May Awareness Dates

• Date Your Mate Month 
• Foster Care Month 
• National Barbecue Month 
•  National Bike Month 
•  National Blood Pressure Month 
•  National Hamburger Month 
•  National Photograph Month 
•  National Recommitment Month 
•  National Salad Month 
•  Older Americans Month
•  ALS Awareness Month
• Arthritis Month

• Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

• Better hearing and Speech Month

• Better Sleep Month

• Celiac Awareness Month

• Correct Posture Month

• Hepatitis Awareness Month

• Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month

• Lyme Disease Month

• National Cancer Research Month

• National High Blood Pressure Education Month

• National Lupus Awareness Month

• National Melanoma Skin Cancer Awareness Month

• National Mental Health Month

• National Neurofibromatosis Month

• National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month

• National Stroke Awareness Month

• Brain Tumor Action Week

• Melanoma Monday- May 4, 2015

• World Asthma Day

• World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

• World Lupus Day

• Worldwide No Tobacco Day May 31- 2015

 Weekly Celebrations:

• Nurse's Week - first week of month
• Wildflower Week - week two
• National Bike Week - third week
• National Police Week - third week of month
• Emergency Medical Services Week - fourth week of month

Developing a Successful Campaign

Council Woman Dozier has been promoting benefits of local purchasing since getting on the Apex Town council back in 2013. The “Think Apex” initiative was suggested by Council Woman Dozier as a way to promote Apex businesses by make residents aware of the local choices in their own community for goods and services. By bringing together a collective source of information she believes local relationships become stronger.  

Molding this concept into a successful campaign required strategic decisions to fulfill short term and long term goals. The initial introduction of the concept was made at a “grassroots” level of engagement. This occurred at the annual Peakfest event in May, which attracts over 30,000 attendees each year. 

Magnets and decals were selected for their effectiveness in mass distribution. The cost per item is low and providing a low cost per impression for a product with proven longevity for use. By utilizing products with sustainable impressions awareness, curiosity and interest in the program are yielded and will effect change.    

During the Peakfest, our company encouraged Dozier to display an interactive banner which prompted the question, “What Does Apex Mean to You?” Attendees shared messages and words that summarized their thoughts about Apex. Her interaction with attendees combined with visual cues will generate a call to action guiding visitors to the new website www.thinkapex.biz created by the town of Apex.   

Are you launching a new product or service? Is your organization introducing an annual event? 

Before beginning campaign things to consider should include:

1. Define your budget
2. Establish the intent of your campaign, short term and long term goals.
3. Define your target audience
4. Define your reach of your message
5. Consider how you will penetrate that market effectively by developing a marketing plan
6. Establish a long term team for brand management if your campaign is for more than to promote an event, new product or service.
7. Create a logo to promote your brand- graphics professionals like our company will be able to design a logo that is print ready in any format.
8. Consistency of your branded materials and message is critical, considering the scope of the reach of your campaign you may need:
1. Developing a brand guide if it’s a large initiative to educate promoters or users of your brand.
2. Assembling a brand management team to oversea distributions for re-selling branded materials.
9. Consider where to use images to replace words when telling stories in print or on line content.
10. Cross promote your “story” between media outlets- with press releases, blogs, social media postings, education forums and direct mail pieces.

To learn more about Dozier’s vision for this project visit our press tab- http://www.promotionalpartnersinc.com/press

There’s A Worm in the Apple

by Blake Scott

Apple…What is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear that word? Prior to about the year 2000, pretty much every person would respond with fruit or some variation of a food products. In the year 2015, is that actually what you think of now? Or is Apple, the powerhouse technology company mostly likely to come to mind as well as be in your possession.

Apple has grown to be one of the most popular and recognizable brands in the mobile technology industry. The brand however comes a premium cost associated with its products. This higher cost on product accessories such as chargers and connectors has lead to a large inventory of "knockoffs" in circulation.

