Exclusive events require effective marketing – that’s where the pop-up shop comes in.
Have you ever experienced that “here today, gone tomorrow” feeling? If so, you may have been to a pop-up shop!
Pop-up shops have become all the rage in the last few years. From retail stores and bar experiences to tech releases and virtual stores, pop-up shops seem to be the trending marketing tool these days. But what is a pop–up shop and how can one benefit your business?
Defining a Pop-Up Shop
What is a Pop-Up Shop?
To put it simply, a pop-up shop is a store that “pops up” for a limited period. These short-lived shops can stay open anywhere from two weeks to six months. Pop-up shops often provide an engaging experience and unique and limited run products that pique customers’ interests.
Pop-up shops allow brands to create a sense of urgency that helps drive traffic to exclusive products. It’s a great way to get a feel if a new brand product will make the expected impact or attract a new audience.
Pop-up shops are a great way to drive sales, why not reach out to Pinnacle Promotions today and learn more about how we can help you set up your own PopUp shop!
Physical vs. Virtual Pop-Up Shop
The extraordinary thing about pop-up shops is that these stores take on many different shapes and sizes. Many businesses are even taking these shops online, with virtual pop-up shops gaining popularity. A virtual pop-up shop can operate in much the same way as a brick-and-mortar store, but allows brands to reach a wider audience.
Brands can partner with brick-and-mortar locations in high traffic areas for seasonal sales or promote new or exclusive products. These partnerships are a “win-win” for both the property owner and the brand – businesses have the chance to test their products, and landlords fill their vacant space.
Making Your Brand *Pop* With a Pop-Up Shop
Now that we know what a pop-up shop is, let’s explore what makes this marketing approach so attractive.
Creating a Sense of Urgency
When people have a limited window to purchase a product or enjoy a pop-up experience, they are more likely to respond with a sense of urgency. In fact, most pop-up shops have a niche theme to help promote the products. This helps drive traffic and sales overall.
Product Testing at its Finest
Pop-up shops provide an excellent opportunity for brands to test new products. The temporary nature of the shop allows companies to create a “soft opening” for merchandise before producing it in mass.
Organizations can track the sales data before making a more significant manufacturing commitment.
Great for Celebrations and Events
Seasonal releases, partnership announcements and holiday events make great reasons to have a pop-up shop!
Let’s say you’ve partnered with a big-name music festival and want to release a limited-edition branded cap to commemorate the event. It wouldn’t make sense to sell these exclusive products year-round – that’s why having a pop-up shop would be the perfect fit.
Increased Sustainability
Consumers are becoming more concerned with the overall sustainability of the products they buy. That’s why many brands are working towards positively impacting their carbon imprint.
Pop-up shops provide increased sustainability by producing fewer products. There is also less likelihood of storage or extensive transit. Online pop-up shops offer additional eco-friendly benefits – as most do not begin product production until after the online shop closes.
Social Media Opportunities
The exclusivity of a pop-up shop means it’s a hub for influencers. Interactive events and cool products? Who wouldn’t want to share that on social media! That means brands can benefit from the exposure of sharing these pop-ups with the right influencer channels.
It’s Cost-effective
On the virtual side of things, most online pop-up shops benefit from the lack of overhead inventory.
Retail pop-up shops tend to be more cost-effective than large-scale store operations. This is mainly because pop-up shops don’t require lengthy leases or square footage requirements.
Find Your Next Branded Solution
Pop-up shops provide an exciting way for brands to share exclusive merchandise and gain a new customer base. From physical brick-and-mortar stores to online shops, these short-term experiences offer brands an exciting new way to extend their products.
Did you know that we can help you with your next online shop event? MyPromo PopUp can elevate your short-term online shop experience to the next level. To learn more about our customizable online stores, portals and shops, check out MyPromo Solutions for more information!
Those of us in the promotional products world have heard all the terms before: advertising, offline marketing, promotional marketing, company promo, branded swag, tchotchkes, freebies, and giveaways. And now merch has debuted among our growing list of evolutionary terms.
While most people would assume these terms have the same basic meanings, we have a different opinion — especially regarding today’s most common promotion terms: merch and swag.
Diving into Merch vs. Swag
Before we get down to the brass tacks of the conflict between merch vs. swag, let’s go through some simple definitions.
What is Swag?
