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Creativity comes in many forms. January is International Creativity Month, which gets our owner Olivia excited. Creatives look at the world differently. Creative people see pathways, make connections, connect dots, stay curious and love flipping the narrative. We reveal innovative solutions by being open to possibility, recognizing analogies and daydreaming. Imagination, much like dreaming requires letting your mind wander. May is our official incorporation month, but we will be celebrating our 17th year in business throughout 2024. We've often been asked about our value as a partner. Selling promotional products from an outside perspective seems straight forward. The magic is what happens behind the scenes that ignites creativity and drives innovative strategy. Our core values of creativity, collaboration, certification & community are the values we add to every partnership. Creative ideas are sparked through discussion, comparison & consideration. It's that type of playfulness that's cultivated in our showroom environment; collaboration. Not every collaboration occurs in our showroom, some are virtual, but thanks to modern technology each partner has access to the tools & talents we offer. Each brand journey is a little different; because individuals bring different perspectives, preferences & goals to similar projects. Visionary assurance, united purpose is our mantra for a reason. Trust your vision to us. Together we are partners, united by our goals & objective, seeking a specific outcome. How does certification add value? Knowledge! Crafting meaningful campaigns with measurable results. Confidently allow us to source domestically or globally, knowing we adhere to safety regulations, compliance and codes of conduct. Deliberate attention to our partners certifications & factory practices. Ask if you need reports. An ability to successfully translate ideation & concepts into the form of a totally custom product. An ability to handle campaigns with moving parts- kitting, fulfillment, shipping & distribution. Experience developing & hosting store programs. Making purposeful choices, means always flexing our brain. Through on-going professional development we are committed to the highest level of excellence. In fact, all of our team members are certified. Two of our team have the highest level of certifications - MAS & MASI. Each certification is earned from two different international industry partners PPAI & ASI. Our certification roots can be traced back to 2012. Read more here. What does community have to do with promotional products? Everything- it's our unique blend of creativity, collaboration & certification at work with our understanding of community relations. When we serve, lead, volunteer & mentor in our community we are also learning & experiencing what's relevant and important to our clients. We listen & we observe, which are building blocks that feed our imagination. These community experiences allow us to reconfigure our understanding of the world around us & infuse creativity to address each new challenge. Each community block stacks up providing experiences & perspectives we take into our partner projects, elevating the outcome. Product engagement with our talented team creates reach, recall, resonance, reaction, and relativity provides the retention that grows your brand. Follow our blogs for the backstory behind our core values at work! Capturing Hometown Pride Forming Relationships Aids Community Policing Efforts Ripples Connect Communities Looking for Something to Bark About Roots Grow More Than Produce

When you feel connected, rooted and like you belong- your home. If being home is more than a physical space, and exists as a feeling within us that we assign emotions with that location- how do you capture the essence in words or visuals? That's the challenge. The Town of Apex, a charming community nestled in North Carolina, long known for its commitment to quality of life and community well-being. Central to its identity is the trademarked phrase, the "Peak of Good Living," encapsulating the town's ethos. The Town of Apex officially trademarked the phrase the "Peak of Good Living" to encapsulate its commitment to providing an exceptional quality of life for its residents. Today's case study delves into the collaborative efforts between the Town of Apex and Promotional Partners for developing visual representations for the trademark phrase & products with those logos that reward the spirit of hometown identity and pride. Collaborative & Design Partnership Story: To amplify the impact of this trademarked phrase, the Town of Apex carefully selected Promotional Partners, with a track record of high-quality design, marketing expertise and deep industry knowledge. Collaborative time in our showroom & design studio was an essential step in discussing the objectives for the program, developing design concepts and working through the project elements. These sessions ensured the final designs from imagery to font captured the town's spirit. Critical elements conveyed during the design process included creating two distinctly different logos for broader appeal to residents, while maintaining similar overall design elements for consistency. The designs needed to work well together, capture the trademark phrase and through planning a desire to denote the geographic location of the town within the shape of the state. Brand Enthusiast Store: In the product selection it was essential to offer popular products that were functional, provided a large imprint space, were high-quality with craftsmanship & popular detail to consumer trends. Products are sold both through the town’s website store, at The Depot and festivals in town making it easy for residents & visitors to purchase. The popularity & demand for products continues to grow each year. Impact: The collaboration ultimately provided enthusiasts a way to celebrate the "Peak of Good Living", fostering a sense of unity and civic pride. This partnership with the town earned Promotional Partners a Silver Pyramid award from PPAI in 2021. The successful integration of strong graphic design & popular product offerings continues to strengthen & broaden awareness for the "Peak of Good Living." Read more about the pyramid award here. “We were so grateful for your help with graphic design & product selection. Miranda's keen eye for design helped us reinforce our trademark & allows us to reward brand enthusiasts with products they will use at home & out in the community. Thank you for your relationship with your team of experts. We look forward to future collaborations!” -Town of Apex

