Bankers Advertising

Did you know the first umbrella appeared over 4,000 years ago in Egypt where umbrellas symbolized religious power?  They were originally created as a device to protect against the sun. In fact, the word “umbrella” is derived from the Latin word umbra meaning shade. Umbrellas have come a long way since those days.

Umbrellas are wonderful devices, they shelter us from the sun, protect us from the rain and are useful in a variety of situations. Just take a look at what an umbrella did for Mary Poppins. While we can’t promise umbrellas will make you fly, we can ensure you that they make your brand soar.

Hold On To Them

Did you know that 81% of promotional items are kept because they are useful?

That’s reason number for you to give logoed umbrellas as your next giveaway. When is the last time you bought an umbrella? Most people haven’t. Folks don’t throw umbrellas away, they hold on to them for a long time. This provides a lot of impressions.

Promotional umbrellas are kept at the office, in the car and even at home so the brand exposure alone speaks for itself.  The average household owns an average of 3.8 umbrellas. There’s nothing worse than being caught in the rain or the sun without protection, so give your clients and employees what they need – umbrellas imprinted with your logo.

Great For Advertising

Did you know one of the longest lasting logos originated with the umbrella was Morton Salt. Companies wanting to make big, bold statements often make umbrellas the product of choice because of the large imprint area. They are also one of the best items to integrate corporate colors and branding. Umbrellas are a great billboard for others to see as it is being used creating additional exposure and stronger brand recall. These gifts are used by everybody so they are great for any occasion.

Why Buy Umbrellas?

• They have a high perceived retail value and thus make a wonderful gift.
• They are great for every occasion, are unisex and one size fits all.
• Everyone needs and wants an extra or new umbrella.
• They convey caring about health and safety to the recipient.
• They offer large, visible imprint area to showcase your brand.

March is National Umbrella Month.  It’s time for Spring showers and so keep your customers prepared by handing out one of the most appreciated gifts….umbrellas.

We had some nice temperatures lately with more warm temps in the forecast ahead. This has us all ready to for spring outdoor activities. We want to help you make sure your brand blossoms with printed springtime promotional products.

We have picked you a bouquet of items to promote your brand and end those winter blues. Warm weather inspires people to leave their houses and get out and enjoy the outdoors again.

Stay Visible

For those outdoor walkers, runners and bikers – we have this Safety Light Shoe Clip that will help keep you visible. It clips to the heel of your shoes and features three different light settings.

FORE!

Soon here in the Midwest people will be hitting the golf courses. Keep your brand on par with these favorite tee time items.

Golf Towel – This 15” x 18” polyester blend towel is great brand ambassador with a large imprint area.

Sure Grip Golf Kit – You can tee off on your marketing campaign with this golf kit. A great gift for any avid golfer.

Spring Cleaning

In the spring, we are always in line to get our car washed. Why not give your customers this exciting Frizzy Car Wash Mitt and add fun to any car washing experience.

Splish Splash

We all know April showers bring May flowers. We have items to help you stay dry from umbrellas to rain coats and ponchos. Your customers and employees will appreciate these stay dry items showcasing your brand.

You’ll be singing in the rain and praising this Mid-Size Golf Umbrella. This 54” vented canopy arc has coverage for two, features automatic opening and is lightning resistant.

“Measure” up with this sought after rain gauge.  Whether there is a cloudburst or a light sprinkle, you will be able to measure the amount of precipitation with this handy rain cone.

While people switch out their wardrobes and start spending more time outside, you can make sure that they see your brand everywhere by imprinting it on any one of these great spring promos. Get prepared with these fun springtime promotional products!

Need more? Check out more fresh ideas in our Spring Specials Brochure.

The college basketball season is heating up, March Madness will soon be here. Now is a great opportunity for you to use this excitement to connect with new and existing customers. March Madness is one of the biggest social events of the year. Everyone is selecting the teams in their brackets and strategizing, speculating and discussing the games. It’s hard to avoid the conversation and energy.

We all understand the importance of connecting with your customers on a personal level and there is no better way to connect than through the love of sports. This annual sports phenomenon provides the perfect environment to engage with your customers. Ask your customers about their brackets, last night’s game, an awesome play, etc.

Sports promotions are always a win-win for your brand. There are opportunities for you to capitalize on the fame of this tournament and promote your product, service or brand through advertising that captures the themes of March Madness.

Customers appreciate fun promotions and they always appreciate “freebies.” There are numerous amounts of basketball promotional items available. Also, pens and highlighters make great client handouts so your customers can keep track of the brackets and results. Idea – maybe give your customers a pen or highlighter to keep track of their bracket….you want them seeing your name as they are keeping score. Another great item is stress relievers; they are always good for those tense moments during close games.

