What’s new for golf shirts?

1. Stripes!




2. Color-Kelly green, purple, yellow, orange



3. Cotton- while performance/moisture management products remain popular for their wicking effect. Many golfers prefer the feel of cotton on their skin. Bamboo is a nice choice to satisfy both, considering that bamboo is a sustainable product, naturally wicking and anti fungal as well as soft like cotton.



4. SPF in fabrics



5. Wearing designs worn by the pros



6. Lightweight fabrics and open sleeves for broader range of motion

Nike Apparel Video

Golf

What is the one item a golfer needs the most? Most golfer’s think of a ball, but purchasing golf balls for a tournament can create challenges as many golfers are loyal to their brand. Consider asking at registration what brand ball they prefer to golf with or suggest some styles to select from so that your title sponsor will make a purchase that most golfers will prefer.




So what can I offer with confidence that will be used frequently? Tees, ball markers, divot tools, lip balm, hand sanitizers, ball cleaners and sunscreen are also very necessary and a great way to brand at a low cost to each attendee. Enhance the value and overall presentation of your brand by kitting smaller items inside a water bottle, cooler or ditty bags.



Golf towels with the golfer or company name on them are a great way to set up a presentation as golfers arrive to pick up their packets. Perhaps even a way to up sell your larger sponsor package; “been there done this approach” are your towels color coded by years of participation in the event? There is always a way to add on going value and appreciation to proven products.



Looking for something with a huge imprint area, but not a bag? Umbrellas make a great outdoor billboard because that have a large imprint area that is easy to read. It’s also a product that can hold a bold brand and the recipient will still find it functional. If you’re seeking a low profile approach to branding umbrellas that can be logoed on the handle, the case or the medallion on the base on the handle. Whatever you decide for branding select an umbrella that is functional for the golfer; a wide arc such as 54 or 62, fiberglass shaft, rubber grip and wind venting are all features for the avid golfer.

What is the value of certification?

Having spent much of of my professional life in education, life long learning it a "core value".Beyond my own interest in promoting life long learning, think about the benefits among your co workers and employees. Anyone that is willing to take their own time to learn more, to better their understanding and approach to their industry is motivated. When you are building a team one looks at what someone will bring to the organization not just immediately, but the long term value that an individual will provide- to strengthen the organization or business. Committing to professional development and taking advantage of internal programs denotes an employee that is open to new ideas and modifying behaviors or systems for better overall performance. Individuals that seek out professional development on their own time such as certifications within their industry are conveying through their actions that they expect more from themselves, always seeking ways to better their performance.

 

PPAI, the Promotional Products Association International has a CAS and MAS program designed to provide individuals in this industry access to training across broad subjects that will directly benefit their ability to guide their clients to better choices for building their brand with ad specialty products. The CAS or Certified Advertising Specialties requires a minimum of 3 years of industry experience and 75 hours of rigorous course work on topics such as: 

 

1.      business ethics

2.      safety

3.      supplier distribution chain

4.      imprint and product options

5.      markets and programs

6.      sales and marketing processes

7.      small business issues

8.      legal issues

 

Only 5% of over 30,000 promotional consultants in PPAI are CAS certified. In the Apex area, I'm currently the only CAS certified consultant.

 

                                                                         Olivia Scott, CAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Association History

Association History

Why Community Engagment?

For me building a business has as much to do with what values and benefits you offer your clients when developing relationships as the benefit you offer your community as a result of your presence in the business community. There is a lot of buzz in the media to include community engagment as part of ones marketing campaign. The idea is to show how the company is a stakeholder in global or local community efforts that reflect their “social consensus” or define their brand.  

Growing up a home where my mom volunteered it was not unlikely that as a business owner I'd want to be involved in community projects. In fact, I've been involved in so many groups over the years that my husband jokes my volunteerism is like having an additional member of the family at any given time. Business owners are approached consistently for donations and unfortunately can not afford to fund all requests for sponsorships, donations and in kind services because, they have to stay in business. Aligning charity and non profit work with programs and organizations that have a similar underlying cause make it easier for a small business to define how and when they can give.  

