That time of year is steadily approaching and I can hardly contain my excitement. Of all sports, my favorite is College Football. The sound of the marching bands, the cheering fans, the scents of sweat and grass filling the air; you can’t beat it. I have to say growing up in the Southeast the rivalries are brutal and I don’t know many other parts of the country that take their loyalty as seriously as those fans in the SEC.
Even if you aren’t a hardcore sports fanatic, it is always fun to be in the outdoors supporting student athletes in any venue. I have fond memories of my High School days with the cheerleaders and pep rallies giving us the chance to leave school early and gear up for the main event. I still have promotional products like mini footballs and pom-poms from those rallies.
In the spirit of the upcoming season, we at Pinnacle are gearing up, as well. Not only do we have an extensive product line of team gear, we have some of the coolest rally items, too. From Mini Plastic Footballs to Klicker Pom-Poms, we can get the spirit going. So no matter what sport or event you may be a fan of, we can help you spread the cheer!
Go Vols!
Stephania
Sales and Marketing Production Assistant
Every year on the first Tuesday in August between the hours of 7pm and 10pm, millions of people in thousands of communities across the United States participate in the National Night Out event to recognize crime and drug prevention. This year marks the 26th annual awareness evening, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored by various companies and organizations in observing communities.
The goals of this event include increasing awareness in crime and drug prevention, garnering support for local programs against criminal activity, fostering cooperation among police and neighborhood watch groups, and alerting criminals that neighborhoods will not tolerate deviants and unlawful activity.
Your company can emphasize the importance of safety to employees and customers throughout the year by giving away promotional products that will ensure their well-being. Automotive emergency kits featuring your imprinted logo are a great way to make recipients aware of your organizations’ concern for their protection, and they will appreciate the provision of such useful (and necessary!) items, courtesy of your brand.
One especially valuable promotional product is the Roadside Emergency Car Kit, which includes a siren and flashing emergency light. Even inside the home, this item has the potential to save lives when used correctly, because of its ability to inform passersby that the user is in need of assistance.
It isn’t too late to take part in this year’s National Night Out- research activities in and around your community and encourage your company to volunteer tonight as a sponsor. At the very least, encourage your neighbors to meet you outside to recognize this unique annual occurrence. Lock all of your front doors, switch on outside lights, and spend a few hours socializing in the fresh air!
This week the finale for the Emmy-nominated reality hit show So You Think You Can Dance airs on Fox television, but if you’re one of the 8.9 million viewers that tune in weekly you’ve already cleared your schedule for this Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8/7c to find out who America chooses as its favorite dancer. SYTYCD is one of my absolute favorite television shows (if you didn’t already know that from reading my bio and the answer to question 3 – What is the TV show you have to set your Tivo for?) and it is also a favorite among the other employees here at Pinnacle. And it is no surprise as since its debut with Season 1 in 2005, it has consistently been among the top in the ratings, generating spin off versions of the show in New Zealand, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Canada, Germany, Greece, Poland, Malaysia, Norway, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Australia (whew!) with more countries in the works. The major triumph of the show, however, – while offering a unique opportunity for contestants ranging from national competition winners, to unknown street dancers – is that it has brought dance to the forefront of American culture and shown how this creative outlet can have such a positive impact on the nation’s youth.
Riding on the tails of this success are the sponsors of SYTYCD. Product placement and brand integration have become a huge part of the television industry, extending to the realm of reality TV, and their advertising strategies have become a lot more cultivated than just putting a company name or logo on the judges’ platform. One of the sponsors for season four of SYTYCD was Unilever’s Snuggle fabric softener. They used the show to market their new Snuggle with Fresh Release fabric softener. With its tagline, “Simply make a move and feel the freshness,” they tied the product into the dancing theme and furthered this connection with segments featuring contestants and viewers showing off their “Happy Dances.” Snuggle even had viewers submit their happy dance videos and sponsored a sweepstakes with a top prize of a trip to the show’s finale.
Although your company may not have a budget large enough to sponsor a television series like So You Think You Can Dance, there are sure to be tons of other organizations in your community that are looking for local corporations to aid in their causes, and in turn, provide exposure to your brand. Sponsoring a team or event is one of the most effective ways to get your brand noticed. Sponsor a local youth sports team and have your company name and logo imprinted on the sleeve of their athletic and team wear, giving you tons of brand visibility. You can even customize a schedule magnet to give out to fans, displaying the team’s game schedule, and your company’s name and logo. Parents and fans will be sure to support your company, as you have supported their team.
