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Creatives see structure in chaos simply through seeing life differently. Years of life and teaching art solidified - some folks are creative, some are not. Lucky for our partners when we're attending expos and meeting with our key partners, we always gravitate towards products that offer decoration that captures our attention. After-all, life's too short to be boring. Our industry offers products with a surface that's ready for your story; that's value add. When you're creating an experience- details matter. Table decoration Premium gift boxes that fold for easy storage Wrap up your gifts with custom ribbon, bows, wrapping paper and tissue Point of purchase Guiding consumers- through maps & visuals to your destinations Add a little sparkle Every industry can elevate their message and presentation through packaging and our graphic design expertise. The creative hack is adding layers to your story through presentation and smart graphics. Large, full color surfaces allow our designers to play! When you're ready to upgrade your consumer's experience, collaborate with us. You'll be supporting two woman-owned businesses through our supplier-distributor partnership. We created custom printed ribbon for The Apex Chamber of Commerce to use for their new member ribbon-cuttings; adding something extra special to the moment. We love value added moments. Besides, when this photo was posted, it was immediately clear why the individuals gathered. That's Visionary Assurance, United Purpose at work for our partners.

For a millennia, pyramids remain the hallmark for stability in architecture. The wide base and sloping sides distribute weight evenly making them resistant to collapse. Distributing the weight at work, also creates stability. Each partner absorbs the load that utilizes their strongest skillsets. That's strong, effective teamwork! PPAI awarded our company, Promotional Partners, a 2026 Silver Pyramid Award for a Client Education Program. We are thrilled to be recognized by PPAI for this prestigious award. In this previous blog post , you'll discover the story behind the project and learn how an ameba is the right way to discuss puberty. Intrigued? I hope so! Did you know? In 2025 we earned a PPAI Gold Pyramid for a Social Responsibility Program. The collaboration behind that award provided us an opportunity to work directly with law enforcement agencies seeking to to reframe the narrative around what it means to protect and serve their local communities. Through a custom storybook we created, we were help humanize the officer behind the badge, built bridges and formed connections that continue today. One agency is into their third edition! It's gratifying to see how simply turned a page creates a powerful moment. In 2021 we earned a PPAI Silver Pyramid Award for a client program around the Town of Apex trademarked phrase The Peak of Good Living. The town rewarded their enthusiasts. Fast forward to 2026, you'll find local residents wearing gear they purchased at one of the many festivals as they shop & dine. Visitors to Apex frequently stop by The Depot to purchase a keepsake from their time in Apex. What's the backstory behind the award? This award is a highly regarded honor in the ad specialty industry, it's like our Oscar moment. It's presented by Promotional Products Association International, who recognizes strong and effective initiatives produced by its member companies. The Pyramid Awards showcase thoughtful planning, clear objectives and measurable results achieved through promotional products. First introduced in 1958, the Pyramid Award stands as one of the industry’s most respected distinctions. It highlights the collaborative partnerships among distributors, suppliers and client teams that elevate strategic promotional marketing beyond simple buying and selling. Entries must demonstrate clear goals, audience focus and documentation of success. Those selected represent programs that meet these requirements with consistency and impact. PPAI president and CEO Drew Holmgreen said, “This award represents the craft and discipline that make our industry strong. The Pyramid program has recognized meaningful work for decades, and this year’s winners continue that history.”   Who and What is PPAI? Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) is the world’s largest and longest-serving international not-for-profit promotional products association with a 120-year history of serving a membership. It's grown to more than 15,000 corporate members, advocating for the $26+ billion promotional products industry. The membership encompasses more than 33,700 businesses, representing more than 500,000 professionals. For more information about the awards click to visit the PPAI site. As our owner, lead creative, who's embarking on my 19th year in business & preparing for our Vicennial 2027 Celebration , I'm thrilled our team has been recognized by PPAI. We put a significant amount of care into each client collaboration. Like an Oscar, this award acknowledges our teams efforts as a supporting partner for our clients. As a PPAI member, our agency is promoting & elevating the WORK of our industry. Communities rely on stable, consistent partnerships. Our foundation of visionary assurance, united purpose, remains the structure and guiding principal behind our brand.

