16.9 oz. Wren

Quarry Stone Paper™ Ring Bound Notebook

In order to plan a successful golf tournament, you need to consider the following. 

Choose a venue that is familiar with golf outings and can accommodate your group size. The course is important, but you also need to consider the banquet or club house size. Another factor to consider with the venue is if the staff has experience with company golf outings and how much they help plan the event. Having a knowledgeable team working with you will only make your event more successful. 

The menu and catering options. 

When planning a company golf outing you need to make sure you have food and beverages for all participants. Our suggestion would be to pick a venue that provides on-site catering options. This makes your job easier and the food and beverages will be quickly accessible. If your venue does not have food options, make sure you are allowed to cater your own food/beverages from an outside vendor. 

Determine the format of your golf game. 

We suggest using the scramble format. This is the most popular format that company’s use for a golf outing. Not sure what a scramble is? A scramble divides each team into four players. Each member of the team hits their own ball throughout the match; however, the best shot from the first stroke is used by each player. This allows all types of skilled golfers the chance to have fun and win!

Purchase gifts and prizes.

It is important to have branded gifts ready and handed out to each participant at the start of the tournament. The best items to consider for each participant include, our Protowels Rally Towel, Divot Tool With Bottle Opener, and Pocket Coolie. Each one of these gifts can be used during the tournament and promote your brand! You should also consider having prizes for the winning group(s). Consider our Two-tone Mesh Back Cap and Can Cooler Sleeve. 

Wear your brand during the event. 

Make sure your staff and company representatives are wearing the same color and styled apparel. This helps your participants know who you are and who to ask for help. Our Nike Dri-Fit Crosshatch Polo is available in a variety of colors and has a women’s companion style available.

Golf outings are fun and the perfect event to plan for your next company outing. Just remember to consider these topics before teeing off!

So, how do we help our customers narrow down a product search with thousands of options out there? Do we just suggest all the newest products out there for Q1? No. Do we give the same options that EVERY trade show exhibitor is going to be handing out? Absolutely not.

Our goal is to make sure we are providing promotional product ideas that are right for our customers and align with their marketing initiatives at every show. 

Step 1: Understand the industry and company’s goals. 

The very first step in our product selection for our customers is to truly understand the intent of the show and exactly what our customer is trying to accomplish. Is their goal to get their name out there to anyone attending? Is the team there to touch base with their current clients and deepen the relationships? Is the main goal to gain more sales?

Asking these questions helps our product specialists gauge the type of item that may be appropriate. For instance, you are not going to spend $5-$7 on a giveaway item if you are just trying to get your name out there. You are going to want to focus on a lower cost item that you can buy a higher quantity in that is still a quality giveaway. The worst thing in the world to hear from our clients is that they noticed that many of their giveaways ended up in the trash can at the show. An item similar to the Rubber Tape Measure Keychain is a perfect item for this situation. It is low cost, but still a very useful item for potential leads. 

Step 2: Identify the audience.

The next step in choosing the right promotional item to bring with you to a show is identifying your audience. At every trade show, it is common to meet new people and potential business; however you can’t forget about your current customers. We always suggest bringing a few promotional product options with you to a show. The main reason is to make sure you can give your customers a logo’d item that is valuable. You don't want to give them an inexpensive giveaway and send them on their way. You want to make sure they leave feeling appreciated and excited to continue to work with you. You know the saying… A happy wife is a happy life. That is the same in business! Giving current customers a 3D embroidered cap or Tactical Ultra Bright Cree LED Flashlight, shows your customers you value them. 

Step 3: Think about the logistics. 

The last thing we ask our clients is all about logistics. How are these items getting to the show? Are you packing the items with the booth material that is being delivered to the convention center? Do you have to pack the items in your luggage? This is an extremely important question, because we never want to make the fun part of the show become the biggest pain. Tradeshow giveaways are fun to choose and pass out during shows. We don't want our customers having extra stress over the logistics of these items. Knowing this ahead of time will allow us to give options that will easily get to the show. If you are packing the promotional products with you or your shipping space is tight, consider an item that is small like the Credit Card Shape Bottle Opener. A product every attendee can bring home from the show and is super light-weight and thin to pack!

No matter what item you choose to hand out at your next tradeshow, following these 3 steps will help you identify your goal for the show, choose the perfect promotional item, and get your brand in the hands of the right people.

Check out How to Wear Your Brand at Your Next Trade Show.

Exhibitors put months of thought and preparation into making each trade show they attend a success. Companies fork out a chunk of their yearly budget to get in front of potential clients. Gaining new leads, catching up with current clients and building partnerships take strategy in order to get any ROI.

With these 4 preparation tips you are sure to attract potential leads to your booth and business.

We all want to give our customers and employees an end-of-the-year gift to show gratitude for their business and service. We want to give them a valuable gift that they find useful.  If you just wrap your most recent promo piece in holiday wrapping paper and hand it over you may come off as lazy or overly aggressive to your clients.

Branding holiday gifts for customers and employees without being overtly promotional can be challenging; however, with these subtle branding tips your customers and clients will be excited and appreciative.

Can you buy a nice gift for under $2?

It seems difficult nowadays, but it’s actually quite possible and can be a lot of fun. Buy your stressed-out co-worker a coffee. Tell someone thank you for a job well done with a candy bar. Pay-it forward at lunch by treating a stranger to dessert.

The gift of giving doesn’t need to be expensive. Make it fun, make it something useful or enjoyable and you’re sure to put a smile on someone’s face.

Use this same philosophy when you are selecting promotional items that must fit a budget. Add a little fun, get creative or simply just say, “thank you, this is for you.” 

How can you effectively brand and use these top items for under $2?

●      Give a 20-oz sports bottle to employees as the company starts a new health initiative. Add a healthy granola bar or pack of nuts to help show the company’s support for employee wellness.

●      At your next tradeshow, have a gift for parents to give their kids. Logo a Sports pack drawstring backpack in school colors or any bright color, even put your name in a fun kid font. Whether throwing in soccer cleats or a stuffed animal, kids of all ages love these lightweight backpacks.

