How Does Packaging Enhance Your Message?

Perfect Packaging

“Packaging can be theater; it can create a story.” –Steve Jobs

Part of what makes a product great is how it’s presented, and in this case, how it’s packaged. Have you ever made a purchase decision primarily based on how the packaging looked? Yep, we have too. While your customers will be giving away personal care items (rather than selling them) to strengthen their brand, the same concept applies: People get more excited about an attractively presented item than one that is presented in a mediocre way.

Another point of consideration is the first impression. If you’re wondering why first impressions are so important, it’s because they stick — even if certain information challenges them later on. A fantastic first impression also raises expectations for the product inside and in turn enhances how the recipient perceives the product, resulting in a more positive user experience.

Why all this talk about packaging? We’re excited to offer new packaging options for 2018! One of them is the Zippered Pouch, a clear bag that allows you to put any combination of products together. Because you get to pick that combination, it’s ideal for special events, monthly promotions, focused initiatives, and more. The item features a business card slot, which offers a place to put a coupon or business card, as well as the option to custom imprint the outside of the bag itself.


We’ve also added the Lip Balm Blister Card, which holds and displays a single lip balm tube. This product offers a professional appearance thanks to its retail look, and it also shows off a custom, full-color design for the backer card. The latter is perfect for matching the label of the lip balm it holds! For more details about either of these new packaging options, give us a call and we’d be happy to provide them.
Are you imagining the possibilities for your upcoming promotions by incorporating these additions? We hope they make your customers’ brands stand out even more, differentiating them from the competition.


Besides the package, personal care products easily touch on the 5 senses, offering a pleasant aroma to connect to the consumer, print rich images in full color for the eye, interaction with the hand, a creamy texture that feels good ( just yesterday a client said, "I love how your lip balm feels; so much nicer than other brands") and finally- taste, a tough one to showcase in a promotional item but a strong memory hook. Skeptical? I've been carrying chocolate mint in my purse all winter- it makes me think of Girl Scout cookies with ZERO calories!

 


Source: These ideas and more from our friends at The Lip Balm Company!

What the Heck Does Performance Fabric Actually Mean?

 Hieroglyphics? Maybe! After all, the Egyptians were supposed to be forward thinking. When I was in the 3rd grade we watched video about the 21st century. It was like a scene from the Jetson's, we all thought our plates would mold for dinner and instantly a meal would appear. While we did get the microwave and we have robotic dogs as toys, the 21st century did not deliver! 

I don't know about you, but many of these terms for apparel can be quite confusing. How does a fabric become labeled performance? How does it actually perform? The symbols shown are actually to help us navigate the apparel's performance, hieroglyphics if you will to help us determine what will match our needs.

Our team member Sara has put together a handy list to help you decipher the codes:
 
Moisture Wicking

If you want to have the best performing apparel, you will want to consider fabrics with moisture wicking technology. You don’t want a product that has a ‘finish’ on the outside of the fabric, this will eventually wear off after multiple washes. You will want a fully synthetic material, like polyesters.

Heat Retention

When considering certain fabrics for warmth, heavier fabrics aren’t always better. New technology allows for fabrics to be much lighter and yet just as warm as say wool or a polyurethane coated material. A synthetic textile holds more heat inside hollow core yarns which allows air to get trapped and warmed by body temperature.

UV Protection

If you work long hours outdoors, you know that UV protection is a must. When looking for protection from the sun, a long sleeve light colored fabric with a 50+ rating will give you the most protection. Dark colors absorb UV rays and will only make you overheat, although, they offer greater protection against sunburns.

Insect Protection

For this type of fabric, you want to look out for products that are EPA regulated and are 100 percent effective. An example would be Insect Shield®. It binds a proprietary permethrin formula tightly to fabric fibers—resulting in effective, odorless insect protection that lasts the expected lifetime of apparel. This type of technology works best for clients who work outside daily.

Antimicrobial

Antimicrobial fabrics and textiles are fiber-based materials to which antimicrobial agents have been applied at the surface, or incorporated into the fibers, making a no-stink product. Polyester fabrics with an antimicrobial agent are very popular and cost effective. Some fibers like merino wool have naturally occurring antimicrobial agents. Merino wool is not the typical wool you think of that is itchy and thick. It is considerably soft, has small, smooth fibers and is wearable year-round.

*Source taken from PPAI Media/PPB Magazine October 2017

Penny For Your Toughts?

Today is National Penny Day and I admit - I have a thing for the penny! The bright copper color on a new one is wonderful, the thrill I had as a kid counting my pennies never got old nor did searching for coins with additional value-
 
In fact, I'm even one to stop to pick up a penny in the parking lot, it is after all money! 

Eleven years ago I entered into a business that I would never have dreamed had such a strong bond with the penny. Budget minded consumers seek every penny of savings, but often miss the mark on the hidden pennies. What's missing that might cost more?

1. Shipping costs
2. Set up for decoration methods
3. Quality of item for long term use
4. Relevance to client
5. Ease & cost of distribution

Beyond the actual product many other factors can influence the choice on price- we advise our clients when planning to consider all the options. 

For example, in a meeting today, we were discussing fundraising on a budget with lower quantities.  The event needs drinkware for attendees- wine and beer. Do they go with plastic, acrylic or hard plastic or glass?

