A Sneak Peak To 2019 Apparel Trends

We live in the age of "Cutting Edge" expectations; consumers want to stay up to date on the new & latest trends.  Considering apparel trends when marketing your brand helps to provide a cohesive package. Being fashion forward and promoting your brand is easy.  Below are the top four apparel trends for the promotional industry, that you may see everywhere else too.

1)      Plaid Flannel – It is nostalgic, comfortable and great for many different events.  It can be customized with layering and logo decoration.  

Like this style? Click here.

2)      Heathered Fabric – This style trend is no longer for just t-shirts and hoodies; polos and soft shell performance jackets are now being made in the heathered look as well.  The trend is even lending itself to accessories such as journals and bags.  Why is this look so popular?  It strays away from the traditional black and navy corporate colors yet remains neutral. 

Our showroom features the latest trends!

3)      Athleisure Wear – This trend is not going away anytime soon.  It is not only extremely comfortable, but versatile as well; it can be worn to work, to a lunch meeting, and to the gym.  

Our showroom features many "work to leisure styles", including name brands!

4)      Accessories – Bags that go along with the above styles are going to be popular this upcoming year.  People want versatile bags that match their lifestyle.  Keep in mind that bags have one of the highest impressions of any promotional item at 1,038 per month*, making it a low cost per impression pc and kept on average over a year! Another trend making a comeback is the paisley bandana.  The pattern is gaining popularity again and can be a nice change from a solid color; add to other items like invitations, schedules, and rally rags.  Bandanas are great for awareness walks, school spirit sales and pet campaigns.

Click Here to learn more about this bag

Additional decoration trends would be continued from popular trends the last few years- the high demand for texture and comfort.  Fleece, Heather, and Sherpa fabrics are what is being asked for consistently. When our clients visit the showroom to compare styles, they want to put their hands on "the soft stuff"!

For imprinting & decoration techniques- clean lines without clutter, retro images and an increased emphasis on the messaging: bold, unique and funny phrases are on trend.  Matte printing is more popular than shiny looks, but as silver fades out, rose gold is taking its place for metallics.

What's your favorite promotion? Follow our Facebook page to see images of client projects!

* Research stat's provided by PPAI- Promotional Products International Studies

Who's Filling Your Stockings? Go Small!

The holidays right around the corner, so are some of the biggest shopping days of the year.  We are all aware of Black Friday and the amazing sales it brings, as well as Cyber Monday for those who like to stay in the comfort of their home to avoid the crowds.  Consumers look for the best places to score gifts & deals this weekend. While everyone loves a bargain, Promotional Partners, we would like to remind you of Small Business Saturday. 

Who do you trust to help fill the stockings of your friends & family?

Since 2010,  small, local businesses across the US recognize the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a day to remind consumers to shop small and local.  By supporting the local, independent shops, you help promote a thriving community; you help support the personal and unique nature of your town.  Not only does your purchase go back into the local economy, but small business owners are likely to involve themselves in the community.   

A national survey said- and Promotional Partners is no exception; in fact......

In 2018 Promotional Partners put almost 10,000 back into the local community! A 250% increase from previous years! Owner Olivia Scott,  contributes significant time and sponsorship dollars to numerous community organizations.   Although we are not open on Small Business Saturday- please keep us and your local community in mind during this busy season as you think of different gift ideas.  


Besides the community connection, the personal connection between a consumer and a business owner is difficult to match with an on line experience. Our clients trust us with their brand and our team takes that trust seriously. It's reassuring to know that our clients value the personal touch! 

What's your a small business success story?

 

Promotional Partners Gives Almost $10,000 To Local Community for 2018

As 2018 comes to an end, Promotional Partners Inc. is excited to announce that their total donations for the year reached $9,428, almost a 250% increase from prior years.  About 95% of their yearly 2018 donations contributed to the surrounding community of the Town of Apex and Wake County.  Being a small, local business owner, Olivia Scott believes it is important to be involved with local committees and give back to the community that supports her; Scott is happy to give both her time and sponsorship to her local area and clients. 

As a former teacher, Olivia highly values supporting local youth and education; over half of Promotional Partners’ donations contribute to this area.  Since 2008, Promotional Partners has incorporated an internship program partnering with Green Hope and Apex High School students, educating them on the promotional products industry and practices of a small business; as of this year, 18 interns have each gained 140 hours of experience.  Besides the internship program, Olivia also volunteers her time as a speaker to a variety of local organizations. 

Olivia also finds it imperative to keep herself and her team up to date on best business practices and trends for the promotional products field.  Since starting the business in 2007, Promotional Partners has been a member of Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) and Promotional Products Association International (PPAI); both organizations provide the team with education webinars of industry standards, product knowledge and trends, as well as up-to-date statistics of how promotional products are affecting other industries.  By investing in education, Promotional Partners know they can provide better service to help their clients grow.  As a former award winner of Think Apex Awards and Apex Chamber’s Small Business of the Year, Olivia Scott knows that she can be successful in educating herself in her field as well as among her community.  “The more we know about our local partners in business, the better source of information we can be in implementing marketing strategies and suggesting campaigns with promotional products that yield results.” 

Leadership in the community is important to owner, Olivia Scott.  She volunteers about 15 hours every month to numerous area boards, organizations and committees by sharing her leadership and marketing expertise.  When asked about the importance of being community focused, Scott responded “Being part of a community means you are a care taker, invested and responsible for helping to improve the community. We contribute where and when we can to organizations that develop our youth and improve the quality of life of our residents.” 

