How To Ease Into Fall Styles

Our partner, Sanmar, is an expert on apparel. They've put together some timely knowledge offering ways to comfortably ease into fall.

The summer is a great time to soothe our anxieties, relax in the sun, slow things down and well— COLLECT your thoughts for the rest of the year. Consumers are not straying far from home as much as in the past. Why leave the couch when technology makes your home the center of work and socializing? Does this mean no one ever goes anywhere and we all stay in our respective shells? No, however, there is a shift in how we spend our social time. For example meeting us at a friend’s house or at a city park take precedence over a club or restaurant. Being dressed comfortably seems to be a #1 concern.

Yes, we want comfort, but we don’t want to look like we went straight from rolling out of bed to going out for an evening with our friends. Style that transitions from function to fun is what’s happening now.

For men, pairing the OGIO Urban Shirt (OG1000), which can double as a shirt jacket with the District Medal Tee underneath it (DT564) is a great choice.

Another popular combo we have seen in heavy rotation is the old-school and super cool Sport-Tek Super Heavyweight Full-Zip Sweatshirt (ST284), District Medal Tee (DT564) and the Sport-Tek Sport-Wick Fleece Jogger (ST233).

The Takeaway

Comfort, comfort, comfort and flexible function. We keep our styles close to home and easy-going.

Keep following our blog for a sneak peek at how ladies are collecting their lives at home, work and at play as fall and with a cozy twist.

PSSS.....can't read these images, it's not you! We can only insert them so  large to fit the screen. If you'd like a copy of this PDF contact us! 

Ways to Increase The Reach of Your Message

It's National Coffee Day and one of our favorite promotional products is drinkware! Statistically speaking your return on investment is strong when you select mugs and tumblers for brand campaigns!

Why? Results!  #OYES19!

• 78% of consumers own branded drinkware, which includes 84% of boomers. 

• 71% of Gen X'ers have a more favorable opinion of advertisers using drinkware and the average consumer keeps drinkware at least 12 months or longer! 

• Offering an average of 1,400 impressions over the lifetime of use on a $7.00 mug, that's only 1/2 cent per impression!  

 However my favorite reason to suggest drinkware goes beyond the practical and universal appeal- it's all about the decoration!

• Unique Decoration- YES! 
• Wrap Imprints- often tumblers and mugs can be rolled through the machine used for decoration offering clients with a lot of content to share more imprint area. We advise clients not crowd the imprint area with too much information; a quick read is important. 
• Wrap imprints allow content to be different on each side
• Wrap imprints allow more than one logo to work on an item
• Wrap imprints share messages and tips to recipients such as safety for consumers, compliance for employees or location to find you. 
• Even wrap accessories count.

Increasing the reach of your message is what effective branding is all about; drinkware is not only consistently a consumer top 5 requested item-it's one of favorite branding items too. Share your favorite drinkware promotion you've done with us as your partner, use #OYES19 with your image post to be entered to win our grand prize on November 7th. Follow your monthly newsletter for details on how to win and event information.

Source- Drinkware Statistical Data - ASI' 2019 Impressions Study

Are You Pumpkin Crazy?!

Does this time of year get you excited about pumpkin flavors and purchasing fall-harvest products?

Connecting your brand to your consumer base or reward the team at work with flavored lip balm. A zero calorie way to treat someone special to you! We can design something unique to you or use stock graphics ready to drop in your logo.

 If families or kids are your target market, show your fun side and offer pumpkin spinners. If you have a business that offers fun for the family- this time of product ties in well to a brand message of re-occurring fun!

Consider holding a special event this fall. Use a prize wheel featuring reflective bags or blinking lights to encourage both safety and fun during Trick or Treating!

Use a pumpkin scoop to connect on social media or drive traffic to your website. Distribute scoops at your booth to festival attendees, customers when they visit your location or get out of the office and drop some scoops off at businesses that support you. Encourage recipients to share their favorite recipes made from pumpkin and of course tag your business!

For a business, the lip balms, spinners, bags, lights and scoops will add more value and longevity to your brand than handing out candy! Brand smart- #OYES19!

8 Reasons To Consider Shareable Food Gifts

Food gifts are an easy way to acknowledge a crowd- a little something for everyone. Shareable food gifts make life easy for employees tasked with gifting. Shareable food gifts, create smiles and engagement; employees get social!

Rather than scouring the local  retail store or spending hours on the internet trying to find the right gifts, let us help you design the perfect food distribution. Be unforgettable this year- connect with the universal appeal of food. Beyond the sensory touch, taste and smells that will be associated with your brand; there are 8 more compelling reasons to consider food gifts:


Personalized- Many food gifts bear the name of a company line, our partners promote your brand, not theirs- your logo up front and center stage. Yes, we will build customized gifts to meet your taste, promotion or budget.

