PromoWithPurposeShop.com, a shopsite of Thorne Communications LLC, has just added a collection of promotional clothing that features All In pricing for custom polos, jackets, sweatshirts and more. An image link to an electronic “flip-book” style online catalog featuring available styles is available on the PromoWithPurposeShop.com home page under Promotional Clothing.

The All In pricing includes the run charges for imprinting in one location using ANY type of decoration method available for the item chosen including: laser, deboss, full color transfer and traditional embroidery. (Set up charges, shipping and sales tax are additional.) Plus, there are no extra charges for larger sizes (e.g. 2XL).

These innovative and upscale decorating methods give promotional clothing a true retail look. The following videos illustrate:

Laser (Click to view on YouTube)

Deboss (Click to view on YouTube)

Full Color Heat Transfer TrueEdge Technology (Click to view on YouTube)

Embroidery (Click to view on YouTube)

“We know how frustrating it is even for us to compile quotes for custom decorated apparel orders. It’s even worse for customers who are shopping completely blind online,” says Heidi Thorne, president of Thorne Communications LLC. “With the new All In pricing model, all parties on the order know exactly what the price is. We’ve taken the guesswork out of the buying equation. Add in these cutting edge decorating techniques and we think we’ve provided the best one-stop source for  promotional clothing.”

With this new program just recently being developed, direct ordering online is not yet available. However, PromoWithPurposeShop.com customers can simply connect through the shopsite’s Contact page to begin the ordering process.

About Thorne Communications LLC

Thorne Commmunications LLC has been in the promotional products marketing business since 1999. The company’s president, Heidi Thorne, has been in the sales, marketing, advertising and public relations business for over 25 years, including a decade in the hotel and trade show industries. She is also the author of six books on marketing topics including the T Shirt Printing and Promotional Clothing Buyers Guide, available in paperback, as well as for Kindle and mobile devices, on Amazon.

Product Info

• PromoWithPurposeShop.com
• T Shirt Printing and Promotional Clothing Buyers Guide (Amazon)
• Free How to Buy T Shirts Ebook

Related Posts

• 4 Greener Decorating Techniques (includes video on debossing)

The post New Promotional Clothing All In Pricing and Decorating Options appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

One of the most cost-effective investments you can make to promote your business is trade show table covers. This durable staple is an important piece of your branding package at expos and events.

For example, I’ve used the one for my business (pictured in this post) for about 5 years already. It’s been through the washing machine and dryer and still comes out looking amazing. Those of you who are familiar with me and my blog know that green is our primary branding color. The impact that a large swath of color adds to a trade show or event table is significant. If you have a strong branding color, people will identify it easily in a crowded show or event floor.

• See How to Use the “Layered Look” at Trade Shows

There’s just one catch: They’re expensive. A table cover for a standard 6 to 8 foot trade show table will run at least a couple hundred dollars each, less if you buy more than one. Table covers are not throwaway items; they’re an investment. But considering that you will use them for years, the cost per use diminishes rapidly. On an annualized basis, mine cost about $50-$60 per year. Plus, it’s likely I’ll be using it for at least another 3 to 5 years, dropping the cost further. Even though I do only a few exhibits each year, it’s still cost-effective. And if you do a lot of events, it could cost you only a few bucks each time you use it. As well, I’ve chosen a style that can convert for use on either a 6-foot or 8-foot table which helped me save on having to purchase one to accommodate each.

And for heaven’s sake, buy a protective bag to store your cover! It can be less than $20 and will protect it from stains and dirt while in storage and transit. Also keeps it folded to prevent further wrinkling.

One other thing about table covers: There are a lot of details to consider when purchasing. Size, fabric, imprint, etc. Our favorite trade show table cover supplier (whose products we feature on PromoWithPurposeShop.com) has graciously put together a 4-page table cover information guide to help you get the cover that’s best for you. We’re sharing that with our Promo With Purpose Today subscribers… for FREE.

Already signed up for our email updates? Watch your email for a link for your free download.

