Brand your Business: Go Team!

Now that it's, at least unofficially, Summer it might be fun to think of ways to rev up your promotions a bit.  Perhaps think about sponsoring a 10K charity race, or hosting a touch football game as a fundraiser for a local non-profit.  Maybe you are on the board of the local parks & rec department, or the athletic director of a local school and need to spread the word about your programs... so what do you do?  Promotional items come in a host of sporty options:  footballs, spirit accessories, imprinted rubber bracelets,  water bottles, trophies and so much more.  Communities love to be involved with sporting events and it's a great way to involve them in your organization at the same time.  Have a community event coming up on your calendar?  Why not come in and let us see how we can help keep your organization top of mind?

What we've been working on this week: It's wedding season!

Our niche truly is the small business of 20-80 employees, but one of the nice things about embroidering our apparel or our customers, and not requiring minimums, is that we get to help so many  people create personal, memorable gifts.  This week we've been monogramming fools: laundry bags for graduates, towels for new home owners, napkins for a wedding reception, and these pretty place settings for another lucky bride and groom.  Contact us to see what we can do for you!

Featured Item: Charles River New Englander Rain Jacket

What can I say about this rainy, dreary Spring?  We may not be able to improve the day-to-day weather, but we can help you look fabulous in it!  Take this wind and waterproof New Englander Rain Jacket from Charles River.  Made from  Polyurethane bonded to a woven backing, it is also mesh and nylon lined and features heat-sealed seams. The A-line styling and reflective piping at the chest and back give it a very functional, yet fashionable feel.  Plus it is available in 3 Springy colors to help imbue your day with some extra brightness! Available for under $50, this jacket is made to last.  Contact us for more details or to place your order.

E-Catalog: 2011 Work and Sports Wear

Isn't it nice to finally be able to break out your Summer wardrobe?  We've had somewhat of a disagreeable Spring, so I know that I've held on to my sweaters and fleeces a bit longer than usual, but last weekend I finally integrated my Capri pants, shorts and tank tops back into my full-time wardrobe.  Of course, anytime you have that seasonal clothing change-over, you notice that there are a few pieces that didn't quite hold up last year, maybe some which need replacing, and some which *cough* might not fit as well as they used to.  So if you're thinking about freshening up your look, check out our new styles in this catalog.  From Corporate, to casual, from bowling shirts, to race wear, and everything in between, we've got you covered.  See anything you like?  Contact us and we'll help you place an order.

Thing that's making us smile this week

Today is Bob Dylan's birthday and that's definitely cause for smiles!

Brand your Business: Get Moving with Active Promos!

Using promotional items for branding and awareness is a great way to keep you business top of mind with the public, but it can also be a benefit to them as well as you.  Often times, businesses choose giveaways that their customers are sure to use on a regular basis, like pens and magnets, so their message is seen frequently.  Why not extend that thinking and use other objects to brand your logo on which people would also benefit by using on a regular basis, like pedometers or jump ropes? There are numerous activity-based promotional items out there which will not only remind your customers that you care about their health as well as their business.  For more ideas and promotional options, check out our online catalog.

What we've been working on this week: Vroom! Vroom!

Woo hoo! It's racing season!  In addition to offering lots of racing jackets and shirts, we also create a lot of custom screen printed racing shirts to uniform teams with.  This week, we got to create this design for our friends at Bourne Racing.  They have their first race of the season this weekend and we wish them lots of luck!

Featured Item: Bella Organic Cotton Rib Tank Top

The people at Bella are all about equilibrium - creating clothing that's both beautiful and beautifully made, while living a healthy lifestyle that's kind to the environment.  For them using organic cotton in their soft, feminine silhouettes and ultra-fine, smooth earth-friendly fabrics is a natural way to express their dedication to the planet and to the people who share it.  Exceptionally soft and  biodegradable, Organic Cotton is grown using socially and ecologically responsible organic farming practices that are based on the guiding principle of working with nature, rather than against it. This 5.8 oz. tank has a body-skimming fit and comes in eight gorgeous colors.  For more eco-friendly apparel options, contact us.

E-Catalog: Canvas and Bella Collections

An eclectic culture of color and style, Bella and Canvas styles are brilliantly hued, design driven and fashionably inspired.  Designed in Los Angeles, these lines have come together and put an unconventional spin on the classic tee. Combining superior quality and sustainability, these collections are committed to not only producing the highest quality clothing but to social and ecological responsibility as well. Check out the latest catalog here and contact us for more information or to place an order.

Thing that's making us smile this week

It seems almost impossible to believe, but it was 21 years ago yesterday that Jim Henson passed away.  Anyone who was lucky enough to grow up, or watch their children grow up, while the Muppets reigned supreme in the late seventies and early eighties probably still feels his loss.   From his contributions to Sesame Street, to the Muppet Show and beyond, his artistry and humor are still very much present all these years later.  With such a treasure trove of great moments to choose from, it was hard to select only one thing that makes us smile, but I had to go with my daughter's all-time favorite and the first sketch to appear on the Muppet Show: Mahna Mahna.  Enjoy!

Brand your Business: Corporate Looks for Small Businesses

We all know promotional items like pens and magnets make great giveaways to keep your business top of mind with your customers, but they can also be used quite effectively to outfit your office in a professorial, uniform look.  Just because you run a small business, doesn't mean it has to look small.  Having your logo branded on pens, mugs, mouse pads, badge reels and lanyards, paperweights and more can give your business a very polished appearance and give your customers the confidence that comes with dealing with successful, established businesses.  We can also help your business' look by outfitting your staff in screen printed shirts or embroidered hats for that final touch.  Contact us today and let us know how we can help you and your business!

