.com
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