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Product Info

• Trade Show Table Covers from PromoWithPurposeShop.com

Related Posts

• Tradeshow Displays: Using the “Layered Look” to Boost Your Brand

The post Free Trade Show Table Covers Information Guide appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Confession: I love the whole superhero film genre. I’ve seen most of them, some of them multiple times. (Heads up: See my Amazing Spiderman pic later on in this post.) So I had to go and check out the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) at McCormick Place. I’d never been to this event before, so I was anxious to go. Also being close to the events and expo world, I certainly wanted to see what they did with trade show signs and exhibits.

The welcome sign to the event was enormous! Spanned the hallway next to the entrance. Impressive!

But then here was another one of the expo’s welcome signs posted in McCormick’s Lakeside Center:

What???? It looked like a pizza box with the directional message in marker. Really?

Okay, I’ll be fair. I usually park in McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center because it always seems quieter and easy to get a spot. C2E2 was in the West Building. So the expo was likely expecting most attendees to park in one of the other McCormick Place garages. But here’s the interesting part: I wasn’t the only one parking there. When I arrived, there were a couple of lost families wandering around the Lakeside Center wondering where to go. At the time I arrived, there was NO sign whatsoever directing visitors to the West Building and only an incidental facility employee to direct folks. The pizza box creation was seen as I was leaving the expo in the afternoon. So it appears that there were many more lost people and this was the solution.

What’s even sadder is that this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered a situation like this.

So, dear expo managers, please keep these tips in mind as you do your planning for trade show signs:

• Think Like an Attendee. I’ve harped on this before in my post Trade Show Signs: Doing What Comes Naturally. Where will your attendees likely, or even unlikely, be looking for help in finding their way? Put a sign there, please! A official printed sign. Not a pizza box.
• Think Like a Hacker. What do computer hackers do? They find a way to access your computer that you weren’t monitoring. In my example, I was entering McCormick Place through the building that wasn’t the site of the actual expo. But it was open for access. It was obvious that others were using this route, too. Should have been covered.
• Walk the Walk. Walk through to your expo from each of the main transit or parking areas and see if you can find your expo. Better yet, take a total newbie with you and ask them to guide you to your event. If the newbie gets confused or lost, that’s where a sign should go.

Your attendees will think you’re a superhero for helping them find their way easily.

As promised, here’s my superhero pic with one of the most amazing trade show signs I saw at C2E2. “Just thwip it!”

Want more trade show and event sign and promotional ideas? Sign up for our email updates by entering your email address in the following box and clicking Sign Me Up!

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Product Info

• Trade Show Signs and Banners from PromoWithPurposeShop.com

Related Posts

• Trade Show Signs: Doing What Comes Naturally
• 4 Big Bad Billboard Blunders and How to Avoid Them

The post Best and Worst Trade Show Signs Ever appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Promotions marketing expert Heidi Thorne, Thorne Communications LLC, has been named to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Hot List for 2013. This list recognizes promotional products industry thought leaders “who are shaking up the ad specialty market, creating unique business plans, networking like maniacs, and overall, making the industry a fun and successful place to work” (Counselor magazine, April 2013).

As noted in Counselor, Heidi was included on the list for publishing five books on various aspects of the promotional products industry, a speaker at ASI Shows, and for her active social networking. She is one of the most followed people in the industry on Twitter (@heidithorne) with over 4,500 followers.

“I am certainly honored to be a part of ASI’s 2013 Hot List class,” says Heidi. “We have so many bright and innovative people who are changing the industry and redefining it for the future. So glad that ASI has found a way to showcase and help us learn from these thought leaders.”

About Heidi Thorne

Heidi Thorne is president of Thorne Communications LLC, a promotional products marketing company. She is also an author of six books and speaker on marketing topics. Her experience includes over 25 years in the fields of sales, marketing, advertising and public relations, with almost a decade in the hotel and trade show industries.

Heidi’s blog, Promo With Purpose Today (http://pwptoday.com), offers promotional product news and ideas for small business, trade shows and events.

Members of the media can connect with Heidi on the Press page. To hire Heidi for consulting or speaking, please visit the Speaking and Contact Us pages.

The post Heidi Thorne Named to ASI Hot List for Promotional Products Industry appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Happy Earth Day! So Earth Day promotions focus on how they are made of recycled material. That’s great. But wouldn’t it be great if your promotional products actually helped save the planet? Here’s one that really does…

Water bottles.

