Stitch to My Lue Promotions, LLC

3 Reasons You Need to Pay Attention to Promotional Products In 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:52:00 +0000

You’ve probably been asking yourself whether using a traditional marketing technique such as promotional products can help boost your business in 2016 or if it’s better to use another marketing strategy.

The truth is promotional products still matter. In fact, this form of advertising is still going strong and is one of the most targeted forms of advertising with the lowest cost per impression. Regardless of your business size, getting people to notice your brand will always have a positive effect on your business. Think you need more proof?

Here are the other reasons why you need to pay attention to promotional products this 2016:

Mass Outreach Capabilities – You never know when or where you customer will go or who they will meet every day. If they are carrying your unique item with them, your brand gets the chance to be noticed by their friends, families, classmates, acquaintances and even strangers.

Increase Brand Visibility – Brand recognition gives your business an edge over the competition. Making your customers remember you by giving out customized items with your name and your logo can keep your business top of mind. A guitar pen for example, could be a great idea for musical themed promotions. Pair it with a slogan like “The Power of Dreams” and it can work for just about any industry. Items that can be used by your customers’ everyday would be a great idea. Perhaps you could make it fun-to-use or unique so you would give them a reason to carry it with them every day and show it off!

Budget Friendly – Aside from being effective, promotional products are budget friendly. There are many affordable promotional items that do not sacrifice creativity. You can give your clients and potential buyers an exciting product for only $1 or less. A promotional consultant, like Stitch toMy Lue Promotions, LLC can help you find just the right gift for your audience.

Although there are many "do it yourself" online sellers of promotional items, working directly with an experienced promotional consultant can be both cost-effective and time-saving. Your promotional consultant can share ideas that you never even knew existed and take your promotional campaign to the next level! There is no additional cost in working with our team, in fact, many times we can save you money!

What is your next event? Let’s get started brainstorming now!

Click here to receive 10% off your first order!!

3 Tips on Choosing a Great Promotional Products

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 21:35:00 +0000

I am often asked what's new in promotional products. While it's exciting to be on the cutting edge of something, new doesn't always mean effective for all industries and companies.

There are several other factors to consider when choosing the right promotional product for your campaign. Here are a few things that should be considered before jumping on the "newest" promotional product.

Who is your target audience?

You want to be sure that your item will be used by the recipient. This helps to ensure staying power and increases the number of times your recipient will see your logo and be reminded of your product or service. For example, if your client base is focused on environmentally friendly efforts and renewable energy, giving them items that are made from recycled materials would make a great impression. This Bamboo Stripe Desktop Pen Cup would be prominently displayed on the recipients desk and seen day after day!

Will the item create the desired effect?

Many companies are working with small budgets. Value quality over quantity when choosing an item to represent your brand. Screen printed tshirts are a great example of this. There are many low cost tshirt options available but will it actually get worn? Handing out tshirts that will shrink or twist after a couple of washes won't do any good in the long run. Next Level offers a great line of stylish tshirts, just ensure you are working with a printer that understands how to print on some of the new types of fabric that are available.

Think about the recipient
If you are distributing items at a trade show or conference where many people will likely travel to get there, be sure to keep this in mind when choosing your giveaway item. Avoid bulky, large or breakable items that will be difficult to put in a suitcase or carry-on. Reusable tote bags are a great giveaway at tradeshows. It is very likely that your logo will be seen all around the showroom floor as you hand them to attendees and they are put to use right away.

Stitch to My Lue Promotions, LLC is here to help you create effective campaigns that will put your marketing dollars to work with items that are useful and memorable. Visit our website and schedule your consultation today!

Advertising vs. Marketing: Herein Lies the Secret to Today’s Most Successful Sales Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 12:12:00 +0000

Sheldon Pilot of ABLE Digital Group and has made his career in marketing. On LinkedIn, he posted a short blurb about his frustrations regarding people’s seemingly blanket misunderstanding about how marketing relates (and doesn’t relate) to advertising. He writes:

“I was recently attending an event and was asked what I did for a living. I informed that my profession was within the Marketing Industry and the person responded: are you a "Mad Men"? I realized that the lines were blurred and trying to explain the difference was only going to cause more confusion so I smiled and let the conversation slowly move in a new direction. But during the drive home, I really wanted to have a twitter like definition that could easily convey the difference between the two, especially now that digital and social media are contributing to the mix.”