Be sure to tune in to the So You Think You Can Dance finale this week to find out whom America votes as its favorite dancer (I’m rooting for Kayla!) and don’t forget to pay attention to all of the corporate sponsors!
Let me preface this post by saying that I consider myself to be extremely unlucky. Aside from the watergun I won playing Bingo when I was 8, I can’t remember the last time I won a contest or drawing. My sister, on the other hand, continues to win countless freebies: tickets to sporting events from furniture store raffles, numerous movie premiere tickets from radio stations, and even a weekend getaway courtesy of a large hotel chain. My losing streak, however, does not discourage me from trying my luck every so often with scratch-off lottery tickets. 9 times out of 10, I wind up empty-handed, but the mere prospect of scratching off prizewinning boxes is enough to keep me coming back for more. “Not a winner” this time? I guess that means I have to buy another ticket!
One of my favorite giveaway ideas involves the aforementioned scratch-off cards. At a tradeshow booth or even in a direct mailing to valued customers, distribute custom imprinted scratch-off cards to promote your brand. If you are feeling generous, make every card redeemable for an inexpensive gift so that everybody feels like a winner, or vary the price points of your prizes to add to the excitement and suspense. Premium giveaways featuring your company’s logo and contact information can generate buzz and create brand awareness, and you can minimize costs by only giving out a handful of winning cards.
Scratch-off cards, unlike most promotional products, provide an experience instead of just a giveaway item. When people are engaged in a memorable activity related to your company, they are much more likely to think of your brand first and foremost when they have a need for your services in the future. Also, the originality involved with scratch-off card promotions can be helpful in terms of referrals, lead generation, and client retention.
You don’t need luck to ensure the success of your next promotional giveaway- customized scratch cards are destined to do the trick!
Okay, so maybe just 6 uses so far, but I got your attention, didn’t I?
Did you know that July 27 – August 2 is World Footbag (Hacky Sack) Week? John Stalberger and Mike Marshall invented the footbag in 1972. Today, the footbag is more commonly known in the United States as the “Hacky Sack,” which is the trademarked name of one particular type of footbag. The name “Hacky Sack” is actually a genericized trademark used to refer not only to the footbag itself, but also to the game of footbag. In the traditional hacky sack circle, two or more players compete to keep the footbag from hitting the ground without the ball touching their hands.
Aside from facilitating a fun and competitive sport, footbags can be used for many other purposes. Keep reading for a few of my suggestions:
1. To promote your brand. Well, I work for a promotional products company, so of course this is going to be my first idea! Our promotional hacky sack can be custom imprinted with your brand’s logo or marketing message to become a unique, enjoyable promotional product. Any item that encourages employees or clients to let loose and engage in a friendly athletic competition is bound to maximize exposure for your company. Pens and office accessories always make for practical branded giveaways, but products that people can enjoy in their leisure time with their families and friends also have potential to turn into favorite possessions. Imagine one of your clients gathering his or her family for a weekend at the beach and being asked by their children, “Did we pack that hacki bag that you got from _____ (fill in your brand name here!)?” Your company can become a household name as a result of a distinctive promotional giveaway like the hacki bag.
2. As a stress reliever. While this should not be the primary purpose of a hacki bag, if a true stress ball is not available, a hacki bag can be a suitable substitute to let out some aggression. It is slightly less squeezable than a stress ball, but can definitely provide a wrist workout in a pinch!
3. Doubles as a paperweight. Heavy, eye-catching, compact. All qualities that are desirable in a paperweight. When customers or employees are not using your hacki bag in one of the other ways outlined on my handy list, why not encourage them to set it on top of their important papers?
4. Portable fitness accessory. Playing hacky sack burns an estimated 281 calories per hour! Healthcare or medical companies can incorporate this product into an informational campaign about the importance of exercise and wellness. We offer hacki bags shaped like footballs or basketballs, which are likely to be broken out for impromptu games at the office because they are probably going to be kept on desktops as paperweights (see Use #3).
