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Think about it; when you go on vacation you usually want to purchase a souvenir. Those items usually bear the name of the location you've visited. If you google the history of souvenirs you'll find souvenirs were relics from destinations preserving engagement with sacred and historic sites. Surprised? After-all, is modern society really any different than our ancestors? We all want to capture memories. Each December we participated in the annual Halle Cultural Arts Tree Display; which benefits the Western Wake Crisis Ministry. After participating for the past 12 years in the event, the question was how do we "step up"  our entry for 2019? After gaining permission from the Town of Apex to use the trademarked phrase (yep, it's trademarked) "the peak of good living" , we added some decorated pint glasses, tumblers and coffee mugs to our tree. We were not surprised at the interest in bidding on that tree. We posted images about our tree entry on social media and requests flooded our inbox for "the peak of good living" items. The popularity of those items helped inspire choices today. Our lead graphic designer, Miranda Schulstad, collaborated with the Town of Apex to design a logo for the town that would capture popular retail trends, evoke hometown pride and incorporate the licensed phrase, "the peak of good living". At the Halle Cultural Arts Center, you may purchase a piece of hometown pride. How does design work go from concept to print? Expertise, talent, and time are what drives a successful graphic design. While designs may seem simple, the ability to select the right font, determine how an imprint will print on a product, and a creative flair all need to work together with a client's vision. The repetition of creating logos and designing layouts for products contribute to our team's ability to quickly and expertly create a custom design. Providing a product that creates a souvenir that will sustain your memory takes an expert hand. It's exciting to see our graphics - at work!

While not everyone is a visual learner, a hot trend in marketing is an infographic. You've probably noticed we've been inserting them frequently into our blog posts and educational materials. Images tell stories quickly and we remember images. Images also make it easier to share a lot of content - less words, strong impact. You've followed the blog, you've visited the team in our showroom and compared your options for products. What's next? Now it's time to create the graphics!!! Like an infographic, our expert team is working with you to create a graphic that will appeal to your audience, convey your content and add some flair! Many of clients have a general idea of what they want to include-such as words, themes and images; however placing those elements still takes a trained eye. Often we are starting with establishing font preferences, design elements and adhering to your branding specifications. Basically our graphics team works to ask questions and provide visuals to figuring out what our clients find appealing, "pretty" . We need to determine what will convey their message and create a unified outcome. Fortunately, we've been offering in house graphic design for 12 years! If you consider there is an average of 2080 hours in work year, then multiply that number by 12= that is 24, 960 hours to experience at work for you!! Wow- take in that number. #knowledge A cohesive booth will get you noticed!

You've been to the showroom and selected the products you want for your branding campaign, but do they work with your imprint area? Many clients may want to include their logo as well as other content on their products. However, many imprints have very limited space. It’s important that the content be readable and have no printing issues. We have several tips that are important to remember when branding on the website. At Promotional Partners, we have the experience to know which things will and will not work in certain imprint areas. We will guide you through the art process and suggest a few imprint options to best utilize the imprint area. Adding this service, saves time once the order is placed, because the proof process with the supplier is seamless; a double check that the order is ready to print. Below is an image of an actual proof based on a virtual image we provided for Apex Cabinet Company. We advise our clients that a small imprint area has a stronger impact when your name is bold as with BF Designs. Normally we advise that adding phone numbers, websites and taglines often take a way from the imprint area. Working through the design work is a great reason to take advantage of our in house design services! You know I am a rule breaker; so I ignored our advise and added a tagline, BUT selected pens with a large imprint area and it just seemed the WRITE choice to make! Besides, pens are one of the highest impression items you can select, making them a right choice in branding.

