Outdoor Activities

Pinnacle’s Lyrics Lounge: Promotional Products Inspired by Music

Today featuring: Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 – the opening track from their album The Joshua Tree, released in 1987.

I have chosen to feature U2 specifically because this past Tuesday night U2 held a concert at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and two of our Pinnacle employees were lucky enough to go! The tickets were purchased by Pinnacle as a reward for meeting company sales goals and Pinnacle employees Shelley and Jodi won the tickets in a company drawing! Here’s some pictures they took at the concert!

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I wanna run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame (1)
Where the streets have no name

I want to feel, sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear
Without a trace
I want to take shelter (2)
From the poison rain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building, then burning down love
Burning down love, and when I go there
I go there with you, it’s all I can do

The city’s a flood and our love turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind (3)
Trampled in dust
I’ll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building, then burning down love
Burning down love, and when I go there
I go there with you, it’s all I can do

Our love turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind, oh, and I see our love
See our love turn to rust

Oh, we’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there, I go there with you
It’s all I can do

Lyrical References:

1 – A Promotional Candle to feel a real, as opposed to a metaphorical, flame.

2 – A Promotional Umbrella to take shelter from the poison rain.

3 – A Promotional Windshirt to handle all weather elements.

Posted by Admin in Product Placement in the Media, 0 comments

Hit a Homerun with Promotional Products

jbcurio-World's-Largest-Baseball-BatSince regular baseball season is over and the postseason schedule begins tomorrow, I thought now would be a great time to write about utilizing promotional baseball products to hit a home run for your marketing campaign. After all, from stadium sponsorships to game day giveaways, baseball and promotional products have always gone hand-in-hand. And, it just so happens that today, October 6, is an important day in the history of Major League Baseball.

The New York Yankees won three World Series on this day in history, beating the Dodgers twice. On October 6, 1919, White Sox catcher Ray Schalk was the 2nd man ejected from a World Series. And, in 1959, a single game World Series attendance record was set with 92,706 people attending the Dodgers-White Sox game in Los Angeles.

October 6 has marked an important day in baseball history since 1882, when the first World Series was played between Cincinnati and Chicago. Cincinnati beat Chicago 4-0, starting Chicago’s long history with baseball. In fact, the Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series in over a hundred years, perhaps due to a curse cast on the team on October 6, 1945. Tavern owner “Billy Goat” Sianis cast the curse after being escorted out of Chicago’s Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series for buying a seat and bringing his goat.

Despite this long losing streak, fans still love going to Wrigley Field to enjoy the ambiance, including beers, hot dogs, and of course a pre-game promotional product giveaway. From custom imprinted towels to key chains to baseball hats, promotional products are traditionally handed out to the first 10,000 attendants, guaranteeing wide brand exposure for corporate sponsors.

But promotional products can also be great assets to a marketing campaign without breaking the bank. You can personalize company T shirts or jerseys to promote unity throughout the office, and even imprint or your company’s name and logo on a coach’s jacket to honor a top executive. Or, give clients and employees promotional baseball player stress balls and Hacki Sacks to alleviate office tension. No matter which item you choose, you clients and employees alike will surely have a ball!

Posted by Admin in Sports News and Stadium Giveaways, 0 comments

Warning: Shameless Promotional Ideas to Follow

promotional apparelSince September is nationally designated as “shameless promotion month” and last week was my first week here at Pinnacle Promotions, I figured doing my first blog post about promotional items and strategies would be more than fitting. After all, who doesn’t love talking about themselves?

Before joining the Pinnacle team, I did a little research about the promotional products industry and learned a few fun facts. For example, the education industry spends the most money on promotional products, while restaurants and bars round out the top ten. But then I started thinking more about promotional material, and realized it truly is everywhere you look.

Using celebrities to promote corporate interests is nothing new and I’m sure you can think of a million celebrity endorsements just off the top of your head. Tiger Woods and Nike. Michael Jordan and Gatorade. Even Oprah’s Book Club promotes certain authors over others. Get your book on her list, and you are as good as gold!

But for companies who can’t afford the sky-high prices of celebrity spokespeople, just turn to the people you have access too. After all, your employees are the face of your company and their hard work is your best asset. Promotional products are a great way to thank them for everything they do while also increasing your marketing efforts.

To create a look like Tiger’s, choose from our wide range of customizable caps, polo shirts or even golf accessories to help employees record their golf scores. And, with our great selection of promotional sports bottles, you can emphasize the importance of hydration and promote internal teamwork without spending a fortune to hire Michael Jordan. Even though shameless promotion month is almost over, it’s never too late to get your name out there and strengthen your brand!