Many promotional product suppliers began selling 8 pin and 30 pin connectors that were not certified by Apple to distributors over the past few years. There were complaints coming from users of these non certified connectors that these aftermarket chargers were damaging their devices. Additionally Apple was losing out on profits, causing them to react. 

Apple began to send out cease-and-desist letters in 2014 to promotional product suppliers stating that compatible connector that were not using the certified pin were in violation of Apple’s intellectual property. Most companies were compliant with this request from Apple, even though the letter carried no actual legal liability. As a promotional distributor who chooses to partner with companies that maintain the highest levels of safety and technology certifications, we were compliant. Our suppliers were pulling this product from their shelves in late November 2014 and we were advising you of the changes, letting our clients know that Apple certified pin products would most likely roll out in early 2015. 

Looking for products with the Apple pins-we have them from a trusted source.

http://www.primeline.com/Products/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=4P

April Dates- Connecting For Fun

Looking for some ways to connect with your clients or employees in April using social media or fun wacky office days for building camaraderie? 

These are national monthly dates:

• National Humor Month
• International Guitar Month
• Keep America Beautiful Month
• Lawn and Garden Month
• National Poetry Month
• National Pecan Month
• National Welding Month
• Records and Information Management Month
• Stress Awareness Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month

These are weekly celebrations:

• Week 1 Library Week
• Week 1 Read a Road Map Week.
• Week 2 Garden Week
• Week 3 Organize Your Files Week
• Week 3 Medical Labs Week
• Week 4 Administrative Assistants Week
• Week 4 National Karaoke Week

April dates you might consider:
April 1- It’s April Fool’s Day so of course it’s also International Fun At Work Day and International Tattling Day!
April 2- Children’s Book Day and P&J sandwich day, why not multi-task?
April 3- Don’t Go To Work Unless It’s Fun Day and Walk To Work Day- hum??
April 4 Hug a Newsman Day, School Librarian Day and Tell a Lie Day – you pick
April 7 Caramel Popcorn and No Housework Day- perhaps buy one of your best clients a free home cleaning!
April 10- Golfer’s Day and National Siblings Day
April 11- Eight Track Tape Day- that could be really fun at the office with millennial age co workers
April 16^th National Stress Awareness Day- massages for the office?
April 18 International Juggler’s Day, this could apply to multi tasking office workers or host a fun contest over lunch
April 20^th Look Alike Day- who do you look like, besides yourself of course?  It’s also Volunteer Recognition Day
April 22 Administrative Professionals Day and National Jelly Bean Day
April 23 Take Your Daughter to Work Day
April 27 Tell a Story Day
April 30- Hairstyle Appreciation Day- Go retro and share all those old styles or when you had hair photos!  

Is Your Booth Attracting Business?

"Clothes make the man" "Dress for success" - ever heard those phrases?

Think closer to home; if you were headed on a night on the town hoping to meet "Mr. Right or Miss Right", wouldn't you want to put on the outfit that you thought would attract your target audience? Wouldn't you wear something that made you look good?

Recently on face book we posted that "when you don't look good, we don't look good and it hurts". Why?  

It's so easy with the abundance of choice for displays and signage to find the right pieces to cross any forum and to stay within your budget. The advances in digital image reproduction have created print rich images that will tell your brand story, drawing in the viewer with strong graphics. An engaging booth demands attention, the desire to learn more from a polished appearance creates opportunity to share your message. Display pieces continue to make advancements to hardware the set up and break down of these pieces has never been quicker or easier.

If you idea of "show ready" is a table cover, brochure and a promotional give away we need to talk!

• Adding table top retractable or games provides interaction between you and your target audience.
• Add unique branded pieces such as coolers or to house tech pieces with videos about your product or services.
• Displaying literature about your company at eye level captures attention from attendees with literature stands.
• Branding your booth colors as well as your own representatives helps to "own the space" conveying organization and purpose to the viewer; a reflection of your company's overall message to someone that is deciding if you deserve a "second glance".

