A blank canvas can be exciting or intimidating because of endless possibility. Twelve years ago, I was an art teacher. Making a mark on a blank surface was immobilizing for many. What if I mess up? I'd always say, "a canvas is the perfect place to mess up- just paint over it." For many, branding seems simple. Merely select a product that fits your budget, apply your logo and distribute the product. However, if one approaches branding with the attitude that "any item will do"- then brand loyalty and brand identity will miss the mark. Yes, we apply logos to products, but your brand identity is really what's being applied to the blank surface of a product. Before a product can become a visual message, your vision needs to be clear. Considering options is overwhelming for many- what if I pick the wrong item? Collaboration with our clients solidifies vision. Our expert hand is applied to endless products ideas and instead of "copying and pasting" the same product to every brand story, our creative minds guide your options. By providing our clients with ongoing access to cases studies, white papers that explain product features, and access to products in our showroom to compare quality or providing consumer data related to relevance we are creating confidence before making that first mark. We want you to become a master of your ideas. Since 2009, our blog has been a way to help you quickly explore options; a rotating canvas of brand stories. We've kept popular elements and provided new ways to engage with the ability to search ideas by topic and gather brand perspectives from our entire team. Let us know how you like our new format!

November 5th was the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce Women's Summit. It's was a new event this year with keynote speakers and break out sessions on a variety of topics. Sponsors like us had "booths" to engage the attendees. Whether your at a trade show with a footprint the size of several football fields or a small local event the goal is the same; making new connections. First quarter will be here before we know it! Get ahead of the curve by starting to plan NOW before the beginning of the year is here. Planning for success if critical. Keep following our blog posts this week for tips around successful show planning. Let's start with our 10 top tips for a successful trade show. 1. Set appointments. Make the most of your time by setting times for attendees and key people in your organization; consider offering incentives to those that book a specific time. Need to create some space for a private conversation in a busy show? We have solutions! 2. Make your giveaway relevant. Make sure what you are giving away speaks to the message you want to convey and will be both appreciated and used by your target market. Working through product selection and your show day message is a critical part of the plan. 3. Be memorable, smart and relevant. Consider ways to add some fun to your booth, encourage social media sharing, a product attendees will want to win or add value with a quick QR code to scan to information- blog, video, website location or registration to a seminar. 4. Does your team know the plan? Each member of your team should have training to identify qualified leads. Provide ways for dialogue to continue in your booth such as a charging station or game of chance. 5. Promote the event like it's your baby- because it is...make sure the team knows why this show counts. We can design pre-show mailers to strategically invite key attendees to your booth. Use social media platforms, emails and newsletters to let attendees know there are special perks for them to stop by your booth. 6. Respond. Make good on all promises made during the show. Nothing kills a lead faster than a poor follow up with an attendee; outreach should be within 48 hours. 7. Look sharp, be sharp and be kind. Talk to attendees, be assertive and make sure the entire team understands the importance of standing, talking and not looking at their phone! Practice scenarios for how to engage walk ups when you are already involved in conversation. 8. Trade leads and create leads. Consider swapping or sharing leads with sponsor at the show. Along the lines of trading cards, create new conversation by purchasing products like the one shown here that offer dual space; allowing you to promote future events, products or service that might not be the focus that day. 9.  Build trust. When you speak, don't pitch "stuff," help them. Consider creating specific white papers to solve common challenges in your industry and use that information as a talking point at the event, as well as a qualified reason to follow up with an attendee. 10. Get out of your comfort zone. Each event requires a different approach. Put yourself in the attendees' shoes, you can better identify what will make someone stop and engage with you. Sometimes a bit of fun is just the right touch!