1. Glass costs more to ship, but offers more exciting options for sponsorship investment with full color; including side walls and the base increasing your opportunities. 
2. Most glassware offers a full wrap imprint, so basic disposables and glass usually can have a different imprint on both sides, some offer full color options attractive to generous sponsors. 
3. Commemorative or functional- it depends on the attendee and your budget. 
4. Do you have items that need to be shipped, carried or hand distributed, that can impact your choice. 

No matter the promotion, penny wise, promotional branding adds up- less than a half a penny can buy you BANK on advertising- check out these stat's!

What's your favorite penny wise promotion?

Out of This World Service?

Is your service, product or group "out of this world?"-

Today is national umbrella day. As I listen to the rain hit the windows, I am reminded that a well constructed umbrella will last a very long time, be useful throughout it's life and can be given to anyone. Everyone in every industry can use an umbrella. In fact, most folks keep a useful promotional item for over a year!

If you think an umbrella is a boring promotion, you have not seen how cool an umbrella can be designed- these images are out of this world! 

With a stunning full-color digital images featured on the upper canopy wind vent, this extra-large 58" arc umbrella takes you anywhere you want to go!

What's your favorite?

Why Do Showroom Shirts Offer the Perfect Fit?

 While I enjoy flipping pages in a magazine, when it comes to selecting apparel, I gotta touch it. How does it feel, the texture? The fabric content? The color? No zoom feature on a website or a feature to select a model in my size, 360 view is well...gonna be me! That's why our showroom has real clothes from our lines, carefully selected by our team to represent the types of apparel you ask to see.


Just in the showroom- some new apparel pieces from the Trimark collection. 

Some ladies shirts that real women will want to wear!  

Keith's favorite line- Vantage has added some really sharp looking pieces from the Greg Norman Collection and 

When selecting apparel we ask a lot of questions. Why?

We want to help guide you to selections that work for the purpose and the people. Let's face it, we are not a one size fits all society. Assuming that the polo shirt you like will work for all the body types in your company is usually where the issue starts. The decision maker often has trouble keeping in mind everyone else- are they taller, shorter, wider, thinner, busty, hippy- do they even want to wear a polo shirt?

Corporate consistency is brand recognition right?  Yes and no. You might have a brand color that folks associate with your company, but think for a moment about your core values and company proposition to consumers. Employees convey a similar message for consistency, but everyone has a slightly different delivery. Shopping for apparel is much the same way.

1. Who is going to wear this piece and why? 

Understanding the frequency of use and the environment of the person wearing the shirt will help to determine the right type of fabric content. 


2. What do you want the overall look of the apparel to convey?

Apparel is constructed differently for a reason- you know....fashion statements and apparent. Does your company want a more polished classic look, trendy, edgy, fun- what's the statement? Apparel choices and how they are decorated can help to convey your message long before an employee even says a word. After all, don't we make impressions based on appearance every day?

3. Brand names- do they add value? Are they worth the additional cost? For the same reasons that we make impressions about someone based on their wardrobe; brand names are associated with prestige, success and aligned with brands for instance that offer a lifestyle to the person wearing them- such as The North Face.....a brand name can have powerful results.


 4. While brand names might be nice, they also have a higher price tag. Often those higher prices exceed budgets. Often there are more budget minded offerings with very similar types of fabrics and styling.

Consistently our clients say access to showroom samples is a plus. Our 2018 survey yielded that

67% of our clients who responded appreciate our showroom access! 

Set up a time today to come in or ask us to pack up and come see you- we set up on site meetings for your departments all the time! 

How To Get People To Wear Your Branded Apparel

Of course we can provide you a left chest logo- but how can we make your brand take center stage. Offering you our partners that can enhance your brand with mixed media decoration processes and wow factor techniques. Think beyond traditional left chest embroidery. Go for new locations and new ways to sharing your message. Think of apparel like a canvas- have some fun.  

What will be the result? Apparel people want to wear not have to wear! That my friends is how you get people to wear your apparel, provide them something beyond traditional branding.

 Check out these 7 spring trends from our PCNA partner- Trimark-

1- Metallic and shiny features such as studs and sequins were stealing the show on the runways this season. Capture this season’s hottest trend with reflective and metallic transfers in gold and silver and metallic embroidery. But if you really want to steal the spotlight, HXD offers no limits on color so you can give any color of the rainbow a dramatic metallic treatment.

2- Paint splattered clothing and graffiti-inspired looks continue to rock the runway. If you are feeling inspired with these artsy looks, we can easily replicate this vibe with true edge and infusion. For more subtle take on the trend, try a laser knock out!

3. Reinforce your brand by creating a pattern with your logo. This look will translate well, especially if you choose a piece with a distinct panel, where it gets a distinctly custom look.

4. From pop culture imagery to nature photography, prints are definitely hot right now. We have a great line of apparel that was created specifically for our Infusion decoration. Our Photograffixx transfer is also ready to produce photo perfect looks.

 5. Dig into the archives for your retro logos, because what was old is new again. If you want to reinforce a vintage feel, we can add a distress filter on it.

6. Contrast top stitching everywhere! This is easily achieved with embroidery. If bigger is better to you, try using a bean stitch on a outline logo. We can easily emulate this trend with true edge for a faux stitching look.

7. If you are inspired by the patchwork and quilting trend seen this spring, let’s mix and not match patterns because symmetry is so last year. 

We can create different patterns with just one set up. 
                 Did the zipper to get in the way of your full front logo? 
                         Now use that split as a main feature!
 
Ready for more inspiration? 

Visit our decoration page to see all ways that we can bring your brand apparel to life.

 What's your favorite trend?