Texas boasts the largest state fair with an estimated annual attendance of 3,000,000. The largest paid state fair is in Minnesota, which drew nearly 1.8 million visitors in 2010.

These attendance numbers add up to one thing for those in the advertising specialty industry: extra eyes on your brand. State fairs represent an extraordinary opportunity for the advertising specialty industry. While Texas and Minnesota win the blue ribbon attendance prizes, state fairs all around the country attract people in droves. Attendees are ripe for a good time — and for free goodies!

Why not consider capitalizing on the throngs of fun-seeking fairgoers with a branded promotional product? Give away highly coveted beads, and you’ll have fairgoers asking each other, “Where did you get that?” Offer branded drawstring backpacks and your logo will be loud, clear and mobile as fairgoers carry your backpack around all day.

Consider these additional “fair-ready” promotional product ideas:

• Spirit stix (perfect for a concert at the fair!)
• Beads with the optional addition of an attached sample cup
• Hats
• Novelty headwear
• Wigs
• Light-up buttons

We have been unearthing cool stuff since 1991 and now we’ve hit 20 years – two decades in the business! Time flies, and we’re having fun. We’re celebrating this anniversary by spilling all our secrets to success. In this exclusive interview, IMC CEO Shane Erickson shares how we’ve come this far and what lies ahead. 

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How has IMC established a place in the market?
We don’t try to be everything to everybody. We focus our energy and attention on the areas we know best (sports, beverage, and casino promotions,) and that concerted effort allows us to be exceptional in those areas.

What has been the biggest change in the industry?
Definitely importing. A lot of people in the promotional products and advertising specialties field are now going direct overseas. Some execute better than others. There is a definite learning curve. Experience counts when developing promotional products abroad. There are a lot of nuances in the process. Our sourcing team is well seasoned and has great relationships. We started importing ten years ago and have learned a lot in a decade. We will continue to help our clients by bringing them the best possible value.

What’s the key to staying relevant and competitive in the future?
For us it’s staying true to our markets and understanding our clients better and better. Our clients are who we talk to every day – the people in the sports, beverage, and casino industries. We talk to them about how and why they use the products.  It gives us better insight to develop the right promotional product for them. We want to see positive results for our clients. We are highly interested how the products worked (or didn’t work) so we can source more strategically. We strive to bring them something that they want with a twist that will deliver more. This can mean a lot of customized development – a strong point for us. It’s really about an exchange of ideas and constantly moving forward. We’re always asking our customers, “What’s new for you guys?” or bringing them new ideas we come across to the table.

 When it comes down to it, we stay true to our passion – unearthing cool stuff to create a better promotional product for our clients.

History and Celebration in Mexico:  The Fifth of May commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico and is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico. Mexico not withstanding, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

Celebration in the Rest of the World: Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin. Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, foods, beverages, music and regional dancing. Similar to other ethnic heritage celebrations, outward expressions of the connection abound. Banners, beads, noisemakers, you name it. Cinco de Mayo is quickly making its way up to Mardi Gras or St. Patrick’s holiday advertising specialty status.

Although it is late for ordering overseas, many vendors offer quick-turn products that allow you to capitalize on this great promotional opportunity.

 A Very Basic Tequila Primer:  Of all things associated with our southern neighbor, what is better known and less understood than one of Mexico’s most famous exports – tequila. Tequila continues to build popularity and if dedicated shelf space and variety of assortment is an indicator, Americans of all backgrounds are embracing it. Growing competition increases promotional opportunity as brand managers seek to stimulate trial.

Tequila is made either wholly or in part from the juice of the agave plant. Agave plants take 10 to 12 years to mature to the point of being harvested. A popular blending spirit is derived from sugarcane, which comes up every year, making a blended product less expensive. Whereas in single-malt whiskey, the expense is in the aging, barreling, and storage, for 100% blue agave tequila, the expense is in the plants, place and micro climate where the plants are grown.

In different tequilas the mouth-feel, aroma, taste, and color are varied. It has been suggested that like tasting fine aged whiskeys, you should never judge by the first sip. The second sip is the ticket.

Tequilas differ by hue, blend and time spent in the barrel. Premium tequilas are made from 100% blue agave juice. A “Mixto” is a blend greater than 50% un-aged blue agave spirit, with the rest made up of other spirit, most often sugarcane spirit.

The three hues of tequila are white, gold, and darker gold. Tequila can get its golden tone one of two ways – short or longer term aging in barrels or caramel coloring.

• - White (Blanco or Silver) tequila spends no time in oak barrels.
• - Reposado ( “rested”) is blanco tequila that has been rested in white oak barrels for between two months and a year.
• - Añejo are “aged” tequilas.

Now that you have, at least in part, knowledge of this happy holiday and mysterious spirit, you are prepared to discuss promotion of agave-based products and raise your own Cinco de Mayo toast!

IMC Marketer – Promotional Products – Promotional Product Consulting -  www.imcsuccess.com