Somehow technology keeps getting smaller, lighter, faster and more powerful. Whether it's form fitting earbuds or power banks that pack extra punch, get ready to discover next-level performance. Here are this season's hottest tech trends: Wireless Everything Everyone agrees – the fewer wires in our lives, the better. Big Tech is making sure the future is wireless. It's estimated there will be more than 1 billion wireless charging devices by the end of 2020 (Digital Trends). We're on a mission to bring the convenience of wireless technology to everyday products. If you've ever dreamed of a Bluetooth® speaker in your water bottle or a backpack with built-in wireless charging, you're in the right place. Hassle-Free Earbuds As true wireless earbuds skyrocket in popularity (thanks, Apple®), we're making sure they're easy enough for anyone to use. Our new models pair automatically, meaning they're ready to use right out of the case, no manual connection required. Speaking of cases, we've even got earbuds with a case that does double duty: It can recharge your earbuds and can be used as a wireless charging pad for your phone. Tech You Wear Tech is being integrated into clothing, too. The cozy Shefford Vest comes with a charger that delivers power to built-in heat panels. Despite its cool tech features, the Shefford is definitely low-maintenance. It's incredibly easy to use and an easy care product for the laundry. It includes three temperature settings to let you control the heat and it fully machine washable (minus the power bank, of course). Eco-Friendly Materials The sustainability trend gained serious momentum last year. This year? It's a full-on cultural movement, with demand for eco-friendly products at an all-time high. Tech has joined the trend with products like wireless charging pads and Bluetooth speakers made with wheat straw, a durable material made with the rigid stalk that's left over after wheat grains are harvested. Retail Packaging The line between retail and promo has never been more blurry. The use of retail-style packaging is an easy way to make a big impression before a gift is even opened. The Bottom Line There's never been a more exciting time in technology. The trends, the styles and the products are constantly evolving, and we're here to bring it to you first. Thanks for joining us on this crazy ride – it's going to be fun. Be sure to check out our new catalog: January 2020 Trends In Branding And Promotion.

The start of a new year brings the opportunity for new ideas, methods or goals. Employees are not often excited to attend an annual meeting because new ideas mean change and for some, change is hard. In fact, many individuals will sit in the same seat, with the same group of people for every meeting- that's pretty stale. An ice breaker is the perfect way to shake up the group. Bring back a moment from their youth with an ice pop! Place the pops in full color sleeves, but order the sleeves in several versions for distribution, forcing different groups to naturally form! Branding that is quirky has a place and helps to break the ice, forming new patterns of behavior. Is your brand looking for new markets this year? A custom sleeve is a perfect solution, offering a low price point with high visibility, high brand impact and engagement. A daycare, church youth program, sports league or a business offering summer camps for kids might advertise at a street festival or offer free the sleeves/pops to local schools as an incentive for reading or good behavior, in turn putting a spotlight on their business. Realtors, banks, mortgage lenders, car dealers and apartment complexes might offer to a college campus event or game as a way to connect to new markets for services. Safety is not a glamorous topic, but an important aspect to the workplace. Employees that work outdoors or in hot warehouses might enjoy the break along with a reminder about safety first tips! Run, walk, bike- no matter how quickly you finish; you are going to be hot! Not only would this be fun to receive, but a cool fundraising idea. Sell those sleeves as a location for sponsors. New school, new year, both teachers and students can celebrate milestones such as a senior year, new school program success or enjoy at field day in the spring. A retail shop might add a map of downtown areas to shop or dine, perhaps a QR code to visit website or coupon code to apply for a discount in the local shops. Keep following us in 2020, we will be exploring new product ideas to break into your next market! By the way, these are USA Made!

Societal norms, family values or individual expectations shape our choices when it comes to love. Pets however, love us unconditionally. National Love Your Pet Day is coming up on February 20th. Consider this, sixty-seven percent of U.S. households, or about 85 million families, own a pet, according to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). That number increased by 56 percent, since first surveyed in 1988. We are a dog family, a 4 legged family since 1987. Every weekend our lab, Holly, looks forward to trips to the local dog park. She "knows" it's the weekend and starts "lobbying" us to go to the park through a series of twists and howls. Your favorite pet might be a cat, reptile or bird, rather than a dog. Regardless, businesses that would like to connect with consumers in a more personal way might consider how pet products for the home or leisure offer that opportunity. Increasing the visibility of your brand to new consumers can start in the home with: Storage containers for treats Reflective items for walking at dark Pet mats for floor or as crate liners Lint rollers for furniture Window decals to alert to pets in your home Designing a campaign around your brand message is our passion. We like to generate ideas that get results.  Communicating your message in the right place, right time- it's sort of our "thing". We love extending the reach of your brand by layering into the daily routine. Strong ROI for your brand offers you something to bark, chirp, caw and meow about, adding revenue to your bottom line.

