Promotional Products Around Town

Nov

2009

Take Pride in Being a Tourist with Promotional Apparel and Gifts

I am probably one of the most loyal country music fans you will ever find. I know the words to a vast majority of the songs, from Garth to Carrie, and after a recent trip to Nashville, can honestly state that I have never felt more at home in an American city than in the Home of Country Music! I mean, live country music being performed at the bars and restaurants all day long, not to mention country tunes blasting from speakers at the bus stops- it is every country music lover’s dream come true. Watching the Country Music Awards last night led me to reminisce about my fantastic experience in “Nashvegas.”

Most great American cities boast unique anecdotes about residents and events, both past and present, but these distinctive histories are not always as blatantly obvious as in Nashville. Statues of country greats like Elvis and Dolly Parton line the sidewalks (and if you must know, yes, I did stop to take pictures next to each of them!), cowboy boots can be found in almost every retail store, and museums paying homage to country legends like Johnny and June attract audiences hailing from far and wide.

During my visit to Nashville, I knew that my sadness to return to Atlanta could be assuaged by collecting memorabilia from various venues I frequented during my stay. I could barely close my suitcase because of my new purchases, but I do not regret a single one of them! I could not avoid the tourist shops on Broadway (one of the main streets in downtown Nashville), and wound up buying a fitted custom t-shirt with a subtle graphic featuring the word “Nashville” and a sketch of a guitar at the hip, a few other wearable items and some souvenir gifts for my family and friends.

I am already planning my next trip to Nashville, but in the meantime, I will have to settle for watching my favorite country artists on TV and sporting my Nashville-emblazoned promotional apparel around Atlanta to keep remnants of an unforgettable weekend fresh in my mind!

Oct

2009

Promotional Products Take a Trip to the Wilderness

Although I am far from what you might consider “outdoorsy,” last weekend I ventured into the wilderness and went camping. As I was sitting around the campfire- surrounded by trees, water, and insects rather than cubicles, advertisements and televisions- I realized that in spite of the natural surroundings I was accompanied by many brands.

From my flashlight to the collapsible can cooler and of course the Swiss Army knife, many of the items I brought had been given to me by a corporation. I started thinking about how these promotional products successfully traveled all that way with us, and came to the conclusion that functional promotional items are key to building any brand.

Functional products, including drinkware, blankets, chairs and other outdoors products, can be imprinted with a company name and logo for increased brand exposure. Giving a product that is not only practical, but also small and easily compactable for easy travel, ensures that your company goes everywhere recipients go. Here are some camping tips to help you incorporate useful items into your next marketing campaign and some activities to inspire a trip to the outdoors.

-Hiking: This is not only a fun activity, but also a way to get to know the area where you will be staying and to tire yourself out before a night of sleeping on the ground. For kids or less active individuals, a leisurely nature walk is also a good afternoon pursuit. Stay hydrated and healthy with promotional sports bottles.

-Grilling: Plan ahead and make sure to pack food that can be cooked outdoors on a grill or open campfire. It’s also a good idea to bring items that won’t leave a mess, to ensure that pesky animals don’t bother you. And don’t forget to keep items fresh in a personalized cooler until you are ready to cook

-S’more making: Making S’mores is delicious and a good way to stay warm around the campfire. Carry a promotional flashlight with you if you venture into the woods to look for the perfect sticks. And always take a buddy, too.

-Camp songs and ghost stories: Singing songs and telling stories are great pre-bedtime activities. Don’t forget to write down your favorite tunes and spooky narratives in promotional jotters so you can remember them for next year’s trip to the wilderness.

Aug

2009

Promotional Products on the Soapbox Track!

This Saturday I had the great pleasure of attending my first ever soapbox race!

Atlanta was lucky enough to be one of two cities selected to host this year’s annual Red Bull Soapbox Race. Red Bull closed off 10th street in Midtown Atlanta and created a curvy track that tested the skills of each driver and the agility of each handcrafted soapbox car.

Fifty teams entered the human-powered race to compete for the coveted title of first place and a weekend NASCAR experience in Charlotte, NC. Each team was judged on their speed, creativity and showmanship. With each team being encouraged to perform a skit, dance or some form of entertainment prior to their race down the track, there was no shortage of leprechauns, lederhosen, togas and other various “characters” walking the streets of Midtown.

The race was loads of fun and I was incredibly appreciative of the fact that admission to such a fun and popular event was free. And being such a nut about cool advertising techniques, I couldn’t help but notice the promotional products and amazing branding that Red Bull does for this once-a-year event.

