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Yep - it's that easy to set up strong visual communications. For doubters, we even have videos to show how to set up your next display. Cohesive branding takes shape when you layer products and images across all your marketing distribution & touch points. Tangible marketing delivers results when products are distributed and used, not sitting on the shelf. Your brand will never connect with your vertical markets sitting on a shelf. What are our favorite new visual communication products for 2020? Value Line - Laser edge - perfect for organization that needs to look sharp but has a limited budget. After all, the hem is on the floor- is anyone looking at the hem? Create your own mini showroom Light up products - grab attention and hold it Table top to wall signs for sponsors - such a simple full color way to add impact to events, provide a gift for sponsors to display and save money with a strategic, yet economical item. Stain resistant table covers for networking events where food is served or tailgating with key clients. Elite Tent- Lifetime Warranty - If you do outdoor events throughout the year, the new elite tent might be better for your needs. Searching for more? These products give us a blank canvas to capture your message with strong visual communication!

Become the "it factor" could be as simple as adding a USA & NC Made tag to your shoes or your zipper! Lightweight, full color tags that are cut to shape are an interesting way to add some fun to your next event. How and why would you use this type of product. In our continuing series just quirky enough to work, this product is a must share. Often racers receive their race packet in the mail or at a pick up point. Inserting a custom shoe tag that can attach to their shoes could serve as both access to the race checkpoint and add some spirit during and after the event. Since many local races are tied to a charity, after the race the tag can be worn on the zipper pull of your jacket, gym bag, backpack or purse to continue to raise awareness. Many runners keep their bibs, ribbons or medals - this type of product is easy to display at home or at your work station. Looking for more ways to use this type of product? Student book-bags for spirit Add a promotional code to the back to bring shoppers & diners back to your location after a event. Keepsake from festival with dates of other upcoming events Autograph booth, with space for TV or radio personalities to sign with station insignia or images of popular programming Entry ticket into concert venue Add a QR code to scan for more information about upcoming events Mini uniform - municipalities could use at community events for information from public works on the shape of a trash bin or recycling bin, lighting bolt for storm tips or to report outages, fire and police might make the public aware of shred dates, medicine drop locations or even personal safety tips. Tag, your it! Looking for another reason to consider this promotion? It's part of Promotional Partners 2020 Give Back Program. Ask us to share the details with you!

In 1994 Bill Gates famously said, “banks are dinosaurs”, yet despite his prediction of doom, banks operating revenue continues to rise. In 2018, finance & insurance represented 7.4 % of the US gross domestic product. While clearly financial services are thriving, consumers are going digital. Reviews on financial institutions reinforce that less American are carrying cash and consumer loyalty is down; where’s the best “deal”. Switching banks years ago was tough, rectifying the checkbook and closing one account, wasn't an easy task. Now consumers have immediate information about their purchases. Financial markets need to adapt to the modern consumer. How can a branded product assist financial markets? A digital footprint relies on visual engagement and ease of use. There are many print rich products that are useful to consumers that can easily point out your key benefits, map out what sets you apart from your competition and demonstrate how easy your package of services can be for consumers with a preview to your benefits; like a movie trailer. Considering layering your message with by embedding a video link in a QR code like a microfiber cleaning cloth. Speaking of banking, wallets have changed over the years. Gone are the huge checkbooks. We often carry cards more than actual currency, making access to our information more accessible to criminals. RFID products help to safe guard our money, while integrated into our own personal style. Modern wallets keep us moving from the office to the gym, without missing a step.

February is the month associated with romance and heart health. Giving back to others is a way to show some heart in your community. Olivia is a member of the Apex Rotary Club and Rotarian's believe in "service above self". Besides helping others, did you realize that service is beneficial to yourself? While giving is about others, it is helpful to you! How? Connection to others - solving someone else's problem feels good and builds a genuine bond of respect, friendship and trust Adding meaning & purpose to your life - fulfillment that things can't buy Attitude Adjustment - you'll feel better and perhaps even boost your confidence giving back to others. Longevity - health experts often tie a long healthy life to personal development. Our goal for 2020 is for others to be absorbed by your brand story. Our blog is constantly adding ways to use national dates or give back on a larger scale. In addition to those posts, Promotional Partners has added 2 featured products as part of a year long Give Back Program. Ask us to share those details with you!