And Mr. Pilot is not alone. Marketingprofs.com reports that if you ask 20 experts the difference between marketing and advertising, you’ll likely get 20 different answers. For this reason, the subject continues to surface and confuse.

As a small business owner or part of a marketing team, have you ever experienced this confusion in marketing circles? And, have you also dealt with the frustration of not knowing how to explain the difference? If you’re like many, the answer is yes. And, the truth is, this distinction is important. Why? Because both play a key role in making your company successful. So, let’s take a few minutes to explore the difference between the two and why both are important to your company.

What is marketing?

Marketing is everything a company does to ensure a lucrative exchange between itself and its customers in terms of products or services. The key word here is “everything.” For many companies (and if done correctly), marketing starts even before a product or service is created.

To illustrate this, let’s look at Apple. Apple has a product that is revered by its plethora of fans. And, this reverence is not just a fluke. No, it has taken Apple years to develop this reputation, fan culture, and sales strategies around its products.

First, before Apple even mentions a product to its vendors, it develops a focus group to determine what the current consumer challenges are in the industry as well as consumers’ likes and dislikes. Then, it develops a product that will serve all of the customer’s needs, whether conscious or subconscious. As it does so, it creates a luxury product.

Next, it targets exclusive vendors to sell the products. It also relies on buzz to generate interest in new products. With this exclusive image, it works to pit its products against its competitors’ in the minds of consumers, leading bloggers, its social media community and tech gurus to begin talking about Apple products to its target markets well before their launch dates.

With all this buzz going on and exclusive rights of its vendors, the company then sets in motion a premium pricing strategy that is in line with its exclusive image. As it does so, the company focuses on vendors that will advertise the products according to Apple’s meticulous instructions and in keeping with its premium brand image.

All of these moves are part of the company’s marketing strategy, from creating its image, doing market research, and choosing its vendors, to its purposeful rival with competitors, its advertising guidelines, choosing its means of communication with audiences, and premium pricing strategy.

In a nutshell…

As we’ve seen in our Apple illustration, marketing 101 tells us that marketing involves four components: developing the product, the place in which it’s sold, its pricing strategy and the means of promoting it. This makes up the “Four Ps of Marketing,” that, in a nutshell, comprises marketing.

What is advertising?

In understanding what advertising is and its role in creating sales, we must again remember that marketing is everything a company does to ensure a lucrative exchange between itself and its customers in terms of products or services. So, given that advertising is part of ensuring a sale, or lucrative exchange, it only goes to reason that advertising is a part of marketing. But, what is it really? Let’s nail this down. Barron’s Dictionary of Marketing Terms defines advertising like this:

Advertising: a paid form of nonpersonal message communication through various media. [It] is persuasive and informational and is designed to influence the purchase behavior and/or thought patterns of the audience.

To this, I would add that advertising takes place during a limited period of time.

So, though all of your marketing strategy must align, including advertising, advertising is not “everything.” It is the advertising component of marketing that provides informative, persuasive and media-based product or event messages to consumers for a limited time. Simply put, it is making your product or service known to the market.

An advertising campaign repeatedly informs and persuades audiences of a product’s “goodness” through various channels including, but not limited to:

Newspaper ads
Television commercials
Billboards
Direct mail
Magazine ads
Internet ads

To illustrate, Apple’s vendors are responsible for advertising Apple products. When its vendors run television commercials and billboard ads around the latest Apple iPhone, it is advertising the product.

Why does a definition of advertising matter?

Being able to define advertising for your company matters because it is an important part of making your company successful. It’s interesting that, although there’s been a great emphasis on new forms of marketing of late, studies show that successful companies revere paid advertising as just as important as ever. Why? Because consumers love for it has remained steadily strong, if not grown. In fact, in a study done by the Deloitte Digital Marketing Survey, 2,100 US consumers were asked their opinions on different forms of advertising. Specifically, they were asked to rank the effectiveness of many forms of paid advertising.

The results showed that many forms of paid advertising were within the top 10 of 21 advertising channels represented. For example, 65% ranked television ads as highly influential forms of advertising, only second to a friend’s recommendation. 46% said pre-movie theatre advertising was highly influential in their purchasing decisions. And, between 43% and 46% ranked in-theatre advertising, magazine ads, and television show mentions as highly influential in their decision.

