Each year data is crunched to determine the top requested promotional items and it's no surprise that consistently bags make the list. Afterall, bags are useful. Ask us to share the backstory of how a feed sack bag started our industry. Yep, it's true. While the story might have started with male entrepreneur's, branded bag makers continue today with both men & women leading companies. CNBC shared the backstory, a very cool story, about the founder & CEO of Bagmakers in this interview. Bagmakers was founded in 1980, has been a leader in consumer safety, an innovator to environmental products and exciting decoration processes. What makes a bag such a popular branding tool? Large imprint area Options! Such as the size, shape, fabric- materials & of course, custom!! Reduces waste Universal appeal- genderless A 2022 study by ASI found that individuals between 18-44 consider a bag one of the top 5 most useful products they can receive. Add value to your purchases by asking for bags that offer a greater impact, such as environmental efforts or bags that donate a portion profit to charity. Plus- 73% of consumer own a branded bag, generating over 3,300 impressions in an 11month span of time. One of our favorite bags from this woman-owned partner is the adventure bag - not only for the size and imprint options, which include full color & photos, but the name itself. Adventure is an important part of life! What's new for 2022 in the world of bags? Take a look at this video for a behind the scenes look some new process and materials all designed to enhance your branding campaigns. Which bag or decoration technique was your favorite?

Sustainability. Retail brands. On their own, each has strong appeal in the marketplace. Together? Now you’re talking about something really special. That’s why we’re so proud to introduce Hilana, a new retail brand partner that is committed to sustainability. The Hilana Story Hilana uses upcycled and recycled cotton to create beautiful blankets and other products that inspire a sustainable way of living. Founded in Santiago, Chile, this women-owned business is committed to finding new ways to protect the environment, driven by a commitment to sustainability, responsibility and craftsmanship. Always Upcycling Every year, about 100 billion pieces of clothing are produced. About 80 billion are purchased. More than half end up in landfills, taking decades to decompose. Hilana Upcycled Cotton closes the manufacturing loop in the cleanest way, using textiles made from recycled material through a zero-waste process – with no dyes or chemicals. This allows the brand to make high-quality blankets while minimizing its impact on the environment. In fact, during a three-year span, Hilana upcycled more than five tons of cotton waste and saved over 15 million gallons of water. Certified B Corporation On top of making stylish, eco-friendly blankets, Hilana is also a Certified B Corporation, which means it balances purpose and profit, considering its impact on workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. In order to become certified, a company must meet high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency on factors ranging from charitable giving to environmental impact and more. Meet Your New Favorite Blanket Not only do they look great, but eco-friendly blankets from Hilana are a gift you can feel good about giving. Take a closer look at the impact in this flyer. Through the end of March, products like these will be part of the humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine. Read more in this blog post. Note: Today is World Water Day- Are you looking for more stories around clean water, repurposing plastic or skipping disposable cups with recycled water bottles? Our blog is filled with ideas we have posted over the past several years. Which efforts do you support?

