That time of year is steadily approaching and I can hardly contain my excitement. Of all sports, my favorite is College Football. The sound of the marching bands, the cheering fans, the scents of sweat and grass filling the air; you can’t beat it. I have to say growing up in the Southeast the rivalries are brutal and I don’t know many other parts of the country that take their loyalty as seriously as those fans in the SEC.
Even if you aren’t a hardcore sports fanatic, it is always fun to be in the outdoors supporting student athletes in any venue. I have fond memories of my High School days with the cheerleaders and pep rallies giving us the chance to leave school early and gear up for the main event. I still have promotional products like mini footballs and pom-poms from those rallies.
In the spirit of the upcoming season, we at Pinnacle are gearing up, as well. Not only do we have an extensive product line of team gear, we have some of the coolest rally items, too. From Mini Plastic Footballs to Klicker Pom-Poms, we can get the spirit going. So no matter what sport or event you may be a fan of, we can help you spread the cheer!
Go Vols!
Stephania
Sales and Marketing Production Assistant
Okay, so maybe just 6 uses so far, but I got your attention, didn’t I?
Did you know that July 27 – August 2 is World Footbag (Hacky Sack) Week? John Stalberger and Mike Marshall invented the footbag in 1972. Today, the footbag is more commonly known in the United States as the “Hacky Sack,” which is the trademarked name of one particular type of footbag. The name “Hacky Sack” is actually a genericized trademark used to refer not only to the footbag itself, but also to the game of footbag. In the traditional hacky sack circle, two or more players compete to keep the footbag from hitting the ground without the ball touching their hands.
Aside from facilitating a fun and competitive sport, footbags can be used for many other purposes. Keep reading for a few of my suggestions:
1. To promote your brand. Well, I work for a promotional products company, so of course this is going to be my first idea! Our promotional hacky sack can be custom imprinted with your brand’s logo or marketing message to become a unique, enjoyable promotional product. Any item that encourages employees or clients to let loose and engage in a friendly athletic competition is bound to maximize exposure for your company. Pens and office accessories always make for practical branded giveaways, but products that people can enjoy in their leisure time with their families and friends also have potential to turn into favorite possessions. Imagine one of your clients gathering his or her family for a weekend at the beach and being asked by their children, “Did we pack that hacki bag that you got from _____ (fill in your brand name here!)?” Your company can become a household name as a result of a distinctive promotional giveaway like the hacki bag.
2. As a stress reliever. While this should not be the primary purpose of a hacki bag, if a true stress ball is not available, a hacki bag can be a suitable substitute to let out some aggression. It is slightly less squeezable than a stress ball, but can definitely provide a wrist workout in a pinch!
3. Doubles as a paperweight. Heavy, eye-catching, compact. All qualities that are desirable in a paperweight. When customers or employees are not using your hacki bag in one of the other ways outlined on my handy list, why not encourage them to set it on top of their important papers?
4. Portable fitness accessory. Playing hacky sack burns an estimated 281 calories per hour! Healthcare or medical companies can incorporate this product into an informational campaign about the importance of exercise and wellness. We offer hacki bags shaped like footballs or basketballs, which are likely to be broken out for impromptu games at the office because they are probably going to be kept on desktops as paperweights (see Use #3).
5. As a weapon. Well, a playful “weapon,” that is. If a coworker is getting on your last nerves, toss a hacki bag their way. It is lightweight enough not to hurt them, and you can work on your pitching arm at the same time.
6. To prevent clients/employees from resorting to using their cell phones as kick bags… Watch this really cool Vodafone footbag commercial to see what I mean!
Any item that can fill this many unique needs in a person’s life is certain to be a successful promotional tool.
With the summer weather being this gorgeous, who wouldn’t want to start a new outdoor hobby? For me at least, I am thinking gardening. I can just imagine the spectacular salad I will make with all of the fresh veggies I have grown myself!
Whether you already have a green thumb or if you are more like me, the girl who likes getting flowers but has never planted one herself, a promotional product like the Leeds Seasons Garden Tool Tote seems like a great investment to help encourage employees or clients to go outside and be active. This bag is stacked with everything any gardener needs: a trowel, cultivator, gardening gloves, pruner, and weed picker. The various pockets on the bag can hold just about anything – packets of seeds, plant markers (you don’t want to think you’re growing watermelons when it’s actually a pepper plant!), and maybe even a Slimline MP3 Player so that you can sing to your plants. I heard that music helps them grow…but if your voice is as horrible as mine you may want to look into getting something like the Hi-Fi Portable Speaker.
If gardening isn’t your thing, you can still provide a great gift for clients that will allow them to experience the joy of growing a plant. With the Grow Cup, all your recipients have to do is water the pot, but they still get to see the flowers bloom.
The Leed’s Walnut Grove BBQ Set was one of our most popular summer giveaways, and grill sets remain a creative gift idea for your clients or employees. Grilling and tailgating for sporting events are timeless summertime activities, so customizing a BBQ Set with your company’s logo and brand information can maximize your exposure in and around the community.
The pair of tongs, grilling fork, and handy spatula included in this set were made from stainless steel and featured wooden handles to allow for a comfortable grip while manning the grill. The handles also remained cool to the touch, which was a useful option to the grill-master. These tools arrived in a durable, high quality canvas carrying case that doubled as an apron.
Utilize a BBQ Set as part of your next promotion or campaign! Make your brand a valuable part of your customers’ and colleagues’ summertime memories by purchasing phenomenal picnic items from Pinnacle Promotions.
