3 days ago
The annual Pyramid Awards sponsored by PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) recognize creative marketing efforts that deliver results. We feature these on occasion to demonstrate ...
Continue ReadingJul 10
After more than 2 years of freezes on many trade shows, exhibitors and attendees alike are fired up to mix and mingle in person again. While the year ahead may not look like the good ol’ day...
Continue ReadingJun 10
There’s no shortage of charitable organizations around the world. In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 2 million nonprofit organizations and 501(c) (3) charities. These groups are striving to...
Continue ReadingApr 11
Trade shows are back! Well, some of them. You may be starting with some of the smaller networking events put on by the chamber of commerce and the like. Anyone who’s participated in a trade ...
Continue ReadingMar 06
Whether it’s checks, brochures, or signs, APTCO prints a lot of products on paper. Just a few years ago, requests for recycled materials were unusual. But eco-friendly processes are quickly ...
Continue ReadingFeb 06
As a consumer, how often have you picked up a promotional product offered to you at an event, accepted a branded product offered from an organization you belong to or used a promotional product th...
Continue ReadingDec 04, 2021
As we approach the end of another year, it’s a good time to consider marketing plans for 2022. We have some reason to hope it will be a little closer to the normal we knew before the global ...
Continue ReadingSep 13, 2021
Simple and efficient, lanyards keep important items close throughout day-to-day activities. In the early 1500s, lanyards were invented as a way to carry weapons and keep them accessible. Lanyards ...
Continue ReadingApr 12, 2021
We often feature stories about marketing campaigns run by small neighborhood businesses—ones you’ve never met but that might have a lot in common with you. But this time we’ve fo...
Continue ReadingNov 10, 2020
No doubt you’re familiar with embroidery as a popular means of decorating garments with logos, names, and messages. It’s been around for a long time, and we do a lot of it at APTCO. Bu...
Continue ReadingOct 13, 2020
With so much of the world working remotely these days, businesses and organizations know that keeping employees motivated is essential to their success. Yes, some are struggling to survive while w...
Continue ReadingSep 08, 2020
The pandemic has slammed the brakes on one industry that touches so many others, and that is the trade show industry. Whether manufacturing, technology, education, professional services, healthcar...
Continue ReadingJul 14, 2020
The world of Covid-19 has brought a wealth of new products to the attention of marketers. It began with traditional Personal Protective Equipment, which was in short supply for medical workers. Ma...
Continue ReadingJun 09, 2020
Every January, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) draws thousands of attendees to EXPO, where new products of every description make their debut. Apparel is one of the largest s...
Continue ReadingMar 10, 2020
Promotional Products are everywhere. Businesses of every size and non-profits of every stripe have them. Problem is, most of them just chose something to “get their name out there.” We...
Continue ReadingFeb 11, 2020
Every year, Promotional Products Association International recognizes the most creative promotional marketing campaigns with Pyramid Awards. It’s always fun to look at some examples to see t...
Continue ReadingJan 14, 2020
It’s mind-boggling how many companies, big and small, throw money away by purchasing and giving away promotional products. Now mind you, if you come to us and want to buy 5,000 cheap pens an...
Continue ReadingDec 10, 2019
These days, any company looking to gain attention through marketing is bound to include social media in its plans. The smart ones don’t stop there. They make sure to combine different channe...
Continue ReadingNov 27, 2019
Objective A local brewery wanted an eye-catching promotional item to place on tables that would boost their alcohol sales and highlight their weekly specials while encouraging enrollment for their ta...
Continue ReadingOct 08, 2019
We’ve known it for a long time. Promotional products work. But we want to know why. Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) has done several studies over the years. The most re...
Continue ReadingSep 10, 2019
In the world of advertising, effectiveness has to be one of the most important metrics. You can talk about exposure all day long, but if the receiver of the advertising doesn’t take some kin...
Continue ReadingJul 09, 2019
Summer means T-shirt season is here. 100% cotton has been the traditional go-to fabric for festivals, walks, and company events of all types. But that is changing. Specialty fabrics and decoration...
Continue ReadingApr 09, 2019
We’ve written here before that one of the earliest uses of promotional products was campaign buttons for George Washington. Of course, they’ve been a staple of political campaigns ever...
Continue ReadingMar 12, 2019
A trend started to emerge recently. Some pretty big corporate giants—like Hugo Boss—started noticing that its young consumers were choosing their branded apparel based on how the logo ...
Continue ReadingFeb 12, 2019
Last month we reviewed some of the expected trends in corporate apparel. But we couldn't cover if all. The largest trade show in the promotional products business just concluded, with booth after ...
Continue ReadingJan 08, 2019
With 2018 wrapped up and a new year here, we start taking stock of what’s in store for 2019. In the decorated apparel world, there’s a trend of new styles emerging as well as classic l...
Continue ReadingDec 11, 2018
Making Loyalty Programs Work For You Here’s the good news…Loyalty programs are big business getters. But they can be even bigger when you use really cool promotional products that ar...
Continue ReadingNov 13, 2018
The most successful promotions have these features: Harmonized appearance of marketing materials. Focus on brand recognition and increasing brand loyality. An end goal, one that is achievable...
Continue ReadingOct 09, 2018
People are inundated with hundreds of marketing messages every day. An old marketing adage says it takes someone at least seven times to hear or see your message before they begin to remember it...
Continue ReadingOct 08, 2018
You don’t have to work in the field of promotional products to notice the impact they can have on any organization’s marketing efforts. As the most effective medium of advertising across a...
Continue ReadingSep 16, 2018
Most of us spend as much time at our desks as we do in our homes. If that’s the case, we should all put some time and effort into making sure our workspace is as happy and motivating as possible...
Continue ReadingSep 11, 2018
We could have checked the statistics on our 850,000 item database, but instead, we conducted an informal survey asking consumers to name their favorite promotional products. We think that ju...
Continue ReadingAug 14, 2018
The Do’s 1. Do: Always Focus on Your Target Audience. Get to know who your current customers are, and then you can really target them and new customers. It’s imperative to know your ...
Continue ReadingJul 10, 2018
You know those car wash fundraiser events school children hold to raise money for a trip or cause? The effort is admirable, but the quality of the wash is questionable, the time it takes is extens...
