Uncategorized

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

Custom Electronics: Supercharge Your Brand

Technology has become completely ingrained in our society, and most people would consider it a necessity in their everyday lives. Nowadays, it seems that we can barely fathom how we would even function without having access to all the gadgets and gizmos at our disposal.

As a business, building your brand is essentially about capturing the customer’s attention, and clearly communicating your value. So in this day and age, combining bold branding with technology will steer your business towards success. With promotional custom branded electronics, you’ll supercharge your brand–literally. Here are just a few ways in which you can connect with current and potential customers by lending them a helping hand with custom promotional electronics.

Help them unwind

No, we don’t mean offer free drinks to all your customers. When it comes to technology and electronics, it’s about wires. With everything from cell phone and computer chargers, to video game consoles, to earphones, people have a lot of cords and wires to keep track of, and it becomes a tangled mess very quickly. You can provide customers with certain custom promotional products to reduce the clutter, and at the same time, bring out the best in your brand.

For example, the Cord Wrap/Earphone Organizer is a neat way to keep earphones or other cords wrapped up in place. Even better, you can custom print your corporate logo directly on this handy organizer. Another unique item to help customers organize their electronic chaos is the 3-Port USB Hub with Sticky Flags, a 3-port hub with sticky flags in five neon colors. With your branding printed on the top, customers are constantly reminded of your business, and how it is impacting them on a daily basis.

Turn Up the Volume

Customers love their music, and can be very particular about enjoying the subtle nuances and true sound quality. Providing customers with attractive and quality bluetooth speakers will make that experience even better. Personalizing a useful item like a Bluetooth speaker by printing your branding across the front gives you the unique opportunity to directly appeal to customers’ sensibilities, as well as call-out to your brand. Customers don’t have to worry about lugging around a bulky item just to enjoy their music to its fullest. Something like the Jabba Bluetooth Speaker easily provides 2 hours of playback time on a single charge, and even recharges in 2.5 hours. It also has an optional custom wrap for the packaging. Or, another wonderful option is the Whammo Bluetooth Speaker, which makes listening on-the-go super easy.

Keep Everything in its Place

With all those electronics, things can get out of hand. For example, it’s very frustrating to have your cell phone one minute, and lose it the very next. For times like that, make your brand useful. A cool Jelly Sticky Pad® allows you to stick your digital devices, glasses, and/or any other small items that easily get lost to it, and it leaves no sticky residue. Having precious items sneakily slide away from you is no longer an issue. With plenty of room for large printing, this is an incredibly cost-effective and meaningful way to show customers appreciation and to put your brand at the top of their minds.

Utilizing custom branded electronics, and these deceptively simple ideas in your marketing strategy will establish a brand message that resonates with customers, and gives you effortless brand-building opportunities.

Jul

2015

Event Planning: How to Organize a Killer Company Event

When it comes to your business, you’ve probably heard the phrase “image is everything.” This is true, as showing a sense of professionalism is important if you want to connect with other businesses and even with your own employees. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with your brand.

In actuality, to Make the right impression™, it’s important to build a brand that’s truly professional with a sense of personality. A great way to promote team building, encourage new clients to consider doing business with you, to raise money for a cause, or even to launch a new product is to host a company event.

But, to put together a successful company event, it takes time and planning. From the location, to the publicity, to the catering, there are lots of elements to take into consideration. Here are some of the important steps to making your event a success.

Step One:

Obviously, the first step in planning a company event is to define the business purpose for holding the event, and who your target audience is. Every planning decision that you make will be driven by this knowledge, such as the event format, the content of the event itself, the location, etc. For example, is your aim in hosting this event to generate business leads, or to raise awareness for your company or a specific product? Once you have established this, you should make sure that your team is aware of that purpose.

Step Two:

The next step is to establish a budget, and accordingly, the complete experience. Determining a set budget allows you to understand what you can realistically do within your limitations and the scope of your resources. At the same time, once you have a set budget in mind, know if it will allow you to achieve your event goals.

