The Pinnacle Blog

Okay, so don’t get me wrong, the Slap-On Promotional Watch is still super hot. But I have a new favorite product obsession to tell you about this week. It’s the Kikkerland Grass Charging Station.

What could be better than a having a high-quality charging station to store your miscellaneous electronic devices in? Storing them in a charging station that looks like a little patch of grass!

I know what you’re thinking. A charging station covered in grass? I know it seems crazy, but how great is it to literally bring a little patch of (not quite alive) greenery indoors?

Continue reading…

Everybody has one. As kids, we count the days until they arrive. As we grow older, we begin to anticipate them less and less. You know what I’m talking about… BIRTHDAYS! Today happens to be mine (I’m the big 2-3!), and I am still young enough to actually enjoy the festivities that accompany this special day.

“Birthday marketing” is a clever marketing ploy adopted by many companies because – no surprise here- it works! According to a 2008 study, 75% of participants stated that receiving a special occasion card, like a business birthday card, with a discount would increase the likelihood that they would conduct business with the company. Everyone wants to feel special and loved on his or her birthday, and letting customers know that you value their loyalty is a great way to ensure their continued support. Gestures as small and simple as sending a direct mail piece with a coupon, brief note, and maybe even a compact promotional product will achieve the desired effect and encourage repeat business.

More promotional marketing ideas and chatter below the fold…

As a newcomer to the world of blogging and online marketing in general, yesterday’s exchange on our very own Pinnacle Promotions blog blew me away. Just to recap, a correspondence took place between my extremely talented, but also fairly new to the realm of blogging, coworker Acree Graham, and a blogger that I consider to be one of the most prolific social media thought leaders, Jay Baer of Convince and Convert. In my mind, this exchange exemplifies the phenomenon of blogs and their power to spark high level interactions between newbie marketers and established industry experts in a matter of hours. As a recent college graduate, I feel that my generation is extremely fortunate: the wealth of information available to us, faster than ever before, is one benefit that we have over generations past, but furthermore, it is the accessibility to people whom we admire and respect in our lines of work that is an even greater privilege, should we have the confidence and courage to reach out to them.

“What makes marketing the best career in the world is that is it ever evolving. There’s always a new insight, new tool or tactic. So if you want to be at the top of your game and really be someone your clients love and rely on — keep learning. Read, write, listen. Every day.”

-Drew McLellan, author of the blog Drew’s Marketing Minute.

Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
view my bio!

For some, fashion is a hobby. For others, a sport. Twice a year, in February and September, fashion lovers of all income brackets, styles, and ages unite to take in something I like to equate to “The Superbowls of Fashion,” New York Fashion Weeks. Men glued to their tvs screaming as their favorite football team fights for yardage does not begin to compare to the intensity with which many women follow the coverage of Spring and Fall Fashion Weeks. We live vicariously through bloggers and press coverage, keeping a mental, or for some fashionistas who are even more obsessed with couture than I am, a physical, checklist of all the trends we want to incorporate into our seasonal wardrobes.

Spring/Summer trends were defined at 2009’s Fall Fashion Week (confusing, I know), and I have already spotted some of the key trends permeating the dreary Winter attire demanded by Atlanta’s current climate. It isn’t too late to design custom apparel items for clients and employees that will put them at the pinnacle (pun intended!) of fashion in their professional and personal lives this Spring.

Neutral tones: One of my current favorite promotional products is Leed’s Laminated Non-Woven Large Shopper Tote, which can be found in our Tradeshow Bags & Totes category. This eco-friendly carrying bag is offered with a grass stock background, keeping it in line with the neutral theme that dominated Spring runway shows. A former roommate’s 7 year old sister once asked her why everything in my closet was “dirt-colored,” so clearly I was far ahead of the times with this trend!

Preppy stripes: Many people are not wasting any time at all interspersing chunky stripes and nautical accessories into their Winter wardrobes, and this craze is expected to grow exponentially as temperatures heat up. Our playful Large Striped Canvas Tote is one item to help your female constituents capitalize on the nautical theme, and even men can get onboard (again, pun intended- that one was just way too easy!) with polo shirts featuring subtle stripes, such as those from Ashworth®.

