Road Warriors- those individuals that can't sit still, they are consistently on the go for work or play. Don't they deserve THE BEST travel gear has to offer? Think about the brand engagement you are seeking at your next tradeshow. What types of incentives will get attendees to your booth and sharing their contact information with you? We all know that items that pack well for the return trip are an essential show selection. We should all know that the emotional response of the attendee to what you have to offer is important in product selection. Often we look for ways to reward & retain our road- warrior workforce. After-all, it's not a lifestyle for everyone. What types of products will help make an impact? Image winning name brand travel luggage from American Tourister. Positioned as one of the largest luggage brands in the world, thanks to its continued tradition of quality and design at a great value, American Tourister® is the smart choice for a wide selection of travel products, including luggage items as well as casual and business bags. Yep, we offer this brand- not everything we offer is featured on our website! Maybe your favorite is Samsonite? Samsonite® is a worldwide leader in superior travel bags, luggage, and accessories combining notable style with the latest design technology and the utmost attention to quality and durability. For more than 100 years, Samsonite has leveraged its rich design to create unparalleled products that fulfill the on-the-go lifestyle needs of the business professional. TUMI brand products. Exceptional quality and high performance products have made TUMI the leading International, lifestyle and accessories brand that travelers depend on consistently. This is what we call the TUMI Difference. You'll find elevated craftsmanship, durability and resiliency is in the DNA of everything produced. They create products that are sustainable and feature exclusive materials, creating travel solutions for today and beyond. The following five principles guide us as they continually evolve, creating innovating and testing products to meet the needs of consumers. ( notice those words, creative - innovative again) What will you put in those travel bags? How about rugged, ready to perform Such as this Thule Tech Keeper or packing cubes! Not familiar with the Thule brand? Check out our next blog post. Be prepared for Q1. Ask us to craft incentive programs for employee performance goals, gift programs or trade-show packages that include quality gear- ready for life's next adventure. Remember "brands travel"- we've been telling you that for years!

Did you know that 2023 is officially the Year of the Trail in NC? North Carolina has trails everywhere- from your local parks here in the triangle to hiking in the mountains or exploring the coast on 4 wheels, 2 legs or searching for trails left by wild horses. The beauty and expansive options for ways to see our state are abundant. What types of products will you want trail side? Warm beverages on a winter night. Gear Bags that aren't worried about rain or snow. Flexible options. Personal care in your pocket Maybe even your own Matador? Without the cape of course! Gifts, employee incentives and even loyalty redemption from your consumer base or trade-show attendee should show some creativity. Your brand has something to say- capture attention, hold attention. Be useful and purposeful with your branding choices. When your brand message aligns with the needs and values of your recipient- you'll be remembered. Can't get enough of the great outdoors? During the year we feature brands for outdoor enthusiast as a way to demonstrate non-traditional ways to engage your target markets, craft employee recruiting & retention programs and innovative ways to say thank you. When one takes the road or trail less traveled- the unexpected occurs. Brand engagement is about creating opportunity for your brand to be front & center in life!

Today is National Hat Day. Head-wear is always a smart branding choice. Not only do hats offer solid solutions to wearable challenges of sizing, but there are other wise reasons to consider a cap in your next wearable campaign- outlined in this 2020 post. The popularity of caps has grown since 2020; it's become one of the most requested wearables we offer. For that reason our showroom has a huge stock of stock & custom options, as well as trusted brand names. Hat enthusiasts all have features that matter when selecting caps- from profile to fit to fabric to decoration. Besides ease of distribution, head-wear as a wearable boasts impressive stat's for ROI for your branding: What type of headwear is popular? It depends on the season and demographic of your target markets. Trucker styles, premium golf brands and beanies are popular requests. Many of our recent posts have been about outdoor experiences, innovation & creativity. The Spacecraft Brand has always been about exploration- encouraging you to wander, create & explore and has become a vehicle for art and cultural interactions. For a limited time, we have some Spacecraft Brand caps- ready for decoration. ( Not familiar? This brand was conceived by a photograph of a snowcat at an Alpental backcountry run) Looking for more innovation? Ponytail caps have become a popular option- here's a snap-back trucker option. What features do you value in a cap?