Think outside the box when you’re planning and purchasing promotional products for your next company initiative, event or tradeshow. There are many unique ways that can make your company stand out and help expand your brand reach. No matter the price, the right promotional product can be priceless.

Here’s a few more hot, under $2, items: sticky notes, a USB vehicle charger and a top-selling ballpoint pen with Comfort Zone grip that comes in several colors.

Need a little help finding that perfect promotional product that stands out? Check out Studio Eleven’s vast selection or call a product specialist at 1-877-634-3499 for creative ideas, the latest trends and the newest products to hit the market.

Using promotional products is the fourth fastest-growing advertising medium. They’re behind mobile phone advertising at No. 1 (no surprise there!) and then the internet and product placement.

Why do promotional products still work?

Answer: Consumer recall and response.

Basically, people love free stuff! They can hold a pen in their hand, they use a cell phone charger, they wear a T-shirt, they take an umbrella with them--Promotional products are tangible items creating an experience and therefore, increasing message recall.

A trend analysis of Promotional Products Association International data over the past three decades demonstrates why advertisers have made promotional products the fourth-fastest growing advertising medium and sixth highest ranked medium among traditional and digital media.

Check out these stats:

●      Eight in 10 consumers own between one and 10 promotional products

●      Six in 10 consumers keep them for up to two years

●      Wearables and drinkware rank as some of the most often recalled promotional products. Who couldn’t use a cotton-poly T-Shirt or hot and cold tumbler?

●      About half (53%) of consumers use a promo item at least once a week or more often 

●      The primary reason for keeping a promotional product is usefulness

●      88% of consumers recalled the advertiser from a promotional product received

Studio Eleven provides high quality and affordable promotional products and corporate apparel. With a vast selection of 900,000+ products, experienced promotional product specialists and customer care representatives work with you to find the products that best fit your company, your consumers and your employees.

Source:  Three decades of data and analysis compiled by PPAI and researchers at Georgia Southern University, Louisiana State University, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Relevant Insights, Ernst & Ernst, Calendar Advertising Council and MarketTools, Inc.

With hundreds of thousands of options available in promotional products, it can be difficult choosing an item. And even if you narrow it down to a couple items, how do you choose the right product with confidence?

Use these 3 tips to help you make the right pick with confidence:

1. Match the product to your target audience.

If the products are intended for a specific group, you’ll want something specialized for their needs. For example, if your sponsoring a 5K run or putting on an employee health fair, a logoed light-up safety shoe clip would be a hit. It’s lightweight and easily attaches to the heel of most running shoes. Perfect for running, walking, biking and other outdoor activities.

Use proven statistics to help find the item that matches your audience. The Global Advertising Specialties 2016 study found women are more likely to keep a branded pen, while men are more likely to hang onto a branded USB. Check out the stats:

●      Who’s most likely to own a branded pen? Women, 54%

●      Who’s most likely to own branded USB? Men, 50%

●      Who’s most likely to own a branded T-shirt? Ages 18-34, 56%

2. Coordinate the product with the event or marketing tactic.

Just like some products fit a certain goal better than others, the same holds true for tactics. The right promotional product aligned with the right tactic can be a surefire hit!

Think about your overall goal. Do you want your message to spread or to be something the same person will look at every day? Items like pens and pencils get passed around quite often, while an office accessory would be seen by your customer several days a week. Consider which type of advertising you are hoping to do and be sure your item goes along with your goals.

Check out what promotional products best suit these events:

●      Trade Shows. Promotional items at trade shows can help your company gain exposure and leads toward new sales. Bags, such as a reusable mini tote, are very effective for trade shows as customers will use them at the trade show and several times after.

●      Customer Events. Satisfied customers can be your No. 1 advocate. Shower them with free stuff they will wear, such as polo shirts and jackets, and let them help promote your company.

●      Employee Events. Along with satisfied customers, you also want your employees to be top advocates. Hot items for employees are often coolers, speakers, water bottles and other top-quality items.

●      Community/PR Events. Show your support for your community, an event or organization through donated promotional items that organizers can give away. Provide event T-shirts with your brand logo and message, or give away a cooler filled with other branded items.

3. Use the experts.

That’s what they are there for! Share your overall goal, target audience and how you plan to use promotional products with your product representative as you begin selecting products. A promotional company should have customer representatives who are skilled in providing guidance and new ideas for product selection. Let them help you select the right product with confidence.

Studio Eleven provides high quality and affordable promotional products and corporate apparel. With a vast selection of 900,000+ products, experienced promotional product specialists and customer care representatives work with you to find the products that best fit your company, your consumers and your employees.

Do you worry that promotional products just get thrown away? Do you often wonder what the ROI on promotional products is anyway?

Check out these stats and information from the Global Advertising Specialties 2016 study to help find the ROI on the promotional products you’re using:

What products have the longest shelf life with customers?

●       Umbrellas – 14 months

●      Mobile power banks – 12 months

●      Outerwear and fleece – 9 months

●      USB drives – 8 months

●      Drinkware – 8 months

You want customers to take your product home with them, keep it and use it repeatedly in front of their friends and others in their business. By placing your logo on quality, worthwhile products, you gain customer trust and loyalty while strengthening your brand presence.

What products are “keepers” for U.S. consumers?

●      57% own a promotional shirts

●      53% own promotional drinkware

●      50% own a promotional writing instrument

●      41% own promotional desk/office accessories. Most of these products owners are millennials

Another interesting statistic: Midwesterners have the most branded products in their procession with the average of 11 products each. Across the U.S., the average per person owns 9.8 products. And even more impressive, 95% of Midwesterners with a promotional T-shirt recalled the advertiser on the shirt!

What products have the lowest cost per impression?

Promotional products are a great way to blast out your brand name and logo to a targeted mass audience, as they have a much lower cost per impression (CPI) than prime-time television advertising, magazine advertising and newspaper ads. A large portion of your budget could be eaten up in one 30-second television ad, while a logoed pen cost 1/10^th of a cent per impression

Plus, promotional products provide opportunity for active engagement, such as storing your sales proposal on a branded USB drive for a prospective customer, whereas you can’t get that with a newspaper ad.

Promotional items that deliver some of the highest number of impressions are bags, hats and writing instruments.

