Incentive - May 2009 - (Page 62)

AWARDS Apparel: Just the Right Fit By Alex Palmer s companies seek ways to motivate staff without spending a bundle, apparel has become a popular incentive choice, both as an inexpensive but memorable promotional product and as an award with a higher perceived value. “There is a wide spectrum with apparel, so you can really finetune it for the employees,” says Chris Blakeslee, vice president of sales for Broder Bros Co., a leading distributor of imprintable sportswear and accessories, based in Trevose, Penn. According to Blakeslee, May is the biggest month of the year for corporate apparel purchases, with demand heating up along with the weather. And even in these more frugal times, companies are finding novel uses for shirts, hats and other apparel items in their reward and engagement programs. Apparel awards offer value to incentive planners and perceived value for winners A Blakeslee cites several clients that hold company pep rallies and similar activities in which the organization celebrates its mission and its workers, even as the company may be struggling. “They’re finding ways to motivate employees to connect to a corporate culture, rather than only focusing on the successes of that company in the marketplace,” says Blakeslee, stating that apparel is ideal for these types of activities. “Most of those pep rally initiatives have a theme associated with them or a product or brand, and it’s very easy to imprint that on a piece of apparel and give it to every employee.” Bean Value Clothing and recreation equipment company L.L. Bean has also seen concern with costs rising. In response, the company is emphasizing the consistent “Bean Value” it offers to corporate buyers. “We don’t play games with prices in good times or bad,” says Cheryl Rogers, marketing manager for L.L. Bean’s Direct-toBusiness segment. “I think that’s what customers come to us for—the quality of our products, at a good value.” This value includes volume discounts for orders over $750 and special rates on screen printing and embroidery. A familiar name to many, L.L. Bean’s polo and Oxford shirts are a fitting award for today’s economic climate, Rogers says, where conspicuous consumption is shifting to more simple and stylish looks. Many of L.L. Bean’s clients reach out to the company to supply their employee uniforms (L.L. Bean has both high-volume 62 | Incentive | May 2009 | incentivemag.com http://www.incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - May 2009

Incentive - May 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note
Headlines
Cover Story
Interview
Incentive House Roundtable
Incentive Strategies
Primer
Travel News
Up and Coming Destinations
Florida Beaches
Marvelous Mexico
Potentials
Apparel
Size and Style Matter in Luggage, Leather
Dining Gift Cards
Gift Cards Aid Archdiocese’s Wellness

Incentive - May 2009