The Linking Version of "Pay it Forward"

MIAMI --

Linking Staff headed out this week to a nearby shopping center to indulge in the holiday spirit. In continuation from last year’s holiday “Pay it forward” where we visited a retirement center and had dinner with His House Children's Home. This year The Linking Promotions & Events office has decided to patron a young woman from a neighboring community who has reached out for help with a wonderful surprise. This holiday season she has been blessed with a beautiful baby girl who is due any day this week. As our Christmas gift to her, the Linking team purchased clothing, diapers, wippies, a diaper bag, and a few toiletries.

Because 2012 was blessed with so many new projects that have helped us grow, we decided to give back to the community. We are extremely lucky to be able to help others this holiday season. We would like to take this time to thank all of our clients that helped make this a possibility. Thank you for your continued support!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Everyone!



Holiday Season Gift Ideas!

 

The holiday season is upon us!! Are you done shopping? Have you even started?

This year, most of our in-store demonstrations are in the Bed Bath & Beyond stores showcasing a couple of amazing holiday ideas.  One of our Demo Links, Beverley (to the left) was on site with the Keurig Vue machine. She was demonstrating and sharing samples with all customers out shopping this weekend. One of Beverly's best customer comments was “the machine is high tech and it is very easy to operate." According to Beverly the bestselling flavor for her Keurig VUE machine “is hot cocoa and medium roast house blend by Starbucks”. She also mentioned that getting to know the machine was fun, and very simple.

Along with the Keurig VUE machine our links were out in stores all over Florida with other products such as the Yonanas machine, an ice cream machine(to the right). Another one of our Links, Elena, is a proud Demontrator and Brand Ambassador to the Yonanas product. 

We also had a Soda Stream to make your own Soda (to the left)! Demos are being held at Bed Bath & Beyond stores so that you can have a chance to experience the astounding products and see them in action before you take the plunge to purchase. Linking Demonstrators are happy to keep busy this holida season and help you be a star by purchasing the right item for your friends and loved ones.  Who knew you would find such great ideas all in one place!

The Do's and Don'ts of Demo Tables

The purpose of an in-store demo is to attract guests of the store to the brand you are representing. Even with the limited items provided, there are still ways to make the simplest demo better. All you need is an eye for detail and some creativity. 

The best way to present a product is to do just that: make your demonstration table presentable. Simple ways to dress up your table include:

1.     Make sure you use a tablecloth. A quick way to appear unprofessional is by allowing guests to see the boxes stacked up underneath the table – make sure those stay covered!

2.     When setting up the product table, use some care and come up with a pattern. Organize the display products so it looks neat and clean.

3.     Look around you! What can be used? Is there a small plant somewhere? Ask the venue management before using any products, but most managers will be appreciative of your interest.

It is also just as easy to make a table look unattractive and, worst yet, unprofessional. Make sure to never have on the table:

1.     Your cell phone, or other personal items, such as a purse.

2.     Trash – always keep a bag or box handy, and away from the eyes of the guests.

3.     Logistic sheets, time sheets, or other event material from your agency.

4.     Set up boxes – these should always be under the table, and as mentioned, covered by the tablecloth.

Be sure to visit the Linking Promotions website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

KIA Motors Heads to NBA Championship with the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat has been crowned the National Basketball Association (NBA) Champions, and Miami celebrated Monday with a parade through Downtown. Linking Promotions staff has been representing KIA – whose Optima brand is the official sponsor of the NBA – with automotive marketing throughout the season in the AmericanAirlines Arena. Our promotional specialists have been responsible for speaking with the crowd, conducting quality interactions, and representing KIA in a professional and enthusiastic manner.

The AmericanAirlines Arena is an ideal concert venue, as well as an award show venue and host of many wrestling events. The Heat brings in a rather large crowd, filling an average of 19,935 seats for each home game. They had a grand total of 657,855 fans in attendance for the entire season.

The Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder this year after five games. The last time they won the championships was in 2006 verse the Dallas Mavericks.


