Marketing Ideas

Aug

2015

Promotional Products to Channel Your Inner Athlete

With more and more consumers choosing organic and fat-free foods over the regular, and getting in on the latest exercise trend, tapping into the health & fitness industry for your marketing efforts will help you Make the right impression.™

How can you connect with those health-conscious consumers and successfully promote your brand? That’s where promotional products play in to your marketing strategy. With the right promotional products, you can help each and every customer channel his or her inner athlete, and put your brand at the forefront. Here is just a selection of the ways in which you can reach out to potential customers with great giveaways.

Active Health Tracker & Heart Rate Monitor

Fitness trackers of all sorts have sharply risen into popularity recently. Knowing everything from your heart rate, calories burned, distance walked, sleep patterns, and more, gives the customer some peace of mind. Customers feel like they can adjust their daily routine accordingly, and take better control of their health. These devices can be a tad expensive, but now that is not a concern. By custom branding this tracker and handing it to customers as a branded giveaway piece, they appreciate all the same benefits that they would have with the popular trackers, while your corporate logo custom printed on the band will travel with them wherever they go, and will be seen far and wide, without busting your budget (or that of the customers)!

Ultimate Gym Set

With the Ultimate Gym Gift Set, the customer will have exactly what he or she needs to make it through a good workout. The customer can stay hydrated with a water bottle in hand, keep energy up with favorite songs playing through earbuds, and even safely hold a mobile device or music player using the armband holder. Each one of these items can be custom branded with your business logo, to remind customers that your brand is making the workout possible, and to potentially increase your brand awareness. This set acts as a unique promotional gift that shows consumers that you really do care about their health.

Fitness Towel

After the tough workout, nothing feels better than a cool down. Grab a cold water bottle, and wipe away the perspiration with this soft and light, 100% cotton Fitness Towel. If you are in the fitness business, or are even hosting a health or sporting event, this promotional towel is an excellent option. You have substantial space to boldly custom print your corporate branding across it, which in turn allows you to easily spread the word of your business, and grab the attention of a much larger audience.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a priority for many consumers. Take this into consideration, and your brand can motivate those customers, and inspire potential customers to channel their inner athlete. With custom promotional fitness & wellness products, you can and will expand your brand reach significantly, and clearly communicate your unique brand story.

Aug

2015

How to Throw the Perfect Labor Day Corporate Event

We are just a couple weeks away from Labor Day, the federal holiday that represents the end of summer, and pays tribute to the contributions of American workers. Americans generally celebrate this day with parties, parades, and athletic events. It’s the time of the year to break out the barbecue, and put together an unforgettable bash. As a business owner, this is a good opportunity to bring your employees, co-workers, and their families together to recognize and celebrate their efforts. With that, here are some tips to help you organize and execute the perfect Labor Day corporate event.

1. Choose a Theme and Decorate Accordingly

Tying all of your party elements together cohesively will create the appropriate party atmosphere, which guests will be able to connect with. This will even make party planning a bit easier, as there is a unifying message that you are putting forward. You could go with an All-American theme, and incorporate the red, white, and blue colors into everything, from the food to the decorations. For example, you could put red, white, and blue balloons up, and even have them custom printed with your corporate branding. These 100% biodegradable latex balloons will be a fun and colorful addition. You could also hand out these USA Promotional Pinwheels to guests, as party favors that kids and adults alike will appreciate. Custom print your company branding on the stick, and you’re good to go! You can even add your corporate branding into items like drinkware, and plates, as a gentle reminder to guests of who is making the party possible!

2. Plan a Memorable Menu

Finally, every good party needs good food, and now is the perfect time for barbecue. Grilled chicken and veggies, coleslaw, and burgers are just a few of the popular favorites for Labor Day. You will look and feel like a grilling pro with the right equipment. The Grill Master Promotional Picnic Apron Kit is perfect the chef, as it allows for all cooking tools to be easily within reach. The kit comes equipped with an apron, detachable bottle opener, padded oven mitt, and a towel. There is no need to worry about messes, as the apron is machine washable. The best part is that you can have the apron custom printed with your corporate branding, which means your brand can make yet another subtle appearance.