Conversation is easier when you have something in common. Have you ever been out of town or sitting on a plane only to find out the someone next to you is from the same state or town as you- yet your thousands of miles from that destination? Immediately you look for common ground, where you like to eat, places you have lives or schools you have attended. Here's where the story begins. “The Apex Police Department worked closely with Promotional Partners in developing a story book that introduced our officers to our community members. This project did not come easy, but the professionalism that we received from Promotional Partners was amazing. This project took approximately 4 months from start to finish which included creating and editing officer biographies, and tracking photo submissions from the officers. Isabel’s ability to bring the animated pictures to life in the exact way that we were hoping, definitely helped to make the book as successful as it was. We gave Promotional Partners an idea of what we were hoping to see and they made it happen for us. We are beyond satisfied with the outcome of this book and can’t wait to continue this partnership on future projects.” Chief of Police Jason P. Armstrong Apex Police Department The Challenge: This case study explores making a personal connection can foster positive relationships between police officers and the children of the community, breaking down barriers and building trust through a storybook. Collaboration & Design: The Apex Police Department (APD) recognizes the importance of community engagement in forming relationships & trust, particularly with young residents. To enhance their approach, APD sought our expertise to develop a creative and engaging storybook. Through collaboration, we assisting in conceptualizing what would be necessary for a unique narrative, by working one on one with the department & officers to craft a page about the personal life of each each participating officer. Our design studio provided the perfect space to work closely with APD representatives to work through what types of images would best reflect the story behind each officers' hobbies, family life and hidden talents in a relatable book for children.  Each page of the book has original illustrations that bring the officers' stories to life. The visuals convey the humanity and approachability of each the officers. Outcome: The collaborative effort between Promotional Partners and the Apex Police Department in creating "Who’s Behind the Badge?" demonstrates how visual imagery & storytelling create community engagement. The project is facilitating positive interactions between police officers and children. Apex shared their strategy with other departments as a strategy for fostering positive community relations. The Shaker Heights Police Department in Ohio reached out for a similar type of book. Besides making creating synergy between the officers & the community, the department used the books as a way to foster interest in utilizing their public library system. They held several book signings with the officers. "The Shaker Heights worked with Promotional Partners Inc. on our children’s book and we could not be happier.  The team worked closely with us to ensure we had a product tailored to our agency and community.  The finished product vastly exceed our expectations and is a huge hit in our community .  We are looking forward to doing a second addition to our book with Promotional Partners Inc." Chief of Police Wayne Hudson Shaker Heights Ohio Police Department The unique approach by both departments and the willingness of officers' to share information about their personal lives outside of their service to the community garnered national news attention. Media outlets recognized the innovative nature of the project, bringing positive publicity to community policing. We are excited to report that the popularity of the books captured local and national news coverage for the officers & agencies involved! This collaboration is forming meaningful community relationships.

When you cast stone in the water, it creates ripples that cascade around the body of water, touching everything in the path of the ripple. The Challenge: The impact of a single donation, touches the community in numbers ways when the investment is in education. Today we reach back in our archives to a 2012 case study exploring how an object demonstrates the impact of a donation on the student, the donor, the college and the community. Wake Tech Foundation wanted a meaningful way to make an impression on top level donors to the annual campaign kickoff for The Ripple Effect. Collaborative Partnership & Ideation: A strong visual image, held in the hand became the signature piece for this annual campaign. The USA Made river rock inspired stones were handcrafted to simulate rocks found by NC water, and each symbolizes to the donor the lasting impact & ripple felt in the community with generous donations to the annual fund. By creating custom stones to display, donors would have a unique reminder to share the message around the ripple effect created through their philanthropy. Outcome: Promotional Partners' collaboration with the Wake Tech Foundation exemplifies the power of creative design for generating a reaction that resonates with donors. This collaboration created a tangible representation of the positive ripples created by the Wake Tech community's commitment to education and philanthropy. The campaign was a huge success! “Working with Promotional Partners saved us hours of time & provided tremendous value. Their unrivaled customer service & industry knowledge played a critical role in helping us improve our donor recognition program. Stephanie- Wake Tech Foundation Promotional Partners focuses their marketing & design strategy around products that create strong sensory connections.