Need more ideas? Contact us for help or Shop Now.

Well…we are breaking the rules and bringing home what happened in Vegas.

Last month, our President David, Sales Super Woman Erica, Vendor Relations guru Brian and Marketing Maven Molly attended the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo in Las Vegas. The PPAI Expo is the largest and the most highly attended promotional products industry show with more than 20,000 people in attendance. It’s the launch pad for new products and services. We found a lot of new products that we are excited to tell you about.

One thing was evident – the new drinkware trend is Yeti like mugs plus many more cool technology items were seen all over the floor. Many suppliers added full color decoration capabilities and also many new retail brands are now available.

We wanted to share each team members top faves from this year’s big EXPO:

Brian –

• Sparkle Decoration Imprint SPARKLE Decoration’s glossy reflective dots make your bag’s artwork shine. The holographic or metallic dots come in more than 30 eye-catching colors. SPARKLE Decoration imprinting is available on our non-woven and polyester bags, and is not available on mesh material. SPARKLE Decoration is perfect when you need uniquely branded bags to celebrate special events, add prestige to your brand, or to simply stand out from the crowd.

• The new Cobra VR™ Viewer Virtual reality is the newest and most innovative form of smart phone entertainment. TIME Magazine has named Google Cardboard ecosystem one of the 25 best inventions of 2015. The Cobra VR™ Viewer is the modern way to explore the world of virtual reality. Simply download any virtual reality app from the App Store (iOS) or GooglePlay (Android). Insert your phone into the Cobra VR™ Viewer, then look through the lenses to see a virtual world right in your hands! Uniquely designed cobra-like flex arms fit any size phone with rubber grips keep it secure. Check this item out – you won’t believe the price.

• Ceramic Marble Mug – This mug caught my eye due to the uniqueness of it. This is a 16 oz. mug that is marble inside and out. No two mugs are the same. It comes in blue, green and brown.

Erica –

• The Rebel Umbrella – This 48” umbrella is the coolest thing. A new revolutionary design that keeps you dry when closing the umbrella. Have you ever gotten soaked after you made it all the way to the car by just closing your umbrella and the water getting you wet? This umbrella closes away from you, thus keeping you dry when closing. The water stays in the umbrella so you can just dump it out.

• The Kong Mug is a Yeti-like like mug that was our favorite. It is vacuum insulated, with a colorful leak resistant slider lid that is perfect for use with or without a straw. Keeps ice drinks cold for over 24 hours and hot drinks for over 2.5 hours. It comes in a retail style gift box.

• New Gift Sets – We have added over 10 new fun kits to our line. Anywhere from Veggie Lovers Kit, Movie Night Kit, Kitchen Essentials Kit, Hot Stuff Kit, etc. These make a great gift for anyone. The items come in a nice gift bag that has a preprinted message leaving a lasting impression.

Molly –

• Koozie Double® Compartment 30-Can Kooler – This large cooler is great to take tailgating, to the golf course, to the beach or even
  camping. The two compartments allow you to separate, if needed, what’s in your cooler – such as food and beverages. Great item for golf tournaments, a great prize at events or an employee gift.

• Eco-Planter – How cute is this? Red base and retail-like packaging. It will grow in almost any environment, just add water. Great item for any eco-friendly promotion, “growing” theme or fun giveaway item for tradeshows.

• ArcticSqueeze® Bottle. This item is very COOL…literally! The perfect drinking bottle for your bike, sporting or outdoor activity. The patented misting feature provides a  mist of water to cool you on the outside while you stay hydrated on the inside.

Stay tuned for more 2016 faves from our team!

Write a note –

I know, I know. It seems obvious, and perhaps old fashioned. But research shows that handwritten, mailed letters or cards are more valuable now than ever. Why? Text messaging, social media and email of course! So often, we succumb to the quick “Happy Birthday text.” Yes, it’s acceptable. But, writing a personal note will knock their socks off.

Give a good read –

What books have been most influential to your company? Give one as a gift to customers. This gesture offers customers insight into your company culture and opens the lines of communication for future discussion about the book.

Make sure to write a personalized note that goes with or inside the book so your customer knows this is a thank you meant just for them.

Food. Everyone loves food.

Fresh baked happiness! Send them something tasty, but know your audience. Cookies or sweet treats are sure to please, but if you’re wanting to get the attention of someone you know to be super health conscious, think about sending coffee or tea gift baskets instead.

Distribute freebies to all who come –

If you have an actual store location, offer a free, useful item to take home with them. Want to really win them over? Offer something kid-friendly such as small toys or balloons.

