Search Results

I love M&M's! When I was a kid there was a rumor they were going to stop selling the packages with red ones, the red ones were going to cause cancer- luckily red prevailed. Our industry produces many knock off items, so for years chocolate buttons were an option for clients seeking M&M like products. Now, with this exclusive partnership- the wait is over! M&M's have reached an exclusive partnership with our partner at Chocolate Inn/Lanco. Through this partnership our clients have numerous options such as: Imprinting logos, images or messages on the M&M Package in customizable bags and containers Mix and Match colors - coordinate with the custom packaging. Use this type of product for: Fundraising Trade show booths Sales Stops Networking Employee Sweet Perk at desk or mailbox- themed to your message Kick off for National Sales Meeting Sweet Treat at check in Donate for local blood drive Check out a full line of options here

Did you know since carrots grow in the ground if they encounter a rock, they will either twist or fork to grow around the obstacle? Did you know that millions of pounds of food never reaches the market because it's considered imperfect. CBS This Morning aired a report today that captured my attention, regarding ugly food. Instead of seeing ugly food, this  "grocer" offers a new way of thinking and distributing excellent food. Imperfect Foods is on a mission to provide quality food, at a lower cost, because it's deemed "imperfect". I grew up in a farming family; the meat, vegetables and dairy in their diet was literally farm fresh. "Farm to Table" for rural areas was the norm; if you did not grow your own food, you did not eat. A product of "their raise", my parents rented land for our family to grow our food. My brother and I were the labor to help plant, tend and harvest food; then to can or freeze the harvest. In fact, my first sales job was door to door in the neighborhood, pulling my wagon to sell $.10 bags of produce. I got to keep the profits and save for things I wanted to buy. Value is a word that's returned to our collective vernacular; not to imply a discount, instead to signal an increase. It's not uncommon to hear phrases such as, "what's the value add, or what's their value proposition". Creating a value add for individual consumers is challenging since each consumer's preferences are different. Promotional Partners strives to connect and offer relevance by offering increased value through education and creativity. As a brand agency we function as a brand manager for our clients each day. Our tasks vary. Some days we are involved in creating graphic design for print materials or creating a logo. Another client may need marketing strategies or an advertising plan to grow their business. A larger partner may need a comprehensive theme or unified appearance for an upcoming trade show or conference. We even have clients that need help crafting a fundraising campaign, engaging employees or showing appreciation. Tending to all of those different needs requires a little farming: We plant the seeds and ideas through our blogs, newsletters and special events. Education allows the seeds grow brands. Working with a diverse client base provides us an abundant harvest to share using case studies and testimonials. Over the years, we've adapted to the industries changing climate and consumer preferences and emerged into a creative agency offering both super foods and traditional staples. We maintain on-going education for ourselves about the trends that will produce a better yield for our clients. We've grown roots in the community, serving on boards and being a volunteer. Our engagement in the field allows us to see first hand where brands can connect to their vertical markets. We invest in our community- together we grow! Ready to walk our way? At Promotional Partners, our team beats to our own drummer- always seeking to define what makes you unique! Follow our posts and social media next week to learn more about our unique team!

This week, we have been talking about cyber security and how to protect your personal information from hackers. Today is World Teacher Day, so we decided to capitalize on the education that we love to provide others! In this day in age, technology is a major part of our daily lives from young to old. The average office worker will spend more than 1,700 hours a year in front of a computer. As a result of this exposure to screens, we are also exposing our eyes to more blue light than usual - why does this matter and what is blue light? Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum that humans can see. The blue light wave is said to help us stay alert and upbeat. Too much of this light (heavily produced by LED), however, can cause headaches and digital eye strain. Due to this fairly recent discovery, blue light blocking glasses have been developed to counteract the harmful affects of staring at a screen all day. We can offer you blue light glasses with full customization, including Pantone matching and can even have electroplated lenses. What a great way to show your employees they care while also having them become brand ambassadors!

Food gifts are an easy way to acknowledge a crowd- a little something for everyone. Shareable food gifts make life easy for employees tasked with gifting. Shareable food gifts, create smiles and engagement; employees get social! Rather than scouring the local retail store or spending hours on the internet trying to find the right gifts, let us help you design the perfect food distribution. Be unforgettable this year- connect with the universal appeal of food. Beyond the sensory touch, taste and smells that will be associated with your brand; there are 8 more compelling reasons to consider food gifts: Personalized- Many food gifts bear the name of a company line, our partners promote your brand, not theirs- your logo up front and center stage. Yes, we will build customized gifts to meet your taste, promotion or budget. Value driven pricing- top quality direct from the factory rather than sitting on retail shelves! Fresh-Our gifts are packed-to-order just before the order is shipped, NOT made up many months in advance like so many gifts from the mail-order and retail giants. Quality- Our gifts are jam-packed full of the finest premium chocolates, fresh-roasted nuts and other gourmet treats rather than filled with fluff and inexpensive fillers- making these gifts scrumptious, mouth- watering and memorable to recipients. Convenience! We can arrange for shipment to you, or directly to each recipient. We will even enclose your greeting or business card or add a tangible reminder of your brand as a kit. Turn Key- Order early for discounts, have your order ship on your desired date weeks or months later. Security- Don't worry, offers or future solicitations to your client list; your client's are safe and secure no selling or sharing your list with retailers. No risk - Trust us! All gifts come with a 100% Money Back Guarantee Ask us to design a package for your brand!