Value driven pricing- top quality direct from the factory rather than sitting on retail shelves!

Fresh-Our gifts are packed-to-order just before the order is shipped, NOT made up many months in advance like so many gifts from the mail-order and retail giants.

Quality- Our gifts are jam-packed full of the finest premium chocolates, fresh-roasted nuts and other gourmet treats rather than filled with fluff and inexpensive fillers- making these gifts scrumptious, mouth- watering and memorable to recipients. 

Convenience! We can arrange for shipment to you, or directly to each recipient. We will even enclose your greeting or business card or add a tangible reminder of your brand as a kit.

Turn Key- Order early for discounts, have your order ship on your desired date weeks or months later. 


Security- Don't worry, offers or future solicitations to your client list; your client's are safe and secure no selling or sharing your list with retailers.

No risk .-trust us! All gifts come with a 100% Money' Back Guarantee

Ask us to design a package for your brand! Take a look at a few options here.

How Much Do You Know About Earth Friendly Options?- Get the 101

Our partner at PCNA has introduced a completely new line of products to address the growing desire of our consumers for products that care about the environment.

Let's start with the 101- a basic crash course in what you need to know:

From wheat straw to recycled PET, here's the scoop on the amazing stuff that makes up our EcoSmart® products.
The feedback has been loud and clear – interest in eco-friendly products has never been greater. This demand is coming from a changing culture where plastic waste reduction is celebrated and laws banning single-use plastics are popping up all over the U.S. and Canada. Through EcoSmart®, PCNA has introduced the industry's best selection of products made from recycled materials, as well as products that are reusable alternatives to items normally thrown away after one use.

Not all recycled materials are the same.

Each one has an interesting story about how it became part of an umbrella shaft or a backpack exterior. Here's a quick primer on the amazing materials used to create EcoSmart products:

1. Recycled PET
Polyethylene terephthalate, better known by the abbreviation PET, is the most common type of plastic used for water and soft drink bottles, food containers such as peanut butter jars and household cleaners. It's a favorite of the food and beverage industry thanks to its strength, durability and transparency. Unfortunately, these characteristics also mean that it takes about 450 years for a plastic water bottle to decompose (Popular Science).

It's not all bad news, though. PET happens to be the most recycled plastic in the world. Used PET containers are sorted, cleaned and ground down into pellets that are reintroduced into the manufacturing process that make the line of EcoSmart backpacks, umbrellas and even journals. If you're looking for a retail brand in the Eco-friendly game, partnering with Parkland offers their on-trend collection of backpacks, totes, duffel bags and pouches - all made with 100% recycled water bottles.


2. Bamboo
Bamboo is another key EcoSmart material.  Our partner has used bamboo for everything from lunch boxes to cutlery to photo frames. Besides being 100% biodegradable, bamboo is highly renewable. Incredibly, it grows several feet in 24 hours and requires 30% less water to grow.

3. Wheat Straw

After wheat grains are harvested to make all your favorite baked goods, what becomes of the rigid stalk that's left over? Believe it or not, it ends up in some of our EcoSmart products. Wheat straw is durable enough to become the barrel of a pen or even a lunch box. There is no need to worry about allergies since there is no wheat grain in these products, they are totally gluten-free.

4. Recycled Cotton

According to the Council for Textile Recycling, annual textile waste is estimated to equal 25 billion pounds. Once in landfills, all that material can take hundreds of years to decompose. Fortunately, the leftover cuttings from apparel and textile factories can be recycled and used to make products like tote bags and notebooks. Producing a cotton tote using existing materials that would otherwise be thrown away; is a big step toward reducing CO2 and fossil fuel emissions.

 Ready to layer these types of products into your brand message?

Life Happens In Full Color- Capture Your Brand

Unless you happen to run across the 1998 movie Pleasantville on TV late one night, you know life happens in full color; no shock and awe. Branding travels throughout your daily routine and can literally be wrapped up in your life. What am I talking about? Textiles!

• Business that offer comfort in the home or the comfort of home ownership should consider blankets or pillows as gifts for clients using their services
• Is fitness important to you, clients or part of your business?  Towels make a great gift. 
• Fundraising need a new twist?  Images of the team in full color make great gifts!
• Spas or travel destinations should consider plush robes and slippers
• Scarves and beanies are a fun way to add some color with your brand. Enhance your gift by including a card or special packaging. Use these gifts to acknowledge and reward referral partners or employees. After-all, who does not like to be wrapped up in luxury? 
• Insert some hot coco packets, mugs, trail mix and perhaps a snowman decoration kit and well, you have a nice presentation! 
• Ready to start planning? Sneak a peak at some of the newest awesome full color ideas we have to offer your brand here.  

