Cool Promotional Products We Love

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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Feb

2014

The Fuller Brush Man’s Necessities

The Fuller Brush salesman is a legend in the outside sales community. The Fuller Brush man was the original traveling salesman. He went door-to-door, cold calling from city to city, state to state across the country. Movies have been made about him, from The Fuller Brush Man to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. He is a part of pop culture, and the ideal that salespeople strive to be.

While the Fuller Brush man-model has changed over the years, the role of the “traveling” or outside salesperson still exists. Whether a local person or across states or countries, the role of the salesperson has changed over the decades but there are some business essentials that every outside salesperson needs.

See if you agree with our list:

Business Cards: A must for any salesperson, inside or out. You can order online, or even print your own these days. Business cards are also moving out of the traditional-size mold and branching out into more creative shapes and designs.

Business Card Holders: Don’t keep your cards in your wallet. Instead, pull your business card from a classy holder.

Luggage Tag: Easily spot your luggage on the baggage carousel. Luggage tags make life easier for the seasoned traveler!

Messenger Bag: Many of our messenger bags have a handy laptop compartment.

Seat beads: A must-have for the salesperson who spends most of their life in the car!

Good Shoes: Enough said.

Sleep Mask: This Napoleon Dynamite sleep mask will keep other flyers from bothering you because they know you mean business.

A Good Book: Goodreads will help you find your next good book, and tell you what your friends are reading, too!

Hand Sanitizer: Stay germ free and safe while you travel.

Fun Giveaways: What a better way to make the right impression than to give your clients and potential customers something to remember you by. And if you can make them smile in the process, even better! Our clients loved their poppers! VIDEO

Stress-headache Medication: And lastly, do not leave home without relief for those long travel days, weather delays, or cancellations!

To be successful, you must always be prepared. So, make sure you don’t leave the office without these sales necessities!

Feb

2014

What does every cubicle need?

What does every cubicle need? When we posed that question to our team, we got some varied answers. Here are some of our top picks:

Ball chair: We were surprised to see how many people thought this belonged in every cubicle.

Sock Monkey: We thought to ourselves, “Sure, a playful toy.” Nope. People mentioned Sock Monkey by name. Is that a thing that we just aren’t aware of?

Stress Ball: Everyone needs one of these in their cube for the coworker who won’t read the entire email.

Dual-Monitor arm: Who uses just one monitor these days?

Favorite Coffee Mug: Duh.

Tech Toys: Our Social Media Manager is addicted to the Gwee™ Button touchscreen cleaning device.

Mouse Pad: Most agreed that a wrist-rest on the mouse pad is a necessity.

Phone rest: That way we can see each song change or text from our mom. This stand comes with a stylus pen!

We’ve made a Pinterest Board with some of our favorites. What would you add to this list?

Pinnacle Promotions

New Blog Post by @PinnaclePromos: Every cubicle needs a WHAT?!?

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Nov

2013

Are You a Promo Hoarder?

According to the European Promotional Products Association, a whopping 91% of consumers keep a promotional product in their kitchen. This was surprising to me, until I realized that the EPPA was talking about me. Not only do I do this, but also I might be a promotional product hoarder.

The best burger place in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is called Scotty P’s. There are six locations. The menu items are the same at each location, but are named specific to that location. For example, the BBQ burger is called the Watson Burger at the Allen location, and the Warren Burger at the Frisco location based on prominent members of those communities.

It’s not just the food that draws you to Scotty P’s. For years, they gave a plastic cup with each drink purchase. There was no upsell attached to the cup. You bought a drink; you got a cup with their logo imprinted on it. As loyal customers, we have more than one Scotty P’s cup. The Pink cup during October was especially sought after. Some restaurants maintain arrangements with their drink brand to provide promotional cups. These cups are usually co-branded with the restaurant logo and the drink brand logo. The Scotty P’s cups are just branded with their corporate logo.

Inspired by the EPPA statistics, I decided to take a look around the kitchen. After further review, I decided I might be a promo hoarder. I own more than 30+ Scotty P’s cups. And, I don’t even live in Texas any longer.

Are you one of the 55% of people who keep a promotional product in your bedroom? Are you one of the 25% of people who use a promotional pen in the home or office? Tell us: Are you a promotional products hoarder?

Pinnacle Promotions

Are you a “promo hoarder?” #promoitems

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Nov

2013

ING Marathon and Swag Redemption

Internet-banking giant ING and their sponsorship of perhaps one of the largest sporting events took a big blow in 2012.

“Superstorm Sandy” landed on the upper east coast starting on October 22 through October 31st, 2012. Hurricane Sandy would become the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history. The ING New York City Marathon, which was scheduled to take place on November 4, went through a painful decision-making process that resulted in the full cancellation of the marathon only two days before the event.