It's hard to watch someone try to dance with no sense of rhythm. Take a look at the difference in the patterns formed by these shapes & lines. What is your visual response? Some individuals respond to patterns and possess the ability to infuse those images into dance or music. Ask me next time we meet about a workshop in early 2000 at the Art Museum- dancing with art. Even as a creative, it was not my jam. Similarly in art repeating patterns serves a purpose. Through the repetition of lines and shapes an artist can add visual interest, draw your attention to a specific area, and create an emotional response. Today is National Argyle Day! What's your response to an argyle pattern? In corporate branding, it can be a a soothing background to a main logo. We've used argyle patterns a few times for sock designs. Wake Tech has partnered with us on several versions of their argyle socks and lanyards, which is an element in their overall brand guide. For our socials today, our graphics team played out how argyle patterns could be applied to products that offer a full color process and a large imprint area. Graphic design sets the tone for the message you want to convey. We use our design skills, product knowledge & marketing savvy to clearly convey messages. Keep in mind, pattern adds not only visual interest, but have the ability to tell a story with icons and imagery related to your brand. Before TCS, a woman-owned client partner, purchased these tea towels, we played out versions in different colors; another one of our value added partner services. Read our complete case study with the owner here. Did you miss these recent posts? Our logo designs create a unified and cohesive voice for our client partners. The typography selected matters. Visionary assurance, united purpose is our partnership at WORK for your brand.

Yesterday we posted about the trademark phrase , The Peak of Good Living, teasing an international twist. Promotional Partners is in the heart of the historic downtown, which is rich with history & stories, but also captures the essence of the town's trademark phrase, The Peak of Good Living! Our last blog post shared the collaborative process behind the popular Peak Promo Product Store , but there's more to the story. Integrated marketing is about unifying the consumer experience with a seamless experience that creates consumer interaction with a brand, through a blend of marketing channels. Our team is excited to announce that our teamwork internally & with the Town of Apex, to reward brand enthusiasts has landed Promotional Partners among the finalist of the prestigious PPAI Pyramid Awards . PPAI, Promotional Products Association International, first introduced these awards in 1958! The PPAI Pyramid Awards shine a spotlight on the collaborative business model unique to our industry. Successful marketing campaigns are created by blending the talents & expertise of suppliers & distributors partnership to design innovative marketing campaigns for all types of industries. The winners of this national contest will be featured among the 1,900 existing campaigns in PPAI's IDEA Source, to provide creative inspiration to others developing integrated marketing campaigns. In our industry, the Pyramid Awards are like the Oscar's & Emmy's; capturing top suppliers & distributors putting their innovative minds to work across five different key categories: Supplier Star, Client Programs, Marketing, Supplier Decorating, and Technology. PPAI’s Pyramid Awards celebrate the pinnacle of achievement by the Association’s member companies and recognize excellence in creativity, service, quality, and craftsmanship, as well as the collaborative partnership between suppliers and distributors. We are thrilled to be among the finalist, earning a Silver Pyramid Award. Being recognized for creativity, collaboration and graphic design is our visionary assurance, united purpose at work for our partners.

If you think font choice does not matter, take a look at this graphic. Font is the voice of your brand conveying emotions and ultimately impacts the impression of your brand. Creating a logo requires selecting the right font to set the tone & convey the message behind your brand; it's part of your identity. Take a look at how much our logo changes just through font selection. Just like color, font is more than an aesthetic, font sets the tone for your logo. We make sure your message is clear. When we design logos, we play out several versions of font to help you decide before finalizing your brand guide. Font matters, that's our pro tip for the day. Remember font is more than a collection of letters! This behind the scenes tip captures our visionary assurance, united purpose at work for our partners; the partner experience .

