Case Studies: Promotional Logo Items from TAGS and Williams Group

Take Note – Great Promotional Items Stick Around

2012-03-22T07:32:00.004-07:00

Several years back, we decided that when we ordered logo items for our Williams Group Marketing + Design business from our own promotional team, we would be careful to make sure the item something worth keeping. In keeping with the Williams Group brand, even promotional items should convey quality, care and creativity.

With this in mind, when we sponsored a chamber luncheon, all 200-plus people in attendance received a really nice, uniquely styled notebook with our logo front and center.
I knew we had a hit right away because there were NONE left at the end of the lunch. Every single person took theirs with them. Furthermore, for months afterward, individuals who attended the lunch went out of their way to tell me how they use their notebook. Some used them for work, but many used them for personal needs, such as keeping track of their workouts or diet plans. One person shared she even used hers as a diary!

Ever since that experience, we have continued to order items for ourselves that we believe will stick around and support our brand. Cool notebooks work well for us, but even when we are choosing less expensive items, we make sure the item has a high perceived value. Our recent pen orders, for instance, have been uniquely styled, heavy writing instruments that write smoothly…the kind of pens people are careful not to lose. Even a relatively inexpensive pen, if done right, can work to enhance your brand the right way.

At TAGS Awards & Specialties, ask us about how we can support your brand image with promotional items. Or visit our specialties website at http://www.promotional-logo-items.com.

TAGS Top Five Promotional Items From 2011

2012-01-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

At TAGS Awards & Specialties (and our sister company Williams Group Marketing + Design), we serve our clients with all kinds of fun and unique promotional items. Our long-time tagline is still true: “Your Logo on Anything!”

While there are all kinds of new ideas in the field, it’s interesting to note that the top 5 items we produced for our customers in 2011 were actually traditional favorites. If you’re a promotional buyer for your business or organization, we thought you might like to know what sold best last year.

No. 1 – Pens

That’s right, the old stand-by is still going strong. Promotional pens are a top item for promotional buyers. We order a lot of pens from Bic, mostly because they are affordable for clients and ALWAYS quality, but there are lots of other styles, too. Some of our professional clients appreciate promotional pens that are heavier, as the weight can convey a higher quality that translate to client branding. Others look for unique functionality, like lights, messaging, or other fun additions.

No. 2 – Mugs

The 11-oz ceramic mug still sells well, but we’re finding some really cool new styles of coffee cups, travel mugs, water bottles and more that really make a statement for our clients. Costs vary, but when you’re trying to leave behind a lasting impression of your business, a mug still does the trick. One of our favorites from 2011 is an insulated mug with a handle that a couple clients purchased for their offices. These mugs are so beautiful and substantial, customers can’t help but remember them.

No. 3 – Magnets

As long as file cabinets and refrigerators are made of metal, magnets will make sense for promotional use. We sold a large number of inexpensive yet attractive business card sized magnets in 2011, but larger ones, sometimes cut to unique shapes, were popular as well. One of our recent orders included a magnet with a thermometer built in for a contractor who works in the energy conservation field. Perfect!

No. 4 – Adhesive Note Pads

Imprinted sticky notes were ordered more often than any other item in 2011. These useful, versatile items can be square, rectangular, or cut to virtually any shape to enhance your branding. Priced less than you might think, they’re a great item for trade shows or for use in the office for a well-designed, professional look.

No. 5 – T-Shirts

Rounding out our top five items of the year was T-Shirts. T-Shirts and other wearables are another great way to create a lasting memory. With the multitude of color and style options these days, the new t-shirts, dress shirts, sweatshirts and jackets look better than ever and help turn the recipient into a walking billboard for your organization. One of our favorites this year was Washington Business Bank, who took their tagline of “Core Values” to a new level by producing staff workout shirts that read, “Hard Core”.

What can we do for you and your next promotional needs in 2012? We’d be glad to help! Give us a call at (360) 352-3031 or check us out online at TagsTrophies.com or wmsgroup.com. You can also go straight to our promotional item website at promotional-logo-items.com.

TAGS Celebrates 40 Years of Awards and Specialties

2011-12-28T14:38:00.000-08:00

The store's name – TAGS – hasn't changed since it first opened 40 years ago in 1972.

And the integrity of that name – friendly customer service, quality work with designing everything from plaques, trophies, name tags and pens – hasn't changed either.

Brenda Williams, owner of the store along with her husband Mike since 2001, makes sure of that.

“Every job is important,” Brenda said. “People take the time to come in and place the order. It's important to them. It's important to us.”

Brenda is committed to customer satisfaction. That was obvious on a warm summer evening not long ago. Their store had already been closed for a couple of hours and as Brenda was walking off the tennis court her phone rang. It was a customer, nearly frantic about picking up a gift.