Swag:
\ ‘swag \
(noun) Promotional items given away for free.
Swag is a slang term for many things, but for our purposes, swag is a term used to describe promotional items — typically giveaway items with a short shelf life. You know those branded pens passed out after getting your A/C serviced or the free sunglasses you pick up at a local music festival? Those items are typically thought of as swag.
What is Merch?
Merch:
\ ‘mərch \
Short for merchandise.
(noun) the commodities or goods bought and sold in business
(verb) to promote for or as if for sale
Merch is slang for “merchandise,” and while there are a few different definitions for the word, let’s focus on the verb — “to promote for.” Merch tends to be higher-end products with long periods of usage. These items, like company tumblers or promotional shirts, can still be given away, but top-rated brands have also started selling them to their customer base.
Are you looking for quality merch that makes the right impression? From branded apparel and custom water bottles to ready-made kits and high-end products, we have everything you need to tell your brand story. Tell us how we can help your next promotional campaign — call us at 800.300.2007.
The Evolution of Swag into Merch
So why compare merch vs. swag? Or even better yet, why is there a shift in the terminology? We all still love freebies, right? Well, yes and no. It all comes down to the audience. Entrepreneur.com has a fascinating take on this: Millennials don’t want ads. They want stories. This goes for Gen Z too — since they’re the ones taking on marketing coordinator and brand strategist roles. The younger generations want their brands to tell a story, especially if they can play their part on social media.
Let’s say for example, Carli is out at her local state fair. She is browsing vendor booths covered with all kinds of interesting products, from fresh-cut flowers to kettle corn. There is a vendor there promoting dance lessons. This vendor is there talking with potential customers while giving away free, branded tote bags.
Carli picks a tote bag and wanders to the next booth, a local vendor selling not only ethically-sourced honey but also eco-friendly t-shirts with a perfectly designed logo. Carli loves the shirt’s design, so she buys it along with some of the honey.
Carli then arrives home, where she gushes over the local honey company and her new, unique (and sustainable) t-shirt — all the while, the tote is left in her car for future grocery trips. Carli will wear that t-shirt frequently, add pictures of her wearing it to Instagram and even go online to shop their beeswax products.
This highlights the fact that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the branded tote. It will still have a practical use, and people will still see it! But that t-shirt carries a story of helping a local business and the benefits of ethical beekeeping. It reinforces moral efforts of sustainability. And it builds a connection between the business and the customer.
Should We Say Goodbye to Swag?
As telling a brand story becomes more and more important, so does the term merch. Customers, employees and partners want to “buy” into your brand story. They want to be a part of the experience of your products, both free and purchased. But where does that leave swag in all of this?
It’s hard to say for sure what will happen to swag. Many of us still think of promo items as swag — especially as we walk the aisles of our favorite trade shows or visit annual conferences. But we can say for sure that merch is in its hay day and doesn’t seem to be stepping down anytime soon. And that’s a good thing because your brand deserves to be admired, worn, used, and, most of all, remembered.
Are you ready to move your brand story forward? At Pinnacle Promotions, we know a thing or two about building the brand journey through quality products, perfectly branded and delivered where you need them when you need them. Let us help you find the right products and elevate your merch to the next level.
Why you should invest in branded water bottles for your next marketing campaign.
The late summer is a perfect time for all kinds of outdoor activities — hiking, camping, baseball, tennis, kayaking and the list goes on. One of the critical things to remember about all these fun outdoor adventures is to always stay hydrated. That’s where the importance of branded water bottles comes in.
Imagine this. You’ve given a trusted partner a high-quality, YETI water bottle customized with your company logo on it. One of their team members, Susan, carries this with her daily — to the office, out to the baseball field to watch her kids’ games or on fun family camping trips. Everywhere Susan goes, that custom water bottle goes with her.
Susan gets stopped by strangers asking where she got her water bottle. She then goes on to share her experience with partnering with your organization. She explains how this thoughtful gift reaffirms that your company cares about her business.
Not only does this story show that your company logo will be seen and appreciated, but it also highlights that the custom water bottle you choose makes a difference!
What Are Branded Water Bottles?
Branded water bottles are simply that —water bottles you can customize with your business’ unique logo. How to choose custom water bottles is a different story, however. With so many choices, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. That’s why we are here to guide you toward making the right choice for your customers and employees.
