custom outdoors products

It’s Not Just Orchid, it’s Radiant Orchid: Pantone 2014 Color of the Year

It’s Not Just Orchid, it’s Radiant Orchid: Pantone 2014 Color of the Year

If you work as a graphic designer or with graphic designers in any capacity, no doubt you are familiar with the Pantone Matching System, which is the standard color matching system across pretty much all industries.

Each year, Pantone chooses a “Color of the Year.” The color is decided upon at a secret Pantone meeting held in a European capital each year. The color is reportedly chosen in conjunction with many of the cultural influences that Pantone believes are relevant in our present lives. The color is meant to capture the spirit of the year.

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2014 is Radiant Orchid.
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Last year’s color was green. Lots of things are green. Not all that many things are “radiant orchid.” Our team worked very hard to find promotional or customized marketing products around the office that are orchid. We found these two things that are close.

orchid1orchid2

To help our designers, idea-makers and customers get into the color of the year we created a Pinterest board.

What promotional items do you think will look best in radiant orchid?

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Current Events News, Seasonal Marketing Ideas, Top Trending Topics, 0 comments

Promotional Product Hacks to Save Your Trade Show

We know how difficult it is to plan, prepare, and execute a trade show and that you’re looking for tips and tricks to make it easier. Storage is in short supply at trade shows. So, how can you make the most of it? We suggest doubling up the uses of your promotional items so that you don’t have to remember quite so many things. Some people call these hacks. We call them “imaginative repurposing.”

1. Silicone wristbands make handy rubber bands when you’re overwhelmed with loose pens or pencils and short on bundling methods.

Silicone wristband

Not only are these handy customized wristbands going to be utilized over and over by tradeshow attendees (because you just gave them a new idea) but will also allow you to be organized at the same time.

2. Reduce the number of office supplies that you need to take by leveraging your promotional items for your booth staff.

Post-It Notes

These will be handy for your staff to jot down notes to hand to attendees. Branding and personal contact reminder all rolled up in one.

3. Got a tablet or iPad to display but can’t get a new case or stand?

Windsor Reflections Promotional Jotters

Order the Windsor Reflections Promotional Jotter and use it to double as a display stand.

4. Cups are a great tradeshow promotional item because they are likely to be used again; they have a long “shelf life.” However, cups use up a lot of space, but really most of it is just air.

Fluted Stadium Cup

So, how do you take advantage of this? If you will be shipping your giveaway cups, use the cups for storage or stuff them full with other essentials that need to go to your trade show. This will reduce the number of boxes that you would need to ship and reduces clutter at the actual booth. In addition, many booths will use music to create the ambiance within the booth. Think you need to take along extra speakers to be heard? Think again. If playing music from your phone, place your phone’s speaker inside one of those snazzy promotional cups to amplify the sound.

5. Traveling with fragile tradeshow items and need cushioning to pack your valuables in? Have you ever thought of using a 1/4’ mouse pad, imprinted with your logo to cushion your precious delivery?

Thick Full Color Mouse Pad

Mouse pads come in all shapes, sizes, and thicknesses and can be used not only to ensure your mouse works correctly, but can be used to take up extra space in the box and absorb any shock that your shipping boxes may incur.

So, when you get ready to pack up your trade show tables, displays, and promotional items, recall these tips to save space, time, energy, and keep you organized. Well, at least make you look smart by knowing the hacks.

Got any good hacks of your own? Let us know!

Posted by Admin in Marketing Ideas, Tradeshow Giveaways & Swag, 1 comment

The best gift I ever received was…

The best gift I ever received was…

Pinnacle Promotions is hosting a contest to give away our top picks for Holiday Thank You Gifts. I am ineligible to enter.
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However, I still want to have the chance to tell everyone about the best present I ever received.

I am a life-long Houston Oiler fan, who has converted into a Houston Texans fan. Three years ago, my husband gave me tickets to the Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans football game in Nashville, only a few hours from where I live. I had never before been to an Oilers or Texans football game, home or away.

GameFrametasticMy husband purchased amazing seats to the December game. He booked a beautiful hotel in the heart of Nashville. Who just happened to be staying at the hotel? Why, the Houston Texans team, staff and flight crew were all staying at the hotel. By chance, we became fast friends with the flight crew before we even knew who they were. That friendship led to player introductions, too-numerous-to-count photos, sideline passes and life-long friendships.

While Pinnacle Promotions is not giving away tickets to the Texans-Titans football game, we are giving away a fabulous gift pack of items from our top picks of promotional, customized Thank You Gifts for end of the year giving.

What is the best gift you ever received?

Posted by Lee in Contests and Promotions, 0 comments

Are You a Promo Hoarder?

