HBO hit Silicon Valley helps High School students learn about Swag

This week Microsoft Vancouver, Inventa Sales & Marketing and other key partners hosted #DOT2016 an event in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Canada for hundreds of High School students to learn about opportunities in the tech industry.  Along with the expected tech employers, I was asked to speak — I think to give an alternative to traditional tech industry jobs.  How has an old fashioned industry like promotional products or “swag” changed due to tech, and what is the future of our industry for the young people? Here is a copy of the speaking notes I prepped beforehand, with a lead-off from my favourite HBO series Silicon Valley:

__________________________

hannemanquote2Imagine its the boardroom of HBO hit series Silicon Valley.  Pied Piper founder Richard Hendricks sits across from Angel Investor Russ Hanneman.  The meeting is about to end when Hanneman pipes up: “Ya, I think we need to talk about getting some schewaaagggg.”  Richard responds, “What, schwagguh?”  “Schweaaag [devil horns]…you know swag!  I think we need to build on the success of our outdoor media with Pied Piper puzzle cubes, mousepads, antenna balls.  It’s like 30 grand — a hand of blackjack!”

Good morning, my name is Rich Patterson and I own a promotional products company called PBJ Merch Co..  So, as John Oliver likes to ponder: are promotional products still a thing? And, how is technology impacting every aspect of promotional products: from the way items are sourced to the actual products themselves?

My trade industry, the ASI (Advertising Specialties Institute), reports 2015 North American Sales as $25 Billion.  Sure, the North American Gaming Software or Sporting goods industries are much larger but things like Skateboards at $39 B and Skincare at $15 Billion are comparable.

But more than just sales volume, Swag is relevant because it is a DIRECT experience of a brand, a team, or an event.  Its a tangible memory, something you can wear, carry, display or keep.  Who here owns — or is about to — a Graduation Hoody?  You know the kind where the Grad year printed along with every kids’ signature. Why own a Grad year Hooded Sweatshirt?  Because that swag is a place-memory that ties YOU with your friends.

How has technology changed the ordering process?  Way back in the day, my grandfather ordered hundreds of baking dishes for his small Italian Grocery store printed “With Compliments, Fiorillo Bros.”  He had to make phone calls, ask for pricing, fill out forms and wait weeks — even months maybe — for the product to arrive.

Today, gramps could surf a variety of web stores such as vistaprint.com or 4imprint.com; where promotional products can be selected, logo uploaded and the entire order process completed online.  Products are usually shipped within two weeks and the pricing is very competitive.

Remember the $25 billion in sales?  Technology plays a key role in managing $25B in projects because average order size is only $1,400 while 38 percent of projects are delivered in five days or less.  Delivering that volume of swag within such tight timelines would NOT be possible without powerful backend technology.

In the past decade technology has emerged as a big thing in swag itself.  Some of the hottest gifts are: VR headsets, bluetooth accessories, fitness monitors, mobile smart phone tech and products that launch augmented reality.  By category, technology claimed 10% of the swag market in 2015 trailing only Apparel, Pens and Caps.

And while technology gifts make up some of the best swag items today, we are using technology to change the way individuals engage OR interact with old standby items like Tote bags or Sunglasses. A big trend is Individualized Product — instead of 500 tote bags all with the same logo, desktop sublimation printers can print 500 bags, each with an individual image captured from Instagram for example.

Along with individualized product comes the build-your-own trend:  We are developing a kiosk where you can build your own sunglasses: visitors see product samples in the kiosk and use iPads to select their own sunglass frame style, arms, lens colour, logos, logo colours and logo position.  A week later their sunglasses arrive by mail with their own individualized features in the build-style they chose.

So, what role will young people play in this $25 Billion industry?  There is a massive opportunity waiting as the majority of workers will be retired and replaced within the next fifteen years.  Please bring your enthusiasm and skills to bridge the gap between point & click e-commerce and creative engaging technology and swag.

