I know, we aren't supposed to judge, but well- some photos are just ugly. Ugly-, you know, unpleasant, repulsive, ill-favored, plain, hideous. Okay, you know what it means, so you know this image of the chewed gum is less than attractive. However, how often do you consider the message being conveyed with your photos? You might have seen our October post around the importance of composition but it's not just the impact of the image or the quality of the image that's important; it's the intent of the image. Look at it this way, comparing these 2 images, which are more likely to get your attention? Both images are products, but a product in use- well, that's our expertise. The power of touch is critical to growing awareness, and staying top of mind. Brands grow when recipients keep products, use them regularly, which means the product is ...wait for it, part of their lifestyle! A product photo is a product photo, but in the hands of your vertical market, it touches their daily life. Images that represent lifestyle, values, and preferences while incorporating products are lifestyle photos. Photos that capture life tell stories. Brands evolve and grow when consumers respond to the stories. See how far your brand story can travel with quality lifestyle images. Do you need a crash course in brushing up your social media? Ask us to set up a free 30-minute consultation or partner with us to brush up on your graphic presence.

Did the light bulb glass intrigue you to take a second glance? No doubt we associate light bulbs with creative moments; but what about the coaster? Did you give the coaster a second glance? Isn't a coaster's purpose to absorb glass sweat? Yep, but should that surface be limited? Not in our hands. It's in prime view, ready to grab your attention as a very low-cost advertising and marketing tool. Battle against boredom. Make your brand the life of the party. Consumers are sophisticated, and traditional methods aren’t always as engaging or thought-provoking. Custom coasters increase your chances of grabbing and holding attention. Custom coasters aren’t the typical promotional item. Think of them like mini-billboards that people aren’t hurtling past at 65 miles per hour. Coasters hold attention whether they hold a glass or not. Who says they have to look like a coaster or even be used like one? The cooler your coaster, the greater the chance that consumers will hold on to it and talk about it. We defy you to see these options as boring- the punch out is even, well, a punch-out space. If you are located in a busy downtown area, outdoor dining programs can use a boost right now. How can you add value? Seasonal coasters and monthly promotions. Partner with local businesses to layer in secret rewards, reveal clues in a scavenger hunt, or reward supporters with a chance to win a shopping spree. What else can coasters do? Drive Sales Coasters are an undercover sales ninja not-hidden in plain sight Independent studies show that coasters increased the sales of advertised items by as much as 34.9% compared month over month.* Marketing Value The retention rate of coasters is 65%, meaning 2 out of 3 consumers can recall the brand, product, or offer.* Coasters influenced 22% of purchase decisions during an independent study. * Brand Extension Reinforce brand message and personality while increasing familiarity with your audiences. People hold on to coasters. 62% say they take them home sometimes.* Is your imagination intrigued by the possibilities? We hope so, after all, it's our favorite part of developing your campaign. Applying our creativity to problem-solving and growing your brand engagement. We always see possibilities. *Based on independent studies conducted by Canisius College and SUNY Buffalo.

The Stitch! Clients are amazed to find out that custom caps are decorated on a flat piece of fabric that's then sewed to construct the cap. When visitors come to the showroom, they immediately are drawn to custom caps. Why? The possibilities. Custom caps are visually more exciting and usually cheaper than caps that are decorated after they're sewn into a style. What can you do to a custom cap? Decorate the inside the cap with a message Stitch or print on the top or bottom of the bill Add words or color between the top and bottom of the bill- the sandwich Add a private label for your brand inside of the cap Decorate several locations Add mixed media such as screening the mesh back on a trucker style, perhaps an element from your logo, a location, a flag or pattern. It's really no problem. Add dimensional patches or laser etching the fabric Besides the lower price point with custom, you're adding value to the consumer. Our stock caps are all stitched in one of our local or domestic partner production facilities, while our custom caps rely on strong overseas production partners. Interested in supporting local initiatives? Custom caps are not done domestically, but no worries- you are still supporting local by working with our team. We are a team of 4 and we have production partners all around Wake County and North Carolina- creating jobs for 100's of individuals. Caps are a legit choice for a strong, easy, creative return on your investment. Headwear generates an impressive 3,400 impressions over its lifespan- more stat's here. When you're ready to explore the options for decoration or custom caps, set up a time to visit our showroom.