Continue ReadingJun 08, 2018
The infographic says it all. Wellness programs work, by improving employee engagement, morale, and of course, health. When properly executed, the company benefits with increased productivity and r...
Continue ReadingMay 22, 2018
23 fun facts about effective advertising Last week, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) held a national awareness campaign called Promotional Products Work Week. Activities and me...
Continue ReadingNov 01, 2017
Exhibiting at a trade show can be an effective way to gain new business, while connecting with current clients. But in many cases they represent a sizable investment, so it takes detailed attentio...
Continue ReadingSep 17, 2017
For decades, golf has been known as America’s favorite pastime; where men, and now many women, go for friendly competition, cold beverages and good old-fashioned fun. According to the Na...
Continue ReadingMay 10, 2017
Advertising comes in many forms — radio, television, newspapers, magazines, brochures, and increasingly, online tools such as websites, blogs, and emails. But study after study shows that on...
Continue ReadingApr 01, 2017
Consumers like promotional products. Consumers keep promotional products. Consumers have spoken and they praise promotional products as the leading advertising vehicle for brands. Those are some o...
Continue ReadingMar 01, 2017
According to the Gallup Organization, 70% of employees just aren’t that into their jobs. Hello? If that isn’t a wake up call, somebody is really sleeping soundly. Disengaged employees ...
Continue ReadingJan 07, 2017
Medallion Labs planned to set meetings with qualified prospects during a trade show. Previous shows had been lackluster; no more than 10 prospects had signed up in the previous year. New strategies...
Continue ReadingJan 01, 2017
Happy new year, everyone. Looking out over a changing business climate, as more and more sales and marketing move to the online world, it’s easy to overlook the traditional channels. But acr...
Continue ReadingDec 10, 2016
Everything Old Is New Again. More than a song title, it’s an apt description of the fashion cycle we’re about to see in the coming year, according to a recent feature in Advantages mag...
Continue ReadingDec 07, 2016
The much-maligned tree has been subject to a lot of abuse in recent years. All those email footnotes that plead to you to not print the email, the cry of “save a tree!” Meanwhile, the end...
Continue ReadingNov 10, 2016
We’re entering the gifting season. Business gifts serve multiple purposes. Of course they are one way to say “thank you” to customers and clients. But they are also a useful bran...
Continue ReadingOct 12, 2016
We hear a lot about “Made in America” these days. Election season has done nothing to slow down the interest in the subject, but honestly, it’s a topic that never goes away. Acco...
Continue ReadingSep 15, 2016
We've been hearing about a paperless world for a couple of decades now. Actually, the first predictions for a paperless office were made in 1975. When the personal computer was invented in the 80&...
Continue ReadingSep 07, 2016
Breast cancer awareness gets a lot of attention. And rightfully so. There are a lot of people working very hard to ensure that Breast Cancer is a “Top Of Mind” issue. However, there are a ...
Continue ReadingAug 09, 2016
How much do injuries or illness cost your company? It’s a question worth asking. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s estimate, employers collectively pay alm...
Continue ReadingJul 12, 2016
Sleeping is all in a days’ work at Aetna. The U.S. health insurance giant recently announced it would pay employees to get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Workers use their own dev...
Continue ReadingJun 12, 2016
Successful promotion campaigns don't happen by chance. To realize goals, promotional products programs must be carefully planned, taking into consideration the audience, budget and, of course, the...
Continue ReadingMay 12, 2016
It's called gamification — turning a business objective into a game. Supposing you have a goal of getting employees more deeply engaged in creative processes that result in product improveme...
Continue ReadingApr 10, 2016
Last month we featured some creative marketing campaigns that received awards from Promotional Products Association International - PPAI. We continue in this issue with some more promotions that d...
Continue ReadingMar 12, 2016
Promotional Products Association International - PPAI - recently awarded the most effective promotional campaigns of the past year. Note: not the coolest products, but the promotions that delivere...
Continue ReadingFeb 15, 2016
There's always something new, isn't there? So much that it takes two floors of the Las Vegas convention center where the Expo is put on every January by PPAI - Promotional Products Association Int...
Continue ReadingJan 10, 2016
No, we’re not talking about the water falling from the sky, or even the water overflowing from the rivers. We’ve heard enough about that lately from national news outlets. This is abou...
Continue ReadingDec 15, 2015
Marketing through promotional products may date back to campaign buttons for George Washington over 200 years ago, but the branded T-shirt has a shorter history. The T-shirt itself (in its plain w...
Continue ReadingNov 10, 2015
Here at APTCO we spend a lot of time working with logos for businesses and organizations of all types. Some logos are known worldwide while others are just recognized locally. Regardless of whethe...
Continue ReadingOct 10, 2015
What does a business do when they want to reduce accidents in the workplace? Or when they want to reduce health insurance costs? They create an incentive program. Of course, incentive programs are...
Continue ReadingOct 10, 2015
Establish Objectives: Identify three to five goals or objectives that are a) measurable, b) attainable and c) simple to understand and communicate. Analyze the Audience: The entire workforce i...
Continue ReadingSep 12, 2015
>Universal Pictures dug deep to promote this past summer's animated Minions movie. The marketing leading up to, and during the release of Minions was an absolute blitz. The creatures were everywhe...
Continue ReadingAug 12, 2015
Targeted tactics for trade show marketing set the stage for long-term success. Many exhibitors fail to think of retention and reuse when selecting products for trade show marketing. Do you hand o...
Continue ReadingJul 13, 2015
Garden gnomes, soap dispensers, fedoras and replica championship rings are just a few of the new promotional items MLB teams will give away at ballparks this season. Still, the promo product that ...
Continue ReadingJun 10, 2015
A lot of people say they do. When professions are ranked by public perception of honesty and ethics, the bottom positions are held by stockbrokers and members of Congress, but right next to that n...
Continue ReadingMay 19, 2015
It's true — promotional products get results. Maybe you have a problem that needs a knockout punch.
Continue ReadingMay 18, 2015
This is the week of a nationwide campaign reminding advertisers that promotional products are one of the most effective channels of advertising. What are you waiting for? Make someone's day!
Continue ReadingMay 14, 2015
Everything from plastic fangs promoting the latest vampire flick to whoopee cushions decorated with the title of an upcoming slapstick comedy has been used in product advertising for motion pictur...
