Everyone has a horror story about a New Year’s resolution: a diet that was broken before the leftovers were gone; an exercise routine that tanked at the first snow; the novel that languished in the back of your mind for months until the creative impulse faded. And this year, everyone likely has a horror story about 2020 as well. We’ve all felt pressure to learn a language, take up a new hobby, “be productive” with all of our supposed downtime during pandemic lockdowns.
[[Insert slow clap for those who have actually achieved something like that here.]]
For the rest of us, why follow disappointment with disappointment? I say we scrap the New Year’s resolutions this year and go with New Year’s revolutions instead.
A resolution is a commitment to maintaining a certain sameness — to persistence, steadiness, and consistency. But a revolution is a commitment to change. You can’t “fail,” because it’s a process, not a presumption. Every step you take is on the path to success, even during the times when you’re simply marking time.
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Bankers Advertising Articles
New Year’s Revolutions
A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 5
Molly’s Top Fall Guide Picks!
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
VP Marketing
Molly Beavers
Exclusive America Mug (pg. 5): This item is back by popular demand — a mug Made in the USA! It has the America eagle surrounded by “The United States” and “America” deep molded into the base. This is a great item to showcase a patriotic message. (more…)
A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 4
Brenda’s Top Fall Guide Picks!
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
Sales Manager
Brenda Thurness
What’s Pop’N Gourmet Popcorn Gift Set (pg. 9): This makes a great gift for about anyone with a microwave. It comes with Pop ’N Wow Carnival Classic Popcorn and two seasonings: white cheddar and kettle corn. My favorite feature is that it folds up flat for easy storage. This is a perfect company employee gift or a special occasion gift. Banks with branches could use as a donation gift. Local businesses are frequently approached for donations. A main office could buy 20 and put three or four in each branch for when someone asks for a donation. (more…)
A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 3
Kristin’s Top Fall Guide Picks!
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
Kristin Nalan
Sales Development
Bamboo Soy Candle (pg. 3): I love candles in the winter. They add a soft touch of festivity to the atmosphere. Also, when the house has been closed up tight staving off the winter chill, I find it refreshing to light a scented candle. This candle has a bamboo lid — and the candle can be screened on the glass or lasered on the lid; there is also a laser personalization option. This soy candle comes with a vanilla scent. As certain scents can appeal to some and not others, I suggest getting a sample.
Custom Back Playing Cards with Custom Box (pg. 3): Playing cards can be used as a game or as a keepsake. I am a game player, and I especially like to use playing cards that come from an event that has special meaning to me. Playing cards are timeless and appeal to all ages. These cards are available with a custom box as shown in our fall gift guide; a plain tuck box with a clear window is also an option. (more…)
A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 2
Erica’s Top Fall Guide Picks!
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
VP Sales Erica Kelley-Gogel
Working at home or even in the office (with communal break room use discouraged), I would guess that many people, like me, are eating lunch or having snacks at their desk. I normally eat at my desk, so the Crumbee™ vacuum is just perfect! Helps to keep the desk area clean. Both are perfect gifts for employees still working from home and those who go into the office. It comes with a little brush for your keyboard or calculator. The speaker has a nice-sized imprint area, but the Crumbee™ provides for a full-color imprint on the full top of the item. (more…)
A Few of Our Favorite Things, Part 1
Mel’s Top Fall Guide Picks!
Our staff is beyond excited about our current fall guide, which is loaded up with the very best in giving. Over the course of several posts, we’ll be sharing their favorites with you. Share your favorites in the comments!
Sales Manager Melanie Lamb
Urban Peak® Trek Vacuum Camp Mug (pg. 5): This 14-ounce, double-walled, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel mug is perfect for your Keurig coffee maker. The lid features a push-on sip-through lid. The mug is available in white, navy, black, and grey, with a 2” x 2” imprint area that can be pad printed or laser engraved. Full-color printing available for an extra $1.00 each! This would make a great gift for employees working from home.
Drip Truly Wireless Earbuds and Charging Case (pg. 6): I use wireless ear buds all the time for meetings, to talk on the phone, or to listen to music. This is the style that I like the best. They don’t tend to fall out of your ears as other styles tend to do. I’ve tested these out and they are good. They work well doing Zoom meetings as well as listening to music from my phone or computer. I even placed and received calls. Again, these would be good for any company that has employees who are working from home or spend a lot of time in their car talking. (more…)
Give the gift of YUM with Food Gifts!
The holidays are a time to celebrate your customers, associates, and employees who have contributed to your success. Food gifts draw attention, are affordable, and appeal to all people.
Food gifts are the #1 holiday business gift.
- Make your holiday food gift-giving convenient. Instead of sending an employee to a retail store or spending time on the internet trying to find the right gifts, you can purchase your business gifts from Bankers.
- Keep it fresh! Fresher gifts taste better (and say something nice about the sender). Our gifts are packed to order just before the order is shipped, not made up many months in advance like so many gifts from mail-order and retail giants.
- Promote your company’s brand on your gift! When your recipient opens their gift, the first thing they’ll see is your logo. Your logo or message is included on every gift.
There is no hiding!
’Tis the season! Camouflage style products are all the rage every fall, and camo has continued to prove itself to be a timeless classic.
Originally known as hunter’s apparel, it’s now very popular in the fashion world as well as trendy in the retail world. We’re consistently offering and expanding our camo line of products. We are bringing continuity throughout these items so their styles have the same pattern, look and feel.
