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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?
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