Buzz Worthy
Promotional Trends
Find out the latest promotional trends so that you choose the hippest and most happening promotional items around. These promotional trends are fresh off the streets so stay tuned and join the trend.
PPAI Expo: How to be Socially Savvy
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As those within the promotional items industry know, the PPAI Expo takes place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees have reported back on new, unique products, a keynote by Captain Mark Kelly and Jeffery Zaslow, and much more. Another big take-home point came from Jason Sadler of iwearyourshirt.com. Sadler spoke to distributors about using social media to grow their businesses.
According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), Sadler and his coworkers spend their days “spreading the company’s message through a variety of social media outlets, including viral videos, Facebook, Twitter and an online TV show.” But what might come as a surprise is what Sadler says not to do: “Too many people use outlets like Twitter for sales or marketing messages,” he says. “That doesn’t work.”
So then, what does work in social media? According to Sadler, companies should focus on highlighting their personal side. He offered the following tips:
1. When it comes to making connections, focus on quality rather than quantity.
“If you have 20 followers on Twitter, you’re kicking ass,” Sadler said. “Those are 20 real people you can establish relationships with.”
2. Create interesting content
On Facebook, for example, users love seeing photos. But rather than showing a boring stock photo of a product, post an image of your product in use.
3. Derive inspiration from other sites
Social networking is difficult to master, so it’s smart to browse the Web for inspiration. The more you search around, the more inspired you’ll be. Plus, staying on top of social media trends will help you remain ahead of the curve.
Today is the final day of the PPAI Expo. What have you learned while attending the huge trade show event?
What’ll be Trending in 2012?
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It’s hard to believe it’s already December 19; where did the year go? 2011 has surely had its ups and downs. But now’s your chance to be ahead of the curve and take a peek at what’ll be trending in 2012.
According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), there are five trends that will impact the promotional products industry over the course of the year. Let’s take a look at what they are:
1. Local Elections
2. Altering Buying Habits
3. Brand Focus
4. Fierce Competition and Pricing
5. Emphasis on Customer Service
Do you agree with ASI’s predictions? Share your thoughts below!
The Joe Show Presents New Products!
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We love the Advertising Specialty Institute’s The Joe Show – Joe’s always got a great group of products to show off. The latest episode is no exception! Check out the video below, in which Joe gives us a look at friendship bracelets, watches, and more!
The great thing about The Joe Show is that Joe gives you ideas for how to appeal to specific audiences. For example, Joe asserts that friendship bracelets and watches will be popular among “teens, tweens, and early twenty-somethings.” It’s always important to have an idea about who your giveaways will be aimed at!
Distributors: Will You Use ESP Mobile?
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If you’re a distributor, you’ve probably worked with ESP Web before. According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), ESP allows distributors to have a real competitive advantage. It allows salespeople to search through hundreds of thousands of products find exactly the right item for their clients.
According to a media release distributed today by ASI, the highly useful tool will soon be available on mobile devices. When will users get to download the new application? The media release reports that “ASI will introduce ESP Mobile to the industry during demonstrations at the ASI Show in Orlando January 16-18.” Furthermore, a version that’s formatted for the iPad will be available in March.
President and CEO of ASI said that ESP Mobile is the future of the promotional products industry. According to Andrews, the app “is incredibly fast and provides the same great search functionality as ESP Web. It not only allows you to search hundreds of thousands of products; it offers detailed info on suppliers as well. It’s like having a walking industry directory right at your fingertips.”
What do you think — will you make use of ESP Mobile for product research?
Are Turtlenecks Back in Fashion?
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Turtlenecks often get a bad rap. They’re associated with nerds, dorks, and villians from awful 80s movies. But, in reality, they’re actually quite stylish!
According to Wearables magazine, turtlenecks are making a resurgance. Editor C.J. Mittica says that even “…publications like Glamour and GQ have given turtlenecks their official endorsement.” Take a look at the Advertising Specialty Institute’s latest video that shows off some of the hottest turtlenecks available NOW:
What do you think — would you wear one of these trendy turtlenecks? Share your thoughts; we’d love to hear from you!
