Bankers Advertising

As I sat on the edge of my seat during game 7, I thought about the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians and how much adversity they had overcome. Teamwork brought them to the World Series. Not one single person or play, but combined effort. The value of that teamwork was on display last Wednesday night.

In post-game interviews, Jason Heyward said he called a team meeting before the extra inning rain delay to rally the team and boost spirits. He stated, “It’s about the whole team. It’s about everybody trying to get something done.” I found this to be inspiring and was even more excited about the Cubs win.

There are all kinds of teams: sports, business, family, and lifestyles. The definitions are pretty true for all – a group of people linked in a common purpose, who work together as a team for a common cause or goal.

Here are a few of my favorites teamwork quotes.  They are a good reminder and serve to inspire me.

• “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” Steve Jobs
• “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
• “I can do things you cannot. You can do things I cannot. Together we can do great things.” Mother Teresa
• TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More
• Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we.
• None of us are as smart as all of us.

Are you like the Chicago Cubs and part of a championship team? Do you have a team of people supporting your business? As proven time and again, the power of a team can create success. The right players know the goal. One of the crucial team elements is synergy. When that kind of collaboration is achieved, a team moves toward high performance or success.

As we near the end of the calendar year, it is time to think about goals are for 2017. Take this time to evaluate your team and if needed, change it up. Like sports, the starting players can change based on situations. Make sure you start 2017 with the right players to create your championship team for a winning year.

I end you with this quote from Babe Ruth, “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”

Virtual Reality headsets are becoming more and more popular. I was attending the Promotional Promotional Product Industry’s big Vegas Tradeshow last January and a couple of exhibitors had a VR viewer. At the time, I wasn’t familiar with Virtual Reality so I was quite intrigued. One video I watched was like I was riding a roller coaster. I don’t like roller coasters and it almost gave me a sick feeling, as it was a very real feeling. As the year has flown by, they are becoming more and more popular. We even feature one in our Bankers Gift Guide on page 18.

VR replicates a specific environment (real or imagined) and allows the user to interact with that world. Even better, virtual reality can open new doors for your business. According to The Motley Fool, a stock advisory service, the virtual reality market is expected to be worth $30 billion by 2020. The opportunities are endless: VRTalk, the online virtual reality forum, predicts virtual reality headset sales will double every year until approximately 2025. Not to mention, Netflix is starting to roll out exclusive virtual reality content this year.

If you’re wondering what virtual reality can do for your business, prepare to be amazed. Virtual reality is about to completely transform the business world, and you could be getting in at the ground level. If a new resort hotel wants to promote its property to remote clientele, all they have to do is send them a VR headset and a link to their VR content. If a college wants to recruit students from across the ocean, it just takes some technology. With advertisers looking for new ways to increase brand visibility, and for promotions that frequently include a tech component, virtual reality is the perfect opportunity.

Check out these promotional products that will jumpstart your next virtual reality promotion:

1. Virtual Reality Headsets

Naturally, the heart of any virtual reality experience is the headset itself. Virtual reality headsets are the perfect opportunity to get your client’s branding at the forefront, thanks to a large imprint area on the front of the headset. When your client’s end buyers are transported to a Hawaiian vacation, they’ll have you to thank, and what’s better than that?

2. Power Banks

We’ve all experienced what it’s like for a cell phone to go dead when you need it most. There’s nothing that can kill a virtual experience faster than a dead phone. Ensure users don’t miss out on their virtual reality experience with branded power banks.

3. Wireless Bluetooth® Headphones & Earbuds

As a society always on the go, it’s rare to have a moment to ourselves. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t fire up our virtual reality experiences on the train, airplane, etc. With wireless headphones or earbuds, end-users can transport themselves from red-eye flight turbulence to an African safari, all without disturbing the person next to them. Brand wireless headphones or earbuds with an eye-catching logo, and you’ve got an item that can be used for movies and music in addition to VR.

4. Portable Bluetooth® Speakers

Much like a virtual reality experience can be tailored for a quiet environment, users can also go all out with more immersive experiences. To feel like you’re truly a part of the action, portable Bluetooth® speakers are a great way to amplify sound and transform the living room into a home theater.

Get on board with the latest in promotional marketing trends, and you’re sure to make a very memorable and REAL impression on your clients.

Camouflage, in its endless patterns, colors and canvases, doesn’t belong solely to hardcore hunters anymore. True, camo is part tactical gear and part “uniform” for outdoor enthusiasts, but today camo is everywhere.

