Lee

Jun

2014

Personalize it! And, you can be a winner, too.

Personalization is key in the promotional products business. But when it comes to personalization, it seems retail is following the promotional industry’s lead. From the first day that your barista asked to put your name on your cup of coffee at Starbucks, personalization was creeping into mass retail. But recently, both Gatorade and the U.S. Soccer Organization are banking on your desire to personalize their products.

Gatorade’s #WinfromWithin campaign went for the personalization angle earlier this year. You can create your own, personalized label for your Gatorade bottle. But, in creating your own label you were also entered into a contest to win a case of Gatorade bottles with your labels on the bottle.

The U.S. Soccer Organization is currently using personalization to encourage fans to purchase gear and get excited about our national team’s participation in the 2014 World Cup, which begins in Brazil on June 12th. Their “One Nation. One Team.” campaign allows you to not only purchase an official U.S. National Team jersey, but for the first time in an active World Cup season you can personalize the official home jersey with your name and number.

U.S. Soccer

What brands will follow next for personalization? Will you be able to brand your own soda can before it comes out of the vending machine? How about personalized flavors of your favorite brand of chips from your local supermarket? Will we soon see “Gucci by me” on purses and shoes at the mall?

Tell us what you think is the next great frontier of personalization!

Pinnacle Promotions

If you like it then you can put your name on it! A New blog post by @PinnaclePromos

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Jun

2014

Where Will We Wear Next?

Wearables! This is all anyone in both the tech and retail arenas are talking about. Mashable says, “Wearable technology is perhaps the most prolific trend in the tech industry today.”

Click to see full image from Mashable

This infographic from Mashable highlights the life of the wearable. It all started with MIT Professor Edward Thorp attempting to invent a wearable computer that would allow him to cheat at Roulette. He wasn’t too far off the mark with a 44% success rate. From there, we’ve moved through the calculator wristwatch, the wireless webcam, and all the way up to Google Glass.

Google wanted to create a hands-free smartphone. Their idea grew into what we know today as Google Glass. Glass is an optical-mounted, voice-controlled, augmented reality wearable computer. In the beginning, it looked like the headgear you might have worn overnight attached to your braces in 8th grade. Currently, Google Glass comes in any number of fashionable eyewear pieces. And as with any trend, Google Glass wearers have already earned their own trendy nickname and have news stories dedicated to Glass use in public areas and private businesses. Here is a link to Google’s own etiquette list of Dos and Don’ts.

In the promotional products industry, as retail goes so do we. We can expect to see the wearables tech trend encroach on the promotional products industry. How long before we see custom promotional Google Glass-ready sunglasses? How about promotional watches equipped with Bluetooth for music and phone access? When will we see personalized t-shirts be RFID-equipped for event staff or VIP access?

What do you think will be the next big thing in promotional wearables? What will be next to make Mashable’s list? Tell us what you think!

Pinnacle Promotions

We’ll be wearing WHAT!?!? A New blog post by @PinnaclePromos

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May

2014

FORE: Shoot Low, Win Big!

Does your golf outing planning schedule look like this? Win big with good planning and the perfect products.

For years companies have used the Golf Tournament as a way to socialize and reward their customers. One company we know spends as much as $45,000 on their annual spring event. A Golf Tournament has also been a stalwart fund-raiser for the non-profit segment.

Non-profits have certain challenges, especially when it comes to fund raising events that are reward-return based. They need the perfect promotional products to not only thank donors for past giving, but to also encourage them to donate again and spread their message. Sometimes it takes more than one stress ball or mug to do just that.

Here are some ideas to help non-profits find the perfect promotional products for their next Golf Tournament.

Traditional:

Balls Tube with Tees

Golf Towel

Golf Colorblock Polo

Creative:

Keep it Cook Golf Kit

Cutting Board

Divot Tool/Bottle Opener

Waayyyyy outside the “tee” box:

Flip Flops w/ Bottle Opener

Morph Cinch Pack

Brew 2 Go Kit

Executive Putter Set

The right golf promotional products will provide big returns on your outing investment!

Pinnacle Promotions

FORE! Big wins from golf outings for non-profits! New blog post by @PinnaclePromos

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16

May

2014

Shhhh! 3 Secrets to Growing Your Business
Promotional Products Generate New Business
Global Advertising Specialty Impressions Study, V. 4
By Larry Basinait

Each day, businesses and employees are hustling to bring in new opportunities to help their businesses grow. Business guru and master of growing the small business Gary Vaynerchuck says the number one way to grow your business is to recognize that we are in a “thank you economy.” Companies can do that by making marketing efforts more personal. One way to do this is to give promotional products to your employees, customers and potential customers.

Here are 3 secrets to using promotional products to help grow your business:

1. Match the audience: Whether your audience is your employees, clients or tradeshow attendees the best way to Make the right impression™ with promotional giveaways is to match the product to the audience. A branded credit card-style hand sanitizer would make a memorable tradeshow giveaway at a healthcare event. Custom printed t-shirts are ideal for the outdoor music festival volunteers.

