Bankers Advertising

In less than 8 weeks, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the continental United States for the first time since 1918. Astronomers are calling it the Great American Eclipse.

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America (weather permitting) will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights – a total solar eclipse. This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere – the corona – will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun’s disk. This will be one of nature’s most awesome sights. Bright stars and planets will become visible as well.

It is estimated that nearly 100 million people in the United States will view a portion of the 2017 solar eclipse, making it the most-viewed eclipse ever. You won’t want to miss it!

Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality.

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. To date there are very few manufacturers that have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products. We have a variety of glasses to choose from. The glasses are the safest on the market.

The best viewing areas are highlighted on this map. There are many school, community and other special events being planned in the following states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Many towns/cities are planning on offering special viewing areas. However, there are additional events all over the country being planned as well.

We encourage you to research the Total Solar Eclipse and find out what may be happening near you. Get on the “bandwagon” and create a special summer promotion. We are a source for “eclipse glasses” and other fun souvenirs to promote this once in a lifetime event. Contact your Bankers Sales Partner to help you start planning a fun promotion. They can help you with ideas and more information.

Information courtesy of NASA and LA Times.

LED, CREE LED & COB Flashlights

Do you ever wonder…what’s with all the acronyms in the flashlight world? Let us dissect and explain this revolution in lighting!

LED

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. This technology has been around since the sixties! Through research and developments the once expensive lighting has become main stream. When compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs use 75% less energy and last 25% longer. LED bulbs emit light in a targeted direction – making them a perfect match for flashlight.

CREE LED         

Most people mistakenly think that CREE is a brand of flashlight. Actually CREE is the company that makes high output LED bulbs that are used in flashlights. This new technology gives us a bulb that is super bright, will burn for 100,000 hours and offers twice the lumens per Watt when compared to a Fluorescent bulb! These long lasting bulbs will secure a longer lifespan in our households having a positive impact on the environment. High five CREE LED!

COB

COB stands for Chip on Board. This is the newest technology in LED lighting and means that multiple LED chips are packaged together in one lighting module. This is like a circuit board and has no casing, enabling a much denser array of light. You may be asking yourself what??? No worries, me too. What we really need to know is that they have been designed to use less energy, have a life span of 40,000 – 50,000 hours, can be super compact but extremely bright!

We have styles in all of these categories to brighten your customers way. When looking for the right flashlight, make sure to consider the bulb!

Light up your brand today with flashlights.

Recently, I had the pleasure of eating at a Chick-fil-A®. Here in Iowa, we only have nine in our state. My first experience was a couple of years ago while traveling out of state with a group. They constantly talked about how much they looked forward to it. Because I had not eaten there before, I didn’t understand their excitement, but I quickly learned why they held the restaurant in such high regard.

So, when asked just recently if Chick-fil-A® was ok for lunch, I didn’t hesitate. The restaurant again did not disappoint. The employees treated us with courtesy from the minute we arrived. A gentleman opened the door and welcomed us. The young man who took our order was polite, patient and didn’t make me feel rushed while I tried to decide. When I thanked him, he said “my pleasure.” Our food was ready before I finished paying. Each table had fresh cut flowers, and in the restroom, they had not only soap but also sanitizer and, most impressively, mouth wash. What? I have never been anywhere that has mouth wash available! Lastly, to top it off, the greeter came around to each table offering to refill drinks, check in to see if anything else was needed and then left mints on your table. I asked my co-worker if this was really a fast food place. Wow, there is no comparison. As we left, yep you guessed it, the greeter held the door, wished us well and gave us a coupon for a free drink on our next visit.

I left feeling good about the experience and the food. We chatted about the experience for quite a while, and it lead to several conversations about service. Our experience at Chick-fil-A® proves that making a lasting impression on the customer can make a world of difference and create brand loyalty. In the case of Chick-fil-A®, my first experience was great, and my second experience was even better. I am a loyal fan now.

A co-worker shared with me that last year when she was with her daughter and granddaughter at the local Coralville mall, everyone had to go to the tornado shelter area due to a weather warning. Strangers were crammed together and hunkered down for shelter near the food court area, a potentially scary situation for everyone, especially kids. During that time, Chick-fil-A® employees were handing out chicken nuggets and juice boxes to the kids to help keep them calm. Their thoughtfulness was an example of going above and beyond. It reminds me of the saying – Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded.

It is easy to feel that people are so disconnected from each other in today’s world. Customer service is not what it used to be and so those that provide great service really stand out more than ever. I firmly believe that “People really do buy from people and brands they know, like and trust.” I myself follow this motto. Do you?

In this case, Chick-fil-A® delivered more than expected. All the way through my visit they went the extra mile and the little extra touches stood out and created a meaningful experience. Remember – small things make a big difference. We should be doing something similar with our customers and ensuring they have the same kind of warm fuzzy feeling when talking about using us. It is an opportunity to reflect on our service and what can we do to stand out from the competition and ensure we are exceeding our customers’ expectations.

Tomorrow is National Ballpoint Pen Day. #BallpointPenDay

Everyone uses and appreciates pens.

Writing instruments continue to be one of the largest promotional product categories year after year. Consider these facts and make the “write” product choice:

• 50% – U.S. Consumers own promotional writing instruments
• 76% – the percentage of consumers who say they keep the pens they receive as promotional items in their home or office
• 54% – writing instruments are the most-remembered promotional product
• 6 months – the average promotional pens are kept
• 363 – the number of impressions per month that a promotional provides to a marketer

Keep your promotions on the “write ” track. Check out website –  for thousands of pens to fit your needs.