All this talk of Jordan makes me think of Chicago, my hometown. And, since it is the end of the month and therefore my last chance to talk a little about myself, I leave you with a video of my favorite moment in Chicago Bulls history:

 

Posted by Admin in Sports News and Stadium Giveaways, 1 comment

Pinnacle Poem: An Ode to Promotional Products

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Since its creation in 1994,
Pinnacle Promotions has been a promotional company that offers more.
Providing customized solutions for any marketing or branding need,
With all exclusive services designed around one overriding goal – speed.
From processing orders with our service of 24-Hour Rocketship Express,
To saving you time with custom IdeaKits that are sure to impress.
Let our dedicated Account Teams help you find unique products of quality,
And know that your order will arrive on time, and as approved, with our Platinum Guarantee!

From apparel, to drinkware, to stress balls galore,
Check out everything we have to offer in our online store!
We have journals, pens, backpacks, candles, candy jars and toys,
We have magnets, spa kits, golf balls, lanyards, and shirts for girls and boys!
We have accessories for travel and fitness, for your computer, your cell phone, and your car,
We have gifts that tell time, display photos, play games, and even stock your bar!
Whether for man or woman, young or old, business or pleasure, or all,
We have thousands of products for everyone in our virtual product mall!

Too many products to choose one on your own?
Just e-mail us, live chat or pick up the phone.
With account managers who know the industry like the back of their hand,
Their insight and knowledge can help find the perfect item for your brand.
What about custom artwork and logo designs?
Our graphics team can produce amazing samples that go beyond basic lines.
Let us help you along each step of your promotional products decision,
And help us enhance your overall marketing vision!

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Serving Up Promotional Products – and Tennis Champs – in Norcross

Destination-Europe-Kim-ClijstersBelgian tennis player Kim Clijsters won her second United States Open title this weekend, defeating challenger Caroline Wozniack of Denmark in the woman’s singles finals on the 24,000 seat Arthur Ashe stadium, not having even played there since her first victory in 2005. But one of the other most notable achievements of the tournament this year was the success of 17-year-old Melanie Oudin, who trained at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Georgia – which happens to be less than 5 miles away from the Pinnacle Promotions office! Only her second time to play in the US Open, Oudin defeated top seated players Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova, and Nadia Petrova, to become the youngest American tennis player to compete in the quarter-finals since Serena Williams in 1999. Though she lost in the quarter-finals to Caroline Wozniacki, her overall performance in the tournament and her fighting determination that enabled her to advance each round after being down after the first set in three straight matches has made her an overnight tennis sensation with the talent and will to become a champion.

In honor of Miss Oudin of Norcross, today’s blog is going to feature – you guessed it – promotional tennis items. At Pinnacle Promotions we have more products relating to tennis than you could imagine! From custom imprinted tennis balls and jersey tennis polo shirts, to tennis can koozies and tennis ball stress relievers, tennis players and fans can choose from an assortment of tennis items for any marketing campaign.

Jaime
Creative Writing Intern

Posted by Admin in Sports News and Stadium Giveaways, 0 comments

Promotional Products on the Soapbox Track!

This Saturday I had the great pleasure of attending my first ever soapbox race!jeherv-lame-varsity-car

Atlanta was lucky enough to be one of two cities selected to host this year’s annual Red Bull Soapbox Race. Red Bull closed off 10th street in Midtown Atlanta and created a curvy track that tested the skills of each driver and the agility of each handcrafted soapbox car.

Fifty teams entered the human-powered race to compete for the coveted title of first place and a weekend NASCAR experience in Charlotte, NC. Each team was judged on their speed, creativity and showmanship. With each team being encouraged to perform a skit, dance or some form of entertainment prior to their race down the track, there was no shortage of leprechauns, lederhosen, togas and other various “characters” walking the streets of Midtown.

The race was loads of fun and I was incredibly appreciative of the fact that admission to such a fun and popular event was free. And being such a nut about cool advertising techniques, I couldn’t help but notice the promotional products and amazing branding that Red Bull does for this once-a-year event.

As we walked from the train station towards the race, we followed the banners (not to mention crowds of people!) to the designated entrance. An imprinted hand fan was the first item we received as we walked the path to the Pit to see the soapbox cars before the race. Then we received an icy-cold free Red Bull. FREE. Yay! That almost never happens anymore. With the free drink and an invitation to their outdoor lounge area, I actually felt like a VIP for a minute! After we found the perfect place to watch the race, the Red Bull crew (wearing Red Bull tanks) distributed imprinted bells to those lining the track. While that was the extent of the giveaways I actually witnessed (although I did see several Red Bull custom shaped coolers in passing), I would bet that near the finish line and judges’ station (we were at the starting line) many other items were offered as well.

