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Brands across the country are looking for ways to show they’re environmentally friendly, not only because it’s a smart thing to do, but also because it’s a new consumer trend that helps drive business. Thanks to Eco-friendly food & beverage items, organizations can express their support for sustainability without overspending. By switching to a compostable product line for a wide variety of purposes and events, they can enhance the public’s perception and enjoy the benefits of being a green business. How can you make an impact with your choices? Why should you consider changing your habits? 1. Managing Your Reputation Become a leader in your industry and enhance consumer opinion of your brand. According to the Sense and Sustainability Study by Gibbs & Soell, 40% of Americans say food and beverage has the best reputation for environmental and social responsibility. Supporting Eco-friendly practices will help businesses maintain and improve your brand image and keeps you competitive in your market. 86% of U.S. consumers expect companies to act on social and environmental issues, based on a study from Cone Communications. Keeping these expectations in mind, businesses like beverage restaurants, convenience stores, corporate cafeterias, schools, bars and breweries can earn greater customer loyalty by making a few simple changes with their food and beverage products. 2. Green Companies Win Over Consumer Perception There’s no doubt that an Eco-friendly approach to doing business entices a fast-growing segment of consumers. In fact, 72% of them say if they learned a company was making a significant effort to adopt environmentally conscious practices, they would be more likely to seek their services (source: Sense and Sustainability Study). Promoting earth-conscious practices is a safe investment in Green food and beverage items consumers will use regularly. This approach is a risk-free marketing tool since you are purchasing products anyway. Ask our graphics team to craft your own message promoting a sustainable lifestyle and your efforts to protect the planet. 3. Consumers Have High Expectations Uphold Environmental Responsibility 55% of U.S. adults said businesses are responsible when it comes to protecting the well-being of people, communities and the environment (source: Sense and Sustainability). In other words, over half of all consumers now expect organizations to turn a profit in an environmentally responsible manner. Make it easier to appeal to more consumers with green promos that typically cost around a dollar per unit. By switching to compostable products, businesses can associate their brands with a positive movement to drive results. This initiative isn't just for food & beverage businesses but for corporate sponsors of events such as music festivals, sporting events, community event, fundraisers and 5Ks. 4. Environmental Consciousness Is Growing An Important New Factor in the Buyer Journey Based on a report from the Pew Research Center, 75% of U.S. adults are particularly concerned with helping the environment as they go about their daily lives. Brands could be losing customers between the awareness and decision stages of the buyer journey due to not being green. For example, if someone is deciding between two companies offering the same product or service for the exact same price, one of which is Eco-friendly, they may be more likely to choose the latter. Simply put, it’s a crucial deciding factor your customers should keep in mind. Inspire organizations to inform progressive, young consumers that they share the same values so they can build lasting relationships and earn more in the future. Organizations that can make internal changes include hotels, hospitals, resorts, food courts and airports. 5. Eco-Friendly Promos Spread the Word Send the Right Message Consider this - 34% of consumers rely on word-of-mouth to learn information about a company’s efforts to promote sustainability (source: Sense and Sustainability Study). Replacing your current paper products with Eco-friendly items is an excellent way to generate positive buzz on social media, in your establishment and marketed on your products showcasing your green efforts. Don't forget to position this message when you sponsor local events, donate food or beverages or sponsor hunger relief events Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Civic Organizations or Chambers of Commerce events. Check out our digital catalog for product selections for your next event or to use in your business. Once you are ready to make the switch to green, ask us about how we apply our marketing strategies by co-branding and partnering with businesses in your district or association to defray costs and add value, such as: Adding coupons, creating a call to action or highlighting special features about the charity work being done by Mom & Pop businesses in your area on your disposable. Using our design team and marketing expertise to offset costs you'd pay to a graphic, PR or marketing Firm. Show support, promotions that are united are popping up everywhere with the COVID-19 pandemic. Events & festivals will return, our co-branding programs are designed to generate foot traffic for businesses before, during and after events with low cost marketing dollars spend on items you plan to purchase for those events anyway.