A cup that feels good in your hand, a pen with some weight that glides across the paper, a hand-crafted item with those little touches resonate with consumers. Offering less to your consumer base but increasing the quality will go a long way, from long term use to a higher perceived value of your brand. Quality branded items are also a way to offer perks to your employee base. Consider this, if you want more participation in your company’s wellness program, wireless speakers they can use at their workstation as well as the company gym will be appreciated. If employees have a long walk from the parking garage downtown or parking lot, a quality umbrella or nice rain jacket would make an ideal gift. January is traditionally associated with new goals and fresh starts. The growing demand for strong mental and physical health make simple additions in the workplace a keyway to recruit and retain talent. We all may not need copper insulated drinkware that keeps our liquids hot or cold for hours, or coolers that can hold ice for days - but it’s become the norm to expect more and quality products are appreciated by recipients. Whichever quality item you select, keep it simple to maximize the focus on where it should be: your brand. This design trend shows up in everything from bags to drinkware. Our stylish new NBN bag collection was designed to be the perfect canvas to showcase your brand. Meanwhile, the natural look and feel of bamboo gives Welly bottles a truly distinctive look.

Don't overlook these crucial components. No longer reserved for progressive, forward-thinking organizations, corporate wellness programs have become the norm for many U.S.-based companies (with more than 50 employees). A recent report sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and produced by the RAND Corporation found that over 80% of companies in the U.S. with over fifty employees offers some sort of wellness benefit. The benefits of wellness programs are becoming clear, especially as they become a subject for serious academic research. A recent report from Harvard Business School found that for American-based companies, medical expenses fell by $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs, and that employee absenteeism expenses fell by $2.73 (Forbes, June 2019). Clearly these programs are good for employees and the bottom line. So what are the little things you can do to take a wellness program from good to great? Here are a few pro tips: 1. Use Branding Create a name and logo for the program. In this case, fitness also provides an opportunity for employees of GoPrime to position how much their company Gives Back into the surrounding communities. Unique branding adds program legitimacy and creates unity as employees solve challenges together. 2. Offer Participation Giveaways Don't underestimate how much people love free stuff. Incentivize program participation by offering the right gifts. Just be sure to sure to choose products that carry the health and wellness message. 3. Include Prizes People Want The right rewards will encourage employees to stick with it. Consider using a multi-tiered approach with prizes for different levels of achievement.

Is your conference this year in sunny California? Do you have a challenge at work that ends with a team rewarding a trip to the West Coast? Did you land an account or increase sales with a California based partner? Wearables are a hot market for branding. The workplace has become casual and adapted to comfort over conformity. What can your brand do to reward employees, while increasing visibility for your brand in the community? An employee might not post an image of their most recent award on social media, display it on the dashboard of their car or wear it to a little league game like they can with branded apparel. Feeling extremely adventurous? Think about all the possibilities custom shoes and belts offer. They are a fun reward that offers high impressions in the workplace, a creative way to acknowledge a team and increase visibility for your brand in the community. Graphically Speaking: Crowdsource the design, it will have even more meaning to the recipients.

Ah, the holidays - You'll probably spend your day watching 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TBS or dealing with a relative saying or doing something that offends another? There is a long list of topics that should be avoided in every family- politics, religion, marital status, pending family status, career moves and so forth. To avoid holiday drama many families caution one another on topics to avoid prior to family gatherings. In our industry there are important topics that are often avoided, such as product safety. Let’s face it, talking about safety is so technical that most of us avoid the topic all together. Like that relative that makes a remark that makes you wince, compliance is smart business and consumer protection is critical to your brand. What types of safety should you be considered about in branding products? One request frequently made by our clients, “will you make sure our water bottles are BPA free”. No worries, because our industry is making sure not only is your bottle BPA free but testing for over 950 other chemicals before we stock shelves with products. The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, often referred to as Cal Prop 65, is a California law intended to protect the State’s residents and drinking water sources from toxic chemicals and to inform its citizens about exposure to them. For example, CBS News featured a story this past week about a children’s toy that seemed similar but had some hazardous differences. Fortunately for us, our global industry partners PPAI & ASI, monitor and have an open dialogue with trade associations, such as the Toy Industry Association, and the legislators who regulate chemicals who require stringent testing for toys and tracking labels from the factories. Our industry also provides us white papers and webinars outlining product safety guidelines, regulations and keeps us up-to-date on safety related issues. Internally we have a safety expert. Owner, Keith Scott spent over 20 years in the environmental testing industry as a scientist. All the jargon and technical aspects of safety that would confuse the average consumer make sense to him. Keith can drill down the specifics we need to know from our industry’s data. Given that this is a holiday week, there will likely be plenty of toys distributed around the USA and product safety is important to those distributions. Your brand depends on an assurance that products you select for decoration comply with environmental, social and product safety requirements and standards. Internally we vet our partners to make sure the products they offer meet ever changing regulations. Our supplier partners can provide paperwork that outlines the testing, production control, product materials used, as well as outlining the ethical standards expected for the workforce in their factories. The next time you purchase blankets, apparel, toys or promotional items such as drinkware, be assured we partner with companies that adhere to ethical practices but delve deep into consumer safety to insure your brand is protected.