Recently we designed a towel for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The Apex Police Department has been holding Day Behind Handle Bars for several years; and Promotional Partners helps support this annual event. The ride is a cool way to raise both funds and awareness. Riders receive a pretty awesome towel to keep!

Ready to get your brand living life in full color? 
                               #OYES19 branding works- share your success stories.

Women Pioneers - Cheers!

Did you notice no blog posts last week?

Keith and I were in Nashville Tennessee!

As a business owner and a woman it was interesting to hear stories of women blazing trails as producers, featured artist's and sought after musician's; as well as bold entrepreneurs. Our oldest son took us on a distillery tour to Nelson's Green Brier Distillery.   Besides great whiskey, hearing the story of this family's journey from past to present was inspiring.

A mom turned business women, Louisa; was running a successful distillery in 1891. 

"Many know the story of our great-great-great grandfather, Charles Nelson. Charles was the pioneering founder of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery and the leading producer of Tennessee Whiskey in America in the late 1800s. However, few know about his devoted and hard-working wife, Louisa, who assumed control of the family business after his death in 1891. Unfortunately, prohibition forced her to close the doors of the distillery in 1909. At the time, she was one of the only women ever to have run a commercial distillery. In addition to being a powerful business owner, Louisa Nelson displayed enlightened leadership that benefited the entire community. Today, her foundation and business model remain a driving force in our own practices." - Charlie Nelson

It's often been said that one never knows what they are capable of achieving till they are forced to choose what they can accomplish. Despite achieving success in Tennessee, prohibition forced Louisa to nearby Kentucky to sell the remaining whiskey they'd produced. There were two stories during our tour that struck a cord with me. One being that Louisa had the foresight to patent labels. The second being that Louisa crossing state lines taking with her 1,000 employees.

A business does not run without a great crew.

While we were away, our team hit a benchmark moment- hitting a PO number that when we started in 2007 seemed a large goal.  Earlier this month we shared press regarding women in business. Did you know that today is National Women in Business Day?

Cheers, to women in business!

What's Trending For Fall?

Next week we will be attending one of our regional shows to review what new in the marketplace. 

What have we seen so far? 

• The integration of tech into clothing, bags or putting a fresh twist on classics such as water bottles with lights or speakers, pad folios with build in charging stations
• Wearable items that are retail inspired- lot of name brands, as well as VERY similar inspired copies that deliver on quality. A couple key notes:
  
  • Snapshot of popular brands, including The North Face
  • Head turning decoration options, value basics to quality brand names.
• Cause branding- the ability to offer additional value while making an impact greater than your brand. Many lines are offering opportunities GIVE BACK to organizations dedicated to change::
  • • Patriot brand for veterans
    • The Environment
    • Clean Water
    • Heart Related Charities
    • Education
• Desk items seem to be going in several directions
  • Fun- adding something quirky to your brand selections offer a playful side
  • Luxurious- retail brands are taking center stage
  • Even package shareables for the entire staff; packaged in a desk piece to use later.
• Travel items and leisure- meeting life where it happens. Tangible branding is most effective when it’s part of your ideal consumers life; make the most of it!
  • TSA friendly items to breeze through security
  • Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate items for camping, hiking, diving, fishing or climbing
  • Mobile office items make it easier than ever to work and play all in one day
• Packaging- gone are the days of only having a clear poly bag or cardboard box. While those types of packages are still standard; it’s the non-standards that are getting noticed and adding value.
  • Tear away full color plastic packaging, paper sleeves wrapped around the mid section of a box or journal offer print rich areas to include a call to action, thank you or inspirational message. 
  • Use packaging to be clever with a reminder of new events, products or service.

Ask us to share some of our favorite e- catalogs and follow our post next week for new ideas to build your brand.

The Power of Popular Retail Brands

Give your gift that little something extra- after-all, gifting is all about THE EXTRA.

Our friends at PCNA shared some popular new product ideas and insights on the appeal of brands.

In a recent article discussing the power of retail brands, Rob Wengel, senior vice president of global data analytics firm Nielsen, explained, "Brands can signify quality and inspire confidence." As we head into prime gift season, everyone's searching for products that represent their companies in the best way possible.
Going with a gift from a well-known, well-respected retail brand is an easy way to add a little something extra and associate your organization with all the positive attributes that come with that brand.

 Retail brands add value to gifts. 

What are the factors that make retail brands successful in the promotional products market?

Here are our top three reasons:

1. Perceived Value
When you choose a Carhartt® duffel as an annual appreciation gift for your team, you're getting more than just a well-built bag. Since the brand has a legendary reputation for quality and toughness, you're getting a bag that employees will value more because of the brand's stellar reputation.  It's the best of both worlds - they'll love the gift and you'll deliver the message of appreciation.