Water bottles are becoming an even more essential promotion as time goes on. Why? We have a whole generation of earth conscious consumers influencing the economy. Need proof? As reported in promotional product journals Advantages and Counselor published by the Advertising Specialty Institute (March 2013), the University of Vermont has become the largest public institution in the United States to ban sales of single-use plastic water bottles. In their place, the college has converted many of the campus’ water fountains into water refilling stations. Yay, UVM!

I’ve seen this trend recently, too, at a smaller suburban campus here in the Chicago area. And these schools are not alone. The articles also report that across the nation 22 private schools have enacted similar single-use water bottle bans.

Think about it. We’re going to have a whole generation of folks entering the workforce that will be trained to refill water bottles instead of buying a bottle. The implications for facilities, food service and events are huge. If these people are in the habit of refilling, they’ll be looking for refill stations and bottles to refill.

This is good news for marketers who want to use water bottles to promote their businesses. And it’s good news for the planet since there will be less plastic floating about (and sometimes it’s floating in oceans, rivers and lakes) and the huge carbon footprint needed to ship water which is super heavy is reduced or even eliminated.

Want more eco friendly promotional product ideas? Sign up for our email updates by entering your email in the following box and clicking Sign Me Up!

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Product Info

• USA Made Water Bottles at USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

Related Posts

• How to Use Your Customers’ Coffee Habit to Spread Your Brand
• Generation Y Promotional Product Strategies: What Will and Won’t Work

The post Earth Day Promotions that Help Save the Planet appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Promotional products marketing company, Thorne Communications LLC, has introduced a revamped greeting and party supply website featuring Carlson Craft products. The new website address is ThorneCommunications.CarlsonCraft.com

The new site features easier navigation, grouped around categories of products, including:

• Weddings
• Graduations
• Baby
• Parties (Anniversaries, Showers, Theme Parties and more)
• D-I-Y (Do-It-Yourself papers and supplies)
• Holiday

“We were so excited to hear about the changes Carlson Craft was making to the ecommerce platform. It makes it so much easier to find the products you want,” says Heidi Thorne, president of Thorne Communications LLC. “We’re also glad to see the addition of D-I-Y supplies. Many of our clients want to be more creative and customize what they send to select individuals. This gives them an opportunity to shop for these high quality supplies online without having to depend on inventories at local craft stores.”

The site will continue to be updated with new products as they become available. Customers can complete their order, from start to finish, online. For those who require more customized assistance, a customer service team is available by phone from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), at 1-877-290-8487 or 1-507-386-2320, using code RVD30.

Customers who were ordering custom postage stamps from the previous site will still be able to do so until the new site is updated with this offering. The link http://bit.ly/CustomPostageStamps should be used for the stamps until further notice.

Product Info

• ThorneCommunications.CarlsonCraft.com

Related Posts

• Put Your Logo or Photo on Custom Postage Stamps

The post Thorne Communications Debuts New Greeting and Party Supply Website appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Thorne Communications LLC has just published a new report on promotional products retention by political party titled, Popular Promotional Products by Political Party: 2013. Based on findings from the 2012 Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study, the report reviews promotional items that have high ownership and recall with the over 5,000 consumers surveyed worldwide in various metropolitan markets. Additional data on ownership rates by political affiliation were also done for the United States. Report author, Promo With Purpose Today editor, Heidi Thorne, then interprets what the data means for political candidates and those that are doing marketing for them.

Markets discussed in the study and this report include: Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver. However, since the focus of this report is on major political parties within the United States, this will only apply to United States markets.

“Many people don’t take into account ideological differences when selecting promotional products for political campaigns,” says Heidi Thorne, author of the report. “Having a good idea of what works for various political groups can help create a more successful promotion… and, we hope, more votes.”

The report includes a number of surprising statistics including:

• One promotional product that all three major political factions agree on.
• Which political parties exhibit a preference for low tech or high tech.
• The party who’s retention of one ever-popular promotion trumps even the national average by a whopping 12 percent.
• The party who owns the fewest number of promotional items it receives.

Only items with retention value are reviewed. Campaign specific items such as signs, buttons, brochures, etc. are not included.

The report is available as a free download to email subscribers to the Promo With Purpose Today blog.

• Current subscribers: Will receive a special email with a link to download.
• New subscribers: Click here to subscribe OR enter your email address in the form below.