Overall, television ads, theatre advertising, magazine ads, television show placements, and newspaper ads all made the top 10 list of most influential forms of influencing consumer behavior.

As a result, companies are responding to what consumers say are most effective in influencing them by raising their paid advertising budgets. Wall Street Journal reports that the top 100 US marketers increased their paid advertising budgets by an average of 2.9% during just the first half of 2014. And, this year, the increase is rising still. In just the last quarter, Coke increased its advertising budget by double-digit percentages. This year alone, Magna Global and ZenithOptimedia revealed that companies are planning to increase their spending by an average of 4.8% to 4.9%.

Apple is a great example of a comprehensive marketing mix that works together to meet all of its consumers psychological needs to bring them to a purchase decision. Yes, it relies on some forms of inbound marketing, including appealing to bloggers’ sense of curiosity. But, it also carefully delineates the rules of paid advertising for its vendors. It does so because it knows that its vendors enjoy a high ROI from their paid advertising efforts.

Why do consumers prefer paid advertising?

So, why does paid advertising continue to be so effective, despite all the new choices consumers have of receiving product information? Because the logic behind the advertising method hasn’t changed. The human mind still works the same way it always did and will continue to do so. Let me explain. Psychology has found that repeat exposure creates familiarity with products and brands. And, that familiarity builds trust and a sense of comfortable acceptance of a product or brand as something good. So, when a consumer is repeatedly exposed to, say, a television commercial, even if the consumer isn’t consciously paying attention, the familiarity with the brand burns its way into the consumer’s consciousness, creating a positive attitude toward the brand and its products.

To answer Mr. Pilot’s question, what tweet definition distinguishes marketing from advertising?

So, as Mr. Pilot eluded to, if you’re on a marketing team or are a small business owner, given the current importance of paid advertising, it’s important to be able to succinctly describe exactly what the difference is so that your company may benefit from both. So, per Mr. Pilot’s request, here’s a tweetable explanation:

Marketing: preparing products to delight target markets. Advertising: making products' “goodness” known to target markets to create sales.

Did I miss anything? What distinctions have you made between marketing and advertising?

Photo Credits:

photo credit: Business Models Inc meeting via photopin (license)

photo credit: Graph With Stacks Of Coins via photopin (license)

You Need Video Because...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:43:00 +0000

Did you know that YouTube is owned by Google and has become the #2 search engine when consumers are looking for new products and services?

Video has become a powerful tool in driving traffic to your website. According to Forbes, 59% of people would rather watch a video than read text and 65% are more likely to click through to a website after watching a video.

We're offering a video solution that is perfect for businesses and organizations on a small budget. You can use your videos on your website, social media campaigns, email blasts or even displayed at an event on a tablet.

Production of the video is super easy! After your order is placed, we'll guide you through every step of the way in just 5 easy steps!

Step 1 - Complete a questionnaire on your business or services (this will help you form your video message)
Step 2 - Choose your photos (either use your photos or search through our large inventory of images)
Step 3 - Select your music from our music library
Step 4 - Record your message or hire our affordable voice over service
Step 5 - Receive your video via email and publish it everywhere! Please allow 2 weeks for production.

Don't have a website? Not a problem!

We will create a unique and professional looking landing page that can be used to host your video and even collect contact information from prospects that are interested in your product or service.

Click here to view our custom landing page!

Let's get started today!

Buy Local: Promotional Items

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 11:56:00 +0000

The Power of Paper: Branded Calendars & Paper Products

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 May 2015 11:28:00 +0000

Splurge or Save? Which Branded Product Will Win?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 May 2015 13:02:00 +0000

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Branded Merchandise: Untethered Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:47:00 +0000

Branded Merchandise: Two Brands Are Better Than One

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 20:14:00 +0000

Products from Famous Brands

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 02:22:00 +0000

Made in America

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:14:00 +0000

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 03:32:00 +0000

All prices and descriptions are subject to change without notice. If the price listed is different from the actual price or we feel that a different vendor is recommended, we will notify you before processing your order. All pricing shown is in US dollars. Total price is for merchandise only and is exclusive of any setup charges, shipping and duties charges, state/provincial required taxes, rush charges or any other additional charges which will be communicated prior to processing the order. Online catalog is available in English; for information in other languages, please email us at dlue@stitchtomylue.com.