Let’s break down what choices you have for customizable water bottles.
Plastic Water Bottles
First up is plastic water bottles. Reusable plastic water bottles have been a staple for brand possibilities since they became widely available in the 50s. What makes plastic water bottles appealing is that they are lightweight and durable. There are a variety of plastics that these bottles can be made with, including BPA-free plastic, recycled PET, polyethylene and polystyrene.
Stainless Steel Water Bottles
Stainless steel water bottles make great plastic alternatives as they do not leach chemicals but are still durable and relatively lightweight. These water bottles are hot-liquid-friendly, and most are insulated — which means drinks will maintain temperature for several hours.
Aluminum Water Bottles
Next up are aluminum water bottles. These bottles are lightweight and less expensive than their stainless steel counterparts. However, because aluminum can leach into liquids, these tend to have a thin BPA plastic liner. They are also not as durable as plastic or stainless steel and can be easily dented.
Glass Water Bottles
Ah, glass — one of the oldest forms of water bottles! A true classic, glass water bottles are an excellent choice for those concerned about chemical leaching. However, the glass water bottle is heavy and highly breakable. The good news, though, is that most are dishwasher safe, and many are sold with protective covers — which makes an excellent place for brand imprinting.
Ceramic Water Bottles
Ceramic water bottles are eco-friendly, recyclable and dishwasher safe. These bottles are a bit harder to source but are becoming more popular for those seeking a sustainable option.
Eco-Friendly Water Bottles
Finally, eco-friendly water bottles. These water bottles utilize each of the above materials, usually recycled into a functioning water bottle that is better for the environment. The durability and weight will depend on what materials are used.
Common Water Bottle Features
While the materials of a water bottle are essential for obvious reasons, the features could really make or break a lasting impression on your customer or employee. Here are some of the most common features we see with branded water bottles.
Single Wall
Single wall water bottles are lightweight and only have one layer, meaning drinks typically lose temperature throughout the day and are prone to condensation.
Double Wall
Double wall bottles have an insulating second layer, usually filled with foam or air, that helps keep drinks cold or hot and prevents sweating.
Vacuum-Sealed
Vacuum-sealed water bottles have double walls with vacuum-sealed air to help reduce the transfer of cold or hot temperatures.
Screw-Top
Screw-top water bottles are some of the most common types of water bottle lids, especially on stainless steel water bottles. These have to be opened by unscrewing the top — which can be a hindrance if you are in a hurry! Screw-top lids also offer a wider drinking area and are easier to clean.
Flip-Top
Flip-top water bottles have a straw feature that can pop-up for quick access. These are great for sports or exercising as the flip-top makes it less likely to leak. But flip-tops may not be the best choice if you are a gulper.
Sport Cap
Sports cap water bottles have an easy, one-way valve that opens automatically when the bottle is squeezed. These are a common choice for plastic water bottles made with soft, flexible materials. These water bottles are great for athletes who need a quick sip before heading back onto the field or court.
At Pinnacle Promotions, we understand that big promotional projects need an extra hand. Reach out to us at 877.300.2007 and let us help you with your corporate gifts, kits or events with the best branded water bottles to make the right impression™.
Why Invest in Custom Water Bottles?
So we know a little more about the types of branded water bottles. Now let’s explore why you should invest in them as a promotional marketing strategy.
The Brand Benefits of Custom Water Bottles
Promotional marketing should be integral to your overall sales and marketing strategy. Yes, even in this digital age. In fact, according to the PPAI Research 2019 Consumer Study, eight out of ten people like getting promotional products. And seven out of ten wish they received promotional products more often.
And while that study may just look at promotional products overall, a 2022 ASI Ad Impressions Study found that drinkware was thenumber-one most influential promotional category in the Southeast, Midwest and Pacific regions of the United States.
That same study also found that, on average, consumers keep their drinkware items for a year — indicating that people like functional, high-quality promotional drinkware. It also found that 84% of baby boomers own promotional drinkware and 71% of Gen X’ers are more likely to do business with an advisor with promotional drinkware.
How Much Should You Spend on Customized Water Bottles
With those statistics in your back pocket, you may wonder how much you should spend on custom water bottles. This, of course, comes down to your marketing and advertising budget. But a good rule of thumb is to look into last year’s sales, compare them to projected sales for this year and decide on the percentage that makes the most sense for your organization.
