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Getting consumer attention is a huge part of what makes promotional advertising work. Knock your next promotion out of the park with this decoration method. When you want to make an impression, going beyond the norm for something spectacular is an important part of the planning. Whether you are planning a signature event, commemorating a stat setting home run, looking for a new sign for the reception area or designing a desk gift that has a wow factor- go beyond to 5D! This decoration process offers amazing graphics. Watch this video to experience another level of decoration. Include our graphic experience to help design something special. Our website has these product options for inspiration. When you are ready to take things to the next level. We also think this type of product qualifies as a quirky enough to work solution in our series of ideas that have high impact in the most unexpected ways.

According to SCORE - small business owners have a huge impact on the local economy. Take a look at these statistics gathered by Score in 2018 that highlights how small business's charitable giving is adding up. Did you know that 75% of small business owners donate an average of 6% of their profits to charitable organizations annually? At Promotional Partners we invest in our community. Our 2022 summary summary includes a variety of community organizations - with a focus on youth, education, family and safety. We started our Promotional Partners Cares Program in 2020. In 2022 our donations and sponsorships totaled over $8,000 back into the community. So far in 2023 what has our company been doing to give back to the community? Learn more about these organizations here: Women's History Month, towards Wake Tech Foundation American Legion Post 124 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Peak Beginning Peakfest Committee Rotarian's at work in Apex Follow our blog for more stories to come in 2023! Visit our booth at PeakFest this weekend- learn more about one of the community partners' we've been featuring this week on our blog.

Is there really only one way to solve a challenge? At Promotional Partners we like innovative approaches. In fact, visionary is one of the words in our tagline, because ideas must become solutions. Dream. Dare to carve out new pathways. Our friends at Wake Tech Community College have 3 innovative programs that we hope will inspire you to get involved: The Fostering Bright Futures program is a student success program that addresses the overwhelming need for a comprehensive support structure to assist our community's foster youth in making the transition from foster care to independent young adulthood. The Minority Male Success Initiative (MMSI) is a system-wide effort designed to enhance the educational success of all minority males currently enrolled in the NC Community College System. Wake Tech is one of several community colleges participating in the MMSI. In line with this systemic initiative, Wake Tech’s Pathways Success Scholars Program’s Vision is to increase minority male student academic progression and program success rates, by way of mentoring through exposure to academic, social and career-based activities and opportunities. Student participants can expect to engage in on-campus personal and group success coaching, leadership development, and other relevant programming that promotes academic development and personal success. The Nest food pantry opened in 2014 to assist Wake Tech students impacted by food insecurity and hunger. The Nest is a free resource available to all current Wake Tech students, where students can shop monthly and partake in special dining initiatives and food education. In 2019, Food Lion presented Wake Tech with a generous $125,000 gift to expand college efforts to help students and their families combat food insecurity. The Nest also offers online and advanced ordering, allowing student shoppers to build custom orders unique to their personal preferences and dietary needs with pick-up options at various Wake Tech campuses. Wake Tech is your community college. Read this blog post to learn more about the students, the college, their ranking and the impact to the community. Ask how your purchases for branded marketing materials can contribute to our annual cares program, which will benefit Wake Tech Foundation.

Large numbers command attention and your community college, Wake Tech, has some impressive numbers to share. THE STUDENTS Wake Tech serves about 70,000 students annually, including 30,000 in degree programs. Wake Tech serves more online students than any community college in North Carolina. Most Wake Tech degree-seeking students take at least one online class. Wake Tech Associate's degree graduates who transfer to four-year universities in the UNC System outperform native UNC juniors (2.91 GPA vs. 2.90 GPA). 90% of Wake Tech Associate's degree graduates are either employed or still enrolled in higher education in North Carolina after one year. THE COLLEGE Wake Tech is the largest of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges. Seven campuses, two training centers and multiple community sites across Wake County Second-largest undergraduate population of any college or university in North Carolina More than 250 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs More than 100 online associate degree, diploma and certificate programs – more than any other community college in the U.S. 100% of Wake Tech programs are transferable for further study. Wake Tech has one of the largest associate degree Nursing programs in the region. Wake Tech trains the most first responders in North Carolina. Average class size is 21:1. WAKE TECH RANKINGS Recognized by Newsweek in 2022 as one of America’s Top Online Colleges #1 Best Online Community College (Best Value Schools and College Consensus) #3 Best Graphic Design Associate Degree (GradReports) #5 Best Nursing School in North Carolina (RNCareers.org) #6 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in North Carolina (NursingDegreeSearch.com) #7 Best Office Administration Program (Best Value Schools) #8 Best Online Engineering and Architecture Program (OnlineDegrees.com) WAKE TECH'S IMPACT Wake Tech’s annual economic impact on the community is $1 billion. (Source: EMSI/Burning Glass, FY 2019-20) Three-quarters of Wake Tech’s impact, more than $700 million, is due to alumni who continue to live and work in Wake County and receive higher earnings after attending Wake Tech. On average, Wake Tech graduates will earn $9,800 more per year than Wake County residents who have only a high school diploma. For every dollar a student invests in a Wake Tech education, the student receives a cumulative value of $3.20 in higher future earnings. A student’s investment in a Wake Tech education has an average annual rate of return of nearly 18%, which compares favorably to the U.S. stock market’s 30-year average rate of return of 10.6%. For every dollar of public money invested in Wake Tech, taxpayers will receive a cumulative value of $2.20 over the course of the students’ working lives. Learn more about programs here.

