Wouldn't it be nice to literally drive individuals to the doorstep of your business, your trade show booth or your festival fundraiser? It's easy with temporary floor graphics! These foot graphics come in sets of 10 and each set can be different! These feet can be applied to hardwood, linoleum, vinyl and carpet- we have documentation for your venue space! Outdoors or high traffic areas, we have a different product that can also be made into stock shapes and custom shapes.

Cotton costs are going to rise, and you will feel the pinch in tee shirt pricing. When? Probably by late Q2 & into Q3. Why? Inventory due to COVID conditions, importing issues have led to large gaps in the supply chain, inventory on tees this last year could change as quickly as a day- pivoting an order to another brand or color due to sizing- which impacts price. Additionally, Gildan’s supply chain took a major hit, which is going to make additional brands with less choice for stock. Stock-inventory is affecting orders of all sizes, both large and small. We may quote an order and stock may be gone as quick as the next day. Stock issues are not just for tees- it's across all types of products making American Made choices smart for 2021. Especially for company store programs, which rely on the ease of stock being available for choices. Reallocating event or in-person HR training budget for drop shipments. Our largest suppliers said they did more drop ship kits in the month of December 2020 than the entire year of 2019 or the first 11 months of 2020. The beauty of a kit is choice. You select products that reflect your need, such as home office, comfort, appreciation, or an event. Greater good- cause-related product choices continue to be popular, making it easy to align your company values to the impact of a greater good. Personalizations & small quantities- this year's industry show was full of choices for no setup, low qt (as few as 1 unit) and personalization of the recipient's name added. Gifting this past year soared, as budgets for onboarding, training, recognition, and events were now allocated to showing support, care and appreciation. The low qt and single options were welcome additions to our partner list.

Brr… It's getting cold out there. The weather in our area has been cold and dreary for a while, whether it's Phil's fault or mother nature. The perfect winter jacket will indeed help you stay both warm and dry. What features should you consider? Three must-have features to keep you warm and cozy all winter long. Waterproof Exterior Rain and snow are a big hassle. Nobody wants to walk around cold and wet. A waterproof coat that stands up to snow, sleet, and rain can be the difference between a good day and a miserable one. A Cozy Lining A good winter coat will have a nice, warm lining to protect you from the elements. Whether it's a super soft fleece lining for extra comfort or an ECHOHEAT lining that reflects your body heat to keep you toasty on freezing cold days, the lining is critical for staying comfy. Special Touches We've covered what makes the jacket comfortable to wear, but the extra features are what makes you excited to wear it. Which of these special features would be important to you? Packable for extra portability? Smooth sleeve linings to keep your shirt from bunching up when you put them on? An LED light in the zipper pull to keep you safe when walking or jogging at night? A touch-less key attached to your pocket for opening doors or using ATMs? A remove-abe or stow-away hood? Whatever your needs are, we've got a jacket to match them. Our showroom is the perfect place to come out of the cold and compare the choices to find the perfect jacket for you. Interested in looking now? Here are some options to keep you warm.