Please visit our online catalog where you can find thousands of branded gift ideas. Our catalog offers wearable products in the following categories: Accessories, Button Down Shirts, Caps/Hats, Exercise/Fitness, Fleece/Knits, Footwear, Jackets/Outerwear, Pants/Shorts, Polos, T-Shirts, Uniforms, Team/Work, Women's, and Youth. We also offer products for office use, including: Business Supplies, Calendars, Books/Cards, Computer, Desktop/Office, Electronics, Notebooks/Folios, Organizers, Stress Balls/Relievers, Writing Instruments. For home products, we offer: Auto, Clocks/Watches, Eco Friendly, Food, Candy/Drink, Games/Novelties, Healthcare/Safety, Holiday, Home/Housewares, Keychains, Mugs/Drinkware, Optics, Pocket/Purse, and Tools/Hardware. Our online catalog includes a broad selection of products for events and travel, including ideas for: Awards/Recognition, Bags/Totes, Company Outings, Corporate Gifts, Executive Gifts, Gift Sets, Golf, Sports/Outdoors, Tradeshows/Events, and Travel/Luggage.

Designed and Delivered by OutboundEngine, Inc.

Top 15 Most Influential People for Online Marketing Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 May 2014 10:57:00 +0000

Working from home online can provide an easier life. But it takes dedication and hard work to find online marketing strategies that work. Here are some of Forbes Top 50 Most Influential Social Media experts and some of the reasons they attribute to their success.

Michael Dunlop
In his early teens Michael Dunlop began selling on Ebay. At age 16 he created his own website called Retireat 21. He has since created a few more websites. Click here to view his site or check out his site on boosting traffic fast and read about her amazing online marketing strategies.

Amy Porterfield
Amy's first job out of college was marketing for Harley Davidson. She realized in a meeting one day that the internet was the place to grow a business. So she went to social media with a video camera and created a blog. A year after this she was asked to co-write "Facebook For Dummies." Click here to view her site and read about her amazing online marketing strategies.

Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is known as one of Linkedin's 150 most influential people. Her book, "The Happiness Project" is a bestseller. She was Editor-In-Chief of the Yale Law Journal and won the Edgar M. Cullen Prize. Her success comes from having a different approach. click here to view her site

Sean Gardner
Sean Gardner started out enthusiastic and went to work for Apple,Inc. right out of high school. He has helped big corporations with social media like Microsoft and Silicon Valley Bank. Sean also helps non-profit organizations such as World Vision and Save the Children. He was one of the Top 100 Tweeters For Social Good in 2013 and his work has appeared in several magazines. click here to view his site

Jessica Northey
Jessica Northey is one lady who can put together a social media engagement. She is the creator of Country Music Chat and CM chat hashtag. This is the largest hashtag community in the music and entertainment industry. She also created Finger Candy Media. Jessica has been featured on All Access, Full Throttle Country and Nashville Music Guide. click here to view her site

Mari Smith
Mari is one of the worlds leading social media strategists and Facebooks top marketing expert in the world. She is the author of "New Relationship Marketing" and is co-author of " Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day." She was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Small Business People On Twitter by Dun and Bradstreet Credibility. Mari owns and operates a consulting and training agency. click here to view her site

John Paul Auguiar
John Paul fell into social media engagement by accident. His successfule social media marketing came about due to doctors telling him he needed a kidney transplant. So he began looking for anything he could do online to make money. John Paul began with MLM and affiliate marketing. He later started a blog to share his strategy and success with others. He wrote a Twitter Dummy ebook and then created a Blog Consult and Social Media Management Service. He attributes his success to his attitude and approach. click here to view his site

Liz Strauss
Liz Strauss has been said to be one of the most prolific bloggers on Earth. She is the founder of SobCon and the author of successful-blog.com. She is on the Top 10 Influencer Alive List and has won numerous awards. Liz approaches online marketing by being thoughtful, trustworthy and open-minded. click here to view her site

Warren Whitlock
Warren Whitlock's mission is to help businesses and authors improve results of their online and offline marketing programs. He wrote the bestseller "Profitable Social Media: Business Results Without Playing Games." He is the also the host of Social media Radio. click here to view his site

Ted Coine
Successfule social media marketing is evident with Ted Coine. He has over 230,000 followers on Twitter. He is the author of "Five-Star Customer Service" and "Spoil 'Em Rotten!" He is also the founder and co CEO of Switch and Shift. click here to view his site

Jeff Bullas
Jeff is a blogger and author. He works with companies to make online presence and brand known. He has been published in the New York Times. Jeff has also won the Social Media Blog Award for 2012 and 2013 and was a finalist in 2010. click here to view his site

Renee Blodgett
Renee is the CEO and founder of Magic Source Media. Her online marketing strategy is to take a personal approach with the customers. Renee has traveled the world and has helped businesses in many countries. She also founded We Blog the World. Click here to view her site and read about her amazing online marketing strategies.