It's National Small Business Week and throughout the triangle the message will be to support local. Here in Apex, the Town of Apex's Economic Development Department is kicking off a week focus on small business week in Apex with a Love Local spotlight. Owning your own business is similar to the feeling a child has when they step in adult shoes and take a step. It's an exhilarating & unknown outcome, yet the curiosity generates action. A child can't fully grasp the magnitude of their growth over their lifetime. Their growth will be emotional, physical and mental, again, similar to the journey of owning a business. Did you know in 2021 there were 934,604 small businesses in NC, representing 99.6% of all business, employing 1.7 million people. What can 1.7 people do together? Support each other. By using your footsteps to walk into local businesses for goods & services your support is allowing businesses to thrive & employ a huge workforce. That workforce is comprised of your friends and your neighbors! It's a loving local partnership that continues to fulfill, fuel and inspire us each day! In May, we celebrate 16 years in business- which is enough time to complete the K-12 & collegiate experience. We are frequently asked to share our back story, which starts with a scientist & an artist, and continues each day in the heart of historic Downtown Apex. The short version of this story is lies in our relationships with each of you. We want to provide good & services that define your brand by offering our creativity to your projects. Our name is a huge clue what's behind our brand. Partnership is the root of mission and our core values of collaboration, creativity, certification & community guide our actions. Hence the name; Promotional Partners. We are an agency that helps our partners increase brand awareness, recruit & retain talent, show appreciation, fund-raise, celebrate your culture & values and offer quality, sustainable & impactful solutions for brand's of every shape, size & industry. Visionary Assurance, United Purpose is our tagline because relationships require trust, communication & collaboration to be productive. By forging a strong foundation, together we're able to execute a united vision. Our purpose is to be your local advantage partner, supporting your vision in business by crafting creative campaigns that convey your brand message. ( Thanks to 621Productions for the video in the visionary assurance, united purpose link) Over the years we've share numerous posts about our journey as business owners. Here are 10 of those stories: What's the fuel behind growing the business? Lessons learned & lessons shared- such as the power of 3 little beans & building strong networks Harnessing the fear factor drives you forward Break some rules, challenge norms; a little unconventional is good. Our personal side in this 2022 post. Why professional development is at the core of our business Our own personal story Apex's 150 celebration reflects that community means for us Ways we can support each other Giving back, supporting the community that helps us What's left behind with your footprint. We love supporting our local partners, for example this photo and most of the images on our website are from the talented DANIELLE DOUGLAS Small Business Week runs through Saturday. Check out the booth's during PeakFest , on Saturday May 6th, those business sponsorships totaling over $20,000. The festival commission gives back in the community through our grants program once our expenses are paid. Make plans to stop by the Apex Rotary Pancake breakfast in the am, learn about our club here. Stop by our Promotional Partners booth to learn about a local non-profit called Peak Beginnings and look for me in my bright orange PeakFest shirt to say Hi. This annual event is truly a celebration of community!