Are you looking for high quality, branded products and top-notch customer care? Contact Studio Eleven Promotional Products at 877-634-3499. 

Many forward-thinking companies today are providing employees with branded clothing as a hiring perk or even a performance bonus.

Not only is a benefit to employees as it helps keep their out-of-pocket clothing expense down, it also helps promote your company and create a polished look in the office. The days of sporting a suit to work are gone for most industries, so establish standards for what is business-appropriate clothing today. Use the guidelines below, and don’t miss the clothing tips for items that would make great branded pieces for your team.

Business Professional

When you dress business professional, you are wearing generally conservative clothing to portray yourself in a professional manner. Women should wear a skirt or pants suit with heels while men may wear a blazer or suit jacket, button down shirt, suit pants, a tie and dress shoes.

Clothing Tip: Brand a long-sleeve, wrinkle-free office shirt, such as the Port Authority Long Sleeve Gingham Easy Care Shirt. This gingham check pattern is modern, office-ready and can help promote your company when imprinted with your company name and logo.

For women, go with a blazer such as the Port Authority Ladies' Fleece Blazer. They can dress it up or down as this fleece blazer creates a polished look and can easily be branded.

Business Casual

When the dress code for your company is business casual, it simply means you do not need to wear a suit. However, it does not call for casual attire such as jeans and T-shirts. Women typically wear a collared shirt or sweater with dress pants and dress shoes. A man’s option for business casual includes a polo shirt, collared shirt or sweater and khaki or dress pants.

Clothing Tip: Create performance bonuses that reward employees with clothing, such as the Port Authority Diamond Jacquard Polo. Sleek self-fabric shoulder and side panel piecing on this option makes it perfect in or out of the office.

Small Business Casual

If your small business office has a casual dress code, you need to specify what is acceptable for staff to wear. Casual should not mean sloppy, inappropriate clothing, stained nor offensive attire. Examples of acceptable clothing pieces could include well-tailored jeans, casual blouses and fitted jackets.

Clothing Tip: Set an annual clothing allowance for employees to select branded clothing that suits their style and body type. Some great options that employees will love for both casual Fridays and outside the office are the Nike Dri-Fit 1/2-Zip for women and the Port Authority Soft Shell Bomber Jacket for men.

With more than 900,000 promotional products, Studio Eleven is dedicated to helping you find the perfect promotional product to represent your company. Visit us online here or call our product specialist today at 877-634-3499.

Need a promotional product in a jiffy? And one that doesn’t break the bank?

Check out our top 3 promotional items for under $10, under $5, and yes, even under $3! These items are perfect for a tradeshow, customer sales push or employee appreciation event that suddenly appeared on your to-do list.

Top 3 Products Under $10:

1. A tote that is small enough to stow anywhere and big enough to hold anything. Check out the RuMe Medium Tote for a modern design in a variety of colors.

2. You can’t go wrong with a top-quality cotton T. Imprint your message on Jerzees Heavyweight Blend 50/50 Cotton/Poly T-shirt.

3. Make an impact with a battery backup that keeps mobile devices charged. Give the Jolt Charger Powerbank that keeps giving back.

Top 3 Products Under $5:

1. Put your company logo in their hands when warm weather hits with the Trutti Frutti 25 oz Tritan Sport Bottle.

2. Want customers to take note of your brand? Offer them the Ambassador Bound JournalBook.

3. Wallet, coffee sleeve, workout wristband all in one - so many uses, so many ways to share your name. Check out the RuMe Cuff.

Top 3 Products Under $3:

1. Put your brand on the one item that goes everywhere with your customers. Imprint the silicone Snap Pocket Wallet that attaches to the back of a cell phone.

2. Freshen up your next direct mail campaign or trade show giveaway with a Mint Card of micromints.

3. You can’t go wrong with a pen. Check out the popular Javalina pen and stylus that comes in a variety of vibrant colors.

With more than 900,000 promotional products,Studio Eleven is dedicated to helping you find the perfect promotional product to represent your company. Visit us online here or call our product specialist today at 877-634-3499.

Tips You Should Consider

And one final tip: if the press picks up your story, make sure your employees are wearing logowear branded with your company logo and name. The best way to get free press may be just a subtle logo appearance in a great story that grabs attention locally and beyond.

Branded clothing is a great way to build brand recognition. Contact a product specialist at Studio Eleven at 1-877-634-3499 for expert assistance in finding the best promotional product for your brand.

The mention of safety training and additional safety procedures may lead to sighs from employees. “It’s boring.” “It’s another step.”

How do you turn this negativity around? How do you get employees feeling passionate and engaged in safety?

Try these 5 tips to engage employees in safety:

1. Recognition. Emotion often drives behavior. Appeal to their emotions by offering praise and reward to specific employees who excel during the training and go the extra effort to help ensure all safety standards are put in place and followed.

2. Make it fun. Turn a portion of the training into a competition or game. Play a game, such as Wheel of Fortune or Trivial Pursuit, using safety terms or procedures at your training event. Brand a prize with your company logo, such as giving a company-branded lunch tote with restaurant gift card or mug with coffee shop gift card.

3. Begin a safety tip of the week lunch. As new safety procedures are put in place, have a safety recap meeting each week with a safety tip and lunch. Again, emotion often drives behavior, and most people love a free lunch.

4. Set team safety goals. Set safety goals for each department that they can work on together. Reward the team with a branded item, such as a company jacket, when they hit specific goals. It’s great way to help spread brand awareness while tying in employee teamwork and safety.

5. Brand your safety program. Develop a safety slogan and logo for your company to help keep the message of safety in front of employees at all times. Ear plugs, safety glasses and breakroom coffee mugs could all be imprinted with the safety slogan and logo.

I bet you have conducted at least 1 of the more than 100 billion Google searches that happen every month. Do you know how many web pages are indexed on Google - 50 billion!

That’s a lot of information. So how do you ever find what you are looking for?

4 Quick Tips to Find What You are Searching for online

1. Start with the basics. Start with a simple search, such as ‘where can I buy mugs for the office?” And then add descriptive words, such as “where can I buy orange, branded mugs for the office?” Add a location, Ohio.