With the cancellation, ING and the New York Road Runners club faced a hailstorm of criticism. Runners were upset the marathon was cancelled. Runners were upset the marathon was not cancelled sooner. Participants took to blogs and social sites to express their feelings. Race organizers faced a daunting PR challenge, but one not completely unique to events of this nature. What to do with all the race swag?

From t-shirts and clappers to the actual finishers medal, race organizers faced a difficult problem. In an effort to create goodwill among racers who couldn’t race and wanting to encourage people to sign-up for next year’s race they made an unprecedented decision. They would take every opportunity to get the gear to the 2012 registrants. When race entrants showed up to the 2013 expo to get their race bibs and promotional items, the 2012 registrants were directed to a location within the Javitz Center to receive the 2012 race shirt and their 2012 finisher’s medal.

Image by Robert Reese

The icing on the PR cake for ING and the NYRR came in the form of a poncho. In light of the events in Boston last year, race entrants were strongly discouraged from checking a bag at the race start for security reasons. Following the completion of the race, if a runner had not checked a bag they were directed to a special area of the race route. Upon exiting the official race area, runners were given a customized fleece-lined poncho.

The ING Marathon is not the first event to face a swag problem. Each year teams produce promotional items to acknowledge a sporting event that hasn’t happened yet. In the event that your team is playing in the big game, chances are the celebratory shirts and hats have already been printed. When the team loses, what to do with the promotional or marketing materials? Because of licensing agreements, most items are donated overseas.

The ING NYC Marathon organizers were able to heal some old wounds by giving 2012 runners their gear and medals. And, they were able to build good will with the 2013 by rewarding them for choosing the less convenient bag option. In this case, the ponchos went a long way towards swag redemption.

Pinnacle Promotions

Can #swag save you? “Swag as Redemption” #promoitems

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May

2013

Choosing Promotional Products That Last

I found an older article in the New York Times entitled “The Surprising Power of Promotional Products” in which the author found the promotional letter opener his grandfather had used at his medical practice for many, many years and then carefully stored among his possessions after retiring. The writer was stunned at how the letter opener had stayed with his grandfather for so many years and how it was still a perfectly functional product. There is one line in particular that struck me from the article, “Promotional products are, some say, the oldest form of advertising”.

Advertising is made up of trends and passing fads: billboard ads may be big one year or a flop the next, radio advertising is not lauded as it once was, and, eventually, we all throw away print magazine and papers no matter how artfully crafted the ads were. The right promotional product, given at the correct time, can be spared that fate. It can become the daily tool we go to without second thought, the one that stays snugly at the bottom of our trade show tote long after it’s brethren have been bartered or gifted away.

So what promotional products do you choose if you want your investment to have a long shelf life? Look for quality and step away from gimmicks. While there will always be a time for gimmicy promotions, it’s best to choose something that will outlast. Items like the Americana Leather Wrapped Journal possibly packaged with a promotional compu-tote like the Kenneth Cole Pebbled Computer Tote, are ones that will develop history with time. For either personal or business use, people tend to keep journal around for years whether to reflect on old times or see how business meeting went months ago. A name brand leather tote will be kept and proudly displayed for years, so while costly it is a worthy investment for years of brand exposure and loyalty.

Consider also items that will be useful in your recipients home. A simple, but fun, corkscrew like the W&P Peak Single Sphere Ice Mold will stand out among other bar accessories and become a fast favorite. While it is an everyday item, its unique shape and sturdy build will make sure it survives many a wine tasting night.

These three products are but a glance at what options you have for a promotional product that lasts. Consider investing in a beautiful executive pen or a set of carefully imprinted glassware. If you need more ideas check out our website or give us a call at 877.300.2007, our team can help you find the perfect promotional product. Also, let us know what promotional products have lasted for you. Have you found any promotional items or apparel at a grandparent or parent’s house?

May

2013

Take a Gulp and Relax

A new month means a whole new set of Monthly Specials here at Pinnacle Promotions. I know 2013 was the year I pledged to create a budget and be a little wiser with the things I decided to spend money on, so if you and your company are anything like me, this is a great category for you to check out. Today we even revealed our new Deal of the Month! So if you’ve been looking for a great spring/summer item to add to your promotional line up for the year, kick back and relax while I introduce you to the 24 oz. Gulp.