Ted Rubin
Ted's success comes from being enthusiastic, personable and energetic. He is the most followed CMO on Twitter. He is the author of Return On Relationship and says his key for success is identifying with clients. click here to view his site

Eve Mayer
Eve Mayer is the CEO of Social Media Delivered and the author of "The Social Media Business Equation. She attributes her success to focusing on embracing new ideas of social media. CNN ranked her as one of eight top women on Twitter. On social media sites she is known as @Linkedin Queen. click here to view her site

Glen Gilmore
Glen Gilmore is the principal of Gilmore Business Network. He is a senior social media adviser to the Howell marketing professor with Rutgers University. Glen says for success you should seize opportunities of new social media marketing and run with them. click here to view his site

Conclusion
Social media is probably the greatest attribute to businesses today. The opportunities for traffic are endless. Whatever your niche, the sites listed above from the experts will help you become successful.

Teacher Appreciation Week 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 21:01:00 +0000

Did you know that Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner?

Teachers play a key role in the success of students. The week of May 5-9th will be a time for students, parents and school administrators to say "thank you"! The National PTA website has many ideas on how students can get involved and show teachers how much they appreciate their time and creativity in the classroom.

As a business owner, this is also a great time to show your community support by reaching out to your local schools and thank them for a job well done! This gesture can be as simple as dropping off donuts and coffee to the teachers lounge in the morning or take it a step further and give them a nice customized gift with your logo. Tote bags are always useful, especially for a teacher that is taking work back and forth to school and you can include your company logo so they know who it is from!

So don't forget to thank a teacher during Teacher Appreciation Week this year! If you are looking for ideas to help make your teachers feel celebrated, contact us today!

Merchandise Your Brand

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 20:48:00 +0000

Are you looking for creative affordable solutions to market your brand? Tired of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on traditional marketing and are unsure if its even working?

Branded merchandise is a great way to thank your current customer base AND get them talking with other people about your amazing service or products. Imagine each of your customers becoming a brand ambassador for your company.

These items are also great for Facebook contests and other social media giveaways! If you are scheduled to appear at a conference to host a live event, offer a free tshirt to the first 10 people that arrive and "check in" via Facebook or Foursquare.

Be unique! There are thousands of items to choose from. Everything from tshirts and hats to useful technology related gadgets like a card holder that attaches to your phone (shown below).

Branded merchandise can be an additional revenue stream for your business but is most successful when viewed as a form of advertising. If you need to ensure you recover the expense tied to these items, work their cost into an upcoming promotion or product launch.

One of the most important points to consider when merchandising your brand is the quality of the items you choose! You've worked hard to prove your level of customer service and product quality is top notch, so don't discredit your reputation by giving away items that are poor quality which would leave someone with the wrong impression of your company.

Once you've decided to venture into branded merchandise, be sure to partner with a company that can consistently deliver great customer service and quality products.

At Stitch to My Lue Promotions, LLC, we've developed relationships with manufacturers that have a proven track record in delivering items on time and typically exceeding your expectations. We take the necessary steps up front by delivering random samples and many times production samples with your logo to ensure your satisfaction.

We view ourselves as a true business partner, our goal is to not only produce the items you've requested but to constantly be aware of new items and consumer trends that would make sense for your business. We are always looking for new and affordable items that will build your brand through your current customers and prospects.

To schedule a free consultation, contact us today or browse through thousands of ideas here!

Vector Art: What It Is and Why We Need It

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:04:00 +0000

The secret to a great looking logo on promotional items or screen printed tshirts is all in the art. Many images are developed for web use which typically require a JPG or bitmap (BMP) style image. These images are stored as a series of dots, called pixels. When you zoom into the image, you can see the individual pixels that create the image.

