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November is a month associated with gratitude and giving. I'm grateful when there's more heart in my community and when we're able to offer more value to our partners. Making meaningful connections; that's more value at work for your brand. If you follow our blog, you know that every GROSCHE product purchased helps advance this mission of global change by funding safe drinking water for communities in need; that's heart in action. Every GROSCHE product purchased helps advance this mission of global change, funding safe drinking water for communities in need; that's heart in action. In o ur May post, Change the World, Make a Meaningful Impact focused on this brand partnership. Read that post here. I've got more good news for you! Ahead of the holidays, we've added to our collection and the products that start with a W all have both free set up and free shipping! Simple right? Make an appointment to check out this line! Let us help you show more heart this season.

Today's post is about a purposeful woman creating space to learn & grow. This visionary innovator saw a gap and created a solution. Her efforts changed access to education for African American's in North Carolina. It's fitting that North Carolina's first state historic site honoring African American Heritage is the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum. Taken from the website of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum - Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of nearly 2,000 African American students. Today, the campus provides the setting where visitors can explore the place where boys and girls lived and learned during the greater part of the 20th century. The museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American history, women's history, social history, and education, emphasizing the contributions African Americans made in North Carolina. Who was Charlotte and what trail did she blaze? Charlotte Hawkins (1883-1961), born in Henderson, North Carolina, was a northern-educated granddaughter of formerly enslaved people. She returned to her home state as a teacher in 1901, and the following year established the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia. The African American boarding school evolved from an agricultural and manual training facility to a fully accredited, nationally recognized college preparatory and social finishing school. More than 1,000 students graduated during Brown's 50-year presidency. Read more about the history here and make plans to visit. After visiting any historical site, consider making a purchase to remind you of your visit. Revenue generated in our state's gift shops help pay for operational cost to maintain these important historical sites for future visitors. While promotional items are used for branding, marketing & advertising, branded merchandise can also be utilized to elevate a story. Over the past 3 years our collaborations with the museum yielded products students & adults would use, recalling their experience and the story behind this NC historical site. Understanding the core values behind your message is an important part of our collaborative process. Growing the reach and recall of your message is "our why." We love the story behind the brand. Our partner had this to say about our team: " Working with the Promotional Partners team was phenomenal! They were prompt in responding. They went the extra mile and sourced a product that I wasn't able to see on the website.  They provided excellent documentation for each item purchased.  The full process was seamless! The personable service truly made the experience enjoyable and I'm looking forward to our next order with you all!" April Finley. We also asked her what is was like to work at this historical location- she replied, " I love telling the story of a school providing quality education and skills training for Black students at a time when those students were not welcome in other spaces.  What Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown accomplished in the early 1900s was incredible! Being able to walk those grounds today surrounded by beautiful buildings and landscapes is truly special and reminds me of walking around Tuskegee University, my alma mater, as a teen." Make plans to visit this historical site, it's a quick day trip from the triangle area!

“THE” Fuquay-Varina High School celebrates their 50th year during 2025! Looking for a way to capture lots of heart, passion and drive in a small space? Sure, let's do it. Collaborations that yield exciting results; that's our partnership advantage. Coins offer a unique way to elevate & distinguish individual whose service or legacy which makes it a popular choice for commemorating significant moments. Mike James, Principal of Fuquay-Varina High School, partnered with our marketing & graphics team to bring forth his vision for a 50-year commemorative coin. What's the back story behind the final coin design? NC schools began desegregating in 1970. Fuquay Consolidated High School, the African American school and the all-white Fuquay-Varina High School, originally Fuquay Springs High School officially became FVHS in 1964.   When the schools were merged to form an integrated Fuquay-Varina High School a Bengal tiger was selected as the mascot because of the black and white stripes; representing coming together in 1970. Throughout 2025, FVHS will celebrate milestones moments, reconnect with memories, honor individuals who made an impact at the school & in the community, shine a light on the rich history of the community that inspired future leaders, teachers & mentors within Wake County that represent the legacy of the school’s history.   Inside the school, public display cases of artifacts from the Fuquay-Varina Centennial Museum and individual community members to pay homage to Fuquay Consolidated High School and Fuquay Springs High School.   Principal James vision partnered with our team to create a coin to capture these elements: The original school branding The current school branding Bengal tiger colors The school's current location Unity Integration 50 years of academics 50 years of athletics 50 years of civic service 50 years of community pride 50 years of legacy- created by individuals in the community & school What was the result of our collaboration? Watch as Mike shares his experience with our company. Graphic Design Marketing Savvy Brand Identity Innovation Creativity Collaboration Clearly, we love adding more value for our partners! Trust your message with an experienced brand partner!