Every dog should have a home and every home should have a dog right? Well, if you love dogs then the answer is always yes! Today's post is a behind the scenes look at a heartwarming collaboration between Promotional Partners and Peak Lab Rescue is a non-profit dedicated to fostering labs & other breeds or mixed breeds. The Challenge- to create a low cost fundraiser. Our solution? Appeal to donors that also love their fur babies from the rescue. The holidays are filled with tradition & memories. Ornaments on a family tree capture the milestone moments of family relationships & the journeys together. Pets are part of a furever home once they leave the rescue. Promotional Partners suggested wooden ornaments to capture being home & part of a family. The ornaments were a simple, visually high impact, low cost and easy to mail without breaking. Additionally the ornaments give-back. Donations made through the ornament program help with operational costs to provide each dog a home. Each wooden ornament order plants a tree. How does the tree program work? Initially through One Tree Planted, now a partner with Evertreen for reforestation throughout the world, including North America. What was the outcome of this program? Started in 2016, this program has grown in popularity, this past year helping in part towards exceeding their fundraising goal; raising over $40,000. Promotional Partners' design team works closely each year with Peak Lab Rescue to create a new design for the collection. To date, the non-profit has done 6 ornaments. (A few captured in this-post) What's the magic behind this campaign? Our collaboration exemplifies how simple products & engaging designs create meaningful connections and help support compassionate non-profits like this rescue program. The harmonious integration of practicality, creativity, and a genuine love for dogs has transformed into an annual fundraiser that’s a heartwarming tradition. This collaboration demonstrates how a tangible product becomes a cherished keepsake and a powerful marketing & fundraising tool with heart. Each ornament embodies the spirit of giving and the joy of canine companionship. “Offering these custom woodcut ornaments to donors absolutely helps us reach our annual fundraising goal. They can easily be mailed with our holiday card and our supporters love them. This is such an easy way to say thank you and will remind people of their connection with our nonprofit for years to come. People really want to "collect them all'. Thanks to Promotional Partners for working with us to create a memorable item each year.” Sharon- Peak Lab Rescue Director of Development Promotional Partners creativity to the rescue! Would you like to follow more posts about how our collaborative process works. Start here.

What could you do with 10,080 minutes? Invest in yourself. Those minutes add up to 168 hours, which is also the equivalent of 21 days of 8 hours. That's an entire work month - and our owner has spent those hours learning- in her "free time"- you know, weekends & nights! Does that effort sound crazy? We hope not, because Olivia just completed her second renewal of her MAS. Now earning 168.7 hours through the PPAI education program. Our owner Olivia has always put a premium on education. She believes the more she invests in professional development, the better partner she will be for your brand. A commitment to education is why our entire team has certification. It's one of our core values. Promotional Partners is part of a program started in 1979 to designate an elite group of industry professionals that have demonstrated their commitment to the promotional products industry, invest their time and energy to achieve & maintain these designations. When Olivia initially earned CAS in 2012, the requirements were at least 3 years of industry experience before you could even be considered for certification. Then the required courses, plus a required a comprehensive proctored test with a mandatory score to pass for certification. Since 2012, she has earned her CAS three times, and her MAS twice. She also holds certification through ASI, with her MASI. That's a lot of professional development! Over the years, the program has changed for PPAI, the proctored test & initial time spend in our industry were removed years ago, however the program has always maintain required rigorous course work for each level of certification, with the component of 30 renewal credit hours every 3 years to stay certified. Among those classes are required certification classes around safety, compliance, marketing, branding & operations. ASI currently has a test & application process, along with required courses & on-going professional development opportunities. At Promotional Partners we've taken the extra step to earn designations in safety & compliance as well as adhering to a code of industry conduct. Learn more about these programs here, We maintain all of these designations to provide more peace of mind to our clients. We also share tips we learn in our newsletters, master mind groups and strategic planning meetings. What's behind the tassel? Read more here. We encourage you to follow our social media for our new local advantage series- showcasing how our collaborative, creative and certified process has your back. That's partnership at work for you! Note: Our certifications are part of these two international associations: ASI- Advertising Specialty Institute PPAI- Promotional Products Association International