When these images are being used to create screen printed items such as tshirts, tote bags or other promotional items a vector format is required. Vector images are composed of paths, or lines, that are either straight or curved which allow for a much cleaner and smoother printed image because they are are not made of pixels. Vector images can also be scaled to any size without concern of the image becoming "blocky" or pixelated in appearance.

When you start working on your promotional item projects be sure to verify art requirements before submitting proof approval to avoid any disappointments in the final production of your items. Requirements do vary depending on what type of product you are imprinting and the method of printing that will be used.

We have a team of graphic artists available to work with virtually any image (JPG or even hand drawn image) to prepare the file for use in screen printing, promotional items and embroidered images. This service is available for a minimal cost. We keep all art on file for future projects so you don't have to worry about keeping track of the correct file formats!

Importance of Functional Promotional Items

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:11:00 +0000

Promotional products are an effective way to make hundreds or even thousands of impressions at a very low cost per. These impressions are obviously gained with the recipient but many times they are also seen by those around them.

Choosing the right product for your company comes down to your available budget, determining the message you want to convey and how you will get the product into the hands of your recipient.

When I work with clients to create promotional campaigns, I always stress to choose items that will be viewed as functional by the recipient. This is the best way to ensure that it will be seen on a regular basis or passed on to a friend or relative which will further your exposure.

Some of the most functional items available today are in the tech world. As reported in a recent article on arstechnica.com , more than 90% of Americans use cell phones. This is a very useful fact for companies that are looking for creative and functional ways to implement promotional campaigns in their business. Choose from stylus items, cling screen cleaners, USB charges or even USB power banks that can recharge a phone without an outlet. These items range in cost from under $1, which are great for general giveaways and branding, to items that cost about $20 each, these higher end items are great for client or employee appreciation gifts.

It's important to remember the key objective in promotional marketing that is to create an emotion in your recipient, this is what creates the memory of the item and where they received it.

For more information on how to use promotional items effectively in your company, contact us. We would love to partner with you to increase your market share!

Success in a Box: Bypassing Office Gatekeepers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 12:50:00 +0000

The use of 3D or dimensional mailers is one of the hottest new trends surfacing in the marketing sector of business. 3-Dimensional mailers are uniquely crafted packages and envelopes that come in odd sizes and shapes to make them an eye catching novelty, and an effective means of advertising products and services. Anyone receiving one of these attention getting packages is more likely to explore the contents further, allowing businesses to get their messages out to more of their intended target audiences.

Custom design with your business in mind
Dimensional mailers may be designed by business owners to include a specific tailored message on the outside of the package or envelope that will intrigue the recipient and increase the likelihood of considering the initial pitch by wanting to know more about a company that would go to such lengths to promote their products and services.

Imagine if you will, designing a customized mailer that fits in with your intended message, and additionally gives the recipient something novel to think about. Three dimensional mailers are a creative way to burn your company's logo and message into the memories of the target audience. For example, mailing a USB car charger along with a message that conveys "we will recharge your advertising".

A variety of formats to choose from
There is a wide selection of sizes and shapes for three dimensional mailers available ranging from envelopes to boxes, tubes, hexagonal shapes, trees, and a pop up format. One unique design cleverly mimics a jigsaw puzzle with one piece missing, while another is a lock that contains an offer to obtain the key.

Effectiveness of three dimensional mailers vs traditional mailers
It has been estimated that only about 10% of traditional mailers actually reach the target recipient, while three dimensional mailers report a response rate between 5-50 times higher than traditional formats.

Whether your company is established, or is a new business, this business strategy is sure to increase exposure!

Benefits of three dimensional mailers
The sky is the limit when it comes to getting your business message in the hands of your target audience with three dimensional mailers, and possibly, more eyes will view your message beyond your original intention. If your design is catchy enough, the recipient may decide to share the unique item with friends, family and co-workers. Human nature being what it is, busy people are not as apt to spend their time reading generic advertisements, but may be amused by a novel idea, and perhaps even impressed. Something that is new and unique helps to break up a busy work day, and we all enjoy a breath of fresh air from time to time. The psychological value of this new advertising technique is nothing short of genius.

If you have additional questions on 3-dimensional mailers, or would like to develop a campaign for your company, send us an email or give us a call. We are happy to help!