By following these tips, you can inject a bit of branding into your corporate Labor Day event in a fun, but not intrusive way, and put together one heck of a shindig! Bring together your team, friends, and family, and incorporate a bit of branding for a completely cohesive and unique get together that will be remembered long after Labor Day.

Aug

2015

Seasonal Promotional Products: How to “Fall” Into the Perfect Marketing Strategy

As a business owner, you may find yourself more engrossed in the day–to-day processes and challenges, than in the big picture. Instead of being narrowly focused, remember your primary goal–growing the business and building your brand.

To achieve that goal, you will have to play the role of a business owner AND a marketer. You need to have a strong, overall marketing strategy in place, which you can adhere to and implement consistently within your means.

By doing so, you have the ability to capitalize on seasonal marketing opportunities. Though your particular business may not be a simply seasonal one, you may have started to notice that consumers’ purchase behaviors are influenced by seasonal changes, trends, and events-i.e., Back to school, Easter, winter weather, etc.

A great way to leverage these occurrences is to develop promotional campaigns. In these efforts to develop marketing that actually resonates with consumers, offering custom branded promotional giveaways and incentives will help you to effectively attract customers, and retain them for the long run.

As the fall season is officially just a month away, we are here to provide your business with some fall marketing tips and ideas.

Fall Weather

The way that consumers, feel, their habits, their moods, and their interests are, believe it or not, influenced by changes in the weather. By keeping your brand relevant to the season and these seasonal desires, you are showing customers that they matter, and you can stay connected and engaged with those consumers. With the arrival of color changing leaves, and cooler days, consumers are dressing warmly and spending more time outdoors with the family, playing sports, taking pictures, camping, attending fall festivals, etc. To set your business apart from the competition, and to provide customers with incentives to begin or continue business with you, you could provide them with complementary, custom branded promotional gifts.

For example, with the Game Day Hooded Blanket in hand, watching a thrilling game of football couldn’t be more relaxing. It’s a cleverly designed combination hooded poncho, backpack, and even a blanket, with inner hand-warming pockets all in one! The backpack allows for easy storage and transportation. With all of these features and your corporate logo custom printed on it, customers will carry literally carry your brand to a larger audience, and you can set yourself apart from the competition.

Fall Holidays/Events

The fall season brings with it many notable holiday observances that you could utilize in promoting your business. For one, there’s Labor Day. Labor Day is generally celebrated by Americans as the symbolic end of summer, and it’s a time when people like to have picnics, barbecues, and other outdoor events. It is the perfect time to promote your business, and help customers enjoy the special day. Some custom branded giveaways could give your business the extra marketing edge.

The Chill and Grill Outdoor Kit takes the hassle out of outdoor shindigs. This handy portable grill comes equipped with a large cooler compartment and tongs included, as well as extra zippered compartments to store grilling supplies and food. Comfortable grip handles and a shoulder strap make it easy for customers to become the grill master of the party. The best part is that you can custom print your corporate logo on it in a large space. In doing so, consumers enjoy their get togethers, while you can effectively develop brand awareness.

This is just one instance in which providing your customers with custom promotional products can be useful for the fall holiday season. Consider how you could utilize the spirit of other fall holidays to promote your brand in a way that is truly relevant to consumers – especially your desired target audience.

Capturing the spirit of the season creatively will help your consumers connect and relate to your brand and your message. Custom products or schwag will make that possible within the scope of your budget and marketing strategy. You ultimately want to build your business and your overall image.

So, put on your marketing AND business leader caps, and “fall” into the perfect marketing strategy!

Aug

2015

Top Tips for Choosing the Right Promotional Products

By now, you should know that promotional products offer tremendous value to the advertiser, as well as to the recipient.

According to research by the Advertising Specialty Institute, one third of recipients said that they are more likely to do business with an advertiser after receiving the promotional item than they were beforehand.

Recipients not only remembered the name of the advertiser, they also overwhelmingly felt more positive about the advertiser.

With this information in mind, you should know that promotional products can convey your company message creatively. But to achieve the maximum impact, you have to give the right product to the right person, and still stay true to your business image.

