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.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” –  Joseph Addison

As winter approaches and we are cooped up inside, more of us want to snuggle up with a good book. Reading is a key component of becoming more efficient and effective at your job, no matter what you do. Sales professionals in particular can benefit from soaking in the knowledge of a well-researched and insightful book. Besides picking up valuable tips and tricks, motivational sales books also provide a needed boost. Below is a list from Inc.com of the Top 10 “How to Sell” books of ALL time. These classic sales books will are you with some of the greatest selling techniques that have ever been written.

10. Selling to Big Companies – by Jill Konrath
11. Mastering the Complex Sale – by Jeff Thull
12. The Psychology of Selling – by Brian Tracy
13. Strategic Selling – by Robert B. Miller & Stephen E. Heiman
14. Perfect Selling – by Linda Richardson
15. How to Master the Art of Selling – By Tom Hopkins
16. The Greatest Salesman in the World – By Og Mandino
17. Secrets of Closing the Sale – by Zig Ziglar
18. The Little Red Book of Selling – by Jeffrey Gittomer
19. Spin Selling – by Neil Rackham

Don’t miss out on these popular titles that are also must reads.

• How to Win Friends and Influence People – by Dale Carnegie
• Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive – by Harvey McKay
• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – by Richard Carlson
• Attitude 101 – by John C. Maxwell
• Selling the Invisible – by Harry Beckwith

We live in a fast paced world and sometimes the little things elude us. Reading is one of our favorite pastimes. 66% of us read in our free time. So stock up on hot chocolate and get ready to sit back and read on those cold, snowy days.

“To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” – Edward Burke  

Books make great business gifts. We offer more than 3,000,000 titles available. We can easily add your logo and personal page to any book. Every title. Every Author. Every Theme. Every Budget. Books are valuable. Appreciated. Never thrown away. Ask us today!

The holidays are a time to celebrate your customers, associates and employees who have contributed to your success.

Food gifts are the #1 holiday business gift. Why?

• Attention – Food gets attention. It stands out and is a universally loved item that can be shared and everyone will enjoy.
• Affordable – Food gifts are affordable for your business gift budget. Bankers Advertising offers a wide selection of customized food gifts for all price points.
• Appealing – Food is appealing. It brings people together and stirs up emotions. People are happy when they’re enjoying a treat, and your brand will be associated with those positive feelings.

We understand what it takes to deliver a superior holiday gift program – gifts that will delight the senses and bring a smile to the face of every recipient. We are happy to build a customized food gift program for you that allows you to choose your food item, price point and packaging.

The perfect gift starts here – contact us today.

There’s a chill in the air, and it’s an excellent reminder that Gift Season is upon us. But, Gift Giving is more than just picking the “perfect business gift” that will appeal to the masses. It doesn’t have to be so black and white. At Bankers, we offer more than just gifts. We can keep this season stress-free for you by assisting with three valuable services that ensure that your gifts are noticed and remembered.

Packaging

Ask yourself – is this a gift or giveaway? The first impression can set the tone of receiving the gift and emotional connection. Much of the attention in choosing gifts is given to the gift itself, but the presentation of the gift is a value-added opportunity that can’t be ignored. Packaging and presentation add value to any promotion, presentation, contribution or offering. Gift bags, custom ribbon and gift boxes will enhance the selected item and maximize the impression it leaves.

It’s important that the gifts are valued by the recipients. For example, you purchased $40 jackets for your employees. Spending an additional $0.50 for a gift bag or box is a small investment that ensures you’re are handing them out as a true, meaningful “gift” vs “giveaway.”

Search here for some lovely gift packaging options.

Bundling

With a per gift budget in mind, it’s common to begin looking for the one item that fits in the budget. When our clients ask for ideas for holiday gifts, we often suggest multiple products that make a nice bundle. With multiple items, your business receives greater exposure and value. By creating a kit or package of products, the recipients are left with many brand impressions. Bundling several items together increases the perceived value. There are a lot of neat ideas that can be paired to create a fun gift. Use a tote bag, cooler or duffel as a starting item and then add additional items such as a drinkware piece or cap to create a nice gift set.