Our NC partner, Suntex has been an innovative partner for many of our projects! When our clients want to insert their message into the fabric of their target market's day; well, the pun's intended - textiles are a great solution. Wearable items like caps, gloves and socks keep us comfortable. Similarly towels and blankets make functional gifts. Looking for proof? How about these stories: The YMCA has jumped in feet first with socks to acknowledge donors and texting gloves for youth volunteers as gifts. We've done fuzzy feet for senior living centers, contractors and healthcare practices seeking a unique gift to connect their brand to comfort. Zipper pulls were added to town apparel for "a dash more" when it's not an option to stand out from your competition. Need to instantly become part of a celebration? Stock shapes and custom are the perfect solution. Patches are a great way to remember the experience. Fleece items like beanies, scarves and headbands make nice employee gifts. Headwear, well caps turn heads and get noticed. Caps, headbands and beanies are unisex and size less. We can wear items our head daily which translates into high impressions. Students at Apex Friendship High School sported these headbands at the annual Apex Rotary Christmas Parade to show unity as a group. Hands Down- texting gloves and hide a band products are perfect for numerous recipients. In the winter, not having to remove your gloves to use your smart device makes touch finger gloves a prime branding space. In the spring and summer the ability to insert your license, a key or a special message from a loved one, into a hidden pocket of your wristband make a hide a band the perfect solution. Towels! One can't go wrong with a towel promotion. Golf towels like these done for the Apex Police Department's annual tournament for Special Olympics are sure to be a hit with recipients. After-all, how many kids dream of growing up and being able to carry a badge? Identification- Is important for organizations working in the field, making sure individuals know who is there to assist like these caps for Curamerica's Global. Oversized bag tags are a great way to ID luggage. We have done tags for luggage, convention ID badges, golf bags and while we haven't done it yet, we love the idea of highlighting your blood donor type. Stitching your message into the fabric of your vertical markets just got easier with this line!

Recently I was asked to speak to the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce Young Professional's Group, the YP's. This OP had a great time sharing stories and fielding questions about what it means to be "in the trenches" as a woman business owner. Here's a summary of what I shared. It’s 1969, I’m in first grade and my teacher is absent. Our substitute left the room, back in the day we did not worry about being unsupervised, and one of my classmates was ready for the next worksheet in our series. I knew where the teacher kept the worksheets, so I went over to the storage cabinet, pulled out a stack, gave one to my classmate and placed the rest on the counter. When the substitute teacher came back to the room, I proudly shared how I’d solved the issue. Instead of praise, I found myself doing 100 squats in the corner of the room for pulling the worksheets from the cabinet without permission. Yep, I’ve been a rule breaker since way back. Why is someone a rule breaker? A desire to carve a new path Lack of clarity to rules? No  “buy in” to the established rules? Boredom? Probably all the above I challenge rules for the love of a new idea and poor leadership, but mostly because of learned behavior. Where does one learn behavior? I’m no physiologist, but longevity in life, parenting and multiple careers has taught me that “monkey see, monkey do” overrides verbal instruction every time. In my formative years: My grandmother divorced her husband, got a job and split logs to heat the wood stove. My dad encouraged me ask our minister why we had no women deacons, yet plenty of women leaders in the bible. My first student- teacher mentor showed me that it was easier to beg for forgiveness than ask permission. How will breaking rule contribute to success? As an educator I was surrounded by leaders. Teachers are the captain of their own classroom who are guided by administrators. I’d like to say that environment always fostered innovation, cultivated consensus building and rewarded questioning the norm; but not consistently. Leaders I admired: Made it safe to make mistakes Encouraged new ideas without scorn Sought input from the team before determining the course of action Leaders that were not threatened by their team, inspired my loyalty. In 2007 my husband and I opened the doors to our business Promotional Partners Inc. While my husband has been accomplished in his field and our bread winner, this time he wanted to push me forward. I became majority owner, he filed for our NC HUB Status and I became a woman business owner. My qualifications? I had no marketing degree, but sales experience; check I’d been an artist and an art teacher, creativity; check Problem solver- yep, remember those worksheets; check Educator-Presenter- 20 years teaching; check Life being the sum of ones’ experiences; check A career rule breaker; check What did I do to break my norm? Redefine my life as an owner- a new leadership role Embraced marketing education Applied my creativity to innovative business and sales strategies Earned a CAS (certified advertising specialist) certification in my industry- marketing degree, now: check Engaged the business community; join a chamber of commerce! Sure, I joined a chamber of commerce to find prospects, but I formed relationships via my service and incorporated the best practices I learned from serving with others- monkey see, monkey do We are a small company, only 5 employees and rotating interns. Our office is set up in a contemporary fashion, no cubicles; an open format. It’s open not by design, rather by the constraints of our physical space. However, what I found was working close proximity invites a transparent atmosphere; which is probably why larger companies are embracing that model. Think about it, walls offer privacy, but they also keep us in our own world. Removing walls allows us to see, hear and experience what our team experiences; we are starting from a shared perspective when tackling team challenges. "Close quarters" also provide us access to more information, see all experience operational issues in real time, we hear and see the frustrations of our team members, our proximity allows for quickly interjecting a comment or sharing a needed laugh. As a one who likes to push boundaries, I’ve found that close quarters create an environment that: Invites feedback from your team Makes business obstacles a shared challenge Defines what’s needed for growth or changing operational systems or client management I’ve also learned that an effective leader must paint the picture for the team, reward initiative in the workplace, make it safe to ask questions or fail, share their own vulnerabilities with the team and project their vision from 30,000 feet; accountability and ownership will naturally occur. Being an entrepreneur is more than owning a business, it’s creating your own mission and supporting the systems that support your team. Your team in turn helps guide, amplify and project the “why” behind your company to your target markets. Developing an entrepreneurial mindset is a “monkey see, monkey do” proposition. Making it safe to breaking the rules allows team members to contribute their talents and voice rather than becoming disengaged, desperate and doubtful. Ready to break some rules?! I love that bird!

