Admin

Jun

2009

Don’t Forget About Dad…

This Sunday is Father’s Day (and my baby’s due date), so I’m hoping my husband will get to celebrate his first Father’s Day. He has been very excited that our child’s birthday could land right on Father’s Day and hopefully be a very memorable day in our family. I’m just ready to have this baby… 9 months is a long time!

If you’re like me and have had a lot on your mind lately, you probably have waited until the last minute to find the perfect gift for Dad. It seems that most Dads already have everything, but catering to their hobbies and interests is the best way to guarantee he’ll be happy with your gift. My dad is obsessed with golf, so basically any golf-related gift is sure to be a hit from a premium golf shirt to personalized golf balls or a golf towel. Golf gifts are great because I know he’ll use the gift regularly when he is out on the course. Other great father’s day gift ideas are promotional tools for the handy man, computer accessories for the high-tech dad and a classic gift idea for any dad is a watch.

No matter what gift you decide on this Father’s Day, remember it’s the thought that counts. Spending quality time with the ones you love is the best gift you can give.

Jun

2009

Confessions of a (Self-Diagnosed) Shopaholic

One of my favorite books happens to be “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” I find the main character easy to relate to, as my shopping habits also tend to be a little out of control at times (I can already see my mother reading this post and nodding her head in agreement! Hi Mom!)… I consider myself an expert on the latest fashions, and have quite a few style websites that I check religiously to keep up with what’s hot and trendy.

Now, I have only recently begun working in the promotional products industry, but I have already learned that the world of promotional items is very closely aligned with the latest developments in retail. With major department stores and organic food stores releasing Special Edition tote bags, chic totes have become visible in almost every category of retail shops.

Another craze that has exploded recently is organic cotton, which high-end designers are frequently using to manufacture incredibly soft, lightweight tees and tanks- the better the quality, the higher the price! The women in our office are obsessed with fitted tees, and the variety of available colors does not disappoint. This V-Neck version is another favorite, and will look great imprinted with your company’s logo! Your female employees or customers will want one for every day of the week, so order plenty of extras.

Men, don’t get jealous yet. There are plenty of available options for you that correspond with popular female styles. Organic cotton t-shirts for men provide the same exceptional quality and comfort as the women’s selections, or Pinnacle offers a slightly dressier 100% cotton pique sport shirt that can be customized with your logo or company name.

Don’t overlook the demands of fashion-conscious customers and employees- why give away promotional products in outdated styles when you can spend the same amount to purchase items that trendsetters won’t banish to the back of their closets?

Jun

2009

They’re Everywhere!

This past week, months of planning came to an end as my new husband and I celebrated our wedding. As the celebration ended, we packed up and headed for a week of relaxation in sunny Mexico. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s just because I work in the promotional product industry. But as we landed in the hot Cancun airport, and I started looking for the red and khaki embroidered uniforms of our travel company, I couldn’t help but notice how surrounded we were by corporate branding.

From embroidered uniforms to vans marked with car magnets, travelers are instantly surrounded by the branding efforts of those in the travel and hospitality industries. From the initial pickup at the airport, this branding continues all the way into the guest room of the hotel. When we arrived at our resort, we found embroidered robes and slippers; printed bags for laundry service; soaps; personal sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner; dental, shaving, sewing, and vanity kits along with notepads and pens all branded with their logo.

We absolutely enjoyed the robes during our stay and I was greatly tempted to purchase the same logo-embroidered robe at the gift shop at the end of our trip. While I resisted the temptation, I did leave with a printed pen, a note written on paper from the imprinted notepad in our room, a sewing kit and a bottle of lotion – all with our hotel’s logo branded on each item.

The moral of my story? While I will never forget my honeymoon for more reasons than just the promotional items we received, the consistent branding and the helpful kits and supplies left a very positive impression on us. When you treat your guests, clients and customers with small – but thoughtful – items, you increase brand loyalty and boost your name recognition. With printed apparel and branded promotional items, you can turn a one-time guest into a lifetime customer! I can tell you for sure – my husband and I will be returning!