So why the Gulp? Well now that the warm weather is back, you’ll find that every weekend is filled with outdoor festivals, concerts, races, and sporting events. It will get hotter and hotter and people will start reaching for water bottles and tumblers. With this in mind, wouldn’t it be great to offer them a double wall tumbler with a sturdy lid and matching straw? Available in 9 different colors, the Gulp is sure to seamlessly fit with your logo or event. Perhaps you are a food truck vendor that wants to give away a earth-friendly alternative with each meal purchased, maybe you are an outdoor concert coordinator who wants to minimize the amount of waste and cleanup post-concert, maybe you’re a day camp promoting health and fitness: no matter what you have going on the Gulp can help promote your brand.

Best of all, the promotion won’t be a victim of Summer Lovin‘, that’s easily forgotten at the end of the season. Since it is a double wall tumbler and you can remove the straw and drink out of the lid, it can easily transition to all the pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas enjoyed during the cooler part of the year. With it’s extra low price point, the Gulp is a great investment piece that will be enjoyed long past it’s Deal of the Moth status.

-Sofia
Merchandising Assistant

May

2013

Keep cool with Can Coolers, research agrees

Can coolers and Koozie’s® are big in the promotional product world. They are colorful, can be collapsible, and tend to have huge imprint areas. And most importantly, they keep drinks cold. But if you ever happened to question if they really do keep your beverages frosty, Lifehacker recently featured an article about research done at the University of Washington that proves once what most all tailgaters know.

So now we can rejoice! Whether you are a fan of collapsible can coolers, zip up bottle ones, or ones shaped like jerseys, you’ll know you are giving something that actually works. In the end, like I’ve said many times before, the best promotional products are the ones that serve a purpose and get bonus points if they fulfill a need that may not have been glaringly obvious. We’ve all had a drink that goes warm in our hands, or an ice-cold brew that’s almost uncomfortable to hold. With a can cooler, you’ll always be front and center at any outdoor events. Think of all the picnic, tailgating, and outdoor adventures where tons of thirsty people will be holding onto a beverage that is cradled by your logo-ed can cooler.

With so many promotional products that can be loud and showy, the eye-catchers that will always mean a line at the latest tradeshow, simple items like can coolers can be overlooked or be considered expendable. But upon closer inspection, the pros will always outweigh the cons. After all, with a low price point, ability to be easily and lightly packed, and a myriad of creative imprint options, the can cooler is a great simple object that you can give your own unique spin to.

-Sofia
Merchandising Assistant

Apr

2013

Bottom’s Up with the Maritime Promotional Shot Glass

I had to halt all my other blog post ideas as soon as I added this new product earlier today. Combining the best of kitsch and utility, I present to you: the Maritime Shot Glass.

This itty-bitty shot glass has all the flair of a full-sized beer stein without requiring much counter space. Personally, it makes me want to find some Irish tunes or other folk music to play on repeat. This is a great item for a new bar/pub or oceanside restaurant; keep it in mind when springbreak rolls around and you want to give away fun keepsake. It’s unique spin will be sure to make this shot glass, and your logo, stand out.

-Sofia
Merchandising Assistant

Apr

2013

Now in Full Color!

There are times when a simple 1 color imprint just won’t do. Sometimes you need to wow your recipients and make sure that your logo and message will be clear in their mind’s eye, and choosing just one color out of the ROY G. BIV spectrum simply isn’t enough. For those occasions, we have the 4-Color Process Theme.

So if you’re trying to breathe a little life into some office items, maybe trying to make a giveaway tote more worthy of being totted, adding a splash of color to a water bottle, or promoting health and wellness and just a little bit of travel and down time: you’ll find it all and more in this great category.

But what if, horror of all horros, what you’re looking for isn’t there? Have no fear! Our Sales Team would be more than happy to do the searching for you so you can kick back, relax, and starting searching for the colorful image that will grace your promotional product of choice.

Perhaps you are reading and wondering “why should I bother with a full color logo?”. While traditional 1-2 color logos will always be an industry standard, 4 Color Process makes you stand out in the crowd. Imagine the first time television went from black and white to color, it was a notion that may have never crossed a persons mind, but as soon as they saw it they probably realized black and white television would never be the same. If you need a more recent example: remember the first time you ever watched a movie or sports match in high definition, with 1080p providing you the most realistic and crisp image ever? It was hard to believe we all spent years watching traditional low grade signals. 4 Color Process gives you the same “wow” factor: we all have a reusable grocery tote lying around but it’s the ones with the extra punches of color that we faithfully go to, broadcasting our love for a very visible brand everywhere we go.

-Sofia
Merchandising Assistant

Cool Promotional Products We Love

Shhhh! 3 Secrets to Growing Your Business

The Fuller Brush Man’s Necessities

What does every cubicle need?

ING Marathon and Swag Redemption

Choosing Promotional Products That Last

Take a Gulp and Relax

Keep cool with Can Coolers, research agrees

Bottom’s Up with the Maritime Promotional Shot Glass

Now in Full Color!

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