 Carhartt Duffel

2. Save Time

If you're looking at water bottles to give customers as an annual thank you gift, you know the options are going to be overwhelming. Going with one from an established brand like CamelBak, immediately narrows down your search, saves you time and reduces the risk that you'll end up with a sub-par bottle.

Shop: CamelBak Eddy®+ 25oz

3. Peace of Mind

Giving a holiday gift to the financial backers who support your non-profit or university? The last thing you want is a phone call that the sweatshirts or jackets you gave top donors are falling apart. Eliminate the worry and headaches and give away superior apparel from an established retail brand like Roots73 with a legacy of quality construction and premium materials.

Shop: Root73

The Bottom Line
Going with a retail brand saves you time and helps you avoid some potential pitfalls, makes a big impression and shows appreciation.

Shop Brands

What's Stuck In your Head?

Have you caught yourself humming or singing a jingle to a company? Is a jingle the first thing that comes to mind when you hear a company mentioned? Well you’re not alone, 60% of consumers say that music used in marketing is more memorable than visuals.

Sonic logos are generally audio cues that accompany the brand’s logo. These cues can be a jingle or even just a simple sound – think Metro-Goldwyn Mayer’s lion roar at the beginning of a movie or Intel’s “bong.”

It’s no surprise that sonic logos are growing in popularity. With an ever-growing marketplace that is already crowded, a well-developed sonic logo is a great way to set you apart from competitors. Especially considering that over 100 million devices with Alexa have been sold (not to mention all the Google Home devices) which cutout the ability to capture the attention using visuals and audio sounds are the next logical step to cut through the clutter. Sound acts as that connector between the physical space and digital space created by your brand. It contributes to your identity and helps develop favorable preference, building of trust, and ultimately increases sales – if done correctly. 

So just how do you develop this unique sonic logo? Check out these ideas:

•       Be Original

Develop something catchy and unique, don’t blend in with the crowd or create a sound similar to another brand’s. Dealing with audio can be tricky, there are copyright/trademark laws to be aware of, if it sounds familiar keep making edits. You will spend more time but potentially save money in the long run. 

•         Take a Brand Inventory

Chances are you’ve thought about how you want to position your brand in the world. When you are thinking of what you want your sonic logo to be, consider what you want people to think of when they think of your brand. Who are you trying to target? What is your brand about? These are important questions to answer to successfully create a sonic logo that resonates and represents. 

•         Look for Auditory Clues

Do you already use audio clips in podcasts, videos, presentations, etc.? Maybe there is an existing commonality in sound to use as a jumping off point. You never know what content already created can serve as new inspiration! 

•          Partner with Professionals

When in doubt, turn to the professionals. Whether they’re a marketing firm that offers sonic/audio branding services or a company that solely focuses on sonic/audio they know what they’re doing.  Whichever direction you turn, make sure that you click as a group and that they ‘get’ you as a brand and understand your vision. Things to share with the professional of your choice are your mission statement, customer persona, short- and long-term goals, and current marketing/branding initiatives. Finally, don’t settle for something that is 100% representative of your brand.

Fun Fact- Did you know the first year we were in business we had a big sound button made with a signature sound as part of our marketing plan? 

At Promotional Partners we are always interested in ways to make your brand stand out from your competitors. We have several partners that offer unique ways to capture audio into your marketing efforts- check out this link.  What other advertising medium offers you so many sensory engagements at once?

Complied by Promotional Partners Team Member- Arien Harris

Source- ASI- Advertising Specialty Institute Counselor Magazine - May 2019 author- Christoper Ruvo

An Eye for Business

The EYES have it; yes; bad pun...but you know I like my word play. Fun and practical webcam covers are that inexpensive promotion you've been seeking to connect with your target markets.

How?

• A PTA might give them out to new families and remind them to WATCH the website for upcoming events. 

• A municipality might give them out with an open house to introduce residents to new town programs. 

• Is your privacy safe? Know who's watching- we are looking out for you! Tech companies and law enforcement can use this type of product for brand messaging.

• Smile and the world smiles with you- there are plenty of professional industries that rely on brilliant smiles. 
• Decorators, graphic artists and web designers have an eye for pulling together the right amount of color, pattern and imagery to create a cohesive project.  If your business has a positive impact on another, like business coach that re focuses your assets, a hair stylist that uplifts your spirits with a new look or an insurance agent that is happy you continue to renew your policy each year - a smile goes a long way. 

Image the smiles acquired with a fun pen, a practical gift, high impressions and longevity of consumer engagement. Consider these upcoming dates for your brand:

October's Emergency Nurses Week- 6-12
Fire Prevention Week October 6-12
National Healthcare Food Service Week October 7-13

Have a little more fun with your branding! FOLLOW our lead- follow us on our social media and SHARE your favorite promotional campaigns from this year using #OYES19!