Teamwork- how many times has that word required in my lifetime? Many! It's not a new word or concept; individuals have been picking teams from red rover to baseball for years. Group projects in an education environment are also not a new concept. I will be the first to admit I hated group work in school; teachers assigned teams and there was always a weak link. However, the word team seems to have reached an elevated status in the workplace.  In the modern office environment teamwork is often defined as 2 or more people tasked with a common goal; brainstorming ideas. By collaborating on the shared task, solutions are provided from collective input from the team.  Collaboration is one of our core words, because it's a key ingredient to campaign success. My oldest son played football in college. He once stated that his team was only as strong as the weakest link. He'd seen that by assisting the player he liked the least, a glory hog, the ball advanced. Helping him be properly positioned on a play, created the potential for success in the moment and offered then future opportunities to score. In order for a team to be effective collaborating there must be a blend of talents and perspectives, as well as trust and respect among the team members. If individuals don't feel valued for their contribution, then why contribute? Dominant personalities will always make sure their input is heard, while more introverted members of the team may need to be asked to share. When your office has only 4 people, the ship either rows together or it sinks together. One of the many things Keith and I enjoy about owning our own business is the ability to pivot anytime. If a process needs tweaking, there is no need for numerous meetings or memos- we talk as a group and implement a new strategy. While each member of our team has titled roles and individual space to work, picking up the client's needs along the processing journey is a little like successfully passing the baton in a relay. The more we know the timing and rhythm of our teammate, the better equipped we are to execute a task once it's handed off in the process. We all have our strengths and weakness as individuals. Working together effectively as a team requires we pick up or slow down our pace to make sure we have smooth transitions. A smooth hand-off also requires repetition and communication; a rhythm that develops over time. Communication is key Establishing where are we in the process? What do we need to know before interacting with our client? Do we have the details needed for a quote or the right files mock up the order?  Have we appropriately shared the options and assessed the timeline for an upcoming campaign? Do we know what's critical from the supplier before placing an order? When should we check on the status of an order in the production process? Who's our internal crew? Me- I am usually your initial face to the business. I love generating new ideas and considering ALL the options; after-all there is talking and creativity involved. If I even look at technology, it malfunctions; it's a gift. By the way, I love fried chicken, mashed potatoes and biscuits. Keith- understands safety like no one else on the team, he takes care of all of the non- glamorous sides of the business which are critical tasks, including: special deliveries, trash patrol, accounting and compliance.  He usually partners with Miranda to try to figure out what I've done to my computer! He loves Mediterranean food. Miranda- hates fried chicken and bacon, but loves Taco Bell and ice cream! Her fingers are super fast on a computer; whether a search, a quote or creating art. She is always game for a work-walk and she is great with math; lucky for me.  Sara- tends to like citrus flavors, loves plants and nature- both animals and the great outdoors. She's the quieter one of our bunch at work. She's always on time and is the queen of spreadsheets and our web stores- a master with all those fine details. Arien- an avid coffee drinker, loves organization, a pun, trivia night and her fur babies. In fact, if you look up the definition of a Labrador Retriever, you might find her photo. Her friendly, outgoing and ready to try something new spirit makes a great fit for our ever changing task list! Our team rows together! We share ideas, we learn from one another, we support each other and our teamwork helps our clients receive the best result.

Who says the holiday celebrations only happen in December? Holidays are as much about cultural & family traditions as they are about fun. Why limit fun to the last few weeks of the year? By expanding your view of the holidays and selecting dates for distributions that mean something to your company values, you are demonstrating what matters to you, providing fun and not getting lost in the shuffle. For example, if education is important to your company, ship out custom books or popular titles on National Book Day in September or consider new desk supplies for the office- like a back-to-school bundle for each employee. Companies that want to thank their loyal client base might consider Thanksgiving or combine & increase the value of your gift. September is National Back to School Month- gift employees with a new work backpack, then donate to an organization in the name of your top clients or help support a local backpack program by volunteering or set up a bin at your office to collect supplies from employees or patrons. Are you more inspired by visuals? Considering there is a national date for virtually everything- create your own holiday celebrations. Do you have any unique traditions?

Promotional Partners has had many interns over the years, and with July 28th National Intern Day, I figured there's no better time to introduce myself than today. Hi, my name is Connor and I'm Promotional Partners summer intern this year. I am a student at Apex High School and am a part of their AOIT program. As a member of the AOIT program, I am required to have an internship. I had been searching for one and then the Promotional Partners one popped up in my inbox. I knew this was one I definitely wanted to apply for because I was interested in how a small business works. Being part of AOIT I have learned a lot of soft skills, interview skills, and how to create a resume. Learning these skills definitely helped me get the internship. During the internship, I have seen a lot about how a small business works and how it is different than a larger business. Knowing what I have learned during the internship will help me going forward in my life when deciding if I want to own my own business or work for a larger one. Promotional Partners has had many interns over the years. In fact, Miranda was an AOIT intern when she was in high school and wrote this blog, and Angela interned with Promotional Partners when she was in AOIT as well as when she was in college. Being a part of AOIT will help me a lot going forward in my life. Although AOIT is technology based, I think what will be even more helpful is the soft skills I have learned through the program. If you live in Apex, you'll see an article soon in a local publication about the AOIT program and the academy at Apex Friendship High School. Angela and I worked with an intern from that program to provide a perspective about the benefits of the program for businesses and students in the academies.

