Category Archives for Ready To Wear

New Year Brings New Hot Product Picks

holiday 2013At the start of every new year, I prepare myself for the inevitable question that every corporate promotional product customer asks – what are the new product ideas that deliver the highest perceived value for the most budget friendly price?  While all the new products are too numerous to list, and many times the word new refers only to a different feature on a classic style, there are always a few items that stand out to me for no other reason than I think they are cool!  Of course, judging the cool factor is very subjective, but what follows is only the beginning of a list that we will explore and evaluate together throughout the year.

  1. Yoga Pants with customized sublimated waistbands.  Good karma!
  2. Heat Cuffs use new technology that sends heat through pulse points to your hands and feet.  Stay warm!
  3. Bicycle Helmet Cover features full color imprint on form-fitting Lycra material.  One size fits most.  Heads up!
  4. Cup Shape Tissue Dispenser fits in your car cup holder for easy access.  Holds 40 tissues. Healthy habits at hand!
  5. New Revolution iPad Case features built-in wireless Bluetooth removable plastic keyboard.  All together now!
  6. New Line of Apparel includes hoodies, sweatpants and shorts in flourescent orange, pink and green.  Stand out in the crowd!
  7. Silicone Speaker amplifies iPhone sound with no batteries necessary. Holds iPhone horizontally or vertically.  Turn up the sound!
  8. Retractractable Bottle Opener/USB Flash Drive is offered in metal or plastic.  Open up the possibilities!
  9. iEraser is handheld microfiber piece that glides across the screen of phone, tablet, laptop or TV.  Keep it clean!
  10. Re-Engineered Camelbak Sport Bottle features exciting shapes and colors, great flow rate and easy-clean straw and cap.   Weekend warrior essential!

From the practical to the whimsical, one size definitely does not fit all!   I look forward to moving into the new year with a fresh perspective and sharing what comes next in the world of branded merchandise with corporate partners ready to explore new ways to bring the marketing message to their audience.

Global Study On Effectiveness of Promo Products – Part II

rememberDo you ever wonder if that logo product that was distributed at the recruiting fair kept your company front of mind, or did your brand message fade as soon as the lights went out?  According to the 2012 global study on the effectiveness of promotional products conducted by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), owners of branded promotional merchandise remember the advertiser 87% of the time, with outerwear being the item with the highest advertiser recognition at 97%.  And when it comes to the question of how recipients really feel about the advertiser, an average of 52% feel more favorable after receiving a branded item, with outerwear once again leading the charge with a 73% approval rating.

This data shouldn’t surprise us considering how we all feel about receiving free “stuff”, but amid the growing sensitivity to what impact waste has on our environment, many corporate givers have begun to consider the fate of these promotional products.  To help ease those fears, the study results show that if a recipient gets something they don’t want to keep, 66% of them give it to someone else, 18% put it away and forget about it, and only 16% throw it away.  This is good news for the advertiser since the impression from the re-gifted item goes beyond the targeted customer, and also for those concerned that our merchandise not go immediately to the landfill.  Of course, this also gives us all good reason to consider the usefulness of an item when looking at promotional product options.  (does anyone really keep those foam fingers?)

The study rounds out the question of the effect of promotional merchandise by asking if the recipient was persuaded to buy from the advertiser after receiving the gift.  According to the study, when consumers were asked how likely they were to do business with an advertiser they hadn’t previously done business with after receiving an item, about 31 percent said they were more likely to do business with them in the future.  With nearly 1/3 of the recipients likely to support the corporate giver after receiving a branded item, it’s not hard to understand why that tool remains an important part of the overall marketing initiative.

Next week Part III will summarize the study’s findings on number of impressions and cost effectiveness of promotional merchandise.  Stay tuned!

An Ounce of Performance Is Worth Pounds Of Promises

Mae West was not referring to performance wear apparel when she made this statement, but her sentiment makes sense for branded clothing purchases nonetheless.  Clothing manufacturers use the word performance when describing fabrics that are resistant to stains, wrinkles, wind, rain and the ever-challenging body moisture.  In today’s world of active lifestyles, putting a corporate logo on an apparel piece that fits into the daily routine of the recipient will demonstrate your company’s awareness and appreciation of life outside the office.

When working with clients to come up with ideas for corporate give-aways, I always tell them that the money is wasted if it’s spent on an item that serves no purpose for the recipient.  And it’s not about the cost – a refrigerator magnet with the local team’s game schedule will remain in the house at least as long as the season.  But a lead crystal letter opener will likely end up in the bottom desk drawer.  Likewise, a lightweight jacket made from performance fabric will make it to the gym, yoga studio or children’s sports activities much faster than an unlined nylon jacket that is uncomfortable and makes that annoying swishing noise with every movement.

