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Picking Products

Slade noted that the most popular items for the health care market are ones that work for any industry. "Health care items, such as lip balm and hand sanitizers, are frequently used items with a broad appeal," he said. He added that since users apply lip balm and hand sanitizers often, your client would likely receive increased impressions. Wright added sunscreen and bandage dispensers to Slade's list of typical health care products.

Wright also mentioned product categories that you might not normally consider for health care: beverage insulators, grocery totes, drinkware, pens, athletic apparel, polo shirts, blankets, beach balls and umbrellas. In fact, using an assortment of items not typically associated with health care can be more successful than bundling similar products. "We have tried to bundle items in this category but it has proven unsuccessful," Slade said. Wright, however, has had success using apparel and other non-health items in hospital promotions. She mentioned a popular promotion that used a mix of typical and atypical health care products. The promotion was for a hospital that sponsors an Irish jig race (pictured above right). "We provided 5,000 long-sleeve technical fabric tees, ear bands, texting gloves, windbreakers and hand sanitizer for the runners," she said.