Search Results

This entire week we have been showcasing our amazing team and today is no exception! We'd like to shine the spotlight on both Sara Lawlis, Administrative Support and our newest member Arien Harris, Graphic and Marketing Specialist. We hope you've enjoyed getting to know each of us as much as we've enjoyed sharing!

At the end of July, you may remember that we hosted a t-shirt design contest for kids ages 6-18. Today, we got to officially meet the face behind the Cowboy Popsicle design! He is a 6-year-old, Apex resident named Fielder! We had such a fun time getting to know both him and his family, as well as see the other EIGHTEEN drawings he did after having so much fun creating his first creation! During his visit, we were able to present the proceeds collected from the t-shirt sales to Safe Kids Wake County. We thank everyone who participated and helped us give back to the local community. As many of you know, our team loves giving back in various ways. It's part of what we love about being in a community that believes we are stronger together.

To the average person, it's not common knowledge of what an impact our industry has on the economy. Did you know? Advertisers spent more than $24.7 billion in 2018 on promotional products. As of 2018, there were more than 400,000 promotional product companies providing more than 500,000 people jobs within the U.S. alone! The relevance in all this information? From suppliers to distributors, we all share one common goal - to give back to our communities. We partner with suppliers who donate proceeds to 1% For The Planet, The Ocean Cleanup Project, & more! We can't forget about the impact of using promotional products to promote your business. Adding promotional products to your integrated marketing campaign creates a favorable attitude towards a print ad. In fact, it has been found that the use of a promotional product as the single advertising medium can increase brand interest by as much as 69% and 84% in terms of creating good impressions of the brand! Do you still need more proof that promotional products work? We've got you covered!

In our continuing series, Graphically Speaking, here's a tip to keep in mind. There are more shapes than geometric ones! We've done a lot of projects over the years that are "cut to form" which simply means the outline or contour of an object. Contour cut products add more realism and offer higher visual impact. One of our all-time favorites, these Big Bang Theory hand-fans we created for CW22's program launch held at a local Mudcat's game. What's the graphic term to learn from this type of promotion? Die Cut. Think of a die-cut this way, the contour lines are also like a cookie-cutter, following the outline of a form. A cookie-cutter is very similar to the metal die needed to cut a shape out of material such as: Plastic Magnetic Sheets Vinyl Paper Sticky books Journals Even foam can be cut to shape to add some fun to your next zoom meeting, photo-op, celebrate a milestone or jazzy up your work station. Do you have a favorite die cut shape item?

When it comes to social media, it's all about capturing the attention of your audience. There is a lot of "noise" we are exposed to on a regular basis, do you know how to make your target audience stop on your posts? The answer is all in the eyeballs my friend. It's the images, not the words that make us stop and look. Graphically Speaking, Quality Photos Matter! The basic principles of art & design are balance, rhythm, pattern, emphasis, contrast, unity and movement. Use the elements of art & design – line, shape/form, space, value, color and texture – to create a composition as a whole. The elements of art and design are the tools of visual artists. When it comes to taking interesting photos the principals and elements of design can help guide you to creating visually exciting images. Three key areas to consider when creating photos: What's the intent of the photo- the emphasis or story behind the photo? Your lighting adds drama and adds to your story with shadows, gray scale, and intensity. Harnessing your negative space. If you look at a chair on the floor, the space created by the seat, legs and floor makes a shape- there is just not an object there. In a photo, negative space is often used to capture the scale of an object or add emotion or focus to the image that's being emphasized. If you'd like more composition tips, here's a blog post from Hubspot. Where can you find free access to unlicensed images? We use Unsplash! If you'd like to start creating your own, we have some tools to help you & your team take better photos and of course our options are branded! Tripod lighting Action camera Phone stabilizer stick Remote control drone Camera sunglasses Smartphone lens attachments Selfie lights for your camera Portable Selfie lights A well-taken photo or eye-catching graphic will always capture attention for your brand message. A great way to end 2020 would be a photo contest among your team. Create different categories for submissions and reward winners with one of those cool branded products we suggested to you.

