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A family run business takes vision, passion and heart- keeping the founder's spirit of entrepreneurship alive for future generations. Keeping a father's passion alive requires a renaissance of imagination and perhaps a nod to the past. Today's post is about a unique crystal maker. Founded in 1958, the Mario Cioni crystal factory is located in Tuscany, Italy, the heart of art and culture and close to the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Today, Mario’s children continue to demonstrate all the values inherent in their father’s work: passion, an entrepreneurial and ambitious spirit, and care and devotion to quality. Comprised of the purest crystal, an exclusive formula for hand-blown and hand-cut objects, Mario Cioni designs are the embodiment of taste and Italian style. By learning from the the masters of the past, these modern day crafters offer recipients works of art for appreciation & acknowledgement.

Perspective changes when there is a personal connection. By breaking down barriers between law enforcement officers and the community they serve, we create stronger communities. Focusing on youth engagement, provides officers the opportunity to build a foundation of trust. The book is part of a program to humanize officers in the eyes of the youngest residents. By learning to see officers as humans first, the books create positive interaction and capture the heartfelt side of why officers choose to serve & protect their communities. The illustrations reveal personal information about each officer, such as their hobbies, feelings, family, pets, goals, and why they choose to serve. Kids & community members of all ages can identify with officers by discovering what they have in common. Residents find that there are numerous ways they share a common bond, such as appearance, gender, family, pets, hobbies or preferences for food, sports team and places they have lived. As the Apex book points, daily an officer puts on their uniform one leg, one arm, one sock at a time- just like the individuals in the get dressed for their day. This unconventional tool opened dialogue in a way that both the officer’s & kids found exciting and evoking new shared memories & experiences. Discovering common ground created joyful exchanges, helping build trust and cultivating a positive perception of law enforcement officers. The buzz generated by the first book in the community, on social media and in broadcast news led another department to act swiftly for us to design a book for their agency. Our company wanted to see this type of project in motion in the community to effect change & advance positive perception of the role of community police. The opportunity to flex our graphic design skills on something truly unique & artistic was a bonus. Each officer story page was hand drawn and then crafted by our team member Isabel's hand. Featured below- Officer Carter a key collaborator on this project in her alter ego- Elf Lucy, who's impish side helps residents keep their valuables safe at the holidays and reminds them key tips for personal safety too! Quantifying emotion is impossible, but the smiles generated by these books between officers & youth is undeniable & unsurpassed. Officers captured in video and discussion use these words & phrases to capture the book’s success. •        I like being seen as human •        We are not robots. We are real people •        We have a life outside the uniform •        We are part of the community •        People can see we have a heart •        It’s not us vs them •        I became an officer to “be here” for our community •        We are changing hearts & minds •        The books are a positive Influence •        The books show we give back •        We are breaking down barriers through our stories •        It’s fun to feel like a celebrity. Kids want our autograph •        The books allow people to connect to us as individuals   The storybooks capture the human inside the uniform & make officers relatable to the public they serve. Community police efforts nationwide exist to help change negative public perception of the officers that choose to serve & the laws they are sworn to enforce.   Officers enjoyed being seen as human. They are sworn an oath to protect & serve with laws they did not create, to keep the community safe & strong. It’s easier to communicate & navigate challenges when you’ve established common ground.   By engaging with youth, these departments are establishing a foundation to build trust & creating an environment receptive to dialogue in the future. Bridges open channels for communication, help tension decrease and increase respect between individuals, resulting in stronger & safer communities; together.  Result? Our team is thrilled that this collaboration resulted in another book with the Shaker Heights Police Department in Ohio and both books created community engagement. The buzz around these books caught the attention of both our industry partners- ASI and PPAI. Promotional Partners was awarded: 2024 ASI Counselor Magazine Best Client Promotion of the Year for collaboration & illustration of community policing books. 2025 PPAI Gold Pyramid Award Winner - Client Programs – Social Responsibility Programs Learn more about what's behind these prestigious awards in our last post.