By now you know we design logos, tee shirts, tradeshow & festival booths, print collateral, awards and gifts. As a value added benefit, we also apply our marketing savvy to your milestone moments, employee programs, business development and consumer loyalty programs. Through each each company store, fundraiser, and event partnership, our team has the opportunity to our collective talents & expertise to tell your story. 2026 marks 19 years in business for Promotional Partners. Our story starts and continues with you. We look forward to milestone moments in 2026 in our journey towards the 2027 Vicennial Celebration year. Every year we create stories; together. What drives us to create? What fuels us generating the momentum to move forward? Each of you. Reflecting like Janus , here's our 2025 retrospective: We tenaciously focus on community: Through our Promotional Partners Cares Program we made a difference in the triangle community. In 2025, we invested in 18 local programs or organizations, giving back $11,975.00 to the community. Since 2007, our investments total $98,870.00 into local programs and organizations that enrich the triangle. We are vigorously creative and collaborative: As idea engineers, we applied our marketing savvy and innovative thinking into growing your brand identity, with clear message and voice. Our original approach to graphic design, marketing, advertising and brand engagement earned us a distinguished national award, a PPAI Gold Pyramid Award for Social Responsibility. Since 2007, we've been recognized locally in the community as The Apex Chamber of Commerce as the 2015 Small Business of the Year. In 2016 inaugural year of the Town of Apex Think Apex awards, we were awarded a Top Thinker Award. This program was designed to acknowledge businesses & individuals that champion the local community. Pursuing a legacy of excellence & merit has earned us four nationally recognized awards, including coveted PPAI Silver Pyramid and Gold Pyramid Awards for our marketing, advertising & graphic design work. We resolve to maintain certifications & membership that add value to our partnership: At a local level we’re currently an advocate and voice in Southwest Wake County as a member of the Apex, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina Chambers of Commerce. Our company is designated through local municipality certifications and NC HUB as a certified woman-owned business. My company remains committed to high standards at the state and national level. Our advertising specialty industry provides training, as well as codes of conduct for safety and ethical business practices. Collectively, our team has earned and maintained nine knowledge, safety and ethics certifications: including the highest level of mastery offered by two national organizations since 2007. As our creative founder, I remain intentional with my time and talents, investing in projects that make a difference. Paying forward means freely sharing insights & expertise with our partners and as a mentor. As a former educator, mentoring & empowering youth remains a central part of our partner experience, hosting twenty-one high school or college interns since 2007. As well as sharing industry knowledge through publications, panels and public speaking. Intentionally present as leader, mentor and volunteer, over past eighteen years to support local non-profits, civic organizations, chambers of commerce, a local merchant’s association and youth. Basically, I believe in the power of community. This energy is the fuel behind our company, driving visionary assurance, united purpose. After nearly two decades in business, I'm relying on my ever curious mind and youthful spirit to inspire us as we embark on the next two chapters of Promotional Partners journey towards our 2007 vicennial celebration.  Thank you for your support & friendship! Be fearless, be you!   .

