4 Things We've Learned

1. No matter the economic uncertainty, clients do and always will appreciate service. 2. Social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter etc are removing the boundaries between clients, providers, and prospects—how much would it have cost in 2005 to get your company connected to Dunkin Donuts or Jetblue? It's done every day now at no cost. 3. With advertising budgets being trimmed, we must precisely show how our services create more substantial value over other advertising mediums. 4. We really like Tijuana Flats.

Match-Up on Twitter

In our never ending quest to permeate every social networking medium—come find us on Twitter. Come follow us at www.twitter.com/matchuppromo.com

ROI and Promotional Products

Are promotional products effective ROI generators? Short answer—yes. See below for more specifics following a round of studies recently conducted. 1. Recipients of promotional products remember the advertiser's name. A study by Schreiber & Associates (Peoria, IL) showed that 39% of the people receiving a promotional product could recall the name of the advertiser as long as six months after they received it. 2. Promotional products are ideal for creating awareness among a selective audience. Southern Methodist University conducted a study to measure attendee awareness of product demonstrations in three university communities. They found that selective distribution of promotional products outpolled school newspaper advertising by two-to-one. 3. Promotional products can boost response rates by up to 75% when used as dimensionals in direct mail solicitations according to a study by Baylor University. 4. Customers reorder faster and more often when promotional products are used instead of coupons. In a study by Southern Methodist University, customers receiving promotional products reordered up to 18% sooner than those who received coupons and up to 13% sooner than those who received no promotion. Promotional products effectively reinforce employee sales contests, too. Contests reinforced by periodic distribution of promotional products were cost-effective and outperformed non-stimulated contests by up to 50 percent, according to a Baylor University study of month-long sales contests in retail establishments.

2008

As we clean out 2008 material (some of us are cleaning out 2005 material), we look forward to 2009 and all that it has to offer. In retrospect, 2008 was Match-Up's finest year and we have all of our employees, clients, and vendor partners to thank. From financial metrics through new client development to ongoing client service, we established new benchmarks to surpass. From a company that is very proud to associate with all of our partners, thank you for 2008 and we look forward to 2009.