For easy reference on your next apparel purchase, I have provided an abridged summary of the most common fabrics and their characteristics, as offered on the Fabrics Manufacturers web site.

  • Cotton:        high water retention; long drying time; high shrinkage; medium durability
  • Wool:          high water retention; long drying time; high shrinkage; medium druability
  • Nylon:         medium water retention; short drying time; low shrinkage; high durability
  • Polyester:   lowest water retention; shortest drying time; low shrinkage; high durability

When considering clothing for a logo store, uniform program or client gift, ask your promotional merchandise partner to discuss the performance fabric options.  There’s no down side to associating your brand with high performance!

(Image via Ash City)

Style Can Still Mean Business

You don’t have to sacrifice style to be taken seriously.  The traditional woven is still in, and professionals in the hospitality, service and financial industries recognize the value of a polished appearance.

Gone are the days when women have to settle for a man’s shirt in a size small just so they can match their fellow associates at the trade shows!  Retail inspired color choices, flattering cuts, attractive design details and easy-care fabrics all combine to make today’s woven shirts a perfect choice for any professional setting.  Manufacturers have stepped up with matching men’s and ladies styles, and wholesalers have tapped into many of the retail brands that are now offered to the promotional merchandise industry.

Next time the occasion calls for a uniform look on all team members, remember that professional attire doesn’t have to be stale, and a little more style will help your company stand out.

(image via S&S Activewear)

Youth Doesn’t Care About Your Brand

Generally speaking, I think it’s safe to say that unless you’re sellling Apple products or Red Bull, most corporations need to be creative when marketing to youth. Building a social media presence isn’t enough to get the word out.  Every product being considered as a canvas for your brand should be carefully selected with the importance of the audience being second only to the reality of the budget.

With t-shirts being the 2nd most commonly owned promotional product, this relatively inexpensive give-away continues to be the “go-to” item for multiple types of corporate events. When a young audience is the target, a well-considered t-shirt that has the look and feel of their favorite retail brand is an item that will pay logo impression dividends many times over. The current color choices are endless; the fabric content varies from 100% cotton to moisture wicking performance polyester fabric; and – my personal favorite – the options for a fit that suits the younger market are amazing!  From men’s styles that are lean and long to ladies pieces that offer racer backs and youthful, flattering cuts, today’s choices for t-shirts are anything but boring.

If you want the youth to care about your brand, show them you “get it” with a shirt that reflects their style, not their father’s!

(Image via American Apparel)

The Ardent Golfer

“The ardent golfer would play Mount Everest if somebody put a flagstick on top.” -Pete Dye

This famous quote reminds us that it’s never too early to think about the upcoming golf season.  The perfect time to schedule a charity outing or a casual client meeting at that golf course everyone wants to play, but few have the skill to conquer, is when spring and summer seem like a distant dream.  Even though most people in business don’t have the time to be an ardent golfer, nearly everyone enjoys the opportunity to hit the ball around 18 holes with a group of like-minded collegues.  And, with every golf outing is another opportunity to gain brand visibility.

Golf balls and tees are essential, but with the inconvenient placement of small lakes on all those water holes, it’s likely those balls will not be coming home with the golfer.  Golf shirts require prior knowledge of a person’s size, and the goodies in the golf goodie bags are gone by the time you hit the back 9.  As an alternative to those options, caps remain one of the most effective and popular wearable items for any corporate give-away.  A classic golf cap with a subtle co-branded logo treatment featuring your company mark along with the golf course name will be appreciated and worn again.  Matching visors are available for the ladies, and with a breathable moisture wicking fabric, the heat won’t cause unwanted sweat in the eyes just as the golfer takes that perfect swing!

Think spring and plan ahead … it will give your guests time to hit the driving range!

(Image via Sanmar)

Look Good When You Sweat

With all the media outlets talking about the 2012 resolutions to lose weight, tone up and get fit, it makes sense for the corporate employer to continue building on the decades old fitness trend with wellness programs that everyone can relate to.  Programs that are accessible and fun are perfect for the body, but branded clothing that can make a fashion statement while it wicks moisture away from the skin of an over-zealous spinner will provide those employees with another great reason to keep working on their New Year’s healthy resolutions.

Peformance fabrics are in … faded t-shirts and sweatpants left over from our college days are out!  These poly/spandex fitness capris are perfect for the gym, but work just as well for the corporate team building activities or summer employee picnic.  With the corporate logo branded on the leg, your company name and commitment to good health will be on display at work and beyond.

Who says you can’t look good when you sweat?

(image via Sanmar)