Brrrrr...It's Time for Outerwear

We hate to say it, but it's that time of year again…Frigid temperatures, snowfall and harsh winds are just around the corner.  It's time to put away the shorts and tank tops and replace them with sweaters and long johns.  

Thankfully, to help us embrace the bitter weather and still look stylish (because who really looks good in long johns?), the latest trends in outerwear are making fashion meet function.

"Distributors are now keeping their eye out for garments that are designed with fashion in mind, but encompass integrated functionality, performance and comfort," says Elson Yeung, Director of Private Label Design and Merchandising for one of our favorite apparel suppliers, Alphabroder.  

Apparel suppliers are taking authentic styles such as the varsity and letterman's jackets or the bomber jackets worn by the military during WWII, and putting their own twist on them. Adding all-day comfort and special imprinting techniques such as embroidery, debossing, and heat transfers brings these retro styles into today's fashion.  You can essentially design and create your own customized jacket which will further promote and market your brand.

Some of the top picks of jackets this season:  

Military Bomber Jacket with an embroidery patch

Zip-Up Heathered Jacket with a debossed imprint

Hybrid Soft-Shell Jacket with transfer imprint

Soft-Shell Jacket with transfer & laser engraving

Puffer Jacket with Transfer imprint

Food Gifts – Number 1 for the Holidays

Food gifts consistently rank as the number one business gift during the holidays. They are a gift that most everyone enjoys, can share and usually are not too expensive.

Most businesses will buy these items from retail or mail-order catalogs. But did you know your promotional product consultant can offer you most of the same items, with the option of including your own branding?

Top reasons for Buying Branded Food Gifts

1.  Branding

If you give a gift box of cookies with "Mrs. Field's" emblazoned on the tin, instead of your name, who does your recipient think of when they grab that cookie:  You or Mrs. Fields?

2.  Convenience

Your promotional consultant can take care of the details, including drop shipping to each recipient. Shipping dates can be scheduled for future delivery, even months in advance.

3.  Quality

Items are packed to order right before shipping, not months in advance like many mail-order companies, ensuring freshness.

4.  Memorable

Receiving a $25 box of brownies, cookies and chocolate is much more memorable than receiving that $25 gift card. Often recipients won't even remember how or when they used the card, but they will remember that tasty treat!

5.  Sharable

Most food gifts are perfect for sharing among the entire office, creating a fun, memorable experience for the recipients.

6.  Lasting Packaging

Selecting a food gift combined with a container which can later be used as a keepsake box, desk accessory, or reusable tin creates an immediate reward as well as a lasting reminder.

Can You Feel It? Media for ALL the Senses.

Do you have a prized possession to show off an achievement? Whether it be a graduation diploma, a trophy for dominating the third grade spelling bee, celebrating a five-year anniversary at work with cake, or maybe even a Super Bowl Championship ring – all of these gifts are items which trigger emotion.  We might never get rid of that third grade trophy because it takes us down memory lane back to that glorious moment, right down to the feel of the sweater on our back.

These trophies, these awards, these simple little items are Sensory Media.

According to Jae M. Rang, author of Sensory Media, "Sensory media does two things: it anchors the 'feel-good' emotion and it rewards the participants with a gift."  When you hold sensory media – also known as a promotional product – you hold the brand.

Promotional products are responsive and tangible items.  They can create or recreate an entire brand.  If done correctly, sensory media can encourage, honor, influence, educate, and acknowledge everyone involved.

Companies have one goal in mind when purchasing promotional products: they want to be memorable.

Rang explains, "The reality is promotional products are a very human form of media. We’re sensory beings―we see, hear, smell, taste, touch―so ‘sensory media’ aligns so well with us. The products, as well as the messaging, represent the brand and are interactive in nature making them very impressionable."

Sensory media demands interaction.  You can eat it, write with it, wear it, smell it, and play with it.  It is a constant reminder that it is much more than a branding tool and can be used to create an unforgettable foundation.

It's time to move our perceptions of promotional products from the often-called "swag" or "trinkets" to the real, purposeful media and result-driven marketing it truly creates.

Best Reactions – High Value Items

What difference does the perceived value of a promotional product make on the end user? If the item is perceived to be of high value, does that translate also to their view of the giver? Does it influence their behavior and attitudes, or does it not matter?