What does it really take to choose the promotional products that work for your business (and satisfy customers)? Without a clear marketing strategy, you are setting yourself up for trouble.

This applies to every company, whether a non-profit organization or a small business. Here are some tips to choose the promo products to make your business shine and Make the right impression™.

1. Know Who You Are

It goes without saying that you should know your products and services inside out. But aside from that, you should know your company values, what you represent, what sort of image you want to present, and what is your brand message. You should build your marketing strategy based on that. Ask yourself if the product in question is appropriate for your brand. For example, if your business is in the educational industry, a custom beach towel may not be the ideal choice, but a custom clipboard may be better. It sounds too obvious, but by knowing yourself, you can know your customer too. That means that you can tailor your product to meet the needs of your target customers, while still building your brand accordingly. Also, you could consider distributing one sort of promo product to existing customers, and a different one for potential customers, as you are conveying two different messages–one as a reminder, and one as an invitation.

2. Be Unique

When it comes to promotional products, all too often, businesses choose generic products that they may personally like, but in the end are forgettable. The idea is to convey your brand message in a way in which customers feel appreciated, and your brand is remembered. To put your best foot forward and make the right impression™, choose promotional swag that is in tune with your brand and connects with customers on a personal level. For instance, a non-profit company could swap out a general promotional notepad for a Recycled Journal. Choose a product that will be a memorable keepsake, unlike a generic product that any company could use. Consider what sort of items your competitors are likely to give away, and go against the grain, but remember to represent your company appropriately and creatively. If everyone in your field is giving out branded sunglasses, think of what makes you unique and make your decisions based on that.

3. Consider Location

Think about how and where you are planning to distribute the product. If it will be at a company picnic, you have more leeway to customize larger promotional items like a cooler tote, while at a trade show, something lighter may be in order, like a convention tote. So make sure that you take location of product distribution into account when selecting the most effective and appropriate promotional products.

As you can clearly see, there is more to the story of promotional products than meets the eye. Promotional products are highly valuable tools to include in your marketing strategy, but only if you know how to make them work for you.

When you have a clear strategy, an understanding of your brand and your customer, and a unique selling position, choosing the most effective and most appropriate promotional products for your business to give away to both potential and new customers will be straightforward.

But always remember that if you are still completely lost, you have Pinnacle Promotions.

Aug

2015

Promotional Products: A Class Act

School is back in session all across the country. That means new seasons of extracurricular activities like sports, theatre rehearsals, etc. In addition, individual school clubs and groups are planning different ways to generate interest in or raise money for themselves and their programs.

That applies to the PTAs as well, who are organizing their agendas and events for the year. Pushing potential members and event attendees into purchasing random items will certainly make them hesitant to become involved.

If you’re a club or event organizer, a positive alternative to this method is to offer complimentary, custom swag. This will allow you to spark a bit of curiosity and interest without being a complete turn off. Without further ado, here is YOUR lesson in custom promotion.

Club and Event Ideas

No matter what type of group or event you may have, keeping personal belongings in order isn’t easy for everyone. That’s why a sturdy cinch pack or drawstring bag is a custom giveaway that’s appropriate for anyone. Offering individuals any one of these sturdy and stylish bags that are available in several different colors, styles, and patterns, and custom printing your group name or logo on it will build awareness, and act as a useful souvenir. Those individuals will be appreciative and more inclined to consider participating in respective activities.

Also, knowing the type of group or event you have, e.g. a fraternity, a sports team, an orientation, you can provide associated custom branded giveaways.

For example, fraternities and sororities may want to proudly print their letters on a comfortable and attractive t-shirt, while for a PTA event or school orientation, a fun and complimentary custom giveaway item could be a school stress ball.

On the other hand, a unique giveaway for an athletic team could be a bold Pencil pennant to stir up some real school spirit. With your organization’s information printed on these items, you can generate buzz keep your brand at the top of people’s minds, and encourage engagement from potential members.

So if you want to build brand awareness without being a bother, custom promotional giveaways will do the trick.

You will remind potential and current members/invitees of your value, add some genuine personality to your brand, and Make the right impression.™

Happy back to school!