Being inclusive & representation is important, so we look for brands that reflect those values. In 1982, our owner Olivia put a paint brush in a high school senior time capsule, with a message stating one day she would become a woman-business owner with a business with an artistic purpose. In 2007, she & her husband Keith founded Promotional Partners, whose graphic designs have been seen around town for years! In fact, our team is almost all women! Here are some awesome retail brands owned by women! Debuting in 2017, Swig is a company that started at a grass-roots level to add a little southern hospitality that developed into fashion-forward drinkware line that's now added coolers, bags & more. CEO, Tracee Mathes, noticed there was a lack of premium insulated drinkware in a variety of designs, colors, shapes, and sizes that women love – thus, Swig Life was born! Hilana uses upcycled and recycled cotton to create beautiful blankets & other products that inspire a sustainable way of living. Founded in Santiago, Chile, this women-owned business is committed to finding new ways to protect the environment, driven by a commitment to sustainability, responsibility and craftsmanship. Moop- Led by founder & CEO Wendy Downs, Moop designs and hand-manufactures its high-quality canvas bags, start to finish, in its Seattle storefront. Committed to small-batch manufacturing- the small, talented Moop team designs, makes, packs & ships each Moop bag. Construction always starts with quality materials from trusted manufacturers to ensure its bags hold up to everyday use. ( The image on this post is a Moop bag) Seventh Avenue Apothecary - founded by a passionate mother-daughter team just outside of Tampa, Florida, Seventh Avenue Apothecary is a family-owned business following in the spirit of five generations of local business owners. From ocean mist to minted lavender, the brand’s artisanal scented candles are hand-poured and crafted using American-grown soybeans and supplies sourced in the United States. Each candle is made from 100% all-natural soy wax. Made*Here New York™ Karyn Villante designed sweaters for 15 years and fell in love with working in New York’s knitting mills before leaving the industry to raise her two young daughters – until years later when her daughter challenged her to start designing again. So she did. Now, Made*Here New York™ designs cozy sweaters and blankets made from premium cotton and cotton blends. Each piece is manufactured in New York, using the best and most detail-oriented mills, ensuring quality with every stitch. Combining handcrafted beauty & function- this woman-owned company uses bamboo to craft items for the home that are perfect for entertaining, cooking or as home decor that will add value and function to the recipient. This time of year a gift bag is a must! From plastic bags to mailers; to ribbon cutting products for local events to convention totes; a line dedicated to bags, including gift bags- this woman-owned partner has it all! Looking for stocking stuffer fun or trade-show items? This innovative partner is not only woman-owned, but delivers on products that engage consumers. Puzzled by how to connect with your vertical markets? No need to be perplexed this partner delivers on fun. Interested in planting seeds to the future? Seed paper is a low cost, high impact way to share your message. In fact, it remains one of the most creative & adaptable products we've featured over the years. The paper is visually exciting, feels good in the hand and provides that artistic touch. Paper is adaptable. It can become any shape, contain numerous different types of flowers or plants to grow long after your promotion or event is complete. There are organizations, such as Well- Aware, led by women, solving problem like access to clean water and all you need to do as a consumer is ask us about our Eco-Smart collection of products. Your purchases automatically give back. Support Women, Family-Owned and Small Businesses You can count on women-owned businesses, like Promotional Partners, to offer quality products to convey your brand story. After-all, we have been an NC Hub certified business since opening our doors in 2007.

Summer is coming- Floating is likely to be part of your adventures. Maybe you need something that's quirky enough to work! In our continuing series of unique products to insert your brand message today we explore a new product. What could you do with a floating cooler? Host a pool party Reward the team with cold beverages Float down the river Tubing at the lake Stop near a sandbar in the sound Take a look at this video- fun & simple. No matter how to decide to use this clam cooler, your design will take center stage. 100% customizable decals on the lid. Holds up to 58 - 12oz can Keeps ice for up to 3 days Leak proof for all-day floating Quick Access Lid No more getting out of the water to get your next drink Rugged: Roto-molded for ultimate durability in extreme outdoors Be the first to have one of these products for summer adventure!

The Otaria bag line features sleek waterproof designs which makes this collection a perfect companion for any outdoor adventure. What else should you consider for water adventures? Phoozy brand. Protect your phone from "drowning" and extreme temperatures this summer! No overheating allowed! Take along towel with magic ink! Ask us to share the video demo. Plan to float? The use a floating cooler! Make a splash graphically speaking- get noticed with custom graphics. Ask our team to create a stunning graphic like this "catch" that caught our attention. Towels that make an artistic statement and enhance your trip. Customize the landscape with canopies and pop up's. A hands free journey ahead for your outdoor adventures? Bring along enough drinks for the whole crew with the BackTap(TM) by BruMate. Holds three gallons of your favorite beverages -- the equivalent of 13 slim cans, twelve 12-ounce cans or five bottles of wine -- all in a leak resistant compartment to keep you refreshed all day long. Looking for a sustainable solution for a cooler? Ask us to share more refreshing, outdoor solutions to keep your summer- afloat! Including bucket hat coolers- now that's using your head!