Take a tip from Red Bull when planning your events. Getting your name out into the public is a great way to generate knowledge and demand for your products or services. Need to create buzz about your event? Promotional banners are a great way to market an upcoming event. Post them in areas surrounding the location of the event. They’ll help promote beforehand and add to the excitement the day of. Hosting an outdoor event? Offer guests imprinted hand fans to help them cool off. There’s nothing worse than a cranky crowd of thousands of sweaty people! And make sure to set up drink stations where people can take a quick break from the festivities and grab a water, or in this case, possibly a Red Bull.

While you may not have a tangible free sample of your product to offer or the financial backing to organize such a large-scale event, you can still use some of the demonstrated tips and tricks used by Red Bull to promote and generate excitement about your company. Remember to have fun with your marketing. Entertaining guests and attendants and giving them a promotional product to take home is a great way to increase your corporate branding.

Kim
Marketing Coordinator

Posted by Admin in Promotional Products Around Town, 0 comments

Promotional Products for the Hippie Inside Us All

So I’m a couple of days late, but this week (August 15-18) marked the 40th anniversary of what is now regarded as one of the most monumental events in music history, and an icon of the 1960’s hippie counterculture, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair. Billed as “3 Days of Peace & Music” – which ran over into a fourth day – the Woodstock festival lured over 400,000 concertgoers despite heat, rain and mud, to a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York (43 miles south of the actual town of Woodstock, New York) for a queue of 32 live acts from the likes of the Grateful Dead; Janis Joplin; Creedence Clearwater Revival; The Who; Jefferson Airplane; Joe Cocker; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Jimi Hendrix, just to name a few.

It was originally spawned as a fundraising effort by four young men (the oldest of whom was 27 in the summer of ’69) to raise money to build a recording studio in Woodstock, NY where artists like Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel already resided. Their idea began as a 2-day rock concert for 50,000 people or so in Wallkill, NY, with tickets ranging in price from $7 to $18. It would evolve into the free, 4-day, half a million people event in Bethel it became thanks to the citizens of Wallkill passing a last minute law banning the concert, early arrivals camping out before security gates were placed, and an ultimate decision to make the concert free instead of attempting to pool resources to improve fencing and security. Despite the challenges and changes, the crowds, the rain, the hour-long lines for the toilet, and the result of a $1 million debt and 70 filed lawsuits, Woodstock still produced an overall sense of success as, with the potential for riot and disaster, there was only social harmony and great music.

In honor of Woodstock’s anniversary, I have compiled a list of promotional products to help bring out the hippie that inevitably lies somewhere within us all, the part of our minds and souls where there is only room for peace, love and music.

An acid wash t-shirt – because actual acid was made illegal by the Controlled Substances Act in 1970.

A bandana – because you need something to cover up your greasy, dread-like locks.

Aviator-style sunglasses – because your eyes will need shade from the bright, summer sun.

And of course, a lighter – because legend claims that the practice of waving lighters at concerts began during Woodstock when candles were held aloft as the sun went down and Melanie took the stage.

Jaime
Creative Writing Intern

Posted by Admin in How to Reach a Target Audience, 0 comments

Forecast: Prepared! Anybody Can Be a Meteorologist with Promotional Weather Instruments…

pixthree-hurricaneikeThe 2009 hurricane season is officially underway. I returned yesterday from a brief beach trip to the Florida Panhandle just in time, as tropical storm Claudette picked up speed close behind. The National Hurricane Center stated that no named storms (meaning those with winds reaching a minimum of 39 miles an hour) had appeared in the Atlantic Basin as of Friday- the seventh-longest recorded wait in this area for the first tropical storm of the season. By Saturday, however, Tropical Storms Ana and Bill had been named off the Florida coast, and Claudette developed by early Sunday morning.

Experts predict a quieter than usual storm season this year, which is particularly fortunate for the nation’s Flood Insurance Program, currently in a deficit of over $19 billion. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which controls the National Flood Insurance Program, released a statement that hurricanes have cost greater than $45.9 billion in disaster assistance since 2005, comprising approximately 85% of FEMA’s total expenditure on disaster relief efforts.

It is fascinating to think about the technological advancements that have evolved and the power which they grant meteorologists and weather experts to accurately track climate patterns and predict storms. Our ancestors had no advance warning of looming natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes, and therefore could only prepare for treacherous weather threats as soon as they came into view.

Today, tools to monitor weather conditions are affordable enough to warrant personal use in the home and office! Your brand can even customize handy weather instruments with your logo and marketing message so that clients and employees can utilize them on a daily basis. I, for one, enjoy being able to dress accordingly for the day’s forecast without having to set foot outside my front door! Gifts like weather stations will benefit your desired end users tremendously, allowing them to know what conditions lie outside the confines of their home or office. Choose from a variety of unique custom imprinted Weather Instruments that are sure to impress and amuse your target audience.

