’tis the season for barbecues, company picnics, long-weekends, and all manner of summer outings. Next time you’re heading toward the water, pack these items along with your sunscreen for a perfect beach kit.

Stake out your spot and create home base with our Pix-Mix Outdoor Blanket. Blanket folds into a handled cover for grab-and-go ease.

If you’re going to the beach, you need a towel. This one rocks. ‘Nuff said.

Protect your sun-sensitive companions with with our UV protective Sun Shelter. Perfect for catching an out-of-the-sun snooze.

For your battery charging emergencies.

Hydrate responsibly.

Our all-in-one game-pack will keep the whole gang entertained.

Finally, a shout out to one of our campaigns.  Throw in this clip-on mosquito repellent from OFF!®  for protection you don’t have to apply to your skin.

It’s taken me a couple of days but I’ve almost recovered from our annual client party. All day this year, I kept comparing our event to a wedding. You spend months arranging details like food, guest lists, venue etc. and the day of the event comes and goes in such a whirlwind of activity that you look back on it and wonder if parts of it were a dream.

With a name like SWAG2.0, our use of product marketing should be top notch. Our goal this year was to infuse our entire event with promotional products and do it in such a way that we highlighted some of the many ways you can use swag well.

Say Hello
They say there’s no second chance to make a first impression and that’s why we like to hand out a nice gift as soon as guests arrive to our party. This year, we chose the chromo journal because they’re a quality piece of stationary and the chrome trim makes them a real eye-catcher.

Chromo Journals

In the early days of SWAG2.0 we went back and forth on the use of name tags; after all we know our clients! But, then we realized that our clients don’t necessarily know each other and name tags make introductions a lot easier. We still like to to keep the name tag thing kinda casual so we encourage guests to write their own and add a spark of creativity if they like.

Name Tags

Engage
One of my favorite things about product marketing is that you can use a normal product in a unique way and give it an entirely different life. Anyone remember when we used a post-it wall as our sign-in book? Well, this year, we took a unique product and made it even more special.

Animal Poppers

Our animal poppers have been a big hit as employee gifts as most people appreciate their ability to relieve stress and cause a few laughs. We decided to give our poppers even more of a personality by making them the focal point in a game we called “Popper Pong”. In addition to showing how our products can be given new life with a different application, Popper Pong was a great talking point, an ice breaker, and a way for our clients to engage with each other.

Playing Popper Pong

The idea of Popper Pong was to have fun, so we made sure that everyone got a prize for playing. Manufacturing a one-inch button on the spot if you scored was also a way to introduce an offline, viral component to the event. Seeing players proudly displaying their red, blue, or yellow pins was a great way to let word-of-mouth do our jobs and direct new players back to the game.

Interact
Swag2.0 is all about interaction and engagement.

We already had our ice-breaker with Popper Pong, but we wanted something else to drive interaction with our products and also put to good use our love of social media.

QR Coded Stress Toy

QR codes are a great way to link offline products with online activities so we decided to run a QR code contest. When guests scanned the QR codes on their free stress toy they were taken to one of two videos which indicated if they won or lost. Winners were then directed to the RIGHTSLEEVE booth to pick up either a Sigg waterbottle or a slap-watch as their prize.

RIGHTSLEEVE Branded Sigg Bottles & Slap Watches

I must admit that sending folks to our RIGHTSLEEVE booth to pick up their prize wasn’t on accident. We sent guests there to

• get the full tour of our event
• interact with some of our great staff
• showcase work we’ve done with other great companies

Leave ‘em with More
Okay, so the phrase is “leave them wanting more,” but in this case we wanted to send our clients on their way with a great swag bag of useful, eye-catching items. As guests departed the event, we handed them their final dose of product. We stuffed our sling and ella coolers with a variety of gear

1. a branded cookie to provide sustenance on the trip home
2. a torino tumbler to use for favorite summer beverages
3. a custom-shaped RIGHTSLEEVE keychain to remind everyone of their favorite swag event of the year!

SWAG Bags with our Torino Tumbler peeking out

We put on SWAG2.0 every year because we love our clients and want to show them a great time. Using swag to entertain and delight is just the icing on our proverbial wedding cake. If you came to the event we all hope you had a blast and that you learned a new thing or two about creative ways to use promotional products.

To see more pictures from the event, check out our Facebook album.

For some great ideas on product marketing you don’t have to wait until next year, give us a call (1.877.975.3383) or subscribe to the SWAG2.0 blog.