Jun

2009

The Lakers Win Another One!

Last night the L.A. Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 99-86 in game five to make it their 15th championship victory. No one was happier than Finals MVP player, Kobe Bryant. Last night’s win gives him his 4th NBA Title. Basketball history was made and another NBA season comes to a close.

Now brand marketers are starting to think about next season and the marketing and sponsorship opportunities that will follow. Who will be the next star player? What endorsement deals could be signed? What cool and unique promotional products and imprinted apparel can we use at the basketball games next season? The marketing round tables are filled with ideas of how next year’s marketing and branding will be better than the last. There are literally thousands of basketball promotional items to consider from the Mini Basketball & Hoop Set to the unique Basketball Girl Lip Balm. A promotional product is a great interactive marketing piece that people can touch, hold and keep with them long after the game ends.

Heather
Marketing Manager

Jun

2009

Get Your Brand Out at Outdoor Festivals & Events!

Outdoor summer movie festivals provide advertisers with ample opportunity to increase brand exposure. On Wednesday night I attended one such free showing, and immediately noticed the abundance of booths and promoters lining the perimeter of the screening area.

Surrounding restaurants offered special deals on “box” dinners for audience members, and even though I had not heard of many of the restaurants, by glancing around at the food containers in front of my movie-watching neighbors, I soon knew what local options were available. DJs from an Atlanta radio station manned a giveaway wheel for passersby, and offered prizes like logo t-shirts and key chains, while another company distributed free bottled water with custom labels featuring their contact information.

Another unique promotional idea to generate buzz at outdoor concerts or festivals is giving away custom imprinted mints or gum. A new product introduction to this category is energy gum, which provides a pick-me-up when it is consumed. Keep in mind that you do not need to spend a lot of money to make a lasting impact with your giveaways!

Any local event that draws a crowd is a great place to reach potential customers, and promotional products may be exactly what you need to grow your business’ clientele.

Dana
Marketing Assistant

Jun

2009

Better Safe Than Sorry!

June is National Safety Month sponsored by the National Safety Council. They are encouraging everyone to improve their safety practices in the workplace, at home and in the community. Small safety precautions in your everyday life can make a huge impact on decreasing the number of injuries and deaths that occur each year.

Many companies take National Safety Month as an opportunity to promote their workplace safety guidelines for the whole year. Incorporating imprinted safety promotional products into your safety presentation is a great way to provide valuable information without losing your employees’ interest. Kick off the month with a fun imprinted giveaway item for all your employees that shows you care about their safety, like the Talking Safety Stress Reliever. The safety stress reliever says, “Remember, safety is our #1 goal. So smile, be safe and enjoy your day!” when squeezed. You’ll be surprised how an inexpensive, but unique promotional item will get the whole company excited for the month-long celebration.

A useful item to hand out to your employees to promote safety is a flashlight imprinted with your company logo. Everyone can use a flashlight whether they keep it in their car, at their desk or at home; there are many times when a flashlight can shed some light on an otherwise dangerous situation.

Remember, promoting your corporate safety guidelines doesn’t have to be boring… spice it up with unique safety promotional items!

Heather
Marketing Manager

Jun

2009

Travel to the Ends of the Earth (or Just Across the State Line!)

Whether you are traveling by plane, train, ship, or car, every traveler needs to have the right accessories. When I dropped a friend off at the airport a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but notice the trendy array of luggage and garment bags filling the lobby. Summertime, aside from the Winter holidays, makes for some of the highest airport traffic rates- the kids are off school and many parents choose to use vacation days to accommodate family trips or camp orientations. When you combine those traveling for pleasure with the regular pool of corporate workers traveling on business, it can make for chaos in even the most organized of terminals!

Strict airport regulations regarding liquid containers have led to longer lines at security checkpoints- help employees or clients file through airport security lines without unnecessary hassle by giving away custom imprinted TSA Approved Bottle Sets. This way they can abide by new rules AND cut down on time spent waiting in line.

