• I too just got a fridge magnet.  Really cool! Way to go!
• How can you not love these pieces of memorabilia?
• I love em.
• Holy moly, I must have these now!
• I really want one of these!!
  

Actual Screen Archives Entertainment customer testimony.

For several decades Screen Archives Entertainment (SAE) has been preserving, producing, and selling film score music for movies both large and small, from the Golden Age, to the Silver Age, to the present.  In fact, they are the largest such company complete with a very loyal, highly engaged customer base.

Several years ago SAE began to include one of several limited run trading cards with all orders as a means of educating their customers about composers and their respective portfolio of work.  Literally overnight the trading cards became a huge collector’s item, appearing and being discussed on industry message boards and other relevant Web sites, to the delight of SAE.  “Our customer base really got into the cards, which helped with branding and customer education initiatives,” says SAE vice president William Waybourn.  “Effective as they were, we decided a few years ago to switch to magnets which have a much longer shelf life and greater visibility than a trading card.  As luck has it, the magnets severed to further increase customer buzz and overall excitement.”

Speaking of buzz, do a search on Ebay and you’re bound to see a community of SAE magnet sellers and buyers.  And the same holds true with industry Web sites, customer blogs, and message boards such as Film Score Monthly where trading and discussion groups have been created around the magnets.

SAE plans to create many more limited run collector magnets.  The release dates, however, are highly classified.  “Rather than announce the release of new collector’s magnets, we let our customers ‘break the news’ which helps, not surprisingly, build additional excitement, discussion, and credibility,” says Mr. Waybourn.  “After all, word of mouth advertising and buzz is what we’re about.”

Stay tuned for additional Magnets.com custom case studies!

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill introduced a taste and the feel of Colorado to the Carolinas when it first opened its doors in Charlotte in 2000.  Creating a cozy, comfortable atmosphere with bold colors, exposed woods, and stone columns, the menu of grilled high quality meats, chicken, and pastas keeps their satisfied customers coming back for more.

Now 17 restaurants strong with a presence from Arizona to Virginia, Firebirds began to include a custom business card magnet with each take-out order to help evoke the brand where hungry customers are sure to look to assuage their hunger:  the refrigerator.  20,000+ magnets later, their customers are coming back for more and more.

“A significant part of our business is take-out orders,” says Tyler Michael, marketing director for Firebirds.  “While paper menus are often lost or thrown away, people are very likely to save magnets given their useful nature, which keeps our name front and center.  And for customers who prefer to dine in, the magnets encourage them to call ahead to avoid any potential waits.”

Firebirds also puts the magnets to use for branding and overall development purposes.  Attending several community and food related events throughout the year, the magnets are a tangible item that stands out from the crowd, becoming quite an asset.  “Our magnets wear several hats helping with branding, name recognition, marketing, and business development,” concludes Ms. Michael.  “We are very happy with their results.”

Stay tuned for additional Magnets.com custom case studies!

When your kids draw, paint, or glue together a junior Picasso work of art, 9.9 times out of 10 it’ll end up on the refrigerator, held by a magnet.  Founded in 1996 with the goal of making it easy for parents to host personalized parties that are affordable, fun, and educational, Birthday in a Box took full advantage of this well known fact by including a branded business card size magnet with all customer orders.  Seven years later they haven’t looked back.

“The magnets are a win-win situation for all parties involved,” says Nicole Beidler, marketing manager for Birthday in a Box.  “The parents don’t have to search for nor buy a magnet, the kids are happy their art is on the fridge, and we get brand exposure, remaining on the minds of our customers.”

To grow the business, network, and find new partners, Birthday in a Box attends several strategic conferences and tradeshows throughout the year.  While all attendees carry a stack of business cards, to stand out from the crowd the company hands out their business card magnets which, not surprisingly, are a great conversation starter and an asset for long-term name and brand recognition.

“Not only do the magnets help remind our customers that we’re a resource for their next party, they also play a key role in helping with business and partnership development efforts,” concludes Ms. Beidler.

Stay tuned for additional Magnets.com custom case studies!

Founded in 1999, RockAuto ships thousands of auto parts from over 100 manufacturers to customers on every continent except Antarctica -including APO/FPO addresses.  In fact, the company sells so many products it’ll soon be possible to build an entire car using parts from RockAuto!

Since 2003 the company has been including a branded business card magnet with all customer orders.  In 2005, to generate greater interest and brand recognition RockAuto decided on a slightly different strategy.  “It dawned on us that creating a collector series of 2”x4” magnets with the RockAuto name and an image of a customer vehicle, shipped with each order, would remind our customers that we’re a resource for pretty much any and all auto parts,” says Jessa Torvik, marketing manager for RockAuto.  “Additionally, allowing our customers to submit their vehicle for consideration on future magnet series certainly generates further buzz and excitement.”

To date there are over 50 different RockAuto collector series magnets, with well over 350,000 magnets being sent to customers each year.  In fact, all it takes is a simple Google search to see just how popular the collector series magnets have become –there are numerous message boards and Web postings with customers displaying their collection and seeking missing ones.

“At the end of the day we were looking for a simple, fun, cost effective means of getting a tangible branded item into the hands of our customers,” says Ms.Torvik.  “Seeing what the collector series magnets have become does a great deal for our name recognition, brand, and overall sales efforts.”

Stay tuned for additional Magnets.com custom case studies!

In business since 2002 and headquartered just outside Miami, Hot Miami Styles sells hundreds of chic, trendy, and affordable women’s ware including dresses, tops, jeans, accessories, and the like.  Given the breadth and depth of products, 99% of orders are placed directly on the stores’ Web site.

Gally Levy, Hot Miami Styles’ owner, says she used to include a sales flyer with every order.  “Although the sales flyers proved somewhat effective in keeping our customers aware of our brand and products, they have a very short shelf life,” says Ms. Levy.  “Because we are constantly adding new items, we needed an inexpensive and effective way to keep the Hot Miami Styles brand on the mind of our customers, all in the name of getting them to the Web site more frequently.  We decided to go with business card size magnets, which the majority of our customers keep on their refrigerators, and haven’t looked back.”

Ms. Levy is also contemplating producing magnets with a coupon code on them.  Not only will this allow her to provide her customers with a discount on a future order, but it will also enable her to track the results and return on investment (ROI) of her promotional campaign.  “With magnets, a small investment has enabled us to grow our sales and bottom line,” says Ms. Levy.

Stay tuned for additional Magnets.com custom case studies!

• Grow your business and bottom line
• Get your customers talking about your brand and services
• Generate better brand awareness and recognition

How you ask?

The next several posts will detail real Magnets.com customer marketing and advertising strategies involving magnets, along with their results.  From professional services firms to online clothing stores to auto part  suppliers, each case study will be fully outlined with the goal of arming you with the knowledge needed to tailor your own strategies and rein in additional customers and revenue.

So, sharpen your pencils and stay tuned!