Abraham Lincoln is one of our most renounced Presidents, however it's not his legacy of service or leadership that makes him truly unique- it's the beard! He was the first President with a beard. Minted on a penny, his iconic image is not going away. Coins are a traditional way to commemorate and recognize, that are getting a second look in this modern world. As the push for minimalism gains a following, metal work such as coins and label pins take up very little space, yet offer high exposure. Coins may be displayed as a collection and pins can be part of legacy programs to denote years of service or achievement with words, numbers or jewels. Coins can also be used for currency. Bear with me, I am not implying you don't know coins are currency. I am merely suggesting that reward bucks with your owner's face or company mascot on coins are a fun way to accumulate credits that could be redeemed in a company store or used to trade for products at the end of a conference. Coins as part of a benchmark achieved are also a unique and fairly inexpensive way to celebrate. Special packaging or inserted messages with the coin add an additional level of value to the recipient. Recognition is designed to make recipients feel appreciated and publicly share achievement. Ole Abe will be thought of and discussed for years as his face cycles through our daily life. Consider adding a spark of imagination to your next milestone with a coin program. Here a quick glance at a few of our favorites!

Brand management includes increasing team spirit! Brands today are more than a logo that's applied to products, the logo is just a part of defining the culture & values of a brand. Taglines that are derived from one's mission or vision often offer run ways to incorporate into apparel designs. Before considering a twist on your brand, there is often work behind the scenes. Here's a sneak peek at product development from our archives. After comparing brands and styles in our showroom; the Town of Fuquay-Varina decided to build this project around a pullover fleece. Virtual images were a quick way to consider options. Pre-production samples, referred to as a "spec" sample, were helpful to compare before a full order. A spec is helpful when projects are large or the decoration outcome is hard to visualize. For an extra special touch, we added a custom zipper pull from our NC partner who created a custom zipper pull. After all, the Town of Fuquay-Varina is a dash more - why not show it?

Did you know promotional products are one of the oldest forms of advertising? In fact, the first known use of promotional items in the U.S. dates all the way back to George Washington’s presidential election in 1789. Fast-forward to more than 200 years later and what was once considered the most simplistic of marketing tools has become the industry’s most versatile form of advertising — which is ultimately where its power lies. It may be subtle, but persuasion by advertisers shows levels of success that prove television, radio, mobile and digital can—and do—draw consumers to their brands. Think about the Superbowl, more and more people watch just for the crazy commercials. In an overcrowded space, advertisers spend money on production and research to try and standout from their competitors and be the most talked about ad. Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) studies conducted among media buyers and consumers reveal new insights into promotional products’ value and effectiveness. Of the consumers surveyed who could recall receiving a promotional product in the previous 12 months, 88 percent could recall the name of the advertiser and 85 percent have done business with an advertiser as a result of receiving an item. Imagine being able to craft a message one time, and see that message spread to an audience of hundreds, thousands and even millions. Now imagine that message being delivered by a t-shirt, a pen or a beverage cup. Promotional products professionals work with Fortune 500 companies and top ad agencies to create experiences people love through a product they can actually use. While it is the oldest form of advertising, the promotional products industry has also proven to be the most fluid and the most meaningful. For example, take Starbucks’ recent U.S. Sign Language store opening. The coffee shop took elements of its store design, their offerings and reinvented them to be more effective for those who are deaf. This included special green aprons featuring "Starbucks" spelled out with ASL finger-spelling imagery and "I Sign" pins to designate employees who know ASL. This approach to promotional products combined with purpose strengthened the overall impact of the launch in a way that no other form of advertising could TOUCH.

Summer is just around the corner and many can't wait to put their feet in the sand or the water. How will you incorporate your brand into your audiences' summer plans? One approach might be to create a custom kit to distribute to offices that provide you repeat referrals. Businesses that offer consumer protection might take a look at products that protect the phone from water, skin from sunburns or secure your valuables or clothing in a popular dry bag. Retail shops might borrow ideas from large brands, such as DSW, who offers a limited edition tote each season to get you into the store to shop. A mesh bag, will travel to more than the beach or the pool, offering high brand exposure to your business. A local gym might offer new members an odor absorbing travel pouch to solve the issue of wet gear that needs to be stored in your car while at work. A new apartment complex with several pools might find that the chance to win a waterproof or floating speaker or floating coaster is exactly the type of prize that would bring a recent college graduate to tour your property. Remember, brands travel and a quality gift will keep your brand anchored on the shore!