A good promotion travels- literally. In fact, it's the emotional response to products that makes our industry a hit!  In fact, 85% of consumers recall the name on branded products they own and are 2.5% more likely to have a favorable opinion of that brand over an internet competitor. ( ask me to share the ASI study) Successful marketing campaigns connect your brand to others. Crafting a story that actually shares your products, services, message or core values is key to your campaign's success. Unlike any other advertising and marketing medium, a tangible product has the potential to touch all 5 senses. What else can potentially offer you sight, smell, taste, sound and touch? Social media has changed the speed and easy of sharing our experiences with others, access to information is immediate. Unlike traditional print media, our footprint is now as broad as our extended group of friends and their connections. Creating a narrative that is worth sharing is easy when it starts with a product resonates with recipients. Take a look at some popular shares on social media from projects we have done this past year. All of these images were captured on social media, as recipients shared product images in their posts with others! Smart branders harness the power in tangible products to shape consumer habits and perceptions. The power of those touches through product generate awareness, produce recall, instill appreciation and drives traffic towards your brand. Generating conversation about your brand is what leads to referrals and increases loyalty. We love to see brands keep traveling! There are 365 opportunities next year to grow your brand. Ready to plan?

Branding is not something you do or think about once, then proceed with your year. Like a goal, it’s important to monitor progress, adjust if needed and determine how to proceed for the remainder of the year. Long before we had cameras to capture visual stories through the trained eye of a photographer, history was captured with master artists who were commissioned to tell stories through paintings. One of our newest, most dynamic option is a display system that fits flush to the wall, adhere to the floor or hangs from the ceiling creating the illusion of Gallery Space. Polished displays that are large photos of donors at an event, such as building a home for Wake County Habitat for Humanity offer a window into the people behind your brand. Easily co-brand this type of product and the recipient can decide to display it in their reception area, conference room or office add additional value. Becoming a master of your brand should start by regularly displaying your message! Does that sound complicated? Nope, graphics can easily be changed with Edge to Edge Graphic Signs Eurofits- 2 sided full color Strong visuals may seem intimating, but don't fret - you know we offer in house graphics to make you shine!

January 15th is National Hat Day. Hats are a perfect way to make your brand stand out in the crowd. Besides flexibility, headwear delivers over 3,400 impressions a month, 1/3 of men report owning and wearing a brand cap each week, not to mention, recipients keep & wear caps for over 10 months! Besides, caps can be functional & fun, like the cowboy inspired foam hat for a conference in San Antonio Texas or an impish business owner taking a selfie of a hat to be distributed to kids at an upcoming festival. Check out these 7 reasons to consider branding with a cap: It's one of the oldest human accessories! Unlike jackets and shirts - no sizing is required; in fact one size usually fits all, with the exception of flex fit style caps. Most headwear adapts to the recipient's head easily with a variety of closure methods. Removing size makes them perfect for a brand launch for a large group. Instant unity or identification; it's easy to spot individuals in a crowd Impulse purchase for merchandise tents and retail sales; purchase and wear Weather beater - cold, rain, sun making attendees look for headwear Caps are easy and quick to customize: the decoration location- the bill, sandwich, even the inside seam tape! Select your preferred fabric; make up a design combination that is completely unique. Commemorative - its a collectible; one for each year, event, state or to recall your association with an organization or pride as alumni! Mom was right, covering your head is pretty smart! Ask us to send you the ASI research related to headwear!

Picture this, a way to actively engage employees to participate. Personalized poker chips used as currency within the office to promote participation, kind acts, and more! Your company can start by giving each employee and allotted amount of chips to kick off the program. Each month, a newsletter can be sent out with all the different rewards that can be redeemed with using the chips. Maybe it’s company swag, a lunch or specialty coffees! Each employee would start out with a set amount of chips, then receive a quarterly newsletter featuring the prizes they could "buy" on the company website link. ( you do know we create company stores right? ) Managers can handing out the chips, ask for coworkers "nominate" a team member for overlooked accomplishments and toss out coins at town hall type meetings to encourage interaction. Consider a dry ease leader board to manage team results or pose the question of the day. By implementing this type of reward system, employees feel acknowledged and appreciated. Given the opportunity to choose their own prize, they are in control of what they get instead of receiving a gift which adds immediate excitement. What types of coins? Chocolate, metal, poker style, wooden, enamel and plantable seed papers! Yep- we have numerous choices for this type of program. Add acknowledgement throughout the year with this type of program. Since we're already in November, kicking it off this type of incentive program with chocolate coins at employee work stations is an exciting way to start the day!

