When your customers work tough hands-on jobs, the promo products you give them need to keep up.
“If they get something that’s poorly made – that they know won’t last – they’re not going to use it,” says Idaly Tineo, Marketing Coordinator of FutureCow. The company designs and builds equipment for dairy farmers, so Idaly wants promos that can withstand long days on the farm. “We want to give them something that’s built to last,” she says.
Being able to try samples of our products has given Idaly a chance to confirm the quality and durability for herself. One of her favorite QLP products is a vacuum-insulated water bottle. She was surprised by how well it held up even after being dropped and run through the dishwasher multiple times. The vacuum seal also keeps drinks the right temperature throughout long work days, while the lid means no spills even on bumpy drives across the fields.
Idaly originally ordered the sample water bottle to see if it was a good fit for FutureCow’s Christmas box, which she sends to their best customers. As well as checking the quality, she was able to make sure it actually fit in the box alongside other smaller gifts, including a beanie and a stress cow from QLP.
Idaly holds products that don’t have to withstand the all-weather nature of running a farm to similarly high standards, because the longer the product lasts, the more time the customer spends looking at the FutureCow logo. “Maybe the farmer will give it to one of his kids or have it in the office: As long as it’s being used and our logo is visible, that’s great,” Idaly says.
The stress cows, in particular, are a big winner at expos and trade shows – to the point that the team has to ration them. “I only put out a certain number at a time, because if not, they’ll just go for them,” Idaly says.
When Idaly’s on the lookout for her next favorite promo, her QLP sales rep Kat is always ready with a suggestion. “It’s been great: she’s really nice and fun, easy to work with and understanding,” Idaly says. Her favorite item at the moment is the Dayton Fleece Hoodie. “I wear it all the time,” she says. “Hoodies are tricky because sometimes they’re too boxy, but I feel like the material is better quality than some of our old hoodies, and I like the fact that I can mix the quantities between the women’s size and the unisex size.”
QLP can’t take all the credit for the success of FutureCow’s merch. Their logo, Dotty the cow, turns heads wherever she goes. “A lot of people love our logo, so it’s really fun to put it on things,” Idaly says. When your logo is that cute, and the swag is this great, you just have to milk it.
Natasha Lavender
Natasha is an experienced writer and editor who has covered topics including technology, health and safety, business, and pop culture. Her work has been published by Good Housekeeping magazine, Forbes, Success, and more.
