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Elevate your promotions with the proper accessories! Promoting your brand is a fundamental step in ensuring that your message is remembered and heard by as many people as possible. But why stop at the basics? Our partner, JournalBooks, an NC-founded company, considers all of the ways your custom journal can represent your brand through many different fun and exciting accessories to go with the journal. The success of your promotional book lies in the unique details that make it memorable. Add another reason to pick up your books again and again. Why not slip your logo in between the pages of your journal with an imprinted bookmark? Make your logo stand out with a unique bookmark to go with your standout journal. The Clip-In Marker/Ruler Bookmark clips into the journal spine and can be customizable to fit your brand's image. The accessories don’t have to stand out from the rest of the journal too much. In fact, they can be built right into the journal itself. The Custom Die-cut offers a variety of possibilities to show off your image in a new, innovative way. Going along with the journal itself being elevated to the next level, have your brand shape the journal itself. A Custom Shape Journal takes your creativity to the next level, as it is possible to cut your actual journal into a custom shape.

In a digital age greeting cards are not always the way we communicate. However December is still a popular month to send a physical card or letter. Among the stack of bills and solicitations, or this year campaign materials, it's nice to receive something personal. Taking time to send a message of cheer or sharing news about what's new in your life is special when it's in writing. By writing, we take time to stop and think for a moment about word choice and our message. Today is National Letter Writing Day! Let's explore some ways writing should become part of your marketing efforts. Conveying a story- new service or product within your business. Updating your paper communications- to make sure your stationary, forms, cards and envelopes reflect your current brand message; the color, font and style. Selecting a unique time of year to send a greeting- Thanksgiving, birthday, anniversary of your first order, etc. Not only will your greeting not be lost in the shuffle, but it's more manageable, personal and will stand out to the recipient. Call to action- with purpose. Would you like someone to attend a conference or stop by your booth at an expo? Send them a card- but not just any card. Consider the adaptability of seed paper, which once it's read can be crushed up, planted and will grow a plant! Combining the popularity of kitting- add a tangible to your message. Integrate technology with print and video. Keep in mind that while there are stock options, when it comes to creating mail, that's an area we can apply our graphic expertise. In the graphic studio, we have paper samples and examples to make planning simple. Our team will create something creative and custom to your needs.

Travel is back- for leisure and destination events. As we rapidly approach 2023 many of our partners have started planning for Q1 Trade-shows, conferences, sales kick off meeting, seminar training and special events. Standing out visually requires stunning graphics & product selection that works well for all of your types of venues. The showroom space, and now our expanded graphic studio, provide you a place to meet one on one with our team to compare product options and start the design process. While technology is amazing, designing is often quicker & easier in person. We can quickly show you some design elements, fonts and discuss your vision to quickly capture your preferences before starting the project. Our talented design team is ready for any challenge & our 15 years of experience will be an asset in the design, product selection and planning for your next visual communication. Ask to share from our case study library or send you links to new products. We also have a virtual showroom to see the size and scale of product next to other products here. What types of events are you attending in Q1?

It's not too late to get those signature gifts in the hands of employees or top referral partners. What gifts are popular this season? What brands? Sony with great sound Klean Hydro Flask As we head into the home stretch for 4th quarter- guess what, we still have quick turn options! We placed a blanket order for a client earlier this week & it arrived days later! What's trending? Brand names for the durability, value and performance. Brand names, are trusted and kept- increasing your brand exposure. Brands with purpose- giving back, aligned with social or environmental issues, such as Proud Path, supporting often underutilized businesses- such as woman-owned as well as brands that give back to make a difference. Explore 4 popular trends here. From cool gifts, to gifts for any budget. We have "the goods". Need the ease of distribution? Ask us about perfectly packaged options ready to kit and go! The shipping to the unboxing experience made super easy- no waiting in line no wrapping necessary! Ready to start shopping? Here is a curated site of product ideas, just for you!

What embodies the characteristics of brave and fearless? According to Pantone- it's pinkish, redish color which is officially Viva Magenta (PANTONE 18-1750 and Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year. Pantone goes on to describe the color as a new animated red “expressive of a new signal of strength” as a growing digital world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman is quoted as saying in the release, “In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real.” Eiseman and VP Laurie Pressman describe the color as: "Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known." “Rooted in the primordial, Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature." "Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.” Symbolizing “the global innovation and transformation taking place.” “Sends a message of vibrant positivity” “Highlights our change of perspective” “We do feel this animated crimson red tone is reflective of this unique cultural moment.” “We are living in an unconventional time, time where we need to follow bravely and boldly, create a new vision and write a new narrative for ourselves.” Additionally this year, Pantone has released a series of complementary colors it calls "the Magentaverse." What is your opinion on this bold new choice?

“Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity and time.” Alan Collins Today, Wake County Public School's Career Academies, hosted an Internship Summit, with juniors from across the entire academy system. Business partners and former academy students, now in the workforce, came together today to help diminish fears, provide guidance and tips to prepare juniors secure an internship. The event provided 4- 40 minute sessions covering, workplace ethics, making an impression, getting connected and ask the experts. The insights and candid conversations among panelists & later in round table discussions yielded some valuable tips. Such as? It's never too soon to start building your network. Start simple. Establish your LinkedIn profile. Connect with friends, teachers and family. Ask those connections to make connections for you through digital introductions and in person. Connect to individuals in company's or industries that align with your interests. Start building a character profile through recommendations. Your friends, teachers, coaches, family and part-time employers can speak to your skill sets; making you stand out to potential employers. Are you introverted & terrified of interviewing? You are not alone. Introverts on the panel suggested practice. Ask questions & make conversation with family friends, coaches & teachers. To help you build your confidence, consider practicing through mock interviews within your new found network! Gain confidence, secure feedback and learn different styles of interviewers using this process. Clean up your social media- don't post what you wouldn't want plaster on a billboard with your face. Be bold! The answer is always no if you don't ask. If you want to work at a company, consider sending your resume and cover letter through email to a key decision maker or reach out on LinkedIn to inquire if they are hiring. Sometimes landing an internship is timing & luck. Busy people are, well busy. Your email, letter or LinkedIn message might get buried instead of opened. Be persistent and follow up. Keep in mind a company might not be hiring right now- the timing may be off. People want to help. If you are not a fit or they don't have an opening, they may have a suggestion for a different place to apply or be willing to make a connection for you. Try not to take rejection personally. Rarely does an internship land in your lap. Rejection is normal. Consider it practice for the right opportunity. Realize securing an internship is a bit like dating. It's finding the right fit by the hosting company and the intern. Do you want to spend 8 hours with that employer, doing that type of work? Conversely, the employer is asking questions to determine if you are the best fit for their team too! Be observant. What's the environment like? The way employees dress or the interaction among their team will be clue's to the work environment. Spoiler alert, if it's an open format, your soft skills may be tested daily. How can you set yourself apart? The you beyond your resume. Don't underestimate the power of the cover letter. Who are you? When asked- tell us about yourself, provide answers that help form connections. Do you have pets or love fishing at the beach, collecting baseball cards or even making cookies? You are likely to make a connection. An interviewer might respond, I love to fish too, what have you caught? I love cookies too- what's your favorite? Mine is Oatmeal Raisin. ( Don't hate ) Connecting on common ground puts everyone at ease. Another approach might be to ask an interviewer what they like about their job or why they went into that industry. Sometimes removing the jitters is as simple as saying- I'm nervous! This is my first real interview. They already know you are a student. It's an internship, not the rest of your life! Extract the value. Did you learn you like a small setting over a large company? Do you want more or less structure? Are you comfortable at a computer station all day? Do you thrive when you can collaborate on a project? Basically the theme of the day was don't be intimidated to establish a network. Get out of your comfort zone and get started today! Besides, your never too old or too experienced to make new connections. Events like today refresh our way of thinking and approaching shared challenges and provide opportunities to form connections.

In 2021 North Carolina has more than 964,000 small businesses, which accounts for over 99 percent of businesses & employ 1.7 million people. November is associated with gratitude. We’d like to thank each of you for supporting us. Your referrals & relationship kept us going in 2020 & sustain our continued growth. Together we are able to employ a talented team, doing what we love, fueling our passion and give back to the community. Supporting education means investing in the future. Knowledge empowers, opens doors and leads to innovative ideas. On Small Business Saturday our doors will be open to feature partners making a difference for education. Meet our friends at ASPF - Apex Public School Foundation to learn how you can support local Apex schools. Help us raise money for our 2022 Cares Program for Wake Tech Foundation Learn about 4 of our partners making a difference for education through their brand power. Score some discounts, perks, free promotional items & make some new friends 1. This partner has cutting-edge products that also donate back a minimum of $10,000 worth products for education purposes each year. The Kids In Need Foundation makes sure the school supplies are donated to teachers & students affected by natural disasters or fighting poverty. Trusted by major brands. 2. This partner pairs up artists & businesses to create incredible custom notebooks & journals, demonstrating artists can solve challenges, creatively. Quick turn- 2 weeks, only 50 unit minimums. Sustainability is also a key factor in the print process & construction of their journals, with 75% recycled content, FSC certified papers & the paper and ink is 100% recyclable. Plus USA Made! The innovation continues by building schools in Mali, Guatemala, Laos, Ghana, Nicaragua, and the U.S through profits from your partnership. 3. This partner has donated over 7 million products with their One for One program. Every time you purchase 1 of 22 items in their Give Back Program, that same item is donated to NAEIR providing students access to basic school supplies. Low cost advertising that also helps students- a no brainer. 4. This partner utilizes 4 major brands of tee shirts & sweatshirts to earn a cash rebate for a school of your choice! The Hanes4Education® program only applies to Hanes®, Champion®, Alternative® and ComfortWash® shirts purchased in bulk for embellishment from wholesalers. Products purchased at retail stores do not qualify. What types of products from these 4 brands? Printed T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and shorts. Using Hanes4Education, schools can earn $0.10 for every eligible piece of apparel ordered from wholesalers for embellishment. For example, if you order 2,000 T-shirts, your designated school will receive a rebate check for $200.00. A maximum of $1,000 (10,000 pieces of apparel) can be earned per rebate request, and a single school may earn a maximum of $5,000 from the Hanes4Education® program per calendar year. Rebate requests in excess of this maximum will not carry over to the following calendar year. Learn more about our pop up event this Saturday here. Besides your discount, purchasing products from any of these 4 partners before Dec 30, 2022 means we will make a $15 donation to Apex Public School Foundation. Shop. Dine. Learn. Small Business Saturday