Linking Promotions would like to thank all of the KIA dealerships in the South Florida area: Braman Kia, Coral Springs Kia, Esserman International Kia, Gunther Kia, Hollywood Kia, Kendall Kia, Phil Smith Kia, and Miami Lakes Kia. Please visit the Linking Promotions website for more about our company: www.linkingpromotions.com

Cupcake Vodka and FlipFlop Rum, Demonstrated at Yelp! Party on South Beach

Yelp's Jet Set Fete at The National Hotel took place this past Thursday, April 5, and featured drinkables and edibles from a large variety of vendors. The event was free, but party-goers were encouraged to donate $10 for the Humane Society of Greater Miami's Young Professional Group, PetNet, and all proceeds went towards homeless animals.  Linking Promotions staffed five promotional models and one bartender for Cupcake Vodka, Cupcake Wines, Flipflop Rum and Flipflop Wines at the poolside bar. Guests were entertained by DJ Cockpit, JC on the Electric Violin, and live performances by Shameless Burlesque.  Students from the Art Institute of Design presented a fashion show of hand-crafted and personal designs based around the 1940's and 1950's style, which coincided with the theme of the event.

Cupcake Vodka comes in many unique flavors, including Vanilla and Ginger Snap, as well as the six-times distilled flavorless vodka. Guests were given cards displaying recipes to make with these flavors, along with a barcode that, when scanned by your phone, can provide the consumer with more recipes. One quick and easy recipe included the Root beer Float, which is the Cupcake Vanilla with Root Beer. Similarly, Flipflop Rum is available in either Silver or Spiced. It is recommended that the Spiced Rum be combined with 1 to 3 parts orange juice to taste. The wines for both of these brands includes a wide selection of whites, reds and bubbly to fit with any consumers desires.


Be sure to visit the Linking Promotions website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Miami HEAT and Kia's Family Friendly Activation

The Miami HEAT Family Festival took place March 11, 2012, and raised over $455,000 for the community. The NBA players roamed the event with their wives and children, and interacted with guests. Kia was in attendance with a contest the crowds could not resist: a chance to win $1,000 towards the Family Festival Silent Auction for whoever can correctly guess the number of basketballs inside of two ice sculptures. The sculptures were part of the Ice Luge Photo Op display where families and guests could pose with their favorite HEAT players. Along with this contest, Kia donated $1,000 to the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund.

Three promotional specialists from Linking Promotions handled the activation, encouraging guests to enter the contest and informing them about the Kia Optima that was on display. HEAT/Kia rally towels were given out as well. At the conclusion of the contest, our specialists distributed the contest’s basketballs on a first come, first serve basis. The activation focused around lead collection, and an interactive contest with great giveaways, such as this one, is always a good technique to bump up your lead generation!

Be sure to visit the Linking Promotions website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Buick Heads to the Miami Beach Sand with Linking for the 2012 SobeWFF

For the 11^th consecutive year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE, the largest food and wine festival of its kind, hit the sand of Miami Beach for four days. Celebrity chefs from the acclaimed television network hosted demonstrations and parties throughout the past weekend, and Linking Promotions staffed for Buick inside the Grand Tasting Village. Culinary demonstrations took place throughout the day featuring personalities such as Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Bethenny Frankel, Anne Burrel and Anthony Bourdain. The Grand Tasting Village featured food from restaurants such as Rosa Mexicano, Fratelli La Bufala and Fogo de Chao Churrascaria. Liquor sponsors included Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum and the Robert Mondavi Winery.

The Buick tent featured many giveaways for this star studded three-day event. Our promotional models offered guests an opportunity to enter to win a free Buick of their choice, up to $65,000 in price, and get a firsthand look, as well as an opportunity to ask questions about the Regal GS and Enclave SUV as demonstrated by product specialists. Copies of the party planning book, Mermaids and Martinis, were given away with each entry. The book is a first for New York event planner, Hilary Pereira, who was on site signing the copies. Mermaids and Martinis officially hits stores April 24, 2012 and will feature planning ideas for a wide variety of events and holidays. Along with the book and car giveaway, guests were greeted with a Buick Blue Ice Margarita, a blend of tequila with sweet blue mixers such as blue curacao, for a refreshing drink in the hot Miami sun. People continually came back for more, some claiming it to be the best drink they had at the festival. On Saturday, a sand castle builder came to make a unique and custom Buick sign to attract guests and lounges were available by the booth so people could relax while flipping through their books and sipping their margaritas.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