According to the European Promotional Products Association, a whopping 91% of consumers keep a promotional product in their kitchen. This was surprising to me, until I realized that the EPPA was talking about me. Not only do I do this, but also I might be a promotional product hoarder.promfi infographic_11f1ec510dbe285b39baca0385b3afef

The best burger place in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is called Scotty P’s. There are six locations. The menu items are the same at each location, but are named specific to that location. For example, the BBQ burger is called the Watson Burger at the Allen location, and the Warren Burger at the Frisco location based on prominent members of those communities.

It’s not just the food that draws you to Scotty P’s. For years, they gave a plastic cup with each drink purchase. scottypsThere was no upsell attached to the cup. You bought a drink; you got a cup with their logo imprinted on it. As loyal customers, we have more than one Scotty P’s cup. The Pink cup during October was especially sought after.  Some restaurants maintain arrangements with their drink brand to provide promotional cups. These cups are usually co-branded with the restaurant logo and the drink brand logo. The Scotty P’s cups are just branded with their corporate logo.

Inspired by the EPPA statistics, I decided to take a look around the kitchen. After further review, I decided I might be a promo hoarder. I own more than 30+ Scotty P’s cups. And, I don’t even live in Texas any longer.

Are you one of the 55% of people who keep a promotional product in your bedroom? Are you one of the 25% of people who use a promotional pen in the home or office?  Tell us: Are you a promotional products hoarder?

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Brand Identity and Corporate Logos, Cool Promotional Products We Love, 0 comments

Trending Now: Festival Giveaways

With May fast approaching, we will be in the thick of outdoor events before we know it! Especially for us lucky ones in the South- we have already had a few fabulous weekends of “fun in the sun” activities! I went to the Dogwood Festival a few weekends back and saw a lot of promotional products in use!

Here are my picks for promotional swag to handout at your next outdoor event.

Metallic Rainbow Malibu Sunglasses:

A little different from your standard neon frames or aviators. Your brand will be seen as fun and hip.

Sunglases with rainbow metallic lenses.

Sunscreen with Carabiner:

Protect your potential clients from the sun with an SPF 30 sunscreen! They will thank you with their business!!

Promotional sunscreen on a carabiner

Non-Woven Tote Bag:

This good-looking tote will be much appreciated to the end user at an outdoor event. They can stuff all their promotional goodies in here. Your logo will travel thru the festival and beyond!

Black tote bag with white logo and green handles

h2Go Aluminium Classic Water Bottle:

Festivals often have water stations. Give your customers this custom water bottle that comes in 11 different colors so they won’t have to spend $10 on  bottled water and can refill their bottle instead.

Neon green water bottle with logo

 BeachNik Combo Set:

A can cooler and cup holder!! Great for the beach or hanging out on the lawn at a concert or park! Forget about warm or spilled drinks!!

Tie-Dye Blanket:

A blanket or tarp is a great giveaway. This tie-dye one is on-trend and perfect for the festival season! Your brand will be spotted in style!

Tie Dyed Blanket with Logo

For more ideas on seasonal giveaways, visit our Outdoors category.

What are your favorite items to bring to a festival?

Posted by Admin, 0 comments

Picnic Refreshers

Summer is starting to wind down, and while that may be unfortunate for the school aged kids, it’s great for emptying the local parks. For me, empty parks mean afternoons spent in a sundress, a floppy hat, and oversized sunglasses while snacking on whatever fits into my tote bag and is easy to haul along with my dog. But now with picnic themed promotional items from Pinnacle, my picnics are going to get an upgrade before the summer is over.

So far my favorite is the Beach Picnic Pack. Despite the name, it doesn’t have to be used just at the beach. The insulated compartment means that my food will stay warm or cool and comes with a complete picnic set for 4.

Beach Picnic Pack

Best of all, since it comes in three bright summery colors, no matter what color I chose, it’ll match my favorite summertime outfits.

While picnicing it’s also a great idea to bring along a nice blanket for the occasion. If you’re looking for something water resistant, be sure to check out our picnic blanket with water resistant backing. It’s perfect for those that have kids who destroy picnics for fun. Don’t just stop there though, Pinnacle Promotions has a wide variety of picnic items promotional and non-promotional for your picnicing pleasure!

Sofia
Merchandising Assistant

Posted by Admin in Cool Promotional Products We Love, 0 comments

Megan’s Product Pick of the Week: The Take a Seat Stool


This is the time of year when we all look forward to outdoor events, at least I do! One of my favorite practical products that I saw at January’s PPAI Expo was the Take a Seat Stool.

 

The Take a Seat Stool is made from eco-friendly, recycled paper and folds up flat for easy transport. It is small enough to fit in a large tote! The Take a Seat can accommodate up to 200 lbs, and sitting on it is comfortable and not the least bit wobbly. This stool is great for use both indoors and out with a protective coating that helps prevent moisture from ruining your beloved travel bench.