“A mother had a gift for Father's Day and wanted to know if they could come and get it,” Brenda said.

Rather than telling the mother to come the next morning, Brenda told her to swing by the store later that night.

“We have an emergency number and that's what it's for,” Brenda said. “People call to say they have to get something. We'll help them.”

From the start, TAGS Awards and Specialties has been on the cutting edge. It was one of the first stores in the country to use computerized engraving in the late 1970s. It was later one of the first in the country in the late 1980s to use laser engraving equipment.

Today, it is one of the largest and most successful retail awards stores in the United States. It gets orders from across the country.

Brenda said the store's reputation is a reflection of its staff.

“They've all been here a really long time,” Brenda said. “That speaks well for the sort of business we have. They like working here and they like the product.”

And they like the customers.

“That's what I like,” Brenda said. “I see the same customers come in and say they want to work with Patty or Aileen. That's what's nice about a local business. You get to know the customers and they get to know you.”

In 1993, Mike and Brenda moved to Olympia and opened a marketing business, The Williams Group. Prior to that, Mike worked in sports marketing in Los Angeles, working for big-name clients like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Clippers and the Santa Anita Race Track.

Brenda had been a manager in Bullock's Department Store's head office, managing merchandise purchasing.

In 2001, the Williams’ bought TAGS from Carl Salstrom, the second owner of the business. Salstrom purchased the store in 1985 from Orville and Bernice Armstrong. Orville used to drop by the store and chat with Brenda about how things were when he owned the store.

“He'd like to peek around and see how it all works,” Brenda said. “The history is fun. It's nice. His wife had a beauty shop next door. When we bought it, the beauty chairs were downstairs.”

That building is now the office of Williams Group Marketing + Design, which offers professional branding, websites and graphic design.

Brenda said attention to quality and service at TAGS is important during the current hard economic times.

“People are having to think very hard on how they're going to spend their money,” Brenda said. “You want to make sure you're giving them something of good value and give them good customer service with that.”
TAGS is an acronym for trophies, awards, gifts and stamps. The store engraves the names of an honored athlete onto the sports trophies. They also engrave acrylic awards that customers can help design for any occasion, ranging from weddings, graduations and births.

TAGS recently has also done heavy bronze building plaques for the city of Olympia http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifand the North Thurston School District.

The store's top priorities are quality and friendly customer service.

“People always come in at the last minute and they say they need it now,” Brenda said. “Usually it takes a week, but it happens. People need things tomorrow. We say let’s find something for you. We can do it.”

And that's why TAGS is so good at creating awards and specialty items.

Visit the TAGS website at http://www.tagstrophies.com

Latest Promotion for TAGS Awards and Specialties was Super Sweet!

2009-11-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

M&M's have always been one of America's most popular candies, and now, though the magic of promotional items, you can print your logo on REAL MandM's. That's exactly what owner Brenda Williams did for TAGS Awards & Specialties (see website).

"We produced small single-serving bags of M&M's with the TAGS logo, and we used them at a couple of recent events, including the Thurston County Chamber Forum and at the Chamber Business Showcase trade show," said Brenda.

"One of the ways we judge an item's popularity is by how many get left behind after a chamber luncheon. There were hardly any left to pick up, so that means nearly every one of the 200-plus attendees picked up our item, and likely even took another look at our name as they were eating each candy! We recognize that it's a short term interaction, but the interaction with our brand is real."

New Scrolling Banner Gets Attention for TAGS Awards & Specialties!

2009-11-17T07:48:00.000-08:00

When Brenda Williams set up her booth at this year's Thurston County Chamber Business Showcase, she knew right away that she had a conversation starter with her -- a new scrolling display. (You can view it here).

Partnering with sister company Williams Group Marketing + Design (http://www.wmsgroup.com) for production of the sign, Brenda's new display shows off several of the items TAGS supplies, including trophies, plaques, name tags, rubber stamps, and more."Right away, people wanted to talk about the display," says Brenda. "It was a great way to start conversations with people, and it was a great way to show off a number of products we produce."

"It was a great way to let people know we can produce displays like this," she continued. "We already sold one display at the show!

For more information about TAGS Awards & Specialties visit their website.

For more information about scrolling banners, call Mike Williams at (360) 352-3031.

Table for Two Finds the Perfect Promotional Item with Table Covers

2009-11-09T15:33:00.000-08:00

Table for Two NW is the Pacific Northwest's Premiere Personalized Dating Service specializing in helping successful professionals find lasting relationships. So, what could be more appropriate as a memorable branding tool than a table cover for use at community events, complete with the business' branding.

Wendy Dillon, who owns and operates Table for Two, is a big believer in displaying a consistent branding image.

