Category: Branding

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Earth Day is April 22, 2017

Did you know Earth Day began on April 22, 1970? The website Earth Day Network says “The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda.”  And it did. Earth Day is now celebrated all over the world and brings us together (at least for a day) across cultures, religions, and country boundaries.

Take a peek  a few offerings that are made with organic cotton and recycled polyester. Keep scrolling for some ideas how you can make Earth Day an all month event while promoting your brand and giving a shout out to Mother Earth at the same time.

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For those of you using organic/natural products in your business you got it easy!

  • Landscapers using non-toxic lawn chemicals.
  • Food Trucks using all organic ingredients.
  • Cleaning Services using non-toxic cleaning supplies in the home or office.

Throw an Earth Day message  and your logo on your item of choice and your job is done .

For those of you in businesses that don’t  directly promote an earth friendly product, don’t despair. You may just have to think outside the box a bit harder. Here are three ideas to get you started.

For the month of April set up a can recycling spot and have all the employees get involved in the recycling project. At the end of a time period you set up take the cans to be redeemed and use the money for a  pizza party to celebrate Earth Day. Then keep the good recycling habit going!

Do you work in a corporate office where there is that one department that uses way more paper than needed? Set up a friendly competition among all departments with recycling bins for paper  that would normally be thrown away/shredded when not needed. At the end of the competition weigh the paper and whoever has the least to recycle wins. May some nice sweatshirts or tee’s with the company logo for the winning team. The loosing departments…..  shredding duty. Or throw a shredding party for the whole office with snacks and drinks. Just make sure to recycle all that paper.

If you work in a business park get the whole business community involved. Set up a donation day where used clothing, toys, and small household goods are brought to a spot within the business park. Have a park wide picnic and celebrate Earth Day. The donations can be picked up by the charity of your choice at the end of the event. All of the donated goods stay out of the landfill and you have just made some great new friends within your business community.

For clothing ideas for your Earth Day Events or to make a donation check out Earth Day Network.

Posted by Leann 4.3.17

 

 

 

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Comfort Colors 2017

Gildan bought Comfort Colors last year and it was an awkward transition for a lot of our customers. There was very low stock in popular colors  and sizes and production times for restocking  those items  was often very very long.

Comfort Colors 2017

Their new catalog has just been released and  they are hitting the ground running for the spring 2017 season. New colors, new items, new materials and so far good stock levels in their most popular products.

Here is a peek at a couple of new items. As you flip through the catalog above keep an eye out for more new stuff being introduced this summer.

 

 

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Posted by Leann 3.30.17

 

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Columbus Award

Everyone should be recognized for a job well done. Some companies show their appreciation by giving bonuses , a well deserved  vacation, or gift certificates. Nothing however beats the receiving of a well made, elegant award.

These will hold a place of honor on your employee’s desk for a long time to come. The key is to find an award that is NOT cheesy. A task that is not always easy to accomplish.

One of our customers recently had the Columbus Award made for an awards ceremony last week and  we were able to see first hand the quality of this product.

We were impressed. Beautiful etching of the world (get it…Columbus award….) presented in a black box with blue velvet lining. The award is heavy too which makes it all the more classy. The notch you see in the last quadrant of the above photo is there to enable it to stand on point giving it unique twist.

For more info on the award click on the above photo or jump on over to our promotional website The Next Event.

 

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Spring Trends 2017

Spring is here! The weather is still not completely spring like yet but here are a couple of trends to get you in the mood.

I usually think of more pastelly (this may not  be a real word but….) colors for spring but Pantone says otherwise. Lighter tones without all the pastelliness. (again pretty sure I made that word up too.)

District Made is bringing back a trend from the mid 90’s with their drapey tank over a fitted white tee. Add some of your designs via heat transfers and you are on point.

 

I got to see the new Mineral Freeze trend in person a few weeks ago. We featured these items on the blog awhile back and here is how Sport Tek is styling them. The Mineral Freeze is a curious trend very popular with the younger sport teams. 

