Sustainability – Last-ability

By now you’ve heard the term sustainability more times than you can count, but how many times have you thought about what this word means?  According to this article by Forbes, sustainability “can be defined as providing for the present needs without compromising the needs of the future generations to meet theirs.”⁽²⁾  We tend to lump sustainability and products made from recycled materials together as one in the same; however, there is so much more to sustainability than meets the eye. Just because something is made from eco-friendly materials, doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. So today we’re introducing a new term . . . last-ability . . . and we’re going to discuss how important it is for your brand to source and design merch that will last.

It’s not the be all end all, but one of the first places to start as you embrace sustainability is the material used to manufacture your merch. According to this article, sustainable materials fall into one of three categories: natural, renewable, and harmless or non-toxic.⁽³⁾ Wood, bamboo, hemp, bioplastics and, of course, recycled materials are just some of the resources that fall under one of these categories, and all make for excellent material alternatives. As the demand for products made from earth-friendlier materials is growing, the promotional products industry is starting to offer a growing catalog of brandable, eco-conscious goods

This might be obvious, but another important thing to consider when selecting products is the lifespan of the item. When possible, offer products that are durable, high-quality, and good for multiple uses to cut back on waste. This could mean choosing stainless steel or Tritan drinkware, or opting to purchase a smaller quantity of higher priced items to give away at tradeshows instead of blanketing the event with low-priced, low-quality throwaways. Additionally, and this is huge, the last-ability of a branded item isn’t determined solely by the product itself, but also by the design and messaging you print on the product. No one wants to carry your business card on their water bottle. Get creative! Be intentional about design. Use fun messages to get people’s attention and, as often as possible, print your logo and branding more discreetly. The fact of the matter is people won’t see your logo if they aren’t even keeping the product. For something to last, it must first be kept!

Don’t let your efforts to be more earth-friendly stop with the products themselves. Consider ways you can make the packaging that products are delivered in more sustainable too. Bundling products in a shipment, using recycled packaging materials, and opting for packing paper over packing peanuts are all easy ways to make a huge difference. We would love the opportunity to discuss packaging options with you and are proud to work with suppliers certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the largest single forest standard in the world.

When it comes to building your brand, it’s important to pick products that will stand the test of time. Being intentional about choosing better products and decorating these products more thoughtfully will help your business be more memorable – and help the planet at the same time. That’s a win-win. 

Contact us for sustainable promotional products to support the marketing of your business!

Proforma Prime Image

prime.image@proforma.com

primeimagemall.com 

 

Sustainability – Looking Forward to the Future

Like most movements, it has taken some time for companies to adopt widespread sustainability practices. With knowledge gained, and state and federal regulations in place, businesses have largely changed their perspective. The desire to be more efficient and carve out a better carbon footprint has resulted in everyone making changes for the better, including employees who want to work for an owner that considers the business’ environmental impact. Sustainability efforts provide great public relations as well as favorable social media content.

Now is the time to integrate custom print and promotional products with your upcoming promotions. We can source, order and fulfill the best sustainable products for every application. Align your brand with dependability AND sustainability this year. Contact us today to get started.

 

Proforma Prime Image

E-mail: prime.image@proforma.com

Website: primeimagemall.com

 

The business environment has shifted from an office setting to the home office. Here are some helpful references for virtual meetings.

Top Virtual Conferencing Tools

SKYPE

A messaging and conferencing tool from Microsoft with flexibility for teams large and small.

Benefits: Built into Office 365, with versions for PC, Mac, and most mobile devices

Drawbacks: Features vary across different platforms

Cost: – Free for teams up to 20 – Paid version supporting up to 250 people at $2 per person, per month

Website: http://www.skype.com

ZOOM

A remote conferencing service often used by educators and trainers for virtual classes.

Benefits: Interactive features allow the audience to participate without taking over the conversation

Drawbacks: Video quality is unpredictable, and can be expensive for larger teams

Cost: Available for free for 1-to-1 conversations only – Paid packages starting at $14.99/month for up to 100 participants

Website: zoom.us

FACETIME

An Apple® video chat app designed for the mobile user.

Benefits: Freely available on Apple devices, supports up to 32 participants at once

Drawbacks: Works only on Apple® devices (i.e. iPhone and iPad)

Cost: Free with an Apple® device

Website: www.apple.com

HANGOUTS MEET

A business-oriented videoconferencing application, part of the G Suite of collaboration tools.

Benefits: User-friendly and supported on most mobile devices

Drawbacks: Limited features for those without a Google account

Cost: – Included with G Suite service bundles, starting at $6/month

Website: gsuite.google.com/products/meet/

BRAND.LIVE

A video live-streaming platform ideal for hosting virtual events or large-scale training.

Benefits: Interactive features allow the audience to participate and ask questions live

Drawbacks: No free options available

Cost: – Paid pricing based on platform and usage needs Website: www.brand.live

Contact us for work-from-home ideas such as power banks, journals, anti-microbial pens or mousepads, wireless speakers and charging cables. 

