I have to make a confession; Gym, Tanning and Laundry are not on my weekly to-do list. Well, I guess laundry is, but not the other two! Even though G.T.L. are not my way of life, I can still look the part wearing the Gym Rat T-Shirt.
Being green is not a trend anymore; it’s becoming a way of life, a natural progression in both personal lifestyle and corporate culture. As I become greener in my own environment, I had to check out the new green products that are available in corporate apparel. Here are a few fun styles that are eco-friendly and fashionable to boot!
During my recent visit to the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, I noticed a prominent trend in corporate apparel: STRIPES!
I discovered the pattern on t-shirts, tank tops, totes, and even pillows.
This stylish way to color block has seen resurgence in the consumer market, and, in its latest advancement, the movement has reached promotional apparel! With all of the innovative decorating techniques available, the popularity of stripes demonstrates how simple it is to promote your brand on an apparel medium other than a basic white t-shirt.
I am particularly in love with the Barbarian Rugby Hoodie. That’s right; a hoodie and rugby in one! This 100% cotton pullover can be embroidered with your logo and custom stripe preference, too! Made in Canada, from USA cotton, The Rugby Hoodie features all of the details of an original: the classic placket, rubber buttons and reinforced seams throughout. Think of the classic 1980’s shirt, but add a fresh, urban spin. Available in many color combinations, there is one to suit the needs of every brand!
Make sure to check out our entire selection of promotional apparel: we are constantly adding new styles for 2012!
Megan
Merchandising Manager
The All England Lawn Tennis Club is celebrating its 125th year as the official host of the Wimbledon Championship. The Tennis Club isn’t being shy about their achievement, either. In celebration, Wimbledon has opened its doors to several commemorative events as well as produced a variety of memorable promotional products featuring the 125th year logo.
The dedicatory products have been spotted all over the tournament. Every one from ball boys and girls to line judges can be seen wearing the promotional apparel, stylishly adorned with ‘125 Years’ or the new 125th Wimbledon logo. Continue reading →
If promotional apparel is in your company’s marketing plan for 2011, take note! A recent article from ASI Central highlights the top 7 
apparel trends for 2011, many of which will likely make the transition from the runways to our website soon enough.
Author Jennifer Vishnevsky points out a number of trends that have been hot in 2010 and will continue into and through the new year – the distressed look that comes from comfortable, vintage-looking burnout tees and pigment dyes is here to stay, as are military-inspired items such as miltary caps, jackets, and outerwear. You’ll continue to see these styles in the mens, womens, and childrens sections of department stores.
Welcome to this week’s edition of “Trending Topic Tuesday” where we share our take on what’s going on in the world and what promotional products would appropriately (or inappropriately) market the subject matter.
After writing about CuervoGames Atlanta for last week’s weekend guide, there was no way I was going to miss this awesome event. Teams of four spent the afternoon climbing a rock wall while water poured down on them at a rate of 8 gallons a second, collecting ‘agave leaves’ while suspended 30 feet in the air, and mixing up boozy concoctions with an impressive variety of Jose Cuervo tequila. Entry was free (but limited to the first 20 teams to show up) and team members received matching custom tees emblazoned with the CuervoGames logo, which made it easy for them to keep track of one another even during the Barrel Roll. Event staff and the Cuervo Girls were also outfitted in a variety of tequila-themed promotional apparel for the event.
Pancakes and cartoons: if you ask me, indulging in these two guilty pleasures sounds like an ideal way to kick off a Sunday morning! A few weeks ago, I visited a local IHOP restaurant to chow down on some delicious chocolate chip pancakes, and instead of walking into an ordinary IHOP, I was presented with an atmosphere that was much friendlier and more inviting. The reason for the kid-friendly ambience? A marketing campaign promoting the newly released, animated movie, “Despicable Me” at all IHOP locations.
For more information about this great example of cobranding, the effectiveness of promotional apparel and why you should see “Despicable Me,”
From enormous banners hanging above the tables, to a wait staff clad in “Despicable Me” promotional apparel, to limited edition menus and dishes, the restaurant was transformed into an interactive advertisement for the full-length flick. Rather than experiencing a typical IHOP visit, I was enthralled by the upbeat, “party” vibe- streamers, witty posters and catchy names for exclusive menu items all contributed to an enjoyable meal, and the servers clearly enjoyed the change of scenery as well. They were smiling, joking with youth patrons about the promotion and proudly wearing their adorable imprinted t-shirts. Their positive attitude was contagious, and the restaurant did a great job of using promotional products to generate buzz among its clientele about the movie’s release.
The movie, for those of you who have not heard about it, revolves around a conniving villain (voiced by the hilarious Steve Carell) who hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. His evil plan is set back, however, when he meets three young girls who idolize him and view him as a father figure. So does the character go through with his heist? I guess you’ll have to see the movie to find out!
Mistakes happen. We all make them. I’ve even been known to flub now and again.
In my opinion, the best thing to do when the inevitable mistake happens is to learn from it. Don’t let it get you down. Take the constructive criticism with pride and roll with the punches.
So for the San Francisco Giants, the first lesson learned this baseball season is a big one: inspect your promotional apparel before hitting the streets for an away game. When Giants team member Eugenio Velez took the field Wednesday night in Houston, he was completely unaware that two letters on his jersey had been transposed, leaving “San Francisco” to read “San Francicso.” Oops.
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.
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