When we first met Todd and Darcy, owners of Puppy Auto Wash, they were just starting their journey of opening their 24/7 dog washing business. They were referred to us by one of our clients. During the first meeting, we all hit the ground running. Since we are all dog people, the ideas started flowing with all the possibilities for marketing and branding that's cohesive, practical, and relatable to pet owners. Olivia & Arien: Who is Puppy Auto Wash? Todd & Darcy: We are a locally owned, family-run self-service dog wash business available conveniently 24hrs a day to accommodate any schedule and almost any pet. This business allowed us to bring together our life-long love of dogs with our knowledge of business and interest in technology. Olivia & Arien: What do you mean by technology? Todd & Darcy: Puppy Auto Wash leverages a K9000 pet wash machine that enables a pet owner to wash their pet comfortably at waist height using all-natural products - shampoo, conditioner, and flea treatment - that all come out of the spray nozzle to keep it super simple for the washer. The manufacturer really thought of everything! These cool machines are made here in North Carolina outside of Wilmington in Leland, NC. We love the conditioner for our own dog with dry skin. He doesn't scratch anymore and both dogs are super soft. Yes, we tested these machines before ever investing! The machine also has a blow dryer so you can dry your pet. And finally, it's affordable at $10 for 10min, which is plenty of time for a medium-sized dog. You can add time by the minute as needed for larger dogs or dogs with a heavy undercoat. So, in short, it's a self-service dog wash that's convenient, affordable, and all-natural. And finally, we carry a selection of American-made treats, toys, leashes, and collars! Olivia & Arien: Why did you choose to start a business during a pandemic? Todd & Darcy: Great question, well, we were already convinced of the business and had been studying the real estate market for a while. Then COVID hit and this perfect location opened at the end of the year, adjacent to the Dog Park at Hunter Street and walking distance to several neighborhoods and downtown Apex. That said, we had to really think about the business value to our customers. One of the pros for this business is that it's self-serve, no appointment, and in-expensive. The more we thought about it our business was very COVID friendly and maybe even necessary for our neighbors who are at home more these days with pets and there are even more puppies around given COVID adoption fever. So, we went for it! Olivia & Arien: Who is your target audience? Todd & Darcy: Pet owners! In the beginning, we thought it was only for people who didn't take their pets to a groomer. But we've learned it's really any pet owner and great for in-between grooming’s to keep dogs from getting matted which often results in shaving at the next grooming appointment. It's for people who want to move dog washing from their house to our business. Dog washing is a messy operation leaving hair all over the sink or tub and a wet dog running around the house. It's also, for folks who don't like scheduling (like Darcy!). We've learned this machine is so friendly to use it's really for anyone! Whether it's in-between grooming's or just washing off from the dog park Puppy Auto Wash is here. So, our target audience is any pet owner who is looking to wash their pets conveniently on their schedule with all-natural products and leave the pet hair in our machines! Olivia & Arien: Have you considered partnering with the Apex Police Department's K9 Division? Maybe offer Rocky and Zeus unlimited washes! Or get involved in the Torch Run? Todd & Darcy: That was a great idea! We view our local business like any other here to serve the community. By the way, we did contact Apex Police. They came for a visit and Jordy loved the machine. We are finalizing plans to support The Torch Run with Quarterly fundraisers. Such a great cause! Olivia & Arien: What do you think is key to our partnership? Todd & Darcy: You all met us where we were on our start-up journey. We had a fair idea of what we wanted, and you took the time to listen and came back with a list of ideas that covered a broad scope. We were all candid about budget and goals arriving at a reasonable go-to-market strategy with targets. Especially in these uncertain times, you must set goals and expectations to stay on track. Collaboration is key in this partnership. The team at Promotional Partners was able to develop a logo for Puppy Auto Wash that incorporated the paw created by Todd & Darcy's daughter! From there, we were able to help select and design signage, floor mats, business cards, and interior logoed items for a consistent image inside and out. We also, developed a brand guide to help them keep a consistent look across all mediums moving forward.