Did you have an uncontrollable urge to wear pink this year? If so, you were not alone. While suspense has been building for which films will sweep the Golden Globes and Barbie is expected to be a winner; we decided to delve into another top story. The popularity of a Stanley. In 2019 Stanley, a 110 year old company, hit $73 million in sales. Then a blog followed by women started talking about Stanley. Suddenly a brand that previously targeted men working & playing outdoors was now getting the attention of women also working & playing- well, everywhere. Stanley embraced this new market interest. They adapted and welcomed a new demographic of consumer rolling out pastels and bright colors to the delight of many consumers. The result? In 2023 Stanley was projected to have $750 million in sales. Earlier in 2023 we suggested that the Stanley profile, was one of the hottest requests of the year in our shape of water post. Then we outlined how insulation effects the performance of a tumbler, and finally we shared how our talented graphics team utilizes the surface as a canvas for your brand. On Friday we decided to perform our own research. Could you identify the profile of the real Stanley among several other copies? Watch here, the video from our showroom. Besides the appearance, would the Stanley copies perform- keeping ice? We monitored the progress. Checking in 30 hours later, then an hour shy of 48 hours. The result was ice in all four tumblers. Almost the exact amount. Did you figure out which one was the Stanley? Watch the 48 hour clip as we reveal. Plus our shorts that compare which 3 had the most ice & which tumbler had the least ice. Does that mean there is not value to a Stanley? No, not saying that at all. Brand names provide trusted consistency, transparency to their supply chain & guarantees. Additionally Stanley has an impressive commitment to causes related to nature conservation and sustainability, equitable and empowered access to the outdoors, and food security. Click the Stanley link to learn more. This fun behind the scenes peek does demonstrate there are solid options for quality performance and at least one of these options comes in, you guessed it, pink! Not every project has the budget for a Stanley; so copies have their place for gifting, marketing and advertising. Sometimes the key factor is the necessity for a larger imprint area or adding special decoration effects. Luckily for you, we vet our partners, we know about their supply chain, the guarantees, the quality and the impact stories behind every choice we offer. This behind the scenes fun also demonstrates the value of our showroom location. What did we test? Read your upcoming February newsletter or visit the showroom now to access. How many more options could we have tested in the 30 ounce & 40 ounce market? Many more than what's reflected on our website, which is why we ALWAYS say, collaborate. Put our knowledge & resources to work for you instead of comparing options on a website. We have numerous other trusted brand name partners. We insure your brand is aligned with the quality & performance you expect from our partnership. Come on over to collaborate about your next project!

It's a very good place to start. 17 years ago, we embarked on a entrepreneurial journey, incorporating Promotional Partners, as a woman-owned company back in May of 2007. While seventeen years is a long stretch of time, it's part of a journey we love that started back in 1440; yep, WAY BACK. Let's take a look at the roots of our industry- a bit before our time. In 1440 Johannes Gutenburg invented the first mechanical printing press. If you've ever been to Colonial Williamsburg you've seen first hand the "power of the press"- aka, the physical work to transfer the inked letters, numbers & symbols to the page. Then in 1789, commemorative buttons were made to celebrate the inauguration of George Washington. Going a bit more modern, jump ahead to 1852 when Adolphus Busch gave away corkscrews imprinted with the Anheuser-Busch company logo; beer was sold with a corkscrew gift. It was Jasper Meek, who was name the “Father of Promotional Products” for his promotional burlap bags for small businesses in 1887. The story passed along relates that he kept seeing kids drop their school books in the dirt & mud. In an effort to increase profits, keeping his newspaper business printing more than once a day, he promoted to the local general store that their business would grow by giving out burlap bags with their store name for the kids to carry their books. Products like political buttons, coins, even key tags were among the first branded products and then in 1900 Coca- Cola took branding to an entirely new level with franchising and brand consistency. Everyone knows Coca- Cola red when they see it or the iconic font, right? In 1935 pens, still a go to item, followed by bumper stickers in 1946 became low cost ways to promote your business that are still popular today. However, did you know that the first logoed towel, call the Terrible Towel, was created by the late Pittsburg Steelers broadcast Myron Cope? For the 1975 playoff game, Cope encouraged attendees to bring a yellow dish towel to cheer on the Steelers- from there, the birthplace of the rally towel that defined the 80's. In the 1990s, promotional t-shirts became the " go to" promotional item, popular for advertising everything from brand names to bands, and movies alike. In the early 2000s, floppy discs were replaced by USBs - still used today. In 2004, it was the Livestrong bracelets - yep, silicone bracelets are still being used for all types of awareness campaigns & unity. During COVID they were a clever way to let folks know your level of comfort with social distancing. Did you jump into the fidget spinners craze created in 1993 by Catherine Hettinger? These toys were used as a health benefit to children with anxiety and/or ADHD. In 2020, the pandemic put a spotlight on personal protection equipment and we printed a lot of masks, gloves, gaiters and such. The point of this time line is to remind you that our newsletters and blog are excellent access points to the trends you should be following for your brand. Promotional items are only "stuff" not making an impression or working effectively as a marketing & advertising tool without a knowledgeable partner. One of many trends we discussed earlier in the year was the popularity of Stanley brand and how the shape was defining the landscape of promotional drinkware. True to our education roots, we share key aspects of what to look for in comparing this type of product, guided you to some affordable options, and of course how we merge our graphic talents & our marketing expertise to use the surface of products as a canvas for your message. If you follow our newsletter, this month has some special perks for you. If you follow our socials, then you will see today's "Stanley" challenge start to play out. Keep following for the results.

