SPG Printing

08/13/2026

📈 MARKETING MINUTE WITH RICH

Stop Buying Marketing Products. Start Solving Marketing Problems.

One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make with marketing is starting with the product.

“We need some brochures.”

“We need promotional products.”

“We need new shirts.”

“We need a banner.”

“We need postcards.”

Maybe you do.

But before ordering anything, I think there's a much more important question:

What problem are you trying to solve?

Are you trying to generate new leads?

Get more people into your store?

Make your salespeople more effective when they're cold calling?

Increase attendance at an event?

Make your company look more professional?

Improve employee morale?

Stay in front of existing customers?

Get more traffic to your website?

Those answers should determine what you buy—not the other way around.

I recently shared a story about a pension fund that was spending thousands of dollars printing and mailing a monthly newsletter.

I could have simply continued printing the newsletter.

Instead, we looked at the actual problem.

They needed members to receive important information—but they also needed to reduce costs.

The solution?

Print less.

We replaced the expensive newsletter mailing with a postcard and QR code that took members directly to the full newsletter online.

They maintained the physical touchpoint.

They incorporated digital.

And they saved thousands of dollars every month.

That's the difference between selling a product and solving a problem.

The same thinking applies to almost every area of marketing.

Maybe you don't need 5,000 brochures.

Maybe you need 500 really good brochures for your salespeople.

Maybe you don't need 1,000 cheap promotional products.

Maybe 100 high-quality gifts sent to your best customers would make a bigger impact.

Maybe you don't need another generic company T-shirt.

Maybe your customer-facing employees need professional embroidered polos or quarter-zips.

Maybe you don't need more website traffic.

Maybe you need a better way to turn the people already seeing your marketing into customers.

Start with the problem. Then choose the tool.

Print.

Promotional products.

Apparel.

Signage.

Direct mail.

Digital.

QR codes.

Trade show displays.

They're all tools.

The trick is knowing which tool makes sense for the job.

💡 Marketing Minute Takeaway:

Don't ask, “What should we order?”

Ask:

“What are we trying to accomplish?”

Once you know that, choosing the right marketing tools becomes a whole lot easier.

And sometimes the right recommendation might even mean I sell you less.

I'm perfectly OK with that.

I'd rather help a customer find something that works than sell them something they don't need.

👇 Question for you:

When you're planning your marketing, do you usually start with the product—or the problem you're trying to solve?

I'd be interested to hear how other businesses approach it.

07/27/2026

📖 New Article: The Most Overlooked Marketing Tool Isn't Digital—It's What People Take Home

When most businesses think about marketing, they think about digital.

Google Ads.

Social media.

Email campaigns.

SEO.

All of those are important.

But there's another marketing tool that often gets overlooked because it doesn't appear on a screen.

Promotional products.

Think about the last branded item you received that you actually kept.

Maybe it was a quality tumbler.

A comfortable polo shirt.

A notebook.

A tote bag.

A backpack.

Or a coffee mug.

You probably didn't throw it away.

You used it.

And every time you did, you saw that company's name again.

That's something a digital ad can't always accomplish.

The best promotional products don't interrupt people's day—they become part of it.

They're not just giveaways.

They're reminders.

They're conversation starters.

They're brand builders.

In my latest LinkedIn article, I discuss why promotional products and branded apparel continue to be some of the most effective ways to keep your business top of mind long after the first meeting.

You'll also find ideas for using them beyond trade shows, including:

✅ Employee welcome kits

✅ Customer appreciation gifts

✅ Apartment resident welcome packages

✅ School recognition programs

✅ Golf tournaments

✅ Community events

✅ Holiday gifts

…and much more.

One of my favorite lines from the article is this:

"The best marketing doesn't just get noticed. It gets used."

I'd love for you to take a few minutes to read the article and let me know what you think.

💡 Marketing Takeaway:

Every interaction with your brand is an opportunity to make a lasting impression. The companies that stand out aren't always the ones with the biggest marketing budgets—they're the ones that consistently put their brand in front of customers in meaningful, memorable ways.

🎁 Complimentary Promotional Products & Apparel Consultation

If you're looking for fresh ideas for promotional products, branded apparel, employee gifts, customer appreciation items, or welcome kits, I'd be happy to help.

Together, we can explore creative, budget-friendly solutions that fit your goals and reinforce your brand.

No obligation. No sales pressure. Just practical marketing ideas you can use.

📩 Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to start the conversation.

👇 Question for you:

What's the best promotional product you've ever received—one you still use today?

I'd love to hear what made it memorable.

Every day, businesses invest thousands of dollars trying to capture people's attention. Google Ads.

07/26/2026

07/24/2026

📈 Marketing Minute with Rich

Marketing Myth #8: "Business Cards Are Dead."

Every few months, I hear someone say:

"Nobody uses business cards anymore."

I couldn't disagree more.

Have they changed?

Absolutely.

Have they disappeared?

Not even close.

Think about the last networking event, chamber meeting, trade show, golf tournament, or client lunch you attended.

What usually happens at the end of the conversation?

"Do you have a card?"

There's a reason for that.

A business card isn't just a way to share your phone number.

It's often the first physical impression someone has of your business.

A well-designed business card communicates:

✅ Professionalism

✅ Attention to detail

✅ Brand consistency

✅ Quality

✅ Credibility

And today, business cards can do much more than they did ten years ago.