One of our most popular display groups is featured on the left of our home page under displays- http://www.showdowndisplays.com/

  

Everything you need for displays all on one site!  

 

Display Printing Terms:

FULL-COLOR THERMAL Thermal Imprinting uses the application of heat and pressure to transfer digital graphics to the surface of the fabric. This creates a visually bold image that is strong and durable.

Products: Table Throws, Runners, Directors Chairs, Tents, Event Chairs, and Stadium Seats.

FULL-COLOR INKJET Digital Inkjet printing is a method of printing from a digital based image directly to a variety of medias.

Products: Floor & Table Top Displays, Retractors, Banner Stands, Coolers, Prize Drop Game, Sign Displays, Light Boxes, and Vinyl Banners.

FULL-COLOR DYE-SUBLIMATION INKJET Dye Sublimation is a printing process that uses heat to transfer ink to white fabric, allowing for full-color graphics to permeate the fabric and become part of the fibers.
* machine wash but do not dry clean

Products: Table Throws, Tents, Retractors, Fabric Banners & Flags, Sail Signs, and Brilliant Boards

   

Fashion Show and Networking- Don't Miss Out!

Mark your calendars now and RSVP for our first fashion show, yes fashion show! As part of our fourth annual national celebration of Promotional Products WORK Week and our company's May anniversary month.

Where: Halle Cultural Arts Center

237 N. Salem Street

Apex, NC

I'll send you a map after you register- large white two story building has you enter downtown area from HWY 64- plenty of parking in the back  

   

When: Friday May 22, 2015

2:30-4:00

Show starts at 3:00

Who: local business models, regular folks like you and me; you might even see a face you know!

Why? Facts for how to grow your business with how to properly apply apparel branding. Networking before and after the show with other business professionals and of course for some Friday Fun!

Apparel provides you the most flexibility of all branded pieces, purchase as few as one and select the type of product your recipient will use the most.

RSVP to Olivia.Scott@promotionalpartnersinc.com with the number of attendees and names from your company or organization.

Before you rule out a need for branded promotional apparel consider this, according to the 2014 ASI Impressions Study:

48% of Americans own at least one logo tee shirt

52% of men wear a branded shirt regularly

57% of recipients of a branded wearable feel better about the advertiser

88% of recipients could recall the advertiser who gave them a shirt or cap

42% of U.S. consumers keep attractive promotional hats

Outer wear- jackets had the highest perceived value and were kept on average 16 months!

The average number of impressions each product receives was derived from multiplying how long a recipient has the product to how many people they come in contact with each month while using it.

What are the top five products that deliver the most impressions?

1. Bags- at 5,772 impressions
2. Caps- at 3,136 impressions
3. Writing Instruments- at 2,805 impressions
4. Outerwear- at 2,650 impressions
5. Shirts- at 2.450 impressions

Can't wait till May? Do you want to preview some of the newest spring styles? Click this link to see a mini on line magazine- http://www.zoomcats.com/catalog/newarrives2015

 Love statistics and want to know how this research was conducted? Ask we will send you the complete survey.

Are You Planting Messages For Growth?

If April showers bring May flowers, what do you intend to see reaped from what you've sown this year to date? Let me ask this another way:

• What is the biggest challenge you face in promoting your business right now?
• Where do you need to see some quick improvements in your business?

Promotional products applied properly tell your story. Your message is conveyed in the product and the product provides long term interaction creating the recall to grow business. Everything about your business has to be a call to action, the words you use in your print material and your website should repeat the story in the products you select for interaction. Promotional advertising WORKS because the recipient keeps and interacts with your branding building visual identity. The words you use in your print content build on story that was started through the promotional piece that was selected to fit your target audience's needs or focus.

Promotional branding is not a one size fits all; using one $0.50 pen for acquisition and lead generation from a trade show should not be the same product you use to retain the focus of your best clients.

Make sure each time we collaborate; you convey your current goals to keep "blossoming"!

 This year all of our weekly specials our annual April Showers can only be found on face book- follow us!!