After a long hot summer, inviting nights by a fire, outdoor activities & local festivals are perfect for these cozy products. Cozy products provide a sense of comfort- like a gift from the heart. The unboxing experience, enhanced by 2020, makes a cohesive presentation to a recipient exciting & left feeling appreciated. Employee programs, key accounts, turn-key gifts, and fundraising can all be accomplished with this type of boxed kit. Fulfillment made easy- click here to download the presentation.

It's not necessarily be loud to be strong or command attention. In fact, a whisper generates interest. We crave the secret message. Today is National Entrepreneur Day and every entrepreneur wants to make sure their voice is heard; craved. Your voice is your brand identity at work. Your brand guide serves as the rules- the gatekeeper for color, font, placement on promotional materials. Your style is the look & feel of your brand; your identity. Being recognized means your voice is credible & reliable to your message; identifiable. Here are some examples: Patagonia - We’re in business to save our home planet Honest Tea - To create & promote great-tasting, healthy, organic beverages Think of your brand identity this way: your logo is the recognized face of your brand, grabbing attention just like your smile. The engagement created by that introduction creates a network of consumers interested products & services you have to offer that hopefully become fans! Your print materials are visual communications. Your business cards, brochures, business forms, checks and stationary are a first impression to your businesses, as well as your location. What you choose to put on your windows & walls or display are all part of the foundation of your brand message. Unique, memorable and cohesive graphics, will evoke a stronger connection to your message. Creating visuals consumers crave. What can a designer do for your brand? Here's a brand launch case study around our partner The Chris Murray Team. Are you starting to figure our what secrets we've been keeping? Join us on Small Business Saturday & follow our socials this week, to get the scoop! How many new businesses were launched in NC during 2021? Read more here.

For those that serve in the military or for First Responders wearing & earning patches is part of their uniform and culture. When we saw these duffels & backpacks, we thought they were unique because you could quickly add or remove a patch. Shared gear, between shifts? Quickly change names for identification. During disaster relief, quickly anyone added to your team with instant identification Recognize an individual for their service or achievements with commemorative or certification patch. Honor an entire group with a special signature patch. Watch this quick video clip to see how simple it is to add or remove a patch. How do you think this type of bag could be best utilized?

What's the benefit of a sticky situation? In this case, a premium place locate your brand message that's accessible & convenient & valued by recipient's. When branding the size of the imprint area is important, because more content can be inserted without crowding the space. When are large imprint area also allows a "full bleed", then a graphic designer can play with a variety of visual messages in the same area. Besides, it's opportunity to be creative, with captivating graphics. What offers a huge imprint space, a full bleed & is considered an office essential? Sticky products!! Hang a treat at each cubical Kick off your sales year with prioritizes outlined Use an interactive sticky book at your sales conference Bundle kits to ship Create a seasonal message or inspire with a quote Get the lint off Map out the year Drop in a loyalty gift to the next order Create a call to action What's important? Sticking to your sales & marketing goals! Just another quirky enough to work idea, with a huge content area.

The Star Trek phrase- space, the final frontier creates both a call to action, as well as inspiring the imagination. Innovative marketing ideas don't have to be expensive. In fact, sometimes free ideas generate out of this world results. For example, did you know that NASA doesn't make money from the branded merchandise that other companies produce? The NASA logo brand is free; all a company must do is submit their designs to the space agency for approval to make sure they’re using the assets correctly. While revenue is not created from licensing their logo, that doesn’t mean their brand isn’t a shining star. Anytime you see a NASA shirt, pin, or mug, their mission message of space exploration is launches new views. How about this fun fact - Snoopy has 2.6 million Instagram followers, meaning there is an audience that cares about what’s next for Snoopy. What’s the takeaway for your brand? Branding & advertising go hand in hand. Generating interest & engagement requires thoughtful planning, an interesting story, and graphics that go above & beyond! Let's take your brand out of this world!