2. Choose words carefully. Choose words you may find on a website, such as logowear and branded vs. employee jacket.

3. Don’t worry about the little things. You can ignore spelling and capitalization, as Google automatically spell checks and uses the most common spelling. It also ignores uppercase.

4. Find quick answers. Google will also give you quick answers. Type in a math problem and it will solve it.  Type ‘define responsive’ and you’ll get a quick response.

Now just for fun, here are a few wacky Google stats from 2015:

   - State that uses Google the most - Utah

   - State that uses Google the least - Mississippi

   - Most searched topic in 2015 - Lamar Odom

   - Most searched politician - Donald Trump

   - Most searched recipe - pumpkin seed recipes

   - Number of Google engineers - 25,000

   - Number of code changes those engineers make daily - 45,000

   - Percent of users that Google themselves - 56%

Don’t let stress get the best of you. It’s a proven fact that stress can derail any project.

However, with the right stress relief tactic, you can train yourself to easily and quickly release stress before it slows down your productivity. Try a stress relief ball. It’s easy, convenient and can be kept right in your desk drawer.

What Stress Does To the Body

When feeling stressed, your body releases hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. It’s a burst of stress energy that causes muscle tension, an increase in blood pressure and other negative side effects.

By physically releasing that stress energy, whether through exercise or the simple act of squeezing and releasing a stress relief ball, your body relaxes and you feel less stress.

A Tactic That Can Work for Anyone

Have a big team project coming up? Equip the team with branded stress relief balls to show you are all in this together, through the ups and downs.

Encourage fellow employees to grab the stress relief ball as soon as they feel stress start to boil. They can begin to train their body to release stress early and often, before the team is off track.

A promotional products company such as Studio Eleven has a variety of designs, from smiley faces, globes and golf balls to denser, gel stress balls that can withstand any amount of stress.

Visit StudioEleven.net for a huge selection of stress relief balls, apparel and many other promotional products that can be imprinted with your company logo. Let our product specialist help you find the perfect item for employees, tradeshows and customer promotions.

The life of a traveling salesman can be lucrative and adventurous, yet tiring and challenging.

Just like every job, it has its good and bad. While compensation and incentives can be rewarding, there is a downside when sales go down. And while traveling the world and experiencing new things can be exciting, it’s not so fun when you have to miss a family event.

Reward your hard-working sales team with branded items they can take on the road with them.

A travel time toiletry case or a comfort travel set are the perfect travel companions. The five-piece travel set includes a wrap case, inflatable neck pillow, an eye mask, earplugs and a travel alarm clock. The wrap case is kept securely closed by Velcro to hold all gift set components, and the clock includes a snooze feature.

Brand the items and you are also helping promote your company as your team travels.

Don’t Leave Town Without These

Don’t let your sales team leave town without a stash of pens, notebooks and travels mugs, all branded with your company name, logo and phone number. Not only will they want to use these items, but they can also leave behind with new and long-time customers.

The Javalina metallic stylus pen is a top seller offered in several vibrant metallic colors. The ergonomic styling, stylus tip and ballpoint pen makes this a highly desirable promotional pen.

Other recommendations from promotional product experts include the recycled paper notebook with a heavy cardboard cover made from recycled paper. This is the perfect travel companion and branded giveaway as it is made of tough construction and promotes being environmentally friendly.

Also make sure they leave with a good cup of joe in a branded travel mug. A stainless steel, double-wall thermal is perfect for coffee lovers and can be imprinted with your company name, logo and more to heighten brand exposure on a product that will get plenty of use.

or call our product specialist today at 877-634-3499.

Did you know March Madness has generated approximately $7.5 billion in television advertising since 2005, with $1.13 billion brought in last year?

Ever wonder how your business can capitalize on the tournament hype?

4 Ways Your Business Can Join in March Madness

Buyer habits change with the seasons, just like a wardrobe.

Hot Promotional Items for You this Spring

Do promotional products work? If you are looking to increase sales and brand awareness, then “yep, they work.”

Studies show 59% of consumers had a more favorable view of a brand after receiving a promotional product. A whopping 85% did business with a brand whom they received a promo item from!

---

Next Question: Why do They Work?

1. They Are Useful

2. They Are Desirable

3. They Are Attractive

4. They Are Fun

5. They Engage All Senses

Promotional products can appeal to all five senses -- hearing, smelling, touching, tasting and seeing -- and engage your customers. An advertisement in print or on a television screen can’t do this! Whether a warm mug steaming with their favorite coffee or a flashlight they use at home or in their workshop, your customers have a hands-on item with your name and logo right in front of them.

Studies show promotional products work, but only if you are giving your customers products that appeal to them and inspire them to do business with you. Need assistance finding that right product? Studio Eleven is here to help. Contact us today!

Have a promotional pen at your desk? at your home? buried in your car console?

Nearly everyone has a promotional pen somewhere. The majority of companies give them out at some point. Most consumers will gladly accept and use a “good” branded pen.

Does a radio commercial or print advertisement engage and connect your customers beyond the 15-second spot or glimpse? Why not spend advertising dollars on hands-on items that engage them and make a lasting impression.

73% of consumers use promotional products weekly and 85% of consumers did business with an advertiser after receiving a promo item. Why do they work? The No.1 reason: they are useful!

Promotional products are a great form of advertising that engages your audience because they are using the item firsthand. Find a promotional product that engages one or more of your customers’ five senses.

Hear

The Zoom Wrap offers both great sounding earbuds and cord management for easy access to any webinar or campaign. Imprint your logo on the wrap, which easily clips to pockets, waistbands or bags. Make a sound decision by giving your customers one of these.

Smell

A mug that keeps your daily cup of joe warm and fresh is just what customers need. Find the perfect mug, whether stainless steel, ceramic or plastic, and customers will take your name and message with them each day.

Touch

A polycanvas tote bag is ideal for conventions or daily shopping. Bags come in a variety of colors and sizes. Imprint your logo and watch your customers grab and tote this bag around all day!

Taste

Food always grabs attention and appeals to an audience. Provide a luncheon napkin bearing your brand at an upcoming banquet or event to take advantage of an opportunity to engage an audience.