There are 30.2 million small businesses in this country, which comprise a whopping 99.9% of all United States businesses. While the SBA defines a small business as a firm with fewer than 500 employees, we are asking you to think of micro-businesses this week. It's critical for economic vibrancy that the government is aware of where we live to apply dollars and representation back into our communities, the 2020 Census will provide us information to aid with representation and federal funding. How does the census impact the business community? Data collected shows that small businesses outnumber large businesses, employ a larger workforce collectively and growing at a significant rate. What types of business models are growing the fastest? Women-owned businesses! As woman owned NC HUB status business, we find that data exciting. In fact, data from the US Census Bureau, shows that the number of women-owned firms are on the rise and outpacing growth in other segments. Did you know that North Carolina has over 330,000 businesses owned by women, employing over 250,000 people and generate almost $40 billion annually, not to mention our state is ranked among the top 10 states for women business leaders. You might even say that we are not only being "counted" but being "counted on" by many. In our cause marketing section of the blog, we regularly highlight ways our clients can align their core values with product selections that "give back" and while we have many partners that list a desire to work with HUB status companies, it's unfortunately rare that diversity partnership is a significant consideration when ordering. We have access to supplier partners that are HUB status for many reasons, such as Disabled American Owned, Veteran Owned, Minority Owned and Women Owned- for some odd reason a personal favorite! Here are a few of our supplier partners that are woman owned: Started in 1980 from her home, Bag Makers owner, Maribeth Sanford has grown her company to 400 employees! We've done many bag promotions with this company over the years including Halloween bags, Eco Bags for conferences and gift bags for sales. Stromberg brand, has been a top provider for umbrellas since 1967 and is led by Helen Stromberg. Stromberg is often our go to provider for employee appreciation gifts, quality gifts for a ribbon cutting or ground breaking ceremony to draw awareness to the location. Since 1992, Jornik, owned by Jordie Freedman, has been a line that's all about fun! Their tagline is "where creativity meets fundamental". We've used this company for products for state fairs or local festivals that provide booth engagement for kids. Since 1974, The Chest has been owned and operated by Mary Dobsch. This company has assisted us with educational vinyl stickers, customer loyalty cards, custom puzzles, quick turn convention badges with variable data and unique packaging for direct mail or sales team distributions. Inspired to form a relationship with a partner that fulfills your diversity goals?

Are you itching to get outside and gather with the masses? Whether your first music festival was Woodstock or a local band at a downtown festival, you probably recall the experience because you had fun! Music festivals are rising in popularity. In 2018, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population attended a music festival according to a Nielsen Report. What does this mean for brands? An opportunity for greater exposure through sponsorships and booths. Right now is an ideal time to review your plans to be ready when the beat goes on..... Does your website need to be updated? Is everyone on the committee planning to return? Are you incorporating any components to give back to the community that day? Is the festival going to change from previous years- does the media know? Have you secured sponsors and what have you offered them besides a banner, an ad, and some free tickets? When it comes to the merchandise we often think of gear that's designed for the band groupies to purchase, but festival merchandise can be an effective way to secure sponsors. In warmer weather, a hand fan shaped like a guitar is fun for the attendee, but in the right hands, it becomes a call to action for advertising sponsors with incentives to visit them another day. Zipper pulls might be the way you gain access to a VIP section sponsored by a local business. An eye doctor or urgent care might love the wordplay for their services associated with bottle opener sunglasses! A bakery might gather selfies from attendees with glow in the dark lip balm. Glow in the dark blankets for the grassy areas would be the perfect way to advertise family-friendly activities or a financial planner's ability to navigate their future. The next time you are a sponsor, ask if you can suggest your own items for mass distribution or to select VIP attendees- get attendees familiar with the lyrics to your brand!

