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Seekers of the obscure, today we welcome Donna Frazier of DOS Promotions, a master of sourcing mystical relics and branded treasures. Typically, her work involves finding the perfect promotional items for companies until she made the fateful mistake of working with us and stepping into the weird world of game components. Donna, welcome! Frodo: 1. First question, are you still speaking to us, or have you blocked our emails? Donna: I love networking, challenges, and learning new things. And boy have I learned a lot working with Dark One Games. Rest assured that I am still speaking to you all! Pad Thai: (Barking excitedly) So, you’ve sourced everything from pens to tote bags to, well, our game components. Be honest, where did Cthulhu Rises!! and Holiday Rollout rank on the list of “most unusual things you’ve had to track down”? And what was the strangest request? Donna: Honest answer, Cthulhu Rises!! And Holiday Rollout ranks #1 for me personally! A close second was a business owner who needed branded prophylactics. Frodo: (Wagging tail) Since you normally help companies with promotional swag, what was the biggest difference when trying to source game components instead of, say, coffee mugs with a company logo? Did you have a what have I gotten myself into moment? Donna: Items like cups, tote bags, and pens are available everywhere in the US. Card Decks and Dice have very limited suppliers in the US, and prices are generally more beneficial Overseas. Also, unlike other items, they have high quantity requirements, increasing the risk and financial burden. This can make it hard to source and for new businesses to kick start and stay within budget. Frodo: (Ears perked up) So, now that you’ve dipped your toes into the gaming abyss, if you had to create the ultimate convention giveaway item for board game nerds, what would it be? And no, “another tote bag” is not an answer? Donna: (LOL) Right now, I am learning about and sourcing Award Medals. Winners love to walk away with bragging rights and something cool in their hands!! For Dark One Games, how about a Cthulhu Rises!! or Holiday Rollout Medal of Honor?! Frodo: (Grinning Mischievously) So, what’s the most spectacularly ruined shipment you’ve ever seen? Like, full Lovecraftian horror, "this must have fallen through a dimensional rift" levels of disaster. Bonus points if ghastly goo was involved? Donna: There have been a few like that, including the dice for your game. The box had been ripped wide open and then secured back together with plastic wrap, FULLY wrapped in plastic!! When I saw it, my heart dropped into my throat, and I thought for sure half the order was gone!!! What a sigh of relief when it counted correctly. PHEW!! Pad Thai: Game designers love to demand weird, hyper-specific components—holographic board tiles, custom obsidian dice, miniature goblins that whisper secrets when you roll a natural 20. What’s the most unreasonable request you’ve had to talk a client down from? Donna: I can’t say we’ve had unreasonable requests. Many requests go like this, Donna: I sent you a picture, and I WANT IT for my business!! I have a specific customer in mind who is notorious for this, and she knows it...LOL! My reply is usually, OK let’s get a sample so you can touch and see it in person. About 30% of the time, when the sample arrives, it is NOT what the customer expected. Online images can be deceiving. But, we always follow up with good conversations and use our experience to find a better fit for their brand. Frodo: Donna, until we meet again, may your suppliers be reliable, your shipments be timely, and may you never, ever have to reorder anything in a panic! Pad Thai: And so, dear readers, as the final card is drawn and the echoes of rolling dice fade into the void, we leave you with this lingering truth, great games, like great tales, are woven by those daring enough to bring them to life!
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