October U.S. Employment Report Yields Positive Results
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For those of you who have been living under a rock, the American economy (and the world economy, actually) hasn’t been doing so well recently. So when payroll company ADP and consultancy Macroeconomic Advisers put together a better-than-expected national employment report for October, people were understandably excited.
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) reports that “Small and businesses were the driving force behind a better-than-expected gain in jobs in the United States in October.” According to ASI, employment within America’s private-sector increased by 10,000 more than economists had projected. On top of that, more jobs were added in September than originally thought, and layoff announcements declined.
Is your company or organization seeing changes that reflect these numbers? Hopefully the industry will continue to grow and prosper, and more jobs will be created throughout November!
The Joe Show: Fall and Winter Promos
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Wondering how to promote your organization throughout the cool seasons of fall and winter? The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)’s Joe Haley has got you covered. Check out the latest episode of The Joe Show below for products that’ll impress all your customers this autumn and through till spring:
My favorites? I love the pink gloves from Worldwide Glove & Supply — distributing these accessories is a great way to wrap up National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and provide your customers with a lasting reminder for their yearly mammograms. I’m also a fan of Joe’s featured gym bag. It’s ideal for promoting wellness this winter!
Did Joe miss anything? Leave a comment and fill us in on your preferred fall and winter handouts for 2011!
“Think Pink?” Think Again!
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With so much buzz surrounding National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, you might have considered using the term “Think Pink” in your promotions. However, you’d better think twice – sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) has owned the trademark for the expression since 1997.
According to an Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) press release, “California-based Affinity Consultants, which holds licensing agreements with numerous national fraternities and sororities, is cautioning marketers that the popular term “Think Pink” is trademarked and its unauthorized use could result in legal action.” Therefore, unless you’ve been granted a license agreement through the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, you cannot legally use the “Think Pink” trademark.
Registered U.S. trademarks are serious business — according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, once a trademark has been registered, it is protected nationwide. The lesson here? If you’re going to promote breast cancer awareness, come up with your own creative way! Otherwise, you might find yourself in deep trouble.
Promotional Trends: Kitchen Promotional Items
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A PPAI 2010 web-video revealed the most promotional item friendly room in the house. After a recent study, the promotional product leaders found that the top promotional items were found inside of the kitchen.
Family in kitchen
They say food is the key to man’s heart and to be honest, I think it may be the key to woman’s hearts too. That might be the reason why 91% of all people surveyed said they keep a promotional item in their kitchen. Even better, 82% of people had more than 1 promotional item chillin’ on the refrigerator, lounging on the counter and relaxing in drawers.
So what does this mean for the promotional products industry?
You had better spruce up that line of kitchen promotional items today because the survey shows that 50% of people spend 3-5 hours in the kitchen each day. So I hope you’re hungry for the best promotional kitchen items the web has to offer. Here are my picks from some of the top promotional companies.
- Custom Printed Jumbo House Jar Opener
For a low cost, and tons of visibility, choose promotional jar openers. Motivators offers a variety of shapes and sizes so that every industry can capitilize on these fun and functional items. They’re lightweight, durable and useful. Recipients can keep them in the kitchen but they can be used around the whole house. Any hard to open jar, knob or handle will turn easily when you use a handy jar opener.
Custom Round Corner Business Card Magnet
Another kitchen favorite are these promotional magnets from Promo Punch. A refridgerator is to your kitchen what your back bumper is to your car. Dress it up and display your personality. Some magnets will be imprinted with fun slogans or cool images that will spruce up your kitchen. Even business card magnets are perfect for in the kitchen because they’ll keep you connected with customer. You can lighten up the kitchen with these magnets in no time. Use them to hold up your children’s art work, fun photographs and important shopping lists.
- Custom Executive Collection Cutlery
Lastly, if you’re looking to cut through the competition and make a lasting impression on clients, choose the executive collection cutlery from Leeds. It’s the perfect corporate gift! PPAI noted that 58% of recipients keep their items over a year, but with higher end items, you can expect years and years of branding.
Check out the cool and collective PPAI video put together to showcase their finding on promotional kitchen items.