2. Quality equals exposure: The average promotional item is kept 6.6 months. Quality outerwear such as a high-quality jacket continues to provide residual value over time. The same can be said for drinkware. The Wall Street Journal stated that a branded mug can be seen as often as five times per day by its owner. It is important to choose the right drinkware with the right imprint method to make sure the idea of quality is connected with the brand.

3. Be creative: Companies can really show off their thoughtfulness and creativity with the right promotional product. The avionic team that travels overseas will see extra value in the customized international electrical adapters.The recliner company gives customized throw blankets with to their distributors and vendors.

It’s important to remember to make your marketing more personal and more specific. Knowing your audience, quality and creativity are game changers in making your brand name and services stick with potential new customers, and are key to make promotional products work for you to help attract a new audience and grow your business.

Pinnacle Promotions

These 3 things will bring you new business! New blog post by @PinnaclePromos

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Posted by Lee in Cool Promotional Products We Love, 1 comment

09

May

2014

The Unique Wedding Experience
Listen up, event planners and hospitality facilities! You already know that there is no longer such a thing as a “traditional wedding.” There are entire reality television programs built around brides (or bridezillas) competing for the most unique, most memorable wedding. You see it every day. Your brides want the unique wedding experience and we are here to help you give it to them!

Two of the biggest contributors to achieving the unique wedding experience: Pinterest and promotional products.

Pinterest: Pinterest burst onto the scene in 2010 hailing itself as a “virtual discovery” tool. At the core, Pinterest is a bookmarking site. In reality, it is a crafters, foodies, and shoppers paradise. Since its inception, Pinterest has become the #1 social networking site based solely on “time spent” statistics. In 2013, Pinterest was valued at $3.8 billion and there is no slow-down in its near future.

For brides and wedding planners, Pinterest is a welcome haven for ideas and support. You can shop for dresses, get alternative venue ideas, and even plan your menu.

Top Wedding Boards on Pinterest from Vogue Magazine.

The Pinnacle Wedding board is one of our most popular boards.

Pinterest Wedding Boards even have their own Buzzfeed list.

Promotional Products: Promotional products can also help make a wedding even more memorable! Here are a few promotional product ideas to help your clients host a totally unique wedding experience:

Wedding-branded flip-flops to help everyone in the bridal party relax.

Personalized Napkins can be used for everything from brunch to cocktails to the main meal.

Perfect for the sit-down meal AND a nice wedding favor, the Stemless Wine Glass .

A memorable addition to a beautiful outdoor wedding and a favor guests will want to use over and over: Fiesta Mason Jar Tumbler.

Event planners, hotels and venues can be ahead of the curve and offer these great ideas to their customers. Set your company apart, overhaul a wedding and help the brides and grooms that you work with create a one-of-a-kind, magical wedding day.

For more wedding ideas, please check out our Pinterest board or our website. Comment below if you know have other good ideas about how to use promotional products for a unique wedding experience.

Pinnacle Promotions

Don’t plan your wedding without reading this! New blog post by @PinnaclePromos

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Posted by Lee in Seasonal Marketing Ideas, 0 comments

02

May

2014

School Supplies Supply Smiles: Pinnacle Promotions Makes a Big Impact in Haiti
When Pinnacle Promotions began more than 20 years ago, it was founded on a premise of doing good work and being good people. That desire has never left the heart of owners Mitch and Dave Weintraub. Recently, Pinnacle Promotions partnered with Martin Genauer and the law firm of Berger Singerman to support the Foundation Groupe Jean Vorbe in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Together, we worked to provide the children at the Foundation and the Foyer Divin Orphanage with more than 500 blankets and convertible bag-backpacks filled with pens, pencils, erasers and other school supplies. The Foundation was kind enough to send along pictures of some very happy children.

Translation:

I acknowledge receipt of your letter from the 11th and thank you. I take this opportunity to ask you to send Martin Genauer and Pinnacle Promotions, on behalf of Foundation Jean Vorbe and the orphanage Foyer Divine, my most sincere thanks.

I attached some pictures of the children receiving the blankets that will be so useful for the coming cool months.

Once again, thank you or having thought of us and wish you the warmest regards.

Jean Marie’ Vorbe

The value of giving back into the lives of children is immeasurable. We consider ourselves fortunate to have been a part of making a difference for school children in Haiti.

Pinnacle Promotions

New blog post by @PinnaclePromos – Pinnacle Promotions Makes a big Impact in Haiti

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Posted by Lee in Pinnacle Promotions Gives Back, 0 comments

25

Apr

2014

Oops! The RIGHT Way to Make the WRONG Impression
On the episode of Friends titled “The One Where Joey Loses His Insurance,” Ross has begun to teach his first-ever college course. He is intent on making the right impression, and starts his very first class by introducing himself with an English accent. The hilarity ensues when Monica and Rachel stop by class one day for lunch and discover the bogus accent. He insists the entire fiasco began all because he wanted to make the right impression.