Aug

2015

Trade Show Tuesday: Gearing Up for Your Winter Show

Trade shows are a great opportunity to capture the attention of potential customers, showcase your new products or services, and learn about industry trends and news. But to truly be prepared for presenting at a trade show, you need to start planning at least a few months in advance. Summer vacations are winding down, but before you know it winter will be upon us. That means that now is the time to start getting geared up for the winter trade shows.

At a trade show, perhaps more than in any other place, it is the optimal chance for your business to connect with customers and Make the right impression.™ To generate traffic to your booth, aside from having an excellent presentation, you can offer clever and creative giveaways to your visitors. Custom branded promotional products or schwag will help attendees remember your brand and appreciate your service. Here are some of those products that will be perfect giveaways for the winter trade show.

It’s cold and trade shows might not be the best or funnest thing to do (it depends on your opinion of course) so make sure you make the most of the event. Wear a nice Richardson cable knit beanie to stay warm, or find the fuzziest jacket around now with that said,

Winter Combo Set

Your booth attendees will literally warm up to your brand, when they have the Winter Combo Set in hand. This includes a comfortable fleece scarf, gloves, and cap in a neat drawstring bag, all of which can be custom embroidered with your corporate branding. Offering this convenient and useful branded bag to potential customers and clients as a token of appreciation, as opposed to items that will more than likely be tossed aside, will allow your brand to stand out amongst the competition, and hence be remembered. So, when planning for the trade show, remember to take timing and the season into consideration, and take advantage of that.

Plush Blanket

This is the perfect medium to get brand exposure and help customers stay warm and cozy all year long, not just in the winter. Your company logo can be embroidered on this microfiber fleece blanket for maximum branding impact. Since this product is not limited to a particular audience, you can attain even greater brand reach, which makes it a useful marketing tool at the trade show. Showing customers your soft side has never been easier, or more appealing.

Malmo Mix n Match Gift Set

When it starts to get chilly, nothing hits the spot like a hot beverage. That is why this gift set is an excellent choice as a giveaway. A sturdy and stylish travel mug AND a travel tumbler will make enjoying hot drinks on the go easy. Your corporate branding can be custom printed on both, and the two are packaged neatly in a silver gift box. You have lots of colors to choose from, and can also choose to have both the tumbler and the mug the same color or two different colors. Even better, you can enjoy free printing set up on the second item. You can really show that your brand has personality, and can create an inviting atmosphere for your booth visitors.

For the winter trade show, tap into the timing and spirit of the season with promotional products like these in your marketing arsenal. Remember, that to Make the right impression™, you should be able to connect with customers, and show them that you have put some thought into your entire trade show package, from the display to the presentation to the giveaways.

Make sure that everything that you do comes together to produce a cohesive brand message, with a dose of personality.

Jul

2015

Educational Products: Back 2 School With Promo Products

It’s that time of the year again, when kids and young adults grudgingly put away their bathing suits at the end of summer vacation and gear up for going back to school.

As they head back to hit the books, not only should the students be prepared with adequate school supplies, but so should the schools. Students, teachers, parents, and school administration all really do take pride in their school.

Custom school swag is a positive way to spark a sense of school spirit, assist students with their daily study needs, and even lend a helping hand with school special events or fundraisers.

While with businesses, their goal in using promotional products is generally to generate sales and leads, educational institutions use promotional products primarily to shape their brand image.

It’s a great way for a school to cost effectively promote the school. There are some broad categories of promotional products that schools of all sizes can take advantage of in developing their brands.

Homework Helpers:

For a student to succeed, having the right supplies makes all the difference. When a student can be organized, studying can be a little more peaceful. These sorts of promotional products can be offered to students at a reasonable price, perhaps at the school store. For example, one of the most essential items for studying is having excellent lighting. This bendable book light that easily clips onto a book is perfect for late night studying or reading, as it has an extra bright white LED light, and conveniently has a battery included. With your school or institution’s logo proudly printed on the base, students can take pride in their school and its commitment to student success. Another great option to consider adding to your collection of custom school supplies is the New Wave Pocket Buddy Notebook, equipped with inner and outer pockets, 70 lined sheets, and a matching translucent ballpoint pen. Promotional swag like pens, notepads, and pencil cases will make organization, and brand building a breeze.