Consumers look for high return on their marketing dollars. Our industry "works" because we offer high engagement and recall using branded promotions. Technology pieces are among the most requested items; they're hot! Because of the popularity of tech items as a promotion, there are many choices for product solutions. Our clients often find the choices confusing when comparing options. One of the most confusing products on the market are the popular multi-prong adapters; often referred to as squids. Let's breakdown what we've learned. Early models copied the Apple certified lightning chip MFi and offered this tip as one of the ends for use. The copy-cat adapter tip would allow the user to charge Apple products using that cable tip, but unlike the Apple certified tip, users could not transmit data. Currently the multi-prong adapters usually come with 3 to 4 tips. The tips allow users to cross between products, connect to phones, power banks or laptops to re-charge as well as move data. Consumers are enjoying these products because they serve a valuable function for connecting both old and new tech products. You'll never have to worry about which phone your audience uses when it comes to this product - it covers Apple and Android! A popular product is the 7141-68 (pictured) having sold out of over 15K units as soon as it was released. Consistent feedback from users of adapters indicates that the longer length is preferred for easier access to connecting products. Do you need an adapter with a lighting tip? Maybe, maybe not- keep in mind not everyone has the latest technology! Besides, if you receive an adapter that does not work with your iPhone it is not useless. There are still ways to use the adapter to connect other technology devices. We've read reports from "techie folks" advising the C Cable is the cable to watch going forward in 2019. Why? Apple has started using the C tip in newer versions of iPad and will likely make the transition to this tip on the 11 series iPhone. Once this transition happens, the MFi lightning tip will become obsolete. Technology is quickly securing a spot in the top 5 most valued and kept promotional items because products cross all demographics. We have a white paper outlining the differences in popular technology pieces, ask us to send you a copy prior to purchasing your next tech piece to review.

March 20th is the first day of Spring - it brings to mind flowers, picnics and festivals. At Apex's annual Peakfest local business owners line the streets in their booths. Before pitching your tent, there are several factors to consider. Location – Use -Set Up How frequently will this tent be used? Will you need a case with wheels for easier transport? Will the construction of the frame be a factor for weight to carry around and durability? Longevity – Is this a long-term or short-term application? Things happen: so if you are planning to use this tent for multiple events a year, then you may want to consider an option with a longer warranty. Most suppliers offer between six and eight color options with UV and weather protection. Where will you store this item? If it is in a hot storage warehouse, the heat may adversely affect a heat transfer image over a sublimated image. Message – What is the desired impact of your promotional message? Depending on your audience and event goals, you have multiple locations to place your messaging; each side of the canopy peak and valance gives you eight places to place an image. There are additional options for branding such as leg cuffs and tent walls give a modern look for more strategic placement. Budget -- What is your total budget? We help guide you through comparing your choices, which includes set up fees, design time fees if required, shipping costs and accessories. In some cases, there are package options that include tents which provide you a better overall cost with more display products. Timeline – When do you need this item in hand? Depending on your event date, we consider the total time to produce, walking you through the steps. The most frequently purchased tent size is 10 foot. There are many options to choose from, one of our suppliers has made a great comparison chart. For a variety of tent options, check out our event tents section of the website. You've got a tent but how will draw in the crowd? We have game solutions, coolers, prize wheels and interactive displays. Our in-house graphics team can create a booth that will engage attendees and share your message.