BUNDLE IDEAS:

In the Bankers Gift Guide – we have a square colander. Use this as the package and then add kitchen utensils, pot holders, or kitchenware to create a well-designed package.

Select a hot/cold cooler and pair this with a nice knife and server set.

How about a bamboo cutting board combined with a paring knife?

The ideas are endless. Need more ideas…? Ask us!

Distribution

Distributing gifts is an element of planning that is all too often forgotten about, but it’s actually a very important part of the gift receiving experience.

Hand-delivering some of the branded gifts is an incredibly personal and authentic way to express your appreciation. Your dedication to this delivery method is super impressive and meaningful to your recipient. They won’t ever forget it, that’s for sure.

On the other hand, sometimes mailing a gift is more feasible. There are pros and cons to both. If you decide to mail or ship your gift, a hand-written personal note goes a long way. In a world of emails, texts, Facebook and snapchatting, a hand-written note intended specifically for the recipient makes them feel super special… even if it’s just a few kind words of thanks. Ask us about our packaging and mailing services!

Remember… you’re not in this alone. Rely on your experts at Bankers Advertising to help you deliver the perfect gift experience!

Our 2016 Gift Guide includes 20 pages of promotional products from almost all categories and includes many new, mid-year items, latest trendy gadgets, apparel and more. Now is the time to start thinking about how you’ll make sure your customers and team members feel extra special this year, all-the-while enhancing your brand’s power.

We feature a variety of apparel from polos, wovens, to fleece and jackets. Even though the weather is still warm, talk to your Bankers Advertising Consultant about your 4^th quarter winter apparel needs before it gets cold! We also have you covered with headwear this year. Caps are walking billboards for your customer’s brand.

Be sure to check out one of our new favorites, the #C819 PortAuthority® Pigment Dyed Camouflage Cap, which features the look of oil cloth at a much lower cost. These items are all decorated right here at Bankers Embroidery.

Here are few of our favorite items that we want you to be sure to notice.

Coast Cooler Tote from Starline

This is a neat new item that you need to see. It has an eight can insulated cooler area compartment, front zipper pocket with key holder, two slash felt lined pockets to protect sunglasses or small portable devices, two Velcro pockets, a main tote area with mesh sides for ventilation, a bottom opening for towels, yoga mat, etc. A very unique and versatile design that your end-user will be sure to love.

Koozie Hot and Cold Kooler

This is a kooler for all seasons. Can be used for transporting hot casserole, or cold desserts. Fits a standard 9” x 13” pan. Very practical item for all audiences.

Native Wooden Copper Vacuum Insulated Bottle

This gorgeous drinkware item features a neat new trendy wood design. This bottle is similar to the SWELL retail bottles and is a double wall lined with copper so has superior insulation.

Grotto Ceramic Mug

Want to try something super unique? … consider this. Matte finish body and natural wooden handle are combined with black coated stainless steel band.

Full Color Chocolates

These are a NEW item. Chocolate Inn now offers full color printing on the actual chocolate. WOW the recipients while creating a memorable gift.

Jediah Realtree Xtra® Hand Warmer

You have to check out this item! It’s a fun, exciting piece and one of our top favorites. Keep your hands toasty warm with this hand warmer.

Trends in tech accessories continue to grow at astounding numbers. From Bluetooth speakers, power banks, headphones or accessories. These items are in high demand and make a very nice gift. We have all these types of products featured in our Gif Guide this year.

Dual USB 2.0 Hub/Reader

This item doubles the utility of a single port. It accepts microUSB cards so you can transfer your files to a computer. This works well taking from phones to computer. It is also compatible with the new USB Type C ports.

We’re following retail trends and featuring hot new tech pieces to promote brands. Think of these for executive gifts, top donor gifts, board of directors, etc.