A little rain or snow? Don't let that stop your travels. We love weather resistant duffels , ready for any adventure. What types of features can you expect? Oversized-Wide mouth opening make it easy to pack Lots of pockets Compression straps to prevent bag contents from falling to the bottom when in backpack mode Padded bottom cushions your gear from the ground Locking zippers deter thieves- use your own lock. Free run charges for embroidery up to 10,000 stitches. Thule brand likes to say, whether "exploring the spectacular nature of the great outdoors or traveling the world with family and friends, we all have a passion for enjoying an active life. At Thule, we share your desire to spend more time enjoying our passions – which means less time worrying about how to bring all the stuff we need. For more than 75 years, Thule has been creating solutions to simplify life’s adventures. We are committed to developing smart, stylish products that are environmentally sound, high quality, safe, and easy to use. All so you can bring the things you care most about." In fact, Thule suggests that: Whatever your passion, whatever your pursuit. Wherever you ́re going, whatever you ́re bringing. With Thule, you're free to live your active life to the full. Bring your life. All of it with you! The perfect travel companion? This tech organizer. Explore more gear for your next great adventure. Gifting & incentives should be about the recipient right? Any outdoor enthusiasts in your circles?

Effective branding relies on capturing one's attention. Staying with your target markets in a consistently visible way. A product that well, sticks around. What am I talking about? Stickers of course. Did you know we process images and visuals much faster than we process text alone? There are studies suggesting that a visual transmits information 60,000 times faster and that 90% of information our brain processes comes from our visual experiences. Stickers can be any size, any shape and for several years now stickers have become a sought after, hot collectible. Stickers can perform a function, make friends, entice the eye, be for fun or show some brand loyalty. Whatever the message- our graphic's team can create some ways to capture & hold attention for your brand message. Let's play with some concepts in our design studio!

Do you have something exciting happening in 2023? Add suspense, intrigue and excitement with a big reveal. Footprints come and go quickly in the waves. Even if only there for a few seconds- they make an impression that reflects a journey. Visually exciting moments, might be just the type of drama you need to make your news release more impactful. Is your company headed down a new path for 2023? Perhaps you have plans to launch a new product, additional services or celebrating a milestone moment in the timeline of your company. Make an impression on your target markets by disappearing. That's right. Disappearing. Add some magic to the moment. This is one of many ways to use clever graphic design team to share your story. Here is our line of mugs for disappearing ink. These mugs are also USA Made! * Note for those of you that need to know the science behind the magic, here's how disappearing ink works. Carbon dioxide reacts with moisture in the air to form carbonic acid (H2CO3).The carbonic acid caused an acid–base indicator in the ink to turn colorless.

Creativity Month must include coloring products. The playfulness is undeniable. Stock options are perfect if you don't have something in mind or need something quick turn. There are plenty of stock coloring books & pencils, totes & bags that can be colored at your booth or in your store. However if your business offers artisan products, creative services or needs interaction to retain educational messages- then custom is the way to go! Products that can be colored to add a layer of sensory engagement: Sharing educational messages with items such as rulers with fire safety tips. De-stress or overcome boredom in the airport for travelers with kits Use coloring puzzles, pennants, magnets or bandanna's to reinforce messages. Normally coloring books or stock images rely on coloring in the lines to make the image come to life, but our team enjoys coloring outside the lines! We look for ways to apply our innovative thinking and graphic expertise to custom projects! We think outside the lines. Many products can become a coloring surface. A banner can start as line art - leaving space to share your vision of the future. Messages create a graffiti effect and inspire discussion. Discussions lead to creative solutions. What are some ways we've applied our creative marketing & graphic design knowledge? Banners You might recall our community project raising awareness & having fun with kids. Custom storybooks, coloring books & activity book for community engagement, commemorative projects and education. We have samples in our design studio. Tee shirts for fabric markers & tie dye projects with schools. Grand opening event with local partners, like Sawdust & Clay offering access to learning, and one of a kind art for your home! These colored pencils & sticky notes, with a ghosted image of their branding, offered a way to put a little creativity in everyone's hand that attended. What types of products allow for some creative expression? Our showroom & graphic studio spaces are perfect for comparing & collaborating.

