Several years ago, an on-site company store was a common site at factories and headquarters that housed more than 1,000 employees. Today, the on-site company store featuring branded apparel and promotional products is virtually non-existent. What has replaced the on-site company store is seasonal "shows" that feature items that can now be ordered through the virtual company store online. This approach:
- saves time and money
- still gives associates a chance to touch and feel merchandise
- creates an atmosphere of buzz and excitement about new products
- promotes merchandise that is slow-moving
Some companies host these around spring and fall, some implement an on-site show to coincide with an annual event, in any case, they are an excellent opportunity to show both associates and upper management that promotional products generate goodwill and are a tremendous asset for the brand. We've done many of these types of shows and, though they are a tremendous amount of work, they pale in comparison to the cost of a physical on-site store plus they provide an excellent opportunity to feature the store and remind everyone of it's benefits.