Those are just a few of the questions asked, and answered, in a research study conducted by P.P.A.I. (Promotional Products Association International) in December 2011.

When it comes to items with a perceived value of $25 or more, the study revealed the following:


Why do you think the company or organization gave you this item?

• 23% – To make me aware of the company and it's products or services

• 28% – To thank me for doing business with them, and to continue doing so

What did you perceive the reason for being given this item?

• 31% – As a business gift

• 38% – As a form of advertising

• 40% – As an incentive

Were you more receptive to the company and it's objectives after receiving this item?

• 27% – Significantly more receptive

• 44% – Somewhat more receptive

What categories of products are most popular to receive?

• 58% – Items that can be consumed

• 50% – Items that can be worn

• 46% – Items associated with digital communication

• 46% – Items that help collect or convey things

How long do you keep your favorite products?

• 60% – Three years or more:  high value products (over $25)

• 42% – One year or less:  low value products

What makes an item worth holding onto (Very or Extremely Important)?

• 69% – Usefulness

• 59% – Quality

• 52% – Attractiveness

So what can be concluded from this study?  A few key points stand out:

• Recipients were more receptive if they perceived the item to be high value.

• Having an item imprinted with a logo did not deter from it, as long as it was a useful item.

• Apparel and food gifts are most appreciated by recipients.

• Useful items will be kept the longest.

• A high-value item is typically perceived to cost between $25-$50.

The entire research study is available at this link:  High End/Low End

Digital Design - Hot Trend for Fall

Seems like the new thing for apparel this fall is digital designs or textures.

The latest from Sanmar and Ogio are fabric colors with a digital pattern. It's similar to a heathered look, but instead of different colored threads woven together to create the look, it's a printed pattern. We're seeing this look on moisture-wicking, poly apparel.

The poly fleece jackets offer a very comfortable alternative to a sweater, with a more professional look than the standard solid color performance fleece.

View Details Here:  Digital Design Items

 

 

Package It Right – 3 Tips for Presenting Your Gift

So you've selected the perfect gift item to give to your customers, team or staff. You've paid attention to every detail – item selection, color, imprint area, decorating method and cost. Everything's been ordered, proofed and approved, and you're just awaiting it's arrival at your door.

Except…could you possibly be forgetting something that can help really impact the presentation of the gift? How are you planning to present it to the recipients? Pull the items out of the shipping box they came in? Grab them from a pile?

How about a custom box or container instead? You spent all this time getting the item just right, don't you want the packaging to be just as important and impactful?

Packaging doesn't just have to be a gift wrapped box. Think outside of the box for some unique ways to present your gift:

1.  Tumblers and Sports Bottles
Yes, that's right, tumblers! Large tumblers can make great packaging for smaller items, and can even fit smaller rolled-up tshirts. Of course, they make great containers for smaller items, such as candies, desk accessories, pens, lip balms and golf balls and tees.

 



2.  Totes and Bags
An obvious choice, right? With so many sizes, shapes and colors, finding the match for your gift should be no problem. Larger bags make great packaging for multiple items also. And the nice thing about a bag for gift packaging, it's reusable and appreciated on it's own as part of the gift.

 

3.  Custom Boxes and Cans
Don't be afraid of custom box packaging. By dropping your own graphics and design into pre-made templates, custom boxes can be a very affordable and unique presentation. And with a wide variety of shapes and sizes, your options are limitless.

 

Ties, Scarves & Socks – Oh My!

Custom imprinted apparel isn't only about shirts, hats and jackets. Neck ties, scarves and socks make great options as accessories with wide appeal. Not only are they attractive and professional-looking, typically they are one-size-fits-most so sizing is not an issue.

For a professional look, a combination of ties and scarves customized with your organization's colors and logo makes a great unifying statement.

Neckties

Come in a variety of fabrics, including silk, microfiber, and polyester. Can be custom woven with your logo or design, or imprinted using embroidery, screen printing or laser etching.

 

Scarves

A variety of styles and fabrics, including infinity and various rectangle or square shapes.

Socks

Always a fun accessory, options in socks include dress, sport, ankle, crew, tube and performance socks. Socks can be fully customized by choosing thread colors and woven designs, or imprinted with transfers, appliqués or embroidery.