We leave you with one cookie to rule them all.

Cookie photo courtesy Carolyn Van.

Of course you know that Mother’s Day is 10 days away. You DO know that, right? We sat down recently and rounded-up some of our top product pics for the favorite mom in your life.

For the soon-to-be mom

Ultra-portable Built Change Pad

For the pinup mom

Photography : Laura Byrnes

She can knock-em out in the Deadly Dames Dress from www.pinupgirlclothing.com

For the honky-tonk mom

So she’ll be outfitted for her boot, scoot, and her boogie.

For the stretchy mom

Help her practice safe yoga with non-slip yoga socks.

For the made-in-the-USA fashionista mom

Fashionable bags re-purposed on, uh, purpose.

For the going-through-the-change-mom

Going from hot to cool is a breeze with this purse-sized fan.

Frank Warren of PostSecret at TED - Photo: James Duncan Davidson

About a month ago, my spouse and I headed out to purchase new swimwear.  We’d signed up for a parent and tot swimming class and the only suit I had was one I wore while pregnant so it was stretched and sagging in all of the wrong places.  We loaded everyone into the car and drove to the nearest big-box sport retailer to look for replacements.

We wandered around the two story store until we discovered the swimwear section. Looking over my options, I muttered a few choice words at the lack of selection in the womens’ suits – especially as compared to the mens’. There were easily 3-times more options for men than for women.  Perhaps, I thought, there are suits somewhere else.  After several minutes I was able to hunt down a store employee to ask.  Nope, I was looking at it all.

The exchange between the store employee and me, went something like this.

Me: Hm. That sucks.

Employee: Well, but it’s not summer yet.

Me:  Then why do you have so many mens’ suits?

Employee: (walking away) I don’t know it’s not my department.

Admittedly, I didn’t start the exchange off on great footing.  However, that meant the employee had so much more opportunity to impress me.  Instead, he basically told me that he didn’t care.

Three Alternate Answers The Employee Could Have Given

1. Super-Hero Answer: I’m sorry you’re frustrated.  Unfortunately, this isn’t my department so I don’t know a lot about stock.  I’ll go and find an employee who works in this department and maybe they can tell you when new stock is arriving or help locate a store that has more stock.
2. Hero Answer: I’m sorry you’re frustrated.  I can give you a list of our other stores and you can see if they have better stock there.
3. Regular Joe Answer: I’m sorry you’re frustrated. There are other stores in the mall that carry suits.  If you stop by the mall information desk, I’m sure they can direct you to some.

Any one of those exchanges would have left me feeling more valued because they would have

1. Acknowledged my frustration.
2. Pointed me in the direction of a solution to my problem.

We are all representatives of our employers – whether we like it or not.  From the highest ranking CEO to the unpaid summer intern.  Every employee has an obligation to help customers – whether it’s explicitly in your job description or not.  And, helping  a customer doesn’t mean you have to solve their issue for them.  Just acknowledge their challenge and get them on the right path.

It’s simple.  But can be so easy to lose sight of.

When we the last time you were wowed or disappointed by customer service? 

When was the last time you did the wowing?

One of the biggest educational challenges we face day-to-day is explaining the ins-and-outs of decorating on product.  It can be a confusing conversation because constraints on one product might not apply to others. In part, it’s because so many consumers are used to the most versatile of all business products – the business card. Taking it one step further, we’re growing more and more accustomed to digital design where options are virtually unlimited.

The most important thing to understand about decoration on products is that we are printing on a three dimensional object made from any variety of material – glass, metal, paper, plastic, cotton, and wool to name a few.  The color, type of material, and shape all present different challenges when decorating an item.  A logo printed on a white notebook cover will have different decoration standards and options than one printed on a black mug. We overcome this challenge by offering a variety of  decorating methods and recommending the best method & product for your needs:

Pad Printing uses a “burned” metal plate as a pool for ink that is then picked up by a rubber or silicone carrier and transferred to the product that you’re using.  Pad printing usually allows for printing multiple colors and can be Pantone matched. Pens,  golf balls, and other small objects are frequently printed using this method.

Pad Printed Animal Popper

Embroidery is a style of decorating textiles with a needle and thread.  The number of stitches required to complete your logo decoration is the biggest determinant of cost for embroidery.  Like the standardization using Pantone colors for printing, embroidery also uses color standards in the form of Isacord or Madeira  thread colors.  Fabric, caps, and bags are often decorated via embroidery.

