Sakaduski Marketing Blog

If you got shut out last year, go to www.oralhealthamerica.org right now and lock in your seats to the Oral Health America Gala on February 26 at Navy Pier (during the Chicago Meeting).  This is a don’t-miss event, but it has gotten so popular that it sells out early.  This year, for the first time, you can reserve seats online.  Reserve by the seat or reserve a whole table.  You can pay by credit card or just asked to be billed (a great option if your company is picking up the tab).  There are also sponsorships available (call Joe Donohue at 312-836-9900 for info).  A sponsorship is a great way to pick up some solid cred in front of the industry kings and king-makers for less than the cost of a single trade ad. 

OHA is also looking for items for the silent auction, so if you have a vacation place, know a celebrity who would donate an autographed item, have a bottle of fine wine or a nice antique or jewelry item to contribute, give Joe a call. 

Did you know you can get M&Ms with your own name on them?  How about custom shoes with your own design, colors, style, and graphics?  It’s the era of me-tailing, or mass customization– personalizing products to appeal to consumers who increasingly feel “it’s all about me.”

Although the dental industry hasn’t always been on the forefront of consumer trends, this one might be worth a passing consideration.  Would a hygienist pay more for gloves or masks with her own initials on them?  Would a dentist choose an intraoral camera because the color matches the operatory decor?  How about customized graphics on chair upholstery?  Personalized communications systems?

If any of your products can be easily personalized, you may want to ask your customers whether they would pay a premium for that luxury.  My bet is you would have a few takers.

Tomorrow’s historic election will signal a turning point in the direction America takes. This long and devisive campaign has raised partisan feelings on both sides, but on November 5, it will be time to get this country moving again. We have seen what a sharp downturn in the economy can do to our industry, and if there is going to be any chance for recovery, it has to start with a new president.

Whatever your political persuasion, take part in the process tomorrow. Voting is still the best way to make your point. All the rants and raves mean nothing, if you can’t take the time to cast your ballot. No matter who wins, that person has to begin moving our country back on a better track. One can only hope, that the process starts in earnest on Wednesday.