Traditional decoration, silkscreen and embroidery is perfect for some projects. However there is no doubt when our client's visit the showroom and see some modern options, they go crazy! Crazy works with this brand partner. The more inventive the better. Sleeve, shoulder, hip, and interior are just a few options you have when it comes to placement. Most decoration options offer the option to flip your logo, horizontal or vertical? It's all about showcasing the personality of your brand! There are many ways to mix and match, allowing you to create a unique piece without all the guesswork. Consider the fabric as a canvas that will be used to showcase your branding, the placement of seams, stitches zippers, and pockets are strategically placed to naturally draw the eye to your logo. Sleeve, shoulder, hip, and interior are just a few options you have when it comes to placement. Use some imagination and color outside the lines. Being remembered requires something memorable. Showcase the personality of your brand! Employees become brand ambassadors when they want to wear branded apparel on the weekend? Subtle branding is the way to go. Tone-on-tone, mixed media, or a private label is a subtle and fun way to ensure employees want to wear your gift outside of the office. Tone-on-Tone Mixed Media - is fun to design. Notice how combining processes adds more dimension and visual interest to the final product. Hidden image messages are possible in the neck or inside of the jacket of many products within this line. Special features, unique decoration - create are memorable moments. Become a brand that recipients choose to wear not have to wear! Be remembered.

Light up products are abundant in our industry, ranging from items you can carry to others meant to be stored at home or in your car. How can light up products provide you personal safety? Becoming more visible to drivers as you share the road Light up products with whistles or alarms are good for individuals that walk or run when it's dark, to signal distress to others around you on trails Flares for the car, when you are stranded road side Finding your keys in your bag in a dark parking garage Navigating the rocky path at a the camp ground with a light up water bottle Finding items in your tent Companies that offer safety to individuals or families, senior living services, non- profit groups, first responders, run clubs and schools may find these types of products helpful to their marketing efforts.

2020 First Quarter Events will be filled with sales kick offs, trade shows, conferences and conventions. What are 12 ways to create less waste at meetings? 1. Recyclable Cardboard or Seed Paper name badges to refurbish for plants or new products or make your visors out of seed paper! 2. Bamboo lanyards 3. 100% jute or cotton bags to re-use after the event 4. Purchase products that include logo icons that demonstrate that the product is recycled, reusable or sustainable 5. Cafeteria or coffee stations with mugs that are re-used by employees rather than purchasing paper products or seed paper cups 6. Personal water bottles - keep in mind glass is the original recycled material 7. Recycled pencils 8. Printed pocket programs for daily use might be integrated into journals or notebooks to save the date for your next event, offer a coupon code for early bird registrants or include a QR code to download the daily event agenda or a map of convention footprint. 9. Reusable plate, utensils, lunchbox containers from wheat plastic for sandwiches, salads, fruits, dressing and soups - which as a bonus saves you money and puts you in more control of your dietary choices. 10. Offering a themed drinkware item at the beginning of the event for attendees to use throughout the event. Depending on your schedule and the design of the piece, drinkware with a wrap imprint (covers the entire surface of the the container in full color) would offer a place to break out sessions, keynote speakers or a QR code to scan to more information. 11. Omit dates from print materials to use more than for a specific event or year. Perhaps hold your event in a city that is committed to eco solutions- Here's a top 10 list of Solar Powered Cities. 12. Make product selections that offer more impact with sustainable features such as bamboo. Make a difference to attendees and the environment with your choices in 2020!

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!