Do you wish you could see through a challenge? If you had X-ray vision, perhaps you could navigate the landscape of business challenges. Sadly- real individuals don't possess these super powers. Instead, working hard & playing hard are one of life's secrets to generating a successful mindset. Re setting our mind often leads to creative solutions. Next time your enjoying a round of golf, perhaps you should give out one of golf's most popular accessories- a Titleist ball. Yep- we offer this brand and many other TM brands. About the Brand Since the very first Titleist® golf ball was made in 1935, each one has been x-rayed to ensure the highest quality. For the past thirty years, the majority of golf professionals on the PGA TOUR use Titleist® golf balls. They are preferred more than all other brands combined. Explore options here. While we don't possess x-ray vision, we can READ THE GREE N! Yes, we know how to drive sales. Brand names like Melin & Swannies are popular products on the green.

Would you like to always live life in the front row? Kick back on the porch or creekside, maybe rock the reunion, pop up to watch the putt, cheer on your team in the stadium or enjoy the waves. Wherever life takes you- sit front and center to capture all the action. In fact, brand partner GCI Outdoor believes the best memories are made outside, together. Through constant innovation, they are committed to enhancing every outdoor experience with products that provide a comfort zone to recharge, reflect, and reset. From perfect beach days to thrilling concerts, long hikes to ultimate tailgates—GCI Outdoor will be there as you connect, celebrate, and witness it all in your front row seat to life. This brand was founded by engineers, problem- solvers, thinkers and individuals that desire using ingenuity to add value to your life. Innovation & creative thinking are hallmarks of our collaborative approach to uplifting our partners brand. We believe that through thinking outside the box, your brand becomes the story to watch. Explore our options here. Ask us to develop a marketing campaign that reflects exploration & recharges what matters!

What does EPIC mean? Perhaps the definition varies by the individual. However, if you are an outdoor enthusiast- you know this brand. The EPEX® brand stands for EPic EXperience! This brand offers something for everyone, each EPEX® item can be used day to day, indoors and outdoors, in the city or in the wilderness. Wherever you adventure, EPEX® gear will get you there. Considering recognizing your team or hosting a team-building EXperience? Perhaps this brand is the right fit. We love creating experiences that provide the reach & recall that resonate with your target markets because their relative to the recipient, which generates the intended reaction! Promotional products WORK , hard when crafted by a professional team like ours. We love making an impression that effects change. Let's collaborate. Crafting epic storie s is our why.

What type of pairing? This is a Texas style story! First the back story, because it all starts over a game of poker. The year is 1925.* Winfield M Campbell peeks at the cards in his hand. It’s a good hand, and his heart is racing, though he somehow maintains his poker face. He glances up to the center of the table, the pot calling to him, filled with the kind of loot that might only come along once in a lifetime. He knows that there is only one choice: “I’m all in,” he says, risking everything he owns. The assembled spectators holler, thrilled by the spectacle of it all. As the other hands are revealed, Winfield double-checks the cards, then triple-checks them, and he finally smiles. And then he panics. Not because he has lost the game, but because he has won. His life has been irrevocably changed by a single hand of poker. He is now the proud owner of a horse, a wagon, and a bakery, and he doesn’t know the first thing about baking. After the shock wears off, Winfield gets to work, and it turns out that he’s a natural. Great bread makes people happy, and he loves making people happy. He experiments with new recipes, adding mouth-watering cookies and brownies to his repertoire. His bread and baked treats are often the best part of someone’s day. When the Great Depression comes, Winfield sells penny loaves door-to-door. Though times are tough, he knows that his bakery has never been more important to him or to his community. Winfield delivers the baked goods by horse-drawn wagon, a daily reminder of how his life changed in an instant. Almost a century after that fateful hand of poker, Winfield’s Chocolate Bar is proud to radiate the same playful spirit Winfield brought to his bakery: a warm, whimsical space filled with sweets and surprises. We’ll be here when times are tough, when a celebration is in order, and any time in between, honored to be the best part of your day. *We are pretty sure about all of this. Family lore should always be taken with a grain of salt—preferably sea salt, sprinkled over home-made caramel and delicious chocolate. We love a good family business story- this one had sweet success & a happy ending. Now we are back to the post for today- what's a perfect pairing? Food and beverage! Winfield's is a Texas Chocolatier with tasty treats. In this case you simply select the brand you prefer the most for the vessel, then we will add the food- creating a perfect pairing. It's that simple. What types of brands? Patriot, we we hope you recall from previous posts gives back to military home building. Explore all three options, with RTIC, YETI and Patriot here . This is a splendid idea for your favorite Valentine! Show some love to key accounts & referral partners this February or remember that Employee Appreciation Day is March 7th!