When I think of a tablet I immediately recall the cartoon series B.C., with messages etched in stone. Stone tablets were likely not carried very far due to their weight, so the message was limited to the viewer in those surroundings. A modern day tablet also provides a surface for recording messages, but unlike stone, it's made our lives faster; connecting us to information anywhere. While an electronic tablet might be more efficient in the workplace for communication, the artist in me loves the feel of using your hand to chisel a message. Raw material that comes from the earth such as clay and rock provide a natural medium for innovation, creativity and customization. The material provides limitless possibilities for a mini masterpiece. One of our favorite creative partners, StoneyCreek, uses the raw materials of crushed quarry stone and resin to form "works of art" for the table top and wall. Their line has a huge selection of stock shapes for inspiration for awards, functional desk items and custom designs! The crushed stone they use not only natural but creates a USA Made "batter" that is poured into molds. When custom work is created a project starts with image renderings for suggestions, then patterns for molds are create, while the type of rock and colors of rock are selected. In the final steps these mini sculptures are painted and assembled - Watch the process from start to finish here. Our desire to communicate a message to individuals and others has been around since, well B.C.. Modern messages are often captured in recognition pieces for the desk or the wall. These pieces serve as symbols of company goals or benchmark achievements. Recipients of awards are honored with recognition among their peers when an award is presented and then the award displayed in a key area of their desk or office, serving as a reminder of goals.  Inserted here are some examples of unique pieces we did with partner StoneyCreek. All are intended for the desk. The Ripple Stone was used as part of annual fundraising for the Wake Tech Foundation's annual ripple campaign. The wink, Spencer for HAP Innovations captures securing benchmark dates and highlighting company culture/values Abrigo was created to capture their new hexagon shape in the award selection to tie into the company's re-branding of the company's name and logo design. The desk pieces serve as an acknowledgment for the achievement of sales goals. Both items are stack-able, allowing for the addition of layers of future years. None of these pieces take up a lot of desk space, but there is a huge impact to the recipient and surrounding employees - a message captured in a mini masterpiece!

If we are to understand the value of a team, perhaps we should start with what's the meaning of the word team? As a noun- noun: team; plural noun: teams 1. A group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport. Synonyms: group, squad, side, band, bunch, company, party, gang, selection, crew, troupe, set, lineup, array As a verb- verb: team; 3rd person present: teams; past tense: teamed; past participle: teamed; gerund or present participle: teaming 1. come together as a team to achieve a common goal. "he teamed up with the band to produce the album" Synonyms: join (up), join forces, collaborate, get together, come together, band together, work together Hum...there we go again, breaking rules, at Promotional Partners we are a team that is both a noun and a verb! We work as a "group, unit or crew". We join forces, applying our collective talents and roles, collaborating with you and working together to put your brand first. Here's an example of what happens with a team effort: A local business needed a giveaway for their clients. They knew they wanted something techy, but none of the pre-built tech kits offered them the product selection in the colors they needed. Why not build a custom kit? We worked with the client to find the items they had always envisioned and tech case that would hold the products perfectly. Once the selections were made, we ordered the pieces; then our team kitted the items together saving time and delivering a great package piece! Part of creating a great campaign starts with the imprint on the product. You've got a product and a logo, but you want to add a bit more? Perhaps your want to add phone numbers, websites, taglines......but do they work with your imprint area? Unfortunately many products have a limited imprint space. It’s important that the content be readable and have no printing issues. We worked through the challenging, suggesting an art change that created stayed within brand standards but provided a better imprinted result. Our ability to guide you through the art process before placing the order, saves you time and creates a happy outcome- a great reason to take advantage of our in house design services! Our graphics team is top notch! Keep following our blog for more behind the scenes stories!