KIA Motors Activates for the NBA Season

KIA Motors is setting up activations in various basketball stadiums during the NBA season and Linking Promotions is joining them in Miami, at the American Airlines Arena, and in Orlando, at the Amway Center. As the KIA Optima is the official car of the NBA, it is only expected that the giveaways from the car brand be plenty: and they have been. In Orlando, during the Orlando Magic game, a fan could participate in a contest with the prize being a car. The contest required the fan to shoot and make three free throw shots and a half-court shot. Activations in Miami for the Miami Heat games will begin this Sunday and Linking Promotions’ promotional models will be giving away prizes for participating in interactive contests as well.

Training for the Orlando activation was prepared by Linking Promotions at the KIA of Orlando. On display in the Amway Center is the Kia Optima, and in the American Airlines arena there is a Kia Optima as well as the Kia Sorento. The Kia Optima is a sporty and modern 4-door car that features a heated steering wheel and bio care heated seats for those cold days. The Kia Sorento is a SUV that has a panoramic sunroof and a 6-speed gate-type auto transmission which can help save the driver up to 12% in fuel compared to other auto transmission styles.

Linking Promotions has been at the Amway Center for the entirety of the season so far. The Orlando Magic currently has a record of 13-9, with their next game being tonight at home verse the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joining Kia for the first time this season, Linking Promotions will be in attendance of the Sunday evening Toronto Raptors game, the old team of Miami Heat starter Chris Bosh. The Miami Heat currently holds a record of 16-6, with an away game this evening verse the Philadelphia 76ers.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Linking Promotions Staffs for a Special Vodka and Whisky at a Wine and Food Festival

The first annual Downtown Miami Wine and Food Festival took place in Brickell’s Central Park Miami on Sunday, January 22^nd, introducing an array of vendors and wine tastings to the constantly growing city. Along the line of participants were Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.  Linking Promotions staff assisted in the activation, giving samples to the eager festival guests that awaited a taste of these unique and flavorful brands.

The Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka lives up nicely to its name, achieving the sweet tea taste that blends well with the likes of lemonade to mimic an Arnold Palmer cocktail. The Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a whisky with a spice and a slight bite, perfect for the crowd that visited the festival.

The Downtown Miami Wine and Food Festival began at 1 p.m., featuring wine tastings until 4 p.m., cooking demonstrations and musical performances. With the growth of the Brickell area in Miami, nine restaurants plus Johnson & Wales University participated in the festival. A portion of the proceeds benefitted Jorge Posada Foundation, which supports and provides awareness for Crainosynostisis, a condition that affects the growth of an infant’s brain.   

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com. 

Our Tips for a Successful In-Store Demo

Here at Linking Promotions, we specialize in the activation and planning of promotional events of all types: trade shows, conventions, brand development, sporting events, automotive, retail, entertainment, and food demos. One of the many types of events would be sales driven demo that normally located in retail locations.

With eight years and countless successful events behind us, today we would like to share some our tips for a successful in-store demo.

DEMO TIPS
1. Professional and appropriate attire. Depending on the type of demo that it is, there are different wardrobe requirements. Some may ask for gloves, hair nets or aprons. Any part of the required outfit is important, and missing one part of it may appear unprofessional or even unsanitary.

2. A hospitable attitude. The ideal candidate for a demonstration is somebody outgoing that enjoys talking with people. The job demands demo models to be friendly and attentive to each person that approaches their station.

3. A knowledge of the product. People will ask questions about the product, and a demonstrator that is unaware of how to answer their question may turn somebody away from what you’re selling. Be sure to read and learn all informational tools that may be useful to your product.

4. An attractive set-up. A person casually walking through a supermarket or liquor store may not immediately notice a table with samples on it, as they are probably shopping with a specific purpose outside of what you’re trying to sell. Make sure that the table set-up is presentable, eye-catching and professional. This includes using tablecloths and brochures or signs of the product.

5. Punctuality. As important for any job, keep in mind that as a demo model you need to be on time! The less time that you are in the stores, the less people that will be approached to buy your product. As the saying goes, time is money!

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingpromotions.com.