When your afraid of the dark- a flashlight can be your best friend. The beams, lumens and watts will help light up your surroundings. Most of us don't need a flashlight everyday, but when you need one, you want a quality solution. A flashlight will shed light down a path, illuminate the wall for shadow puppets, provide you piece of mind when the power goes out and make work easier by providing adequate light; hands free! We offer many quality brands of flashlights including Cree , Bayco and Nightstick When comparing options consider these tips. Lumen A Lumen is a unit of standard measurement used to describe how much light is contained in a certain area. One lumen is equal to the amount of light a candle lets fall on 1 square foot of area, 1 foot away. Lumen measures the brightness of a bulb. What is Beam Spread? Beam Spread or Beam Angle is the cone of light emitted from the flashlight. Watts The number of watts represents the power consumed by a bulb. LED Brightness and Beam Angle The total brightness of a LED bulb or flashlight is best to be measured in lumens. The common range is 10 lumens, which is minimum. 30 lumens works for most household needs Tactical work for police & military has 90- 1200 lumens, which light up objects at a great distance. Flashlights make a nice gift for new homeowners!

Creatives- who and what are they? Innovative thinkers- Who see a new approach Designers- That figure out how to make something more, with less Artists, musicians, inventors or writers- That inspire us with their talents When you meet individuals or teams that are vested in being purposely different- we'd say you've met creatives. Our industry is full of creatives. Designers, innovators and those that deliver inspiring brand messages with clever campaigns. January 6th is National Technology Day. It's pretty difficult to find individuals not using technology around you each day. It's become the way we communicate, entertain ourselves and an critical business tool. Over the last year we've featured purpose driven and innovative technology such as: Rocketbooks Tangelo Nimble Skullcandy Popl Let's explore 3 innovative technology products or brands that offer full color imprints. Our imagination can apply our graphic knowledge to create captivating designs. Like this bluetooth key finder- Boost your brand when you give out this Spot Pro: Bluetooth finder and key chain to customers! When customers are ready to lock up the house behind them and turn the ignition to go on an adventure this tag is perfect. Not only is this great for carrying keys, but it's also easy to find it and other devices by firing up a free app on your phone. Clever & colorful. Linq - is a networking platform that allows you to share your information with others using completely customizable pages. Share your information remotely or with SmartProducts. Showcase photography, book a shoot, all just by tapping your Linq Card. List out all of your links and socials, then link to your page from your Insta bio. Share your personal contact & your business contact with the same card. Just by tapping your product or scanning a QR code with their camera you instantly share info- no app required. Pretty creative aye? Maybe even this modern travel clutch. It fits right on your phone. It's perfect for ID, credit cards or a room key when you're traveling. Plus, it's a phone strap that gives you a better grip on your device eliminating the need for a big, bulky wallet or purse on a night out. The perfect pairing. What type of technology do you find creative & helpful?

Is every day now casual Friday? Maybe, not. There is no doubt a more casual standard is now acceptable in the workplace. Your power of observation is a key tool to demystify the dress code. Just like the tone of their language on their website and marketing materials, employees will likely be dressed in ways that reflect the culture of that company's dress code. While comfort is important, fashion trends prove everything goes round. For those of us in high school in the 80's we know we embraces the preppy look. What's Trending for 2023? Workleisure: Keeping Work Comfortable- still relevant! We’ve been talking about athleisure for years — and it continues to evolve today. Comfort is important in the workleisure philosophy, meaning clothes that fit comfortably and also help the wearer feel comfortable in their own skin. Workleisure embraces flexible work models and plays into younger generations’ desire for choice and accepting gender fluidity. We stocked the showroom with Ogio styles that deliver on comfort, style and performance. Power Casual: Making Work Special- gained popularity with many of our own clients last year. Now take everything we just talked about and flip it on its head. The Power Casual trend, we’re still blending professionalism and comfort but now the emphasis is on looking more polished. “People want to get dressed up again, but we still want to have the comfort,” says Helen Lambert, CEO of The Style Pulse. Power Casual looks tend to be more structured and durable, but also feature clothing you can move around in comfortably. We've stocked Mercer + Mettle styles in the showroom for just this type of professional, but comfortable look. Balance. Purpose- become a more frequent request In 2023 there is a lot of talk around finding balance and re-imagining what is important in life, which includes consumer interest in sustainable options. A Change in Perspective- ah, what's old is new. As our lives shift, the way we look at familiar favorites is renewed too. Maybe that’s why we’re seeing the return of preppy style. Once the traditional dress code for older generations, the prep aesthetic is now being adopted by Millennials and Gen Z and finding new life in their Instagram and TikTok feeds. Tailored looks with Brooke Brothers Style. Spoiler alert, there will be ties mixed in with those tailored Brooke's Brothers selections. Is it your move? Luxury activeware- just look around the streets in your town. Focused on adventure & movement. Brands we can trust and activity-based items like crossbody bags, backpacks, hoodies and even leggings. Looking for a sneak peek at some popular styles and new partnerships for your branding needs in 2023? Whether your uniforming your team in rugged performance gear like Carhartt, planning to reward your team with luxury active & outerwear or seeking to refresh your wardrobe by embracing the preppy style. Our showroom is the perfect place to try on clothing, compare brands and discuss decoration methods to make sure your choices reflect your brand identity. Which style trends fit your individual vibe? * Thanks to our friends at Sanmar for these links & tips!