The Take a Seat is perfect for golf events, parades, barbecues, outdoor sporting events and concerts in the park. It would also be perfect to use for extra seating in a “lounge” setting, promoting a new product at any happening. Since it’s available with a one color imprint or with a full color option, your message is fully customizable!

I was lucky enough to receive a Take a Seat of my own and I’m definitely going to take it to all the outdoor festivals this year! I am sure that it will gather some attention and wistful smiles from my fellow concert-goers.

Megan

Merchandising Manager

Posted by Admin in Cool Promotional Products We Love, 2 comments

Schwinn Bicycles and Custom Sports Bottles for Summer Fun

When was the last time you spent an afternoon riding a Schwinn bicycle, sipping from a custom sports bottle, and waving to your neighbors with the wind blowing through your hair? I’m guessing, for most of our readers, not recently, although I know my coworker Acree happens to be an avid cyclist.

Nostalgia marketing is a powerful technique used by marketers to capitalize on the sentimental associations that their target audiences harbor for certain products and/or experiences. At 23, I rarely find myself feeling nostalgic about my past, but last Sunday afternoon, as I ventured out to Atlanta’s Virginia Highlands neighborhood to enjoy the beautiful weather with my dog and my sister, I spied a father on the sidewalk across the street teaching his young daughter how to ride her bicycle without training wheels.

For more about Schwinn’s advertising campaign and my latest personal wave of nostalgia, keep reading…

Posted by Admin in Brand Identity and Corporate Logos, 0 comments

Where Have You Spotted John Deere Promotional Products?

Having been born and bred in Georgia, I am no stranger to the distinctive green and yellow logo featured on John Deere promotional products. Okay, so I grew up in the metro Atlanta area, where farmland is sparse and suburban residents have no need for heavy duty John Deere agricultural equipment to manicure their manageable front yards… Nevertheless, I had peers who would not leave home without their trademark John Deere trucker hats. I always knew that the brand had a longstanding, loyal following in the Southeast, but during my teen years, I viewed it as more of a trend- wearing John Deere paraphernalia made people my age appear “rugged” and “outdoorsy”. Looking back, I wonder if even half of the John Deere-clad teenagers I knew had ever stood within 3 feet of an actual tractor!

An article on BrandFreak.com discusses John Deere’s current campaign, called “What Will You Create.” It features actual customers who have accomplished amazing agricultural feats using John Deere equipment. For example, take Larry Carlson, a New Yorker who transformed a 5 acre potato field into a Tuscan-inspired panorama of gardens and mazes using tractors made by- you guessed it- John Deere. Keep reading…

Posted by Admin in Promotional Products Around Town, 0 comments

Promotional Products Take a Trip to the Wilderness

kenhodge13Although I am far from what you might consider “outdoorsy,” last weekend I ventured into the wilderness and went camping. As I was sitting around the campfire- surrounded by trees, water, and insects rather than cubicles, advertisements and televisions- I realized that in spite of the natural surroundings I was accompanied by many brands.

From my flashlight to the collapsible can cooler and of course the Swiss Army knife, many of the items I brought had been given to me by a corporation. I started thinking about how these promotional products successfully traveled all that way with us, and came to the conclusion that functional promotional items are key to building any brand.

Functional products, including drinkware, blankets, chairs and other outdoors products, can be imprinted with a company name and logo for increased brand exposure. Giving a product that is not only practical, but also small and easily compactable for easy travel, ensures that your company goes everywhere recipients go. Here are some camping tips to help you incorporate useful items into your next marketing campaign and some activities to inspire a trip to the outdoors.

-Hiking: This is not only a fun activity, but also a way to get to know the area where you will be staying and to tire yourself out before a night of sleeping on the ground. For kids or less active individuals, a leisurely nature walk is also a good afternoon pursuit. Stay hydrated and healthy with promotional sports bottles.

-Grilling: Plan ahead and make sure to pack food that can be cooked outdoors on a grill or open campfire. It’s also a good idea to bring items that won’t leave a mess, to ensure that pesky animals don’t bother you. And don’t forget to keep items fresh in a personalized cooler until you are ready to cook

-S’more making: Making S’mores is delicious and a good way to stay warm around the campfire. Carry a promotional flashlight with you if you venture into the woods to look for the perfect sticks. And always take a buddy, too.

-Camp songs and ghost stories: Singing songs and telling stories are great pre-bedtime activities. Don’t forget to write down your favorite tunes and spooky narratives in promotional jotters so you can remember them for next year’s trip to the wilderness.

 

Posted by Admin in Promotional Products Around Town, 0 comments