Another handy gift idea for travelers is document holders, which provide easy access to important documents. I for one am prone to losing track of my photo id or passport in oversized purses or backpacks, so I would definitely appreciate a personalized travel pouch!

Tasteful and practical travel accessories simplify travelers’ lives and because of the wide area they are able to cover, your logo can even be admired on the other side of the world!

Dana
Marketing Assistant

Jun

2009

Hittin’ the Pool

Most schools are out and summer is well underway. The local pools are packed with kids and those trying to get rid of their pale winter skin. I spent the past weekend laying by my friend’s pool, bronzing myself and trying to stay hydrated in this Atlanta heat. There were a couple of promotional products that I brought along with me that I could not have done without. First and foremost I have to have good music playing while I’m laying out, so portable promotional speakers to connect to my iPod were a must. The next essential was my Pinnacle branded collapsible cooler filled with refreshments and snacks. And lastly, my new favorite promotional product for this summer the Personal Mister, which is a plastic bottle you fill with ice cold water and with a click of a button produces an ultra fine cooling mist. This product is heaven… it was wonderful to have at the pool, but would be great for the beach, amusement parks, and sporting events too!

Summer is a great season to give out unique and useful promotional products to your clients. Everyone is outside enjoying the good weather and those smart marketers are taking this opportunity to brand themselves with promotional items for outdoor events this summer.

Heather
Marketing Manager

Jun

2009

A Little Recognition Goes a Long Way…

On Friday afternoon, Pinnacle employees gathered in the front lobby for a special treat. As a reward for meeting May sales goals, our bosses held a “cash grab bag” drawing. Envelopes full of miscellaneous denominations of cash were inserted into a shopping bag, and every staff member reached in to pull out a surprise. We waited until everybody had an envelope in hand, and then opened them simultaneously to reveal our winnings. Nobody left empty-handed, and we all had extra spending money to take with us for our weekend activities.

Job satisfaction is extremely important in any corporate environment, so think about recognizing your employees’ hard work in a unique way periodically. Awards for positive attitude, Employee of the Month, or exemplary performance can keep your team motivated, and Pinnacle Promotions even has a wide array of RocketShip™ 24-Hour Awards for those of you who wait until the last minute to implement your ideas. There is no better time than the present to recognize the parties involved in making your business a success!

Dana
Marketing Assistant

Jun

2009

Join the Craze…B.Y.O.B.

That is Bring Your Own Bag! I know what you were thinking… but it’s the Reusable Grocery Bags that are the biggest trend in grocery stores, specialty food shops and convenience stores right now. Almost every retailer is now selling their own branded reusable grocery tote at checkout to encourage a “greener” way of living. The negative impact of plastic bags on the environment has been heavily publicized in recent years. The Environmental Protection Agency released a study in 2001 estimating the U.S. plastic bag, sack and wrap consumption is somewhere around 500 billion, and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Of those, millions of these plastic bags end up outside of a landfill in our litter stream. It is hard to ignore and now more than ever, people are encouraged to do their part to minimize the environmental damage caused by plastic bags.

I’ve noticed more and more shoppers bringing their own reusable bags to do their weekly grocery shopping and it is becoming embarrassing or shameful to use the store-provided plastic bags. Not only do you not want to be spotted using a plastic bag, but reusable totes are a great promotional marketing opportunity. Think about it, if you purchase imprinted grocery totes and give them to your customers you not only make a statement about your company’s sustainability initiatives, but you also have provided them with a bag featuring your logo that they will be carrying around the grocery store every week. It’s a win win marketing strategy!

For other earth-saving promotional products, shop our Eco-Friendly category.

Admin

Don’t Forget About Dad…

Confessions of a (Self-Diagnosed) Shopaholic

They’re Everywhere!

The Lakers Win Another One!

Get Your Brand Out at Outdoor Festivals & Events!

Better Safe Than Sorry!

Travel to the Ends of the Earth (or Just Across the State Line!)

Hittin’ the Pool

A Little Recognition Goes a Long Way…

Join the Craze…B.Y.O.B.

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