“We’re living in a world where one good video can lead to a massive social following.” -Mike Henry Freshening up your marketing could be as simple as incorporating video. Video allows you to virtually connect with prospects and clients, but it also enables your sales reps to showcase their personalities. When your competitors are sending text-based emails, a video stands out as a refreshing change. If you’re wondering what you can create a video about, read on. In this issue, the blog was lifted to share from one of our industry publications, Promotional Consultant Today, complied by Audrey Sellers. The ideas came from Isaiah Wells, director of video at Weidert Group, on 10 creative ways to incorporate video in your B2B content marketing. 1. Personalized sales videos. Whether you record a quick video with your laptop or your smartphone, a video is a great way to share more about you and your products and services. These videos don’t need to have major production value, Wells adds. 2. Social teasers. If you want to drive prospects to content on your site, whether it’s a new blog or a new product listing, give a sneak peek with a short social teaser video. Wells recommends keeping them short—no longer than a minute or so. 3. Employee bios. Video is a great way to amp up the fun on your team’s online profiles. Rather than simply a paragraph of text, ask each member of your sales team to create a short video about themselves. 4. Video blogs. If your sales reps don’t necessarily have the skill or time to write a lengthy blog post, invite them to contribute a video blog—or vlog for short. Wells says tools like Otter can help you transcribe the video to improve SEO. 5. Trade show support. With most events continuing in a virtual format this year, video allows you to engage with attendees and stand out in breakout sessions. When you have a lively video showcasing your product or company, you give people a reason to stop and watch, says Wells. 6. Webinars. It may sound daunting creating a webinar from scratch, but Wells says it is as easy as hitting record when giving an online presentation on Zoom or another video platform. Then you can just add it to your website and include a link in your emails. 7. About us videos. Similar to using video in employee bios, you can also use video to tell a story about your team or company. According to Wells, these videos can help you explain to your audience why you do what you do. 8. Product demos. Want to show your clients a great new product? Create a video that gives them an up-close look. People believe what they see, and if they see that your product does what they need it to do, your sales outreach will be more effective, says Wells. 9. Recruitment videos. If you are hoping to add to your sales team this year, you can use videos to spotlight your workplace, provide a virtual tour of your office building or introduce job seekers to their potential colleagues. 10. Customer testimonials. When you can incorporate a video of a happy client in your content marketing, it’s a win for both your company and the client. You get to show how you have helped one of your customers and the other business gets some nice exposure, too. You can use videos in all stages of the sales process, from prospecting to nurturing. Whether you choose to entertain or inform in your video, make sure to always keep the focus on the value you provide. Once you know your message, hit record and get ready to engage with your audience in new ways. Source: Isaiah Wells is director of video at Weidert Group. He has more than 15 years of experience creating video assets for a variety of industries and has worked with clients including Pfizer, GE, and Briggs & Stratton.

It's National Embroidery Month, which seams like a legit reason to talk about your options! Embroidery is a popular way to decorate because: The amount of color doesn't matter. Once the file is created we can do as few as 1 unit as long as the size does not need to change. In fact, we've created stitched for weddings, baby gifts, hometown pride and to express religious messages or have fun with political frustrations. Mix & match styles, sizes within an order for flexibility. A new business can give away a branded bag to a friend, thank a client with a blanket and select a polo, pullover, or cap for work. Nice outwear is a popular employee perk - don't forget those brand ambassadors. Employee Appreciation Day is coming up on March 5. Be creative with embroidery and ask us to show you examples of puffy stitching, appliques, combining mixed media, or using the negative space to add visual interest. Don't follow a pattern- let's create something unique that consumers will want to wear!

Who coined the phrase, "get a life"? In 1986, the phrase was used by actor William Shatner in his appearance in a December episode of Saturday Night Live. During the show, he's in a skit, where he shows up at a Star Trek convention and implores a group of Trekkies who are obsessed with the details of Shatner's life to move out of their parents' basements and "get a life." Life has gotten faster and more visual; which means consumers expect more. Is your brand ready to move out of the basement and demand attention on it's own merit? Creating a life for your brand should include a cohesive & polished look across all your social media platforms. Because most posts include a photo, our graphics team would like you to consider the benefits of posting quality lifestyle images to enhance your brand identity. While each of these photos below captures a sense of community, the message implied with each is image is different. An ability to capture a story in a photo is the key to a quality lifestyle image. The consumer relates to the image, which builds relationships and creates loyalists that identify with your brand. Because life moves fast and adapting requires getting our of our routines and comfort zones, we frequently publish quick marketing tips on our blog. We've been sharing social media tips over the last year- perhaps you missed a tip? No worries- we've consolidated some white paper resources here. Generating Content Creating A Content Calendar Managing Your Social Media Networking Using Social Media Community Engagement As business owners, we all want to live long and prosper! Sharing knowledge is part our brand story. “Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.” – Michelle Obama

What's quirky enough to work? Not Alligators, but protective gaiters. Are you ready for a turtleneck hoodie with a built-in neck gaiter to use as a face mask? Who might appreciate this type of product? Outdoor enthusiasts such as campers, hikers, fishers, joggers in tight public spaces or essential workers like landscapers, home builders, plumbers, HVAC teams, and public works employees. Looking for a temporary, easy to remove solution? How about a gaiter with an integrated cap, which is great for those coming in contact for a limited period of time. After all, who wants to remove the gear when it's not necessary? Leaving your hands mobile to assist! These are perfect for educators in the carpool line or restaurant & meal delivery services. Not convinced this type of branding makes a difference with consumers? Consider the impact of masks and gaiters in 2020 on those that chose to brand face coverings and consider how this type of promotion could work for your business.