5. As a weapon. Well, a playful “weapon,” that is. If a coworker is getting on your last nerves, toss a hacki bag their way. It is lightweight enough not to hurt them, and you can work on your pitching arm at the same time.
6. To prevent clients/employees from resorting to using their cell phones as kick bags… Watch this really cool Vodafone footbag commercial to see what I mean!
Any item that can fill this many unique needs in a person’s life is certain to be a successful promotional tool.
With the summer weather being this gorgeous, who wouldn’t want to start a new outdoor hobby? For me at least, I am thinking gardening. I can just imagine the spectacular salad I will make with all of the fresh veggies I have grown myself!
Whether you already have a green thumb or if you are more like me, the girl who likes getting flowers but has never planted one herself, a promotional product like the Leeds Seasons Garden Tool Tote seems like a great investment to help encourage employees or clients to go outside and be active. This bag is stacked with everything any gardener needs: a trowel, cultivator, gardening gloves, pruner, and weed picker. The various pockets on the bag can hold just about anything – packets of seeds, plant markers (you don’t want to think you’re growing watermelons when it’s actually a pepper plant!), and maybe even a Slimline MP3 Player so that you can sing to your plants. I heard that music helps them grow…but if your voice is as horrible as mine you may want to look into getting something like the Hi-Fi Portable Speaker.
If gardening isn’t your thing, you can still provide a great gift for clients that will allow them to experience the joy of growing a plant. With the Grow Cup, all your recipients have to do is water the pot, but they still get to see the flowers bloom.
Did you know that people worldwide spent more than $18 billion dollars on promotional products last year? I have only just recently joined Pinnacle Promotions Inc. (you may have seen my debut on the Pinnacle blog with my contribution to last week’s What Not to Wear posting as Fashion Police Officer #2), and so am relatively new to the promotional products industry, but have quickly been able to understand the impact of promotional products and realize why companies are putting so much money into this market.
For the past year, I spent my days trying to further my legal career as a paralegal with a criminal defense law firm in Buckhead (shout out to my friends at Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, PC!). While I am happy to now be free to unleash my creativity in writing blogs rather than trying to contain it in writing procedural orders and motions (no offense to all the lawyers out there…), I cannot stop looking at all the promotional products that Pinnacle Promotions offers and thinking of how they could have benefited the law firm. It came at no surprise to me then that purchasers from the professional fields such as doctors, lawyers and CPAs rank in the top 10 among buyers of promotional products. From custom pens to business card cases to ceramic coffee mugs and more, it seems that everywhere I turn I envision an opportunity to print a name and logo on an item and instantly promote a brand. Here are some examples I chose for the legal field:
For the courtroom: Leed’s Manchester Zippered Padfolio with a writing pad, multiple filing pockets, and a zippered closure to make sure no important legal documents get lost.
For the office:
A Desk Pad Calendar with vinyl corners to keep track of court dates and important meetings.
I never thought I would have one. I had friends that bought them. I remember passing by rows of different colored ones in my local department store. But I never saw anything special about the little magic toys.
That is until about a week ago, when my entire outlook on the little round liquid filled balls forever changed. Of course I’m talking about the classic Magic Answer Ball!
Until I received one in the mail a few days ago, I never realized how much I would enjoy having the little fellow accompany me on my desk every day! Sent to me from a prominent industry company to announce a future conference, the little answer ball now sits in front of me directly beneath my computer screen. While I don’t actually believe it can predict the future, it’s a great stress reliever! I find myself asking it questions repeatedly throughout the day. Typically asking the same question an average of about four times until I get the answer I want!
The Magic Answer Ball did its job beautifully! It announced an upcoming event in a fun and memorable way. I have no idea what I did with the included literature, but all I have to do is ask it one question and I’m reminded of the date, location and theme of their conference.
Fun toys and games make excellent promotional giveaways. When a client gets something unexpected and fun, they’re more likely to hang on to it. Puzzles, decision makers, yo-yos, even darts, all make excellent promotional gifts.
Give it a try. Branch out from the norm and take a fun approach to your next promotion.
As my grandmother has always told me, “Never trust a skinny cook!”
I know firsthand after working here at Pinnacle Promotions, there are a few things that never get old. One of those things is selling promotional products that make our lives in the kitchen just a bit easier.
