Charity Golf Tournament

Objective: A leading charity was looking for ways to make their annual golf tournament, (silent auction and banquet event) more memorable and exciting to the participants. The event attracts high dollar corporate sponsorships and affluent philanthropists. With so many competing golf events and with their goal of setting a new record for money raised they were seeking ways to make this event particularly unique and set the tone for remainder of the evening activities.

Solution: The Umbrella Plus (UP-62) from Southern Plus; a 62” arc golf umbrella that quickly inverts to become a (PGA certified) pitching and putting target when you set it on the ground. They purchased 36 of these innovative umbrellas, had them imprinted with key sponsor names, and put two on each tee box on the course as tee marker alternatives. While each group of golfers was waiting on the group ahead of them to clear, they got 3 chances to chip a ball into one of the umbrella’s target holes. When a golfer made a chip in one of the holes, he dropped his name card into the pocket, and won the umbrella. It created a competition within the competition, allowed golfers to further hone their skills, and made good use of some otherwise “dead” time during the tournament. Any umbrella that wasn’t won during the event was raffled off to the participants that failed to win one on the course.

They surpassed their fundraising goal, had a very memorable event, and said many of the golfers are still vying to win one at next year’s event. Looks like some reorders are in order.

Food and Beverage Customer Loyalty

Objective: A national restaurant and sports bar chain was looking for ways to increase customer loyalty. They also wanted to attract a younger demographic in certain areas of the country, and try to keep them in their establishment longer, creating more opportunities to increase revenue per customer.

Solution: The Folding Bucket (5038) from Southern Plus was used as a means to sell and serve “buckets of beer”. It is a collapsible canvas bucket that folds completely flat and can be stored away in its own cinch sack. It is water-tight, and can hold up to 6 beer bottles and ice. They would sell 6 beers in a bucket for $30, and the customer would get to keep the bucket. When brought back on future visits, they would get the bucket filled with 6 beers for $25. It created an instant value for the customer, and encouraged them to use it over and over again. It added a sense of membership by calling it their “bucket list, encouraging patrons to “join the club”. They found their traffic increased significantly as people would typically invite friends to split a bucket of beer, which encouraged larger groups. They reported an increase in college age patrons and an increase in revenue per patron.

Bonus: To offset the cost of the Folding Buckets, they selected a specific brand of beer to focus sales on, and imprinted the beer brand on the bucket (opposite the name of their establishment). They then asked that beer brand distributor if they’d like to double their sales of that brand in the next year. They got the “beer brand” to pay for the buckets out of their marketing budget, adding no cost to the chain. It instantly became free brand awareness and loyalty for the bar.

Self Promotion / Leave Behind

Objective: A top 20 promotional products distributor was searching for a meaningful leave behind item for their reps to use as self-promotion. They wanted something useful that the customer/prospect would utilize, and that might have multiple functions. They didn’t have a large budget, but wanted something that would have a higher perceived value.

Solution: The Drink Caddie (5014) by Southern Plus is an open six pack cooler with 6 separate compartments for drinks, and one center channel for an ice block, and an outer pocket on two sides. We recommended they put a different category of promotional product (from other suppliers) in each compartment, and some brochures and a business card in the pockets. We imprinted their company logo on one side, along with their website. It would be the perfect way to showcase new and innovative items that the distributor could provide to the client. They selected a drinkware item, promotional water bottle, writing instruments, a crystal piece, electronic item, an edible promotion, and a journal book. They got other suppliers to donate the items as samples because it was in their best interest to get their samples into the client’s hands. It made a very impressive presentation that the reps would leave behind (primarily for new accounts). They reported an extremely high response/order rate from clients who received them.

Church Mission Trip

Objective: A church’s Global Mission Team was in need of a cost-effective and reliable way to transport 500 Bibles and 500 sets of school supplies to needy children in Kenya, Africa. Their normal method involved packing the items into sturdy trunks; however, with new airline luggage weight and size regulations in place, it would cost them an additional $1500 in penalties to use the trunks. They did not have the budget to cover these fees, and saw that it was going to be an ongoing problem if they didn’t find a better solution. They were seeking an oversized, lightweight, yet durable bag that would withstand the rigors of global travel to remote locations.

Solution: The XL Easy Load Duffel (4011) from Southern Plus was selected as their method of transport due to its large, doctor’s bag opening, nearly indestructible canvas outer shell, padded handles and industrial zipper closure. Because it weighed only 3 pounds empty, they were able to fill each bag to 48 pounds (just under the airline’s limit). They were able to get everything they were intending to transport into 27 of the bags. They avoided the additional airline fees, and every bible and school supply got to the kids without incident. They fulfilled their mission, and so did the Easy Load Duffel!

Breast Cancer Donor Gift

Objective: A national fundraising organization focused on Breast Cancer Awareness was seeking unique donor gifts they could use for donors that gave over a certain dollar amount to their cause. They were challenged to exceed last year’s raised funds, and wanted to give this extra-special gift to reward donors for digging deeper. It needed to be unique, functional, practical, memorable, and provide added awareness messaging that would be seen over and over by the recipient as well as others around them when used.

Solution: While Southern Plus had over 25 pink items to offer this organization, the Pink Ribbon Umbrella (FPR-43) was their choice because of its unique “wet print” technology. This pink, folding, auto-open, 43 inch arc umbrella reveals a hidden all-over imprint of the pink breast cancer ribbon when wet. So once it starts raining, hundreds of pink ribbons magically appear and cover the entire umbrella. While “The Cause” was imprinted permanently on one panel, the added surprise of the ribbons made a memorable impression. Their donors were so pleased with the gift, that the organization has put it in their national program.

School Fundraiser

Objective: A high school was looking for ways to raise money and sell season tickets for their upcoming Football and Basketball seasons. They had some significant debt from opening a new (larger) stadium, and needed to not only fill the seats, but help pay for them. Their Booster Club knew their normal season ticket price was not going to get it done. They needed to dramatically increase prices, but wanted to add value to offset it.

Solution: They selected three items from Southern Plus to use as gifts with purchase for five levels of participation; the Padded Strap Sack (7031), the Sweatshirt Blanket (9001), and the Stadium Chair (120). To setup, they allotted ample, “prime” seating sections for corporate sponsors and VIPs, and created various other sections with variable price points to suit every budget (much like the professional stadiums do). They offered the Strap Sack for the gift with purchase for first level participation, the Sweatshirt Blanket as level two, the combination of the two items for level three, the Stadium Seat for level four, and all three items for level five and corporate sponsors. They sold mores season tickets than ever before, and at three times the price! All three items were also made available for sale at all the games as a fundraiser. These were the best selling items in the schools history! The blanket doubled as a team banner at the games, and could be folded, inserted into the strap sack and used as a warm seat cushion (for those who didn’t have the stadium chair.) The same model was used for the Basketball ticket sales as well. The School was particularly pleased at the way the items all worked together to solve a need for the fan/ticket holder, and ultimately the school!