There are a lot of variations of camouflage patterns from the ever-popular Mossy Oak® & Realtree to military camo and digital camo. Now trending is the CamoHex pattern. Camouflage is not just for men, it’s for ladies too. We even offer pink camo and camo with neon accents! 
The most popular items that we continue to see as top sellers are: caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets, drinkware, coolers, bags, and now masks.
Check out some of our camo items here! Ask your Bankers consultant to help you stand out from the crowd.
‘Tis the Season!
Explore our seasonal Gift Guide!
As we roll into fall, there’s a better than average chance that you’re starting to make a list of your top clients or donors and checking your budgets twice! That’s right, it’s time for everyone to start thinking about gift giving, large and small.
We want you to be fully prepped and ready for the season of giving! One great place to start is our Gift Guide, which is filled to the brim with products and ideas for all your giving needs. From travel and party supplies to the best in wearables and electronics, the guide has a myriad of options.
However, we also like to pass along some insight into some of the industry’s hottest trends for the cold weather holidays. We’ve pulled together ideas from our top suppliers, who know which way the (chilly) wind is blowing! These ideas and products will be well-received by everyone from clients to donors to staff.
COOL COLORS
Expect the unexpected this fall! There’s a particularly strong leaning toward pastels, but the key takeaway is that your customers should NOT be afraid to experiment. And they’ll have plenty of support from suppliers and even name brand collaborators for whatever they’re seeking.
What we’re reading: “There are plenty of opportunities to experiment with new colors this season—whether it’s a pastel tote or an umbrella in a soft heathered gray. Even legendary workwear brand Carhartt has broken away from traditional brown with new colors and styles that people are going crazy for.”
PLANET-FRIENDLY PICKS
The current state of the earth’s environment — from fires in the Amazon to an ever-increasing number of jurisdictions banning single-use plastic to weather patterns hammering already hard-hit areas — is a huge concern for a lot of people. Even if you aren’t an adamant environmentalist yourself, many of your clients may be; it’s a win-win scenario to seek out promo that protects the planet, like this bamboo cutlery. Clients can certainly feel good about a renewable resource that can be harvested repeatedly, especially when it looks this good! Many suppliers have whole lines dedicated to this trend.
SHIMMERING SELECTIONS
One of the most popular ways that designers are pulling in those pastel colors we mentioned earlier is through iridescent and holographic products. A recent industry article on this trend noted its ubiquity in the retail sphere, the creative freedom it offers the end user, and the influence of the rising younger generations. It also pointed out that the icy look of it is perfect for winter holidays. Gift season is the perfect time to have some fun with a little shimmer and shine!
Be sure you as your representative about these ideas this fall. They’ll be happy to show you samples and more generally keep you informed on all of the hottest trends of the season and all year long!
Its good to be Santa!
As we get closer to Christmas, it has me thinking about good ole Santa Claus. Jolly St. Nick has created one of the most famous and loved brands around the world. No matter your age or where you live, we all can’t wait for Santa to come. I think we can all learn a few things from the big guy, in my opinion he is a master marketer.
Santa has a solid brand, raving fans, is trustworthy and continues to grow his Christmas Empire! He isn’t just for children, every person likes to feel a little Christmas magic. Marketing Secrets from Santa Claus: Recognizable Brand Everyone knows who Santa is. People get excited when they think, hear or see Santa. They know what Santa stands for. Santa’s brand is recognizable all year long from his red suit, belly laugh, snow white beard, shiny black boots and his jolly “Ho, Ho, Ho!”. Santa’s message is known by all. What are you known for?
It’s important that your customers easily recognize you and your brand. Customers need to know what you do and who you are. Who doesn’t think of Santa and smile? He always surprises and delights us. Remember to find that “something extra” and leave your customers smiling.
Be Reliable –
Keep Promises Santa Claus is coming to town. Most of us wake up Christmas morning, year after year, to see what Santa has left for us. Every year, no matter what, Santa doesn’t let us down. It doesn’t matter where we are or what is happening in the world, Santa is there. Now is the time to ask ourselves – how reliable are we? Like expectant children on Christmas morning, our customers have high expectations of us and it’s our job to deliver. Remember – don’t do things halfway. Commit, be reliable and dedicate yourself or step away. Suggestion – make it a habit of asking your customers if they’ve ever been disappointed in your service. What areas can you improve upon, what services or products would they like you to offer?
Build Lists –
Santa’s making a list and checking it twice! He finds out who is naughty and nice. This reminds us that it’s always important to make a list of our clients. Do you have a naughty and nice list? Which clients are easy and fun to work with vs the clients that are difficult and never satisfied? By making a list and fully understanding each client, this will help you know which customers are the most profitable and should be focused on. Santa rewards for good behavior. Maybe you should too.
Sell More Than Your Product –
Santa sells more than just presents. He sells hope, cheer, happiness and the desire to be good. He inspires us all. In your branding efforts, you should be selling more than products. You have a whole bag of presents for your customers. Remember to let your customers know what’s in your big red bag. Most importantly….remember to sell you! Santa’s Team – Elves and 8 Reindeer Santa wouldn’t be Santa without his team. Do you think he would be able to read all those letters, be painstakingly reliable or jolly and bright if he didn’t have a team to help him with all his Christmas responsibilities? Of course not, that is what a great team behind you is all about. Bankers enjoys being part of your team. No one ever built an empire alone…not even Santa. Be sure to use all of the branding resources we have available to help you prosper in the New Year. As we head into the New Year, think about Santa and learn from the best, implement the right tools and strategies and you will soon be creating your own world of magic.