As we walked from the train station towards the race, we followed the banners (not to mention crowds of people!) to the designated entrance. An imprinted hand fan was the first item we received as we walked the path to the Pit to see the soapbox cars before the race. Then we received an icy-cold free Red Bull. FREE. Yay! That almost never happens anymore. With the free drink and an invitation to their outdoor lounge area, I actually felt like a VIP for a minute! After we found the perfect place to watch the race, the Red Bull crew (wearing Red Bull tanks) distributed imprinted bells to those lining the track. While that was the extent of the giveaways I actually witnessed (although I did see several Red Bull custom shaped coolers in passing), I would bet that near the finish line and judges’ station (we were at the starting line) many other items were offered as well.

Take a tip from Red Bull when planning your events. Getting your name out into the public is a great way to generate knowledge and demand for your products or services. Need to create buzz about your event? Promotional banners are a great way to market an upcoming event. Post them in areas surrounding the location of the event. They’ll help promote beforehand and add to the excitement the day of. Hosting an outdoor event? Offer guests imprinted hand fans to help them cool off. There’s nothing worse than a cranky crowd of thousands of sweaty people! And make sure to set up drink stations where people can take a quick break from the festivities and grab a water, or in this case, possibly a Red Bull.

While you may not have a tangible free sample of your product to offer or the financial backing to organize such a large-scale event, you can still use some of the demonstrated tips and tricks used by Red Bull to promote and generate excitement about your company. Remember to have fun with your marketing. Entertaining guests and attendants and giving them a promotional product to take home is a great way to increase your corporate branding.

Kim
Marketing Coordinator

Jul

2009

A Night at the Movies

So it’s that time of year again. Time for the release of those much-anticipated blockbuster movies. I personally cannot wait to see The Ugly Truth and the newest installment of one of my all-time favorite series, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince!

While people across the country are still cutting back on their spending, moviegoers everywhere are still enjoying their buttery popcorn and giant soda-fountain beverages everywhere!

As the movie season begins, it brings back a flood of memories from my teenage and college years. Movies have always been such a great escape from the daily grind. I especially LOVE to go to movie premiers!

First you get in FREE! I know. What could possibly be better than a free movie?! How about FREE giveaways! With fun contests to get the audience pumped up for each screening, promoters give away t-shirts, caps, tote bags – I even won a complete season of the Simpson’s television show one time!

What better way to promote your movie. Give fans imprinted products before they see your movie. They’ll be more excited about seeing the show (who isn’t happy after winning a prize!) and they’ll wear/carry your product after the screening – giving you tons of almost-free advertising.

So even if you aren’t a movie or television producer, use their logic to promote your own business. Draw them in and get them pumped about your product or business. Not only will they look more favorably on you because of your kind gesture, but they’ll likely spread the word about you –whether by word-of-mouth or through the display of your logo on their person.

Enjoy the movies!

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!

May

2009

Pinnacle Promotions Adopts a Road!

Did you know that three out of every four Georgia motorists have witnessed trash being thrown out of a vehicle, but only one out of ten admit to littering from their vehicle? Litter is not only a crime, but it also has negative repercussions for everybody, regardless of whether or not you decide to litter. It consumes millions of taxpayer dollars that would be better spent on other Georgia services, like education or wildlife initiatives, and it pollutes many statewide water sources, simultaneously hurting living creatures inhabiting these environments.

Pinnacle Promotions wants to do our part to combat littering in our area, so we have signed up as a company to “Adopt-a-Road.” We will be maintaining the portion of Jones Mill Road from Peachtree Industrial to Buford Highway in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The “Adopt-a-Road” campaign, sponsored by Gwinnett County Department of Transportation and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, provides valuable tools and information to citizens who want to help clean up debris in our community. We are proud to add “Adopt-a-Road” to a growing list of sustainable actions being taken by our organization.

If you would like to start a clean-up campaign in your local community, we recommend outfitting your crew in appropriate safety apparel. Find reflective vests and jackets in our Safety Workwear category. We also offer a variety of First Aid Kits in case of minor cuts or scrapes, and Flashlights are always useful for early morning or late night outings to collect trash.

Also, don’t forget about the wide variety of EarthSmart™ products on our website- as members of “1% for the Planet,” we give back one percent of the revenue from sales of these products to environmental non-profit groups!

Dana
Marketing Assistant

Promotional Products Around Town

Take Pride in Being a Tourist with Promotional Apparel and Gifts

Promotional Products Take a Trip to the Wilderness

Promotional Products on the Soapbox Track!

A Night at the Movies

They’re Everywhere!

Pinnacle Promotions Adopts a Road!

Recent Posts

Browse by Category

Archives

Get blog updates via email