Younger consumers are drawn to brands and products that are tied to a greater cause. Why? Consumers want to feel good about purchases and if products align with their values, then a relationship is formed. For many, products that address social issues or environmental challenges are both innovators and protectors. A forward-thinking company is one you want to follow. Looking to start or encourage a wellness program and are in need of a gym duffel, fitness towel or a reusable straw for staying hydrated? We've got it. Want some Eco-friendly tradeshow items such as laynards, sunglasses, or an RFID wallet? Yep, we've got this and more. Employee swag can be Eco too! From backpacks to pullovers, to wireless chargers. Feel good knowing that you are giving an amazing gift that will make your consumers and Mother Earth happy. These products are part of a giveback program that donates a portion of sales to Well Aware, an organization that builds clean water systems for Africa, and One Tree Planted, an organization that plants a tree for every dollar raised.

Surely you've heard about the 2020 Census? Be counted! According to Wake County's report, there are 1,308.4 people per square mile; included in those miles are a lot of homes! The joy of home-ownership includes repairs, upgrades, maintenance and often selling one home to move to another. Connecting with homeowners, many companies find their specialty or service is in a crowded marketplace. Retention and recall for your brand occurs with consistent engagement. Good news, your investments are worth it - people keep and use promotional products! Tangible products that weave in your story into the function of a product add an additional memory hook. If you are a versatile service provider, these house shaped multi purpose tools will be great to mail or hand out at your next community event. Consider dropping off some to neighbors when you are working in their area. Do they have other shapes? You bet- trucks, tractors and a basic rectangle.

As a former teacher, I know first hand that some families are unable to send their children to school with the necessary supplies. Besides challenges with students coming from lower income homes, school budgets are tight and many teachers supplement classroom deficiencies by purchasing supplies themselves. Give Back programs like the one with our partner line Aakron, make a difference in the classroom. About 20 years ago, Aakron was looking for ways to make product donations that would make a difference in the community. As a US Made manufacturer of pencils, rulers & plastic drink ware items, their line has products that perfectly aligned to help an organization called NAEIR. What is NAEIR? It is a non-profit group that "empowers generosity." Additionally, it's the oldest in-kind giving organization in America, collecting merchandise donations from generous American corporations and providing them to qualified schools and non-profit organizations. Since 2000, Aakron has donated over 7 million products with their one for one program. Every time you purchase one of the 30 items on the Give Back Program, one is donated to NAEIR, who helps segment those goods back to individuals that need help the most. Connecting with kids in the community is fun and gives back when you purchase scented pencils. Kickballs - to kick around some new ideas in the boardroom. Savings that measure up, safety tips that rule - with plastic & wooden rulers. Offering a bright & shining future to college students with shimmering cups.

Our partner, Leed's, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Herschel Supply Co., one of the most recognizable lifestyle brands in the world.  This new partnership between two premier companies brings branded Herschel backpacks, duffels and accessories to the promotional products market for the very first time. Founded in 2009, Vancouver-based Herschel Supply Co. uses classic silhouettes as the blueprint for stylish, high-quality backpacks, luggage, travel accessories and more. In just 10 short years, Herschel has grown into a world-renowned brand – in turn making it the most highly sought brand in the promotional products channel. Because of the brand's high-profile standing in the market, choosing the right supplier was an absolutely critical decision. "We pride ourselves on a fine regard for detail," said Bryan Anderson, Director of Sales and Business Development at Herschel. "Leed's was the only partner in the promo channel that offered the decorating expertise and market-leading customer service that our customers expect from the Herschel experience. We are excited to offer co-branding opportunities on our most popular styles." Leed's is launching a wide variety of the most popular Herschel bag styles, but they've all got one thing in common – a vintage look and feel combined with modern function that's captured the imagination of bag buyers. The Leed's offering includes eight styles in a variety of colors, including the popular Heritage (2009-03) and Little America (2009-01) backpacks, the Fifteen Hip Pack (2009-10) and the Sutton Mid-Volume Duffel (2009-09). Check out all the styles on the website. Promotional Partners is excited to be able to provide you high-quality, trend-setting bags from one of the best retail brands in the world! Align your brand with this exclusive choice- now that's an employee or key partner brand perk!

Did you know greenback is a slang term for U.S. paper dollars? Greenbacks got their name from their color. However, a Benjamin that can be crushed up to grow plants or conceptualizing the idea that you can grow money, well that's not only green but smart! Take a look at this seed money used by our partner CW22 My RDC for a promotional campaign to remind us of the importance of recycling. A message on a greenback that actually grows flowers is not only an idea that recycles but the message of saving money is amplified on this $100 bill! We've been pitching green promotions for years. We used this type of promotion back in 2012, as a direct mail campaign, when we were in the re-branding process, to remind our client base that growing profits was easy when we worked together to plant the right seeds. Over the years we have grown brands by designing seed paper projects using: Plantable shovels for groundbreakings Postcard memos to remind employees to recycle paper internally Invitations to corporate retreats at Maple View Farms Saving trees that provide pancake syrup while educating kids about insects at BugFest Creating snowflake ornaments for a daycare to acknowledge the individual gift of each child This month we are working on a seasonal mailer for a local company with a snowman theme. Planting seeds to the future with a quality education is critical to career success. Supporting the annual Wake Tech Foundation Campaign insures your planting seeds to the future. Ready to grow your brand dollars with creative marketing?