Does Experience Make A Difference?

Yesterday a new client came by the showroom to see a specific product sample they requested. Olivia made this connection at the Southwest Wake Festival a couple weeks ago. While at the expo, the prospective client asked about a specific item they wanted to purchase. Immediately Olivia knew the product and offered to send information to confirm the item. Information turned into offering a sample, which turned into an appointment. The prospect came in to see the sample, but left with numerous other ideas that were an excellent fit for her budget and staying connected to her niche market.

As the meeting wrapped up, she remarked- "you are the expert" . With that remark the relationship changed- collaboration provided an exchange of ideas and goals which offered the opportunity to gain trust as a partner. She told Olivia, "your expertise shows, you really know your stuff"- offering that she'd been introduced to someone else weeks before who sold promotional products. That connection just kept trying to show them products without listening to their needs and not matching their goals. For her, the other contact was selling promotional products, while we were a marketing partner.

Experience does come from longevity and practice but expertise comes from listening, learning and adapting. Promotional Products Advertising International, PPAI, offers a professional certification programs to the advertising specialty industry.  In 2012, our owner Olivia first earned her CAS- Certified Advertising Specialist certification. This designation has been the industry standard for 50+ years—a respected professional designation signifying professional knowledge and capability for marketing using promotional products. Certifications such as CAS are maintained through continuing education to ensure current knowledge and leading-edge professional skills.


At Promotional Partners, we see certification as an investment in you- the clients! 

We are known as a place where ideas get results, because we are able to connect with our client's marketing needs, suggesting not only products but ways to effectively use those products as part of their marketing goals. Being a professional partner requires constant training, development and professional involvement beyond a job title. We embrace those requirements at our company! Certification was a goal for Promotional Partners from day 1 because our leadership team is commitment to this industry. As we wind down our year long celebration of 10 years in the advertising specialty industry, we look forward to continuing to layer in additional services to our partners in the next 10 year's.   

We will continue to look forward to seeing what starts an an idea become a result! 

Graphic Mistakes That Can Cause Headaches & Cost Money

One of the advantages of offering graphic design services in house is the ability to assist our clients with creating cool new graphics. However, the biggest benefit is our ability to help you avoid choices that lead to common logo-branding mistakes. 

As your promotional provider, offering graphic services is a HUGE benefit! We have a deep understanding of what will and won't work for printing on the items you will order! It's not uncommon for a new business owner, who has outsourced logo design, to be frustrated that the PMS color associated with their logo is not a stock color; adding an additional charge to their order for a color match. Similarly, a non-profit may gravitate to a colorful design for a tee shirt, not realizing the expense to produce that design. 

Even our corporate partners, with in a graphic team on site are often using their artists to create art for printing on paper or electronic materials rather than promotional imprinting. Splashy effects in graphics such as shading or layering of color add a strong visual impact on a website image, but don't work well for imprinting; adding tremendous costs or loss of design detail when converted to promotional printing.

In all the scenarios sited, frustration arises because many graphic artists lack experience for the production end of executing your graphics on promotional products. 

What are 7 challenges to avoid?

1- If you love a design in one color you will love it even more in full color! One color imprints are always cheaper to produce and often the only choice when you have a rush project. Always start your design work in one color. Adding color is the easy part of designing; removing it while keeping the elements you like can often be a challenge.

2-  Avoid using fonts that are not standard. Paid fonts if you don't have the font files, fonts that have been manipulated by stretching or skewing all can present branding issues.  For example, serifs on the end of letters add fine detail that can be lost in imprinting within small areas. Typeface that is small and thin easily fills in small imprint areas.

3- Taglines are great for conveying a message, however make sure you approve a design that allows for use of your logo with & without the tagline; often a tagline is more information that you have space to include in an imprint area.

4- Make sure if your logo is a long rectangle shape that you have an option to use it "stacked" in a square shape; as many imprint areas are square. 

6- Know your PMS references, not the CMYK colors. Most promotional printing is done with spot color. 

7- Keep in mind that "shading" or "gradients" look cool on paper or web pages, but cannot be color separated or captured in embroidery. Back to tip #1, "love" your logo as one color! If your logo can not be reduced to one color, you will always be forced into decoration methods with limited imprint methods Often these methods will have a higher cost to produce and an increase in the required units to produce. 

Hire a pro!  

• Logos- tee designs- collateral print materials- yes, we can help
• Vectoring your JPEG designs or hand drawn sketches! 
• Generating a brand guide for your company as a resource. 
• We have numerous educational documents to show and explain the options and difference for various print process. 
• Plus, we stay up to date on trends- the hottest new process is a dimensional decoration. 
• Common questions related to art? We address those on our website

Ask is to meet with your graphic team before a large project to outline some key tips or hire us to do your design work- we are flexible to your needs.

Be-CAUSE You Care- Connect Your Brand Message!

A cooler morning and days away from September are you ready to connect with the community and connect your brand to consumers? Nationally recognized dates provide ways for your business to connect with consumers, put a spotlight on issues your business values or just have fun.

 September is national Hunger Action Month - to raise awareness about domestic hunger which affects 48 million Americans. In the local Apex community, Western Wake Crisis Ministry has been working to address local needs since 1983. There 6th annual golf tournament is September 18th; golfers, donors and sponsors are still welcome.

 Looking for a way to connect with your client base on this topic? Hold a food drive and thank donors with kitchen products they can use at work or in the home to remind them of your annual efforts. Easy to read measurements are a great gift for seniors, practical for families teaching young ones how to cook and a fun way to convey measurement messages such as, Thanks for your service, no one else measures up to you!

National Assisted Living Week—September 10-16

During this week, recognize the people who need assisted living services and staff who care for them. 

 Residents and employees can curl up with a book or walk around their home in both comfort and safety with these fuzzy gripper socks. Kitchen tools paired with a easy recipe to make with visiting family or single serve salad kit are ways to show you care. 

Business Woman’s Day—September 22^nd

This day recognizes working women who have contributed in America. 

Show your employers or employees your appreciation with awards, apparel, stationary or food gifts.  Desk art can be a fun way to provide a long term reminder that you value their relationship- what woman doesn't love diamonds?

Family Health and Fitness Day—September 30th

If you are a part of an organization including schools, parks, hospitals, and health clubs, then you want to be a part of this eventful day! Promote family-friendly activities with branded sports balls, moisture-wicking apparel, water bottles, towels, or fitness trackers. These gifts will remind recipients that fitness should be a year-round activity! 

 The cooler weather in September is a great time to plan fundraising events. Ready to hit the open road? Perhaps the Apex Police Departments efforts to raise money for Special Olympics through a motorcycle ride might be the right fit for fun. Their torch run coined A Day Behind Handle Bars is still seeking riders and donors! For more information

Riders will receive this commemorative towel. 

 Make an impact with your branded gifts this September!