Holiday Shopping Tips

It's almost Halloween! Have you begun thinking about ordering your corporate holiday gifts yet? This is the time of year that inventory levels begin to get low so be sure to order your customer and employee gifts while the hottest and most sought after items are still available.

 So, what's hot this season, you ask?
 Everyone knows how incredibly popular tablets, such as the iPad have become. A leather tablet stand is the perfect corporate gift. It doubles as a protective carrying case with a snap closure. It can be debossed or color printed with your company logo and there are options to fit every budget.


Keep an eye out for what is hot in the consumer market. Almost everyone has a smart phone these days so smart phone accessories are a great gift choice for any company with a tech-savvy customer base. They would appreciate the Brookstone Ultra-Thin Travel Speaker as it offers great sound and a convenient, hands-free way to enjoy music and movies on the go.

Lastly, who wouldn't appreciate the ultimate plush throw, combining super soft velour with micro fur that is luxurious to the touch. It's perfect for snuggling up at home. Includes zippered vinyl bag with handle. Best of all, blankets are one-size-fits-all so you won't have the hassle of determining your gift-recipient's sizes.

 Let Pennsylvania Promotions help you choose the gifts that will make your customers or employees know how much they are appreciated this holiday season. Call us for more ideas today!

Corporate Apparel Options

Pique? Jacquard? Double-Mercerized?

Micro-performance moisture-wicking antimicrobial no-iron fabric?

Why are there so many choices and what does it all mean?
Fortunately, there are thousands of choices when it comes to corporate apparel because it means there is a perfect solution to your company's need.

Unfortunately there are so many choices out there, it can make your head spin.

That's why you work with Pennsylvania Promotions. We can help you select the appropriate apparel for the need. After answering a few questions such as who's going to be wearing the apparel, what kind of weather they will be wearing it in and if you are interested in any special properties such as wrinkle free or moisture management, we will point you into the right direction for the perfect fit. Most importantly we will suggest clothing that will fit your budget!

Speaking of fit, what's the best way to select the right sizes for my staff? Simply ask the staff what size they usually purchase when they are shopping for themselves at the mall.

Sometimes certain brands will run a little on the larger side but most brands are true to size. If there is any question or concern about sizing, we will provide you with an apparel specification sheet complete with size chart and measurements so you will be sure each person will be fitted correctly.

You can count on us for expert advice for creating a professional and stylish look for your staff. Call us today to get started!

What is that?

Ever see one of these before?

Not the guy or the tee shirt, but the thing on the tee shirt.

If you haven't, chances are you are about to, and you're about to see them EVERWHERE!
 This is a QR code and believe it or not, if you were to scan it with a special App on your smart phone, the words, Pennsylvania Promotions will pop up!



QR codes allow smart phone users to photograph a code through a QR reader program and be redirected to a website, video or text message.



Check out this link and have some fun with this QR code creator.

http://createqrcode.appspot.com/


There are many different possible uses for the QR code. Add them to any print advertising, flyers, posters, invites, TV ads etc. containing:


• Product details

• Contact details

• Offer details

• Event details

• Competition details

• A coupon

• Twitter, Facebook, MySpace IDs

• A link to your YouTube video


We plan to start using QR Codes in our marketing too! Keep a look out for specials, coupons and the like on Facebook, our web site and e-mail blasts.


If you use a smart phone, scan here:

Stay tuned and be sure to visit our web site, http://www.papromo.com/ for more information!

Pennsylvania Promotions Explains Decorating Details

Debossing. Embossing. What-the-heck-bossing?

With so many different decoration options available it's sometimes difficult to keep them straight even for those of us who work in this industry! Read on to learn a little bit more about the many decorating choices that Pennsylvania Promotions offers.


Color Imprinting

Available for single or multi-color logos. You can highlight your logo in vivid color on bags, pens, drink ware, technology items and accessories with this decorating method. It's an economical way to gain high visibility.

Debossing

 Also referred to as blind deboss, this classic method allows you to leave an impression--or rather, a depression-- of your logo onto a material's surface. We create a die and then heat-press it into the material. What's left behind is a clean, crisp logo you can see and feel. It's ideal on leather, Durahyde, UltraHyde, Scuba, recycled rubber and paperboard products.