Look mom, no hands! Individuals that work in non-traditional environments or love getting their hands dirty outside their work hours will appreciate a light that fits in the pocket or on a toolbelt. The ability to attach this compact light to a magnetic surface provides the hands free assistance that any craftsman would appreciate. If a remote light inspires you to grab your hard hat, you are not alone. In 2018, Stastia reported that US consumer purchases for home improvement products were estimated at 394 billion dollars. Clearly, Americans don't mind getting a dirty. An essential safety product for professionals in construction, home improvement and DIY homeowners is a USA Made hardhat. It's implied that you're going to get dirty, while helping ensure safety. Building plans and project instructions are no longer only found on paper. Technology has changed how we plan, share and receive information. In a modern setting, staying connected to your building plans may require a laptop or tablet. A good partner to have is a solar charged power bank, with large enough capacity to charge your laptop, tablet or four devices at once, even out in the field. Take a look a how it works. Duluth is synonymous with quality and luxury, while rugged enough for any job. Sometimes the best tool in your marketing box is buying less and investing your dollars into products that individual recipients will keep and use for years. Plus, Duluth products are USA Made. Research supports that 99% of consumers will go out of their way to grab a promotional product, 8 out 10 consumers like receiving a product and 74% have a more favorable impression of the advertiser. prefer this form of advertising and 72% associate the quality of the product with the quality of the company. Our partner, Compass Promos, has items for large distributions as well as name brand products for employees, referral partners and customer gifts. Designing a comprehensive marketing program is better when it's not a DIY project, but crafted with a trusted resource. Besides, our team has the expertise and enjoys sharing options. Make sure you are following our social media, to gain access to videos featuring new product trends and data related to consumer buying habits. Tangible marketing relies on the power of touch. Speaking of touch- if your heartstrings have been touched by local First Responders, you might consider one of these gifts from this product line.

Stress According to HealthSpan, 97% of people say they are tired most of the time and 70% employees say they are sometime, very often or always burned out according to Gallup. To counteract this, The Energy Project suggest taking a break every 90 minutes to increase your focus by 30%. How can you help your employees? Encourage work walks or walking meetings. Get them excited by giving out custom shoes, creating a shoelace challenge, having reminders on coaster or mouse pads. Create friendly competition by recording key times using smart watches! Keep stress at a minimum by learning to set boundaries between work and home. Outsource activities that you can afford to leave off your to do list if it gains you time with family. Sleep Did you know that inadequate sleep costs US companies more than $63 billion a year in lost productivity (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)? Most Americans would be happier and healthier and safer if they just sleep and extra 80-90 minutes per night (American Psychological Association). How can you help your employees feel more rested the next morning? Consider gifting sleep masks, noise reduction headphones, blue light glasses to wear during work, and even white noise machines. Diet According to the Center of Disease Control, only 12.2% of Americans eat the recommended daily standard of fruit and only 9.3% eat the recommended amount of vegetables. How’s your diet? Besides feeling better, did you know that the CDC suggests that a 1% reduction in dietary health risks such as weight, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol would save the average person $83-$103 in medical costs each year. Promote a healthy diet among your employees by gifting a health journal,food pyramid magnet or keychain, or even a bento box! Encouraging a healthy diet goes hand in hand with building and maintaining a healthy immune system. Exercise The CDC states that just 23% of US adults meet the federal guidelines for exercise. Exercising lightly for just 20 minutes a day 3 times a week decreases fatigue and boosts energy (University of Georgia). Jump ropes, yoga mats, and resistance bands are great starter items for encouraging exercise for all fitness levels. Create a wellness program that encourages less stress, more sleep, a healthy diet, and exercise. A program that encourages participants and creates a judgement free environment will be sure to capture the attention of those looking to make a change.

With the current state, shoppers are finding it harder and harder to find their daily essentials which is causing tension among all. How can your business reduce tension and make the shopping process easy for both the workers and the consumers? We have a few ideas! One of the current frustrations is stores being out of certain high demand products. Face this issue head on by utilizing this dry erase banner to list all the items that are currently out of stock and when the next shipment is expected. Place the banner at the front of the store so shoppers won't have to walk the entire store only to find empty shelves. Another idea? Try using this indoor sign to greet shoppers with best practices for shopping. Both sides can be decorated meaning one side can focus on the company and the other side promotes best practices with strong graphics that bridges any language barriers. Perhaps your business is offering drive up pick ups. Address any questions from the start with this outdoor A frame. List the rules of the pickup process to avoid confusion on the shoppers end. Wind and rain approved. Unsure of how to design these pieces? Remember, we have an in house graphics team to help!