Did you know that 73% of Americans own promotional bags?  That is over 246 million people! Bags make great advertisements as they can be taken just about anywhere. 52% of bag owner say the bag is kept because it's useful. Being useful, bag owners use their bag about 9 times a month over the course of 11 months. They have large imprint areas allowing many options for your brand message. They're a great way to reach people, creating 3,300 impressions over their lifetime. Continuing our penny-wise focus, did I mention bags are super affordable? Totes are great for trips to the grocery store; are used unlike a plastic bag offering an environmentally friendly campaign. See more grocery totes The focus on fitness and healthy eating has inspired people to take their lunch to work, which saves money and helps people stick to wellness goals. See more lunch totes For traveling, duffel bags often replace the suitcase and conform to overhead bins. Soft sided duffels work well for work to gym and back. For the ultimate sports fans, this tailgater trunk cooler organizer would be perfect for game day or business parents with kids in after school sports programs or weekend travel teams. See more duffels, trunk organizers and travel bags We can help design a bag campaign for your next community event, trade show, fundraiser or employee retention program.  There are price points to fit any budget- this low cost per impression, your dollars go a long way. Ready??

An increasing number of our clients are asking about environmental responsible products. I ran across this blog post from our friends at PCNA and decided to share. Reusable promotional products are crucial tools for delivering an eco-friendly message. This is big - a significant culture shift is taking place. Consumers today, especially millennial's and Gen Z, place a much higher priority on environmental issues - and they are demanding that the companies and organizations they interact with uphold these same values. Fully 92% of consumers have a more positive image of a company when that company supports environmental causes (Forbes). To resonate with these customers who care, organizations are adopting environmentally-friendly policies and practices as a real revenue-driving business strategy, not simply positive PR moves. We're looking at you Patagonia and Unilever. The implications for promotional products are enormous. Products made from recycled materials, like our new Parkland backpacks and duffels which have exteriors made from 100% recycled water bottles, are soaring in popularity and ideal for promoting a pro-environment message. Also, reusable products that can be positioned as swaps for disposable products like plastic bags or paper coffee cups are vital for modern brands. Hands down, one of most asked about new PCNA products at this year's PPAI Expo is Las Vegas was the FinalStraw reusable straw! This infographic demonstrates not only the waste that's eliminated when we switch to reusable products, but also the idea that major institutions see Eco-friendliness as non-negotiable operating strategy. Promotional products that eliminate a reliance on disposable items are ideal for promoting and advancing that strategy. If reading this blog post makes you wonder about more eco-friendly products; no worries we have suppliers to customize your needs- apparel, playing cards, custom wood products, seed papers, bags, drinkware, plastics (yes plastics, ask us how), paper products, journal, ink, pens.....as you can see the list is extensive. Let us share some ideas with you.

There's a reason our tagline is a place where ideas get results- we don't sell products, we provide marketing strategies that utilize the proven "power" of branded advertising. As a marketing vehicle tangible products stick around, but WHY? Using tangible products is an effective way to brand, but if the imprint is not a blob! An "unreadable" imprint will put your product in the trash bin regardless of the quality, usefulness or appearance. Our company invests in our clients behind the scenes, with a team of expert professionals. This year we will be weaving in some of the "behind the scenes" stories into our blog that showcase why we are a "go to partner" for brand management. Internally we offer graphic design services. While many imprints only require resizing your logo or suggesting how much content will fit well in the imprint area; some projects require more expertise. There are times when we need to suggest subtle changes to a logo that will not damage the brand standard, but will insure a proper imprint of the logo. Challenge: A new client had a logo that was not going to reduce well in small imprint area. Elements of the logo would either fill in with ink becoming a “blob” during printing or run together with other elements of the design creating an even larger "blob". Solution: We suggested to the client we thicken some lines in their logo, reduce the number of fine lines in an area that would not be missed by the recipient and to slightly open up the spacing in an arch to slightly increase the detail in that area. In a side by side comparison of the logo, the modifications were so slight to the eye that the changes did not make noticeable difference to the logo. However, the changes had a huge impact in the print quality on the power bank. Because we have in-house graphics we were able explain our concerns with visuals , provide options prior to ordering, making the client more comfortable with the order process- ending with a happy client and no blobs! Craving more success stories? Make sure to keep following the blog!