Our owner started her professional journey as a teacher and along her road, she became a mother; both of those experiences taught her that protecting our youth from preventable injuries is an important mission. Like all education efforts, the more we work together and share information the quicker we reach our goals. For 2020, Promotional Partners dedicated 2 low cost, very flexible advertising & marketing pieces to Safe Kids. Who is Safe Kids? At a local level, our Wake County chapter is composed of area organizations, businesses, and individuals interested in child safety. Coalition members include: Law Enforcement Officers Firefighters and Paramedics Medical and Health Professionals Educators Parents and Other Volunteers Businesses Policymakers Kids The mission of Safe Kids Wake County is clear - to reduce preventable injuries and death in Wake County children ages 19 and under from: Motor Vehicle Incidents Distracted Driving and Walking Incidents Bicycle Crashes Fire and Scald Burns Falls Sports Injuries Drownings Poisonings TV Tipovers Button Battery Ingestion Follow the efforts of the Wake County Chapter on Facebook. Over the past couple of months, they have sponsored medicine drops and car seat safety checks. What two items did we select to spread the word about this organization? Lip balm and shoe tags/zipper pulls. Both items have so much to offer for marketing! Like what? Slip shoe tags or zipper pulls into an envelope or hand out in person, make them a die-cut shape for impact. Keep in mind that lip balm can be shaped like an ornament or even glow in the dark making those social media posts when shoppers leave your store among the twinkling lights even more exciting! Both of these are items any business can afford to incorporate into a virtual scavenger hunt or as part of a thank you to those that mean a lot to your business. There is still time to add these products to your marketing efforts and give back to kids! You can be a hero too!

Last year we rolled out our Give Back Program where we selected a local nonprofit to donate 10% of profits, of select items, throughout the year. We are thrilled we are able to continue this program into 2021. This year, we chose to support Poe Center for Health Education! As a company, we believe in the importance of preparing children, our future leaders, to live a healthy life. The work that is done through Poe Center is nothing short of amazing. We believe in their mission and look forward to a successful Give Back year! Who is Poe? Poe Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of North Carolina youth through health education. They opened their Raleigh doors in 1991 and has since educated more than 1.3 million participants from 93 counties using innovative teaching theaters, exhibits, and offsite programs! Their vision is simple, it's "[...]that all North Carolina children and youth live healthy lifestyles." Their mission is impactful, "[...] to educate and empower North Carolina children, youth and their families to make choices that increase positive health behaviors." To see which items qualify, click here to view the flyer and make sure to keep following our social media. To learn more about Poe Center, feel free to reach out to us or email info@poehealth.org