Peak Beginning is a local non- profit, here in the heart of Historic Downtown Apex, on a mission to equip children in Apex from economically disadvantaged families to succeed in kindergarten and beyond by providing free early childhood education. Recently this program was recognized by the Town of Apex with a 2023 Think Apex Award for their non-profit work in the community. Lane Tomey has spent a career in education. I first met Lane when she started the business alliance committee for Apex Friendship High School. Immediately I was drawn to service by her passion for students and achievement. She's a connector, and a relationship builder. I sat down to collaborate with Lane prior to their golf tournament to learn more about the program and how to share that message with golfers. I learned that she's put her passion for education & achievement into developing this local program because she says, "The "achievement" gap exists because of a lack of opportunity, not a lack of ability". Think about that statement, the reflect on these eight compelling facts: Economically disadvantaged children who do not attend at least 2 years of a pre-school program, start Kindergarten an average of 1.5 years behind and are rarely able to catch up. 3rd grade reading scores are used to predict the number of prison beds that will be needed in NC Currently, only 29% of economically disadvantaged students are meeting proficiency in reading at grade 3 compared to 56% of all other students. 90% of brain growth happens from age 0-5 and these early childhood experiences lay the foundation for school success. Only 30 percent of economically-disadvantaged students meet the state’s standard for career and college readiness on state tests. The cost of attending a full-time early childhood program in NC now exceed the cost of tuition at NC State Economically disadvantaged families face barriers to preschool access that include cost, transportation, and work schedules. Economically disadvantaged students who attend at least 2 years of preschool attend college at a higher rate and earn significantly more income as adults. Tomorrow, May 1, Peak Beginnings is hosting their first annual golf tournament to raise money for their program. Get to know this program as another one of the wonderful organization and people behind the story we've discovered in our own sesquicentennial journey of stories. Follow their work on Facebook & Instagram - visit with the May 6th in our booth, learn more about how you can support this program.

A footprint is not just one impression, it's the steps taken along your journey; where you've been and where your going. In 1986 I began a career in education in Wake County Public Schools as an art teacher. While I thought my role was to share my passion for visual arts and encourage students to tap into their creative side, immediately my story took an emotional turn. Student's that struggled academically or socially, often thrived in the art room. Their talent allowed their thoughts & words to be seen through a visual story- creating communication & inspiring conversation. The deeper story that developed over nearly 20 years in education was the impact of an impression; the positive, negative or indifference we leave behind on one another. For us, being part of the community means engagement and going all in to support others. Paying it forward with introductions & referrals, volunteering & giving back to a variety of organizations through out the year. It's the culmination of our professional journey in business that's been the pathway to meeting amazing individuals & our reason for sharing sesquicentennial stories all year. Good news needs to be shared. We hope you'll follow these footprint stories and find an organization that draws you into their story and inspires action in you.

April is stress awareness month. Just because we are turning the calendar page doesn't mean stress awareness goes away. Searching for an executive level gift that also puts some fun in your day? The wizard pen is perfect! Whiz stress away with a fun fidget spinner on top that whizzes around with a flick of your thumb. Jumbo barrel for ergonomic comfort and black anti-fraud ink for writing excellence. Engraved silver imprint and etched center band give this pen the classic touch for a gift. Check out this video of one in action. Enhance the message & presentation with a signature box! Put our local advantage to work for your brand with captivating graphics. Never worry- we've got the WRITE ideas!

If you didn't know, since 1910 the Rotary motto has been "Service Above Self." Rotarian's are encouraged to to foster and promote a sense of service to others in the community; locally & globally. A community of individuals worldwide working to solve 6 critical issues: ​ 1. Disease prevention and treatment 2. Water and sanitation 3. Maternal and child health 4. Basic Education and literacy 5. Economic and community development 6. Peace and conflict resolution. Who's is a Rotarian? Any individual that wants to serve others. A Rotary club is a civic organization comprised of business & professional leaders providing humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, helping build goodwill and peace in communities around the world. Worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarian's belong to more than 34,000 Rotary clubs. For the Apex Rotary Club, we are almost 60! We are civic group, but also friends & neighbors working on local projects as well as supporting international initiatives. This sesquicentennial story seemed fitting to share during National Volunteer Month, since I've made some amazing friends over the past 16 years through Rotary. While our club has been involved in many projects over the years- many locals know us for the annual Christmas Parade in Apex. We put in work months, weeks & days before the parade and it's an all hands on deck day- starting with the pancake breakfast in the am, followed by fun activities around The Depot in the hours leading up to parade. These events and others we sponsor or host during the year offer fun ways to engage and raise money for club programing. Recently our club was honored with a Think Apex Award! Club members Chris Hilt and club President Dan Gibson were on hand to receive the award from Mayor Gilbert, the Apex Town Council and former council-woman Dozier. Long-time member Cat Kearns shared these thoughts on what it means to be a member of our club. "I Love the community focus, the networking of friends, and the worldwide sister and brotherhood as well as, our own local club longevity looking into the future while honoring the past 60 years of Apex Rotary. What a story this club has to tell of members past and present." In reflecting on our past, I am reminded of Harvey Montague, one of charter members, who once shared with me that business leaders should be part of our club as a way to give back to the community that supports their business. Join us one Thursday from 12:30-1:30 at Carrabba's to learn more about our club & Rotary. Did you miss our last 150 story? Check it out here. I, Olivia, joined the Apex Rotary Club back in 2008

Build you contacts without saving all those paper business cards. How? The Popl is the next generation business card. Using a simple tap, your Popl phone tag instantly shares your digital business card to both iPhone and Android devices. What's the best part? The other person doesn’t need an app or a Popl to receive your info! To pop your info, just tap your Popl to the top of an iPhone, or middle of an Android. Boom, all your info, is now saved to their phone. By using this technology you instantly have more connections, more leads, and more potential sales. Ready to try a Popl? We have some in our showroom! Learn more about this technology in this quick video. We want to know, are you ready for this type of technology?

