RUSTY’s Famous Hot Sauce isn’t just a condiment—it’s a marketing marvel that has stood the test of time. Trade show attendees actively seek out the MATCOR booth, eager to engage with the brand and grab their bottle of hot sauce.
This unique use of promotional giveaways, supplied by RUNMARK, was recently honored with the Best Promotional Giveaway award at the AMA Phoenix Chapter Spectrum Awards.
Standing Out in a Sea of Competitors
In a competitive industry landscape where brand recognition is paramount, MATCOR faced the challenge of standing out amidst a sea of exhibitors, many with similar products and services. The need arose to create a memorable and engaging promotional product that would not only serve as a token of appreciation for clients but also reinforce MATCOR’s brand identity as an innovative and customer-centric organization. The idea began in 2017 and has become an annual tradition.
Promotional Product Goals, Objectives, and Strategies
The primary objectives of introducing “RUSTY’s Famous Hot Sauce” were twofold:
- First, to elevate MATCOR’s brand visibility and recognition within the industry by offering a memorable and engaging promotional product at trade shows and events.
- Second, to deepen client relationships and foster a sense of appreciation and loyalty through a unique and enjoyable brand experience.
Over the years, we implemented several strategic tactics to promote “RUSTY’s Famous Hot Sauce.” This included hosting a naming contest, with “RUSTY” as the winner, inspired by MATCOR’s industry focus on corrosion. Each label features Rusty in themed attire reflecting the current location of their largest annual trade show, the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo.
Additionally, MATCOR engaged customers through hot sauce tastings, both in the booth and to select the next year’s flavor of hot sauce.
Positive Results
While tangible metrics are limited, the overwhelmingly positive reception and consistent demand for “RUSTY’s Famous Hot Sauce” at industry events—and reorders for seven years and counting—speak volumes about its effectiveness. Trade show attendees actively seek out the MATCOR booth, eager to engage with the brand and grab their bottle of hot sauce each year.
Ready to come up with your winning promotional product idea? Contact us and we’ll help you brainstorm!
