When I first got into the promotional products industry (it was then known as the “premium” or “chackie” industry, the big guys used to tell us that you would know you arrived when you saw one of your projects on the pages of one of the factory catalogues. I remember how excited I was when it happened to me. Even now, maybe even especially now — since catalogues are going by the way of newspapers — with the availability of those interesting ideas showing up on the internet, if I find one of my projects in a catalogue it feels like I really am one of the elite.But check this out. 
That picture to the left was copied from Time Magazine and it was used in a recent story about Stem Cell Research. That refrigerator in the picture has a magnet on the top right of the door and it was sold to my pharmacy company client to communicate a very important message about refrigeration and drug interaction.My client, who asked me not to identify them for this blog because of the controversy now going on in the pharmaceutical industry, used that magnet to promote a safety message.The controversy that is now part of the drug industry is that promotional products and marketing tactics can no longer be used to entertain or sell healthcare professionals – only to educate. Someone thought that doctors were prescribing medications based on the goodies the industry reps were leaving behind to remind them about the new and improved meds. Can you imagine some doc prescribing something for you because of a pen or desk accessory or magnet he was given? If you can, you better change which professionals you trust to care for you. The drug companies can still give away things that are 100% educational and have no personal value to the recipient other than information.Even though that magnet you see on the refrigerator was purely educational, my client was concerned someone may misinterpret its intent and then he would have a bunch of time wasted explaining what it says and how it was used.You have to admit for less then 50 cents that is a pretty solid marketing idea that goes along way to putting the message one wants communicated out there. The purpose of telling you this story and showing off my marketing idea that made it all the way to Time Magazine is to have you see what can happen to a really good successful marketing idea.If you type “magnet” in the search box of my web site www.InnMkting.com you will see a wide array of magnets and labels in every size and shape. If you email me Jay@InnMkting.com I will be happy to assist with the copy and graphics we can use to make that magnet look professional and get your message out there.
That picture to the left was copied from Time Magazine and it was used in a recent story about Stem Cell Research. That refrigerator in the picture has a magnet on the top right of the door and it was sold to my pharmacy company client to communicate a very important message about refrigeration and drug interaction.My client, who asked me not to identify them for this blog because of the controversy now going on in the pharmaceutical industry, used that magnet to promote a safety message.The controversy that is now part of the drug industry is that promotional products and marketing tactics can no longer be used to entertain or sell healthcare professionals – only to educate. Someone thought that doctors were prescribing medications based on the goodies the industry reps were leaving behind to remind them about the new and improved meds. Can you imagine some doc prescribing something for you because of a pen or desk accessory or magnet he was given? If you can, you better change which professionals you trust to care for you. The drug companies can still give away things that are 100% educational and have no personal value to the recipient other than information.Even though that magnet you see on the refrigerator was purely educational, my client was concerned someone may misinterpret its intent and then he would have a bunch of time wasted explaining what it says and how it was used.You have to admit for less then 50 cents that is a pretty solid marketing idea that goes along way to putting the message one wants communicated out there. The purpose of telling you this story and showing off my marketing idea that made it all the way to Time Magazine is to have you see what can happen to a really good successful marketing idea.If you type “magnet” in the search box of my web site www.InnMkting.com you will see a wide array of magnets and labels in every size and shape. If you email me Jay@InnMkting.com I will be happy to assist with the copy and graphics we can use to make that magnet look professional and get your message out there. 
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