Is running a hobby, a passion, one's therapy or does being part of a pack provide you a sense of community? Whether your reason to run is to stay fit or to push yourself, it's clear running is a phenomenon that's attracting record numbers of runners. No screen time, just real scenery to absorb over your course. Friendly competition among runners another quest to pursue. This partnership story travels all around town and back. Stories that live "in the wild" matter. Our team knows, there are no "rules" for awards. We lean into the quirky ideas that work for marketing strategy! Crafting a story, requires layers. An award is meant to be a symbol of accomplishment, jogging the memory  each time it's seen. Participants of the Apex Chamber's annual "Run The Peak" earn a medal . After sharing images on race day, their medal is displayed with their personal collection at home or in the office. Each year we change the plating colors of the medal to keep the event fresh to participants. In 2025, top performers were rewarded with our annual pint glass and this year a zipper pull. The mini medal attached to a zipper creates a moment among running enthusiasts to talk about this event. As you can see, our team never goes halfway with ideas. Cheers to the participants.   “Promotional Partners was great to work with for our race.  They provided the committee with several options, made the process very efficient and affordable.  They’ve proven to be a very reliable partner.” Skeet Woolard- Run the Peak Race Chair

There is no doubt that physical activity has taken on new strides in the fundraising world over the past few years, with growing enthusiasm for both the comradery & the thrill of some friendly competition. Runners wants rewards - medals take center stage as they cross the finish line. You might say the mark of your race depends on the quality & look of your medal. Fortunately our talented design team & certificated expertise, combined with years of producing custom metal work make this process simple. Let's break down the basics in making decisions. What type of medal depends on your aesthetics- in other words your preference to size, materials use to craft it, decoration process and of course budget. What other factors should you consider before making a decision? Speed - Custom work, tooling the mold for the metal and producing the medals is about a 4-5 week process. If you have spring events, plan early. Most metal work for price point is done overseas & you'll want to avoid factory shut downs for extended holidays. Yes, we have USA Made partnerships- the price point & options will not always be the same as our overseas partners. Yes- we have samples of custom work we have designed and produced here in our showroom, as well as samples of different types of metal, finishes and decoration methods. Because the decoration & finishing is part of the eye candy to the finished product. Popular choices include PVC, Die Struck or Die Cast Medal, as well as domes & flat printed discs. 2 dimensional designs are impressive as die struck and 3D designs are super exciting to the eye, but keep in mind those will add to the unit cost. Keep in mind not only the materials used, but the decoration method, ribbon style selected, size of the medal itself, lead time and set up costs for die molds all factor into the final cost to produce. Purpose! Medals are not just for runners- they make an impressive recognition piece. There are many styles & choices! Our design team & experience make the process simple! All these variables are exactly the reason we stock our showroom with samples to compare before you design & purchase. Access to our showroom & design team is your local advantage! Take a look at the medal we created for the Town of Cary and the Apex Chamber- Run The Peak!

Simple, making memories that last starts in the art of the home. Think about it, the holiday season is full of food, fun and gathering. We connect and celebrate in our homes. Creating a lasting impression is about selecting unforgettable gifts that stand out & delight the recipient during those celebrations. We love providing unexpected elements. As a business, your core values are a great place to start when crafting a holiday gift. Your intentional decision to purchase quality products with sustainable construction is more than a trend. Consumer desire for sustainability and ways to de-stress from the day, are infusing earth tones and bamboo accents into product design. For the holidays a touch of elegance and shimmer makes a gift extra special. Some memorable product options: Fidget products make great stocking stuffers! Inspire creativity anywhere with the Solna Travel Watercolor Set , a compact art kit designed for spontaneous self-expression and mindful moments. Record your memories with this travel set, turning your experiences into masterpieces. If you prefer to write down your thoughts in a journal, we've got options! Telling your story is our passion. Let's get started. Stop by our showroom to check out our newest collections from this partner , then work one-on-one with our design team for that extra touch this season. Remember, this line ships free and the set up is included. Shop early for the best selection and avoid the holiday rush!