Norman Rockwell anyone? In 2021 The Saturday Evening Post celebrated 200 years of illustrations that captured the attention of American's and became story-telling moments of our everyday life. The images captured by Norman Rockwell as considered iconic- Americana. Capturing a moment in time is elusive, however a spark of connection provides the opportunity for a story to take hold and grow into a relationship. About the Brand In various forms, The Saturday Evening Post has been chronicling American history since 1728. Today, The Saturday Evening Post continues to deliver a mix of entertainment, art and education in a format that reflects quintessential American ideals and values. Explore The Saturday Evening Post by Norman Rockwell ©SEP S, then ask us how this type of product could be layered into your next iconic moment in the chapters of your brand. Promotional branding is all about creating a spark of interest through engagement, that develops into a relationship. In 2025, we celebrate 18 years of building brands of all shapes and sizes. Our collaborative & creative approach to marketing & graphic design illustrate your brand to the appropriate audience by capturing a moment in time. Since we can illustrate ask our team to develop a modern twist on this retro look that's more inclusive to a slice of Americana. Through often quirky ideas - we provide our trusted partners the visionary assurance, united purpose that elevates their brand. Follow our case studies to see some well rounded stories.

What's cold, but not wet? CHILL- by Flexi- Freeze. Maybe given the weather the flexibility to have ice cold freeze at hand night not be your priority, but it's still a brand to consider for keeping your lunch cold and other types of products that need to be kept cold. Pure Ice ... Pure Cooling Power. FlexiFreeze® has the only coolers with real, purified ice built right in. Say goodbye to "blue goo," leaky baggies of ice, and inconvenience forever. Say hello to FlexiFreeze®, the cold without the wet. Sounds like problem- solving at work to me! If you are solutions oriented- tell the world about it and make sure your message resonates through smart marketing choices. We love designing marketing campaigns that put your story front & center. Besides, it's COOL when we can bag more impressions. Brand names are popular for their association with trust & quality. Ask us to share more consumer stat's about the preferences of consumers by gender, state and age bracket- yep, we have the facts!