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan." The journey of owning a business adds an exclamation mark to that message, because wishes don't turn into dollars. Besides having a reference and framework to your dreams, a plan offers a way to map out your timeline. While I’ve always been a planner, much of sales requires being accessible which pokes holes quickly in even a task master’s schedule. Strategic planning can be overwhelming to business partners without a dedicated marketing team. Our newsletters and blog posts are designed not just for inspiration but also to provide updates relevant to your decisions. What insights do we have for 2020? We continue to navigate the impact of tariffs - we will continue to see price increases during the year because of regulations, uncertainty and replenishing stock. Right now the Cornonavirus is making supply chains from overseas uncertain, as factories reopen from Chinese New Year, there may be less workforce able to produce orders, adding lead time to projects. Another significant change you need to note are changes to set up fees. In previous years, many suppliers waived the setup fee on reorders if the order was within 12-18 months of a previous order. An increasing number of suppliers are charging a “re-set up” fee and reducing the amount of time they are holding on to plates or screens internally. Why? Image for a moment you are a drone cruising the huge footprint of one of the mega supplier locations. Often customer service, the production floor, the warehouse and shipping & receiving are in numerous buildings on a sprawling campus. Know your boundaries for use of protected acronyms, logos and names. Social media makes it easy for us to share, but that’s the downfall too - very quickly an image can be shared, or larger companies even pay to troll sights looking for information. The new year is a great time to review your branding & marketing efforts, as well as to have our team create a brand guide. A little work now, saves headaches when you are trying to survive your daily calendar. Our current clients will appreciate our new VIP Access toolkit this year to set their brand on a path for success. Harness our energy and talents to make your wishes turn into reality.

If you are like me, rainy days often seem to dampen my spirits! Making someone smile on a rainy day is simple with inversion umbrellas, which shed the rain away from you as they open and close; pretty smart right? Due to the longevity of use, numerous colors, styles and price points umbrellas make a useful promotion. From a marketing standpoint, umbrellas are perfect for associating your brand with coverage, safety, innovation, protection and comfort. Looking for more reasons to consider an umbrella? Let's shower you with some compelling facts. In our recent rainy weather and high winds, a windproof umbrella would have been an ideal gift for an employee, business partner or to keep on hand to escort shoppers to their car. Take a look at one of our favorite large arc styles.

What gets hairy if you have a dog or a cat? Everything! Pets shed and unwanted hair is an issue for every pet owner. Connecting to consumers within their home reminding them of mortgage solutions, home renovation projects, home services or an upcoming desire to move pets might be the purrrfect fit! Do you offer vacation rental that include furry friends? Pet containers that store both food and water in the same container make road trips, hikes or the commute to doggie daycare easier. Products that solve challenges for your target markets doesn't have to be difficult. Planning ahead for pet related promotions might include selecting a community event to sponsor, such as pet day in the park or building a promotion around one of these coming 2020 calendar dates: February Pet Dental Health Month Dog Training Education Month National Cat Health Month Responsible Pet Owners Month February 22: National Walk Your Dog Day February 23: International Dog Biscuit Day March Poison Prevention Awareness Month March 1-8: Professional Pet Sitters Week March 13: K9 Veterans Day March 23: National Puppy Day March 23: Cuddly Kitten Day March 28: Respect Your Cat Day Ask us to send you a complete list of pet related dates for your yearly planning!

The first Friday of February, every year, is National Wear Red Day. Created by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of the number one killer among women of all ages - cardiovascular disease. There is a common misconception that this only occurs in "older" women, when in fact it is on the rise in younger women as well. As a result, it is important for all women to take charge of their heart health (source: American Heart Association) February is also American Heart Month. How can your brand message connect with the effort to reduce heart disease? Heart Shaped Reminders Show your audience you care by giving them a heart shaped stress reliever they can squeeze, or a heart shaped magnetic clip, or even a heart shaped hot/cold gel pack. Include your logo and a reminder message to get their heart checked regularly. Wellness Programs Encourage employees to be active during the week! 150 minutes a week is recommended for a healthy heart; that is 30 minutes a day for 5 days. A walking meeting is an easy way to take a break and get some exercise or even a walk during lunch. Gift employees with a set of wireless earbuds, an activity tracker or a pedometer to encourage participation! Red Ribbon A simple way to show support as a group for awareness days is to purchase assorted stock ribbon colors of instant embroidery ribbons. NC manufacturer, Suntex has a huge collection of colors and will create custom ribbons; be ready for any awareness date this year. Peel and stick for the day on your apparel and then apply to another surface in your work space for the remainder of the year to serve as a reminder to love your heart!