Continue ReadingApr 10, 2015
The annual price tag on occupational injuries and illnesses is a staggering $250 billion, according to a study by the University of California Davis. The National Safety Council states that the av...
Continue ReadingMar 10, 2015
The NBA and NHL seasons are into their second acts, spring training is already here for major league baseball (even if Spring isn’t). Professional sports takes marketing seriously. Those sea...
Continue ReadingFeb 21, 2015
Whether in an industrial art class in high school or when ordering custom t-shirts, screen printing is often a person’s first contact with printing other than desktop computer printing. S...
Continue ReadingFeb 10, 2015
Anybody watch the Super Bowl commercials? Anyone NOT watch them? Some were pretty entertaining, others were duds, and at least one backfired. Meanwhile, there was a football game in between all of...
Continue ReadingJan 10, 2015
With the proliferation of email for marketing (yes, including this very newsletter), old fashioned physical mail can have a bigger impact than ever. That is, if it gets attention. Here's an exampl...
Continue ReadingDec 15, 2014
Branded apparel remains one of the most effective and popular categories in the promotional products world. Far from the days when it was limited to the simple imprinted T-shirt, today's offerings...
Continue ReadingNov 12, 2014
This month we bring you a guest column from our friend Michael Crooks. APTCO's approach to promotional marketing has been influenced by Michael's brand of thinking. Forget about the “outside...
Continue ReadingOct 10, 2014
It's that time of year. Once the 4th quarter hits, businesses start thinking about all they have to get done before the year ends. There are client gifts, employee gifts and awards, a couple more ...
Continue ReadingSep 10, 2014
Pens are one of the most popular promotional items. Imprinting them with a company name, logo, contact information and marketing message is just the first step. That's not a promotion, it's just s...
Continue ReadingAug 10, 2014
Promotional products are everywhere. From screen printed T-shirts to pens to mugs to key tags, company logos are viewed thousands of times per day. But so what? Branded promotional items are a nea...
Continue ReadingJul 10, 2014
Nonprofit organizations face many challenges. Their marketing budgets are generally much smaller than those of major corporations. They have to depend on donations rather than sales to generate op...
Continue ReadingJun 12, 2014
We work with a lot of companies as they prepare to exhibit at a trade show. In addition to the long-time clients that we know well, there are lots of requests that come because Google led someone ...
Continue ReadingMay 16, 2014
Trade association Printing Industries of the Carolinas (PICA) compiled statistics from numerous sources showing how print marketing combines with other methods such as online, to cre...
Continue ReadingMay 14, 2014
For most of the past decade, the majority of the most popular promotional products have been coming from China. When you are looking at the big categories, including writing instruments, drinkware, ba...
Continue ReadingMay 10, 2014
Apparel is available these days in the widest range of choices ever. So the right one for your needs may be wildly different from someone else's. Before we even get into the style and color arena,...
Continue ReadingApr 10, 2014
It's probably a surprise to nobody that surveys rating satisfaction with customer service usually have cable TV providers near the bottom of the list. “Waiting for the cable guy” is a ...
Continue ReadingApr 02, 2014
We hear a lot about the wastefulness of print. Everything seems to be moving to electronic media. But how much of what we hear is true? The facts indicate that paper is taking a bad rap.
Continue ReadingMar 12, 2014
With virtually every cell phone, whether smartphone or simple flip phone, having a camera, the “selfie” has become a cultural phenomenon. People are not just taking photos of themselve...
Continue ReadingFeb 10, 2014
The recording industry has undergone tremendous changes over the past few years. Gone are the days when artists depended on signing with a major label, who would then handle all the promotion. As ...
Continue ReadingJan 10, 2014
Let's face it - we're in a new world of marketing. The traditional channels of the Mad Men era have been supplemented by multiple new digital channels. We're bombarded with marketing messages ever...
Continue ReadingDec 10, 2013
Motivation Done Right and Wrong ’Tis the season to be jolly, but for some, it can be difficult when there are so many things to get done in such a short time. Our schedules get packed with ...
Continue ReadingNov 12, 2013
KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory services firm, recently developed a brand-boosting marketing campaign. They developed a tagline – “The Right Team” – and recognized that it...
Continue ReadingOct 10, 2013
1896 The “original polo shirt” wasn’t actually a polo at all. Rather, it was a white button-down shirt, created by John E. Brooks of Brooks Brothers. Taking in a polo match in ...
Continue ReadingSep 26, 2013
Earlier this month we were talking about what a powerful promotion a bobblehead day could be for major league baseball teams. They've been proven to drive sales in a big way. The NY Yankees planne...
Continue ReadingSep 13, 2013
Regular readers of this newsletter know how we feel about the word giveaway. We believe in promotions but hate giveaways. Though a large portion of our business is in providing branded promotional...
Continue ReadingAug 12, 2013
Viral marketing is the practice of building a campaign intended to be spread from one message recipient to another. Long before the days of social media, promotional products were one of the first...
Continue ReadingJul 27, 2013
by Larry Triplett In 1913, the T-shirt as we now know it made its appearance as standard-issue gear for the US Navy. Lightweight and cool, they were easy to care for and popular with sailors. It didn...
Continue ReadingJul 10, 2013
Payroll managers can be the Rodney Dangerfields of a business. No respect. When everyone's check is perfect, who bothers to thank them? But they're surely going to hear about it when there's an er...
Continue ReadingJun 10, 2013
Back in the day, if you wanted corporate branding on shirts, jackets, or caps, you had two choices — screen printing or embroidery. In 2013, the landscape is a lot broader. These standby tec...
Continue ReadingJun 07, 2013
California could be considered the epicenter of the fight to ban single-use bags from grocery stores and other retailers. More than 75 cities and counties in California, including Malibu, San F...
Continue ReadingMay 27, 2013
by Larry Triplett Did you know that May was Fitness Month? Human Resource Directors probably do. A healthy staff is an important objective for any company. It reduces absenteeism and keeps in...
Continue ReadingMay 12, 2013
Year after year, tote bags are in the top 10 list of promotional product categories. There are many reasons. Disposable shopping bags, whether paper or plastic, do not always end up being recycled...
Continue ReadingApr 10, 2013
It used to be that when you thought of mugs, you meant ceramic coffee mugs. Nowadays, there are many other materials use for mugs. Each serves a particular purpose. As always, we recommend that yo...