An intense focus on our craft. What's our craft? We define our craft through 4 guiding words- Creativity, Collaboration, Certification and Community. We use each word to guide us through client promotions. Smart marketing leverages promotional products to forge unique connections and make the message tangible & real for recipients. Shaping public perception for the human behind the badge was the focus of Promotional Partners Gold Pyramid winning program in the category of social responsibility. Flipping the focus from negative media stories towards the positive impact officers make each day when patrolling their communities required collaboration & creativity, our certified skillsets and an understanding of community relationships. Promotional marketing is about resonating with each recipient in a way that is relevant, creating the reach & recall that generate the reaction desired by each of our client. Illustrations by team member Isabel Impink.   This Promotional Partners second pyramid win, our first in 2021. Both winning programs demonstrate our understanding of community, an ability to advance awareness through the strategy behind the product and showcase our commitment to applying our collective talents into successful results. Our Gold award demonstrates how our certified team creates original strategies that exceed client expectations through collaboration & creativity.   The goal of this program was to create a foundation of trust & understanding that would foster long lasting communication channels between the public & the officers sworn to protect their community. The essence of community policing efforts nationwide is to open communication, provide education and break down barriers. By humanizing the officer behind the badge, the book creates an emotional connection and leaves that lasting impression. Through a story rooted in commonality, children & officers make an introduction on equal footing. Their shared experiences inspire a deeper connection and lay the foundation for establishing trust. The stories & imagery spark a powerful connection that resonates long after the initial engagement.     In 1958, PPAI created the coveted PPAI Pyramid Awards to celebrate exemplary marketing campaigns that showcase the creativity, talent & imagination of the members that inspire connection and generate measurable change. This year, PPAI, the Promotional Products Association International awarded 53 member companies 83 total awards over 6 categories, earning either silver or gold awards. This non- profit association is comprised of 15,000 member companies dedicated to advancing the message that Promotional Products Work!   Read more about how this promotion was crafted and the collaboration behind the scenes in our next post. Notes: PPAI- Promotional Products Association International. Our Silver Pyramid win from 2021. Review all the 2025 PPAI Pyramid Awards . In October 2024, this promotion was also awarded the Distributor Client Program of the Year from a membership base of 25,000. This promotion was one of 5 distinguished Counselor awards from ASI- Advertising Specialty Institute.

It's a HUK- a line of products that lives life in full throttle and isn't afraid to add salt. This brand lives for being on the water and believes that water has united communities, inspired stories, fed families and build relationships around the globe. The story behind the brand is passionate about living a life around the water. It's fitting that their gear is designed to perform in any water adventure, plus provide you sun protection. Their name is fun- pronounced hook not huk- this brand likes to leave you thinking! Their website says, "Huk /hook/ noun - a piece of metal or other material, curved or bent back at an angle, for catching hold of things." When your looking for the big fish, perhaps take time to explore how the HUK brand products , could reel in a whopper of a story to share about your brand's journey. Crafting a story that hooks the recipient takes a skilled angler. It's not just a line....we cast our experience, expertise & exceptional imagination into designing campaigns for our partners. Any anglers reading our blog?

There's a reason to appreciate the classics- like Cross brand writing instruments. A signature pen is perfect for a new hire, partnership contract, purchasing a home, estate planning or launching a business. Cross is an executive gift that will be used & appreciated. January 23 is National Handwriting Day- something AI can't do for you! Do something unexpected and pen a note of appreciation. Plan ahead, June 7 is National Ballpoint Pen Day. Explore the collection here . Do you have a favorite?

Winter weather often makes conference travel to somewhere warm exciting. During the holidays I came across a travel diary from our trip to Sydney Australia from years ago. While I have vivid memories, it was interesting to compare my memories against the notes and reflections I entered into my journal while on the trip. The artist in me had also sketched scenes from around the city in my journal! Before you're "wheels up" in 2025, let's break down some new travel accessories. Let's explore 2 brands today: Topo brand - a smart sustainably focused partner has this new accessory travel pouch that's stylish, constructed with durability & organization in mind. From your pens to power accessories- this heavy duty pouch is build for travel. Topo is ready for any adventure and prefers the uncharted journey's. Explore other trendy options from Topo here. Whether you’re looking for an unconventional decoration location, unique imprint method or fully custom journal, we have solutions. You might even say, it's the "road less traveled"- graphically! Our collaborative style & graphic design expertise in the hands of our talented team creates amazing books. We meticulously oversee each order with unparalleled care. As a bonus, we partner with one of our NC partners, who shares a passion for sustainability in both product options & manufacturing practices. The cover on these books is a canvas, ready to craft a visual message that engages the recipient. Over the years we have created books with custom insert pages, PMS match covers, custom bookmarks, die cut shapes, window journals, and more options to exceed your expectations. Yes- we have samples of those in the showroom to share. Besides, graphic design studio space as assorted cover stocks and other custom elements to explore as we work through the design project one on one with you.