Easy Way to Make a Great First Impression!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 12:29:00 +0000

3 Reasons You Should Consider Custom Floor Mats

Consider this, when asked, “What’s the first thing you look at when judging cleanliness?” the most popular first response of consumers was “Floors” (42%). (CDI Research)
30% of the dirt tracked in is trapped in the first 3 feet of a typical mat, 85% of the dirt gets trapped within a 15-foot length of typical matting. (ISSA)
Slip-and-fall accidents most often occur on wet or dirty surfaces. Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of occupational accidents and result in more than 300,000 disabling injuries each year. (National Safety Council)

There are many reasons to choose a custom floor mats to great your customers and clients when they approach your office or store. Whether you are looking to reduce slip and fall accidents or just provide that "WOW" factor when someone approaches your business, we can help you find the best type of logo mat based on the complexity of your design and it's intended function.

Give us a call today at (352) 340-4343 or email us with your request!

And the Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 00:02:00 +0000

The winner of the t-shirt giveaway is Heather Sell of ShoutOut Tampa Bay!! Be sure to check out her web page and Facebook page!

Heather call the office anytime between 8am and 5pm tomorrow or Thursday so that we can get your order rolling!

Congratulations and we look forward to working with you on this project!

Win 12 Free Custom Shirts!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:24:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to create custom t-shirts for your company, baseball or soccer moms or maybe just create something for fun? Here is your chance to win 12 free custom t-shirts!

To celebrate the end of the year and help you start the new year off with a bang, we've decided to give away 12 custom t-shirts!

How to enter this giveaway:
For this giveaway, I am allowing 3 entries per reader. Please be sure to leave a separate comment on this blog post for each entry. Facebook & e-mail entries will not count, so please be sure to leave entry comments on this post.

Entry #1: Leave a comment on this post with the title of your favorite or the most helpful topic you've found on my blog (this topic does not count)!

Optional Entry #2: : Like Stitch to My Lue on Facebook! Just leave a comment on this post letting me know you've liked my page. If you already follow, then share my page and this giveaway with your friends! Don't forget to leave me a comment letting me know!

Optional Entry #3: : Subscribe to Stitch to My Lue Promotions via e-mail ! If you already subscribe that counts too just leave me a comment below letting me know!

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T-shirt Details:

This t-shirt giveaway includes a 1 design, 1 color, 1 location imprint on 12 basic white cotton t-shirts size S-XL. Additional sizes, colors and locations can be purchased at an additional cost to the winner. Winner is responsible for providing a hi-resolution image for printing. If image is licensed and/or copyrighted, winner must hold the rights to the design and produce proof before production will begin. If winner is not local, winner will be responsible for shipping costs that will not exceed $12.

This Giveaway will end on Monday 12/16 at 11:59 pm EST. I will pick one winner by random when it ends. The winner will be posted here on 12/17. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email with their contact information.

Shirts will be delivered 2 weeks after hi-resolution art is approved but no earlier than January 10th due to the increased holiday volume.

Why Start an Employee Wellness Program

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:34:00 +0000

The holidays are right around the corner which means New Year resolutions are shortly to follow. This is a great time to implement an Employee Wellness Program to help encourage and incentivize employees to live healthier lives.

What is an Employee Wellness Program?
It's a program that supports and promotes the health, safety and well-being of it's employees.

The Benefits of an Employee Wellness Program:

Greater Productivity
Reduced healthcare costs
Improve morale
Improved job satisfaction and less stress

What are some of the components of a Wellness Program?

Wellness newsletter
Health Risk Assessments
Health Screenings
Workshops on wellness issues
Walking groups
Fitness classes
Smoking cessation classes
Incentives like water bottles, insulated lunch bags, tote bags, stress balls, pedometers
Design an employee "Healthy Recipes" book

Simple Ways to Get Started!

Offer healthier choices in vending machines
Encourage physical activity during breaks
Design posters to encourage involvement and offer rewards

Larger companies might want to start an advisory committee to represent the interests from different levels (ie, employees, management, human resources, etc.).

What's next?

Notify employees by hosting a kickoff event, display posters and flyers in break rooms, or include a payroll stuffer.
Pick a date to implement the program.
Evaluate the program. This can be as simple as a review with your advisory committee or survey employees to get more of a primary response.

If you have more questions on how to start or implement a wellness program in your office, contact us today!