Nylon anoraks and color blocking: A quick search for the term “color block” on our website turns up hundreds of results, from color block drinkware to tote bags. Appropriately, some of the search results were nylon color block jackets for men, women, and youth from popular promotional apparel brand Port Authority®. I don’t think I could have found a better example of either of these trends than these particular lightweight jackets- perfect for crisp, clear Spring mornings, Port Authority® takes nylon outerwear from functional to fashionable with ease in these statement pieces.

And that wraps up my summary of Spring trends; I can’t wait to summarize next week’s events for you, as I’m sure I will have plenty of ideas about how Pinnacle Promotions can help you bring Fall 2010 trends from the runway to YOUR way with unique promotional products.

Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
view my bio!

Helvetica is a brand of die-hard fans — fans so raving they actually create their own promotional products.

Some of you are all like wait-hold up-what’s a Helvetica? right now.

Helvetica is not just a typeface — what the elite call fonts — it is the typeface. To most of us, a typeface is the invisible structure around a message. To designers, the typeface is the message.

Just as social media nerds have woven Twitter stockings and sewn Facebook pillows, font nerds have been busy designing promotional products for their beloved typeface. I present designer Beverly Hsu’s Helvetica cookie cutters:

You can check out her full post with more photos here.

Helvetica is a brand that people want to be identified with. If I like Helvetica, that means I am a certain kind of person: creative, savvy, in the know about design. My best friend knows that I want to be known as that kind of person, which is why she bought me this necklace:

available at the Etsy shop Plastique.

I’m curious; is there something inherent about Helvetica that gets people so excited? Or can this enthusiasm be crafted, with the right efforts behind marketing and advertising, or with an attractive company culture? What ingredients could you pour into your brand that would make people want to wear it around their necks? Is it even possible?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Acree Graham
Marketing Coordinator

The business card. An item only 3 ½ x 2 inches in size yet so ubiquitous that they are tossed around as if this ubiquitous-ness were synonymous with insignificance.

That is, in the US at least. In other parts of the world the business card has more significant meaning than simply a convenient way to provide one’s personal contact information and also include several rules of exchange etiquette. Did you know, for example, that in China business cards are supposed to be held in both hands when offering them and should be appropriately translated into the Chinese dialect of the area in which you are traveling. In India, one should only use the right hand when both giving and receiving business cards, and in Japan cards are to be treated as you would treat the person – carefully placed in a case or portfolio upon receiving them as opposed to stuffed inside one’s pocket.

Business cards actually have a more refined history that dates as far back as the 15th century in China, though at this time they were termed, ‘visiting cards.’ These cards garnered more popularity by the 17th century in Europe where footmen of royalty and the aristocracy would present such cards at one’s home to announce the impending arrival of a distinguished guest. And of course, as was expected of all other things associated with the upper echelon of the day, these cards were adorned with elegant coats of arms and decorations. In England around the same time, what were called ‘trade cards’ were used a rudimentary form of a current GPS system. There was no formal numbering system for streets in London then, so these trade cards served as both advertisements for a company that included maps and directions on how to reach their place of business.

But back to the present day. I know we’ve discussed the appeal of fun meeting function in terms of promotional products, but the following may be a truly useless application of fun: the penny-shooting business card. I discovered this product through a lovely post by Diana Adams on bitrebels.com but do not quite share her same enthusiasm. It reminds me of the uselessness I associate with the marshmallow shooting guns I always see in airplanes’ Skymall Magazines.

Then again, maybe the purpose of business cards is beginning to revert back to its original intentions – as a social formality representing a person, not a business. I shudder slightly, however, when I imagine the day that upon meeting someone new at a bar on the weekend our conversation may end with an exchange of cards that state our name, our Twitter @name, our Facebook username, and maybe even our Google me search name.

For now, I’d suggest opting for a more traditional promotional business card magnet instead.

And here is a video for anyone that wants to see the penny-shooting business card in action:

Jaime
Team Lead – Multimedia

I mentioned last year how reality television shows can spawn a plethora of marketing and promotional opportunities with the example of Fox’s hit series, So You Think You Can Dance (See blog “So You Think You Can Sponsor”). Continuing on that conversation I thought I would follow up with another popular TV program – American Idol.