All of the gear with item numbers are available now so you can start your own Spring 2017 trends.

 

Posted by Leann 3.22.17

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Port Authority Pinpoint Mesh Polo’s

The new spring samples are arriving here at the shop and this was one of the first to come in. Okay I admit I ordered it well ahead of time and had our logo put on it so I could start wearing it as soon as the weather warmed. And for once I will be on trend.  As our sales rep for Port Authority pointed out, loud color blocking is out, reflective details are in.

K580 for Men and L580 for Women

 

The men’s have three button placket with dyed-to-match buttons and side vents while the ladies has a dyed-to- match zipper, front princess seams and a rounded hem. Both are 4.3 ounces 100 polyester so they will breath and wick moisture.

For more color options and descriptions click K580 and L580.

Posted by Leann 3.7.17

 

 

 

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Backpacks for Commuters

It is so much easier to work from home these days. Unless you run an embroidery shop then not so much…those machines are way to heavy to carry anywhere! But for a lot of folks bringing home the lap top is a way of life. As long as you have to (or want to) do it why not make a stylish statement with it.

Backpacks are a highly visible  way of getting your brand out there.  More important it is a product guaranteed to be used; not tucked away in some dark spot in the far corner of a desk collecting dust.

Besides being perfect for your employee’s everyday use  they also can be used to highlight employee achievements, work anniversaries, or used as an appreciation gift for your top clients. Going on a corporate outing, retreat, or trade show? The backpacks can be stuffed with other goodies and become  another  way to make your brand seen.

Click on any of the above photos to be take to our Next Event promotional website where you can find pricing and other color options.

Posted by Leann 2.28.17

 

 

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Tee’s and Tank’s with a Twist

District Made always has a modern twist on classic clothing. Like tanks tops and tee’s in Cosmic colors. (Seriously that is what those colors are called…)

Or turning a classic V-Neck tee into something with a little surprise.

Or making your good old hoodie a little lighter for spring.

Keep an eye on District Made and District Threads. They always have cool stuff they unveil throughout the year.

Posted by Leann 2.22.17

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Aloha Friday: Hawaii’s version of TGIF

Did you know we have Hawaiian’s to thank for Casual Friday’s?

According to Wikipedia:  “In 1965, Bill Foster, Sr., president of the Hawaii Fashion Guild, led the organization in a campaign lobbying for “Aloha Friday”, a day employers would allow men to wear aloha shirts on the last business day of the week a few months out of the year.”  By 1966 Aloha Friday was born and Aloha Shirts were worn every Friday through out the year. That crazy 60’s generation didn’t stop there though. In the 1970’s the Aloha Shirt became standard business attire for the whole work week doing in  the formal business fashions of the past. Those Hawaiians were so ahead of their time.

It took a bit longer to arrive here in the states. Wikipedia says it hit California in the early 1990’s when it became know as Casual Friday. And thus a whole new attitude in work apparel was born.

Weather your place of business is casual all week or just on Friday’s Hawaiian shirts make great statements at trade shows, outings, retreats, and even as a reward for the Big Kahuna of the Month, Quarter, or Year.

Wanna really get into the Friday mood? Check out this song called “It’s Aloha Friday, No Work ’til Monday” that is played every Friday on Hawaiian radio stations all over the state. Hau‘oli Friday!

Click on over to Blue Generation for a closer look at the styles shown above.

Posted by Leann 2.17.17

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The Futurist Trend

Athleisure, foil printing, reflective and blurred motion details, as well as unexpected logo placement are the wave of the future.  And for once it looks like National Embroidery in on trend. We just finished a silver foil tee shirt project for one of our customers and they were thrilled not only by the resulting look but also by the fact that they sold out of the tee’s at their event. We have also seen an up tick in the demand for gear with reflective details. So much so  that we now offer 3M Reflective Vinyl for smaller heat press jobs. Keep an eye on the Home page for an upcoming post on ways you can use the 3M Reflective Vinyl.

Posted by Leann 2.14.17