How many board games did you master as a kid? Did you prefer games with strategy, chance, or quirky fun? Chances are you can name at least 10 games you played as a child. Imagine your brand or company’s greatest assets translated into the #1 board game brands in the world. Imagine your target audience having fun playing your game in the comfort of their homes, and making life-long memories. Imagine that special game turned into a collectible and passed along through generations. Imagine bringing your message to life by playing. Popular classics such as Life, Clue, Monopoly, Yahtzee and Connect 4 offer words that convey deeper messages you'd like to convey. Perhaps you're bringing a solution or connection that is powerful to your vertical market or you have a development property that will be as sought after as Park Place. If you don't have a clue how to make your next- anniversary celebration, employee or customer appreciation, product launch, fundraiser, or reward program engaging let us play with some ideas. Don't trivialize the importance of engagement, after-all aren't you in pursuit of brand awareness?

If you follow our blog, you've likely seen posts outlining the benefits of a company store. Besides the ease to shop & browse from anywhere, there are some additional key benefits: Brand Control- we can add custom pages outlining your brand standards & requirements. Items are selected that represent your brand's values, align with marketing needs, and optimize your imprint. What do we mean optimize your imprint? By reducing color choices for products and working out the design that will be imprinted ahead of the order, we reduce headaches and frustrations when content doesn't fit in an imprint area. Orders are in your hands faster! There is no need to go through your compliance department, marketing, or graphics team for approval, the decoration options are preapproved. Reward top performers or gift a new employee. How? By using unique coupon codes, each individual has the ability to apply earned "perks" for performance or on-boarding to apply to free or discounted merchandise. Hybrid- Remote- National? We've already mentioned, browse your site from anywhere. no need to inventory stock. We build in discounts and lower minimums to meet your marketing & branding needs. A budget boost! Education- those custom pages are the perfect place for us to create marketing content outlining steps to create the vertical market engagement that you're seeking for your brand. Working beside you, as a partner to craft solutions to your brand challenges- like company stores, which offer you seamless, 24 -7 peace of mind.

When it comes to effective sales tools, blog articles are a wonderful way to attract new leads and build rapport with your customers. (After all, you're reading this right now.) That's why we put out new blog articles filled with content that is there for you to get inspired by and maybe learn something new! Today's blog post? We've also got some pro tips for creating blog content that will captivate your audience and ultimately lead to higher engagement stats and more conversions. Why Have A Blog? If you're not already blogging for your business, you should start. Companies with blogs receive 55% more traffic and generate 67% more leads than those without a blog presence (Single Grain). And if those stats aren't convincing enough, perhaps the consumers can persuade you. 81% of US consumers say that blogs are a trusted source of information, 61% have made purchases based on a blog's recommendation, and more than 68% say that a blog adds credibility to a website (Single Grain). What To Include In Your Posts For starters, publish new content at least once a week. This freshens things up, so your customers aren't seeing the same material repeatedly. Some posts can contain project ideas or product recommendations, others can educate readers on upcoming events they may not know about (January 28th is Fun at Work Day, by the way). You can also use your blog to give readers a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes. It's a fun way to express your business's personality and appear more human, which builds trust with your audience. We're Here To Get You Started Consider content that will cover topics that are relevant to you and your customers, like upcoming occasions, themes, and key industries. Is there a common question about a service or product you offer? Write a post about it! Maybe you have a product with an amazing backstory - blog about it! Take a look through our previous posts for inspiration - that's why they're there! Need a little more assistance? Feel free to reach out - we love helping brands grow!

With the challenges surrounding face-to-face meetings, email marketing is more important than ever. As with social media, email marketing takes time and effort. Here are a few things to consider:* 99 percent of consumers check email every day – it's the preferred way to get updates from businesses Email generates $38 for $1 spent, a 3,800 percent return on investment 59 percent of survey respondents say marketing emails influence purchase decisions As of July 2020, 78 percent of marketers had seen an increase in email engagement over the previous 12 months What could you include in your message? Email can be used to showcase new products, provide ideas for a gift occasion or give updates about your business. Offer a service? Go a step further and gift your readers a downloadable glimpse into the value you offer, or maybe a discount! Having trouble getting people to open your email? Create an eye-catching and intriguing subject line - make those receiving your email so curious that they WANT to open it month after month! The most important piece to remember: keep content focused on a timely and relevant theme and mix up the content! If you're in need of more inspiration, sign up for our monthly newsletter! *HubSpot and DMA National Client Email Report 2015

Social media channels like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter allow you to promote your business at no cost. The only investments are time and effort. And we're here to help. Not convinced that social media can have any impact on your business? Here are some benefits: People are 57.5% more likely to buy from brands they follow on social media.* Increase web traffic. Increase brand awareness. Share new products and promotions with customers. Need help with content? Make it timely and relevant. Vary the content. Posts can be about new products, about your business or just to celebrate a holiday. User-generated content is a great one. Hosting an event with a registration gift? Make the presentation worth sharing on social media. Include a hashtag and encourage recipients to share and engage with other participants! Remember, we are here to be an extension of your marketing team! Whether you need more tips on social media or help to put together an Instagram-worthy registration kit, we are here for you! *Sprout Social