What we've been working on this week

As a custom embroidery shop, we're happy to handle large orders for uniforming hotel employees, construction crews... you name it, but one of the things which makes us unique is we're also happy to accept one and two piece orders, enabling us to create truly fun and personal gifts for our customers to give.  This week we were asked to create hats for a couple who were celebrating their recent wedding. It was so much fun to design these with our customer!  Why not swing by our showroom and see what we can do for you?

Featured Item: Rabbit Skins Organic Cotton Toddler T-Shirt

Concerned about exposing your child's tender skin to harsh chemicals?  The answer is pure and simple:  Slip your little one into this pamperingly soft T-shirt knit exclusively of organic cotton.  They even use dyes which are environmentally friendly and sew the natural and white tees with 100% cotton thread.  What's more, the cotton fibers were combed and ringspun to create a 5 oz. jersey fabric that's as strong as it is silky-soft.  Because Toddlers are tough on clothes, they've added shoulder-to shoulder reinforcing tape and double needle stitched sleeves and hem. Rabbit Skins also offer this infant tees and onsies, too!  For more information on these and more earth-friendly apparel options, contact us today!

E-Catalog: Ashworth Golf Collection

It's that time of year at last: golf season! Up in the north, you can see golfers getting progressively itchier to hit the links as the snow melts and the grass continues to creep from brown to green.  Of course, after such a long wait, you'll want to mark your return to the course looking your best.  We can help!  Our Ashworth collection stands for originality, quality, and a deep appreciation for the legacy of golf.  With sport and corporate styles inspired by fashion, Ashworth brings the course into the golfer's life, whether on the links or in the office. Check out our full line of Ashworth Apparel here.

Thing that's making us smile this week

Oh how we love StumbleUpon... and The Simpsons. (Well, who doesn't love them?)  And when we recently stumbled upon this graphic of Which Simpsons characters are voiced by which Simpsons actors, we really loved it.  Even after 20 some odd years, The Simpsons still make us smile.

Brand your Business: Here Comes the Sun!

Summer is coming.  I know with the Spring that's sort of been inflicted upon us, this may seem unlikely, but it is true.  And Summer presents a whole host of promotional opportunities!  There are loads of activities to do, parties to be thrown, and tourists discovering towns and businesses they've never encountered before.  Are you going to be ready?  Maybe it makes sense for your business to stock up a bit on the traditional promo items you always stock, so as to be ready for the extra traffic, or maybe it's time for you to think about hosting an event or special package promotion to set your business apart from the crowd.  Promotionals come in a whole host of fun and seasonal choices.  You can custom print your logo or business name on sunglasses, beach balls, sunscreen, beach towels, insect repellent, water bottles... even flip flops!  The more creative you are, the more memorable your business becomes and the more you keep your name in front of your current and potential customers! For more ideas, check out our online catalog.

What we've been working on this week

We always enjoy our work.  Digitizing, embroidering, and designing feed our creative urges - but every once in a while we get to work on a project that's just so much fun!  This week, we've been working on some super cute burp cloths for a customer who's about to become a new Aunt.  We worked with her for well over an hour, choosing designs, colors, fonts and sayings - and now seeing these little guys all stitched is making us all giddy! Embroiderd burp cloths or cloth diapers are always a great, fun and memorable gift to give an expectant Mom.  Not only are they cute as can be, but they also can be so sweet and personal.  We're loaded with ideas over here, so why don't you come in and have us create a truly memorable gift for your next gift-giving occasion?  We can always use more "giddiness!"

Featured Item: Playback Recycled Cotton Hoodie

One of our favorite apparel suppliers, Playback offers a whole host of amazing, earth-friendly apparel options - saving the world one seriously cool item at a time.  Their eco-logic fabric is 70% recycled cotton scraps from clothing production, so when you wear Playback, you help save the natural resources needed to grow new cotton, reduce the chemicals used in clothing production, and keep tons of fabric out of landfills.  Even better, Playback uses the unique properties of their yarns to create textures, patterns, and surprises you can't get with standard methods, so your apparel is utterly unique and the envy of all your friends!

This hoodie is an icon of effortless cool and laid-back comfort - from the scuba-shaped hood to the 'how-the-heck-did-they-do-that" dual tone fleece.  Contrast drawstrings and antique brass hardware further the look.  Available in pullover and full-zip styles, this fleece also comes in many different colors.  For more information, or to order, contact us today, and introduce earth-friendly to fashion forward.

E-Catalog: OGIO apparel and gearbags

Mixing extreme functionality with a shot of attitude, Ogio apparel and gearbags are designed to take on the rigors of real life.   Built from advanced materials and packed with ingenious features, these innovative styles ensure you own the moment... whether in the corporate arena or on the street.  Check out the online catalog or contact us for more information.

Thing that's making us smile this week

Boy oh boy, this dog REALLY wants to keep an eye on the baby.  Too sweet!

Brand your Business: Earth-Friendly Water Bottles

Happy May, everyone!  Now that we are finally enjoying longer, sunnier days and winter has truly been left behind, it's time to start thinking of how to incorporate promotional products into your seasonal promotions.  For instance, if you run an inn or hotel, why not consider offering a hiking, biking package complete with branded water bottle? This BPA free bottle is also earth-friendly and  fully biodegradable, designed to biodegrade within 1-5 years in a managed landfill. It comes in white or natural high density polyethylene with red, blue, black, dark green or green top, and it's made in the USA! For more promotional ideas, check out our online catalog.