See

Shine some light on your business with a flashlight. An easy to carry and powerful flashlight is something everyone needs at some point in time. Keep your customers out of the dark and customize with your company name and logo.

Create a custom product that engages your customers and is something they can use over and over again. With more than 900,000 products, contact a Studio Eleven product specialist to find the right product for your customers.

Planning a company picnic? Need a giveaway for your tradeshow booth? Or, maybe you’re working on employee wellness and overall engagement.

Consider imprinting a sport bottle as a perfect giveaway that everyone can use. It can be customized with your company logo or a specific event or health message.

Whether pushing the benefits of drinking water throughout the day, reducing plastic waste or just wanting to get your brand in everyone’s hands, a sports bottle can achieve all. Customers and employees can keep one at their desk, in their car and even take it with them as they head out on the weekend with their friends!

A stainless steel line such as the Geometric Stainless Sport Bottle offers an angled design that creates a great visual appearance. With a screw on/off lid and removable inner wall, this bottle is easy to clean and perfect for all.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THIS PRODUCT!

Promotional products are a great way to make a positive impression on your consumers and build brand loyalty. Contact a product specialist at Studio Eleven at 1-877-634-3499 to find out how to find the best promotional products for your brand.

Trade shows and conferences have changed over the years due to the digital age.

With an endless source of product information and reviews on the internet, buyers are savvier and more knowledgeable today. Buyers now come to trade shows already knowing about your products and your competitors’ products.

Trade shows today are about building relationships.

Buyers’ expectations have changed from wanting to gather information to wanting a more in-depth, personal experience. They want to meet your staff and feel as if they can trust the brand. They want to know if your product and your staff live up to what you promote.

Trade shows today measure success in tweets, likes and shares.

Years ago the goal of a trade show was to get as many sales lead opportunities as possible. But today, the role of social media has taken a front burner.

Buyers are on social media daily, so that’s where your company should be, too. Bloomberg Businessweek reported the volume of tweets as the metric to analyze performance of the Detroit Auto Show exhibitors.

Check out the tweet volumes of the top 5:

1. Ford: 24,080
2. Lexus: 7,460
3. BMW: 7,030
4. Mercedes: 6,220
5. Chevrolet: 6,180

While trade shows and conferences remain a staple of B2B and B2C marketing, don’t get complacent in planning your show. Keep your trade show experience fresh and up-to-date by using the show to build relationships and trust with buyers and to show you are a socially-engaged brand.

The toughest part of planning your trade show display may be deciding which promotional product will best portray your company message and help build a stronger customer relationship.

Have you considered using your trade show giveaway to promote your company values? For example, are you strongly focused on safety? Give customers a blizzard ice scraper or a slim magnetic flashlight to promote vehicle safety as they leave your exhibit.

We’ve all been there: attempting to shut the car door with a tablet under your right arm, your purse or lunch hanging from your left arm, a water bottle in one hand and cell phone in the other hand.

How are you going to shut the door? Did you grab the keys?

Help yourself, your fellow co-workers and top clients by providing them with a branded business tote!

A spring or summer golf outing for employees is a great way to reward and show appreciation.

Organizing the event involves many details from selecting the course, tournament format and food to lining up volunteers, teams and awards. You want this to be a well-organized, fun day they won’t forget. You also want this day to leave a positive company image for all involved.

But how do you make it a successful golf outing that scores an ace with your employees?

Check out these “Fore” Things You Must Have at Your Golf Outing:

Small businesses are unique in that they often have a product or service that fills a niche, along with a very defined target customer. Many small businesses excel in customer service, yet struggle in brand development and recognition as they may be unsure which avenue to take and how much to spend.

How much have you pushed your brand?

There are simple steps you can take as a small business owner to gain community engagement, trust and recognition.

5 Marketing Tips for the Small Business

1. Give Your Stuff Away

Frozen Pints grew its craft beer ice cream business by leaps and bounds by attending craft beer shows and farmers markets to do one thing - give their product away. Customers loved the unexpected combination and began requesting stores carry it.

2. Network

Attend and offer your product or service at community events. People will notice the overall contribution and will look at you as the industry expert. Another option would be to host an event that provides opportunity to show off your product or service.

3. Send a Weekly E-mail

Stay in a relationship with your customers by sending them a weekly email that provides some sort of value to them. This can be quick tips, advice or something creative around your product or service.

4. Volunteer or Support a Cause

Find a cause that is a good fit with your business. Mary Hester of LAN Systems throws an annual cookout every Earth Day, asking party-goers to bring their "e-waste.” At a recent event, they collected more than 2 tons of IT equipment, keeping it out of the landfills and creating goodwill with their customers - current and potential.

Many local organizations also look for sponsors throughout the year, and in turn, include your logo on event information. If your product or service is a good fit with their audience, you could get exposure every time the organization sends out information.

5. Give Something Cool Away

Give away a promotional product they can use or will think is pretty cool. An industry study found that 73% of consumers use promo products on a weekly basis. Whether on a shirt, a mug or bag, let your consumers spread your name.

Are you looking for high quality, branded products and top-notch customer care? Contact Studio Eleven Promotional Products at 877-634-3499. If you’re just getting started, read our Beginner’s Guide to Purchasing Promo Products for some tips!

Did you know there is expected to be 4.77 billion mobile phone users worldwide by 2017? That’s more than half the world population!

It’s very likely that everyone you know has a mobile phone. And along with the phone comes accessories. Whether earbuds, a charger or a phone holder, everyone who has a mobile phone has accessories.

What better way to increase brand awareness and spread your company message than with a promotional product for a mobile phone? Most of today’s phones are mini computers that users spend countless hours on, whether making phone calls, searching the internet or listening to music.

Put your brand name in the same hands as your customer’s phone.

Top Mobile Promotional Products

A Charger. Keeping your phone charged is as important as having a phone. Brand a mobile charger that your customers will keep with them to ensure they can power up at anytime. This mobile charger also serves as a flashlight!

Earbuds. Whether listening to music on an airplane or an employee who is listening to a webinar, earbuds are found in nearly every home and office. Imprint your company message on a travel set of earbuds for a great customer or employee giveaway.