Get your FREE Popular Promotional Products by Political Party Report when you subscribe to Promo With Purpose Today email updates!

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Got a great comment in from one of our Promo With Purpose Today email subscribers: The most frustrating thing about promotional products purchases is to find a way to get samples as the catalogue cannot do justice to a lot of the products. True, but your promo distributor may be hesitant to send them to you. I’ll explain why and discuss how you can get the promotional products samples you want.

I’ll agree with the subscriber in that looking at catalogs often does not give you an accurate representation of what the product looks like in real life. It’s not that the photos are bad or misleading. It’s just that the products are usually shown as close-ups and isolated on a blank background which makes it difficult to assess how it is size-wise when held in your hand. For fabric products such as T shirts, it is almost impossible to tell how the fabric feels from looking at a photo. Colors are also tricky since lighting in a photo studio can vary from that in a home or office. So really the only way to make a judgment call on a product is to get a physical sample.

One popular “sample” method used these days are virtual samples. What your distributor will do is place your logo on a photo of the item you’re considering and send it to you so that you can get an idea of how the product will look when finished. Virtual samples are helpful, especially if you’re considering several items and want to narrow the field. Then order physical samples for those that are mostly likely to be winners.

Let me dispel a myth right off the bat. Promotional products distributors, except for maybe the really large Internet retailers, rarely keep a huge inventory of samples on hand. Why? Because there are so many products out there! In one database alone, there are over 750,000 different product SKUs (yes, that’s three-quarters of a million). So while most distributors have a personal stash of popular samples from their primary suppliers, they will rarely have the exact sample you’re looking for on hand… even if they have it available for sale on their website.

So what your distributor needs to do is order a physical sample for you from the supplier of the item. But here’s the rub. While many suppliers are very accommodating when it comes to samples, I’ve found that most do charge for them. So, in turn, your distributor may charge you for the item you want. Additionally, they may charge you for the freight to send the item to you. Some may ask you to pay for the sample upfront OR they may roll the cost of the sample into your final invoice when you actually place the order (might be included in “shipping & handling costs” if not separated out). Except in cases where an expensive sample would be sent to you for review only, samples are non-returnable.

You might be thinking, “Well, isn’t that a distributor’s cost of doing business?” Technically, it could be. But if every client wanted a sample on every order, or if every client who’s are just thinking about ordering wanted one, your distributor would be running at a loss very quickly. Trust me, I speak from experience in this area! The cost for a small plastic promotional item, plus freight, can easily run me up to around $10 per sample sent when all costs and processing are included. I’ve even had situations where I sent samples of expensive jackets for review only. Customer didn’t return them on time and I ended up spending about $300 in samples. Ouch! Then they didn’t even order after that. Double ouch!

• High Cost. If the item has a high per piece price (such as awards or expensive leather goods), it’s usually a good idea to secure a sample for review before investing a large amount of money in them.
• High Quantity. Doing a large run, say at least 5,000 or more? Better check it out before you end up eating the cost of a large order for an item that’s not what you expected. Suppliers for large quantity orders may also require you to pay for a production sample (they imprint with your logo artwork on just one piece) for approval prior to doing the actual run.
• Custom Products. You will not get away without paying for a sample here! Distributors and the suppliers manufacturing the order will not run your order without your approval on a production sample. As well, the costs to custom develop products (such as mold fees) are paid upfront and are non-refundable.
• Unsure of Quality or Suitability for Your Project. Always order a physical sample if you feel unsure about any promotional product you’re considering. Just be prepared to pay for it. Let’s just call it insurance.

So how should you go about getting samples?

1. Contact your promotional products distributor direct. Some may offer the ability to order samples from their websites. If not, look on their Contact page to either email or phone them to get the process rolling.
2. Inquire about both virtual and physical sample options. The virtual could be used initially if you are considering several items and want to eliminate some candidates. Then order physical samples for only those that show most promise.
3. Once your distributor receives your final sample request, it may take a few days to fill your order, plus shipping time, to get it in hand. Do not expect overnight service unless you expect to pay for it. As well, the sample may be shipping direct from the supplier which could mean anywhere from 1 to 5 days of shipping time in the United States, depending on your location. So allow at least 1-2 weeks to get your sample with normal turnaround.