Industry research suggests that promotional products that end up in our kitchens often have a longer shelf life & generate more overall marketing impressions to the consumer than most others. A few favorites that have had staying power in my kitchen include the Supreme Pizza Cut-It. A consistent top seller, this item is great for your favorite frozen pizza or even as a playdough slicer for the little ones. (Don’t worry. The plastic blade is awesome for cutting pizza, but safe for developing fingers!)
What blog would be complete without mentioning the glory that is ice cream? How could we possibly survive without the little guys that make ice cream possible? The Ice Cream Scoop-It keeps your logo in plain sight while making the ice cream easy to scoop out. It is perfect for birthdays or any company event.
With these functional kitchen utensils, I am sure I have made my grandmother proud and probably hungry.
TLC created an entire show based on it. Glamour magazine has a monthly column dedicated to it. Now, Pinnacle Promotions is entering the scene: fashion rule-breakers beware! Celebrities are often criticized because of unsightly wardrobe faux pas, but the press is becoming more and more mindful of crimes of fashion committed by ordinary people. Pinnacle employees are typically trendy, well-groomed young professionals, but sometimes (and I mean VERY rarely!), one of us will slip up and fall prey to a capital offense.
This fashion victim, who shall remain nameless, should have thought more carefully about leaving his house on the weekend in this outfit. If only he had taken advantage of the stylish apparel offered by his own employer! Here is a brief breakdown of this offender’s criminal actions:
GUILTY: Cutoff Jean Shorts. I mean, this look may have been en vogue in the early ‘90s… but it is now 2009! Yes, the heat in Atlanta tends to be unbearable, but I cannot think of any occasion that would justify a twenty-something year old male in an urban setting rocking this style in public (except maybe Halloween!). There are an enormous variety of alternatives that could provide equal or greater comfort while keeping this individual out of the limelight because of outdated clothing decisions. For example, why not turn to lightweight and sport tek® mesh shorts as lounge-wear? A daytime look that alludes to athleticism is a great way to clue nearby members of the opposite sex into the fact that you enjoy working out and flexing your muscles!
-Dana
GUILTY: Styrofoam Cup. I may have let this one slide if he happened to be sporting the “look you can’t tell if what I am drinking contains alcohol or not because it is in a concealed red plastic cup” college-style solo cup; however, he has chosen to indulge in his liquid concoction in a non-biodegradable, earth-polluting polystyrene foam container! As anyone who has been paying attention to the latest trends in “green” fashion knows, there are plenty of fashionable eco-friendly alternatives to such environmentally harmful products, as can be found on Pinnacle Promotions website under the category of recycled promotional products. For example, Mr. Fashion Victim, should have traded in his disposable cup for a biodegradable, reusable and recyclable Stadium Cup made from recycled materials. As they say: “Green” is the new black!
GUILTY: Trendy Sneakers Gone Wrong. Lately we’ve been seeing celebrities like Justin Timberlake conveying a ton of attitude by dressing down an Armani black suit with plain white sneakers on the red carpet. Sneakers seem to be running off the courts and onto the social scenes around the country, but the secret to pulling off this look is how you wear them. You may think that sneakers are the one fashion trend that doesn’t warrant much thought and consideration, but it is clean, crisp white sneakers that complement any outfit. Our fashion victim should have used a shoe polish kit to keep his footwear out of a fashion victim blog!
And finally, one trend that this mysterious walking fashion disaster is guilty of actually following: flashing a peace sign… Supporting the goal of world peace is always, without question a fashion DO! He definitely redeems himself in part because of this stylish hand gesture!
*Please note: the opinions stated in the above column are in no way representative of Pinnacle Promotions or its employees as a whole (just most of us!). The fashion victim selected for the purposes of this blog consented in advance to its creation and knows that this post is all in good fun. ☺
Even if you aren’t a hardcore sports fanatic, it is always fun to be in the outdoors supporting student athletes in any venue. I have fond memories of my High School days with the cheerleaders and pep rallies giving us the chance to leave school early and gear up for the main event. I still have promotional products like mini footballs and pom-poms from those rallies.
Okay, so maybe just 6 uses so far, but I got your attention, didn’t I?
