Custom pop up canopy tent in action!

I do love it when a plan comes together, and this custom pop up canopy tent came out fantastic. 

Dye sublimated all-over graphics, factory direct in 14 days, this custom canopy looks like a million bucks.  Talk about a statement at any event, canopies are ideal #brandextenders for your next event.

The Taxman Cometh... for your Bobbleheads?

Bobblehead night at the ballpark, a timeless tradition in baseball - and one that draws the crowds.  I remember going to collect bobbleheads of my beloved Red Sox favorites, it's as American as a hot dog and beer at a ballgame.

Baseball teams use these and other promotional items as attendance drivers, as do many other businesses do for gift-with-purchase programs.  Most of the time, the item cost is amortized in to the ticket or product sell price, so that when the consumer makes a purchase of said ticket/product, they also get the promotional item.  However, the state of Ohio contends that these are not part of the ticket price as that price doesn't change throughout the year.  This Ohio state board of Tax Appeals agreed with the state, and this issue is now at the Ohio Supreme Court.

Yes, we're talking about bobbleheads, however this case presents a large potential issue in regards to all gift-with-purchase programs - should the promotional giveaway be taxable?  Many companies across several industries rely on these type of programs to drive revenue.  Should the giveaway item become a taxable entity, the fallout would be damaging on several levels.

Talk about a wobbly situation (sorry, had to do it..)  For more, Read Here!

Be a Trade Show Pro

Let's face it, the next three months are a straight sprint with back to back shows a norm.  Getting all the critical elements together is a challenge for any seasoned pro, so we've come up with your guide to keeping it all straight - from long term planning ideas to the "Oh man, do we have any booth giveaways?" to make your life a bit easier for 2018.

We can help in every step of the process - from booth design, table covers, booth apparel, giveways, and incentive items. Let us help get it all together for you at Whiteboard Promotions.

Add this handy planning guide to your arsenal to make your trade show season awesome!

Planning Guide

Uh oh, we got a trade show coming up?

It's trade show season and we all know how crazy this time of year can be.  Brands are anxious to show off the latest and greatest gizmo or service that they have for 2018, and build all their collateral, digital content and trade show booths to be the stars of the show.

But what about the other stuff, you know the giveaways?  I hate to say it, but that's usually the last thing on the to-do lists of event managers.  I know what people say, it's just junk to give away.... wrong. 

Traffic Builders

Remember, promotional items, custom apparel, even the lanyards, these are all extensions of your Brand and make a lasting impression with end users.  Look at your desk, dollars to donuts you have a favorite pen or tumbler with somebody's logo on it.  Extend your brand's reach by seriously looking at new and exciting branded items which will drive traffic to your booth AND extend your brand beyond the few minutes at your booth. 

We've come up with some creative ideas to help extend that reach Here!

Custom Imprinted Eraselets: Fun-ctional School fundraising product!

My wife gets full credit for finding this fantastic product!  Custom imprinted Eraselets are essentially eraser bracelets!  With the silicone bracelet still growing in our industry (I should know, I'm wearing two as I type) the Eraselet is a perfect off-shoot that is made specifically for kids to use in the classroom.

Made in the ole USA, I have placed the custom imprinted Eraselets in to several programs, including the Atlanta Silverbacks, who used it for giveaways at youth soccer games, to Gwinnett Science, who is using this for their Science Fair program, to Alabama's Safe Routes to School program, promoting awareness of walking safely to school.

Here's a video of how this unique eraser bracelet works, try this out for any of your back to school promotions!

Non-Woven Grocery Totes: Is it the end as we know it for plastic Grocery bags?

Back in the day, I remember being a bag-boy at the Stop n' Shop in Acton, MA.  We'd use straight-up paper bags for everything - double bagging the heavy stuff, separating the cold & hot - I'm sure many of you remember the drill.  Once plastic bags came in to play, we'd have to ask if the customer wanted paper or plastic, and then go from there.

Well, nowadays with the Green generation, the Custom non-woven Grocery Tote bags have become the rage of the shopping world.  Publix was one of the first Supermarket chains to really bring these to market, and now that has caught on across the board within almost all of the major chains.  The motive behind the introduction of these to the marketplace is all in the conservation movement away from plastic-based products which don't break down easily and contribute to the degradation of our ecosystem.

In 2007, San Fransisco instituted the first single-use plastic bag ban, and it has caught on 81 other cities and counties - and that list keeps growing.  With the ever-increasing demand by the consumer for eco-friendly products - the Non-woven materials have become increasingly popular. 

Read More

These items are great for fundraising, events, and non-profit giving programs.

Brand Consistency: Did the new Apple iOS7 hurt?

Well folks, it's here - love it or not, we'll have to get used to it if we want to keep up with Apple.  iOS 7 is a complete change in brand consistency for Apple - the fonts, color schemes, motion and graphics, etc all have changed - so much so that our phones can be classified as brand new!  Apple has even enlisted its chief designer Jony Ives to describe how these design changes are a good thing - another departure from the Steve Jobs past.

These changes may or may not hurt Apple's brand loyalty - I am a die-hard Apple-ite myself, however, and it's a BIG however, drastic changes to your Brand WILL affect your business.

Consistent branding is not just a buzzword, it is the cornerstone of your overall business strategy.  All of the innovation in social media, advertising, and experiential marketing puts more ammo in our marketing arsenal, however staying true to our branding message is more important than ever.

Check out this infographic that Jessica Brandenburg created to visualize the importance of Brand consistency:

The Umbrella - a timeless brand opportunity

Yesterday was the first day in quite a while here in Atlanta where that big yellow thing in the sky was visible all day.  We had soggy fireworks and the ducks were quite happy for a good long time.

Which brings me to the Umbrella - yes it was a valuable commodity for us in the past week, but I do think it doesn't get the proper branding respect it so deserves.

Originally, umbrellas were made to ward off the sun - not rain.  The Chinese started to apply wax for waterproofing purposes, and the trend migrated over to Europe, where it evolved in to a fashion item for the elite.  Nowadays, you can get one on any NY corner for $5-10.00, but utilizing it to market your brand has now gained a better following.

Yes, it's old school, but at an outdoor event, on the city streets, or in your car, the reliable umbrella is a fantastic brand vehicle.

Custom Beach Towels - Branding the Summer!

Face it folks - it's HOT outside!  School is long out, and we're all headed to places that can relieve the heat - be it the pool, lake, beach or sprinkler!

So why not get your brand out where the peeps are?  Custom Beach towels provide that solution, with a large imprint area, your brand is front and center!  Package it with a Striped Tote, and you are ready for the water!

Custom Beach Towel

Wear your Brand out poolside with Custom Beach Towels!

Promo Sunglasses: Keeping your Brand cool for the Summer!

Everybody wants to look cool during the summer, so find some promo sunglasses for your next event!  With all of the summer events going on, these make great giveaways to showcase your brand to new - and younger - audiences.

Great color selections, and fantastic pricing make these an affordable solution to any promotion.

Promo Sunglasses

These stock sunglasses are available in several colors that will fit your brand identity.  However, if you are looking for a completely custom look, try these on for size.  These promo sunglasses are completely designed to fit your needs - from color matching, to all-over printing, these will fit the bill

Custom Sunglasses

Or if you are looking for a low cost alternative as a quick giveaway, these Rubberized Sunglasses fit the bill as well, and for as low as $.79 each, they hit any budget point.

Custom Rubberized Sunglasses

At Whiteboard Promotions, we'll keep your Brand cool in the heat of Summer!