Product Info

• PromoWithPurposeShop.com
• USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com
• T Shirt Printing and Promotional Clothing Buyers Guide

Related Posts

• Setup Charge for Promotional Products Explained (video)
• Overrun Definition for Promotional Products
• Do Promotional Products Have a Shelf Life (video)
• Strategies for Newbies: Understanding the Buying Process
• 5 Tips to Get Your Orders on Time

The post Promotional Products Samples: How to Get Them appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Looking for an event activity that’ll really stick (literally) to engage attendees at your next event? How about using some Post It notes? Check out these ideas for 3M Post It notes used to engage audiences and employees around the world (NY Times): 3M Says ‘Go Ahead, Make Something of It’

Then watch the video from 3M to see Post Its in action:

Check out the 3M “Go Ahead” Campaign Video on YouTube

• Post It Picture Wall. One group noted in the NY Times article created a pixelated picture on a wall entirely composed of Post It notes in various colors. Make it a group project on a whiteboard or other smaller surface if a wall is not available. To spur the creativity and make the project relevant to your event’s purpose, give your group a theme for their picture project. You could even have multiple groups doing this and have some sort of contest. (See advice for posting on walls later in this post.)
• Sharing Wall. As also reported, a “Who Inspires You?” wall was created in Cambridge, Mass., on an empty storefront to engage passersby. Come up with a relevant question to your event and ask people to submit their answers on a Post-It stuck on a wall. It becomes a centerpiece of the event that attendees will want to spend time reading. Actually, I saw something similar to a sharing wall at an event on motivation. However, they used non-sticky paper taped to the wall. (Ick!) But it was a focal point for the day’s activities!
• Question Wall. Similar to the sharing wall, ask attendees what they might want to get out of their time at your conference. The answers might surprise you and be a good guide for the day’s activities and future conference planning. My friend Adrian Segar, of Conferences That Work, has a TON of ideas for this! Check out these posts:

Discover What Attendees Want to Talk About With Post It!

• Purposeful Promotion. For the sharing wall and the question wall, use Post It notes that are branded with your event’s or company’s logo and contact info. They’ll be able to use them for the activity AND take them home, reminding them of the great experiences you offered. And even though they’re not made by 3M, I LOVE the Slinky sticky notes that provide a desktop toy that’s useful. Click here to see the Slinky notepads in action!
  

Important: Even though Post It products have removable adhesive that does not harm most surfaces, check with your meeting facility to see what wall would be best suited for this use. Adrian has some advice for this, too:

• A Post About Posting on Walls – Part 1
• A Post About Posting on Walls – Part 2

Post It notes are one of my favorite promotional products. Inexpensive, useful and people quickly run out of them. So you don’t have to worry about giving your folks the “same old” promotion. They’re usually looking for them!

Have more ideas for using Post It notes to engage attendees or staff members? Share with us in Comments.

And if you want even more promotional products ideas, subscribe to our free email updates by entering your email in the following box and clicking Sign Me Up!

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Product Info

• Custom Post It Notes
• Sticky Notes (Generic)
• Slinky Sticky Notes

Related Posts

• Slinky Notepad Video
• Why Promotional Notepads STILL Rule

The post Sticky Post It Notes Ideas to Engage Event Attendees appeared first on Promo With Purpose Today.

Thorne Communications LLC has just published a new report on regional promotional products use titled, Regional Promotional Products Hot List: 2013. Based on findings from the 2012 Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study, the report reviews promotional items that have high ownership and recall with the over 5,000 consumers surveyed worldwide in various metropolitan markets. Report author, Promo With Purpose Today editor, Heidi Thorne, then interprets what the data means for marketers.

Markets discussed in the study and this report include: Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver.

“Many people don’t take into account regional differences when selecting promotional products,” says Heidi Thorne, author of the report. “This is especially the case when people are planning for events that are being held in cities other than their own. Having a good idea of what works in various markets can help create a more successful promotion.”

The report is available as a free download to email subscribers to the Promo With Purpose Today blog.

• Existing Subscribers: Will receive a special email with link to the report.
• New subscribers: Click here to subscribe OR enter email in the blank provided here and click Submit.

Get your FREE Regional Promotional Product Hot List Report when you Subscribe to Promo With Purpose Today email updates!

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