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Hello {!firstname}, May 11, 2004

Thank you again for subscribing to the BizPromo Newsletter.

Brought to you by Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

CONTENTS

Bizarre Thoughts
Events Planning Calendar
Case Studies
Item Of The Week
Bizarre Sales Sense
What's New
Bizarre Fun Facts
$500 Promo Winner
Sponsors
Copy Rights & Subscription Info

BIZARRE THOUGHTS

Have you noticed your computer running slower than ever?

The reason for that may have to do with online advertisers adding SpyWare or AdWare to your computer without your knowledge.

Every time you download freeware, shareware or just by visiting certain websites, you are at risk of picking up some type of spyware which can cause major problems with your PC and put your privacy at serious risk.

Spyware is now the leading threat to your computer and your online privacy, ahead of viruses.

"Spyware" is a common term for files that are installed on your system without your knowledge that allow companies to monitor your Internet activity.

"AdWare" is software that will show you popup ads over and over.

"System Monitors" can keep track of every keystroke that you make on your computer. Yes! That means credit card numbers, bank account information and everything else that you don't want to share with thieves.

I recently had my browser high jacked - I could not change the "homepage" setting that has always been set to the Bizarre Promotions homepage.

A scan revealed more than 59 instances of spyware on my system.

I expected that Nortons Anti-Virus was sufficient to protect me from most spyware - but it was not.

Don't run the risk of harming your PC, or having your important information stolen.

To find out how many "SpyWare" infections your PC has, Spyware Nuker is offering every computer owner the opportunity to scan their computer at no charge.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

EVENTS PLANNING CALENDAR

Thousands of organizations set aside specific days, weeks and months for recognition of social, political, cultural and historical events and causes.

These occasions offer a great opportunity to promote your business, organization or product.

Listed below you will find events featured over the next 4 weeks.

May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May: Better Hearing & Speech Month
May: Clean Air Month
May: Get Caught Reading Month
May: International Business Image Improvement Month
May: International Dental Awareness Month
May: International Internal Audit Awareness Month
May: Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
May: National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month
May: National Arthritis Month
May: National Barbecue Month
May: National Bike Month
May: National Book Month
May: National Correct Posture Month
May: National Egg Month
May: National Hamburger Month
May: National Mental Health Month
May: National Osteoporosis Prevention Month
May: National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
May: National Salsa Month
May: National Scholarship Month
May: National Sight-Saving Month
May: National Stroke Awareness Month
May: Older Americans Month

May 21st - 30th: International Pickle Week
May 21st: American Red Cross Founded 1881
May 21st: National Bike to Work Day
May 21st: National Waitstaff Day
May 21st: Start of Gemini astrological sign
May 22nd -28th: National Safe Boating Week
May 22nd: National Maritime Day
May 22nd: UN International Day for Biological Diversity
May 23rd: World Turtle Day
May 24th: Victoria Day - Canada
May 25th-26th: National Geographic Bee: National Finals
May 25th: "Bojangles" Birthday (1878) / National Tap Dance Day
May 25th: National Missing Children Day
May 26th: National Senior Health And Fitness Day
May 27th: Cellophane Tape Patented -1930
May 28th: Sierra Club Founded -1892
May 29th: International Jazz Day
May 30th: Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
May 31st: Memorial Day

June: Adopt A Shelter Cat Month
June: Dairy Month
June: Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing Month
June: Fireworks Safety Months (through July 31st)
June: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
June: International Men’s Month
June: National Accordion Awareness Month
June: National Candy Month
June: National Iced Tea Month
June: National Rose Month
June: National Safety Month
June: Sports America Kids Month
June: Turkey Lover’s Month
June: Vision Research Month

June 1st - 7th: Stepparents Week
June 2nd: National Spelling Bee Finals
June 4th -5th: Donut Day
June 4th - 6th: Children's Miracle Network Celebration
June 4th: Pulitzer Prizes First Awared: Anniversary
June 5th: Belmont Stakes
June 5th: National Hunger Awareness Day
June 5th: National Trails Day
June 5th: UN World Environment Day
June 6th - 12th: Black Single Parents’ Week
June 6th - 12th: National Headache Awareness Week
June 6th: D-Day
June 6th : National Cancer Survivor’s Day
June 8th: Bill Of Rights Proposal: Anniversary
June 9th: Donald Duck: Birthday
June 10th: Alcoholics Anonymous: Founding Anniversary
June 10th: Ball Point Pen Patented -1943
June 11th - 13th: Take A Kid Fishing Weekend
June 12th - 13th: England: Curtis Cup
June 12th: National Automotive Service Professionals Day
June 12th: Russia: Independence Day
June 13th - 19th: National Flag Week
June 13th: Abused Women And Children's Awareness Day
June 14th - 20th: National Little League Baseball Week
June 14th: Flag Day
June 15th: Native American Citizenship Day

CASE STUDIES

Objective:
To update an existing mailing list and announce a new Technical Information Service.

Strategy and Execution:
The 3-stage direct mail campaign was targeted to 700 electronic design engineers. In the first stage a stress balloon was sent with the message, "Quietly Going About Your Business". The theme was selected because the company's EMI filters make business products quieter. Phase two of the promotion was a catalog with a bounce back card asking for additional information that would be used to update Murata's mailing list. In phase three of the promotion, respondents received a three-ring binder to hold future literature and another forthcoming catalog.