With a QR code, they can instantly connect someone to:

📱 Your website

📅 Your online calendar

💼 Your LinkedIn profile

🎥 A company video

⭐ Customer reviews

📍 Your location

In just a few seconds, a simple business card can become a digital gateway to your business.

But here's the key...

A flimsy card with tiny text and outdated information sends a message, too.

Just not the one you want.

Your business card should reflect the quality of your company.

After all...

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

💡 Marketing Minute Takeaway

Your business card isn't just contact information. It's a reflection of your brand. Make it memorable.

🎁 Free 15-Minute Branding Consultation

Not sure if your business card is making the right impression?

I'd be happy to review it and offer practical suggestions.

During our complimentary consultation, we can discuss:

✔ Business card design

✔ Premium paper stocks and finishes

✔ QR code integration

✔ Brand consistency

✔ Other marketing materials that complement your business card

No obligation. No sales pressure. Just practical advice you can use.

📩 Send me a message if you'd like to schedule a conversation.

👇 Question for you:

When someone hands you a business card, what makes you keep it instead of throwing it away?

Is it the design?

The paper quality?

The conversation you had?

Or something else?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

07/21/2026

📈 Marketing Minute with Rich

Marketing Myth #7: “Print Marketing Is Too Expensive.”

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from business owners is:

“We’d love to do more print marketing, but it’s just too expensive.”

I understand why people think that.

When you only look at the upfront cost, printing can seem like an expense.

But what if you looked at it as an investment instead?

A well-designed brochure, postcard, flyer, or direct mail piece doesn’t just get handed out—it works for your business long after it’s printed.

Think about what quality print can do:

✅ Build trust and credibility

✅ Reinforce your brand

✅ Stay on a customer’s desk or countertop for days or even weeks

✅ Drive traffic to your website with a QR code

✅ Support your sales team long after they’ve left the meeting

The goal isn’t to spend more on printing.

The goal is to invest in marketing pieces that generate results.

I’ve seen businesses spend thousands of dollars every month on digital advertising that disappears the second someone scrolls past it.

I’ve also seen a simple, professionally designed brochure help close sales for years.

It’s not about choosing print or digital.

The most successful companies combine both to create a stronger customer experience.

💡 Marketing Minute Takeaway

Print isn’t an expense—it’s an investment. When used strategically, it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to build your brand, earn trust, and grow your business.

🎁 Free 15-Minute Print Marketing Consultation

If you’re wondering which print marketing pieces would give you the best return on your investment, I’d be happy to help.

Together, we can discuss:

✔ The best products for your business

✔ Paper stocks and finishing options

✔ Ways to integrate QR codes with your digital marketing

✔ Practical ideas to maximize your marketing budget

No obligation. No sales pressure. Just practical advice you can use.

📩 Send me a message if you’d like to schedule a conversation.

👇 Question for you:

What’s the best return on investment you’ve ever seen from a printed marketing piece? Was it a brochure, postcard, direct mail campaign, trade show handout, business card, or something else?

I’d love to hear your experience.

07/18/2026

📈 Marketing Minute with Rich

Marketing Myth #6: “People Don’t Read Print. They Just Throw It Away.”

It is easy to assume that printed marketing gets ignored.

After all, we have all thrown away a flyer, postcard, or brochure that did not feel relevant.

But that does not mean people do not read print.

It usually means the piece did not give them a reason to keep reading.

Well-designed print still works because it can do something digital marketing often cannot:

✅ Stay in a home or office for days or weeks
✅ Create a physical connection with the reader
✅ Build trust and credibility
✅ Make information easier to absorb and remember
✅ Give someone something they can save, share, or revisit

The real question is not:

“Do people read print?”

The better question is:

“Is your printed piece worth reading?”

A crowded flyer with no clear message will probably get tossed.

A generic postcard with no relevant offer may be ignored.

A brochure filled with too much information may never be opened.

But a piece that is useful, attractive, easy to understand, and relevant to the audience has a much better chance of getting noticed and remembered.

That means your printed materials should include:

✅ A strong headline
✅ A clear benefit
✅ Simple, organized information
✅ Professional design
✅ A specific call to action
✅ A reason to keep the piece

Print does not automatically get ignored.

Bad marketing gets ignored.

When print is created with the audience in mind, it can remain visible long after a digital ad has disappeared from the screen.

💡 Marketing Minute Takeaway:

When your printed materials are well designed, relevant, and valuable, people read them, keep them, and act on them.

🎁 Free 15-Minute Print Marketing Consultation

Not sure whether your current brochures, flyers, postcards, or sales materials are giving people a reason to pay attention?

I would be happy to help.

During this complimentary consultation, we can discuss:

✅ Which printed piece best fits your goals
✅ Ways to make your message easier to read
✅ Paper stocks, finishes, and design options
✅ QR codes and other ways to connect print with digital marketing
✅ Practical ideas to improve response and maximize your budget

No obligation. No sales pressure. Just practical advice you can use.

📩 Send me a message if you would like to schedule a conversation.

👇 Question for you:

What makes you keep a printed piece instead of throwing it away?

Is it the design, the offer, useful information, or something else?

07/17/2026

With Brooke Anderson – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