From year-end employee awards to celebrating the holidays, the final months of 2022 are full of gifting opportunities. It’s always a good idea to beat the rush – so if you can, order now while inventory and product selection are strongest. What 4 trends are hot right now? Inventory & Lead Time There is no way around stock issues and lead time issues for the 2022 holiday season. Our preferred partners have stocked up on top selling items like beanies, blankets, backpacks and bottles to hoodies, jackets and polos – all in stock now, and ready to ship. Lead times are still pretty normal, but our industry has been hit like many with supply chain issues getting containers imported, moved from the dock storage to trucks to warehouses and workforce staffing issues in the production area. This year more than ever you need to plan for the holiday early. Explore these 4 hot new trends, in these curated collections featured in our digital lookbooks Then have us create a custom package based on your preferences. Perfectly Packaged™ Our Perfectly Packaged™ fulfillment service is an easy way to deliver a memorable gift experience, allowing you to create fully custom gifts. Pick a single product or mix and match multiple items – either way, the service includes decorative packaging that gives gifts a personal touch. Unlimited drop shipments are included, too, so you can deliver gifts directly to homes or offices instead of in bulk to a single location. This service saves you valuable time, money and adds the personal "unboxing" experience we've all come to love. Retail brands are popular for gifts because of the quality. Search for more stories around gifting here.

Yes, we are your perfect Promotional Partner for capturing your brand's vision in a curated gift box or a seasonal giveaway, but what about capturing the milestone moments of your employees' personal lives? Take your brand a step further, and be welcomed into the homes of your employees. Welcome to our series of Milestone Moments, where we share ideas and inspiration for how to celebrate the heartier moments in life with your colleagues and clients. New Addition to the Family: Whether its a newborn baby, a toddler, or a recent adoptee, make sure the parents/guardians of the little tike feel prepared and supported with these items.* This baby button helps keep track of important info like the baby's weight, length, date of birth, and place of birth, especially in the newborn stage when you have to fill out lots of paperwork. With the button pin closure on the back, it's sure to stay in place on that diaper bag. This onesie is an absolute necessity for a tot who's more active than their little muscles will allow - its stretchy fabric and three-snap closure ensures that they can wiggle around while being changed, perhaps to the chagrin of mom or dad. This hooded baby towel is the ultimate cozy comfort after getting your child out of the bath and warming up before changing into their pajamas for bedtime. The towel is made of a super soft terry cloth, so parents don't have to worry about chafing their baby's sensitive skin. They say that the first year flies by, so document all those important appointments with this 12-month, non-dated calendar. This calendar is designed with spaces to attach photos, boxes to record growth, note physical achievements, and more to keep the new child in the spotlight all year long. The holidays are a busy, bustling time of the year, but take a moment to absorb that this is the first holiday season with the newest addition to the family! This custom-made, birchwood ornament is the perfect gift to mark this holiday milestone, plus it gives back - with every order, one tree is planted to restore forest growth. We hope you will stay tuned to our series to help us help you celebrate your employees' milestone moments. *All items can be found on the Promotional Partners website; just click here, or click on the images to be taken directly to the product information.

Research shows that owning a companion animal like a dog brings real health benefits. A study published in The Washington Post reveals that pet owners are about 12% happier than those without pets, and dog owners are happier than cat owners. Well, that might be up for debate depending on your preference - however most of our team will confirm they love their 4-legged family members which include both dogs and cats! Modern office environments and remote workers include pets, making the addition of a fur baby to the family a milestone moment for many. Pets are even working their way into weddings, getting their own birthday parties and social media accounts! Our furry friends offer a window into our personal side; individuals instantly find a common bond in a love of pets, sharing stories and experiences the same way parents discuss their children. Reward employees, shoppers and patrons with products for their pets! It's free advertising if the designs are clever and have a retail-inspired approach to incorporating your branding. Consider fun twists on your name, tagline, product service to add some fun. Leashes, collars and bandanas are a showy way to add some color and offer an imprint area that would allow for fun wordplay or splashy graphics. Dog or cat lovers will appreciate a lint roller! A lint roller would make a great giveaway at a college career fair - recruiting day. Look your best or have fun wordplay that navigating your career pathway can get hairy! Looking for more inspiration? Search our site by the word pet and of course visit our showroom to check out samples firsthand or work with the design team to create a fun promotion. How do fur babies make your life happier? *Featured here are Holly and Baxter- Holly being one of our owner's dog's and one of their furry grandbabies Baxter.