I was checking my email today and stumbled across an email from one of our apparel manufacturers. They only sell collegiate sportswear and they do it well! Their casual plaid patterns, over-sized sweatshirts and casual tees brought me back to my early college days.
Back then nothing was better than waking up and changing into my pajama-like outfit to go to my 8am classes. I mean, you wanted to look like you just rolled out of bed, but you had to be clean!
Still to this day one of my favorite fall weekend sweaters is my gray Champion® crew-neck sweatshirt with ‘Georgia State University’ across the front. And there is nothing better than throwing on my sweats and bumming around on those lazy afternoons.
Now, as the end of summer nears and the start of the new school year approaches, it’s the perfect time to think about your back-to-school promotions. Outfit your students and teachers with great promotional crewneck sweatshirts. They’ll wear them now, and, if they’re anything like me, I guarantee they’ll wear them until the sleeves fall off! And since we only sell the highest quality merchandise, manufactured by the most respected brands, that isn’t likely to happen.
If branded spiritwear isn’t your thing, try a messenger bag or even custom spirit accessories like hand fans, sports horns or foam footballs. No matter what promotion you choose, you’ll get your students, teachers and parents ramped up for the start of a new year. And with tons of people touting your name, you’ll get tons of inexpensive brand exposure!
July is Family Reunion Month! If your family has a gathering planned, outfit your kin in style with custom imprinted promotional products. Members of your family will stand out from other guests at hotels and venues if each of you wear or carry an item proudly displaying your family’s last name. Your uniform appearance will also look great when captured on camera! Custom giveaways are not only applicable to family reunions, as fun promotional products are certain to be a hit at high school, college, or workplace reunions. Consider investing in personalized t-shirts or tote bags– even the kids can join the fun with shirts available in youth sizes. Think of a catchy slogan or mascot to adorn your gear and start a tradition that you can continue years into the future.
If this post is inspiring you to throw together a last minute, impromptu reunion, do not fret! With our selection of products available on RocketShip 24-Hour Express Service™, your order can be ready in no time at all… And don’t let the size of your family or group limit your choice of products; our Low Minimums section has plenty of options for smaller get-togethers .
At your reunion this month, don’t just keep up with the Joneses- use trendy promotional products to show them that your group has exceptional style and pizazz!
So as I’m sure you all know, next Saturday is Independence Day! If you’re like me and love a good cookout and fireworks display, the 4th is one of the best days of the year. What better time to spend with family and friends while sporting your red, white and blue? I know I’ll be out on the lake, kicking back with a cool drink in my red, white and blue Koozie!
This year make your Independence Day celebration a success with great (and necessary!) imprinted apparel and products. Sit in style with a collapsible, folding insulated cooler logo chair and don’t forget your cooler- where else will you store your fried chicken, sweet tea and apple pie?!
So have fun, relax and enjoy the fireworks! And after all the fun and festivities of the day are over, don’t forget to take a minute to reflect on this important day.
Looking for a way to season up your marketing efforts over the hot summer? Think back to those carnivals and fairs you attended when you were a kid… You’d play tons of expensive games just to win that cute stuffed animal. Apply that logic this summer to your marketing strategy. Why not add a contest into your normal marketing mix?! Whether for your internal employees, customers or both, a fun and interactive contest or game is a great way to boost business.
Develop an interactive game to include for a short time on your website. Let your clients know in an e-blast and drive traffic to your site. We can all get a little anxious on those beautiful summer afternoons. Send your customers a link to your contest or game and offer them a five-minute break from the stressors of the day. Have a little fun with your marketing! They’ll appreciate your efforts and remember you for it. Offer branded apparel and summer-appropriate prizes like picnic sets to winners. Participants have fun while participating and are always thrilled to leave with a prize.
When your prizes are fun imprinted products that promote your company, you make clients happy while boosting your business. And while you’re at it, don’t forget your employees! Have leftover giveaways from your contest? Use them at your summer employee cookout. The summer is a great time to show them your appreciation. Give out new corporate apparel or even an imprinted cooler. Its always a great time to show you care!
Well, maybe not more hours in a day, but more hours of sunlight each day… Can you believe the photo above was taken at 11:00 pm? Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, also known as the longest day of the year. A solstice can be defined as an astronomical event which occurs twice a year, when the Earth’s axis is tilted to the greatest degree toward or away from the Sun, thus bringing the Sun’s position in the sky as seen from Earth to its northernmost or southernmost extreme.
Fortunately for all those people constantly reiterating that “there aren’t enough hours in a day,” the Summer Solstice means more hours of daylight in the northern hemisphere. Solar-powered calculators or alarms are especially appropriate giveaways during summer months because of the few additional hours of sunshine each day able to power these energy-efficient products. Watches are other promotional items that make great summertime gifts or freebies, as extended daylight hours often interfere with peoples’ internal clocks- I know I tend to check my watch more frequently when the sun doesn’t set until 9:00 pm! Include an informational sheet or even a factual tagline on the item itself to educate recipients about the reason for the season.
Summer is a fantastic time to implement creative promotional campaigns and surprise clients and employees with unique giveaways that they can utilize all day long- particularly when every day around the solstice provides bonus hours for them to use promotional products custom imprinted with your logo!
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.
Even if you aren’t a hardcore sports fanatic, it is always fun to be in the outdoors supporting student athletes in any venue. I have fond memories of my High School days with the cheerleaders and pep rallies giving us the chance to leave school early and gear up for the main event. I still have promotional products like mini footballs and pom-poms from those rallies.
Okay, so maybe just 6 uses so far, but I got your attention, didn’t I?