For Promotional Partners, Inc. our donations of time, money and resources are related directly to our local community or in some form for kids/education. As a business owner if you are looking for a way to get involved in one particular type of need in the community local civic groups, churches and public schools are a great place to start. Many of these groups can provide you a place to start volunteering your time with an organization that has a structure in place to make it easy to participate and defined goals for maximum impact of your resources whether those be time or money.  

Time has become the currency of many small business owners as they approach how to invest thier resources into the community. At a recent rotary meeting, I commented the daily chaos and rapid pace of my industry require a different pace to provide balance. One on one interaction with individuals in programs where I volunteers help keep me grounded to what is really important in life.

 

Olivia Scott, owner Promotional Partners

 

Refresh your brand for 2013

Most of my clients know that I taught art for 18 years, K-12 and adult. Teaching in a content area that is meant to challenge ideas and generate new directions is an exciting process. Regardless of the age of the person there are those that leap in ready to try new experiences and those that conservatively move one element in a direction that for that person is “out of the box”.

 

Thursday I was part of a workshop put on by the Apex Chamber of Commerce, where PR Marketing firm Gibbs and Soell provided some of their team to re-energize our own company branding. Working off the assumption that each of us in attendance had a solid plan for marketing already, but perhaps one that has become a little stale, their team set about to provide us some fun ways to brainstorm. 

 

One of the take away tips relevant to many of my “start up” business clients would be to take a risk, ask their client base to define what values and differentiators make their company great. There is really no excuse for any business not to solicit input. Whatever method makes the owner comfortable will work; use newsletters, social media, one on one visits or fish bowls at the point of purchase, survey monkey…. any means of collecting feedback.

Often our perception of what others value in our company or relationship might surprise us. For those of you going through a re-branding or launching a new product campaign this year, you might consider asking your “fan base” what they like about you for a clear direction on what to promote as your “level of differentiation among your competition”. Take a chance, paint without a smock, stick your fingers in the glue and be a bit bold for 2013, it won’t hurt you; most things in our life really are non toxic. 

 

 

The Kitchen Is Not Just For Cooking

What's a great long life highly visible promotional item?

 

Something for the kitchen. The average American family spends 175 hours a month in their kitchen, while only 31 hours in their family room according to a study done recently by Electrolux Group. Need more proof? Look at social media, folks are always pinning and posting images of food even sharing links to recipes. Americans love their kitchens and the kitchen is a great opportunity for a promotional campaign using functional reusable items. In fact, I have several branded promotional items I acquired as much as 10-15 years ago in my kitchen; talk about long life advertising.

Who can effectively use a kitchen item for promotional advertising?

 

Many industries because themes for items that cut, measure, protect counters, store food or seal products make connections to security, protection and quantifying results. For instance, food related industries like restaurants, grocery stores and catering companies might consider utensils that make "take out" easier to prep once home or to store left over. While contractors, builders, real estate, insurance and cleaning services might brand with items like yard sticks, fly swatters, flashlights, measuring tapes, mop buckets, car wash kits or other useful materials that extend into their services and have space beyond the kitchen. Financial planners and banks can use scoops and measuring products to relate to words that imply gains, growth or that net results.

Create a fun distribution plan for your products!

 

If you’re holding an ice cream social at your business, scoop up their flavor in a take home scooper outlining the scoop on how your business can assist. Bundle useful items like grocery lists, notes to teacher, spoons and coffee measure together in a hot pad as a nice gift for a new homeowner to say “thank you” for their business. Are you part of a network of related or referral businesses? Perhaps each of you includes a branded piece together as an acknowledgment from your local network of resources.

What's your favorite kitchen item? Let's turn it into a winning promotion.