I’m right in the middle of planning the exhibitor uniforms order for our biggest trade show.  Papers are stacked on my desk, the computer screen shows the data from last year and I finally shut my door so no one stops in to ask how I’m doing.

I forget to forward the phone to voice mail and of course it rings.  Without taking my eyes off the reports I answer “Susan Bergman”. 

“Oh hello Susan!!  This is Denise from All Pens All The Time!!  How are you!!  I was wondering if you had time to sign that order so we can make sure you have enough pens for this quarter!!”

Looking back I should have been nicer but this industry is flooded with commissioned sales reps who want nothing more than to get your signed order so they can move onto the next sale and meet their monthly pen quota.

Even banks don’t get extra loyalty from pens.  People only notice when there aren’t any and then they’re miffed.  Nobody ever joined a bank because of them.  Every other business has the same issue.  A necessary evil and who gets excited about that?

This type of relationship isn’t valuable to you, your business or your brand.   You need a partner that wants to spend time learning about YOUR business before asking for an order.  Otherwise they’re just Denise looking for repeat business to help themselves. 

Now that you know what to look for when searching for your promotional and outfitting products, ahem, brand positioning service partner, you can easily cut through the noise.