Creative Commons License photo credit: apdk
As I was browsing the racks in a local boutique several weeks ago, I couldn’t help but notice a mother and toddler on the other side of the shop. “Mommy and me“ shopping trips are nothing out of the ordinary, but the young child was seated in a stroller and engrossed in a game on what appeared to be an iPad!
Appropriately nicknamed the “iGeneration,” America’s youngsters are no strangers to portable technology and promotional electronics.
If you’ve ever thought that college students are addicted to electronics, you could be on to something. A recent University of Maryland study asked students not to use media for 24 hours and found that many of those participants experienced symptoms similar to drug withdrawal.
Student dependence on electronic devices is not necessarily a bad thing, however, as 91% of students use email to seek extra help from teachers and almost 90% of students feel that tablets help them study more efficiently.
A recent Harris Interactive poll discovered new information about cell phone usage in the workplace. The bad news for employers? 63% of Americans surveyed believe that people glance at their cell phones during work meetings and 74% of Americans believe people use their cell phones at work to conduct activities they wouldn’t do on the company computer, like job searching or surfing dating websites. The good news for your brand? Promotional cell phone accessories must obtain lots of impressions throughout the work week!
So what are the most popular techniques for sneaking a peek at cell phones? And what sites do people visit most from their cell phones when they are on the clock?
Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said farewell to the iconic food pyramid as they unveiled its replacement in Washington DC. The food pyramid, which was first introduced in 1992 has long been criticized for its inability to properly convey healthy eating habits and is often associated with the increased rate of obesity in the United States.
The guidelines for wholesome eating are newly represented by a simple circle referred to as “MyPlate,” a design which is intended to simulate a dinner plate. The plate is divided into different sections with a nearby circle representing a dairy serving. On the plate, fruits and vegetables occupy one half while the second half is comprised of grains and proteins.
The new food image is expected to successfully complement Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative to help alleviate the threat of obesity but as former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Dr. David Kessler appropriately points out, the challenge lies in the ability to motivate people to actually eat what is depicted on the plate. One recommended solution is to utilize promotional food and drink products to reinforce the importance of healthy eating habits. Nuts, such as cashews, pistachios, and almonds, are an excellent source of protein and can easily be packaged and distributed as promotional food and drink products to appeal to both children and adults.
It’s graduation season, and all around the nation college students are donning their caps and gowns to earn degrees as representation of their higher education – degrees which they hope will help them to enter the working world, as hiring is finally projected to be on the rise after years of decline. And just as these recent college grads are hoping to get hired, companies are hoping to recruit the best talent to work for their organization.
Tim Andrews of the Advertising Specialties Institute (ASI) recently wrote an article discussing a survey of HR professionals that ASI conducted discussing ways that they are using promo products in their search for new talent. Results of the survey found that, “56% of responding HR staffers say promo products imprinted with a company’s name or logo convey a positive image when distributed during job fairs and other recruiting efforts.”
In the Mid-April edition of advertising specialty magazine Advantages, a special report broke down hot promotional products and emerging markets at the regional level. While promotional products in any shape or form are beneficial tools to enhance a brand’s marketing mix, basing product selection on the demographic characteristics of target audiences is a tried and true tactic to increase the effectiveness of a given campaign.
Here at Pinnacle, we have clients throughout the nation, placing orders from small towns and big cities across the country. So which hot promotional products are sweeping the marketplace in your geographic region?
While we typically think of plastic water bottles as the most popular packaging for promotional beverages, some creative individuals are breaking the mold to provide custom solutions for niche audiences. As demonstrated by Kim’s blog post about the collapsible water bag earlier this week, innovation in the promotional beverages sector is a great thing and can lead to improved hydration in users’ everyday lives. From beverage devices for football players to drinkware for mothers in Haiti and Japan, inventors are keeping this product category exciting by thinking outside of the box.
Two weeks ago, I participated in Walk MS, an annual 5K race sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to raise money for research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating neurological disease that affects between 2 and 150 per 100,000 people, depending on the country or specific population.
I have been involved with the race for several years and have witnessed its evolution into a successful, well-attended event. From warm-up activities like yoga and dance-offs to closing ceremonies with prestigious guest speakers, each year has proven to be more exciting than the last, and the promotional products given away as prizes help spur fundraisers to raise more and more money for the cause. Read full article…
From a young age, we are taught that certain colors denote specific emotions and ideas. For example, red tends to symbolize anger, or sometimes power, while white implies innocence and naivety. As marketers, it is particularly important to take these symbolic meanings into account when we are promoting our organization with logo apparel. According to colormarketing.org, color can comprise up to 85% of the reason why people decide to make a purchase.
New information featured in this month’s issue of “Wearables” magazine elaborates about the powerful messaging inherent in the colors we choose for logo apparel items. For instance, the article references a study conducted in 2009 by the University of British Columbia comparing the effect of red and blue on peoples’ ability to perform detail-oriented vs creative tasks.
Read full story…
The beloved Lollapalooza music festival celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, and they show no signs of slowing down any time soon. Although the 2011 concerts aren’t until August, early tickets have already gone on sale – and sold out. In fact, discounted 3 day passes that went on sale last week sold out in about an hour, a testament to how much fans truly love this event. And, Lollapalooza-lovers aren’t just limited to the United States. Bands played to an enormous crowd at the first annual Lollapalooza Chile concert in Santiago last weekend.
With hundreds of artists playing on almost a dozen stages, it’s easy to see why people love Lollapalooza. The better question is, why should companies care? Well, a captive audience presents the perfect opportunity for organizations to promote their message and enhance their brand loyalty. To effectively target Lollapalooza attendees, it’s important to think about the venue, as well as the crowd’s interests and ages. One idea is to distribute custom sunglasses, imprinted with your company name and logo. In addition to being affordable enough for mass giveaways, custom sunglasses are both fun and functional, so recipients will rock on with these products long after Lollapalooza season ends.