Continue ReadingMar 10, 2013
The week just completed - Feb. 25 - Mar 1, 2013, marks the first observance of Promotional Products Work! Week. The global awareness event, sponsored by Promotional Products Association Internatio...
Continue ReadingMar 07, 2013
What are we talking about? There are many different ways to print promotional products. The size, shape, and type of product, as well as the number of colors in the imprint, will suggest the best m...
Continue ReadingFeb 24, 2013
Print meets video in this remarkable new technology. Full motion video and stereo sound in a brochure. The future is here now.
Continue ReadingFeb 11, 2013
With more and more devices becoming portable, the desktop needs a way to keep them at the ready. Stoppi is the answer, and your brand will be there every day.
Continue ReadingFeb 10, 2013
Here we are just one month into a new year, and already two major promotional product shows have been held. While new products are introduced constantly throughout the year, January always brings ...
Continue ReadingFeb 08, 2013
Designed for the skinniest of cords - earbud cords - the Twisti makes them neat and compact. Use this handy device to carry your branding where it will see daily use.
Continue ReadingFeb 07, 2013
Eliminate the web of cables tangled in the average computer bag. Snappi solves the problem in a most stylish fashion, and makes a great branding vehicle along the way.
Continue ReadingFeb 06, 2013
Always having USB cables slip off the desk after you unplug your mobile device? Clippi comes to the rescue, and delivers your brand along the way.
Continue ReadingFeb 05, 2013
Hold your cell phone anywhere, in any position. This will be a very popular product, one that can proudly carry your brand.
Continue ReadingFeb 04, 2013
by Larry Triplett Who was it that thought a stylus should feel like a pen? The Styli delivers the experience you always wanted with the iPad and other tablets. Make it your promotional tool.
Continue ReadingJan 08, 2013
A new year, a new start. What would your business like to accomplish in 2013? Maybe you have a detailed marketing plan, or perhaps just the broad strokes of goals. That's fine, because all marketi...
Continue ReadingDec 10, 2012
As reported in the NY Times, Coca Cola has expanded their use of branded products. Last week saw the launch of a big new campaign. December has always been a big time for Coke advertising, ever si...
Continue ReadingNov 10, 2012
In the twenty-first century we've seen immense diversification of marketing channels. While direct mail and many other traditional channels continue (see part one of this series), we see more and ...
Continue ReadingOct 10, 2012
The twenty-first century has brought increased awareness across all marketing channels of the importance of environmentally responsible practices. In a two-part series, we'll take a look at areas ...
Continue ReadingSep 11, 2012
Even in a challenging economy, Americans are a generous lot. People organize and rally to help a neighbor, the school systems, or anything needing assistance. Charitable organizations throughout t...
Continue ReadingAug 14, 2012
As part of a well-planned marketing campaign, nothing can be as effective as the right promotional product, with the right message, distributed in the right manner to the right audience. They have...
Continue ReadingJul 10, 2012
How do human resource professionals motivate employees, boost productivity, and improve customer service? These were some of the questions asked by Promotional Products Association International (...
Continue ReadingJun 22, 2012
A lot of people want you to think so, but viral marketing actually has a much longer history, going way back before web 2.0. Before web 1.0, once know simply as "the internet". Let's start with the...
Continue ReadingJun 12, 2012
When it came time to unveil a new promotion, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky turned to Sasquatch. The big furry guy is the brand’s icon. The brand recently unveiled new television commercials, ...
Continue ReadingMay 29, 2012
Smart businesses are introducing wellness programs for their employees. The benefits go both directions! Healthier employees result in reduced health insurance premiums, due to fewer claims ...
Continue ReadingMay 08, 2012
The US Postal Service has had to endure hearing the term “snail mail” for over a decade. As internet usage has become mainstream, mail volume has seriously declined to the point that s...
Continue ReadingApr 10, 2012
Promotional products are extremely popular, and there are good reasons. But many users don't seem to be aware of those reasons. All too often, we get requests for an item “just to keep our n...
Continue ReadingMar 13, 2012
If you have any employees, even just one, then chances are, you have to carry Worker's Compensation insurance. If you carry Worker's Comp., you have to pay insurance premiums. The amount you have ...
Continue ReadingMar 05, 2012
Well, everyone who works in an office, that is. Paper Mate® (who has quite an interest in pens) commissioned a survey of 1000 people from around the US who are full time office workers. Scott Cris...
Continue ReadingFeb 14, 2012
Rising health-care costs have made wellness programs a good deal for companies that invest in them, and now Uncle Sam has stepped in to make it easier to create and fund them. The new Health Care ...
Continue ReadingJan 10, 2012
As we're all in the process of rebooting from a busy holiday season, surely we can appreciate this story. Last Thanksgiving, besides enjoying a big turkey, about 11,000 people took a pledge to go ...
Continue ReadingDec 13, 2011
Sports fans will do anything for their teams, right? Marketers tested this theory during last college basketball season by pitting three Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, area colleges against each...
Continue ReadingNov 15, 2011
How do recipients feel about receiving a promotional product? What purpose do they think the item serves? What actions do they take? These are crucial questions every advertiser should know and un...
Continue ReadingNov 08, 2011
The State Bar of South Dakota had a problem. The supply of lawyers in rural areas of the state had been dwindling over a period of several years. Law school graduates were more attracted to joinin...
Continue ReadingOct 18, 2011
Producers of The Mechanic, an action thriller starring Jason Statham as a hit man, needed a unique promo to stand out amid the din of movie madness bombarding the media and consumers today. They w...
Continue ReadingOct 11, 2011
Corporate wellness programs that offer employees rewards can help significantly reduce the cost of health care, according to a new report released a few weeks ago. Data shows that wellness incenti...
Continue ReadingSep 20, 2011
Is there a marketing manager anywhere who hasn't heard that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? There are countless charitable causes that claim a month, a week or a day to try to capture th...
Continue ReadingSep 13, 2011
1. Get your own prospects If you want lots of qualified attendees, it’s essential to create your own audience. You can do this by utilizing house files, prospect lists, direct mail and ele...
Continue ReadingAug 16, 2011
Low tech. Old hat. You've heard it all. With smart phones expected to reach 50% market penetration this year, surely the paper calendar is a dying breed. Not really. Even if appointment reminders a...