Corporate Holiday Gifts: What Do Your Employees Want?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Have you started planning your holiday gift giving list? Seems like the retail stores gear up earlier and earlier each year!

Trying to find an appropriate gift for employees can be a difficult balance of affordability, appropriateness and many other factors.

The holidays are a great time of year to show your team they are appreciated. There are so many options available from imprinted apparel like fleece jackets, tote bags or leather padfolios, golf umbrellas, or desk top toys. A gift can serve as a constant reminder of your appreciation of their efforts. You can view hundreds of gift ideas on our website www.stitchtomylue.com

Contact us today and we'll help you find the perfect gift!

Custom Doughnut Boxes, Brand Your Company!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 11:11:00 +0000

Who doesn't enjoy fresh baked donuts? Bringing a fresh treat to clients or even on cold-call visits is a great way to break the ice and show appreciation for their time and attention. This is not your average promotional product!

Think about your doughnut box sitting in a patient waiting room or employee break room with your logo and message for all to see!

These full color, high resolution donut boxes are completely customized for your needs. Choose between our stock designs or go wild with your own imprint!

They are perfect for:

Lunch and Learns - Package lunch in these custom boxes and skip the plated lunch or buffet line.
Holiday and Special Occasions - Deliver treats this holiday season in this great looking package! A perfect way to brand yourself and not another company.
Thank you for Your Business - A simple "thank you" goes a long way, imagine saying it with a sweet treat!

How would you use these boxes? Leave a comment below with your idea.

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Will You Be Remembered?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 10:50:00 +0000

I recently read an article on how attending conferences and expos is a lot like adult trick or treating. This made me laugh but I also thought it is quite true!

With over 300,000 different imprinted promotional products to choose from the possibilities are endless!! So there are no shortage of ways to provide a memorable giveaway item!

Don't just stick a business card or brochure into an event SWAG bag or pass out from your booth or table. Have fun and get creative!!

There are several things to consider when planning how to make an impression on someone who has never seen your brand before or to show your appreciation to your most loyal customer.

First, think about what your audience wants and who they are. Think about what would be useful to them. If you are exhibiting at a trade show or conference be sure to consider the size and weight of the items you are giving away as many people travel to attend. A large foam hand might be fun and gain a lot of attention at the trade show but it will likely not make it into the small carry-on for the trip back home, as many prefer to travel light considering the soaring baggage fees!

Why should you consider a giveaway or SWAG bag? Here are a few thoughts:

These items builds your company brand
They increase client loyalty and retention
They make the client or prospect feel appreciated
Provide something useful and they will keep coming back
Useful items tend to be passed on as opposed to ending up in a landfill
Increases business referrals
The most cost effective cost per impression you'll find anywhere
Its fun to give!

Not all giveaways are created equal! I understand that budgets can be tight. Instead of purchasing the most inexpensive item and possibly risking your companies reputation, you might consider purchasing a low quantity, highly visible type of item, like a custom tshirt or tote bag. These items can be given to your loyal customers to wear or carry at an event. Your client will feel appreciated and want to help and you'll gain more visibility!

Here are a few specific examples of good SWAG vs bad SWAG:

Good SWAG: Useful office items like a 2GB flash drive or moleskin padfolio

Bad SWAG: Low quality, inexpensive pens that stop working after their 5th use (sends the wrong message about your company and its view on quality!)

Good SWAG: Quality shirts with a subtle imprint on sleeve or crest available in various sizes

Bad SWAG: Business cards and folders of literature (heavy to carry and likely won't make the trip home!)

Good SWAG: Bookmark with a stylish design or motivational message along with your company website

Bad SWAG: Anything cheap! (again, don't risk your companies reputation!)

Most importantly, many times, as a registered vendor, you have access to the attendee roster. This makes follow up much easier! Be sure to reach out to all attendees of the event via email and phone to see if they have any additional questions about your products or services or maybe even ask to schedule a follow up meeting. Using your giveaway as a memory trigger will also help you stand out in a prospects mind. Asking if they've found the credit card sized flash drive convenient to use and easy to carry will stick out more than the 1 of a dozen business cards received!

Leave a comment below with your favorite or most memorable item received.

If you are considering a giveaway or will be exhibiting in a trade show or conference, contact us today and we'll help you make the right impression and be remembered!