From camo couture, to hot hipster accessory, camo has somehow managed to break out of its traditional twig and leaf pattern and integrate with the latest trends. But one thing has stayed the same — there is something inherently rebellious and burly about camo, even in pink. Rob Dubow, one of our camo experts, says there’s nothing soft about the popularity of pink camo, especially. Camo has been a prominent part of the landscape for the 25 years they’ve been in business. But he says, “In the last 5 years, women have become a larger part of the hunting scene. We see a significant amount of pink camo coming through our plant.”

We’ve also watched camo sales for a range of items climb steadily over the past five years. Both apparel and accessories are popular items for embroidery and decoration. The new sublimated digital CamoHex prints, plus fleece jackets and camo caps have all been hits with our customers. What’s better way to showcase serious patriotic pride, company spirit and team unity than camo? It sends a message, loud and clear.

Rob says when it comes to meeting the needs of customers who are checking out camo, it is helpful to determine how they plan to use the products. Often corporate customers choose camo not so much for practical use, but rather for perfect backdrops for corporate logos. Experienced hunters, he says, wouldn’t want to add bright orange to camo — but tone-on-tone enhances the look of camo while preserving its functional use. Camo applique is also popular, he reports.

Want to add some hot items to your stock? Consider these options:

Ladies Love Camo

As Rob shared, pink camo is, “… doing very well for us. The women aren’t wearing them in the field … but they’re making a fashion statement about it.” Our Russell Outdoors® Ladies Realtree™ Cotton V-Neck shirt features a contoured feminine fit in muted pink camo. This tough but pretty tee rocks their world for ladies on the hunt for style, too.

Cap It Off

Camo caps and hats are in high demand. According to ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute), 41% of people in the U.S. own a cap marked with a promotional logo. From shout-outs to candidates to showing love for favorite brands, nothing says it louder and prouder than a camo cap. For one of camo’s most on-trend looks, stock up on New Era’s® Snapback Trucker Cap and watch them fly off the shelves faster than off-road racers.

The Fleecing of America

Camo Style For an authentic piece with broader appeal, check out Port Authority’s® Microfleece FullZip Jacket. With authentic Realtree® camouflage stitched on the shoulders, sleeves and sides, this lightweight jacket is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts or those who just want to look like one!

Want to help yourself, your clients and employees avoid the cold and flu this season? We do too — especially considering that 72% of the population experiences at least one cold every year, with adults averaging 2-4 cases (B&D Nutritional Ingredients). To help keep that from happening this time around, we’re providing some ways to stay healthy this cold and flu season.

1. Get a flu shot: The best time to get a flu shot is as soon as it’s available, which is typically during September or October. It takes about 14 days for the vaccine to take effect, so the earlier you get it, the greater your chances of staying well. For information about types of vaccines, visit this WebMD page. This cold and flu map is quite helpful as well!
2. Wash your hands often: When you think you’ve washed your hands enough times, wash them again. It’s a simple and extremely effective way to remove germs on a consistent basis. The CDC recommends washing your hands for 15-20 seconds each time — or to put it in more fun terms, sing “Happy Birthday” twice through and that should do it. Scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Remember that it will pay off to be thorough.
3. Choose a hand sanitizer that’s alcohol-based: For the times in between handwashing with soap and water, sanitizer with alcohol can kill cold and flu germs. Keep it in your purse or in your pocket so it’s available anytime — our vanilla-scented Credit Card Hand Sanitizer Spray are perfect for on-the-go situations.
4. Keep your distance from those who are sick: Avoid things like shaking their hands or sharing items. On the flip side, if you’re the one sick, remember to stay home to keep others well. A CareerBuilder survey found that nearly 75% of employees go to work when sick — while it can be difficult to say no to the demands of work, it’s usually best to rest at home so you can return to full strength more quickly.
5. Keep things clean around you: Sanitize your doorknobs, light switches, desk, and other items that are touched often. Especially if you work in the health care field, shower and wash your clothes often. While it may seem excessive at times, you can’t argue with fewer sick days when it works.
6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Do what you should be doing every day regardless of cold and flu season: get adequate sleep, nourish your body with healthy foods, don’t smoke, and control any allergies you have to avoid inflammation that can more easily lead to a virus.

Don’t miss out on this month’s Credit Card Sized Hand Sanitizer Web Special! You can promote your brand AND fight the flu at the same time. Its compact size allows for flat, easy storage in purse, bag or pocket. Take advantage of a great price while it lasts.