Are you a manufacturer or marketer of kitchen & bath products? Do you have a cool, new product that you think deserves some recognition? Are you tired of the expensive, arduous task of entering the many product design awards and competitions?

If you answered yes to the first two questions, and even if you answered no to the third, consider entering the First-Annual KBCulture Awards. To enter, just download the entry form (PDF) and get started. It’s a simple form, and the fee is just $25.

If you haven’t heard of KBCulture, you should check it out. It’s a blog run by the very astute and knowledgeable Leslie Clagett. A former magazine editor and published author, Leslie knows her stuff when it comes to kitchens and baths, and her readers look to her to find the latest & greatest.

Good luck!

The Builders’ Show is just a week away, and if you’re exhibiting at the show, you probably have some reservations about how much you’ll get out of it.

The building industry has suffered more than its share during this recession, and as a result, fewer builders and contractors are spending the time and money to travel to extravagant places like Las Vegas for a trade show. However, in a way lightly attended shows provide a unique opportunity to connect with customers on a more personal level. And, there are some things you can do to reach the ones who don’t come.

So, here 5 ways to maximize your IBS ROI:

1. Engage show attendees & follow up. Social media is all the rage these days, and for good reason, but face-to-face meetings are the best way to get online relationships started. When you meet customers, ask them if they are on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter (LinkedIn is probably your best bet). If they are, ask their permission to connect with them there. Also, put your various Social Media URLs on your business cards. Before you know it, you’ll have an expansive network of potential customers.
2. Blog. If you have a blog (and you probably should), you need to start blogging about what you’ll be doing at IBS now. What you’ll have on display, where you’ll be staying, where you plan on eating, what shows you’ll see. Of course, you want to talk about your company, brand or product, but those little personal things are what get people engaged in conversation. After the show, blog about what you did, what you saw, what you liked or didn’t like.
3. Tweet. If you have a Twitter account (and you probably should), start Tweeting about the upcoming show. Engage your followers in conversations about your expectations of the show. Look for “Tweetups” where you can meet your Twitter friends at a bar or restaurant. Better yet, organize a Tweetup yourself.
4. Video. For the customers who couldn’t be at the show, take them on a video tour of your booth. Introduce them to the employees working the show, let them see the products. Give them the experience of being at the show as best you can. Have fun with it. Put the video up on your Web site or blog, as well as on You Tube.
5. PR. Even if overall attendance will be down, there will still be editors and reporters there. You can go to the IBS Web site and request a list (scroll to the bottom of the page). IBS doesn’t provide e-mail addresses, but you can usually find these through magazines’ Web sites. Contact a few editors who might be interested in your product, tell them what’s new, and invite them to your booth. Be careful, though. They are interested in seeing what’s new or interesting, so make sure you have a good story to tell.

Just because show attendance will be light doesn’t mean the show will be a waste of time. Do what you can to make the most of it.

UPDATE: IBS organizers have made it a bit easier for exhibitors to maximize their ROI with an iPhone app.

From the “It’s All Just Marketing” department…

Last summer, my wife and I were having trouble getting our three-year-old son to take an afternoon nap on days when he was home. He took them at daycare, probably because all the other kids did. But on weekends and other days he was home, we couldn’t get him to do it, and we suffered the consequences in the late afternoon and evening.

The solution? We re-branded nap time.

We now call it “Quiet Time,” and it’s all the rage. He looks forward to Quiet Time and will often suggest it before we do.

It’s new! It’s cool! It’s the latest thing!

But once Quiet Time becomes passe, it’s back to the creative department.

The third and final installment of the New Year’s Resolution series…

Resolution #3: Enjoy Life

This past year was a doozy.  The reduced income, unemployment, foreclosures, bankrupcy, and other economic maladies affected a lot of people.  Stress levels went up, and many people spent the year worrying if they were going to make it.

If 2009 has taught us anything, it should be that life is too short to worry about temporary setbacks, and that we should focus on the things that make us happy.  Of course, we need to work hard and be smart, but things will turn around as they always do.

When it comes to marketing, building a brand, and running a business, I think this lesson is especially important.  At its best, marketing should be fun.  It’s all about trying new things, building relationships, and helping people.  What could be better than that?  The more you look at marketing as a fun, creative endeavor, the more successful you’ll be.

The second in my series of New Year’s Resolutions for your brand…

Resolution #2: Get Organized

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that on the heels of the chaotic Christmas season, people want to get organized.  They’ve acquired a lot of stuff in the last 12 months, and they want to purge what they don’t need, and organize what they keep.

Is your marketing disorganized?  Does it have a lot of pieces and parts that might be duplicating efforts?  Do some literature pieces have a different look and feel than others?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, it’s probably time to organize your brand.  Start by stripping it down to its essence.  What makes you different or better than your competition?  Why should your customers care?  How do you need to reach your customers?  With those questions answered, you can start to see what your marketing needs are, and which pieces you should toss, which pieces you should keep, and how you should organize them so they are all working together.

Like organizing your closet, it’s an arduous process.  But at the end of it, you’ll have a lean, effective, strategic marketing plan that represents your brand well.