Promotional Partners also likes to contribute to charity by helping plan their clients’ philanthropy campaigns.  Having so many relationships among clients and community organizations, Scott makes a great consultant for joint charity events.  If a business owner is thinking of how he or she can give back to the community, Promotional Partners can offer their creativity, certification, and collaboration to plan for a great cause.

Promotional Partners has had a desire from “day one” to be more than a place for the transaction of goods.  Internally the team selected the core words of creativity, certification and collaboration because acquiring mastery is not only about longevity and experience, it’s also about maintaining on-going education.  Creativity comes from the collaboration that occurs when there is an open exchange of ideas and willingness to learn.  Olivia Scott says, “In the daily world of imprinting products, the goal is to make sure product selection is on point to the message and the imprint of the logo is true to brand standards.  However, building a brand for you company is bout working long term to create an emotional response to the name.  We enjoy being on a journey that partners with our neighbors and colleagues to create a strong local business community.”

Written by Bridgit Buchanan

Increasing Your Bottom Line for Less

Bottoms up! Who doesn't want more revenue towards their bottom line? Sharing your branding space with community partners for events, sponsorships or similar target markets is not only smart but will cost you all less to reach those consumers! 

If you follow our blog regularly, you know that building brand recall and retention is about being in the hands of your target market frequently. 

At a recent Fuquay- Varina Chamber after hours:

Oaklyn Springs Brewery
Goldfish Swim of Cary
First Federal in Fuquay-Varina 
Morgan- Perry Law of Fuquay- Varina 

Each business shared in the cost to have a pint glass printed with their logo for attendees. 

Did you know that kitchen items & drinkware collect some impressive stat's among consumers for longevity of use? 

Bringing a steady stream of well qualified customers is easier when you position yourself as a local resource for their needs. Most people want services close to their home or office for convenience. Check your kitchen - you are likely to have printed glassware, tumblers & water bottles, jar openers, coasters, sponges, chip clips, fly swatters, cake cutters, hot pads, measuring spoons, spatulas, and vegetable peelers! 

Word play with kitchen items will be remembered- such as don't be bugged by- get a grip on, don't be burned by.....the ideas are plenty. 

Drink ware in particular represents one of many products with a HUGE imprint area- generally a wrap imprint which means you can repeat logos, use more than one logo, add messages and images.

Next time you want to maximize your marketing dollars- as us for some creative ways to co brand for events and local partnerships! Ask us to help you design campaigns that could qualify for Co-Op dollars to offset your marketing costs!

Move Over Valentine's Day- 5 Ways to Add Value this Season!

That's right- Valentine's might have the edge on flowers, but not on cards! However folks are still sending cards- even in a digital age! Our friends at Warwick Publishing have outlined 5 ways to make the most of your cards.

Holiday cards don’t have to be boring. When done right, custom holiday greeting cards can provide a memorable experience for your customers. Custom holiday cards improve customer relationships. They show customers that you value them, and keep your business and services top of mind during the holiday season. Holiday cards from Warwick are a great value, too — and there are lots of ways to use them to give your business a boost!

1. Build loyalty. Send a small gift ( like a 2018 Value Stick Calendar) or a special coupon for a discount on the customer’s next visit. This builds goodwill with your customers and encourages repeat business.

2. Be thoughtful. Send a handwritten note thanking the customer for their support. Share a story about your business growth or a highlight from your year to show them how they contributed to your success. Choose one of our stock holiday sentiments, or write your own. Be sure to hand-sign each card, too – taking a few extra minutes to do this (and using a real stamp) will make your card stand out.

3. Provide value. Send a short list of money-saving tips, a couple of your favorite holiday recipes, or a relevant “how-to” article inside the card. Keep it generic enough that all of your customers can appreciate the information, but specific enough that it relates to your brand or the products and services your company offers. Here are a few “value-add” content ideas:

• Calendar of local upcoming events
• 5 ways to lower your energy bill this winter
• Local holiday gift guide
• 3 ways to prepare your car for winter
• 10 exercises you can do at the office
• 8 ways to be more productive and stay organized in 2018

4. Invite them to engage. Use the card as an invitation to participate in a contest. Encourage user-generated content by asking customers to post an “action shot” picture of your product in use to social media with a custom hashtag for a chance to win a gift card or larger prize.

5. Ask for a referral. Customers will be spending lots of time with family and friends in the next couple of months. Including a simple “Would you recommend us to a friend or family member?” note in the card after you’ve thanked them and provided a discount or a gift can be a great way to build business. New customers trust the recommendation of a friend or family member over any other marketing source.

Nee more reasons to order custom holiday cards from Warwick?

• Free gold or silver foil-lined white mailing envelopes are included with your cards
• Award-winning card designs with over 100 classic and premium styles to choose from
• Low 50 piece minimum order
• Made in the USA from quality card stock
• Free stock sentiments and personalization! Add your company logo or signature

Communication with your customers is a vital part of keeping them engaged with your business. Browse all of our award-winning custom greeting cards online! We’re here to help you design the perfect custom holiday cards to strengthen customer relationships, drive referrals and build customer loyalty. Have another idea to use custom holiday cards? Leave us a comment 

Stop by the showroom to see out holiday card samples and select the right one for you.