After 2022 the word flexibility has taken on part of our culture. Individuals are looking for solutions to play on their terms- to live life flexible. Here's a California based company, with a simple mission to inspire & support active lifestyles with innovative, portable products. What happened? Three outdoor enthusiast put their brainpower together to design the brand Vapur! Additionally they wanted to help solve the challenge of unwanted waste in the outdoors, as well as the after effect of plastic. Since its National Creativity Month, we've been sharing creative products. What makes the brand innovative & creative? A reuseable water bottle that will stand when full and can be rolled, folded and flattened when empty. Easy to tuck in bags and pockets. It's 84% lighter than Typical rigid bottles. The bottle is lightening the footprint on the environment. Using less energy to make them There are even after hours design for enjoying wine & spirits! Reusable, flexible, collapsible, durable, freezable, dishwasher safe and BPA-free. Is part of your daily routine to take your four legged buddy on your journeys? If so, you will appreciate this EZ Lick version of Vapur There you have it- freeze it, squeeze it but whatever you do, don't avoid getting out there to enjoy life! Does your brand identity offer flexible & adaptable options or unconventional solutions? This type of product will capture those messages, as well providing a sustainable choice.

It's National Creativity Month - plus Friday the 13th is National Sticker Day, so we thought it might be fun to feature some dramatic brand enhancements for you to consider. As Steve Jobs once said, “Packaging can be theater, it can create a story.” The design of a product’s packaging determines the story it conveys to consumers and plays a role in their decision to purchase. So, how does a brand create a packaging story that can outshine the competition, demand consumer attention, and ultimately win the sale? Silver BOPP Roll Labels provide a prime solution for standout packaging in a variety of markets. Let’s explore the most popular uses for this exciting new product! Vitamins & Supplements According to IBIS World, the vitamin and supplement manufacturing market is currently sitting at $37.2 billion. With a high volume of supplement production, comes a high demand for bottle labels. Metallic labels are a huge trend in this industry because they help brands steal consumers’ attention on overcrowded shelves. This is crucial for these businesses because, in this market, competition is fierce. Cosmetics In the world of cosmetics, beauty is everything. Making customers feel good about themselves is the goal of these companies. While the products themselves must invoke feelings of beauty, the journey starts with the packaging. Using silver BOPP to create stunning metallic effects will speak volumes to consumers. If the label sparks a feeling of luxury, the consumer is likely to believe the contents will do the same. Food & Beverages From craft products to name-brand staples, food and beverage packaging utilizes metallic finishes on a regular basis. The shiny material draws the consumers’ eyes to it on the shelf and instills a belief that the contents are of the highest quality. Shoppers will find high-end labels on products such as luxury chocolates and specialty canned goods like tender young peas, or healthy hand-crafted beverages such as kombucha or specialty coffee. Another popular choice includes Silver Can & Crowler Labels for a fun finish on canned craft beers and other alcoholic beverages. Silver BOPP offers a beautiful metallic finish that can emulate any metallic color. We digitally printed these labels and overlaminate them with your choice of gloss or a pen-receptive matte lamination. Choose the option that best complements the label design and brand image. We include white ink in the price as it provides a barrier for areas that should not be metallic (like behind a UPC code). Gloss lamination provides an extra layer of shine that will reflect light and create vibrant, stunning effects. A matte finish will allow the shine of the material to show, but in a more subtle manner that provides a softer, luxurious feel. Learn more about this exciting new product with a visit to our graphic design studio. We've got the right partner to make you shine in 2023!