Penciled In
2. Add a Pen
Calendars and planners are great, but only if you can mark them up with important events and meetings. For this, Mahre suggested adding a pen. "Pen and planner [sets] are also becoming more popular, especially when they are personalized," he explained.
3. Don't Focus on Material
Mahre advised distributors to avoid high-price materials because the products are only meant to last a year. "Most [planners] are price-sensitive since they are intended to only last for a year and vinyl is a popular outside cover material." Don Guthrie, vice president of sales for Payne Publishers Inc., Manassas, Va., agreed, adding that higher-price materials are available if an end-buyer requests it, but lower-price options are the most popular. "There is not really a best material. It all depends on what the client wants and the budget involved," he said. "Our less expensive leatherette cover is our top-selling cover material."