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When a new client initially meets in the showroom, there are a lot of questions about defining their identity and value to establish the core messages related to their brand. There are also questions about how they are currently marketing and where they are investing in the community. Volunteering does take time away from family and business, but the rewards are tremendous. Besides the benefits to others, there is the benefit to your own personal growth. Being community focused also makes you a better resource. Just as a veracious reader knows the latest novels or sports fan follows ESPN, immersing yourself in the community makes you aware of your surroundings. Savvy marketing relies on understanding consumer trends and social media platforms but at a grassroots level; one needs to go to the street. "Insiders" always have a pulse on what's popular, what locals are talking about in their own circles. Those tips and areas to apply your time and talents are what makes volunteering create a cascading effect in the community. The more organizations can be matched to sponsors, donors and volunteers that share their mission and passion - well results happen. Follow our company on Facebook and LinkedIn to learn more about how we are connected to the local community.

Water bottles have become a status symbol. Think about it. Everyone wants a Yeti, Camelbak, Hydro Flask or S'well bottle, but why? Their looks, just to say they can afford the brand, or their ability to keep a drink hot/cold? Maybe it's even because they are Eco-friendly and pay for themselves within a month of use. Whether it be just one of those reasons or multiple that drives each individual to spend money on a premium brand water bottle, one thing is for sure - everyone wants one! Do you know the difference in bottle insulation? Good: Air Insulation. The inner and outer walls of the bottle contains air, making the process of escaping heat or cold to take longer. Better: Foam Insulation. Foam between the inner and outer walls slows down the transfer of hot or cold between layers. Best: Vacuum Insulation. Tumblers with vacuum insulation have a virtually airless space between layers. This allows for the hot or cold drink to radiate only between the walls instead of slowly exciting the bottle altogether. Premium: Copper Vacuum Insulation. Copper lining helps distribute the hot or cold air more evenly across the entire inner surface. This allows your drink to stay at the right temperature for even longer.

Gone are the days of using baby oil at the beach to collect more rays of sun or seeing a tanning salon on every corner. An estimated 90 percent of skin aging is caused by the sun. People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen daily. Sun damage is cumulative. Only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18. The warm weather we've been enjoying the past week has made us take breaks from work for walks in the sun. While it might be winter, skin protection is not only a summer time issue. This new product solves the challenge for when to re-apply sunscreen! Many businesses have employees outside year round- landscapers, construction crews Companies host picnics, participate in league sports, sponsor benefit concerts and participate in local festivals. Connecting with new families to the area, a local physician's practice might use this inexpensive marketing piece as a part of a direct mail campaign, consider dropping off to the local schools or daycare's for prizes or hand out at community events. Customize with your logo! How does it work? The background changes to blue when sunscreen needs to be reapplied Safe to use with sunscreen creams, sprays and lotions Sun activated Lasts all day on wet or dry skin Gentle comfort fit with skin safe adhesive We hope you've enjoyed another post in our series of "just quirky enough to work" series!

When we decided to freshen up our look, we came up with the idea to provide even more value and insight to our readers and subscribers! You will begin to notice that our newsletters and some blogs will feature a "Graphically Speaking" section. What is this exactly? We're glad you asked! Graphically Speaking will be our little nugget of information to you to get those wheels turning in your head, or to help make your next promotion a hit - all related to graphics! We are excited to share our graphic design tips with you and hope you look forward to reading them! Don't miss out! Sign up for our newsletter now

Food is a basic human need, but it's also a huge part of our celebrations and events. Think about it, when was the last time you went to an event that did not serve food? Food is cultural too; just this past Friday I attended a networking breakfast and the gravy/biscuit option on the buffet led to a discussion about what types of breakfast foods we'd grown up eating. Three of us found ourselves trying to explain the appeal of liver mush to a newbie to North Carolina. There's no doubt that food is a powerful social connector. Besides comparing food memories, there are emotional connections. Consider this, your brand is never too serious to have some fun. Engaging the community in conversations can start with a laugh if the tray of doughnuts has some crime fighting fuel tucked inside. Are you beginning to see that food gifts go way beyond a bucket of popcorn, tin of chocolate covered almonds or basket of cookies? Larger employers have break rooms & cafe areas for employees to gather. Show some personality and connect your brand to a crowd! Did you know we can offer you: Branded single serve coffee pods or tea packets? Branded cutting boards or re use-able cutlery for each employee to use? Drink ware with personalized with each employee's name Branded M&M's or Lifesavers in their mailbox Flavored lip balms at the reception desk Think beyond the holidays for gifts - appreciation is all year round. Don't be afraid to add some fun!