As consumers, we've been wearing plastic for decades in the form of polyester yarns. April 22, 2023 is Earth Day. Polyester, the material used in most clothing made from non-natural fibers, is a type of plastic. Sustainability efforts with our apparel partners are turning plastic bottles into better solutions. “Today, 69% of all clothes are already made up of synthetic fibers, with polyester making up 64% of all fiber production,” says the article Recycled Plastics are Transforming the Clothing Industry. “According to a 2020 report by Textile Exchange, only 14% of all polyester production comes from recycled inputs—predominantly used plastic bottles. Storm Creek, one our women owner partners, is partner of our growing list of purpose driven partnerships seeking to reuse plastic for good. According to EarthDay.org, “Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year.” That’s 50,000,000,000. The vast majority of these will end up in landfills somewhere. We want to help change that. By doing our part, we have kept 24 million water bottles from becoming waste. What type of plastic is used to create fabric? PET, which stands for polyethylene terephthalate, the plastic labeled #1. It’s used for single-use bottles that contain things like water, soft drinks, fruit juices, salad dressings, peanut butter and other foods. PET plastic is easy to chop into chips, clean and melt the chips into beads that can be worked into spun yarn. It’s a very manageable process. Our partner at Storm Creek has been making eco-clothing since 2020- the Activator Polo, shown here, uses the equivalent of 13 recycled bottles. Is recycled clothing safe to wear? Yes, our partners make sure it's non-toxic, adhere to transparency regarding chemicals in production and packaging, as well as adhering to certifications and compliance in the textile industry. Check out the 2023 new trends here. What else has this partner been doing? 1% of sales annually to 1% For The Planet $31,137.60 raised to support 14 non-profits 150,000 Meals Donated to Feeding America during 2020 $25,640 in product donations in 2020 for clothing to keep those in need warm

What's more spring- than a mom with her baby ducks in a row? Today is Duck Duck Jeep Day- yep, it's a thing. What started as a random act of kindness in Ontario Canada between one Jeep owner and other, has turned in to " a thing" among old style and wrangler style jeep owners. Don't believe me- google it. From racing ducks, to color changing ducks to career oriented ducks to SUPER sized ducks, there is a way to add some fun and a smile to someone's day with a duck. Many ducks here. You know we love word play- maybe someone is ducking your calls? Send them a giant duck. That will make a point!

Words like innovation, impact and commitment are associated with going above & beyond, and often conjure up images of grandeur. Since today's post features sustainable solutions, a breathtaking view seemed fitting. For the past week, we have been posting about some amazing brands that deliver more. Today's post recap's the earlier posts and introduces you to 4 sustainable solutions. Reducing single waste. Guaranteed for 100 years. Giving back profits to 1% For The Planet? Does that sound too good to be true? ECOVESSEL is committed to those values. EcoVessel offers premium hydration bottles, mugs and tumblers that blend style and performance with a mission to reduce single-use plastics, all backed by a 100 year warranty. EcoVessel products feature a powder coated exterior finish and their TriMax Insulation (a stainless steel outer, stainless steel inner and Cooper inner) for superior temperature retention. EcoVessel is a proud member of 1% For The Planet and donates 5% of sales to nonprofits to promote and support sustainable initiatives. Shop EcoVessel here Similarly food storage and popular drinkware items that travel with easy, seamlessly fit your lifestyle and Reduce your environmental impact. Founded in 2006, Reduce was built on the mission to create simple, innovative drinkware solutions that reduce daily hassle and our impact on the environment. Reduce strives to develop high quality drinkware that is engineered to last a lifetime, guaranteed. Whether looking for a high-capacity bottle to hit hydration goals, or a coffee tumbler to take on the go, Reduce products are designed to seamlessly fit into daily routines. Circular Cup is the world's first reusable travel mug made from recycled coffee cups. Each Circular Cup is made from 6 single use, disposable cups that are recycled, given new life as Circular Cups and kept out of our waterways. Designed with practicality and circularity in mind, This sustainable travel mug is 100% leakproof, providing peace of mind while you're on the go. Designed for 10 years use, Circular Cup's unique push lid mechanism minimizes spills and offers one-hand opening. After 10 years use, your Circular Cup is 100% recyclable. Hopefully you've been following our recent posts featuring brand name drinkware products that offer your recipient more value. Making a positive difference on the environment with cups that are made from recycled single use coffee cups. Looking for something that's rugged for the trail, like plastic but feels like drinking from glass? How about if it's also made from recycled content? HydraPak is your solution. RECON is the first sustainable outdoor water bottle from HydraPak made from 50% recycled content in both the cap and bottle. Using Tritan Renew Tech these bottles are impact, stain and odor resistant. Did miss our earlier post around drinkware that fits your lifestyle & values? For the fitness enthusiasts, these brands are perfect. Combining fitness goals with technology & quality construction. Oprah loves here dogs- this bottle one of Oprah's favorite things & it's perfect for those with our without pets. Why? All the compartments & features that make an active lifestyle, well easy. How about entertaining? This brand offers luxury and sleek design. Maybe you'd like to pair a popular tumbler or water bottle with this plant based product to elevate your mental wellness? Which one of these innovative brands do you prefer?