Who doesn't love some silly fun? Imagine a group of kids or even adults trying to break this cup- well, they can't! That's unbreakable fun! Silipint®is a fun, eco-friendly gift made from patented, BPA-free, 100% food grade-tested and unbreakable silicone. The product is derived from sand, silicone manufacturing preserves less abundant natural resources. It's endlessly reusable silicone is a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. It's Unbreakable The platinum-cured silicone won’t crack, chip, dent, fade or scratch.That's reliable! It's Versatile Morning coffee or a beer for the ballgame, Silipint®is designed for both hot and cold beverages. It's Easy to Grip Non- Toxic. Microwave-Safe. BPA Free. Messaging: It’s perfect for events to add some fun. A promotional give away for bars & restaurants A commemorative gift Colorful, blended patterns- for diversity & inclusion Calling brand enthusiasts! Ready to try a sample?

When we use the phrase, "all in", it means one is vested in the outcome. At Promotional Partners, we jump & we embrace the uncertainty of what lies ahead, because it's an opportunity. Entrepreneurship is truly an " all in" venture. Owning a business does not come with guarantees or a sure footed path, yet it provides opportunities!. Opportunity is advancement & progress, but it's also how a set of circumstance make possible an outcome. Today's post is about going all in to embrace life & it's opportunities that create the fabric that defines us. Sixteen years ago, Olivia & Keith had never met many of the people that they now call friends. Similarly, organizations they've grown to support through service, sponsorship, donation or sharing a positive word of mouth is now part of their "all in" journey. Being a 5 year old that jumped off the 10ft dive, only days after learning to swim 5 feet across the pool, Olivia goes "all in". It's about the opportunity. Over the next year, Promotional Partners will be sharing stories about people and organizations that have enriched our 16 years in the Apex business community. Why? The answer is a sesquicentennial journey of past, present and potential. Have you heard? Apex is 150! This year the town is celebrating being 150 years old by reaching the peak through it's past, present & potential. Promotional Partners is currently 16 years of that rich history. By embracing our neighbors & community partners we remain excited by the present and look forward to discovering the opportunities that will unfold- maximizing our potential. Our future posts will dive straight into the story behind local partners. Who's our first feature? Apex CAPA Last Tuesday night Mayor Jacques Gilbert declared March 24, 2023 as CAPA Day in the Town of Apex, making this story the perfect place to start our sesquicentennial journey of past, present and future connections. Here's the proclamation. What is CAPA? Their purpose is to provide support and assistance through volunteerism to the Apex Police Department by partnering together to serve our community with pride and integrity. Their mission is to serve the Apex Police Department by assisting in administrative, non-police roles, thereby freeing up Officers so they may more effectively perform their duties. CAPA volunteers are also committed to serving the Town of Apex and community, as ambassadors and diplomats, by providing resources and services that enhance the Peak of Good Living’s quality of life. For the full story, visit their website. You've probably already met a CAPA volunteer or participated in a CAPA event. We know because over our sixteen years, our paths have crossed many times. We've seen CAPA at work through: Shred Day – Spring & Fall- a huge asset to our business Cleaning Up our local parks on the weekend Peak Fest – May- our festival commission appreciates their hours Apex Festivals- we attend in our leisure time- there is always a CAPA presence Charitable efforts for SONC, Special Olympics NC Torch Run fundraising events. Christmas activities on Salem, the annual Rotary Club Christmas Parade, as well as shopping with Christmas with a Cop in December support our neighbors & friends. Visit the CAPA website for a complete list of the local ways volunteers support the Apex Police Department & the Apex community through their service. We asked CAPA Volunteer President, Drew Ludlow why he's a member. Drew stated, "I feel that there are many reasons why people consider joining CAPA. Many Members empathize with our Officers and want to show appreciation and respect for their everyday heroic efforts. Some Members simply want to get involved and give back to the Apex Community. I think Members continue to be engaged because we have been successful at creating a close family environment within our group and the Apex Police Department. For me, it is personally rewarding to be part of something 'bigger'." Visit the Town of Apex's 150 website to learn about the past, present & potential of Apex. Follow #Apex150 **CAPA will be volunteering at our town's 42nd PeakFest May 6th Spring Shred Day Event is May 13th.