Continue ReadingAug 09, 2011
Avoiding Random Acts of Marketing is a key recommendation of the latest “State of Marketing” report from the Chief Marketing Officer Council, a 6,000 member global association. CMO's p...
Continue ReadingJul 19, 2011
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI; ppai.org) the not-for-profit association for more than 8,000 members of the $16 billion promotional products industry, has published studies r...
Continue ReadingJul 12, 2011
Let's face it. In this age of internet marketing, postal mail suffers from the Rodney Dangerfield complex - it just can't get any respect. When you bring in the daily mail, if you're like most peo...
Continue ReadingJun 21, 2011
Back in May, we teased you with a story about a promotion that combined a unique promotional product with a clever viral marketing technique to achieve a huge increase in trade show booth traffic....
Continue ReadingJun 17, 2011
Custom labeled sunscreen products have long been popular in marketing and promotion. As summer finally becomes official, we find more and more companies including sunscreen in their summer p...
Continue ReadingJun 14, 2011
USB Flash Drives are continuing to grow as a popular medium that is, in many cases, actually replacing print. Many a conference handout has moved from paper booklets to CD's and now, to thumb driv...
Continue ReadingMay 17, 2011
As the economy slowly continues its recovery, marketers are making careful decisions about the best use of marketing budgets. A recent study from the Advertising Specialty Institute compared the e...
Continue ReadingMay 10, 2011
The wedding of England's Prince William and Catherine Middleton, which practically the whole world knows took place on April 29, has been almost impossible to miss in London for the past few month...
Continue ReadingApr 19, 2011
You have to wonder sometimes about what advertisers were thinking! We've compiled a list of some of the most overused and empty phrases from the world of advertising. The way some of these words a...
Continue ReadingApr 12, 2011
Virus. What a word! Loaded. It used to pertain strictly to disease - the human kind. Then we began to think of our computers as living. So we ascribed all sorts of human characteristics to them. I...
Continue ReadingApr 01, 2011
A good tag line adds focus and purpose to a brand. It should be short enough to be easy to remember and repeat. It should avoid industry-specific jargon so it's easily understood by everyone. It sh...
Continue ReadingMar 15, 2011
The results of the February 2011 CMO Survey are in and the news is unequivocally positive. Top marketing executives at U.S. firms are more optimistic about the U.S. economy and their own companies...
Continue ReadingMar 08, 2011
The latest high-tech gadget is likely to be given away by a number of exhibitors at the typical trade show. This year, the iPad is it. Later in the year or next year, it will be something else. Bu...
Continue ReadingFeb 15, 2011
The promotional products used in our marketing programs are overwhelmingly imprinted in the USA, but most are manufactured in China and surrounding companies in the far east. This is also true of ...
Continue ReadingFeb 08, 2011
According to a Maritz Research study, employees who participate in creative recognition programs at work are five times more likely to feel valued, 11 times more likely to feel committed and seven...
Continue ReadingJan 11, 2011
1. Data is king The quality of your list will directly correlate to the results of your campaign. First, it is important to make sure the data is “clean”, ensuring that your pieces ...
Continue ReadingJan 11, 2011
Challenging times can lead to innovation. The economic slowdown of the past two years has led many companies to hold back on major print marketing. Large catalogs have been replaced by files distrib...
Continue ReadingDec 21, 2010
An unusual product requires an unusual promotion. Culturelle, a company that makes dietary supplements that aid in digestive health and immune-system functioning, was looking to promote its brand ...
Continue ReadingDec 14, 2010
Face it, a turn of the calendar page (as if all the Black Friday hubbub wasn't enough) tells us that time is getting short for holiday gifts. We've been busy helping a variety of businesses to mak...
Continue ReadingNov 26, 2010
Recently, several grocery store chains, including Publix, Sweetbay, Winn-Dixie, Walmart and Target, reported the existence of varying levels of lead in some reusable grocery bags. A firestor...
Continue ReadingNov 16, 2010
Real Estate sales is all about personal branding. This is not to say that a corporate brand isn’t important; it can certainly add some credibility. But it's really about the agent. Susan Singe...
Continue ReadingNov 09, 2010
Though politics is on everyone's mind these days, most people try to avoid discussing it in a business situation. And though businesses may be making contributions to campaigns, you won't generall...
Continue ReadingNov 09, 2010
Hand sanitizers have been an effective and popular promotional product for a few years. Our customers have used them to put their names in front of their customers in all kinds of different situat...
Continue ReadingOct 19, 2010
Magazines, like newspapers, have faced a challenging market the past few years. Many have been forced to close as both subscriptions and advertising revenue have declined, while printing costs have ...
Continue ReadingOct 12, 2010
Let's be honest, pens are one of the most over-used promotional products. Who doesn't have a drawer full of neglected pens with somebody's name or logo on them, set aside because they were cheap, or...
Continue ReadingSep 21, 2010
We're glad to hear this news. As “green” has evolved to mean so much more than a color, a majority of consumers and businesses have taken an interest in environmental responsibility. E...
Continue ReadingAug 17, 2010
Publishers have a tough task trying to get attention for new novels in a crowded and competitive field. Booksellers have so many options to choose from, that even works from well-known authors som...
Continue ReadingAug 15, 2010
Q: How do you get a mail list? A: List brokers are generally considered the most effective sources for vetted mail lists. "Vetted" is a key operative word. There are lots of garbage lists out t...
Continue ReadingAug 10, 2010
Cause Marketing is becoming increasingly popular as a means for businesses to build a positive reputation while helping out a worthwhile charity. If a company's products and market align well with...
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Select small businesses in Manhattan and Brooklyn recently received an unexpected gift — a live fern. The fern served as an introduction to The Park Avenue Bank, a local New York City bank t...
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If you're evaluating your company's recognition program, the first place to start is by thinking about the goals of the program. It needs to be closely aligned with the company's overall goals. At...
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What's the best promotional product to drive home the theme of a marketing campaign or event? It's a never-ending question. The marketing idea is always more important than the product, but when the t...
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Companies who use promotional products as part of their marketing campaigns took notice a couple of weeks ago when 12 million Shrek-branded drinking glasses were recalled by McDonald's. The paint us...