Hurley Name and Logo in Embroidery

Screen printing uses inks pushed through a woven mesh to transfer design onto an object. Screen printing works best on flat surfaces and is most commonly seen on t-shirts and sweatshirts, though modern machines can also accommodate cylindrical objects like mugs and bottles.  Screen printing supports multiple colors and Pantone matching.  As we discussed  previously  you can alter the screen printing methods to achieve different looks on your apparel.

Screen Printed Hoodie

Other product decoration methods include laser engraving, etching, and embossing – all of which are used to great effect on particular materials such as metal, glass, and leather.  Other fabric options include transfers, tackle twill, and flocking.  If you don’t understand why your RIGHTSLEEVE contact is suggesting a particular item or imprint style,  just ask and we’ll be happy to explain.

Have you ever been left in the dark as to why your logo wouldn’t work with a particular item?

The weather has dipped back to seasonal temps in most of the country, but our thoughts are still turning to summer.  Trips to the cottage, events around town, and dreams of lounging near the water has us pumped for our favorite summer trends.

Color, Colour, and more Color

No matter how you spell it this summer is going to be colorful.  From bright denim making its way back in vogue to eye-popping accessories like flashy belts and watches you won’t be able to hide from bright colours this summers.  Bonus points for sporting some neon in your summer attire.

These Military Web Belts are a great way to work that splash of color into summer uniforms or to out-fit your street teams.

Splash of color from the Burberry Prosum Line via elle.com

TOMS 

TOMS Shoes  took a PR hit last year when the founder spoke at a  Focus On The Family event in California, but it doesn’t seem to have slowed down TOMS rise in popularity. You can’t swing a plaid shirts nowadays without hitting someone Instagramming their newest pair.    Now that summer is on the horizon, keep an eye out for their vegan, glitter, and classic styles to be kicking around the nearest street festival.

Purple Glitter Shoes from TOMS

Aviator Sunglasses

It could be the Top Gun conversion to 3D.  Or maybe work on the sequel.  Perhaps it’s 80′s nostaglia grabbing us full-throttle, but aviators are back with a vengence and  Ray Ban probably couldn’t be happier.  Go full out Maverick with your choice or have some fun with a splash of color for your summer shades.  Either way, you’ll be spotting this throwback style up and down the beach this year.

Colorful Twist to a Nostalgic Category

 Missing Shoulders

We first spotted this trend in season two of Dance Moms (Hey, we all have our vices) and plan to see bared shoulders abound this summer.  Bare shoulders, one shoulder, and celebrity shoulders will be out in full force .  Spotted in lines from Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, and  Alexander McQueen this is a look we can expect to see through summer and into fall.

Dance Mom sans shoulders

What do you think is going to be the biggest trend this summer?

Our favorite products and links to accompany your business up front, party in the back.

This leather fanny pack from American Apparel is perfect for hauling a few cans of beer to your next tailgate.

You’ll be the envy of everyone in the mall when you sport this hypercolor tee.

For when you need to tame that party in the back, scrunchies has you covered.

Wear your pride with custom button packs.

This Pizza Cutter Beer Opener will fit conveniently into your fanny pack.
And, we leave you with one mullet to rule them all.

Vintage is hot right now and a lot of customers want to know how to go vintage for their apparel campaigns. If you ask our resident screen printing expert he’ll tell you: It depends.

Vintage vs. Vintage
Some people think that vintage is a look. Other’s say it’s a feel. Purists might say that vintage only applies if it’s a genuine old thing. So, your idea of vintage might not match with your designer’s idea. Defining the categories below will help you get the look that you’re interested in.

Logo Styling
Logos change over the years. If you have full creative control over your logo, ask your friendly neighborhood graphic artist to have fun with your logo and give it a throw-back overhaul. Our friends over at Google and Pinterest have a ton of images for inspiration. We’ve pinned some favorites on the RIGHTSLEEVE Pinterest page here.

Vintage inspired logo from our design collection

Effects
If you’re not in for a complete overhaul, you can still lend a vintage edge to your logo by using design filters.

The shirt below, from our CampRIGHTSLEEVE collection, was designed using a filter to give a distressed look when printed.

Logo with distress filter from our design collection

Printing
Quality printshops can also help clients achieve a vintage look on their tees by using different ink & decoration techniques. There are two primary techniques we recommend: no underbase and soft-hand.

No Underbase
Screenprinters usually add an underbase to fabric before they apply colored inks so the colors print truer. If you take away the underbase, the print won’t be as bright making it appear more vintage. If pantone-match is really important to you, this method might not be the right choice.