If you happen to be in the danger zone for any of the tropical storms or hurricanes I mentioned above, stay safe and make sure to follow the storms’ progress to be prepared for any unexpected changes in course or upgrades in severity! Even if you are not in a region susceptible to these weather phenomena, weather tools can be incorporated into your marketing mix to form the foundation for an innovative and memorable promotional campaign.

Dana
Marketing Coordinator

Posted by Admin in Seasonal Marketing Ideas, 0 comments

Promotional Products to Fit Your Brand to a “Tee”!

promotional gold merchandiseAhhh the feel of the short blades of the green, the momentum of the swing of the club and the satisfaction you get when you sink the ball in the hole…well, for me, its more like the momentum of the golf cart as it speeds down the cart path and the satisfaction I get when I swing the club and it actually makes contact with the ball. But what girl wouldn’t like a game where the men are required to wear slacks and a collared shirt while following etiquette guidelines and skillfully swinging a big club?! What game am I talking about? That’s right – the game of golf, of course! And the month of August just happens to be National Golf Month!

Now I’m not sure about the origins of National Golf Month, but the origins of the game of golf can be traced back to the 15th century off the eastern coast of Scotland. Players would hit a pebble instead of a ball around the sand dunes using a stick or primitive sort of club. Today, golf has developed into a very civilized game with sophisticated equipment such as the dimpled golf ball and portable golf tees. And while golf most likely began as a sport of leisure, today the golf course is considered a venue for business. Many companies take advantage of the relaxed and fun environment while they do some serious negotiating.  If you plan on using this strategy, remember to come prepared with promotional golf merchandise customized with your company name and logo.  Offer your golfing partner promotional gifts such as imprinted golf balls or even an engraved metal ball marker before you tee off!

Jaime
Creative Writing Intern

Posted by Admin in Sports News and Stadium Giveaways, 0 comments

“Saved by the Bell”: The Pinnacle Years

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While going about my morning routine before work, I typically roll out of bed, grab breakfast from the kitchen, and switch on the TV to get my daily dose of “Saved by the Bell.” Growing up, 5:05-5:35 PM was a very important time of day, dedicated exclusively to watching SBTB. Starting my workdays with Zack Morris, A.C. Slater, and the rest of the Bayside posse has inspired me to write a SBTB-themed blog entry about a few of the fictional characters, which real-life market segments they most resemble, and suggestions for promotional products that would best fit with their hobbies and interests.

Zack Morris: I think “Preppy” would most appreciate items that would enhance his fun-loving, laidback California attitude. Promotional Beach Items like coolers, sunscreen, and sports balls are great options, but Zack’s social butterfly persona could also make use of networking tools like business card cases or daily planners. His entrepreneurial spirit often landed him in trouble with authority, such as when he attempted to sell Lisa’s clothes for a profit so she could pay off her credit card debt. When Mr. Belding inquired as to what was going on, Zack accidentally offered to donate Lisa’s clothes to Bayside’s charity clothing drive! The moral of the story is that entrepreneurs, like Zack, who engage in frequent client meetings or are constantly on the road can benefit from promotional products that can help them stay organized on-the-go. Travel Accessories or office accessories may be ideal gifts for associates or customers similar to Zack.

A.C. Slater: Slater’s athleticism, sense of humor, and willingness to take part in his friends’ crazy schemes made him an unforgettable character. Whether your intended recipients are already fitness-conscious or you are trying to encourage them to become more physically active, promotional fitness accessories are the right promotional products for you! Slater would have appreciated any sports-related giveaways to accompany his healthy lifestyle. His love of sports occasionally made him come across to the show’s audience as a “dumb jock,” but in actuality he often displayed a sensitive side, too. In one episode, his touching class presentation about his best friend, his pet lizard Artie, portrayed him as a caring animal-lover. For clients that demonstrate an affinity for four-legged friends, opt for promotional products from our pets category. Your company’s thoughtful, considerate gifts will make a positive impression and show leads or existing clientele that you pay close attention to their needs.

Screech Powers: Where can I even begin to discuss this goofy guy? Screech’s klutzy, awkward presence played a key role in making SBTB a success. One of my favorite episodes was when he was competing in a chess tournament against Valley’s Russian exchange student. For clients who love board games like Chess or Checkers, consider promotional items from our Toys, Games, and Novelities section. They will be able to perfect their strategies, while viewing your company’s name and logo every time they play the game.

Get ready for more “Saved by the Bell” fun in Monday’s blog post, this time with an emphasis on Bayside’s leading ladies. Goooo Tigers!

Posted by Admin in Product Placement in the Media, 0 comments