It's Day 2 of PPAI's Promotional Products WORK Week, and today's focus is sharing expertise! Our entire team has mastered various certification levels, to add value to our partnership and strategic directions to your marketing campaigns. Besides our ongoing commitment to education, we are frequently asked to be a speaker for networking groups, business associations, Chambers of Commerce, and in house to the marketing team. Collaboration always yields stronger results. In September, Olivia was a virtual speaker for the Apex Chamber of Commerce on the topic of 3 Magic Beans, Growing Your Brand to New Heights! Right now most of us are looking for magic beans, as COVID has put a strain on many business models in our economy. While these tips are not magic, they do represent solid strategies to building business. Promotional Partners Inc. started in 2007, just before the recession, so we had to adapt & learn quickly to build a strong foundation. What are the highlights behind her presentation? Let's start by examining the characters. Was Jack visionary or gullible? Was his mother, unwilling to change, not adapting, rooted in traditional approaches or just practical? Does the Giant represent fear, our competition and holding on to customers with money? Is the Giant's wife, as an ally, the key relationship builder to achieving Jack's goals? The cow- of course, your product or service Next let's establish what sets you apart from your competition, exploring how these 3 key areas set you apart from a company in your industry. Allowing each of these 3 beans to guide your approach. Bean 1- Know yourself; your character- you want the coins Bean 2- Create authentic moments - get the goose to lay eggs Bean 3- Make sure your tone matches- your harp cords “A brand is a set of expectations. Memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one service or product over another.” -Seth Godin Who are you, what is your brand? We all need money to survive, adapt a marketing mindset to reach your target markets. Let's get the bag of coins! Consider these well-known brands. What do you associate with their brand? Jetblue- inspire humanity- both in the air and on the ground TED- spread ideas Norstrom- provide the customer with the most compelling shopping experience possible Their product or service is clear, their audience defined and their refrain the same. Let's take a closer look at the magic in each of those 3 beans. Bean 1- Olivia discussed how the message we project needs to fit our core values & tagline to gain our coins. She sited companies that have adapted their offerings to connect with their ideal consumer. For example: Ace is small, we expect to dash in for just what we need with an expert ready to help. Home Depot offers us more options, but the help is hit or miss. Car dealerships once only sold us cars, now we can even order one from Costco. Dealerships have adapted. Now they are partners in helping us maintain our vehicle, by offering free services with your purchase, such as oil changes. This additional service saves the consumer money, but also provides the dealer an opportunity to interact with you. This process guarantees a better trade-in and creates a moment to sell you a new car or services while you wait. Hallmark makes sure that loyal shoppers have exclusive access and perks during their holiday ornament sale period. Bean 2- When all variables are the same, it's always about price. Unfortunately, we all want the goose that lays the golden egg. Building relationships has to be authentic and develop over time. Similarly to dating, we find common ground, shared interests or vision and then develop a relationship. We don't jump to marriage the first time we meet; unless we are on a reality show! How do we develop relationships? How many insurance commercials are on TV? Each company offering similar products, but positioning their story differently. From Flo from Progressive to Farmer’s, Jake from State Farm, or Mr. Mayhem & Accident Forgiveness by Allstate– a necessary topic becomes a story with a soul! Having a soul is the perfect segway to our next magic bean. Bean 3- Developing relationships requires trust and authenticity. The Giant's wife decided to help Jack; why? All of us have a niche, a "place we can go" that others can't really relate to on our level. We've worked a job, developed a hobby or lived that experience in life that makes us relatable to others. Like the insurance commercials offering a story, what message are you conveying? Make sure your harp strikes the right cord. Language- what's conveyed in your font choice, word choice and body language? The harp tone soothed the Giant. Evolving Stories- don’t stay stuck in the same chapter by only repeating one tagline or using the same elevator speech; over time you'll be tuned out. A harp has many strings, capable of a variety of melodies, yet you recognize a harp sound. Plan- your vertical message, should match your vertical markets needs, be specific. Saying "everyone" is my target market, is not an effective marketing strategy. Think about it, if Jack had not taken a risk, believed in an opportunity, he wouldn't have succeeded in the end.

Back in May of 2007, we looked pretty young aye? Keith got smaller, I got larger, we both got older and our showroom location? Well it's changed a lot from that first little room in downtown Apex. From a team of two, our team has grown to include three more professionals. March 29th is support Mom & Pop Business Day. Much like being a parent, Mom & Pop business owners learn along the way and live in uncharted territory because we've taken on the responsibility of providing livelihood for others. At times owning a business, like parenting, can leave business owners feeling paralyzed to move forward. It can create stress and doubt, wondering if we are making the right decisions. What I've learned is that on the other side of fear is motivation. Fear is a powerful motivator, it produces the adrenaline needed to fuel innovation and courage to forge ahead from adversity or set backs. Owning a micro business means being part of the daily operations, forming personal relationships with clients, the internal team as well as the community that exists outside your doorstep. Just like mom tries to buy from every kid that's selling something, we give back in our community and design creative ways to make a greater impact; because we want to, not because it's mandated from the boardroom. Much like parents who share stories about how they navigated potty-training to driver's ed, business owners share success and failure with one another. We are lucky to be located in the Triangle. Being part of so many organizations and a popular downtown retail district creates a larger sense of family, offers support, builds friendships and becomes a living master-mind class. A kind word or gesture never goes unappreciated. Over the past few weeks, positive comments, kind words, photos & stories from your favorite promotions or shout outs on your social media to generate referrals means even more; a bit like those moments when your kids actually admit they love 'ya back. On May 17th, we will officially have been in business 13 years. Thank you to everyone who's a part of the Promotional Partners family. Join us for our virtual celebration on May 6th. If you're part of our newsletter list, you won't miss a moment. If not, register here to be added. If you own a small business or work for one and are in need of marketing ideas, read this post!