Soft-Hand
The easiest way to achieve a soft-hand print is to use water-based inks, however they are difficult to work with and are often more expensive as a result. Another route to the same effect is to use soft-hand additives, which are are mixed into the ink. The additives thin the ink, giving a softer feel, and can also give a faded look to the print.

Fabric
Vintage isn’t just about look. It’s also about feel, so to cap off a vintage-inspired design, find fabric with a softer, or faded look to it. Going to a 50/50 blend over 100% cotton will give you a softer feel without having to go through the hassle of trying methods that may or may not work, like salt-water or chemical washes. You can also go with a throw-back style, like the ringer t-shirt below.

50/50 soft blend tee with vintage-inspired styling

Products and links that have us in a spring sorta mood.

Recycled Pallet Vertical Garden from source

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For Foodies

 

Macarons are the new cupcakes from source

 

 

Ingredients for Spring Cooking from source

 

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For the Outdoors

K-WAY: What’s old is New Again from source

The ultimate urban biking accessory from source

 

 
Killer Kite from source

 

Every industry has jargon. When used well it makes communication clearer and quicker. When compiled into flashcards, it makes for a fun office game.

But, jargon can also be a barrier. It can make communicating across departments difficult in large organizations. When computer-troubleshooting with my parents, jargon can make everyone want to chuck the computer out the window and go back to carrier pigeons. At RIGHTSLEEVE, we work with a variety of industries that have their own forms of jargon, so it can be confusing when we’re using the same words but with different meaning.

Here are five jargon hotspots that often flare up into misunderstandings.  Hopefully reading how RIGHTSLEEVE uses these terms might help bridge some communication barriers of your own.

Purchase Orders  (aka POs) at RIGHTSLEEVE are used to communicate with vendors outside of our offices. They tie together an exterior supply chain rather than an interior spend. However, in large companies, POs are usually internal documents that are sent between various departments and their finance team.  They are often used to approve large spends. Once approved, the PO number must be placed on all bills so finance knows to tie it back to the initial approval.

Samples fall into three main categories.

• Blank samples are an undecorated product that is pulled and shipped so a client may examine the construction and function of an item.
• Decorated samples are usally decorated with another company’s logo. Often these are pulled from over-runs and used so that customers can see the decoration quality of an object.
• Pre-production samples are a “first off the press” item usually pulled from the full stock of a confirmed order and produced before the large run is placed on the line.  Pre-pro samples are done so a customer can see how the products in their order will look and feel. Depending on the amount of time and cost pre-pros can be done via photo and approved immediately or shipped for review and approval after receipt.   Pre-pros that are shipped to a customer for approval usually take longer and may have a higher cost associated with them because machines have to be set-up an extra time.

Proofs are often confused with samples. A proof is a graphical representaion of a logo on the item being purchased. The item can be a line-drawing with the logo added or a picture with the logo super-imposed (sometimes also called virtual proofs). Proofs are generally used to ensure proper placement and logo use. They are often sent as pdfs and viewed on computers. To allow for color display differences on monitors, many proofs will be done in black and white renderings with color noted as the appropriate pantone color.

Color and color theory are topics with a level of complexity beyond my comprehension and one of the biggest misunderstandings between our designers and our customers.  A customer might come to us thinking the logo to the left is a two-color logo – blue and red. At first glance I see a 5 color logo – 3 different blues, red, and white. My designer would probably see five colors plus several gradients. Differences this big afffect not only how this logo can reproduce on the variety of products that we offer, but can also change the costing in a big way.

Digital Artwork is akin to color theory in its ability to confuse.  Put plainly, artwork needs to be vector to re-size and reproduce well on the majority of our products. To really understand vector, take your favorite graphic artist out for a coffee and an coax the details out of them. For an abbreviated version from a non-graphic person (that’s me!) read on. 

Vector Artwork  is an image created in a vector-based software such as Adobe Illustrator (.ai file extension).  The canvas for creating vector artwork is a grid. The lines of the image are defined by their relationship to points on that grid. Because vector graphics are created on this grid-like system,  you can make the grid larger or smaller and the relationship between items stays the same with no loss of quality.  By comparison,  a .jpg file is not a vector image and therefore becomes pixelated or “muddy” when the size is adjusted.

People often say the same thing in different words,  now I also keep an ear out for people saying different things with the same words.  Hopefully that will help to keep the tower of jargon from collapsing around us.