Phone Holder. A phone holder that properly props a phone for reading or viewing is essential to many in the home and office. Brand your logo on a phone holder that is universal for iPhones, iPods, Droids and more.

Gloves. How about something that stands out? Bluetooth talking gloves have a microphone built into the gloves that allow users to talk through their hands. Stand out and customize for your next event giveaway!

Are you ready for promotional products? Whether you are a startup looking to build your brand identity from scratch or an established firm looking to improve client relations, the right promotional product can help.

Are you looking for creative ways to stretch your department’s spend? To get more bang for your buck?

The boss is always happy when budgets stay in line and even happier when company funds, such as advertising or marketing dollars, can serve a dual purpose. 

How many branded pens, mugs and notepads do you have in your home or office? Likely many, and you are not alone as most people own and use multiple promotional products on a daily basis.

The key for every business is picking the right branded item so it doesn’t end up in the trash. You want the promotional product to match your company message and match your audience, so they use -- and reuse -- the promo product bearing your company name.

Don’t just choose a pen or notepad without thinking about your audience and the message you want to convey. Examine your current value proposition and target demographics to ensure you get the most value, and so do your customers, from your promotional products.

Would your customer wear a custom cap or would they rather have a cheerful ceramic mug for that warm cup of joe each morning?

Did you know 6 in 10 consumers keep promotional items for up to two years? And 53% of those consumers use their promotional items at least once a week.

People love promotional products. For more than 200 years, these products have been incorporated into our daily lives and have become powerful communication tools. Do you ever wonder why they keep working?

Useful

The No. 1 reason people keep a promotional item: it is useful.

A Promotional Products Association International study, conducted by MarketTools Inc., found 91% of consumers with promotional products use them in the kitchen. 74% of those consumers use at least one promo item at their work area.

Desirable

Along with being useful, the study found people also want promotional items that are desirable and attractive. They want a good quality pen or a soft, warm jacket. A promotional product that doesn’t appeal to them or meet their product expectations likely won’t get used.

Powerful

Promotional products are also budget-friendly, making for a very powerful form of advertising and communication. When compared to other forms of advertising, promotional items have some of the lowest cost per impression (CPI) at an average of $0.004.

Even better, a recent survey found that 88% of consumers recalled the advertiser on a promotional item. And even better yet, 85% did business with the advertiser after receiving the item.

Kind of like a cup of coffee

Let’s put it all together: People use promotional products daily. People wants products that are attractive. People read and recall what is on the promotional products they use. The right product can be extremely powerful!

It’s kind of like a cup of coffee. You want it daily. You recall your favorite. You like it in your favorite mug. You can’t live without it.

Wouldn’t it be great if that mug had your company name and logo on it?

for a huge selection of mugs, drinkware and many other promotional products. Let our product specialist help you find the perfect item to help spread your company name and message.

Technology is rewriting the rules for many industries, especially within sales.

A 2015 Forrester Research study predicted that a million B2B salespeople in the U.S. will lose their jobs by the year 2020 as more and more customers opt for e-commerce websites and online sales. Forbes magazine doesn’t dispute this, finding that nearly 93 percent of B2B buyers prefer buying online.

Is Your Team Making Change?

In a technology-driven world, companies will need to become “omni-channel,” Forbes says. They need to provide the seamless purchasing channel their customers prefer — whether that be an in-person sales call or traditional showroom along with a web browser, text and social media channel.

The Harvard Business Review article, “B2B Salespeople Can Survive if They Reimagine Their Roles,” advises today’s field salesperson to be an educator, negotiator, consultant, solution configurator, service provider and relationship manager. They are integral to discovering the “something more” that customers want. A salesperson must add value by becoming part of the product or solution.

Customers Are Changing Too

“It isn’t just purchasing options that are evolving—so are our customers,” writes Rick Brenner, board chair of the Promotional Products Association International.

“Millennials - the youngest members of our industry who came into adulthood after the year 2000 - have different norms, values and buying habits than their baby boomer parents. Technology isn’t something they’re just learning to deal with - it’s part of their DNA. They expect to be able to buy online, do research about you and your products and share their experience with all of their friends.”

Have You Hit the Tipping Point?

It would be hard to deny that great changes are taking place within sales for nearly all industries. Brenner points out that many have hit the tipping point: “the critical point in a situation, process or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes places.”

“Some of us are experiencing them sooner or to a greater degree than others. How close is the tipping point at which the industry as we know it is irreversibly altered?,” Brenner asks. “How are you preparing by updating your business practices, by investing in technology and by educating your team?”

Studio Eleven works with B2B and B2C companies and understands their needs and challenges. Call our product specialist at 1-877-634-3499 so we can help you find the right promotional product that makes a personable impact, helps ensure a seamless sale and gains you a satisfied customer.

Whether a pen, a mug, a jacket or a charger, most people will use and reuse promotional products. In fact, 73% of consumers use promotional products weekly.

We know promotional products work. The question is: are they cost effective for the business owner?

Advertising, whether through promotional products or another form, is big business today. Questions and sometimes concerns often arise when discussing how much to spend and through what avenues.

Globally, advertising costs in 2015 were expected to hit $593.43 billion, a 6% increase from 2014, according to market research firm eMarketer. The top five spenders in total paid media were:

- U.S. - $189.06 billion
- China - $73.13 billion
- Japan - $40.19 billion
- Germany - $27.71 billion
- UK - $25.22 billion

The U.S. accounts for nearly 32% of the global advertising market and is not expected to leave that top spot any time soon, according to eMarketer.

With big dollars spent in advertising, getting the most bang for your buck is paramount. One way to break down the cost is to look at the cost per impression (CPI).

The average CPI of a promotional item is $0.004, less than nearly any other media advertising outlet. According to Nielsen Media data, the cost per impression for a national magazine is $0.033 while a newspaper ad follows closely at $0.0129.

