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Mouse Hunt Entrepreneurial forget-me-knots.

By Debra Phillips

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Give and you shall receive. Although this adage borders on thebanal, it's a marketing truism nonetheless. That's why somany corporate promotional items--everything from soaps, bottledwater and candy jars to clock radios, Post-it notes and even teddybears--are on the market for entrepreneurs who want to give theircustomers something to remember them by.

Not that all logo-emblazoned tokens are created equal, ofcourse. Donovan Knights, for one, thinks his company'scustomized computer mousepads stand out among the clutter--and notjust because they're reproduced using striking four-colorprinting. "Subliminally, it's almost illegal," jokesKnights of the marketing impact of this most omnipresent ofcomputer accessories, which cost between $1.50 and $5 per pad."Everybody uses a mousepad. It's the only part of the[desk] surface that doesn't get covered up. It doesn't getbroken, and it's always there."

Since 1993, Knights' Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rat Patrol ComputerAccessories has catered to a diverse range of businesses seeking tomake a strong impression. "The mousepad transcends so manyindustries," says Knights, 32. "We figure our targetmarket is anybody who uses public relations tools." So doesthat mean the, er, rat race is on?

Contact Source

Rat Patrol Computer Accessories, (800) 707-PADS, http://www.ratpatrol.com

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