"We strongly believe in putting forth a quality image on our materials," says Dillon. "We are a relatively new business, and it's important for people to know we are a quality operation they can trust. Items like our table covers help convey that message."

Visit their website to learn more about Table for Two NW.

For more information visit our website here.

Panorama Uses Promotional Items to Reinforce Quality Image

2009-11-09T15:32:00.000-08:00

Panorama knows that it is often the special touches that make the most difference when gaining a customer's trust. After all, that's what has helped set Panorama apart from other retirement communities for years. And that’s why they offer a top quality chrome-plated key tag when residents get to the final stage of the move in process and obtain the keys to their new home.

"All our residents are special to us, and when we meet someone who is considering a move here, we want them to experience our high level of service in every way possible," says Sheila Heilman who is just one of the many people who work with incoming residents. "It may seem like a small thing, but offering people a tasteful gift that helps them remember us in a positive way is just part of our overall plan."

Founded over forty years ago as a full service Continuing Care Retirement Community, Panorama has lived up to its original promises. It is designed to provide all the amenities of a gracious lifestyle without the bother of home maintenance and the comfort of the continuing care structure. For more information about Panorama, please visit their website which we are proud to say was designed by Williams Group Marketing + Design.

For more information visit our website here.

Superiorland Soccer Association Kicks it Up a Notch with Soccer Ball Lollipops

2009-11-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

Kathy St. Germain knew she needed something that would be memorable for her July 4 item that was to be distributed at the local Independence Day Parade. After all, lots of groups give away items at such events, and Kathy wanted the people with her item to remember her organization.

So, with the help of the TAGS/Williams Group promotional team, she gave out Soccer Ball Lollipops, complete with her company name and an additional two lines of printing to include her website and other contact information.

"The lollipops were a big hit," reports Kathy. "We were really happy with the way they looked - and tasted - and best of all, they left a really clear image of soccer in everyone's mind."

For more information about Superiorland Soccer , visit www.superiorlandsoccer.com.

For more information visit our website here.

Tenino Motorcycle Drill Team Used Wrist Bands as Tickets to 26th Annual DO-WA-DIDDY

2009-11-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

Summer is here and it's a season filled with outdoor festivals and events. And, when you're in charge of organizing an event without a single entrance, controlling ticketing for hundreds of guests can be a challenge.

Enter the solution used by Chad Bowman of the Tenino Motorcycle Drill Team who used tear-resistant wrist bands from TAGS/Williams Group as tickets for the DO-WA-DIDDY motorcycle gathering on July 11 in Maytown. Now in its 26th year, this year's event drew hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts.

"This is a big event, and managing such a large crowd is a bit of an art," says Bowman. "It was a big success, and the wrist bands work great for identifying folks with tickets."

To learn more about the Tenino Motorcycle Drill Team and the DO-WA-DIDDY event, visit http://www.t9odrillteam.com.

For more information visit our website here.

Brooks Plumbing - Using Magnets to Promote a Message that Sticks with Customers

2009-11-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

Terry Middlebrook has built a thriving plumbing business by being available, on time, and on budget. But even the owner of this successful Olympia business knows his customers can need the reminder to call him first.

On every job he does, Middlebrook leaves behind a full-color magnet with his phone number and website address. And it's no accident that the items feature a photo of Terry in the the design.

"As we've grown, I'm not always the plumber that is out on the job, so it's important to convey that not only am I still here, but also that I stand behind the work of my expert team," says Middlebrook. "The magnets are really inexpensive, and they match the look of all my other marketing tools."

For more information about Brooks Plumbing, visit www.brooksplumbingco.com.

For more information visit our website here.

Farrelli's Inflates Image with Families with Quality Balloons for the Kids

2009-11-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, the best promotions are the most simple ones. So, when Farrelli's Wood-Fire Pizza looked for a way to promote their kid-friendly atmosphere, balloons were a natural.

Despite the simplicity of the concept, marketing manager Clayton Krueger was careful to choose a top quality balloon that reflects the overall quality of his brand.

"We are very aware that everything we do makes an impact on our brand image," says Krueger. "These are still very affordable items, but we spent an extra few dollars to make sure we offered shiny ballons that are larger than some others out there. That may seem like a small thing, but we believe every little positive touch adds up to building our brand in the end.

Farrelli's was founded in 1995 at the original location on Yelm Highway in Lacey. Since then, they have grown to a chain for five restaurants including, DuPont, Tacoma, Parkland and Sumner.

To learn more about Farrelli's, visit www.farrellispizza.com.

For more information visit our website here.

Local Motorcycle Riders Rev Up Excitement with Full-Color T-Shirts

2009-11-09T15:26:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, a one-color imprint just isn't enough to tell the whole story.