Honor an achievement –

Make your customer feel like they’re part of a big family. Recognize special events in their lives by sending a small gift. The event could be a major birthday, a promotion or even a new addition to the family. The thoughtful timing of your gift communicates volumes and is a gesture that won’t soon be forgotten.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big impression. Need ideas? Our experts have got you covered. Contact your consultant!

If you haven’t already heard the buzz, for the first time in the seventeen-year history of Pantone’s Color of the Year declarations, the historic New Jersey company has chosen not one, but TWO colors to reflect the projected trends and culture of 2016. In early December, Pantone announced Rose Quartz (Pantone 13-1520) and Serenity (Pantone 15-3919) as its Colors of the Year. Their combination, says Leatrice Eiseman (Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute), “demonstrate[s] an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue.”

The company notes that consumers are seeking respite from stress, and are drawn to colors that reflect equanimity and comfort. In addition, Pantone sees the blending of the colors as a reflection of blurring gender expression in fashion world, and a nod to ongoing “societal movements towards gender equality.” The pastel shades are a surprising change from a long tradition of choosing bolder, more vibrant colors, but softer hues are already being seen this year on runways and in home décor.

As this trend towards shades that are more peaceful and balanced continues, look for Rose Quartz and Serenity to be at the forefront of corporate apparel trends. Consider them for electronics and drinkware, as well. Pantone’s suggested combinations with these colors include browns, purples and greens. The subtlety of these shades creates a great opportunity for your customers to print their complementary-colored logo onto a product in one of these colors, allowing them to remain on-trend while still being branded.

Its December 29th, and you still have a bit in your supply budget… what do you do? Here are 3 ways to use it so you don’t loose it!

–        Purchase imprinted promotional pens for your employees to keep on-hand for their own use, and to hand-out to your customers. Everyone loves pens, and it’s always frustrating when you can’t find one. Why not be the person to make them available all over town? Bonus… your business name is on them!

–        So, now that you’ve got imprinted promotional pens… you need something to write on. Consider Memo Books. We sell millions of these babies, and that’s a true testament to how useful and appreciated they really are. Plus, these can definitely pass for a supply item. Once again, your employees will use them on the job, and so will your customers…and see your name each. Why buy? Because, marketing!

–        Do your employees need a uniformed look? It’s important that they’re clearly identified as an employee, plus they look clean-cut and professional. Embroidered apparel is a nice way to accomplish that, and they keep your employees comfortable. It will fall in the supply or uniform category.

So, as you wrap up your budget this year, consider imprinted promotional items to use up the remaining supply budget and reduce your tax liability. We’re not the IRS, but we’re certainly creative, aren’t we?

Search for more ideas here.

With the holiday hustle comes a lot of exposure to germs.  Following are some simple steps you can take to help keep yourself and your family healthy this flu season:

Get vaccinated.
According to the CDC, influenza vaccination is safe and effective and is the single best way to help protect yourself and your family from the flu each year. Since the virus and the vaccine changes every year, it is important to get a vaccination annually.

This instant spray pen contains 62% ethyl alcohol proven to kill 99% of germs. This conveniently sized product will be a must-have for your client, while keeping your brand by their side.

Wash your hands.
Frequent hand washing keeps lots of germs out of our bodies, including the influenza virus. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer.

Stay home if you don’t feel well.
Should you become infected, keep the germs from spreading by staying home – and don’t forget to take care of yourself!

Do the elbow cough.
Cough into elbows, not hands where it’s more likely to spread bacteria and viruses through touch.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Germs spread this way.

Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.

Drinkware trends evolve with lifestyle trends. It’s all about functional style – making hydration a part of your daily routine while keeping it interesting and relevant. Drinkware is also carried as a badge of honor. A really sporty looking bottle shows your athletic side, while a particular brand on a tumbler shows your personal affiliation or interest. So give your customers drinkware they can carry with pride.

We have identified 3 key drinkware trends to keep your eye on:

Cool Gear Shaker Bottle (#46041)

Mix it Up – protein shakes and smoothies are all the rage as fitness trends continue to promote meal replacement drinks and post workout hydration supplements. Cool Gear Shaker Bottle (#46041) – protein shakes continue to grow within the fitness industry. This bottle has a mixing ball that ensures your protein powder is well blended.

On the Double – double opening lids – wide mouth for filling AND smaller opening for drinking. Neon Juniper Bottle (#46047) – double opening twist lids – one for cleaning or adding ice, one tethered twist on cap for drinking.

Two for One – A single tumbler that works for hot and cold beverages – keep things simple! Color Splash Tumbler (#45909) – Double-wall insulation intended for hot or cold beverage use

Remember these trends as you’re planning Spring and Summer events to promote your business or encourage employees.