Coming back to the 2022 ASI Ad Impressions Study, 70% of consumers keep promotional drinkware that is high-quality and useful — so you may want to keep that in mind when you begin brainstorming your next branded water bottle purchase.
How to Customize Branded Water Bottles
Once you have landed on your next promotional water bottle of choice, we can begin the production phase. You have a few options for imprint methods and customization areas.
Imprint Methods
There are three primary methods for imprinting your logo on a water bottle — screen printing, full-color prints and laser engraving.
Screen Printing
With screen printing, ink is painted directly onto the bottle using a silk screen. Because the ink is mixed manually, screen printing yields a higher-quality imprint that will match your brand logo colors exactly. It is also a more budget-friendly option. Remember, however, that screen prints will wear down over time after several washes.
Full-Color Printing
Full-color printing is a digital process using cyan, magenta, yellow and black. This method is much quicker to produce than screen printing, but since the colors are limited, brand logo colors may not exactly match. This print is also more likely to wear down over time after several washes.
Laser Engraving
Finally, laser engraving uses lasers to cut your design into the bottle — providing a high-end finish that does not fade over time. This is a popular choice for stainless steel water bottles!
Customization Areas
You want to choose the best possible location on your custom water bottles to ensure brand exposure. Thankfully, water bottles offer a decent amount of logo “real estate.” Your logo can be printed as a standard front imprint, on both the front and back, as a full wrap or on the water bottle’s lid.
Pinnacle Promotions Can Help With Your Next Big Project
And there you have it! You can now confidently go forward and find the branded water bottle that best fits your company’s needs. No matter what water bottle you choose, you can feel confident that you are making an excellent choice for your promotional marketing efforts.
At Pinnacle Promotions, we know a thing or two about promotional marketing. No matter what your campaign needs are, we have the solution. Call us at 877.300.2007 and give us the scoop on that next big project — we can assist with IdeaKits™, corporate gifts or even your very own Company Store!
Nothing is quite as frustrating as wanting to feel good and look good in professional clothing. Thankfully there is a solution for looking stylish while feeling comfortable and casual.
UNTUCKit is a brand of shirts made just for that — to be untucked without trailing shirt tails flailing in the wind. The shirts are created for comfort and style, with a large selection for men of all shapes and sizes.
The UNTUCKit Story
In 2010, UNTUCKIT founder Chris Riccobon created a shirt that was professional, stylish and could be untucked without the added bagginess of the everyday collared shirt. In 2011, Aaron Sanandres, his classmate from Columbia University, joined him to help develop this idea into a stand-alone business. In 2015, UNTUCKit opened its first store in SOHO, New York. Today, UNTUCKit runs 80+ stores in North America.
They have expanded beyond the collared shirt to incorporate polos, tees, sweaters and other men’s attire. UNTUCKit also carries women’s professional shirts and casual dresses for comfort and
UNTUCKit the Way Your Want It
UNTUCKit has been changing the game of professional comfort for over ten years. Are you ready for your brand to truly stand out? Adding your company logo is the distinguished look you need to make the right impression. See all of our UNTUCKit apparel options and find your next fit today!
Corporate Branded UNTUCKit Shirts
At Pinnacle Promotions, we help you unify your brand with stylish, comfortable apparel options. Whether it’s for your team or your customers, your company will make the right impression with UNTUCKit logo shirts. Here are a few of our favorite options:
The UNTUCKit Women’s Bella Long Sleeve Shirt is the perfect fit with slimming darts and stretchy cotton fabric for women of all shapes and sizes. It also has the added benefit of Perfect Placement Buttons, ensuring your shirt always stays closed with no gaps.
Let us create your branded apparel the way you envisioned it. Contact us today at 877.300.2007 for a free virtual proof with your logo on any UNTUCKit shirt!
Exploring the ins and outs of BPA and BPA products.
Let’s set the scene: You’re at this year’s biggest trade show in your industry. You are working at your company’s booth and feeling great about sharing the latest products and advancements in your field. Potential customers come up to ask questions and grab a free branded water bottle.
One particular customer picks up that branded water bottle and asks “Do you know if this is BPA-free?” Your mind races – is it BPA-free? Should it be? What even is BPA? When you finally answer, “I’m not sure…” the potential customer puts the bottle back, gives a quick thanks and moves on to the next booth.
