Totes and Bags

Jun

2009

Spice it Up!

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!

Jun

2009

Confessions of a (Self-Diagnosed) Shopaholic

One of my favorite books happens to be “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” I find the main character easy to relate to, as my shopping habits also tend to be a little out of control at times (I can already see my mother reading this post and nodding her head in agreement! Hi Mom!)… I consider myself an expert on the latest fashions, and have quite a few style websites that I check religiously to keep up with what’s hot and trendy.

Now, I have only recently begun working in the promotional products industry, but I have already learned that the world of promotional items is very closely aligned with the latest developments in retail. With major department stores and organic food stores releasing Special Edition tote bags, chic totes have become visible in almost every category of retail shops.

Another craze that has exploded recently is organic cotton, which high-end designers are frequently using to manufacture incredibly soft, lightweight tees and tanks- the better the quality, the higher the price! The women in our office are obsessed with fitted tees, and the variety of available colors does not disappoint. This V-Neck version is another favorite, and will look great imprinted with your company’s logo! Your female employees or customers will want one for every day of the week, so order plenty of extras.

Men, don’t get jealous yet. There are plenty of available options for you that correspond with popular female styles. Organic cotton t-shirts for men provide the same exceptional quality and comfort as the women’s selections, or Pinnacle offers a slightly dressier 100% cotton pique sport shirt that can be customized with your logo or company name.

Don’t overlook the demands of fashion-conscious customers and employees- why give away promotional products in outdated styles when you can spend the same amount to purchase items that trendsetters won’t banish to the back of their closets?

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!

Jun

2009

Travel to the Ends of the Earth (or Just Across the State Line!)

Whether you are traveling by plane, train, ship, or car, every traveler needs to have the right accessories. When I dropped a friend off at the airport a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but notice the trendy array of luggage and garment bags filling the lobby. Summertime, aside from the Winter holidays, makes for some of the highest airport traffic rates- the kids are off school and many parents choose to use vacation days to accommodate family trips or camp orientations. When you combine those traveling for pleasure with the regular pool of corporate workers traveling on business, it can make for chaos in even the most organized of terminals!

Strict airport regulations regarding liquid containers have led to longer lines at security checkpoints- help employees or clients file through airport security lines without unnecessary hassle by giving away custom imprinted TSA Approved Bottle Sets. This way they can abide by new rules AND cut down on time spent waiting in line.

Another handy gift idea for travelers is document holders, which provide easy access to important documents. I for one am prone to losing track of my photo id or passport in oversized purses or backpacks, so I would definitely appreciate a personalized travel pouch!

Tasteful and practical travel accessories simplify travelers’ lives and because of the wide area they are able to cover, your logo can even be admired on the other side of the world!

Dana
Marketing Assistant

Jun

2009

Join the Craze…B.Y.O.B.

That is Bring Your Own Bag! I know what you were thinking… but it’s the Reusable Grocery Bags that are the biggest trend in grocery stores, specialty food shops and convenience stores right now. Almost every retailer is now selling their own branded reusable grocery tote at checkout to encourage a “greener” way of living. The negative impact of plastic bags on the environment has been heavily publicized in recent years. The Environmental Protection Agency released a study in 2001 estimating the U.S. plastic bag, sack and wrap consumption is somewhere around 500 billion, and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Of those, millions of these plastic bags end up outside of a landfill in our litter stream. It is hard to ignore and now more than ever, people are encouraged to do their part to minimize the environmental damage caused by plastic bags.

I’ve noticed more and more shoppers bringing their own reusable bags to do their weekly grocery shopping and it is becoming embarrassing or shameful to use the store-provided plastic bags. Not only do you not want to be spotted using a plastic bag, but reusable totes are a great promotional marketing opportunity. Think about it, if you purchase imprinted grocery totes and give them to your customers you not only make a statement about your company’s sustainability initiatives, but you also have provided them with a bag featuring your logo that they will be carrying around the grocery store every week. It’s a win win marketing strategy!

For other earth-saving promotional products, shop our Eco-Friendly category.

Jun

2009

Tradeshow Tips and Tricks, Part 1 of 2

On June 3rd, 1929 the first ever tradeshow was held at Atlantic City Convention Center to focus on the electric light. Whether you call them tradeshows, trade fairs, or expos, these industry events allow businesses and organizations to share information, advertise their wares, and learn about competitors and trends. In America alone, in excess of 2500 tradeshows take place annually, with many virtual tradeshows also taking place online to encourage global participation.

The first contact that your organization will most likely have with other exhibitors and attendees will be a display or booth. Eye-catching and appealing displays and signage are vital in order to distinguish your company from the rest. In light of the high numbers in attendance at most trade shows, use bold colors and concise phrasing to attract attention and showcase your professionalism.

Giveaways and promotional products are other key drivers in drawing a crowd to a booth or display. Participants and other exhibitors will collect numerous goodies throughout the duration of the event, so providing custom imprinted totes and bags to gather belongings is a great way to get your brand noticed from the outset. Additionally, badge holders are valuable promotional tools because participants frequently wear identification badges or name tags around their necks.

Check back tomorrow for more advice to help make your company’s next tradeshow experience both enjoyable and lucrative!

Dana
Marketing Assistant

May

2009

Here Come the Brides!

I’m sure you all feel it in the air. Wedding season is upon us. (But I suppose I could be a little biased as I’m getting married in a week!) As we enter into June, it’s the perfect time to wrap up those last minute details before the big day.

Have a little extra money in that wedding budget? Custom promotional koozies are a great idea for your wedding showers, rehearsal dinners and even the main event. Koozies are a budget friendly way to give your guests a reminder of the event as well as a practical gift. And keep in mind, even if you’ve waited till the last minute to order, Pinnacle Promotions has thousands of products available in 24 hours or less!

Want something special for your family and close friends? How about a custom printed t-shirt? Or do what I’m doing and give customized promotional tote bags to your out of town guests. Print the bags and fill them up with personalized snacks, bags of chips or pretzels and bottled water. It’s a nice and practical way to give your guests some much needed munchies as well as a cute bag they can use again and again.

Brides, wedding planners, mothers and wedding venues can all take advantage of the budget-friendly products that are available now. Have fun with your event and make it even more memorable with printed favors and gifts!

Kim
Marketing Coordinator (and Bride-to-Be!)

Totes and Bags

Spice it Up!

Confessions of a (Self-Diagnosed) Shopaholic

They’re Everywhere!

Travel to the Ends of the Earth (or Just Across the State Line!)

Join the Craze…B.Y.O.B.

Tradeshow Tips and Tricks, Part 1 of 2

Here Come the Brides!

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