In honor of today being National Boss's Day, what better day to introduce you to the owners of Promotional Partners! Olivia and Keith Scott are the masterminds behind the company you know and love - without them, there would be no team.

You'd better make sure your on Santa's nice list this year- in fact, stop gossiping about your co worker via text because shipping this year is gonna get a little messy and pricey and we need your attention! This article captured our interest this am- keep reading. Just announced: FedEx, Postal Service Plan Holiday Surcharges FedEx and the United States Postal Service are planning to institute delivery charges for the final months of the year – moves that will make shipping goods domestically more expensive for promotional products companies and other shippers that rely on those organizations. United Parcel Service (UPS) previously announced new surcharges earlier this summer. “The new delivery surcharges could add extra pressures to merchants’ and retailers’ operating costs because businesses must either absorb the increases or pass them on to their customers,” Insider reported. Both FedEx and the Postal Service said they need to implement the surcharges to account for anticipated rampant demand and increased operating costs during the holidays. “These temporary rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with the revenue to cover extra costs in anticipation of peak-season volume surges similar to levels experienced in 2020,” USPS said in a statement. FedEx, the Memphis, TN-based shipping and delivery services giant, revealed that starting Nov. 1 it will institute a peak surcharge of $1.50 per package for its Ground Economy deliveries: outbound residential deliveries for small- and medium-sized businesses and their low-weight, low-value non-urgent deliveries. The charge will then accelerate to $3 per piece on Nov. 28 – a rate that will last until Dec. 12 and thereby include the expected Black Friday and Cyber Monday shipping frenzy. From Dec. 13 to Jan. 16, 2022, the surcharge returns to $1.50 per package. The full slate of FedEx surcharges also include an additional handling surcharge of $5.95 per package from Oct. 4 through Jan. 16, 2022. The charge applies to U.S. Express Package Services, U.S. Ground Services and International Ground Service. Meanwhile, FedEx is also slapping an oversize charge of $62.50 on packages from Oct. 4 through Jan. 16, with the fee applicable to U.S. Express Package Services, U.S. Ground Services and International Ground Service. At least one new charge will rear after the holiday season. Starting Jan. 17, 2022, FedEx will charge $0.60 more per package for domestic residential delivery through its FedEx Express and FedEx Ground U.S., excluding FedEx Ground Economy and FedEx One Rate packages. There’s no timeline for sunsetting that charge. Elsewhere, the Postal Service wants to add surcharges on most packages shipped domestically between Oct. 3 and Dec. 26. The surcharges will apply to commercial and retail customers, including packages sent by individuals. International shipments won’t be affected. Impacted services include Priority Mail Express (PME), Priority Mail (PM), First-Class Package Service (FCPS), Parcel Select, USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Return Service. The surcharges will range from $0.75 per package for PM and PME flat-rate boxes and envelopes up to $5 per piece for certain packages that weigh between 21 and 70 pounds. The Governors of the Postal Service have already approved the surcharges, but to implement the fees, USPS needs final approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. As of this writing, that approval was pending. Word on the surcharges comes as the promotional products industry, like most industries, deals with supply chain disruption due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The disruption has slowed the delivery of inventory imports and made importing drastically more expensive, contributing to stock shortfalls and rising product prices. Domestic labor shortages and delays in delivery from domestic truck and rail carriers are other negative factors driving up price and dragging out order production/delivery times. *Source- article written by Christopher Ruvo for ASI's Counselor Magazine- August 2021 Edition.