As small business owners, who are also a "mom & pop", we love create opportunities and partnerships with other family owned businesses. On a recent trip Nashville to meet top supplier partners we discovered E.A Dion. Initially founded in 1968, this new partner offers beautiful, custom precious metal designs. Normally we associate rings like these with athletes, but sports are not the only place champions are found. Champions push through adversity to reach goals. Champions maintain a "winning" mindset. Champions are often found in advocates- pushing ideas and uplifting others towards a goal. When we think of the meaning behind recognizing others, our desire is to provide an acknowledgement that is special, and commemorates hard work, dedication or skill. The next time you want to: Capture a benchmark year A company merger Brand launch Grow awareness behind the race or tournament for a non-profit; wear it. Acknowledge years of service Let's discuss how wearable jewelry is an option for a keepsake gift. Looking for something more affordable than a Superbowl style ring? How about badge holders, charms, necklaces, belt buckles, tie tacks, earring, cuff-links, money clips, bracelets and broaches. Curious about these rings- yes, they are the real deal. Some fun facts about Superbowl rings: The NFL officially gives the winning team between $5,000 and $7,000 per ring for up to 150 rings. The rings usually end up costing anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 each with the difference in cost paid by the team’s owners. The LA Rams ring had the most diamond carat weight in NFL history, with approximately 20 carats of white diamonds set on top of white and yellow gold. The highest price ever paid for a Super Bowl ring is $230,401 in 2012. The ring was from Super Bowl 25 and previously belonged to New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Inspired yet to create a custom project?