That's the case for the Puget Sound Enduro Riders and their colorful association of off-road motorcycle enthusiasts.

"Our sport has so much action and color, that we decided to go with full-color shirts," explains Dorian Sleeper. " The change to full-color was less expensive than we thought, and the results have been great."

For more information visit our website here.

Mushroom Festival Uses Promotional Button as Event Admission

2009-11-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

No one ever accused Greg Stevens of a lack of creativity. So, when the Mixx96 FM sales master and the Rotary Club of Hawks Prairie developed the Pacific Northwest Mushroom Festival last year, it was no surprise that the first year event was a big success. Now in it's second year, the festival is expected to "mushroom" to even bigger proportions.

One of Greg's clever strategies to build this great community event has been to sell advanced admission tickets in the form of promotional buttons.

Shown at right, this seemingly simple promotional device serves a productive double role as both a fundraising tool and advertising vehicle that promotes the event to anyone in its view.

"I know I'm not alone in wanting to maximize every promotional dollar I spend," comments Greg. "And if you'd like a button, you know where to find me."

For more information about the Mushroom Festival, visit their website.

For more information visit our website here.

Custom Security and ReachONE Internet Get Ready for Summer with Promotional Fans

2009-11-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

When Custom Security and ReachONE Internet looked for a promotional item that would enhance their attendance at summertime events, they chose a classic: hand held fans. These fans are also one of the most popular and cost-effective promotional items available, making them a great choice for lean economic times.

Plus, because Custom Security and ReachONE have similar ownership, the company can promote both brands simultaneously by putting both logos on the front and back of the same item.

"The fans have a large imprint area, and they are going to be very visible at events," said Spud Downie of ReachONE. "It's going to be great to see hundreds of people simultaneously fanning themselves with our logos!"

For more information visit our website here.

Child Care Action Council Uses Second Side Imprint to Give Sponsor Recognition on Book Bags

2009-11-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

Olympia 's Child Care Action Council recently held a fundraising lunch to benefit the "Raising a Reader" program. At the event, all attendees were given a red book bag, representative of the bags given to children in the program. Each bag was filled with information about the agency and the reading program.

The bags also serve as reusable shopping bags, one of the most popular promotional tools on the market.

"One of the nice things about these bags is the ability to print a different message on the second side," said Beth Lovelady who coordinated the event. "We chose to recognize one of our major sponsors by including the Olympia Federal Savings logo on the bag. It was a perfect way to let the community know that Oly Fed supports the program."

According to Beth, "These bags will be used by families for months and months, and both Child Care Action Council and our sponsor will be in front of them the whole time."

For more information visit our website here.

This Little Piggy Went to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Breakfast... and is Still Bringing Home the Bacon!

2009-11-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

When Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington sought out a promotional item for last month's fundraising breakfast, organizer Larry Hill and the Williams Group/TAGS promotions team got creative, giving every recipient a plastic piggy bank with the organization's logo on it.

But that's not the end of the story.

Hill asked everyone at the breakfast to take the bank back to their office or home, fill it with spare change, and then return it to Big Brothers Big Sisters to add to their ability to match young people with positive mentors.

"We've already had several banks come back to us, full of money," says Hill.

Thanks to some clever thinking, this was one promotional gift that keeps on giving!

For more information visit our website here.

Annual Toy Run Pin Builds Rider Pride and Drives in Fundraising, Too!

2009-11-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

For 31 years, the roar of motorcycles whose riders bear gifts for those in need has described the famous Olympia Toy Run.

Toy Run Organizer "Santa Joe" Sullivan this year's event raised over 7000 toys and an additional $17,000. One way the event raises money is by selling a commemorative pin each year.

"The pins are real collectors items," says Sullivan. "Riders wear them with pride, and they are happy to buy them because their purchase adds funds to the Salvation Army's 'Toy and Joy' shop.

Congratulations "Santa Joe" on another great year with the Toy Run. We look forward to next year!

For more information visit our website here.

Smart Branding...Bonaventure Shoes Puts Their Best Foot Forward

2009-11-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

Jeanne Carras, owner of Downtown Olympia's Bonaventure shoe store, is well known for her savvy marketing expertise and creativity. Even when it comes to promotional items, she's found a way to stand out from the crowd.

"Annually, to mark the anniversary of our store, we invite our customers to celebrate with us, and they always get a new pen, " says Carras.

"Each year we present a new color, and of course, every pen includes the shape of a woman's shoe. I have a number of customers who have collected the entire set, which makes for a nice connection between our clientele and ourselves."

Nice job, Jeanne! You're pen promotion is a great example of making promotional items really work to extend your brand and build customer loyalty.

For more information visit our website here.