Employee retention, referral gifts and thank you for your business are some of the main reasons our clients seek quality branded products. In the coming weeks, we may find more companies working remotely. What can you do to stay top of mind or lighten the load of your employees? Gifts! At the holidays it's not unusual for us to field request about drop shipments to individual locations for food gifts, however this is a service we provide year round for any promotional item; not just food. Home comfort is a perfect way to show appreciation. What types of gifts will be appreciated at home? Regardless of germs, let's get real- you're going to still snuggle with family. Blankets are useful year round and perfect for a lazy afternoon watching movies at home. Don't forget the doorbell camera, adapters or smart outlets so you don't have to get up from the sofa! Besides help around the house, smart devices can solve many issues. Like what? Not ready to invest in an Apple Watch for the entire family? This low cost smart watch can take phone calls conveniently with the built-in speaker and microphone. It also functions as a music player and remote camera shutter for those selfies you plan to post and a calendar in case you lose track of your days hibernating. Deluxe charging systems that allow you to charge more than one item at a time are useful when you have multiple devices in need of a recharge, but prefer not to have cords all over the house. This system is also perfect for the busy professional who juggles multiple devices throughout their day. Go old school and enjoy some time playing games such as checkers, tic-tac toe, stacking games or even sharpen your mind with a game of sudoko. One of our favorite challenge games is a retro memory builder, requiring a sharp ear and trained eye. If you want to build momentum to your next event, custom playing cards offering 52 safety/wellness tips, 52 reasons to shop or dine in the future, 52 reasons to become a member, 52 reasons to partner with your business. Our graphic team can assist you with inspiration. One of our favorite case studies includes custom cards for the YMCA, but we've done them for a number of industries.

Your personal wellness is always important, but often requires concern before we take action. What are some ways you can boost your immune system? Researchers are exploring the connection of 3 omega-3 fatty acids to improve your mental health and control depression. Besides washing your hands, apparently mom was also right about eating your fruits & veggies. In writing this post, I searched for the top foods to boost your immune system and 15 choices were highlighted. While we will leave healthcare to the experts, as your marketing expert we educate our clients that smart marketing is about meeting your target market from a point of interest or contact. Since physical contact at the moment is center stage; flip it. If you are in an industry that provides consumer protection or healthcare, use products to educate consumers. Like what? March is National Nutrition Month, and for 2020 the graphic is retro play from popular campaigns used in the 70's and 80's that were designed to be fun, accessible, positive, kid-friendly and adaptable to all eating patterns and cultures. What are some ways you could educate your vertical markets about nutrition? How about a re-usable cotton grocery tote? Totes for the market are an Eco-Conscious decision, especially when they are constructed from manufacturing waste and give back 1% to the planet. Bags are smart graphically because they have a large imprint area it's perfect for some imagination. Our expert creative team can design custom graphics of healthy food or a graphic of a shopping list of food that will boost your mood or your immune system. If you are in food service, perhaps have us design a QR code in the graphic to promote your healthy menu or dates for the upcoming farmer's market. For the kids, a custom graphic that's only outlines, with no filled space, can be colored with markers for added fun & engagement with families. Bags offer one of the highest cost per impression, long term use of any promotional item. Check out these facts! Marketing ideas that connect with your audience and graphics that have an impact are just part of the reason our company helps you bag more growth in your branding efforts.