This scenario may not happen often but it is a concern on the mind of many consumers these days. BPA has made the headlines in the last decade because plastic drinkware and food containers can cause health problems.
Consumers worry whether their everyday plastics carry the chemical without much knowledge on what BPA is and if BPA products are safe. Today, we will discuss “what is BPA?” and how you can effectively choose the right promotional products to suit your company’s needs while considering the health and safety of your consumers.
What is BPA?
As often as we have heard of BPA, few of us know what it actually is. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics used for items such as sports bottles, food-storage containers and metal food can liners, along with thousands of other products.
How Can This Impact Us?
BPA leaches into the foods we eat and the beverages we drink pretty easily over time — that’s how it ends up in the body. BPA exposure tends to happen more when plastic items are old, damaged or have an increased temperature, either through microwaving or being left in a hot vehicle.
The unique thing about BPA is that it acts like a synthetic estrogen, disrupting hormones in the body. This can negatively impact our natural endocrine rhythms, creating health problems such as early puberty or cancer.
One of the significant concerns with BPA is how it affects infants and children — studies suggest that it can impair certain developmental milestones and contribute to disorders such as ADHD. Babies and young children are more at risk because they metabolize the chemical slower compared to adults.
Are BPA Products Safe?
It can be challenging to determine if BPA products are safe to use — and while we have access to many BPA-free products, the chemical can still be found in thousands of products today.
A 2003-2004 CDC study of 2,517 participants, six years and older, found that nearly all tested had BPA in their system. This shows that a high number of the population has been exposed to BPA, but not all of these individuals have health concerns. Still, the impacts of low exposure to BPA are inconclusive, unfortunately.
The main take away when it comes to using BPA products safely is to never microwave or leave plastic containers in hot places. It’s also best to wash these items by hand rather than the dishwasher. Finally, if a plastic product is scratched or damaged, that means it’s time to dispose of it. It’s also important to remember that these items impact children the most – so looking for BPA-free products will be the best choice for your little ones.
BPA-Free Promotional Product Options
After learning more about BPA and the potential effects of the chemical, it makes sense why companies should be wary when purchasing their promotional products. Thankfully, there are many BPA-Free options for drinkware and food storage.
BPA-Free Plastic Promotional Products
It’s comforting to know that there are many BPA-free plastic promotional products available. In fact, any plastic labeled as a 1, 2 or 5, is considered BPA-free. These plastics are not manufactured with the Bisphenol A chemical and could be a safer alternative. When shopping for your next promotional drinkware, check the specifications to see if the bottle is BPA-free.
Glass Promotional Products
Glass is a great option for going BPA-Free. It is inert to liquids and gasses, meaning it won’t leach chemicals into food or water. The only issue with glass drinkware is it can be less durable than plastic and stainless steel.
Stainless Steel Promotional Products
Stainless steel is the way to go if you are looking for durable drinkware that is BPA-free. Stainless steel bottles and food containers will not leach chemicals, even when scratched or heated. It has been advised that when shopping for stainless steel items, to find containers that do not have plastic lids – these lids are more than likely made with BPA.
Eco-Friendly Promotional Products
One great advantage to the materials listed above is that there are sustainable drinkware and food storage options. You will find that many eco-friendly promotional products are made from recycled plastic, glass or stainless steel.
Getting to Know Your Products
Now you know more about BPA products and what materials serve as BPA-free alternatives. You can feel confident at the next trade show that you have thoughtfully chosen promotional products safe for your consumer. Trust us when we say your customer will remember that awesome stainless steel or glass bottle they receive!
At Pinnacle Promotions, we value the product journey – from the vendor to print, to you and, finally, to your customer. We want to provide the best experience possible. That’s why we have a variety of branded drinkware and BPA-free promotional products to ensure that you and your consumers have a safe brand experience.
It’s like what Holly Ringle, the Director of Business Development with Pinnacle Promotions, says, “It’s exciting to see organizations take consumer safety into account when choosing their promotional products. Being mindful of product selection is a thoughtful reflection of the brand, which translates into trust between the consumer and the company. It’s a win-win, overall.” Are you looking to get advice or ideas on BPA-free promotional products? We can build you custom Ideakits™ with detailed product suggestions to ensure you choose the best BPA-free products for your customers or employees. Contact us at 877.300.2007 for more information!