School Spirit

Showing school spirit is part of a complete school or college experience. There couldn’t be a more fitting way to help students and faculty do that than with promotional spirit swag. Great for sporting events, a product like a personalized rally towel could really get a crowd going, and puts the spotlight on the school branding. Students and faculty will be reminded of whom they represent time and time again, and will be excited to share that message with others. That also goes for the Spirit Fingers with Tcal Imprint, which are gloves with mini pom-poms sewn into every finger to give you ten times the cheering power.

School Fundraisers/Events

From campus clubs to choirs and athletic teams, there comes a time when a little fundraising may be in order. Instead of boring potential donors with standard sales merchandise like magazine subscriptions or bake sales, provide them with useful and unique branded swag. Offering something like a cool and handy Waterproof Smartphone Pouch or a Copper Vacuum Insulated Bottle will capture audience attention and show some brand personality, hence making the right impression.

In the educational realm, custom promotional swag is a simple way to establish a school’s brand and personality, and consequently raise awareness for the institution, or even for a specific department within it. These products are beneficial to students and staff alike, and they are simple, cost-effective means of marketing.

Happy back to school!

Jul

2015

Are You Pinnacle Perfect?

We’ve told you how valuable promotional products can be for marketing your business. With Pinnacle Promotions on your side, building your brand couldn’t be easier.

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to take the plunge into the realm of promotional products, there are so many options that are available to you, from type to print style, to color. When you don’t have much time to get the high quality and affordable custom branded promotional products that your business needs ready for your event, we have you covered.

Enter Pinnacle Perfect—our most popular promotional items, with simplified swag options at factory direct prices. With Pinnacle Perfect products, you won’t have the hassle or hesitation, as these products have quick turnarounds backed by our Pinnacle Platinum Guarantee.

Your marketing may not be perfect, but to help you get there, there’s Pinnacle Perfect. These schwag products span across different categories from drinkware to bags to office accessories and more. It’s just a matter of finding what works for you.

Drinkware

For example, Pinnacle’s take on the classic white coffee mug has proven to be a simple, yet extremely effective takeaway piece for customers, as they have a way to remember your brand each and every day, while sipping their favorite beverages. As an added convenience, this ceramic mug is microwave safe with a comfortable handle. Then, with your branding cleanly printed on the front of the mug, you will be ready for your next event!

Giveaways & Favors

We’ve got some perfectly fun and still useful swag like these Key Tags. These custom branded LED key tags come in four bold colors and even include batteries. The LED feature coupled with custom branding certainly takes it up a notch not just in terms of appearance, but also in terms of marketing power.

Technology & Electronics

In this age of technology-obsessed consumers, it is a great time to take advantage of the marketing opportunity available. Powerbanks can be screen printed or laser engraved with your corporate logo, adding some energy not just to devices, but also to your marketing. With a sleek finish and a choice of four vibrant colors, you can appeal to consumers, as well as add some personality to your brand.

Believe it or not, your company has tremendous marketing potential. With Pinnacle Perfect products, you don’t have to jump through the hoops to achieve success.

In terms of utilizing schwag and custom products, don’t get bogged down by the vast number of choices available to you. Follow our simple breakdown of cost-effective, immensely popular, custom promotional products, and you’re sure to Make the Right Impression™.

Jul

2015

Custom Outdoor Products: Thinking “Outside” the Box

You have a business and a fantastic product or service. But, now you have to engage in one of the most essential activities to build your business—attracting potential customers.

Even if you already have customers, to keep the business going and growing, attracting even more customers should be an ongoing effort. To do that, you need to have a unique point of view, and give customers a compelling reason to communicate with you. While every business is different, marketing remains necessary for every one. Ideally, you should be using multiple channels to find and attract customers.

So, as a supplement (for larger businesses) or an alternative (for smaller businesses) to traditional marketing efforts like print or television media, think about using promotional products. When it comes to advertising, over time, the attention span of customers has become shorter and shorter, making it even more difficult for businesses to build their brands. In turn, businesses have to think outside the box to garner customers.