Remote Control Drone with Camera

Virtual Reality Headset

We offer promotional gift ideas for every occasion that will make a lasting impression. It’s certainly not too early to start discussing your options and your plan with your Bankers Advertising Promotional Consultant!

Click here to view our complete gift guide!

NEW this year we have designed our own Exclusive line of holiday cards! We have seven new designs to choose from.

Studies show that 80% of businesses send holiday cards. The audience is almost everyone from corporate, to healthcare and education, to hospitality and real estate.

The greetings a business sends are generally used for two purposes:

• A thank you to individuals, companies and clients with who they have an ongoing relationship.
• As a means of staying on the radar of an existing, former or prospective client.

Customers want to know that their business is valued and greeting cards are one of the best ways to demonstrate that they do indeed care and wish their customers the best. Despite being highly effective, greeting cards are often overlooked when it comes to developing marketing plans. A greeting card has the potential to do more than nearly any other marketing material in establishing and securing long-term business relationships with clients who not only appreciate your work, but appreciate you as well.

Check out our new holiday cards here.

What comes to life once a year, lives for 11 days and has over 2 million eyes?  The Iowa State Fair!

The Iowa State Fair is an 11-day celebration where over 1 million people visit each summer to eat, see livestock, take in shows of all kinds, eat something on a stick, see the famous butter cow, ride the midway rides, eat something fried, enter contests, buy campers and hot tubs, eat something else fried and absorb a small piece of what Iowa has to offer.

The internationally-acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. The Iowa State Fair, the inspiration for the original novel State Fair by Iowan Phil Stong, three motion pictures and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway musical, is without a doubt the country’s most famous state fair.

National media frequently ranks the Iowa State Fair as one of the top events in the country. USA Weekend named the event the #2 choice for summer fun in America, topping New York City’s Times Square, Cedar Point Amusement Park Resort in Ohio and Disneyland in California. Midwest Living magazine named the Fair one of the “Top 30 Things Every Midwesterner Should Experience.” The Fair is also the only fair listed in The New York Times best-selling travel book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die, and the subsequent travel book, 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. and Canada Before you Die.

Who knew something that most of us Iowans go to annually is so famous? I know several people that have not missed a fair in over 20+ years. I know when I was a kid, we would go almost every year. As soon as we got to the fair my parents would head toward the first place we could get a free bag to hold our potential fortune of free stuff.  There seemed like there wasn’t enough hours in the day when at the fair to do all our favorite things from the Giant Slide, Ye Old Mill, Sky Glider, Butter Cow and of course the Varied Industries building where all the goodies were.

We would leave that day with a patch handle bag FULL of pencils, flyswatters, magnets, coloring books, posters, hats, necklaces, buttons and all kinds of stuff from businesses we had never heard of.  My parents would go through the bags and take out any item they thought they could use around the house.

Today, as I take my boys to the state fair, the same holds true. They can’t wait to bring home all the free products. I, of course, now have a different perspective being in the industry but what I find fun is to watch their excitement and those around me receiving our beloved promotional products. I like to sit on the bench and watch people’s reactions – it rejuvenates me to see the kids and adults alike excited about the free handouts.

What does the Iowa State Fair, or any state fair, do for the promotional products industry?  Just take a day and walk around to see the crowds looking for their own freebies.  The fair is a chance for cities, entertainment, destinations, organizations, businesses, colleges, non-profit groups, churches, schools and clubs to advertise, show off their programs, try to attain a larger customer base, and be seen by literally thousands of consumers.

Promotional products are to be had by the thousands at any state fair.  It’s a place to see a huge variety of products and endless ideas of branded promotions whether it be T-shirts, hand-fans, yardsticks, cups, backpacks, temporary tattoos, pencils, water bottles, silicone bracelets, bandannas, totes and hats.

Have you attended the Iowa State Fair? What was one of your favorite products or food? As this year’s theme states – Nothing Compares to my STATE FAIR!

Search here for fair ideas!