Smart Sales of Phone Accessories

Info-on-the-go is now the norm. It wasn’t too long ago that obtaining information was an activity performed on a stationary computer or laptop. There was no such thing as an “app” either.

Now, according to the Pew Research Center, approximately 95% of Americans own some type of cell phone. This is a dramatic rise in only seven years – as in 2011, when Pew conducted its first smartphone survey, only 35% of Americans owned a cell phone.

Moreover, says PRC, “As the adoption of traditional broadband service has slowed in recent years, a growing share of Americans now use smartphones as their primary means of online access at home.” In 2018, one in five American adults only use their smartphone – they do not have traditional home broadband service.

Therefore, emphasizing smartphone accessories for promotional campaigns for your wide diversity of clients is, well, smart.

Kevin Andrews of PCNA, observes, “These days practically everyone has a cell phone, making cell phone accessories one of the most versatile types of promotional products. Since most people have their phones at their side all day, cell phone accessories make very practical give-a-ways that will increase brand awareness with continuous impressions.”

He also noted that smartphones themselves have evolved rapidly over recent years, from the introduction of wireless charging, the removal of headphone jacks, and even improved cell phone cameras. These changes, he asserted, have also evolved the types of products being used for promotional campaigns and events. 

“In today’s world, a cell phone is the life line for many people,” emphasizes Gwen Brey of Beacon Promotions. “This is because smartphones have now become their only point of contact. An increasing number of people are dropping their landlines.” Brey adds that the smartphone serves as the computer, email, internet, and camera, as well as the swiftly proliferating number of apps the phone owner can utilize for a staggering number of tasks and leisure. “So it makes perfect sense that promotional items for the smartphone keeps pace,” she says.

Tom Donlin of ADG Promo observes that the track in the past five years for smartphone accessories has “gone from fun gadgets to must-have items.” Items such as cases, holders, stands, speakers, chargers, and earbuds are “must haves,” meaning that most people have and/or want them (which translates to golden sales opportunities). Also of note is that there have been dramatic improvements in quality during the past five years. Bluetooth® connectivity, sound quality of the speakers, speed and power of the chargers, and the durability of the cases all have improved dramatically, he pointed out.

In the viewpoint of Carrie Lewis of BIC Graphic, the most significant change is the developments in wireless charging. For example, BIC Graphic’s Qi wireless chargers (#32239), she noted, “are especially popular as the industry standard recognized by most major smartphone companies.” Qi technology enables smartphones and other Qi enabled devices to be charged simply by placing them onto the pad or stand, instead of dealing with charging cables.

“The wireless way of thinking is evident in audio as well,” Lewis says. Most of the major smartphone manufacturers are removing headphone jacks so audio accessories are following suit. For example, BIC’s (#32124) completely wireless earbuds with charging cases and earbuds with the imprint right on the cap “are incorporating this popular trend into promo.”

Steve Davis of Intelligent Life Inc. observes, “The variety of options for smartphone accessories is incredible.” The last five years have seen the introduction of so many more options to the promo market, including dual and multi-function items like power bank wireless chargers for example. “I'm most excited about wireless charging and all the wireless chargers on the market this year,” he shares.

Tap into Sales

We are living in a world where new mannerisms are constant and widespread – taps and swipes are replacing clicks. Since just about everyone has a smartphone – and uses it for both work and play, there are many opportunities to sell smartphone accessories. And, noted Brey, the market is more than just technology businesses.

“These products are perfect for just about every business that wants to keep its name top of mind. Every time the recipients use their phone and accessory, the client gets exposure, not just for the recipients, but anyone around them when they utilize their phone.”

There are some clever slogans Brey offers for some of Beacons’ more popular smartphone accessories: For screen cleaners (“It’s easy to see,” “Clear the way,” “Spotless”), for a thumbs-up holder (“helping hands,” “Handy,” “High five!”), and for chargers (“Take charge!” and “Power on”).

The current back-to-school season is ripe with opportunities in this sector, noted Donlin. “The education market is the largest buying group in the promotional products industry and kids of any age are perfect recipients of anything techie and cell phone related,” he comments. 

Davis advises that promotional products distributors may obtain higher market share by demonstrating options with an image “along with a great dose of enthusiasm.” Most tech products, he says, are items that most customers want to have so it’s simply a matter of presenting the variety that is within the customers’ budgets once you find out what the goals of the campaign are and of course, who is the recipient. “Customers love to give out smartphone accessories as employee incentives, high-end trade show giveaways, and as customer appreciation gifts,” he offers.

Think about presenting products that Lewis says enhance functionality of smartphones and promote those accessories that protect the recipient’s smartphone investment (these are no longer inexpensive items) with style, such as BIC Graphic’s mahogany wood case (#32152), or a phone wallet (#32185).

“One big area of opportunity is the real estate vertical market,” Lewis observes. This industry is full of mobile professionals who use their phones and tablets to fuel their business. Think beyond just real estate agents – this industry includes apartment complexes, appraisers, property management, title firms, and moving companies.”

Some Smart Options

There are numerous smartphone accessories to select; and most sources agree that no matter what type (earbuds, cases, chargers), present three that range in price.

