A Celebrity Picture Would Sell My Products

How to produce the perfect gift card.
A jewelry store owner called a manufacturer of plastic gift cards and asked to produce cards with a picture of a famous celebrity on them. "Business is slow and I need a boost." She explained, "I am sure that if I had gift cards with a famous celebrity picture on them customers would purchase them and I would be able to increase my sales."
The sales rep at the plastic card printing company could of just brushed off the caller but instead decided to try and help the owner do something to boost the business. First the sales rep explained that using celebrity images could only be done by permission, which means the celebrity would be endorsing your product, and to get a famous celebrity to endorse a product would be very costly, in the millions. So that is off the table, but not all is lost. The rep continued and detailed what the store owned needed to consider and do to create gift cards that would boost the business, this is what he suggested:

Make the cards attractive to potential buyers in two ways, one the image on the card and two an offer for the card buyer. The card image is the door opener, it will create the interest and the offer will help close the deal. The offer is very important and in many cases is the deciding factor that makes the sale. A very effective method is to offer a discount on a future purchase to the card buyer, this extra value is attractive because it rewards the buyer who is actually buying something for someone else. Some owners have commented that people might come in to buy a gift card only to use it in the future with the discount, actually they discovered that the result is still a very positive one, it boosts sales and creates cash flow because of the prepayment aspect of the transaction. In any case it works and is very attractive to customers.
The image on the card is more complicated and there are many considerations to evaluate before deciding on what to print.
First the main image:
The most prominent element on the card can be an image of the establishment, a product or the logo of the company. Deciding what to choose involves several considerations. The potential buyer, in most cases, will only glance at the card, so you have a fraction of a second to gets his/hers attention. If the company logo is a well-known brand and you believe a potential gift card buyer would purchase a card based on seeing the logo then make it as big as possible. If not use the most attractive image that would catch the eye of the buyer, a product usually works the best because an image of the establishment, in most cases, is hard to recognize on a small card.

Can't Afford A Celebrity To Endorse Your Product? Try Promotional Items Instead!

The other day, I was just glancing through a glossy magazine, and was amazed at the number of celebrity endorsed products in the market. I was also quite envious of the fact that some of them earn millions for just one ad, for endorsing one product. Of course, if you are a celebrity, it is not just one product or brand, it is a number of them! Did you know that UK's biggest fashion model, Kate Moss, has appeared on the cover of more than 300 magazines, and has earned approximately 9 million dollars just over the past one year? The brands that contribute to her income include Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel, Gucci, Longchamp, Missoni, Burberry...the list is almost endless.

Just last year, she also signed a multi million pound deal for designing her exclusive clothing range for the Topshop chain. No wonder that she figures in the 'Sunday Times Rich list' for 2007, and is estimated to be worth over 45 million pounds sterling!!

Now how many businessmen, who need to advertise in order to survive, can afford a celebrity to endorse their products? Very few, you'll agree. A small businessman like me also would like to have a celebrity to sign up for my product, but with an annual budget below 10000 pounds for ad spends, I can only dream!! Further, I also question the logic of spending on celebrities or models, as there is limited proof of the sales figures improving post a celebrity endorsement. While most of us definitely get attracted to the model or celebrity, we rarely remember the product or brand that is endorsed. The only way is by advertising the product over all possible media using the celebrity, which cost more money. After all, how many of us buy a product, or even afford to do so (as they are expensive), just because a bikini clad model or celebrity uses it?

I believe that marketing starts and ends with the consumer. As long as you keep your customer trust you and your product, and satisfy his requirements, you will retain him for life. A small personalized item meets most of my needs, and also ensures customer loyalty. With a limited ad budget for my business, I offer promotional items which I gift my customers on Christmas Eve, and also to my colleagues and friends. Fortunately for me, there is no dearth of items I can choose; there is plenty of choice to suit every pocket. I add a small logo of my company on the items to remind my customers, and they are always happy. I change the item every year, and my customers eagerly await my yearly Christmas visit.

Jeff Gordon, Nascar Celebrity

This four time NASCAR Cup Series winner has won more races than you can count on both hands and feet. Jeff Gordon has combined determination, hard work and decades of experience to achieve an unparalleled roster of victories. A Jeff Gordon follower is always assured that he will delight them with his expertise of a first class champion.

Jeff started preparing for his career at the ripe old age of five when his stepfather altered an old fairground in his neighborhood turning it into a track on which Jeff could drive laps.At a young age his step father encouraged him to always strive for excellence which caused Jeff to discover his incredible gift for racing.

Before long the boy was racing quarter midgets and becoming quite the competitor. When Jeff was only 6, he won 35 races and set 5 records.

As Jeff grew older he became preoccupied with sprint automobiles due to their increased substance and force. There was only one small problem, Jeff Gordon was 13 and according to the rules a driver had to be 16 in order to compete in sprint cars. The insurance company finally conceded and Jeff was given consent to race in All Star Florida Speedweeks. In order for Jeff to attain more skill, he and his family relocated to Indiana, to be near the center of sprint car competition. Due to his incredible skill behind the wheel of the sprint cars and his youthfulness, Jeff became a popular figure nationally. Victory seemed easy for Jeff, he took many races at Bloomington Speedway and a title at Eldora Speedway.

Jeff decided to attend the Buck Baker Driving school in North Carolina after discovering that there were no openings for open wheel drivers. Once Jeff got behind the wheel of a stock car he told his parents that he was hooked forever.

Jeff Gordon was picked up by Bill Davis Racing in 1991 driving Ford Thunderbirds for the Busch Series. Jeff captured Rookie of the Year in his rookie year behind the wheel of the Carolina Ford Dealers automobile. In 1992, Bill Davis took on Ray Evernham and Baby Ruth was the car's sponsor.

In 1992, the Busch series ran their first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. By taking the pole and then the race, Jeff was thrust into the spotlight. One person who took immediate notice was Rick Hendrick. Jeff Gordon has gone on to become a true champion and a valued member of Rick Hendrick Motorsports.