A CPI breakdown:
Magazine ad - $0.033
Newspaper ad  - $0.0129
Primetime TV ad - $0.019
Cable TV ad - $0.007
Spot radio ad - $0.005
Promotional shirt - $0.005
Promotional mug - $0.004
Promotional cap - $0.002
Promotional bag - $0.001

With promotional products having a low cost per impression, what are the best ways to use these products? According to national advertisers, the top 5 ways advertisers use promotional products to influence are:

- Brand recognition (66%)
- Product awareness (58%)
- Corporate identity (55%)
- Goodwill (51%)
- Brand recall (42%)

Promotional products are a great way to advertise your company, gain brand recognition and make a lasting impression without wreaking havoc on your budget. Contact a product specialist at Studio Eleven to find the best promotional products for your brand: 1-877-634-3499.

Are you a truly trusted brand? Check out these 5 ways to evaluate whether your brand is winning over today’s highly aware and informed consumer:

1.You’re believed
Trusted brands are seen as genuine, sincere, “one of us.” The brands effectively act as an ally in someone’s life and the part they play is not questioned – or at least it hasn’t been until recently.

According to Prof. Steven Van Belleghem, author of The Conversation Company and The Conversation Manager, consumers are prepared to commit to up to five brands as long as they believe the brand adds value to their lives or society in general. The brands that have consumers’ trust need to fight harder than ever to keep it.

2. You’re Included
Trusted brands are supported as much for what they stand for as what they sell. It is interesting to look at why people follow brands on Facebook in the first place. According to MediaPost, the single biggest reason (49%) is “to support the brand I like.”

Other key reasons for becoming a Fan of a brand include: “to share my personal good experiences” (31%); “to share my interests/ lifestyle with others” (27%); and “seeing my friends are already a Fan or Liked” (20%). People trust brands that feel most like them.

3. You’re pursued
When you have customers beating down the door to know what you’re going to release next, then you know your brand is absolutely trusted for its taste and currency. What you offer has become far more to people than just something they buy. It has become something that they are proud to own.

4. You’re forgiven
With a wealth of information available today and many channels to spread news, the days of consumers not finding out about a crisis are over. Trusted brands retain the loyalty of consumers when they act swiftly, decisively and sincerely to address not just the reality but also the perception of the mistake. People are more inclined to trust brands that are disarmingly open.

5. You’re copied
This is a sign that your brand is seen as the go-to and/or that your ideas are highly attractive. Take it as a sign that competitors, consumers and others clearly trust your judgment. The advantage you have, and the most powerful counter-strategy you can draw on, is that they can’t read your mind.

Are you getting results from your trade shows and customer events? Have you found the perfect marketing mix that turns your prospects into sales?

Check out these 5 must-have tips to make sure you are getting the most from trade shows, exhibits and customer events.

1. Do you have a clear layout with strong messaging?
Size and money spent doesn’t necessarily matter. You need to evaluate if your prospects can clearly and quickly take in your display, and most importantly, leave with the message you want them to receive.

2. Is your event staff thoroughly trained?
Staff are a key element to any event’s success. Does your staff know your product and service? Can they answer questions? What’s their body language telling prospects? Are they smiling?

Each team member should be able to work out what part of the buying cycle a prospect is in when meeting them, filter the information and tailor the sales pitch. They don’t need to be experts, but they do need to have good people skills.

3. Are your printed materials sending the right message?
Well-designed brochures with clear benefits for the customer work well. Other good take-aways for potential customers could include competitor comparison charts, case studies and fact sheets.

4. Do you have the secret ingredient? (hint: free give-away!)
If you have ever been to a trade show, you know the importance of having a branded promotional item for prospects to stuff in a bag that, of course, will also be branded. Take time to carefully plan and select your promotional item.

With so many giveaways, only the well-chosen promotional items will make a statement. Those items will also be the ones potential customers keep, re-use and maybe even pass along to another potential customer. Make sure yours is the best! Here are a few popular giveaway items:
- The Color Pop Hand Sanitizer
- Blizzard Ice Scraper
- Grip Slim and Bright Magnetic LED Flashlight

5. Are you following up?
What’s the point of all of this if you’re not going to follow up? Have your sales team call or email prospects immediately. It doesn’t take much to write a few emails (thanks for attending, sign up for our blog, etc.). You could even invest in a marketing automation system to send and track your follow-up.

Sign up for Studio Eleven e-newsletters so you don’t miss out on weekly deals or the latest promotional items for your next tradeshow or expo.

Determining when to give away promotional items largely revolves around the goals you have in mind for your company. Are you looking to increase brand awareness? Do you want to gain community support? Are you recruiting employees?

Whether a pen, a mug, a jacket or a charger, most people will use and reuse promotional products. In fact, 73% of consumers use promotional products weekly!

We know promotional products work, yet a question many companies face is: where are promotional products most effective?

5 events where promotional items are crucial:

2. Community Events
Strong businesses make it a habit of connecting with their local communities and participating in community events. This is a great time to give away promotional items for your business. Whether you’re sponsoring a 5K or a local school banquet, giving away promotional items, such as an easy to carry flashlight, will help increase your brand exposure and show consumers you are vested in the community.

2. Employee Appreciation Activities
Office parties and company recognition events are a great opportunity to build employee engagement. Giving your employees promotional items shows that you value all of their hard work and you are looking at them as a promoter of the business. A logoed jacket can be an investment in both employee recognition and brand awareness.

3. Advertising Launch
You don’t need to reserve your promotional items only for potential customers. When launching a new campaign, give out promotional items to help push the product and your message. Plus, people love getting free stuff! Make it something useful, such as a travel coffee mug. That way, your new customer will keep it (and actually use it) for a while.

4. Job Fair
Your goal at a job fair is to attract the best candidates to your company. You want them to know your name without having to ask, and even more so, you want them to be able to recall it later on. Display your company name and logo on banners, promotional material and even the shirts your recruiters wear.

5. Health/Safety Fair
You can increase brand awareness and your company’s value proposition by supporting health and safety fairs. Does you company have a safety slogan or an employee health campaign? Imprint this message, along with your logo, on a promotional item such as hand sanitizer to show consumers, the community and potential job seekers the importance your company places on health and safety.

Promotional products are a great way to advertise your company, gain brand recognition and support your employees and the community. Contact a product specialist at Studio Eleven 1-877-634-3499 to find the best promotional products for your brand.