Step Three:

Then keeping your goals and budget in mind, the third step is to figure out a theme and plan the experience. What do you want attendees to learn, achieve, and have as a result? What sort of entertainment, or activity sessions should invitees expect to see and hear, for example, games, speakers, maybe product demos, and/or food & drink? There should be some sort of element of engagement or fun, otherwise it will not be a worthwhile or memorable experience for you or for attendees. Think about what type of business you have, and what activities would be appropriate for your brand and your goals.

Step Four:

The fourth step, and probably one of the most important parts of putting on a great corporate event is to promote it. Why is this so important? Because, without promoting your event, nobody will know that it even exists, and without people, you don’t have an event! A couple of good ways to get the word out are to publicize it through social media, targeted emails or newsletters, or creatively reminding them by distributing custom branded invitations or other promotional products.

Now, right from the moment that event invitees enter your event space, you can create a completely branded experience. You could first give them these handy Badge Holder Neck Wallets, which are perfect for storing ID cards, money, business cards, etc. This will make it easier for attendees to network at the event. Then, along the way, every display could be branded using these custom printed 8-foot economy table throws available in lots of different colors to meet your brand standards. From the décor to the swag and right down to the beverage glasses, don’t miss out on valuable branding opportunities.

Follow these steps, and organizing a killer company event will be a breeze. Finally, remember that utilizing effective branding in your corporate event with items like promotional schwag present a cohesive and professional image that STILL has personality.

Happy planning!

Jul

2015

Pinnacle Spotlight: Coca-Cola

Here at Pinnacle Promotions, you’ll quickly find that your business has the ability to be a hero in your field, when you realize that your superpower is top-notch branding. No matter what sort of corporation, clients both large and small have found first-hand how custom branded promotional products only enhance their existing marketing campaigns.

Making the right impression™ is the key goal for any business, regardless of size. You want your customer to have a clear understanding of your core values, and to immediately associate with your brand in a positive way. If you recognize the customer’s value, and they can recognize your value, building trust, and in turn, your business will be a cinch. The challenge in attracting and retaining customers is oftentimes keeping your brand fresh and relevant. That’s where Pinnacle comes in. We’ll help you identify what makes you YOU, and provide your business with the most appropriate options.

In this regard, here’s what one of our most successful clients, (whom you may be familiar with!), The Coca-Cola Company, had to say about their experience:

“Pinnacle Promotions never ceases to amaze me. Their team constantly brings in new ideas that fit our brands’ images and personalities. They truly understand our brands’ needs and help take our products to the next level with their work. I can always rely on Pinnacle to provide me with the best options, from price-conscious pieces to premium items, and the results consistently turn out great! I am constantly impressed by their diligence and follow-up to ensure that we stay on track. I have never dealt with such a friendly and hard-working staff!”

You can see how a little custom promoting can really go a long way. In current times, bringing your brand to prominence has become increasingly difficult, as customers’ attention spans for marketing grow shorter, and the amount of competition is increasing. Thinking of new ways to always stay one foot ahead of the competition can wear you out, so utilizing custom branded promotional products in your marketing strategy will take that load off your back.

We’re honored to have contributed to the branding success of companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Emory University, Cox Media, and more. From the world’s most recognized brands, to the small businesses that are still finding their footing, Pinnacle Promotions is ready to help you harness your branding power, and make the right impression™.

Jul

2015

Top Products for Promoting Employee Wellness

It is often said that happy and healthy employees are better employees. That seems obvious, but employers oftentimes cannot figure out how to promote this sort of harmonious atmosphere in the workplace. In fact, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found that “companies that support workplace health have a greater percentage of employees at work every day.”

While as an employer, you cannot prevent or cure a disease, taking small steps to promote employee health and wellness can make a big difference in the long run. Instituting large-scale health programs may be out of the scope of your business, but offering employees certain types of promotional products is an affordable and effective way to show them that you are taking their health into consideration, hence boosting productivity. With these promotional products, it’s not so much about achieving brand recognition, as it is about having healthier and happier employees. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Hand Sanitizer Spray Pump

Practicing good hygiene is key to staying healthy. While hand washing really is the ideal way to keep germs at bay, getting to soap and water may not always be possible, especially on the go. In these cases, hand sanitizers are a good alternative. The 0.34 oz Hand Sanitzer Spray Pump is perfect for these situations, as its uniquely designed cap has a pocket clip allows it to be attached to anything, from belts to briefcases to backpacks, and more. Not only does it have the advantage of portability, the Hand Sanitizer Spray pump also comes in your choice of seven different colors. Unlike most hand sanitizers, which are liquid gels, this is literally a ‘handy’ sanitizing spray! Additionally, custom printing your corporate branding across the pen provides employees with a way to remember how your business is looking out for their wellbeing.