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After extensive discussions, the planners decided on the theme, “Love Versus Cancer,” and launched an accompanying Web site (www.loveversuscancer.org) at the beginning of February. The...
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Do you ever wonder where company names come from? Sometimes multi-million dollar consulting contracts are involved, but sometimes it's just a whim! Regardless, they can have a major impact on publ...
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Two things are up with cotton - sales and prices! Organic cotton emerged as a leader within the cotton segment when a green image is important. Sales of organic cotton increased 35% last year, in keep...
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With 70 percent of the Earth covered in water, it's a wonder we don't say "go blue." But "go green" is how the environmental movement was branded. So take a cue from earth lovers and tie in ...
Continue ReadingMay 29, 2010
Successful promotional campaigns don't happen by chance. To realize goals, promotional products programs must be carefully planned, taking into consideration the audience, budget and, of cou...
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When you're one of many technical support services looking to stand out at industry events, it helps to be colorful. PlumChoice has recognized this simple fact and chosen to firmly embrace its col...
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Colorado residents rank as the nation's leanest, and they're not resting on their laurels. “The fact that nearly 19% of adults in our state are obese is cause for concern,” says Maren ...
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There can be a certain stigma attached to attending a community college. That's why Onondaga Community College (OCC) decided not only to revamp the image of its educational institution, but also t...
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There's no replacement for real-world experience. 10 years ago, startup beverage brand SoBe made the right marketing choices, and the result was the acquisition by PepsiCo for about $370 million. ...
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A man wakes up after sleeping under an ADVERTISED blanket, on an ADVERTISED mattress, and pulls off ADVERTISED pajamas, bathes in an ADVERTISED shower, shaves with an ADVERTISED razor, br...
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If you were visiting Chicago last summer and you thought you saw a giant owl, you weren't hallucinating. You likely saw Ollie, the TripAdvisor mascot. The owl and a TripAdvisor street team targete...
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Trade show season has begun again, so many of our clients are looking at their calendars and making plans for an effective approach to this most important component of their annual marketing. That...
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This summer, Jones Soda proudly proclaimed that it was “the official soda of the road trip.” To prove it, the premium soda brand teamed with Griffin Technology to reward people for sha...
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Did you survive Black Friday? I did. But then, I'm a guy, so it wasn't that difficult. In fact, I'm a lucky guy because my wife is averse to holiday crowds. She's also allergic to mornings, so the...
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A study by Lexmark and O'Keeffe & Company says that of the nearly $1.3 billion the federal government spends on printing every year, almost one-third--$440 million--is waste. The “2009 Gover...
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A recent survey in Print Solutions magazine and Appleton Papers shows surprising growth in eco-friendly printing over the past year. Among the unexpected materials used is chipboard to make presen...
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Developing a comprehensive recognition program is an in-depth process that can have a direct positive effect on employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and company profitability. Far from se...
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The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion needed to increase event media coverage and ticket sales. Traditional print and radio advertising had proven to be very expensive in past seasons. They knew tha...
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With Breast Cancer Awareness month coming up soon, Mott's got a head start this summer with a well-thought-out campaign to raise awareness. They chose a theme to prove they are “Pink to the ...
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International Dairy Queen may be onto something. The fast food chain, which specializes in frozen treats, recently used a promotional product to “bribe” bloggers to write about its new...
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Anybody can give away pens, key chains, and T-shirts at a trade show. But it's how you use these products to interact - and even play - with show attendees that makes them linger in your booth rat...
Continue ReadingJul 21, 2009
High-tech company Integrated Chipware was looking forward to a trade show to introduce their new icWORKSHOP product. The target audience consisted of programmers and engineers. Since this was in t...
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We get lots of phone calls from companies looking for products to give to customers, prospects, or even employees in an effort to market themselves. Many of them already have an idea what they wan...
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More than 48% of U.S. adults believe that a lack of advertising by a retail store, bank or auto dealership during a recession indicates the business must be struggling. Likewise, a vast majority per...
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When is the last time someone gave you a paper gift certificate? Probably a very long time ago! There are lots of good reasons for this. Gift cards are increasing in popularity because they have l...
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Earlier this year, select reporters, bloggers and key “influencers” received a mysterious box in the mail. In it was a single metal cog engraved with a series of letters and numerals a...
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It seems like common sense, if you advertise when everyone else stops marketing… Your message is more likely to be noticed due to fewer ads in the market Your business is more likely to...
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People take their favorite ads seriously! From Tony the Tiger to milk moustaches, many PR campaigns have left a lasting impression on people. Here are some of the best nominations from Digg.com us...
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Guest Article by Jim Blasingame ©2009 Small Business Network, Inc. It's difficult to imagine a more succulent image than a bowl of cherries. Indeed, if you had to choose one flavor that all...
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A recent survey by the Association of National Advertisers verifies that the recession is having an effect on advertising decisions across a range of industries. When compared to a similar survey ...
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Last month we invited our readers to contribute to a list of creative uses for a simple coffee mug. We had quite a list already, but some of the submissions were surprising. We thought the first d...
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Search for “mug” on our web site, and you’ll find over 12,000 different items. Can you say overwhelming? Of course, you can narrow that down in many ways by adding keywords to th...
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Really, don't you wonder sometimes? We've just experienced the biggest (or at least most expensive) advertising blitz of the year - the Super Bowl. Brand awareness is the main objective of most of...
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As we've discussed, a good program begins with setting a clear objective. The non-profit organization Meeting Professionals International knew they wanted to increase their membership. They set a ...
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The news is in. No, I'm not referring to the dismal economic news that has everyone holding their breath to find out the next steps to be taken by a governmental rescue plan. I mean the news about...
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On-the-job training is an essential part of business, but what about on-the-job marketing? It works for creative-staffing firm The Boss Group. The company makes sure to provide the talent it place...
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Advertising Specialty Institute®, the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, revealed this month in a groundbreaking new study that advertising sp...
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Dragon boat racing originated as an ancient Chinese ritual intended to win the good graces of river dragons. Today, it’s a widely growing sport, reminiscent of crew – and at least one ...
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For the up-and-coming frozen treats company Dippin' Dots, its movie tie-in with New Line Cinema's Journey to the Center of the Earth was a big deal. To get the most out of its first-ever movie par...