A recent study shows how brand building has changed due to today’s consumers dramatically changing the way they interact with brands.

The study, Reimagining Shopper Marketing: Building Brands through Omnichannel Experiences, is based on in-depth research with dozens of the world’s leading brands. The research shows the rapid shift from a traditional linear marketing model to a new omni-channel marketing model that has resulted in a number of CMOs reevaluating how they spend their promotional dollars.

Check out the top 5 key findings of how marketers plan to change their MarCom mix:

- 100% of consumer brand manufacturers plan to increase their mobile marketing spend

- 96% will increase social media spend

- 96% will increase their shopper marketing budgets

- 68% rate investing in branded content and shopper experiences to engage shoppers before they go to the store as high priorities

- 64% rate investing in the same areas as above to drive repeat usage and loyalty after consumers buy as high priority over the last two years

BAA Research Results

The research, released by the Brand Activation Association (BAA) and Booz & Company, shows the importance of integrating the digital world into your marketing efforts to increase brand awareness and engagement.

Start by driving consumers to your social channels. Brand a sporty travel bottle with your logo and Twitter handle. Create a contest based on sharing your Facebook page that gives away enticing branded items, such as a stylish all-season jacket  or a trendy pullover.

Promotional products can help drive consumers to your social media channels, while also increasing brand awareness. Contact a product specialist at Studio Eleven, 1-877-634-3499, to find the best promotional products for your brand.

Do you want your consumers to smile when they think of you? Give them a gift!

Research shows people love to get promotional products, and those who receive promotional products are found to have:
- An increase in positive overall image of a company
- More positive perception of the business
- Higher likelihood of recommending the business

Impressions Keep on Coming!

The PPAI study also found that 58% of respondents keep a promotional product anywhere from one year to more than four years. Even if the recipient uses the item only once per week, that’s a minimum of 52 impressions made over the course of a year with the possibility of more than 208 during a five-year window.

With thousands of promotional products available, it is vital that you find the right product that fits your brand, your consumers and your budget.

Whether a necessity, such as a LED flashlight for the house or a catch-all caddy for the car, or an item for recreation, like a game day hoodie blanket, you can making a lasting impression and build brand loyalty by giving your consumers a promotional product they are bound to love.

Promotional products are a great way to make a positive impression on your consumers and build brand loyalty. Contact a product specialist at Studio Eleven at 1-877-634-3499 to find the best promotional products for your brand.

We’ve created a list of our most popular products of 2015; these are the items that our clients love – and their customers are excited and happy to receive. Use these 10 hot items as a starting point and chances are one or more of them will resonate with you and your target prospects.

Our Top 10 Products of 2015:

1. Apparel: From branded hoodies to fleece jackets and soft, wearable t-shirts, apparel continues to be a strong promotional category. Choosing items designed to be oversized or those that fit a wide range of body types allows you to make full use of this category.

2. Blankets: Stadium blankets in your colors and emblazoned with your logo not only make ideal products for sharing, they have a high perceived value, meaning your clients will be likely to use and hang on to them.

3. Calendar: Digital isn’t the only way to go; a tangible custom calendar you can hold in your hand or hang on the wall keeps your message in front of clients 365 days per year.

4. Bags: Not just for groceries; sustainable and reusable totes, coolers and branded swag bags allow you to present other items and your branded materials in style. You’ll also get the added bonus of branding visibility when the recipient uses the tote to haul items around.

5. Drinkware: From Custom Insulated Tumblers to cocktail and fitness shake makers and can cozies, drinkware strikes the perfect balance between useful and promotional. This is also a popular category for holiday and corporate gifts.

6. Electronics: Electronics and related products make wonderful giveaways, provided you choose universal products that your recipient can actually use. Prospects love anything to do with branded mobile and electronic devices and find these accessories to have high perceived value and usefulness.

7. Pens and Pencils: Make sure your message is seen; quality custom pens and pencils continue to be leaders in promotional ware. Functional and useful, these inexpensive brand builders offer a high return on the investment and are likely to be kept and used.

8. Paper Products: Stand out at a conference or trade show by offering branded notebooks and paper products to your guests. Our paper category is also useful for building corporate identity packages and elegant sales presentations, too.

9. USB Drives: Universally useful, a fun or fanciful custom USB drive is likely to make the cut at any trade show.

10. Caps and Hats: Whether you use these for your own team branding or offer them as promotional products, the right cap will helps spread your message and build your brand recognition every time a recipient wears it.

From the big return on your investment to boosted visibility and the personal connection you form when you share a great promotional piece, there are very few regrets involved. Promotional items have a positive impact on both your brand and your marketing efforts for a variety of reasons, including:

6 Degrees of Separation aka Kevin Bacon

Just like every movie ever made can be traced back to Kevin Bacon, every piece you put out there has the potential to reach multiple people. Once you have a promotional piece in someone’s hands and they feel it has value, it has the potential to be passed on. Not only does this phenomenon extend the life of your piece and its investment, the act of passing the branded item on is seen as social proof of your brand. The act of handing over that picnic blanket or cooler is more than just passing on a useful item; it is a personal endorsement of your business, too.

Positive ROI

Comparing the cost of a promotional piece to a purchased lead (or one based on traditional advertising) reveals that your per cost price is significantly lower when you invest in branded promo pieces. Your branded pieces also allow your prospects a real, tangible thing to save and hold – with no clicking away or sending to spam.

Avoid Missing Out on Leads

You’ve made an amazing connection at the trade show or convention, and head back to the office, eagerly awaiting the promised phone calls and connections. Will the phone actually ring? While you should always follow up after a show, a tangible reminder helps your prospect recall you and the conversation you had. Think about what you do as an attendee – and what booths you recall best; it is much easier to remember who you’ve met when you can hold the reminder in your hand. Something as simple as a branded pen or ice scraper can boost recall and make it easier for you to reconnect with your leads.

Boosted Brand Visibility

Branding is more than a popular marketing buzzword; it truly matters if you want your business to be perceived in the right way. Ignore your branding and you lose the opportunity to control your message – or worse, end up with no visible message at all. Promotional pieces help reinforce your image as a stable, key player in your field and ensure you won’t be overlooked.