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.

 

Make 'Em Look - 3 Tradeshow Tricks

You've got your trade show exhibit booth reserved, you've got your handouts printed, giveaways ordered, and raffle or other draw prepared. But how are you going to catch the attention of everyone who passes by your booth? What's going to make them stop and take a second look before heading off to that eye-catching booth they see down the aisle?

Exhibitor Online has twelve tricks for table top displays, here's three top ones:

One Big Image

Using one large image on your display will create a focal point which will be much more likely to draw people in. You only have a one or two second window to grab someone's attention, so a single, attention-grabbing image will help pull them out of the aisle and into your booth.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Text

Use too much text and nobody's going to read it. Don't use enough, and they won't know what you're about. According to experts, about 10 words along with your logo are a good balance. Focus on the benefit you provide, not on details.

Use Simple, Clean Fonts

Make your words easy to read from the aisle. A sans serif font like Helvetica or Myriad, large enough to be readable from several feet away. A good rule of thumb is that your headline should be 4 inches tall or more.


When it comes down to it, the goal of a tradeshow booth is to generate interest to create awareness of your organization or to grow your business. None of that will happen if your booth doesn't draw attention.

Charge It Right - Power Banks

Power banks and charging devices have become very popular this year as a way to keep your tech items charged while away from home.

But trying to figure out which device will power your needs can be confusing. Thanks to one of our favorite suppliers, Gemline, here's an easy-to-read chart explaining what you need to know.

Simply put – find your device, note the mAh it requires, then purchase a power bank with at least that amount of charging power (if you want to be able to fully charge that one device).

If you need to fully charge more than one device on a single charge, you'll need to add the mAh's to find the total amount you will need.

If your power bank contains only a fraction of the total mAh your device requires, then it can charge your device, just not fully.

Bluetooth – Just the Facts (And Some Theories)

We encounter it all the time these days – Bluetooth. Yet, do you really know what it's all about? And why the heck is it called that? 

Here's some quick facts you can pull out next time you have a bar bet:

• Why is it called Bluetooth?
• The developer (Jim Kardach) suggested the name Bluetooth in 1997 as a nod to the Scandinavian 10th century King Harald Bluetooth. The King unified Denmark and Norway, like the technology unites various devices.
• What is that symbol in the logo?
• Again, a nod to the Norse. It's the Nordic runes for the initials "HB." 

• What is Bluetooth?
• It's a technology for connecting devices like computers, speakers, phones, mice, and headsets wirelessly to one another.
• What is pairing?
• This is the initial connecting of the devices using a passkey, which is then stored.
• What is connected?
• When the devices are able to communicate with one another, they are connected.
• What kind of range does Bluetooth have?
• Class 2 Bluetooth, which is most common, has a range of about 33 feet

And now some extra credit, for those of you that really love trivia, and history:

• How did King Harold get the nickname, "Bluetooth?"
• 3 Possible Reasons:
• He had a bad tooth, which was black, and the word "blue" meant "dark." (most common theory)
• He was called "Thegn" in England, which meant chief. Since "blue" meant "dark", his nickname was really "dark chieftain."
• He wore blue clothing, which in those time was the most expensive, thus signifying his royal stature.

Tee It Up – We've Got Your Back

Typically, you may not think of a promotional products company like The Creative J to be your best source for screen printed tshirts. However, you just might want to think about that again. Apparel is a BIG part of our business, and an area at which we really excel.

No, we don't have our own equipment and no, we don't print them here at our offices. However, this offers our customers an advantage over traditional tshirt shops:  Options – and lots of them! 

Since we are able to combine the best sources for your specific order, you'll receive our expert marketing and creative input on each project. We won't just slap your logo on the left chest and call it good, we'll work with you to make sure you project the image you envision.

So, why should you use The Creative J for apparel?

• More apparel brands and options
• Since we're not tied into any one source for our apparel, we offer a wide variety of brands, styles, and price points for our customers. 
• We customize each order by choosing the apparel source, the decorator and the shipping method in order to fit our customer's specific needs for style, budget and time-frame.
• Need more than shirts? We've got it – shirts, caps, pants, jackets, accessories, even shoes!
• Brands such as Eddie Bauer, Ogio, Columbia, Carhartt, Red Kap, Greg Norman, Adidas, Nike, Puma, Ralph Lauren/Polo, Izod, Dri-Duck, Lacoste, American Apparel, Champion, Gildan … the list goes on and on.
• Customization
• Want to customize the apparel tag with your own brand? We can do that.
• Want to create your own custom color and style combinations? We can do that.
• Want to shorten sleeves, add pockets, coordinate laces, create shirt/cap combos? We can do that.
• Want to combine various decorating techniques? We can do that.
• Multiple Sources
• We can pull inventory from multiple warehouses and suppliers, so we have more options when stocks run low. 
• Schedule Flexibility
• Since we work with multiple decorators, we aren't tied into any one decorator's schedule. If Decorator A is booked, we can move to Decorator B to meet your event date.
• Creative Decoration and Design
• We utilize decorators across the country in order to bring our customers unique options that will truly set them apart, such as:
• laser etching and applique
• oversized screen printing
• specialty inks, including metallics, puff, suede, clear, glow-in-the-dark, foils, soft-hand, distressed and more
• full color heat transfers, sequins, rhinestones, and embroidery
• full color overall sublimation printing
• Safety Compliance for Youth Apparel
• We make sure all youth apparel is properly tested and tagged according to federal safety regulations.
• Upfront Pricing and Details
• As always, we'll provide you with complete order details and costs before you pay a penny, and we stand by our quotes. You won't find us sneaking in additional charges on the final invoice. 
• Guided Options and Choices
• We don't expect you to come in knowing exactly what you want or need. We'll help guide you through the process to narrow down the specific styles, brands, decoration and budgets which will work best for your unique situation.

So, now that you know a little more about us, we'd like to know more about you. Tell us about your next project and see how we can help.

Figuring Out Cooler Liners

This time of year is perfect for thinking about coolers. They make a great gift for customers and employees. In addition, anyone receiving a cooler will invariably hold onto it, making it a lasting marketing presence.

When looking at various types of coolers, you'll notice there are several different types of liners. To help clear some of the confusion, here's a short chart on the differences:


Heat Sealed Liner:  These provide a leak-resistant barrier and are able to hold water. Not recommended for loose ice as it can misshape and tear a soft liner. Usually made of PEVA, a non-toxic vinyl which has been replacing the use of PVC.

Silver Foil Liner:  Sometimes referred to as a thermo-liner, this is good for warm and cold items, but is not leak proof. Usually the least expensive of the liner types.

Hard Plastic Removable Liner:  A good choice for convenient cleaning and for using loose ice.

Clear Plastic Removable Liner:  A soft, leakproof liner which can be removed for easier cleaning.


To best insulate your items in a cooler, follow these tips:

• Keep your cooler out of the sun.
• Keep the cooler off the ground as it can absorb the ground heat and transfer it to the contents.
• Pack items tightly inside the cooler to minimize air circulation which can warm the contents.
• Always keep the cooler closed when not in use.