Color Stamp

Add the high-end look of foil to your company logo with color stamping. Simple one-color designs are enhanced when a die is used to apply colored foil to a material's surface.

Color Fill

Color fill combines color stamping and debossing. We begin with creating a die of your artwork. Then we color stamp your logo onto the material, and follow this step with a blind deboss, with the same die






Domes

To add dimension and shine to your logo, place it under a clear, high-gloss polyurethane dome (black, gray and white bezels available). The following domes (actual sizes listed) offer a high-impact look at a low-impact price.


 






Embroidery

This traditional method of decorating products is a popular favorite year after year. It's an excellent way to add value to your next promotion

Before your design can be embroidered, it must first be digitized. This is just a technical term to describe the process involved in programming the embroidery machine to stitch your logo accurately.

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving gives your logo a clean, polished appearance by precisely etching the logo into the material’s surface. It’s perfect on metal items including pens, drinkware, flashlights and accessories.

Logo 3D

Logo 3D is another great choice for adding dimension to your logo. These molded rubber patches come in a variety of shapes and colors and are best suited for multi-color logos.





 

Steel Threads Metal Logo and Pewter Plates

Perfect for logos with clean lines and minimal color, Steel Threads Metal Logos are built to last, and built to leave a lasting impression.

 Ready to decorate?  Make sure your artwork meets the requirements for the perfect finish.  Get all of the details in our next post.  Until then, call us any time for more information!

Holiday Gifts to Thank Your Customers

This is the time of year when many companies are ready to take a breather because they ordered holiday gifts early to thank their best customers for their business during the past year.

But it’s easy to forget something – namely, you. Are you planning a holiday party for employees, year-end awards or bonuses, a special seasonal item for your company store? Do you need pins and certificates? Imprinted cups, napkins and party supplies? An ornament depicting your new corporate headquarters? Embroidered fleece blankets for your top performers?

Equally important, have you inadvertently overlooked the most important people on your holiday shopping list – your employees and their families? There’s a saying that is particularly pertinent this time of year: Good businesses start with good people. Now is the ideal time to recognize the continued commitment and best efforts of your team this year.

If you haven’t yet figured out how to express your appreciation of your staff, there’s still time to make a memorable impression and we’re happy to help. First, though, you may wish to talk to your HR staff, department administrators and sales managers to ask about their business-related holiday plans. By coordinating their purchasing needs, you can save a lot of time and money and make yourself a hero in their eyes.


If you need help showing your gratitude this holiday season, call Pennsylvania Promotions, Inc  (800) 360-2800 or email sales@papromo.com.

Fun Fact - History

The first known promotional products in the United States were commemorative buttons tracing back to 1789, when George Washington was elected president. Dating back to the early and mid 1800s were advertising calendars, wooden specialties and the Farmers' Almanac. But it was not until the latter part of the 19th century that an abundance of promotional products were developed and marketed, leading to the birth of the industry as it's known today.

Jasper Freemont Meek was one of the earliest significant contributors to this budding industry. He owned a small newspaper in Coshocton, Ohio, and like many other small newspaper owners of the time, he supplemented his revenue by taking a job in printing, which utilized his printing press between editions. Meek realized he could couple functionality with the advertising he was already selling to local businesses. By creating burlap schoolbags with the names of advertisers imprinted on them, the city's youngsters would become walking billboards for Coshocton's businesses.

This promotion idea was so successful that the publisher of the other newspaper in town, Henry Beach, sold his interest in the paper and started his own advertising specialty company. Printing on anything he could run through a press, Beach turned out rulers, fly swatters and paint mixers. A spirited rivalry developed between Meek and Beach, which led to the development of more and more advertising specialties.

Today, the promotional products industry is one of the fastest-growing promotions and communications media in the nation with total industry sales exceeding $16 billion last year. Promotional Products are used every day, several times a day. They are looked at, written with, worn and involved in a whole list of other day to day activities. 

If you are interested in promoting your business, call Pennsylvania Promotions, Inc  (800) 360-2800 or email sales@papromo.com.