In-Shape Promotional Pedometer

Another essential way to improve overall health is exercise. Regular physical exercise gives you more energy, both physically and mentally. This means more productivity in the workplace. As an employer, you can encourage healthy habits with this useful promotional product, the multi function promotional pedometer. It’s easy for employees to fall into a sedentary lifestyle in the workplace, so this will inspire them to get moving. The In-Shape pedometer makes tracking exercise simple and fun, as it has an easy-to-read LCD step counter. As an added convenience, the pedometer has an auto-off power-saving function.

Vanity 7-Piece Personal Care Kit

Stressed employees are surely not better workers. At the end of the day, employees need to be able to relax and take care of themselves, so this deluxe custom kit is a way to express your appreciation to employees for everything that they do. The kit includes a personal mirror, fingernail clipper, toenail clipper, cuticle tool, nail file, scissors, and tweezers. It all comes in a zipppered case with an open pocket, that you can imprint with your corporate logo, to send employees the message that the company recognizes their value.

While promoting your own business is important, making sure that you have healthy and happy employees to help you get the job done is equally important. These custom branded promotional products will certainly show your employees appreciation, build your brand image, and make an impression.™

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

What in the World is a Tchotchke Anyway?

In regards to the marketing industry, and especially in regards to promo products and swag, you may have heard the term ‘tchotchke’ being thrown around here and there.

Besides being a funny-sounding word that literally nobody in the world can spell correctly on the first try (without Google), Tchotchke is actually an old Yiddish term meaning an inexpensive, showy trinket or miscellaneous item.

Just for fun, here are a few renditions of the word that we came across:

tsatske (not even sure what this is)
chochkey (kudos for most creative!)
chachki
chotchkes
chachtski
chochski

Okay, enough.

Whether you call promotional products “tchotchkes,” “swag,” or “giveaways,” they can be an important part of your marketing strategy. But unlike the latter two terms, marketers tend to avoid using the term “tchotchke,” as it has come to have a negative connotation in marketing.

For example, nowadays, if a professional utilizes a promotional product to market his or her business without regard to the target audience or whether that product even relates to the business, that promotional product becomes a tchotchke – more of a throwaway item.

The only way that you can make any impact in distributing promotional items to potential and current customers is to provide products that actually have a purpose and value to them. Don’t let your business dollars or brand (or spelling… LOL) get tossed in the trash.

Putting the focus on the customer experience will help your business choose the most appropriate and effective promotional products that will not be termed tchotchkes. If used correctly, custom promotional products can generate interest, and more importantly engagement with your brand and business.

It has additionally been proven that effective promotional products foster customer goodwill (positive attitudes and feelings) towards a company and its salespeople. So don’t let the lingo like “tchotchke” dissuade you from taking advantage of promotional products. Contrary to what you may already believe, promotional products do not, by any means, cheapen your brand, provided they are useful and unique.

For example, an athletic company may want to give clients a custom wristband to get them ready for a workout. While an educational company may want to give away bendable book lights. At Pinnacle, we’ll help you find the ideal promotional products for your brand and industry that will assist your business in generating leads and sales.

Always remember to make the needs and expectations of customers your priority, because ultimately, it’s their experience with your brand that matters the most.

By choosing a brand-appropriate promotional product over a forgettable, random item (a tchotchke), you can really enhance your marketing campaigns.

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™.

Uncategorized

Trade Show Tuesday: Gearing Up for Your Winter Show

Custom Electronics: Supercharge Your Brand

Event Planning: How to Organize a Killer Company Event

Pinnacle Spotlight: Coca-Cola

Top Products for Promoting Employee Wellness

Educational Products: Back 2 School With Promo Products

Are You Pinnacle Perfect?

What in the World is a Tchotchke Anyway?

Custom Outdoor Products: Thinking “Outside” the Box

Where Does the Word Swag Come From?

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