Bunco is like Go Fish for adults, no plot & no strategy required. Games like Go Fish or Shoots & Ladders provide a way to weave in life lessons about resilience from set backs in a game for kids. Bunco creates adult interaction. Adults and adults enjoy mindless interaction. Social Media Day is Monday. Social media provides a quick, free way to grow business & expand your contacts. You know, socializing. It can be seemingly mindless, scrolling & scrolling for something to compel us to stop & engage. Silly strategy is sometimes the answer. Last week we created videos on our Instagram & Facebook with the intention of fun interaction. We passed another business owner who spotted my ridiculous outfit and remarked "anything for the 'gram, right"? Those crazy videos racked up impressive numbers, one's had over 1,500 views on just one of our social platforms. Some viewers watched to laugh with me , some to laugh at me and some to share the text - can you BELIEVE she did this ? Yet, they watched. Reinforcing that entertainment drives engagement. As an art teacher my lesson plans always included a dose of crazy designed to motivate students. My crazy was purposeful. Clapping, dancing & dressing like a Flamenco Dancer inspired amazing milk carton dancers, and wrapping myself in layer upon layer of clothing always illustrated that a collage requires planning & balance, otherwise it just becomes a tacky mess! Brand. Voice. Tone. Message. Identity. As marketing professionals we know your voice, message and appearance require consistency. As your partner, we take your brand seriously. However, we challenge you to discuss how we can stretch your brand to include some playful moments!

"We believe that everyone can spread joy and be a light in this world." Those are the words of business owners Phala and Jessica, a mother-daughter team with a passion for making artisan candles. This Tampa based business is not only a USA Made partner, but a woman-owned company representing 5 generations of family owned business; entrepreneurs at work! October's national focus on Woman In Business celebrates diversity ownership. This mother-daughter story is an inspirational story. Each of their soy candles are hand-poured in their historic Ybor City workshop; in what was once their family's dry cleaner business! The candles are beautiful, with amazing fragrances and crafted with American-grown soy wax from US grown soybeans! Seventh Avenue Apothecary is a story about passionate entrepreneurs, responsible sourcing and ownership diversity! Like me , the owners believe in community, giving back and honoring the stories that shape who they became. Isn't it ironic that a candle and it's light, are a metaphor for how we are warmed by the world around us? We prioritize stocking our showroom with products & brands that matter. Illuminating the story behind this purpose driven partner shares women making a difference. Their candles are part of our ProudPath collection of partners & products. To learn more watch the video on our website. Explore the collection of Seventh Avenue Apothecary  products Discover this and more products with purpose in our Downtown Apex NC showroom.

No syrup! Nearly two decades of collaborations has created interesting stories. This blog post is about a collaboration with the USDA for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science annual BugFest event. Our partnership started in 2011. After our initial meeting they remarked, "Thank goodness we finally have a partner that understand us and how to market our message, usually promotional groups suggest fly swatters." As a branding agency, our role in client collaborations is to utilize our suite of services to create impact and effect change; it's our secret ! In 2011, the director shared a fun story about no syrup for pancakes was the result of non-indigenous bugs destroying the trees that creates syrup. At the annual BugFest open house with kids, his story was fun and impactful on attendees. After sharing his goals for the event, I suggested non-traditional and totally custom products. Each product was also USA Made, low cost & high impact, as well as part of our quirky enough to work ideas. Seed paper  was suggested for his pancake story because it is a creative medium, adaptable to any shape or size. We designed a custom passport book, capturing all the stops an attendee should make at the event and the custom stamper to apply to the book after visiting each destination insured attendees received all the educational information offered at the event. Completely fulfilling the interactive activities, noted by a fully stamped book earned a badge. We created a Junior Inspector badge created a call to action among kids that attended to spot ingenious bugs and created a way to keep the conversation and education going by adding a website URL to the back of the badge. The URL directed kids to interactive computer games about bugs. ( QR Codes were not heavily utilized at the time of print) Through interaction at our museum, we educate the public about the effect of bringing non-ingenious species to North Carolina. While our target market is kids, we educate adults too. When a brand needs to add their voice to a promotion, to tell a story that resonates with their target audience, we use all the tools in our agency toolbox to add value to that collaboration.