PROFORMA PRIME IMAGE

prime.image@proforma.com

919-361-8808

primeimagemall.com

USE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS FOR THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND POWERFUL ADVERTISING

Findings from the latest Advertising Specialty Institute’s (ASI) Impressions Study indicate promotional products are a very cost-effective way to advertise. The findings in this study were based on thousands of in-person and online surveys taken by consumers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe.

Promotional products are the most highly regarded advertising medium, more than ads in newspapers, on the radio, advertising in magazines, on the television, Internet and on mobile devices.

The most popular promotional products are pens, drinkware, t-shirts, bags, headwear, outerwear, polo shirts, desk accessories, calendars, USB drives, umbrellas and mobile power banks. 85% of people world wide remember the advertiser who gave them a promotional product.

The average US household owns an average of 34 promotional items. Nearly nine out of 10 consumers say they own logoed pens and branded drinkware such as a ceramic coffee mug or a travel tumbler. The average length of time a consumer keeps a branded promotional product is about one year. Outerwear, umbrellas and t-shirts are kept the longest. More than half of consumers pass branded items such as apparel and power banks to someone else when they are finished with them. Items were kept if they were quality items, practical and attractive. 42% have a more favorable opinion of an advertiser if the promotional product they received was environmentally friendly. 53% have a more favorable opinion of an advertiser if the promotional product was made in the USA.

This study illustrates the power of promotional products among consumers on a global scale, and their affordable cost-per-impression as compared to other forms of advertising.

Proforma Prime Image, an ASI member since 2005, offers more than 500,000 promotional products on their website, primeimagemall.com. Products not found on the website can often be sourced from other providers. Need ideas? Contact us. We are your marketing agency without the agency fees.

E-mail: prime.image@proforma.com      

Office: 919-391-8808       

www.primeimagemall.com

What's The Plan?

Do you have a clear idea of what your brand conveys?  Does it incorporate your mission?  Are you on a path to improving your marketing results?  Proforma Prime Image can help improve your brand exposure with unique logoed merchandise and print products.

Here are some interesting facts from the Advertising Specialty Institute to consider when ordering your next promotional product.

Bags
One-half of all U.S. consumers own a promotional bag.

Drinkware

About 53% of U.S. consumers own promotional drinkware, making tumblers, bottles and mugs powerful marketing tools for your clients.

Apparel

T-Shirts are the top-selling promotional product in this category. The trends are toward the more retro or vintage look, such as the baseball t-shirt.  Color-blocked tops, denim shirts and flannel wovens as well as heathered fabrics are popular.  Consider fabrics that are moisture wicking with cooling features.

Headwear
The new trend is toward baseball caps with curved bills and a strap back. Men in rural America are tops for logoed headwear.

Umbrellas

Promotional umbrellas are kept on average for 14 months

Desk Accessories
Younger consumers are the most likely to own logoed desk accessories.

USBs
Consumers between 18-24 are most likely to own branded USB drives.

Proforma Prime Image, an ASI member since 2005, offers more than 500,000 promotional products on their website, primeimagemall.com.  Products not found on the website can often be sourced from other providers.  Need ideas?  Contact us.  We are your marketing agency without the agency fees.

E-mail: prime.image@proforma.com      

Office: 919-391-8808       

www.primeimagemall.com

Proforma Prime Image - Effective Ideas to Grow Your Business

Most companies want to increase recognition of their name and products.  It’s interesting to note that something as simple as logoed pens and as useful as branded polo shirts can be some of the most effective means of advertising.  

An investment in logoed products can pay off in new business.  The return is a measureable number called ROI or Return on Investment. Companies who use promotional products often are interested in ROI. This helps them in follow-ups with existing customers and plans for upcoming promotions at tradeshows, meetings and with marketing campaigns.

Recently, the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) conducted a global study in 27 cities across North America, Europe and Australia.  In 85% of the US respondents, promotional products have a lower cost-per-impression (CPI) than prime-time TV, national magazine and newspaper ads and a CPI similar to spot radio and Internet advertising.

The study showed that promotional products are generally kept for seven month.  Most people have at least ten in their possession at any given time. In interviews, ASI found “end-buyers who consistently remembered the advertisers on logoed items and who feel good about the brands on promo products they use day in and day out.” 

Midwesterners own the most products of any region surveyed. In all regions, pens were most often mentioned (56%) followed by shirts (48%) and bags (34%). Promotional hats are kept by 42% of those who received them. Outerwear also ranks high as one of the top recognized promotional products. 

ASI’s research studies are frequently cited throughout the B-to-B industry and across the advertising and marketing spectrum.  (ASI) is the largest media, marketing and education organization serving the promotional products industry, with a network of over 25,000 distributors and suppliers throughout North America.

Proforma Prime Image, an ASI member since 2005, offers more than 500,000 promotional products on their website, primeimagemall.com. Products not found on the website can often be sourced from other providers.  

Need ideas?  We are your marketing agency without the agency fees. Feel free to contact us for more information:

E-mail:             prime.image@proforma.com

Office:             919-391-8808