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Convenience store chain 7-Eleven was looking to get consumers to “walk this way” right into its stores with its May Guitar Hero: Aerosmith promotion. To promote the debut of its Full T...
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Monroe Shocks and Struts has a message for all of the animal lovers of the world: “Replacing worn ride control components could improve vehicle steering, stopping and stability – and j...
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How does a wildly successful sales consultant and author of a New York Times bestseller (The Ultimate Sales Machine) promote himself to his top prospects? With promotional products, of course. &l...
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It is frightening when cracks suddenly appear in the cement in and around your home. The first thought is “Uh-oh, this is going to cost me a small fortune to fix.” There’s not a ...
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When marketing a fitness center, the first promo items that come to mind are probably exercise-related: sports bottles, gym bags, bottled water, etc. But June Hines, of June Hines Pilates, figures...
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How does a smaller restaurant chain compete locally with the huge international franchises? One way is to take an established idea – kids’ premiums – and give it a local twist. T...
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Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP’s practice in environmental law goes back to “the dawning of the Age of Aquarius” (the late 1960s, that is). After decades of serving client nee...
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Upfront gifts from non-profits to prospective donors are nothing new, but they’re usually low-cost items like address labels, greeting cards and notepads. Not so with a recent mailing from t...
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No, they weren’t cooking up brontosaurus burgers at Chicago’s John Hancock Center on March 7. Rather, it was a giant bratwurst. Johnsonville Sausages set up a 30-foot grill, above whic...
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A study released in April 2008 by research firm PQ Media, titled Alternative Media Forecast: 2008-2012, reports that marketing spending on online, digital and other forms of out-of-the-box adverti...
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The U.S. Organic Industry continues to expand, reaching $17.8 billion in consumer sales in 2006 - an increase of 21.8% over 2005. Industry experts expect that once the tally is complete, 2007's gr...
Continue ReadingApr 08, 2008
With so many important issues to address and so much need in the world, non-profit organizations are faced with a daunting proposition: How do they generate public awareness for their cause; and h...
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Season tickets carry no small price tag, so the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club wanted to do something special to show appreciation to these valued fans. Season ticket holders received a complete o...
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You know the cliché “yeah, the day pigs fly.” You've probably even used it yourself at one point or another. Well, Capital One is taking the term literally. In November, Capita...
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Cotton Inc. exists to promote the cotton industry, through technical services, information, and market trend analysis. It sought to create awareness and increase the use of cotton fabric products ...
Continue ReadingFeb 12, 2008
At Massey Energy's 15 different coal mining sites, safety is a moment-by-moment concern. A recent campaign had the objectives of increasing awareness of safety habits in the workplace, improving w...
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TeleVox Software sought to generate interest in a product for orthodontists during the introduction of a national tradeshow and drive attendees to the tradeshow booth. Software products have a ten...
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Borax is an old brand, 115 years old, to be exact. Like many veteran brands, its consumer base tends to be, well, a bit older. To draw in a younger generation of women who were unfamiliar with its...
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NewsU is a nonprofit entity that provides online training for journalists and journalism students. It sought to create awareness of News University and extend the reach of the organization. The c...
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The first three hours after an abduction are the most critical in recovery efforts. This statistic was the driving force behind the creation of the AMBER alerts program, an early response system t...
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Whether it is a bank, a credit union, an investment firm, or a credit card company, financial institutions have one major thing in common: they all want to tap into the middle school, high school ...
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Nike employs factory workers around the world. Without enough workers on the line, production must shut down, which can cost the company tens of thousands of dollars per occurrence. Every manufact...
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The Arizona Department of Health Services wanted to generate community awareness of the risks of second-hand smoke, particularly as it affects children. The campaign, first introduced with TV spo...
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“Family values” is one of the most common phrases you'll hear in the typical politician's repertoire. The last thing a candidate or elected official wants is to be associated with any ...
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When you have a mascot as memorable as Queenie the Cow, you want to milk her for all she's worth. Penn Maid Dairy in Philadelphia does that by taking its message to local schools. Queenie and othe...
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Successful promotional campaigns don't happen by chance. To realize goals, promotional products programs must be carefully planned, taking into consideration the audience, budget and, of course, t...
Continue ReadingAug 21, 2007
Canadian clothing company Roots wouldn't live up to it's name if it wasn't committed to Earth's wellbeing. “Dating back to the inception of Roots, the company has always been active in vario...
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Philly Cheese Steak Pizza versus Brooklyn Style Pizza: Which one's the better pie, and why? That's the buzz behind Domino's latest national product promotion, which brought the two regionally ins...
Continue ReadingJul 17, 2007
The ancient Greek goddess Gaia is a personification of the earth, and Napa Valley's Gaia Hotel and Spa is named after her for a good reason. Billed as “the first fully environmentally sustai...
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Summer is here. Marketers who incorporate a summer theme into their programs started long ago to develop their programs. Abbott Laboratories was about to unveil a new “Get Healthy for Summer...
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We're halfway through 2007, but we haven't made much progress following the recommendations of the Creative Group. At the end of 2006 they polled 250 marketing and advertising executives to create...
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Can two words sum up what a hospital and its staff are all about? Sure, when they're backed up by a huge marketing program like the Hello Life campaign launched by Brookwood Medical Center in Birm...
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In an age where an abundance of home entertainment turns many people into couch potatoes, movie theaters are eager to reach out to those willing to leave the house for entertainment. Figuring that...
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We hope not! But you have to wonder, after reading a recent study. People are all different, being motivated by different things. Some enjoy non-monetary incentives, such as award merchandise, gif...
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A Profession and a Passion Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opport...
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Promoting a line of pre-cast concrete school buildings may seem like a non-glamorous task, but that only made this lively, creative campaign that much more of a surprise and a success. Fibrebond ...
Continue ReadingMar 20, 2007
National Doctors' Day is always March 30. In 2007, it is on Friday. The first Doctors' Day observance was March 30, 1933, in Winder, Ga. The idea came from Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Cha Alm...
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In these times when so many people rely on PDA’s, Blackberrys, and even cell phones to keep track of appointments, you'd think printed calendars would be disappearing. But that's kind of lik...
Continue ReadingFeb 20, 2007
With 70 percent of the Earth covered in water, it's a wonder we don't say “go blue.” But “go green” is how the environmental movement was branded. So take a cue from earth lo...