Yes! Break the routine- stand out in a crowd. We get excited about graphic design, from the floor to the walls and every surface in between. Life's more visually exciting when imagery that commands attention. The start of a new year is the perfect time for a visual brand assessment. Let's play with concepts in our design studio. Create an experience that will not only draw in attendees but leave a lasting impression. There's noting worse than paying for a space at a tradeshow or a booth at the local market and watching attendees pass by your booth only to drop into another instead. Is it the products, or the appearance holding folks back? I know it's said that appearance doesn't matter, but in the case of your booth; it does. Custom shapes, inviting graphics- much like food on a plate, are your first introduction. Draw in attendees, craving more by making sure your narrative gets an opportunity to become a conversation; elevate your appearance. January is the perfect time to re-fresh dated graphics, explore modern solutions that are easy to carry, care for and make both set up & break down simple and quick. Besides time in our design studio to craft the best booth options, we'll be over in the apparel section of the showroom to review new decoration methods, fabrics, texture and fit for your team's attire. Then it's time to identify the right products & the best way to present your message. We want your conversation's to lead to conversion's! Ready to plan, ask about our Q1 specials.

Shared experiences ignite & sustain relationships. The holidays are over but gifting is year-round. What message are you sending recipients with your gift selections? While your ticket to the Golden Globes may only include a seat from your recliner, that's no excuse to miss out on the swag. In fact, we've taken a behind the scenes peek of this year's swag bags. Take a look at this list of amazing luxury products. When looking for ways to spice up your referral gifts- read between the lines, locate the trend & share the experience with your vertical markets through branded gifts. Here are a few notables that stood out to our team worth considering: Travel is back! Signature, solutions oriented products to ease the travel experience. Luxury never goes out of style- name brands are associated with quality. Products associated with a heart- giving back, to support arts, education, journalism, humanitarian projects, and non-profit organizations dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry. Self Care - so many types of products, plus we can kit it to drop ship! Body Art- temporary art can be fun for your marketing moments, read more here Suede bags- ask us about our custom options; we have samples. Lighters- affordable name brand's like Zippo Custom Sneakers- We have samples of popular styles in our showroom. What we found interesting is that all of these swag bag ideas have been centered around marketing campaigns Q4 of 2023- so still on trend.

There are those that seek adventure, taking the preferable road less traveled and there are those that prefer to chart a course & see that course to the end. Regardless of your destination, if you're looking for a way to unplug, destress and uncomplicate your travels- Topo Designs are right for you. What Makes This Brand Special? This brand partner is made for anywhere and everywhere on your map! Topo Designs has vision to inspire more people to get outside by designing the outdoors seamlessly into life. They are a Colorado-based outdoor brand offering sustainable, durable packs and accessories, founded with the fundamental belief that everyone experiences the outdoors differently. The brand wants to get everyone outside without feeling encumbered by the traditional notions that hold them back. The brand is rooted in mountain culture but loves exploring cities and world travel, and they celebrate these radical differences by offering products that help people get confidently outside on their own terms, regardless of location. Topo is a brand that cares about local & global communities, with a commitment to sustainability- remember our last post, it's not just about today, but the effect of today's choices on tomorrow's. What's the next destination on your map? Also curious do you chart a course or live for the unknown adventure?

Redefining today for a better tomorrow. Decisions you make today, will effect your tomorrow's. Ready to embark on a journey of innovation and sustainability for 2024? As our physical and digital worlds converge, the notion of achieving balance between work and home life, or connecting and unplugging, can feel elusive. Harness innovation to enable balance, flexibility, and freedom. What do those words translate into brand strategy & messaging? We will be sharing some trends & goals for 2024 in the blog & for our clients in your January newsletter. Besides exercise, travel and outdoor activity- another trend that continues into 2024 is embracing the wellness revolution. Prioritizing health with products that support cognition, focus, stress, sleep, and mood. Elevating your lifestyle, reduce stress, and find comfort in this collection. Perhaps your journey should start with Topo! Keep reading for our next blog post.