When was the last time you cleaned your desk? Today is National Clean Your Desk Day so what better time than the present to start the week and year off fresh! On average, an office employee will spend six weeks a year searching their desk. Help your employees or clients keep their desk clean this year with a couple of our favorites. Combine two items into one with this wireless charging mouse pad. The kickstand on the back will prop up the top portion to charge your compatible smartphone while the bottom portion functions as a traditional mouse pad. Wanting something a little more out of the box? Keep the workspace tidy with this cordless mini desk vacuum! Not only does it work for the desk surface but it can also clean keyboards, laptops, furniture and car seats. It's portable and lightweight design makes it perfect for busy professionals! Watch this video to see how it works. Whether you are look for gifts for your employees or clients, innovative desk items are always a great option. Consider what's at your desk and ask yourself if branding at the desk might be the way to clean up on sales this year!

Email- love it or hate it- it’s a part of our lives that is not going away. Mail recipients don’t appreciate being spammed with offers or solicitations, there are ways to use this medium within the bounds of law and without being annoying. What do you need to know? If you’d like to add someone to a list, such as a newsletter- it’s no longer okay to only offer the ability to opt out, you need to ask them first if you may add them to your list. That’s one of the reasons we have a pop up on our new website and blog - making it easy to follow us; with your choice to opt into news. It’s happened to me numerous times, attending a tradeshow or networking at a local event, someone takes my card and adds me to their list. Asking before you add or displaying a sign that says we will be adding you to our mailing list when you deposit your card is appreciated. Conversely, busy business owners that are the singular employee or that spend their time out in the field working and quoting are starting to rely on text messages to stay in touch with consumers. While texting may help to reach out to your HVAC person or your construction supervisor, by not staying connected after the sale to your client base through email that business might be losing future sales. A newsletter does not have to be long, just informative. Tips for identifying trouble spots in your home or ways to save money are valuable tips to homeowners. Are you receiving refers from a local realtor? Perhaps some of your content could be shared with service providers that refer you, increasing the value as well as the reach of everyone’s services. Busy professionals might also consider adding ways to connect to your social media in the signature of your email. Another way to create an email list is to offer free content by requesting an opt in for providing your email or agreeing to sign up for additional offers. By the way, are you signed up for our monthly newsletters?

According to the National Retail Federation, US sales topped over $3.8 trillion this year; yes trillion. Within those billions are plenty of thriving Mom & Pop retailers. Savvy retailers, in the brick and mortar space, can grow their brand with point of purchase items that fulfill a need for the consumer or hit on a passion that is associated with retailer’s brand. Mom & Pop are here thriving among larger brands. Sometimes consumers just need to be reminded of choices. Staying top of mind with consumers does not need to be hard or expensive. What can you use to market? Totes! Totes are a universal “must” for shopping, but a tote has so many ways to expand your story. Not only is a tote reusable, but many offer the ability to add full color graphics: Images of your historic downtown or a collectible series featuring local artists might be perfect for an artisan shop. Natural fibers or hemp are environmental solutions. Businesses that complement one another with services or proximity to shoppers or diners might share space on a bag, add a map or insert their own unique coupon book for the area to encourage foot traffic. Schools always appreciate a free reward - drawstring bags for kids or shopper totes to the PTA - creating incentives to meet at your location for committee planning, use your catering, or purchase your goods or services could be included in the bags. In 2016, we assisted the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce with a Shop the Springs Campaign, that was launched at the town's popular HollyFest. Bags were given to attendees, encouraging them to look for the decal in local business windows and check the Chamber website for a complete list of participating businesses. The large imprint area of a bag offered the perfect way to off set costs with sponsoring business names on the bags. Effective branding is about creating a moment for your brand to connect with your target market.

So in what places are germs the most prevalent? Our friends at The Lip Balm Company identified these eight locations: 1. The printer/copy machine 2. Door handles 3. Shared microwaves and refrigerators 4. Shared sinks 5. The bathroom 6. Your keyboard 7. Your desk chair and working space 8. Your phone So what is there to do? You can’t be constantly washing your hands throughout the day — but you can keep hand sanitizer at your desk and apply it as often as needed, encouraging your co-workers and clients to do the same. Because it fights harmful bacteria both in the office and elsewhere, it’s a fantastic promotional item, serving a practical purpose while getting your name in front of others in an intentional and effective way. These products put your name practically everywhere! Trade Show Season Hand sanitizers also make a great giveaway item for your upcoming trade shows. Imagine all the germs that are present - show your attendees that you care about them! Hand sanitizers come in many different shapes and sizes. We love Credit Card Hand Sanitizer Spray because its flat shape makes it easy to store, its vanilla scent is wonderful, and its imprint area is generous! Other varieties include our Essential Oil Hand Sanitizer Spray- Petite and practical, this sophisticated hand sanitizer spray is infused with an essential oil to create a sense of aromatherapy while reducing germ development. Want to see more? Click here