Continue ReadingFeb 13, 2007
Walk around any trade show and you will be able to collect a bag full of trade show promotional items all designed to promote business. Everyone enjoys receiving a gift. Gift giving creates a favo...
Continue ReadingJan 16, 2007
Loctite Sumo Glue is a new, heavy-duty, universal glue with a name that emphasizes its bonding strength. Realizing the the sumo wrestler image is a powerful one, maker Hekel Consumer Adhesives Inc...
Continue ReadingJan 09, 2007
A new study, just released by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), empirically proves that promotional products are an effective ad medium and key to integrated marketing cam...
Continue ReadingDec 19, 2006
On average, tradeshows account for 5% to 20% of an annual marketing budget. To help you get a clear picture of where your marketing dollars are going so you can make wise spending decisions, here'...
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As the winter cold and flu season arrives, more and more businesses are including antibacterial hand sanitizers in their promotional programs. It makes good sense. Sales of these products in the r...
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The Jack O'Lanterns are gone and the smell of turkey and freshly baked apple pie will be here in a couple of days. Brightly wrapped gifts under a tree sparkling with twinkling lights and tinsel wi...
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Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions. When they do a promotion, they do it big-time. For example, for the home opener for the Carolina Panthers NFL season this year...
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The St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership was formed in 1995 to raise awareness of air-quality issues and to encourage people in the area to help reduce air pollution. Each summer - typically t...
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The signs were everywhere: billboards, newspapers, even posters on the subway. To promote its new “no ATM fees at any bank anywhere” policy, TD Banknorth kicked off a multi-tiered camp...
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Knowing a person's dietary restrictions can make all the difference between an appreciated food gift and one that goes to waste. Andrea Nirenberg, president of The Nierenberg Group, a communicatio...
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On the weekend of last summer's Formula I U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis, tire supplier Michelin North America found that their tires were dangerously incompatible with the newly resurfaced track...
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For the launch of its UltraSteel construction framing product, manufacturer Clark Western was preparing for an industry trade show and wanted something more attention-grabbing than literature to h...
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When Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee wanted to increase awareness of the Starbucks Holiday Red Cup, it took its campaign to the streets. “We designed replicas of the vente coffee cups,” s...
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A hugely successful campaign done for an auto insurance company was targeted at the Hispanic population in Southern California. Guerilla marketing techniques were used in a three-month marketing p...
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In the two years since its launch, Virginia Beach's Live the Life campaign has won 67 national marketing and travel-and-tourism awards. And there are other numbers indicating how effective it is: t...
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When The Quigley Corporation — the makers of Cold-Eeze products like KidzEeze sore throat pops and bubble gum — wanted to target the parents of young children for a recent marketing ef...
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Hot-tub dealer Paradise Spas was looking for a way to build traffic for their booth at an upcoming home show. They wanted to use an affordable gift, but had several stipulations for it: Ideally, t...
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The decline in film use and increasing popularity of online digital photo-processing meant plummeting sales for the photo department of Walgreens. The large drugstore chain needed a way to draw di...
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April 10, 2006 - Trevose, PA - The Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI) released results of its annual promotional products industry sales analysis, indicating revenues jumped 5.1 percent fr...
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The Cleveland Museum of natural history is a world-class destination for visitors and researchers. For nearly a century it has served as an outstanding resource for public education and environmen...
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No matter what business you're in, it's a good idea to think about branding. Whether you operate a medical practice, a construction company, or a food distributor, you should be thinking about the...
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With so many important issues to address and so much need in the world, non-profit organizations are faced with a daunting proposition: How do they generate public awareness for their cause; and h...
Continue ReadingFeb 21, 2006
The dot.com era brought with it a lot of change, including over-priced stocks, get-rich-quick schemes and the end of the corporate tie culture. Remember those first images out of Silicon Valley co...
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Life Pointe Christian Church, in Charlotte, NC, was nearing completion of its new church and needed to make its presence known because this wasn't just a new building, it was the opening of a new ...
Continue ReadingJan 17, 2006
71% of business travelers interviewed at a major airport reported they received a promotional product in the last 12 months. 33.7% had the item on their person. 76.1% recalled the advertiser's...
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To start off the new year, we depart from our usual format of promotional marketing success stories to bring you a guest column on leadership by Tom Stevens. 7½ Bits of Wisdom for Your Pra...
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What do the phrases “Run Your Own Race” and “Don't Cry Til’ You Get to the Car” have in common? They're both albums by Mulberry Lane, a Nebraska-born pop group made u...
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Trade show season is right around the corner. We help lots of companies to prepare for exhibiting at trade shows. With ever-increasing travel costs, people don't attend on a whim. Today's tradesho...
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Every week dozens of movie titles are released for the home-viewing market on DVD. So, a non-blockbuster new release has to get creative in its marketing efforts to stand out from the crowd. When...
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The National Basketball Association, which recently adopted a more formal dress code, and got a lot of press coverage in the process, is not the only organization requiring more professional dress...
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I have two missions: one of utility, one of sentiment. I am the symbol of time, combining the past, present and future. As the clock records the seconds, minutes and hours, I record the days,...
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Can bobbleheads attract new members to an organization? That's what The Association Forum of Chicagoland (AFC), an association of over 1,500 businesses, charities, civic and professional organizat...
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This summer, the Pennsylvania/New Jersey regional branch of the American Red Cross invited people to get their kicks on Route 56. Huh? That's the name of the summer blood drive campaign just comp...
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In a recent case study, a business owner sent personalized pizza cutters in custom-made boxes to a dozen key decision-makers that he wanted to get appointments with. The boxes, which contained the...
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Choosing that perfect holiday gift for an employee or client is a difficult task. Here are several points to remember when going through your holiday list. Build a relationship! The holidays pr...
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It’s no secret that online training can increase employees’ sales power and effectiveness. However, getting them to participate isn’t always easy. Microsoft discovered incentives...
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Calendars Keep Your Name in View There's nothing like a calendar to keep your name in view of your customer every day. Most people have several calendars, which they refer to repeatedly throughou...
Continue ReadingAug 09, 2005
You're about to invest a big chunk of your marketing budget on a big tradeshow exhibition. Should you spend even more money on promotional items? Georgia Southern University conducted a study at f...
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