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| ISSUE 6 | DECEMBER 2007 |
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| DECEMBER FOCUS: TRENDS FOR 2008 | |
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The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on the past twelve months and take stock of accomplishments and lessons learned. But it is also great time to look ahead to the New Year and get up to speed on trends that can propel your business forward. From a promotions viewpoint, the message is loud and clear: Internet marketing has moved to center stage and will be the dominating force in 2008. In other words, if you don’t have an Internet promotions strategy, get one quick or get left behind. There are numerous reasons online promotions have taken hold. For starters, they allow companies to interact with consumers and get direct feedback through online surveys. They also enable companies to capture valuable customer information for ongoing marketing efforts. What’s more, they give companies a way to connect with consumers through the medium they prefer.  The second key trend is that digital entertainment has moved from the early adaptor stage to mainstream, and has become a must-have for tweens, teens and adults alike. The driving factors are simple: It’s easy to access, it’s affordable and it offers consumers the choice and personalization they want. Enter music download and cell phone entertainment promotions. The power of digital entertainment promotions is that they combine the benefits of online promotions with the popularity of digital content – giving brands and businesses a way to connect with consumers, increase brand/company awareness and continue driving results long after the promotion ends. At the same, it gives consumers the instant gratification and choice they demand and transcends demographics, making digital entertainment an ideal incentive.  
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| THINKING GREEN KEY TO SUCCESS IN 2008 | |
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Having a green plan is no longer a luxury. Every day, more brands and retailers are committing to green plans to ensure a sustainable future – meaning that promotional products distributors are going to have to demonstrate that the products they sell meet green standards. Recycling is a key component of any green plan, and CFS now offers fully recycled and recyclable plastic digital entertainment cards, as well as biodegradable cards made from corn.
Every business, big or small, can implement a green plan that not only helps preserve the environment but also adds dollars to its bottom line. Here are a few easy-to-implement ideas from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s Greening Operations Guide.
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| NEWS YOU CAN USE: TEENS NAME COMPUTER MOST IMPORTANT ELECTRONIC DEVICE | |
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Still wondering about the power of Internet-driven promotions? Consider this: A March 2007 study by the Business Software Alliance and Harris Interactive found that 41% of the nation’s nearly 26 million teens consider the home computer the most important consumer electronic device. TV trailed in comparison, receiving only 8% of the teen votes. These same teens spent $79.7 billion in 2006 and are expected to spend $91.1 billion in 2011. "Teens living in 2007 have never known a world without personal computers and the Internet,” notes Don Montuori of Packaged Facts. “Teens are in the vanguard of the digital revolution in the media and marketing worlds, and they're helping to change the way media, marketing and advertising executives approach the American consumer." |
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| WE'RE COMING Featured below are the trade shows we will be exhibiting at over the next couple of months. Please stop by our booth for a visit and contact us if you would like to schedule a private meeting. ASI Orlando Booth 1323 Jan. 16 – 18, 2008 PPAI Expo Las Vegas Booth 6328 Jan. 28 – 29, 2008 PPAC Toronto Feb. 7 - 8, 2008 ASI Dallas Booth 1806 |