Did you know that in 1994 a garage-based business called Amazon offered a way to purchase books online? E-commerce has changed a lot in the past 25 years but clearly consumers like the ease of shopping online. Is there a place for tangible marketing to the e-commerce shopper? Of course, a digital presence still relies on finding human audience to engage. What can these businesses do to increase revenue? Reward shoppers for increasing the size of an order or referring them to a friend with more than a discount. Insert free branded products that hit on the flavor of your company’s brand. Those gifts will be appreciated, useful and travel with your customer; increasing your brand reach within their circles. Consider products that integrate technology – such as wireless charging padfolios or water bottles that double as a speaker or hold your ear buds. Amazon started by offering books to consumers. However, smart marketing can benefit from an oxymoron. If you like turning the pages rather than a Kindle reader, then you'd need a bookmark. A bookmark in the modern age might be a placeholder on your computer to a favorite spot, perhaps even an e-commerce site. However, the bookmark might have removable stickers, which could be decorations for your laptop cover, the same laptop you have in the coffee shop, next to the current book you are reading. A savvy coffee shop might embed a QR to share dates for book lover's to gather, on one of their slower nights, to discuss the book of the month. Who says we can't benefit from being alone together?

Giving someone the finger has never been more fun, and let's face it, who doesn't love a foam finger? A foam finger is practically synonymous with an outdoor event, celebration or sports. Stock shapes, custom shapes; of course! Add fun to your next event, while supporting a family owned company making USA Made products. We've assisted several event planners with themed head wear such as cowboy hats or shark fins for annual conferences. Beyond the finger- scrubbers are ideal for promotions for many businesses: To increase value & brand exposure for the sponsor of a charity car wash. As a gift from your automotive dealer or body shop- reminding them of your car care service. A new cleaning company that wants to promote their service to residents in the area or as a commercial cleaning account, suggesting the consumer let them clean up instead. A realtor might put in a gift basket of new home products A banker might suggest that partner that solves your challenges A municipality might use one to remind home owners about storm water safety tips Add some fun to your next promotional campaign!

March Madness, might be the next sports topic on CNN, but America's classic love of baseball makes it a perfect way to unify a team. A fun fact from the film A League of Their Own: The extras in the hall of fame scene are the actual players from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Teaming in the workplace, like in baseball, requires fostering trust, playing off another teammate's strengths and shared goals. Corporate groups, churches, non-profits & schools often use branded apparel as a way to unify their team and generate excitement for shared goals. We've created several baseball themed tee campaigns using popular raglan tees. Each of those campaigned required custom design work from our graphics team. This tee for West Lake Middle School was designed around a call to action to set up and #BETHEONE. The staff kicked off the year pumped up and focused for a common purpose. Looking for a home run? According to Advertising Specialty Institute research: 80% of consumers own and wear a branded tee Tees will generate over 3,400 impressions per month On average, it only costs 2/10th of a cent to create a tee promotion 63% of consumers keep and wear a tee over 14 months That's some strong ROI and CPI ( cost per impression), creating no buyer's remorse. After-all Tom Hanks said it best, "There's no crying in baseball"!

The popularity of festivals as a source of entertainment is undeniable. Serving 8 years on the 39 year old PeakFest committee has been an eye-opener for me. Attendees would be amazed to learn the level of resources, planning and cooperation between agencies required prior to the event; not to mention the manpower that day to facilitate. Festivals seeking to stay relevant to attendees need to provide ways to engage their message to the crowd. Selfie Frames are a great way to capture quotes, acknowledge achievements and share support for a "cause". Invited attendees to stop at the selfie booth and share the highlight of the festival with 1,000's of their friends, increasing the reach of your event and your message. Interactive products in the break room, at a local event or even on the trade show floor provide a way to engage individuals with questions and provide re-usable dry ease surfaces to collect the responses! What's behind door #1? Is it a new policy or internal contest? Door art, table top signs or temporary footprints driving "foot traffic" to your destination and message reveal are just a few of the cool new products that will add visual interest and provide engagement for your next campaign. We've been pitching to our clients for years to be "THE GO TO" booth that retains visitors by providing a free charging station. Indoor or outdoor, attendees to festivals or trade shows will have mobile devices that need to be re-charged. Offering a way to plug in and then raffling off the high speed, high capacity chargers used at the station will be appreciated by attendees of all ages. The brand exposure is huge, creating an opportunity to align a message of connection, problem solving, reliability, dependability to visitors at your re-charging station.