Now in it’s 9th season, Idol has remained one of the most popular shows on American television throughout its run (it has been the #1 TV show in the Nielson ratings for the five past consecutive seasons). Another achievement of the show has been the success it has brought to its winners – including fourth season winner Carrie Underwood who rose to fame through Idol to become a multi-platinum selling recording artist, a multiple Grammy award winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, and the entertainer of the year.

But beyond these successes, American Idol has also provided the opportunity for many other companies to profit from its popularity – from Idol-branded promotional merchandise to sponsorships. For So You Think You Can Dance it was Unilever’s Snuggle fabric softener that benefited from ties to the show. From my posting mentioned previously: “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.” Much like SYTYCD’s sponsorship from Unilever, American car company Ford has taken similar advertising routes through Idol. Idol broadcasts music videos with the contestants and featuring Ford cars as a part of each episode. Last season, the public was asked to answer a series of questions on the American Idol website about these videos to enter a grand prize drawing to win a Ford Hybrid and additionally, a round-trip ticket to Los Angeles, three nights in a hotel and tickets to the season finale of the show.

Even the promotional products industry has taken a means to profit from the show’s status – remember curly-haired season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini? Well he happens to be the spokesperson for industry supplier BamBam’s product the “Rollabana.” (See picture of Mr. Guarini hosting the Advertising Specialties Institute’s first annual Cabaret Night back in November of 2008 courtesy of Michelle Bell, Counselor magazine senior editor and author of Bellwether Blog.) His career has truly blossomed, no?

And finally, I have to mention the nation-wide YouTube phenomena the show has produced including this year’s Larry Platt of Atlanta, GA (Pinnacle’s hometown) whose original song, “Pants on the Ground” has garnered hundreds of thousands of views since its airing January 13.  Enjoy!

Jaime
Team Lead – Multimedia
view my bio!

The People’s Choice Awards last night inspired me to take a slightly different approach to today’s blog. Rather than writing a completely original post, I thought to myself, why not reflect on the musings thus far of my fellow Pinnacle bloggers? There have been some amazing topics raised since the inception of our blog last May so here are MY choices for the most fitting blog posts in a variety of categories:

1. Funniest: “What Not to Wear: Pinnacle Promotions Edition” (by me and Jaime)

The spoof we co-wrote based on television’s “What Not to Wear” was actually suggested by several of our coworkers, and we all laughed for days about this one! Brent was a trooper, although I’m sure he won’t be thrilled about me rehashing the details of our original post. ☺ This may be one blog idea that we have to recycle in the future- Pinnacle employees, make sure not to break any fashion rules, or the “Fashion Police Officers” may write about you next!

2. Spookiest: “6 mildly scary films about promotional products that never made it past storyboarding” (by Acree)

Acree’s clever take on classic scary movies sent shivers through my bones! Her suggested parody “The Hills Have Ice” gave me nightmares- deranged ice scrapers attacking an unsuspecting family of tourists? No, thank you! If Acree ever decides to produce any of these films, I may need to get away from the promotional products industry, as our office showroom would be an intimidating haunt after dark…

3. Most Delicious: “Promotional Products: Recipes for Successful Marketing Campaigns” (by Sarah) and “Toasting and Roasting: What to Do Post Pumpkin Carving” (by Kim)

Well, I can’t say that I have actually made Sarah’s zucchini bread recipe myself, but I have tasted it and can say that it is even more delicious than it looks in the photo! I highly suggest printing out a copy of the entire post and cooking up your own loaf of zucchini bread. And how could I forget Kim’s post featuring a recipe for toasted pumpkin seeds? I don’t think pumpkins are in season anymore, but this recipe is definitely one to keep in your kitchen to whip up this Fall!

4. Most Likely to Inspire Readers to Get Up and Sing: “Presenting Pinnacle’s Lyrics Lounge: Promotional Products Inspired by Music” (by Jaime)

Jaime’s series of “Pinnacle’s Lyrics Lounge” entries was certainly a well-loved one around our office. It was hard to pick just one post, as other great songs were referenced as well, but I thought the original should win the award, as it did start the series off with a bang. Hopefully 2010 will bring more “Pinnacle’s Lyrics Lounge” originality from Jaime!