Words = 649 words  (5min)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HBO hit Silicon Valley helps High School students learn about Swag

This week Microsoft Vancouver, Inventa Sales & Marketing and other key partners hosted #DOT2016 an event in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Canada for hundreds of High School students to learn about opportunities in the tech industry.  Along with the expected tech employers, I was asked to speak — I think to give an alternative to traditional tech industry jobs.  How has an old fashioned industry like promotional products or “swag” changed due to tech, and what is the future of our industry for the young people? Here is a copy of the speaking notes I prepped beforehand, with a lead-off from my favourite HBO series Silicon Valley:

__________________________

hannemanquoteImagine its the boardroom of HBO hit series Silicon Valley.  Pied Piper founder Richard Hendricks sits across from Angel Investor Russ Hanneman.  The meeting is about to end when Hanneman pipes up: “Ya, I think we need to talk about getting some schewaaagggg.”  Richard responds, “What, schwagguh?”  “Schweaaag [devil horns]…you know swag!  I think we need to build on the success of our outdoor media with Pied Piper puzzle cubes, mousepads, antenna balls.  It’s like 30 grand — a hand of blackjack!”

Good morning, my name is Rich Patterson and I own a promotional products company called PBJ Merch Co..  So, as John Oliver likes to ponder: are promotional products still a thing? And, how is technology impacting every aspect of promotional products: from the way items are sourced to the actual products themselves?

My trade industry, the ASI (Advertising Specialties Institute), reports 2015 North American Sales as $25 Billion.  Sure, the North American Gaming Software or Sporting goods industries are much larger but things like Skateboards at $39 B and Skincare at $15 Billion are comparable.

But more than just sales volume, Swag is relevant because it is a DIRECT experience of a brand, a team, or an event.  Its a tangible memory, something you can wear, carry, display or keep.  Who here owns — or is about to — a Graduation Hoody?  You know the kind where the Grad year printed along with every kids’ signature. Why own a Grad year Hooded Sweatshirt?  Because that swag is a place-memory that ties YOU with your friends.

How has technology changed the ordering process?  Way back in the day, my grandfather ordered hundreds of baking dishes for his small Italian Grocery store printed “With Compliments, Fiorillo Bros.”  He had to make phone calls, ask for pricing, fill out forms and wait weeks — even months maybe — for the product to arrive.

Today, gramps could surf a variety of web stores such as vistaprint.com or 4imprint.com; where promotional products can be selected, logo uploaded and the entire order process completed online.  Products are usually shipped within two weeks and the pricing is very competitive.

Remember the $25 billion in sales?  Technology plays a key role in managing $25B in projects because average order size is only $1,400 while 38 percent of projects are delivered in five days or less.  Delivering that volume of swag within such tight timelines would NOT be possible without powerful backend technology.

In the past decade technology has emerged as a big thing in swag itself.  Some of the hottest gifts are: VR headsets, bluetooth accessories, fitness monitors, mobile smart phone tech and products that launch augmented reality.  By category, technology claimed 10% of the swag market in 2015 trailing only Apparel, Pens and Caps.

And while technology gifts make up some of the best swag items today, we are using technology to change the way individuals engage OR interact with old standby items like Tote bags or Sunglasses. A big trend is Individualized Product — instead of 500 tote bags all with the same logo, desktop sublimation printers can print 500 bags, each with an individual image captured from Instagram for example.

Along with individualized product comes the build-your-own trend:  We are developing a kiosk where you can build your own sunglasses: visitors see product samples in the kiosk and use iPads to select their own sunglass frame style, arms, lens colour, logos, logo colours and logo position.  A week later their sunglasses arrive by mail with their own individualized features in the build-style they chose.

So, what role will young people play in this $25 Billion industry?  There is a massive opportunity waiting as the majority of workers will be retired and replaced within the next fifteen years.  Please bring your enthusiasm and skills to bridge the gap between point & click e-commerce and creative engaging technology and swag.

Words = 649 words  (5min)