In the promotional products industry, without careful guidance it can be all too easy to make the wrong impression. Our sales team shared examples of the right way to Make the right impression.™

Right: Hand sanitizer for the hospital or doctor’s office
Wrong: Food containing nuts for the hospital or doctor’s office

Right: Branded towels for the local gym
Wrong: Orca whale stress balls for the local gym

Right: A gift pack including sunglasses, hats and sunscreen for the luxury resort in South Florida.
Wrong: Heavy, customized fleece jackets for the luxury resort in South Florida.

Right: Ribbon reflector light for a cancer fundraiser
Wrong: Zippo lighter for a cancer fundraiser.

Right: Filtered water bottle for an alcohol treatment facility.
Wrong: Shot glass for an alcohol treatment facility.

Right: Customized cowbells for the local chicken fast-food restaurant.
Wrong: Customized chicken feet for the local chicken fast-food restaurant.

At Pinnacle Promotions, we know the right way to Make the right impression.™

Posted by Lee in How to Reach a Target Audience, 0 comments

02

Apr

2014

Trends for 2014: More, more, more
We have had numerous vendors stop by our offices in Atlanta. We’ve seen a few things stand out as trends for 2014.

Overall, the trend we have seen in every category is the ability for a product to be more than one thing! The keys for products to be more than one thing can be boiled down to three main themes: Security, Versatility and Stress-down.

Security: From bags to tech gear, the thing we hear over and over is “security.” The NFL Bag policy has not gone unnoticed by manufacturers. They are creating more and more clear bags. The requests for customized clear bags have come in every shape and size, and at various price points.

Security is not limited to bags. The iWallet is a perfect example of a branded product designed with “identity theft prevention” in mind. Not only are the cards protected from deactivation from the phone, but also the grip prevents card slippage or loss.

Versatility: The key to versatility is for a product to be more than one thing. The Gwee button iPhone screen cleaner is a phone stand and a cleaner. This mouse pad is also a screen cleaner. The In-Pillow travel pillow converts from a small pillow, (with a pocket!) to a basic tablet holder to a stand-alone screen mount!

Stress-down: The stress ball has been a hallmark of the promotional products industry as long as we can remember. However, the sheer volume of options in “anti-stress” promotional products has increased. You can now put your logo on everything from the traditional stress ball to Office Spa kits complete with lavender “stress relief” hand lotion.

Pinnacle Promotions takes the stress out of ordering your promotional products with our Rocketship 24-hour Rush Service. There are thousands of products that can be ordered with rush service and no rush charge. If there is anything that will take the stress out of your life, it is getting the right product at the right time the right way to help you Make the right impression.™

Pinnacle Promotions

New blog post by @PinnaclePromos – Trends for 2014: More, more, more

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Posted by Lee in Top Trending Topics, 1 comment

02

Apr

2014

Technology: RFID Changing Promotional Products
21st century technology is making a big impact on the promotional products industry. The need for RFID security is changing the internal workings of promotional products. RFID, Radio-frequency Identification, is the wireless use of radio frequency to access information and transfer data. If you have stayed in a hotel recently and used your card to “tap” into your room rather than sliding your card, you are using RFID technology.

RFID has launched a whole new type of crime in the form of hacking. Wired Magazine has covered the increase and ease of theft numerous times since this technology emerged into the market. “They can steal your smartcard, lift your passport, jack your car, even clone the chip in your arm. And you won’t feel a thing.” Now, RFID technology, and the ability to block the RFID signal, is making its way into customizable products as varied as wearables, gear and promotional bags.

Promotional product manufacturers and suppliers have worked together to provide marketing professionals with quality and RFID-safe products. Here are a few examples:

You can customize the Travelpro Travelsmart Passport Wallet with your corporate logo. Developed with the airline travelers and professionals in mind, special RFID Technology encases belongings to protect them from ID theft. This deluxe Passport Wallet contains a flip up boarding pass holder, quick access passport pocket, three credit card slots, and a privacy mesh ID holder.

Not only does the Zebra Convertible Computer Messenger Bag come with padded, scratch-resistant 10″ and 15″ tablet pockets for protecting your technology, but it also has a zippered pocket with RFID-blocking technology preventing unauthorized access to personal information.

Soon enough, RFID technology will be in wearables and gear. The ability to host a QR code on a branded tote bag has been around for a while. We’ll soon be able to insert an RFID patch into a customized reusable bag for a conference taking your swag bag to a whole new level by making it an entry ticket, attendance recorder, and participation tracker.

The possibilities are endless for the marriage of technology and promotional products!

Pinnacle Promotions

New blog post by @PinnaclePromos: RFID changing the world of #promotionalproducts.

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Posted by Lee in Promotions Industry News, 0 comments

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