In the world of branding, requests often fall along similar lines: magnetic, drink ware, writing instruments, calendars, tech products and apparel. When clients think apparel they think tee shirts, polo shirts, jackets, sweaters and caps. However, chances are excellent that you do something everyday- cover your feet! Socks my friend! Slippers, boot socks for hiking, resort cozy socks, run-walk awareness socks, socks that make a statement, socks in high visibility for safety and socks for work boots. Think about the brand message, break down the elements of a sock. Socks are used for warmth, which translates to health, care and concern. Socks for running or walking are tied to fitness goals. Fundraising for charities or spirit wear become a sign of unity- a walking billboard! Socks are the an unexpected punch. Socks, unlike most apparel are fairly unisex; avoiding sizing issues. Socks are form instant teams and partners. As a promotional product, socks provide a strong ROI (return on your investment), they're affordable, functional, fun and can be worn numerous times for outrageous impressions. Socks are just plain fun! Even the those who opt for a basic wardrobe will consider wearing fun socks. (psst- Keith wears some Boston Celtic socks he got for Christmas!) Enjoy the word play. Allow your message to really connect with the recipient. Use the element of surprise and the strong visual. We won't let you down- gripper socks! We insure your safety! Get a grip on spending - we will make you comfortable in your retirement years! Running for office? Follow me to the polls! Sell USA made products? Provide USA made socks! Your part of the fabric of this country! Want to get a parks and recreation bond passed? Show support with the message that you look forward to playing sports, walking or hiking on the new green ways & fields. Company picnic? Fun full color socks for teams; team building will be remembered long after the event. Support a charity? Wear it with pride. Brand your logo with the charity you support. Reward Employees at monthly meetings - you are our super power! Large corporate companies - Does everyone sit in the same groups? Do you have employees that don't even know other departments? Give out socks in 3 or 4 different corporate color patterns; group employees for the next meeting by the color of their socks. Call to Action - Make sure our service knocks their socks off! Whatever type of socks you like to wear - sock it to 'em. If you don't go out on a limb, you won't find the fruit. Be different, you might just knock their socks off!

It's official, Americans are now spending more time on their smartphones than watching TV. The average American will spend about 3 hours and 43 minutes (source: emarketer.com) and most of that time is spent using apps which uses the most battery (source: pcna.com)! We're making sure your brand makes power moves with power banks. There are many options and all vary but how do you know which is best and what all the numbers actually mean? Let's talk about that battery. Battery life on a power bank is indicated by mAh. The best way to know which is the best is the more, the better. A power bank that boasts 10,000 mAh can fully recharge your smartphone two to three times! You'll never have to worry about a dead phone battery with a high-powered power bank in your pocket. (source: pcna.com) Generally, a good rule of thumb would be to take the mAh of the power bank divided by the mAh of your phone battery to know how many times it can be fully charged. For example, an iPhone 11 Pro Max uses a 3,046 mAh battery which means a 10,000 mAh power bank can theoretically charge the phone 3.3 times. Here are some featured power banks: With the ability to charge multiple phones at once, this Covert 10000 mAh wireless charging power bank is a showstopper. Grade A lithium battery Dual USB outputs Lightening input Micro C input Packed in a gift box Unlike traditional power banks that require a computer or outlet to recharge, this model recharges using solar power. The Stellar 8000 mAh Solar Power Bank is perfect for outdoor activities. 8,000 mAh Grade A lithium battery Dual USB outputs Includes a USB to Micro USB cord Want to see more? Check out our website!

It’s January, so goal setting is a common theme. If I see one more Pelton family commercial I might scream, but those commercial are effective in conveying that you are not singular in your goals. Crafting a brand message that creates a call to action and effectively conveys succinctly the value add you offer can be tricky. Are you looking for a way to cross multiple demographics and vertical markets with your branding? Would you like that item to work at home, office or in leisure? Technology based items deliver on all of those goals. Start the New Year out strong with an item that is not only affordable but adaptable to your needs, flexible to your budget and connects your brand to numerous consumers as they live life! Would you like a bonus? Did you notice that your adaptable, flexible and connection are also key properties of a multi-port HUB or adapter? What's the difference? Hubs will have a larger imprint area than an adapter, and offer additional value such as being integrated into a desk item, housed on a mouse pad or perhaps even providing sticky notes. However, an adapter on a key ring can be carried in your pocket or purse. If the logo lights up, your brand will be illuminated for anyone around the connector, perhaps you're at a meeting or a local coffee shop with a device that is about to die, a power bank would become useful. The ability to link your message to the properties of a branded product help to reinforce your key differentiators in a visual and physical way that touches more of their 5 senses. Recall and retention are stronger when we have more sensory experiences with a product. Want another idea? Learn more about our multi-prong chargers aka squids!