The key to a successful promotion is product interaction. Products that are high quality and add usefulness to your daily routine will be used by recipients. Our media outlets are filled with stories at the moment about germs. What steps can you take to protect yourself and others? Have you heard of antimicrobial products? What makes them special? Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread of microorganisms. Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi such as mold and mildew. Distributing products that promote good health is smart branding. The mouse pad in this group shot, was part of an annual foundation drive in 2018 for WakeMed. As you can see from the image, the surface area was large enough to highlight the hospital, a major donor and the 4 programs where funds are used from their annual drive. What you might not know is that mouse pad is made with antimicrobial fabric. What are some other applications for antimicrobial products? Pens for senior living communities Health conscious employers with shared workstations would appreciate mouse-pads. Fitness towels for the gym or embedded images of bikes for road race participants as part of their registration package. Name brand golf caps or polo shirts for tournament sponsors or staff. Badge Reels at your next conference Stethoscope tags or retractable pen holders in assorted shapes and colors to recognize years of service, March 30 for National Doctor Day or Nurse's Week May 6-12 Companies that differentiate their service with enhanced consumer protection or better health practices will find products with antimicrobial beneficial when branding.

85% of consumers can recall branded products they use regularly. ( check global studies stat and insert hidden paper) Products that are useful or solve challenges always rank high in consumer surveys. In terms of aesthetics, sleek and professional are classic traits that appeal to consumers. Investing in relationships always matters. Rewarding employees with branded products that enhance their daily routine, branding your space when you travel is smart marketing for a smaller business and giving gifts that show you care, are easy ways to repeat the appreciation long past a dinner at a nice restaurant. Take a look at two new products that will work for the road warriors and those remote workers who like to work from the local coffee shop each morning. Key factors for success of any new product in the marketplace comes down to ease, convenience and quality. If you need to plug into work anywhere or have become an individual suddenly finding yourself working from home, you'll appreciate quality audio during a virtual meeting. Let's take a look at two products that would add value in the workplace. The ultra-slim and portable, Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 is a powerful speaker that's specially tuned acoustics deliver high-fidelity sound. Features like the conferencing system with noise cancellation, 10 hours of playtime and a built-in powerbank make this an ideal companion for the mobile workforce; take a closer look at this video clip. Flight Flap Pro is a premium phone and tablet holder, designed with the seasoned traveler in mind. Made with durable neoprene, Lycra fabrics & high quality stitching, the Flight Flap Pro bends and folds to handle the toughest situations. It holds your phone perfectly while maintaining the lightweight feel and easy to use form that global travelers love. Customize with a full color design to match your brand! Is your brand in plain sight and accessible to fingertips?

"Birdie" is one of the basic scoring terms used by golfers, and it means a score of 1-under par on any individual golf hole. Par, remember, is the expected number of strokes it should take an expert golfer to complete a hole. When you are seeking to match up donors & dollars to fundraisers, golf is a popular game to play. What types of quirky enough to work products should you consider for players? Sponsors will appreciate seeing their name on various items on the green - a keepsake pin flag in full color is an easy way to increase value for your key sponsors. Create a different logo on each of the 18 holes or highlight multiple organizations at each hole. It's your choice because you may order as few as 1 unit. Besides adding sponsor names to flags, consider personalizing each golf towel with the golfer's name. Imagine the impact of seeing your name on a towel at the registration table. If you are creating towels for a group, you might use a stock shape to add a story visual, perhaps with signatures from the team, your board of directors or special message to golfer's as a way to say thanks.

Turns out mom's advice was right, washing your hands can help keep you safe from Corona and other viruses. Do you know where germs are the most prevalent? Back in January we shared this post about where germs are found and how hand sanitizer can be a benefit to you. It seems on every media outlet another story is featured about how to protect yourself from contracting Coronavirus. Unlike internet pirates, we are not gouging the market, hand sanitizers are still a very economical option for branding. In most cases the labels are full color, allowing your brand to pack a visual punch and as a bonus, most hand sanitizers are Made in the USA! We have a broad assortment of shapes and sizes on our website. If you are considering a germ free promotion, layering your message with a glass cling, like the one featured here, reminding others to wash their hands will increase the reach of your message. A full color cling or sticker is easy to customize with your name and adaptable to any shape or size. For ease of distribution consider creating a wellness kit.