What better way to literally do that than with custom promotional products? Since it’s summer, customers can take your brand outdoors with unique custom outdoor products.

Coolers

Instead of simply telling customers how wonderful you are, listen for what they really want, and then satisfy that want. At this time of the year, customers are spending more time outdoors with friends and family, hosting parties, having picnics or just relaxing. For these reasons, providing customers with promo items like custom coolers is a good incentive for them to conduct business with you. Your company logo or contact information can easily be printed onto these custom coolers, which makes it really simple to take an ordinary cooler, and turn it into an effective advertising tool. Our selection of promotional coolers come in various sizes and colors designed with the customer in mind, like the Collapsible Party Cooler, which can securely hold a whopping 28 beverage cans and even comes with a retractable bottle opener!

Chairs

Once customers have coolers packed with cold drinks close by, they will need somewhere comfortable to sit back and relax. Whether it’s at a concert, a sporting event, or just to soak up some sun, a custom promotional chair is the perfect seat. By providing customers an enjoyable day outside, your brand can enjoy greater visibility, and in turn, you will expand your audience. Custom printing a swag item like the Fanatic Event Folding Chair with your corporate logo will surely help your brand stand out in the crowd. This chair also conveniently has built-in cup holders and even a matching carrying case.

Sports

After chilling out with a refreshing beverage for a bit, customers have picked up the pep to play some sports and games. We’ve got custom sports products to equip the athletes and the cheering section too, from soccer balls to golf tees to face paint and more. These offer wonderful branding opportunities that really allow your brand to be seen on a larger scale, regardless of how small your business may be. You can really get more bang for your buck, especially since unique branded swag makes a statement and illustrates your brand personality without having to spend a lot of money.

Custom outdoor promotional products will freshen up your marketing strategy in a way that makes your products, services AND your brand message resonate with customers.

Because at the end of the day, if you want to get the attention of your customers, you have to give it to them first.

Jul

2015

Where Does the Word Swag Come From?

At Pinnacle Promotions, swag is not just our business – it’s our passion. You might be wondering what swag really is, and from where did that term actually originate?

There have been varied opinions over the years about how ‘swag’ came to be. Many people have convinced themselves that ‘swag’ must be an acronym or abbreviation for something.

Here are some things we came across in our research – just to name a few:

‘Stuff We All Get’
‘Stuff We Ain’t Got’
‘Stolen Without A Gun’
‘Scientific Wild Arsed Guess’

While these may be rather colorful explanations, they are certainly not true. ‘Swag’ actually comes from the Scandinavian word svagga, meaning ‘to rock unsteadily or lurch.’ It was first introduced into the English language in the 13^th or 14^th century.

As you might suspect, the meaning of words evolves over time, and it’s certainly not set in stone. In current usage, swag has come to have a few very different meanings—illegally obtained goods, a decorative garland, or lastly, our realm of expertise, free merchandise—namely promotional items and goodies.

For us swag lovers, it’s all about anything and everything that can be custom branded to promote your business.

The possibilities are endless, from custom branded hats to mobile phone cases to promotional magnets, and everything in between. We’ve seen from first-hand experience how custom promotional products have benefited businesses of all sizes.

If you’ve decided that your marketing strategy could use an update, you might just need a little bit of swag. We would love to share our passion for swag with you by helping you build much needed brand awareness and recognition with the promotional products that click with your company and audience.

Just as the meaning and context of words changes with the times, so should your marketing strategy. With the right swag, you can build your business by leaps and bounds, and ultimately Make the right impression™.

Marketing Ideas

Promotional Products to Channel Your Inner Athlete

How to Throw the Perfect Labor Day Corporate Event

Seasonal Promotional Products: How to “Fall” Into the Perfect Marketing Strategy

Top Tips for Choosing the Right Promotional Products

Promotional Products: A Class Act

Trade Show Tuesday: Gearing Up for Your Winter Show

Educational Products: Back 2 School With Promo Products

Are You Pinnacle Perfect?

Custom Outdoor Products: Thinking “Outside” the Box

Where Does the Word Swag Come From?

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