Thank you. Saying thanks with a special customer gift keeps you top of mind and lets them know that you not only value their business, but also your relationship. Customer appreciation is also good for the bottom line. A recent LinkedIn study estimates that acquiring a new customer can be up to 10 times more expensive than keeping a current one. Do your customers feel the love? February has a traditional focus on love. While some individuals may be focused only on romance, showing some love to your customer base is likely to be appreciated and inspire loyalty. Don't be stuck in a rut for gifting, there are numerous ways to show appreciation. Watch Trends, Mix It Up Food is the perfect shareable for a crowd, but do you pick the same basket or box every year? Step away from the status quo, we can help you select something trendy with your recipient's taste in mind. How about the gift of high-quality apparel? Just make sure it's something they'll actually want to wear. Look for something current, and stylish. Replace the plain cotton tee with a cozy, tri-blend fabric. Tees are also a great way to combine healthcare messages, as February has many heart related dates to tie into your business message. The tee will keep you remembered while they're wearing your gift to the gym, to walk the dog or hike in the park all year long. Be Thoughtful, Make Life Easier How well do you know your customers? While you might not be connected on social media or gathering socially, conversations with them have likely yielded some valuable information that you can apply when selecting gifts. Look for thoughtful gifts that makes their day-to-day lives a little easier or a little more fun. For example, if your customers are road warriors, consider some gifts that make living out of a suitcase or running through airports a little easier. A compact, folding Bluetooth keyboard can make answering emails a breeze without having to take your laptop out of your bag. An new underseat suitcase that helps you avoid baggage claim area and overhead bins is a lifesaver. If their company allows employees to bring dogs to the office a large canopy umbrellas that sheds the rain away from them when it's closed would be nice to own. Give Back, Share A Story Consider making your gift about more than a product with your logo. We often advise you consider reducing the size of your logo, placing your logo in a unique location or tone on tone if it's embroidered. A gift with a positive story is also a great way to add impact to your message. Products that are eco-friendly or socially-conscious products have become seriously popular gifts. There are tons of options when looking for a a gift that gives back. A Welly Copper Vacuum Insulated Tumbler, is more than an awesome bottle. Welly sales support efforts to build wells in areas without clean water. In addition, the EcoSmart program has everything from backpacks made with recycled water bottles, to recycled cotton totes that make perfect gift bags. The Bottom Line No matter what gift you choose, if it's on-trend, thoughtful and useful, it's sure to deliver the thanks and appreciation your customer deserves. How can products become part of your strategic marketing plan? Take a look at these upcoming dates for inspiration. We have ideas for how to use each of these dates to show appreciation and add personality to your brand. Ask us! February American Heart Month National Embroidery Month 7th – Send a Card to a Friend Day (print material-any industry) 10th – Umbrella Day 11th – White T-shirt Day 18th – National Battery Day 20th – Love Your Pet Day 22nd – Walking The Dog Day 28th – Skip the Straw Day March National Nutrition Month 6th – Employee Appreciation Day 8th – International (Working) Women's Day 12th – Plant a Flower Day 20th – International Earth Day 30th – National Pencil Day

As promised, we are back to explain a few of our favorite drinkware options we found at yesterday's event! We mentioned that there was everything from brand name to different shapes and sizes and even different decoration methods - instead of overwhelming you, we found it best to break them up into categories. Brand names versus Non-brand names. This beautifully designed bottle is made of glasses and features a silicone sleeve for easy handling and a bamboo lid which gives it a natural flair (a 2020 trend). One of the key comments we heard yesterday was people wanting a bottle that was effortless to hold yet chic - this is that bottle. While it doesn't hold a brand name, the look and feel gives you the same feeling for those not looking to spend extra for the name. Just imagine you and your recipients enjoying a nice cold sip of water in style! Another chic water bottle is this Corkcicle 20 oz Hybrid Canteen. Very similar in design to the previously mentioned, however, this glass water bottle also has the cooling power of insulated stainless steel! While the main portion is made of hypoallergenic glass, the base is made of stainless steel to keep your drinks nice and cold. Nice water bottles are a perfect fix when you are in need of a quality item to gift, whether it be for a company wellness program, employee on-boarding, or just as a thank you. Water is a necessity but isn't always fun, why not give a gift that will be useful and add a splash of fun. Let us know, do having brand names matter to you?

Our family watches football, so we are familiar with the term a Hail Mary. For those of you that are not football fans, it's a reference to a last ditch effort - aka a long shot attempt to throw a deep pass into the end zone to win the game. The upcoming Super Bowl will generate plenty of hype. In the days leading up to the event, images of rings and trophy's will be broadcast to serve as publicity to the coveted win. In the work place, as in sports, decorative awards serve a necessary role in motivating and shaping employee behavior. Recognizing performance for goals achieved engages your workforce and sends a message that goals matter. In fact, a 2016 Gallup survey showed that organizations that focus on employee engagement have: 41% lower absenteeism 42% lower turnover 70% fewer employee safety incidents 17% higher productivity 20% higher sales 21% higher profitability Your business or organization does not have to have a program in place as large as the NFL to create an iconic award. Designing a custom award is a very achievable goal. Here is a desk piece for a client that was seeing a way to allow for additional benchmark dates to be added into the stack over time with minimal desk space lost (these are also Made in USA). We can even create rings with the very same partner that created this ring! Creative recognition is one of our favorite design tasks!

We briefly talked about these custom coloring books that we created for the Kraft YMCA 10 year anniversary in our recent throwback post. The ability to create a book that fully captures your brand and while highlighting programs you offer members was a story captured in color! Well, in color once each individual added their own vision. A custom project like this one fits the Y mission to play, while creating positive vibes and embedding a memory in your recipient's mind. We can create custom monthly planners, coloring journals and more. Ask us about it! Lets talk about how you could use coloring for your brand! Healthcare Improve memory and brain function Activity for patients and visitors Academia Student recruitment Donor appeals Large Organizations Conferences Trade show materials Local & Federal Governments Community events City and town promotion Entertainment & Travel Destination promotion Guest Activities Did we mention these products are printed and produced using solar power, are made from 100% post consumer recycled paper and USA made? Just another great way to tie into the values of your brand!