My name is Miranda, and I am a student intern at Promotional Partners. I have been working here now for a number of months. As I come across new things and questions every day, there is one question that people continuously seem to ask…Why would I use a distributor if I can order it myself online? Now I would have been asking the same thing a short time ago but my view on this question has changed. There are a number of reasons why using a distributor is the smart way to go. For one, good distributors do more than just sell items but instead, they have the time and knowledge to work with you and make sure that you as the customer are completely satisfied with your order. In addition, as distributors, it is their job to be up on the latest trends. A good distributor adds creativity, innovation and imagination. Online stores can show you products you want to see and help you find the product you want but distributors can provide tangible samples that make your ideas come to life! In addition, unlike online stores which you never have face to face contact with anyone, most distributor companies you can find locally providing customers with convenience. Also, online stores, while they may provide you with information you need, they never go above and beyond. A distributor guides you through the process and is always available to answer any questions you might have. Then once an order is put it, the distributor tracks your items, making sure that you get what you need and that you get it on time. Finally, distributors work with their suppliers many times, in turn building relationships with those companies. Because of this, distributors can not only save you time but more importantly in this economy, money. As an educated staff, they know questions to ask you that you might not think to ask them so they can provide you information on quality, quantity or pricing: all things important since we know your imprint is very important to you. Since distributors have a relationship with their suppliers; they can sometimes get deals on items that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. So, as you can see, there are many benefits to using a distributor versus using an online source. Whether its time, money or convenience, a distributor is the way to go! ***Intern Program: Miranda was part of the nationally recognized AOIT program at Apex High School. Olivia served on the AOIT Advisory Board from 2012-2018. Promotional Partners has hosted 14 AOIT interns, 5 from Green Hope High School & 2 college interns. Miranda wrote this post back in 2009 as part of her AoIT internship.

Teamwork always accomplishes more and this case study with our partner PRS, Professional Restoration Services, provides some behind the scenes insights to our team formula. PRS needed a versatile group of display products that could work on the course, hosting a group at their location or standout in the crowd at a street fair. This kit created a high-quality solution of carefully curated options and allowed our design team to add some PRS flair! The planning started with a virtual meeting using our digital showroom due to the pandemic and then fortunately continued with in person meetings to compare the look & feel of product options in our actual showroom. Visit PRS at a golf event and pick up a fun, surprise custom piece we created that fits their vibe for fun! Thanks for the shout out from Brent over at PRS, who said, "From creating visually stunning custom images to deftly sourcing the latest and greatest promotional products to fit our unique needs the Team at Promotional Partners is an integral extension of our marketing department. Events, marketing campaigns, give-a-ways…they do it all and (most importantly) they take the time to listen to our company-specific goals and stop at nothing to make them to come to fruition. In the cluttered world of promotional products, it’s awesome to have a team of expert swag sherpas to guide you." Inspired? Let's craft a marketing campaign around your needs!

According to a 2022 study from Digital Information World, most consumers (57%) want brands to make them laugh, and nearly half (47%) want brands to make them feel motivated and inspired. In that same study, a third of consumers said they appreciate brands educating them and helping them learn new things. Also, one in five consumers value brands that prioritize inclusivity and make them feel seen and included. How do those statistics translate into your marketing strategies? Embrace products with larger imprint areas to add content without crowding the space. Adding what? Tips, inspirational quotes, reminders, or a QR code to a video message. Embrace products with the option for digital printing, like adding photos. Show your team behind the scenes, before & after portfolio pictures or share goofy images of your team or images from a team building event outside work hours. In the spirit of fun, here are some fun out-takes from our photo shoot, with Danielle Douglas earlier this year while working on our new team video and website. Thanks to Joe Mitchell with HW- Hardwork Strength Gym for all the laughs. Our team created our own laughter with several attempts to get Keith smiling in our group photos! Even products that encourage playfulness will be appreciated and thought about....shared, like these fun images with socks & towels given out by McClure Orthodontics. Let's add some laughter to your next employee or referral partner campaign?