If you live in Atlanta, like I do, you’re probably pretty aware of what’s going on this weekend. The NCAA Final Four Basketball Semi-Finals and Championship games are going down at the Georgia Dome. Louisville will be playing Witchita State and Michigan will be playing Syracuse on Saturday night. The winner of each game will play each other in the championship on Monday night.
In addition to the games themselves, there’s a ton of stuff going on around town. If you read our weekend guide, you know that all weekend long will feature free concerts from bands like Dave Matthews and Sting. Bracket Town, a 4-day family-friendly event inside the Georgia World Congress Center, will be your chance to meet coaches and former college basketball players, get autographs and participate in other sports activities.
While the official NCAA products are sold online at the NCAA Shop, I have a feeling that if you’re downtown this weekend, you’ll still see a lot of promotional products for sale, being given away or on people themselves. Here’s what I predict we’ll see:
Obviously fans are going to wear t-shirts showing off the team they want to win. That also goes for the concerts; fans will show off their favorite bands by donning their t-shirts. There is also a 5K in the morning on Saturday and I’m sure they’ll give out t-shirts too.
Sounds weird for a basketball tournament, but hear me out. At Bracket Town, kids (and adults for that matter) will have the opportunity to get autographs signed. Props to the company that thought to get their logo imprinted on the pens that the athletes will be using to sign them.
At a huge event like this, handing out promotional sunglasses is a great way to get your brand logo out there and I predict that lots of companies will do just that. With so many people outside listening to music and just hanging out, I bet custom sunglasses are going to be super popular.
If you’re going to any of the Final Four events (or any other festival-type thing), I’d love to hear what sort of promotional products you saw!
I’m a runner, not a fast runner, but a runner none the less. I’d say that I do about 5-10 races of varying distances each year. I’m sort of competitive when I race. While there’s no way that I’m ever going to win the race or anything even remotely close to that, I do like to beat my previous times. That said, sometimes there are races that aren’t meant to be run for PRs. They are just meant to be run for fun. Have you heard of the newest trend in fun runs? It’s a color run!
From my research, I gathered that the concept of a color run was first introduced by The Color Run™ in January of 2012 and the idea has soared in popularity ever since. The blasts of color feel somewhat like powdered sugar and while they sort of wash off, I wouldn’t suggest wearing your Sunday best while running in one of these. Fortunately, most races provide a white t-shirt for you to wear.
Emory University recently held a color run as part of their Think Pink Week. Proceeds from the race benefitted the Winship Cancer Institution. Participants were encouraged to wear their white Think Pink Week promotional t-shirts and they were doused with pink powder as they crossed the finish line.
Have you ever done a color run? Tell us about it in the comments!
It all began in 1981 when Backpacker Magazine called Randy Merrell’s boots, “the most comfortable and functional boots in North America.” In the past 30 years, Merrell has become one of the top names in outdoor footwear and apparel.
Besides having great shoes and clothing, Merrell also has some great programs, including The Pack.
When you join The Pack, you join a virtual community of like-minded athletes who enjoy the outdoors as much as you do. According to their Facebook page, when you join The Pack, you get expert training tips, are able to upload your own pictures and videos, get how-to advice from Pack leaders, download healthy recipes, compete in challenges and lots more. In addition, members of The Pack also receive special promotional products.
By joining The Pack, you’re committing to a healthy and active lifestyle and by donning The Pack promotional products, you’re showing others that they too can be part of this awesome community (and get a cool shirt!)
How fun is this and what a great idea? Pick up a custom tee shirt for each state you visit. Or better yet, how about each city? Alright, alright. Not trying to get wild and crazy. But I am a fan. Not endorsing the car. I can’t vouch for that one. Although I did have a Civic once that we ran into the ground… But I digress.
Who else tuned in for the 11 o’clock lottery drawing last Friday, hoping to match the winning numbers and instantly be entitled to millions upon millions of dollars?
With Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot totaling a record-breaking $640 million dollars, three lucky individuals holding winning tickets were not the only ones to wake up richer on Saturday morning. Along with several people who matched some, but not all, of the winning numbers, lottery retailers, state governments, and local news stations, profited from heightened ticket sales and increased publicity. According to reliable news sources, approximately 50% of Mega Millions sales are funneled back into prize payouts, while 35% land up in state coffers, and 15% finds itself in the hands of retailers who are responsible for ticket sales and lottery operating costs.
Japan’s favorite animated kitten has been recruited to help raise funds for disaster relief efforts in her homeland.
Hello Kitty’s parent company Sanrio has partnered with Ty (creator of the original Beanie Baby) to produce a limited-edition Hello Kitty promotional toy wearing a pint-sized nurse’s uniform imprinted with the message I ♥ JAPAN. Ty alone has pledged to donate $1 million to disaster relief efforts by the American Red Cross to help boost American aid to Japan.
In addition to these cuddly promotional toys, Sanrio has also designed a t-shirt and tote bag that will retail for $10-20 and are currently available on its website as well as in Sanrio boutiques around the United States.
Sanrio and Hello Kitty aren’t only creating cute promotional products to benefit the character’s home country – it has also placed a link on its website encouraging visitors to donate to the American Red Cross and has funneled more than $50,000 in donations to the organization.
On my way to work this morning, a local radio station was discussing how reality star Mike “The Situation” of MTV’s Jersey Shore has one of the highest grossing phone apps ever with GTL locations and a “Grenade Dodger” game. “The Situation” already has several other businesses in the works and he also, supposedly, has a t-shirt coming out that will have a hole in the belly so you can show off your “abs”. You may not initially think of that product being custom t-shirts, but it definitely is, it promotes the brand that he is making for himself and MTV indirectly for introducing him to the world. So if someone like “The Situation” can make himself famous with custom t-shirts, think of what it can do for your business.