Every brand starts as a idea; then begins the process of marketing the product or service you provide. What if a concept to express yourself your way rapidly grew into trusted footwear worn by celebrities, athletes and corporate America? Sliding into comfort is associated with a feeling. In 2013, iSlide launched it's brand, offering customization- to express yourself. By 2015, the brand was the newest brand to become NBA licensed, with the iSlide Waves Gel, creating the sensation of walking on water. The idea that one can walk on water is a biblical reference; however, the self belief to dream large represents National Creativity Month. Creating your brand space by offering self expression is the story behind the brand iSlide. What's your brand story? We stop evolving when we stop dreaming. In 2026, dare to walk on water and dare to slide into the comfort pocket of your brand story. Purpose driven partners. What's the benefit and back story? Purpose is rapidly becoming over utilized to describe intentionality, with a focused approach. Purpose is now associated with "your conscious" showing. Today most major brands aspire to increase their worth as a partner by aiming to do more with their profits than grow. The desire to effect change, benefiting more than the bottom line is motivated by consumers that want to know the back story behind your brand. Where are you invested and what are you investing in that matters to modern consumers. Brands that know their identity, market their story throughout the sales cycle, making sure consumers know who they are and where they use their voice & share their resources. Brand names are associated with trust, value, and help you live life without limits ! Promotional products WORK because their used in the daily routine of your life. Products are designed to fit every aspect of your life including: travel, home, office, leisure activities, car commutes & trips and adventures with family, friends, co-worker and your fur babies! Often the back story behind one of our brand partners resonates with your goals and values. Where and how you spend your dollars to market your own brand matters. For example, Fresh Goods Show the heart of your brand AWS-  products gives back to several charities including the American Heart Association, St Jude's, Make a Wish, Shriner's Hospital and Boy's Town. AWARE  -recycled cotton, with a brand committed to transparency- track your product from development to your hand. Travel- as the lines blur between work & leisure Skyway Troubadour   Cutter Buck Ricardo Tumi- what's behind the brand? Explore here. Reliable, brand name tech BrandCharger Energizer   PWR + Powerstick SmartNotebook Casely - meant for bold behavior! Popsockets - the original phone holder LoveHandle - go ahead and embrace love handles PhoneSuit Linq - for innovative thinkers The Smart Notebook Stay hydrated or keep your cool with: Brumate - creates with purpose, to inspire, empower and make your daily routine better! Otterbox Path Kanga Coolers - disrupting the cooler "game"- cold without ice! Kool Pak SWIG - a woman-owned brand! Toasting with Tara - a woman-owned brand! Look good with these wearable brands: Levi's Legends Stormtech Imperial Caps Branded Bills - believe the details matter, every detail! iSlide Food Gifts: Biens Chocolate Centerpieces - a woman-owned partnership! Buddy Brew Coffee sets Happy's - foot kit gifts! Brands for work and leisure: BagBoy - protect your clubs during travel MegaPro - USA MADE tools! Matador - seriously durable outdoor gear! We first introduced this brand in 2022. Stasher - endlessly re-useable bags Sun Bum- about the brand . Explore what's new in this digital catalog and make sure to connect at our exclusive January Open House event to see these brands! Besides, we are dreamers, who love to tell stories. We're more than a place to purchase an advertising medium. The secret to our brand is the "dreamer- creative" behind each partner experience. For 2026, let's develop a campaign that slides your message into the lifestyle of your ideal consumer relationship!

Are you planning to create any new resolutions for 2026? According to the Almac - In 2000 B.C, the Babylonians celebrated the new year with a twelve day festival, starting with the vernal equinox called Akitu. This celebration signaled it was time to plant crops and crown a new king, so a resolution might have been as simple as returning borrowed farm equipment. The ancient Romans adopted their calendar, and shifted it to the Julian calendar in 46 B.C designating Jan 1 as the start of a new year. January became the name of the first month for the Roman god Janus, who had two faces. One face looked forward to new beginnings, well the other face looked backwards to reflect. Over the years, American culture has kept going the idea of starting a new year with resolutions. Much like Janus, we reflect on what might not have been the best parts of our previous year and resolve to have a better year through different actions or leaving the past we can't change behind. In business, each year we resolve to try new strategies for marketing & advertising our message, look for ways to increase revenue, discuss ways to streamline or update our operational systems and conduct internal audits of internal cultural best practices. I'm no therapist, but doing the same action over and over is not always progress, in fact it might be just keep you going in circles. Value add is important to us; it's part of our partner experience and our secret sauce. Start the year off with a strong plan; we've got a gift for you; a custom planner! Attend our January kick off event or set up a time to review your yearly goals to insure your marketing and brand identity goals are clear. We'll discuss key projects and events by quarter, infuse our creativity, marketing savvy, business and graphic design expertise to help you exceed your goals for 2026!