Don't give up, simply work smarter! Our partners appreciate that we can't turn off the flow of creative, original ideas. When you work with a marketing firm, they often don't offer graphic design services and when you work with a graphic designer, you usually don't receive marketing strategies. Most graphic designers work solo, only providing you designs from one individual. Creativity explodes when you surround yourself with creative thought. If you sat down with a client that's utilized our graphic design services for logo design, spirit wear tees, tradeshow booths, print materials or signs you'll quickly discover that it's the compilation of ideas from myself, Miranda and Isabel that creates extra value for our partners. Art museums and galleries are full of different interpretations to the same period of art, or to similar genres and imagery. Our ability to simultaneously offer different directions to pursue for every project is one of our many secrets to our brand; your partner advantage. The partner experience is the outcome of our collaborations. What started out as a simple request changed after we began collaboration. WakeMed asked for a nice quality beach towel as a gift for board members. We showed them several quality options with a full color, full bleed imprint area. I suggested that we get creative with the surface by creating a beach scene featuring WakeMed branded products. Not only was the towel a functional gift, but the clever use of graphic design became a marketing strategy, advertising and growing awareness for their brand. This case study represents another behind the scenes collaboration that captures our assets at work for our partners. Our partners expect the unexpected through collaboration. Our quirky enough to work ideas are easily transformed into innovative marketing through strategic thinking and amazing graphic designs. Visionary assurance, united purpose.

A logo is the visual representation of your brand identity. It's the first impression of the brand behind the image. In this post, we introduce you to a new partner, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy. The school continues to grow and adapt to the educational needs of the community. The school leadership partnered with us to design a new logo for the Upper School opening in Holly Springs NC; beginning enrollment Spring 2026. The Pine Springs website, conveys this mission statement: Pine Springs Preparatory Academy is dedicated to improving the lives of its students by providing authentic learning experiences in a collaborative, nurturing environment that will build a foundation for students’ success in school, career, and in life. Their website describes the PSPA difference: We aim to inspire and educate the whole child. Our Traditional, Blended Academy, and Virtual offerings curriculum is a rigorous academic program rooted in our mission statement. Our students learn to think critically, listen with discernment, and communicate effectively which aids them in becoming the best he or she can be, and helping them become great American citizens. The purpose of our collaboration: Ahead of the opening of their new upper school location for fall 2026, our team worked with Craig Tucker, Upper School Principal and Superintendent Bruce Friend to create the brand guide and logos for the school. The challenge behind our collaboration: Creating a logo that will become part of an established brand requires a different level of mastery. The new logo needed to stand alone to represent the new school, while integrating into the existing branding for cohesiveness. The process: Each collaboration starts with vision and messaging questions to determine what our client wants to convey through their logo. It's important to learn about our client's preferences for color, font and design elements prior to creating design concepts. Through virtual meetings we were able to ask questions and screen share concepts to quickly refine the direction to go for finalizing the logo. Besides logo design, we updated a complete brand guide for their marketing and identity projects. The outcome? “As our school continues to grow, we recognized the need for a cohesive brand identity. Promotional Partners was an exceptional partner in this process. They took the time to understand our mission, values, and long-term goals, and translated it into a brand strategy that truly represents who we are. Their team was strategic, creative, responsive, and highly professional throughout. We’re extremely pleased with the results and confidently recommend their services.” Bruce Friend, Superintendent, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy Our designers knocked this recent collaboration with Pine Springs Preparatory Academy  out of the park!

If you've heard the expression- an artistic eye, you're really seeing the mind of a creative person at work. The artist's brain is having an internal dialogue about what to capture and share with others through music, dance, and of course painting. Visual arts are a language, using imagery to capture a mood, convey a message or capture a story without words. When the words are layered into a compelling image, magic occurs. Not the type of magic that makes you wonder where the rabbit went, but the type of magic that makes you....wonder. An artist has the ability to capture your attention and force you to consider ideas. What does wonder have to do with Promotional Partners? Our clients enjoy wondering. Sure, we can sell you a pen with your name, number, and website, but our creativity & collaboration create the wonder. Products become a marketing medium in our expert hands. Did you know that when we started our business in 2007, we had a mascot? Yep, Speedy; a paintbrush in motion. By 2011, we realized while fun, Speedy was not the image we wanted for our agency. Luckily we have artistic eyes and graphic professionals on our team- so we crafted our new logo and re-branded. We borrowed from our artistic roots, keeping the arch of a paint palette and dots of color to represent paint. We enjoy bringing your vision to life through creating logos, designing festival and trade-show booths, and print collateral. Now you have the back story behind our logo.