Results:
Murata reported 600 of the 700 targeted engineers responded.

Improve Direct Mail Response Rates With Promotional Products

Promotional products, when used in conjunction with a sales letter or as incentive to respond, can make a significant difference in direct mail response rates. The use of promotional products can also significantly improve a business' effectiveness in converting leads to sales appointments.

F I N D I N G S
Adding a promotional product to a mail promotion increased the response rate by 50%.
The use of promotional products as an incentive to respond generated four times as many responses as a sales letter alone.
The use of a promotional product as an incentive to respond reduced the cost per response by two-thirds.

Direct mail study by Silver Marketing Group - source PPAI homepage

ITEM OF THE WEEK

Ladies - BD17726, Mens - BD17426
Outerbanks 7.2 oz Pique sport shirt with contrasting tipping
$20.99 (Ladies S-XL) $22.99 (Men's S-XL)

(2XL's - add $2.50, 3XL's (men's only) add $3.00)
Prices includes your embroidered chest size logo
We have most corporate logos on file - no set-up for logos on file.
A one time digitizing charge may apply for logos not on file - email us your logo for a quote info@businessduds.com
Special price based on logos up to 6,000 stitches, additional charge may apply for logos over 6,000 stitches.
Ladies - BD17726 - Outerbanks 7.2 oz., 94% cotton/6% Spandex® pinpoint pique sport shirt with contrasting tipping on welt collar. Johnny collar. Double-needle stitched hemmed sleeves and bottom with clean-finished side vents. Pair with style BD17426 for a men's coordinate.

Colors: Bimini blue/navy/white, black/chino/natural, butter/navy/bimini blue, chino/navy/white, navy/chino/natural and white/navy/bimini blue. Sizes: Ladies: S, M, L, XL, 2X.
Mens - BD17426 - Outerbanks 7.2 oz., 94% cotton/6% Spandex® pinpoint pique sport shirt with contrasting tipping on welt collar and cuffs. Three-button clean-finished placket with pearlized buttons. Side-seamed. Double-needle stitched hemmed bottom with clean-finished sides. Pair with style BD17726 for ladies' coordinate.

Colors: Bimini blue/navy/white, black/chino/natural, butter/navy/bimini blue, chino/navy/white, navy/chino/natural and white/navy/bimini blue.
Sizes: Mens: S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X.

Ready to order: https://secure.heritage.com/promostuff4u/catalog.asp
Special Prices ends: June 30, 2004

BIZARRE SALES SENSE

Sales Slump Blues

It could be the economy, the competition or just lack of motivation – but all salespeople go through a sales slump.

Here are 3 steps to help get out of the slump:

1. Call on your satisfied customers.
You have proven your abilities to them in the past – let them know you are there for them. Ask questions; find out if anything new is happening at their company that might spark a sales opportunity for you to capitalize on.

2. Concentrate on bread-and-butter accounts.
As salespeople we all want to land the big one. But don’t loose sight of the accounts that have made you successful. The big ones sometimes take months or even years to finalize – while in a slump you must focus on the accounts with short sales cycles that will bring in money now.

3. Success breeds success.
The company you keep will impact your success. Surround yourself with people who are successful and excited about what they do. If everyone around you is in a slump as well, you'll drag each other down.

Customers will make or break you – don’t try to keep every customer when you’re in a slump. Don’t get so desperate that you’ll spend time on customers that are not going to meet your normal expectations as a good customer.

Slumps are most often short termed – but you must keep your activity levels high. Keep positive, make more calls, follow up faster, set up more meetings and before you know it the slump will disappear and you’ll be back in the game.

WHAT'S NEW

MAGNETIC MEMO HOLDER/CLIP

Heavy-duty spring loaded hinge
Magnet on back
Rubber grip

ITEM #SM-3266

300 - $1.15
500 - $.99
1000 - $.96
2500 - $.92
5000 - $.87

3 DAY RUSH SERVICE
300 - $1.65
500 - $1.55
1000 - $1.50
2500 - $1.45
5000 - $1.30

Per 100 Weight 11 lbs.
Imprint area: 1-1/4"W x 1/2"H

Colors: White with Black, Red, Translucent Blue or Purple grip, Translucent: Blue, Red or Purple with Black grip.

Set-Up Charge: $45.00, $22.50 on re-orders
Addl Color/Location: $45.00 plus .25, per piece per color/location
Absolute Minimum - 150 pieces: Add $45.00

Shipping / Sales Tax additional and to be determined.

SALE ENDS JULY 15, 2004

Ready to order: https://secure.heritage.com/promostuff4u/catalog.asp

BIZARRE FUN FACTS

There are 18 different animal shapes in the Animal Crackers cookie zoo!

The average American drinks about 600 sodas a year!

A jellyfish is 95 percent water!

Q is the only letter in the alphabet that does not appear in the name of any of the United States!

You'll eat about 35,000 cookies in a lifetime!

A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!

$500 PROMO WINNER

Congratulations to CreativeKnack.com
Winner of our $500 in Promotional Products give-a-way for March

At CreativeKNACK, we'll take your home movies and create an enjoyable movie experience, adding music, transitions, and titling. We also edit raw video from school projects, music videos, or anything else you can imagine, edit and author to DVD or VHS. We also offer Graphics Design, Photo Editing, Custom Cards, Invitations, Brochures, Flyers, & More.
Visit us at www.Creativeknack.com