5. Most Likely to Cause Readers to “Shake Their Groove Thangs”: “Pink Gloves Dance: Can You Spot the Promotional Products?” (by Guest Contributor, Eliza)

Eliza’s creative integration of the YouTube hit “Pink Gloves Dance” video into her guest blog post in December made me want to grab the nearest promotional product and bust a move. Nurses bopping their heads while wearing hot pink sunglasses should be inspiration enough for readers to introduce some fun and excitement into their next promotional giveaway campaign… or even to hold an impromptu dance party in their cubicles!

6. Best Seasonal Post: “Hittin’ The Pool” (by Heather)

Re-reading this post from last June brought a wistful smile to my face, as I would much rather replace the snow in Atlanta today with warm rays of sunshine and pool-worthy temperatures. Her description of spending a leisurely weekend working on a tan makes me look forward to Summer already!

7. Best Business Advice: “Building Business Relationships with Promotional Products” (by Kim)

In my final category, I selected Kim’s heartfelt post about the importance of fostering lasting relationships with your customers. Her observations and recommendations rang true in my mind, especially upon a second reading. The suggestions that she shares about sending inexpensive giveaways and promotional products to clients are timeless and universal- there is no time like the present to begin making your customers feel appreciated and valued!

With the number of posts made to our blog nearing 200, it was tough for me to narrow down my selections- if you have a favorite post, leave a comment and let us know. And, of course, you can expect many more inventive entries from Pinnacle’s Marketing team and our awesome guest bloggers in 2010!

Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
view my bio!

Having been in the promotional products industry for nearly 5 years, I like to think that I’ve seen just about every gizmo, gadget and trinket out there. But today – I was wrong.

Earlier this morning while brainstorming with a client for unique tradeshow gift ideas to consider for their upcoming season next year, I stumbled across a factory that makes disposable breath alcohol detectors.

This FDA cleared item, available in zero tolerance (.02%) and impairment (which begins at .04%), can help party-goers check their blood-alcohol content in less than two minutes before deciding if they are fit to drive, or need to call a taxi. Of course – these kits are fully customizable with a full color label and can be produced in 1-2 weeks.

While it may not make my presentation for today’s client, I think I have a few customers in mind that would find these promotional products especially interesting for their customer base.

John
Account Manager
view my bio!

The “Happy Meal” debuted at the fast-food chain McDonald’s in June of 1979 as an advertising medium to promote McDonald’s as a family restaurant, especially one for those with small children. It cost one dollar, and along with the choice of hamburger or cheeseburger, small fry, and small drink, also came, of course, the Happy Meal Toy, which in 1979 meant either a McDoodler stencil, a puzzle book, a McWrist wallet, an ID bracelet or McDonaldland character erasers. Since then, children across the globe have been delighting in this kid-sized meal with a side of fun found in cheap, plastic promotional toys.

But beyond the capability of occupying a child’s interest for a few moments, these Happy Meal Toys have also been known to promote new movies – the first such promotion being the Star Trek Meal for Star Trek: The Motion Picture in December 1979 – prompting adult Star Trek fans to purchase happy meals too in order to receive these collectable items. One of the most popular Happy Meal movie promotions was for the release of 101 Dalmatians in 1996. It featured 101 different Dalmatian toys in enclosed packaging so purchasers did not know which promotional toy they were getting until it was opened. This enticed collectors to make even more purchases. (In may of this year, an 11-year-old boy Luke Underwood sold his 7,000-piece collection of McDonald’s promotional items – toys, boxes, posters and more including the only known complete set of the 101 Dalmatians – at auction for a whopping £8,130 (that’s over $11,000)!)

The Happy Meal Toy movie-promoting trend continues today with the most recent promotion for the upcoming film by James Cameron, Avatar, which opened in theatres worldwide this past Friday. The campaign features six different interactive toys such as Tsu’tey, a character from the film, who lights up when you make a clapping noise. McDonald’s is hoping to boost sales by tying its products to the highly anticipated movie.

Check out McDonald’s Happy Meal commercial featuring the new Avatar toys and stop by your local Mickey D’s to collect them yourself!

Jaime
Team Lead – Multimedia
view my bio!