One of my favorite parts of each year is driving home through downtown once the lights adorn our streetlamps. It's always magical! It's hard to believe another year is about to turn the page towards a new set of chapters. As we close this year, allow me to reflect on December 2025~ "Twas the night before Christmas when all through the peak, not a creature was stirring. Well, not that you'd see. Our local first responders keep the peak and surrounding communities have the same agencies full of individuals that are awake a night, who work through the holidays to keep us safe, nestled all snug in our beds. An Apex officer took this photo late one night, just before Christmas when all was quiet in the peak. For me, the delight of the holiday season is the magic of giving. Our community is full of heart. We hope you stopped by all 7 of our favorite Apex destinations this season. Thank you for supporting Small Business Saturday; together we raised money for the Apex Farmer's Market fund. Our stockings were neatly hung on the Halle Wreath with care in hopes that bidders soon would be there. Bidder came. bid and the winning bid and together, we were able to " Play It Forward ." The Snow Stroll Store created local hometown joy this season and delighted our team when children searched for our mini Santa. As adults, our team had fun on our socials sharing good cheer with our mugs and ornaments around town. The parade is always a blast. Watch a recap on WRAL's streaming channel here. As our team heads home for the holidays, and a long winter's nap, you'll hear me exclaim, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Thank you for supporting our company! Happy New Year, 2026!

When you want to relax, removing visual distractions can help to calm you. If you visit Pantone , you'll discover the how and why behind PANTONE 11-4201, Cloud Dancer as the 2026 color of the year. If you're like me- you see white. According to pantone, this color is a "whisper of tranquility and peace in a noisy world and a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection." The site goes on to express that the "billowy white imbued with serenity, encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation." If I am using my creativity, my translation is- Cloud Dancer, is a blank canvas providing a surface for endless possibilities. Make time to daydream. By quietly relaxing, untethered to your technology, cloud formations will help you discover unexpected shapes. Cloud dancer is a metaphor for embracing new perspectives, innovative thinking and allowing your originality to shine. Why? Because it's white! From a branding perspective, Cloud Dancer is a neutral color to build and harmonize a palette that can incorporate more soft hues or become the building block or accent color to unexpected darker muted tones. Allowing any color palette to shine against the "blank canvas." We played out some ways graphic design is enhanced by a white, blank surface. I suppose white might actually provide a surface that is quirky enough to work for any type of promotion too. January is National Creativity Month. Your partner advantage includes one-on-one design time with three creative minds! When our clients collaborate in our design studio setting, together we're able to play out different design directions; which creates innovative solutions. By the way, what do you think of Cloud Dancer?

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse? Sometimes it's a good thing to have a mouse in the house, like this travel kit! Staying in front of your target audience simply takes strategy. Most of us still prefer a mouse over toggling on the laptop or tablet. Since you're likely to use a mouse: Wireless mouse for ease of travel Tech kits and organizers If you like to set up and work anywhere, earbud cleaners , since you likely have a set of earbuds with you for music and conference calls. Mouse paper for memory, note taking and planning. What are some fresh approaches to connecting with prospects? Promotional products offer memorable ways to share your brand and messages with with items people keep , use , and remember . Let’s look at some outside-the-box alternatives to the traditional business card. The full color surface of these products is a canvas for our nationally award-winning team to create captivating graphics. As part of our marketing strategy, we'll outline how these products offer more value to your sales & business development goals. Electronic cards, like Popl brand Custom coffee Food safe boxes for office treats Full color mint tins Tags Microfiber cleaning products . We provide quirky enough to work ideas that keep your brand visible. Our creativity and ingenuity makes our clients stand out from the crowd.

If you want quality products, with sustainable construction and choice without the hassle- then this line is perfect for your brand identity. As part of our visionary assurance, united purpose, we seek out brand partnerships that align with your vision and values. Smart marketing keeps the identity of your brand in the the forefront of planning. We suggest products that fit the voice, tone, personality and non verbal cues of your brand; because it matters how your brand is perceived. Modern construction, stylish products, beautiful colors and textures- that's better choices. Creating a better future does not have to be harder, it's just about making smart choices. When you combine accountability, quality and expertise- you've got a winning combination. What' left behind for future generations is part of this brand partners quest to journey towards a Made Better™ future, where Simplicity® meets Sustainability. What this partner's promise? Abundance choice without over complicating the pricing structure is a bonus. What's in the showroom now? Watch this quick video - we're ready to set you up for a successful 2026! Ask us to develop a program for your employee store, gifting needs and community engagement around this curated collection.