The first Saturday in May is an annual celebration of spring & community nestled between the buildings in the historic downtown section of Salem Street. The day usually starts a little crisp, but sunny, and through out the day warms up to a gorgeous day in the Peak of Good Living. Yes, sometimes there is wind and rain, but despite what Mother Nature provides, there are always smiles. It's one of Olivia & Keith's favorite festivals, not only for all the things to experience, but Olivia has first hand knowledge of the work that goes into prepping this festival. Today's sesquicentennial story is a personal partner to us. PeakFest! Commission President Jeff Hastings has been leading efforts for the committee for over 12 years, with many long time members, like Olivia, as well as new members to the crew this year! A few of the festival commission shown here after a meeting: Left to right, Marlow, Lesleigh, Jeff, Olivia, Manuel, with Taylor Wray- Cultural Arts Center Manager in the blue, between Olivia & Manuel. Additional members of the commission, not in the photo, include Rick & Terri. It's amazing how many hands it takes before the event to coordinate the electrical hook ups, mark booth spaces, spruce up the streets with cleaning, provide temporary bathrooms, set up stages, as well as prepare for a safe event. Prior to and the day of the event, our town departments are working closely with the committee to facilitate the safety protocols from the fire & police departments. There are so many town departments at work behind the scenes to make the day's event fun for attendees. However once the festival gets going, town employees will be found having just as much fun as attendees; all smiles and dancing! Check our Officer Carter in action, dancing with the crowd. Yes- like Whitney's song, she wants to dance with somebody! Besides the fun, the festival gives back to the community in the form of grants to many worthy organizations each year. Read the article in the link below for more information about the impact. Additionally, the festival was among the first class of businesses and non-profits to be recognized with a Think Apex Award back in 2016. The day's event schedule is packed with free local and regional performers, as well as area kids pursuing their passion for dance, music and vocal entertainment. To capture the essence of the festival planned for 2023, check out this article in Suburban Living Magazine. Then check out some favorite images captured in from previous festivals here. Follow our Facebook & new LinkedIn page. Follow all the ways to be part of the 150 celebration on the town's 150 website We've linked together all of the sesquicentennial stories we are sharing in our community journey over the next year. Did you miss our latest post here?

Perhaps you've experienced the emotional wreath ceremony at the memorial on the corner of Salem & Saunders streets on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day. Maybe you have seen the field of flags to honor veterans? These events honor & demonstrate respect and gratitude for veterans past and present. These special events are only a part of what Apex Post 124 does for the local community. Today we put a spotlight on the work of this active club as one of the organizations we've come to know in our own sesquicentennial journey. Apex celebrates 150 years till Feb of 2024. . This weekend our local American Legion post is hosting a Golf Tournament at 12 Oaks in Holly Springs to raise money for club programing & assisting veterans. All of the funding for the club is raised through community events. You'll find club members active in festivals, civic groups and participating in local events to raise awareness for the post & the support they offer veterans. Upcoming events include the annual Oktoberfest & Car Show. What is the American Legion? “Veterans helping Veterans & supporting our community, while serving our nation” That's the motto of the American Legion. This post was established in 1943, then re-established again in 2010 by Mike Sayers. "The American Legion is the oldest patriotic veteran's organization in the America, devoted to mutual helpfulness of veterans. The legion is the nation's largest veteran's service organization committees to mentoring and sponsoring youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong security, and continuing to devotion to our fellow service members & veterans." Apex American Legion Post 124 is active in the Apex community. Rhonda Roberts has been the Post Commander since 2017. Their Facebook page includes upcoming events and photos from previous events in the community. Follow to stay in touch & up to date. Would you like to meet members? Join them the first Monday of every month, at the CC Jones building or the second Tuesday of the month for Banter & Brews. ( details are on the post site) Veterans from any branch of the military are welcome to meet other veteran's that have served in any branch of the US Military. When we asked what makes this local chapter special, Carl Helton immediately said, "It's the fellowship. We take care of each other. We drive older members to VA appointments, build ramps at homes were a veteran need ease of access, we collect food for members that need assistance, we purchase flags to place on graves on Memorial Day and we support others facing challenges & disaster in the community through our benevolent fund." The organization is self funded. Ask about sponsorship opportunities or talk to them at event. You'll find them every year at PeakFest booth, which is coming up soon on Saturday May 6th. We encourage you to get to know these members and learn how you can support their work in the community. On a personal note: Promotional Partners is supporting the golf tournament as a hole sponsor this weekend, Keith's dad served 23 years in the US Army.

Turn Your Energy Into Power- a metaphor for good! BioLite creates durable products that harness surrounding energy to cook, charge and light your life off-grid. The mission is simple, live life on your own terms. Cook. Charge. Light. What's the impact of this brand? Interested in the entire story? Here is the 2021 impact report. Ready to get off the grid in your leisure? Work from a remote location? Help individuals live brighter, safer lives? Take a look at this product flyer. Explore some options here. More to come with this new launch. What are your thoughts on this brand?