ADG Promotional Products has several smartphone accessories, and, says Donlin, one of its most popular is the Ts Powerstar Phone Charger (#Q46642) that actually puts your client’s logo in lights as the phone is charging via LaserSharp™ engraving.

ADG also sells two phone holders that “are great for students, teachers, counselors, and administrative associates,” Donlin suggests. The Ts Phone Holder (#Q45865), which keeps their phones front and center when at the desk, library, or in meetings. Secondly, is our Ts Phone Wallet Stand (Q44737) which features a back pouch that can hold a key, ID, cash, and credit card or business cards.

Beacon Promotions’ most popular items, according to Brey, are the Frizzy Finger Duster (#BA66FD) and the Thumbs Up Phone/Tablet Holder (#BA79PH). And, as many people use their phones for driving directions, smartphone holders for vehicles (#BA80PH and #BA77PH) are also desirable. “Screen cleaners are also useful with a phone. We have a couple with just the microfiber cloth and one with a spray solution. Chargers are also a great item, as everyone needs to stay connected. We have several for the car or home, as well as some with features for both options,” she says. 

Intelligent Life’s wireless chargers help “avoid annoying cable tangles and connection hassles,” describes Davis. The (#AP-WCP729) has LED indicator whether the charger is in standby or charging. It is compatible with any Qi-enabled smartphones and mobile devices. It also has a soft charging pad that prevents scratching and slipping of your smartphone.

Intelligent Life also offers several power banks, such as the Metallic Power Bank (#AP-PB295), featuring a sleek, curved rectangular shape with choices of metallic finish. “This has a very large imprint area for great branding,” he says. For something extra, the Speaker Power Bank (#AP-PB273) is a great incentive or for company and school stores, for example. “This power bank/speaker combo stick/mobile phone stand is a 3-in-1,” Davis says. “It can be plugged into the audio jack on the smartphone to play music through the built-in speaker, and plugs into a charging cable. As a bonus it holds up the phone on the desk while playing music.”

BIC Graphic’s Truly Wireless Single Earbud (#32197) says Lewis, allows for listening to music or taking calls while having the other ear free for listening to surroundings. It includes a music control for up to three hours of playtime, built-in microphone, and imprinted case. “It also works up to 33 feet away from my smartphone so I can move around freely,” she says.

“Camera blockers have also been popular over the last few years due to more awareness of hackers and other potential risks,” says Andrews. PCNA offers the Privacy Camera Blockers in Case (#SM-3651), which packs three camera blockers to protect security and privacy from mobile devices. It attaches to the webcam and covers it when not in use, as well as prevents webcam hackers from spying. It can also be used to cover the front camera on phones, tablets, most laptops, and PCs.”

PCNA’s Stir Wireless Charging Phone Mount (#7141-12), Andrews describes, “includes wireless charging function. Simply clip into car vent and connect the micro charging cable via USB port to provide power. Extend the clap to hold a phone and charging starts automatically.”

Almost everyone has a smartphone and this device is an important part of our day-to-day lives, Lewis notes. “And that’s great for promo accessories because sales opportunities span generations, demographics, and industries.”

CASE STUDIES

Gwen Brey of Beacon Promotions: “A cell phone retail store gave out our Frizzy Finger Duster (#BA66FD) as a thank you to those who purchased a new cell phone.  They were looking for a useful but unique item and chose the finger duster as it fit all their needs.”

“A retail technology store just opened their doors in a mid-sized community. Each year the city has a Home Improvement show where many of the local businesses have a booth to meet the community and get some exposure. They handed out the Thumbs Up Phone/Tablet holder (#BA79PH) and had a catchy phrase printed on the product: ‘Give (their logo was printed) a thumbs up!’ The store saw an uptick in store traffic for several months after attending the show and they believe it was because of the phone holder they handed out.” 

“A computer repair store in a college town wanted a giveaway item for the college students. They choose the Portable Screen Cleaning Kit with Spray (#TEC58SC). With the full-color domed decal imprint, they had a large and colorful imprint area to feature their logo, location, and contact information. The kit was a useful item that was used regularly so the students knew where to go when they needed computer work. The computer repair store was pleased with the repair business that came their way from the promotion.”

Tom Donlin of ADG Promo: “A large city-wide anti-smoking campaign targeting kids to ‘Get Smart, Don’t Start’ used our PopSockets to carry the message and was distributed to middle school students during a school assembly. The PopSockets were a perfect item as they served as a constant reminder to never start smoking.”

Carrie Lewis of BIC Graphic: “A telecommunications company secured a sponsorship to have a mobile pop-up in the tailgating area for a professional sports team. Their objective with the sponsorship was to increase brand share in the market through awareness and new contract sign ups. They decided to offer the Xoopar® Bluetooth® Sound Block Speaker (#32202) as a new contract incentive gift. They liked that the speaker provided exceptional sound quality while being small enough to fit in a pocket.  It was also a natural tie-in to both tailgating and their company, with its ability to connect to most mobile devices and provide music wirelessly. The response from game day attendees was positive and the company saw higher traffic than projected at their pop-up. The company placed a re-order of the speakers to extend the promotion through the entirety of the sponsorship season.”