Recently I put a post in my Facebook status that said, "If you are supposed to be my 'competition' then how can you NOT understand what I do??". I often times find that customers are confused about the difference between me and others. I was surprised to meet this person and they were also confused. This made me realize that I really need to explain the differences. I found this information on the PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) website and copied most of it.

Advertiser (Buyer): The company that buys the product from the distributor to use as a promotional tool; the promotional consultant’s client.

Promotional Consultant (Distributor): This is Kristie's Kreations! The promotional consultant develops solutions to marketing challenges through the innovative use of promotional products and is a resource to corporate buyers, marketing professionals and others.

Supplier: A promotional products company that manufactures, imports, converts, imprints or otherwise produces or processes promotional products offered for sale through promotional consultants.

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Labels: Definitions, Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products

There is an easy answer to that question. There are many different ways that promotional products can be used!!

Recently reading through information from PPAI (Promotional Products Association International). They recently had independent research studies conducted. These studies showed that promotional products are effective marketing tools. Here are some of the ways promotional products are most commonly used:

Advertising Campaigns
Promotional product mailings can dramatically improve response rates.

Customer Goodwill
Promotional products foster customer goodwill (positive attitudes and feelings) toward a company and its salespeople.

Customer Referrals
Generate customer referrals using promotional products.

Direct Mail
Make a significant difference in direct mail response rates with the use of promotional products.

Employee Awards & Incentives
Awards and incentive programs improve performance and motivate employees.

Repeat Business
Customers come back more frequently when you implement direct mail programs using promotional products.

Three Dimensional Direct Mail Packaging
Packaging of promotional products can evoke curiosity, as well as increase direct mail response rates.

Tradeshows
Promotional products increase traffic to an exhibitor's tradeshow booth.

Labels: Common, Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products, Uses

Labels: Golf Outing, Promotional Products

Have you heard of .eps or .ai format?

When you placed an order for promotional products or embroidery you were probably asked to provide your logo in .eps or .ai format. Were you confused about what these are? If so, you are not alone!

Below are brief descriptions to help you understand the differences:

.eps - Vector art file – This can be enlarged or shrunk without losing the quality of the artwork.

.ai - Illustrator file – This is also vector artwork that can be enlarged or shrunk without losing the quality. We prefer the original artwork with the outlines. Sometimes we do not have the same fonts that you may have. If artwork is given to us and the fonts are not in outlines then the look of the logo can totally change if we do not have the same font file.

.psd – Photoshop file – This is mostly used for photographs. Photographers like this program to edit photographs or create collages.

.jpg – This is the most common format. It is a compressed file to help in reducing the storage size.

.gif – A bitmap image – This is commonly used on the web. It is well suited for simpler images.

.tiff - A computer file format for storing images, including photographs and line art. It is typically used for printed

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Labels: Embrodery, file endings, Logo, Promotional Products

When I was attending Indiana State University for my undergraduate degree, I remember frequent events held around the fountain by credit card companies. They were simply trying to get us to sign up for their credit cards.

They were fun events that made us want to participate…that was if we had time on our way to class! Sometimes we signed up just because we would receive a cool promotional product with the ISU logo on it!

According to a press release from the White House, the new law states that credit card companies are no longer allowed to give gifts or any promotional items in order to entice students, or anyone else, to sign up for a credit card. Wow! Did you know this has changed? So much for hanging out at the fountain on the campus of Indiana State University!

Labels: College, Indiana State University, Promotional Products

March is a great month! There are so many fun holidays that fall in this month that I just love! Not only is my birthday, and my son's birthday, in March but there is an awesome and very fun holiday……St. Patrick's Day!

What a fun time to celebrate and pass out handouts to your friends and clients. This is not your typical gift giving holiday which makes it an even better day to give a memorable gift to someone! There actually are some really fun items that are designated just for St. Patrick's Day. Everyone knows that on St. Patrick’s Day you must wear green or you will get pinched! Don’t come around me on St. Patrick’s Day not wearing green! If you do, you can expect to get pinched! St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! Last year I wore a green boa from my first meeting at 7:30 up until dinner with my family! What a fun day! If you want to be remembered on this fun and unique day then there is still time to get your items ordered and delivered on time!

Not only are there wonderful events in March but it also means that Spring is right around the corner! Welcome Spring! I am ready for you to get here!

Labels: holiday gifts, March, Promotional Products, St. Patrick's Day

When you think of screen printed shirts you often think of a t-shirt that is worn by a sports team or a t-shirt that you received from an event you participated in and it has all the sponsors listed on the back. Often times you don’t think that shirts you but at some of the most popular stores in the mall are screen printed. If you looked in your closet you may be surprised by the number of shirts you have the are actually screen printed.

Some of the trendiest shirts available these days have the imprint all over the shirt including on the shoulders and collars. The print often times starts on the front of the shirt, goes over the shoulder and continues down the back of the t-shirt.

For a long time, this style of imprint has not been available to the promotional products industry. This has now changed which is very exciting!!!

Large format printing is now available for shirts! This means that a design 30” by 30” can be done to include print all over the collar, the sleeves and the side of the shirt including the very bottom of the t-shirt. There is a piece minimum of 144 for this style of shirt but whith this style of shirt, everyone will want one!!!

Labels: All over print, Promotional Products, Screen Print, Tshirt

Yesterday, I told you about a special milestone in the history of Kristie’s Kreations. We officially turned 9 years old on February 13th!

I also told you that I would give a little history about Kristie’s Kreations so here it is………..

When Kristie's Kreations was started, I was still a special education teacher.
Although I loved working with the kids, I also knew that I wanted to do something more. I also knew that I wanted to stay home when I started a family. In order to do this, I would have to find sometime else to do because I am not one to stay home all the time! It is also very important to me that my children spend time with other kids and not just me!

One day, a lady came into the school that I was teaching at and sold shirts to all of the teachers. These shirts were embroidered with their names on it. I was amazed at how many shirts the lady sold. It was NOT because she was a great at sales but simply because the teachers ate up the fact that they could get a ‘teachery’ shirt that had their name on it! I knew that this was something that I could do!!

It was then that I decided to start my own business. I began researching different embroidery machines and what it would require for me to start my own business
On February 13th, we purchased our first embroidery machine and digitizing program.

If you look at our first machine, you would probably say it was a sewing machine, not an embroidery machine. You would be partially correct. It is a sewing machine that also does embroidery. We attended training sessions for both the machine as well as the digitizing software.

I started out slow selling one shirt here and another shirt there. We started getting busy then by selling to my own school as well as others in the township. In fact, we got so busy, we had to purchase a second sewing/embroidery machine.

Quickly requests started coming in for hats and jacket back designs. These were things that we could not do on our two little machines. Not only that, but it was very time consuming to sew out a simple left chest design on a shirt. A little over a year from starting Kristie’s Kreations we purchased a large commercial embroidery machine!

Two and a half years after starting Kristie’s Kreations, I stopped teaching and focused solely on my business and my new family.

Over the years we started receiving requests for screen printing as well as promotional products. In order for our customers to only have to go to one person for all of their branding needs, we began offering these services as well.

It has been very fun to learn all of the aspects of owning a business and meeting so many wonderful people along the way! I have made many life long friends too!

Labels: digitizing, Embroidery, History, Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products, Screen Print

Yesterday, February 13, Kristie's Kreations turned 9 years old! That is amazing! Boy has it has been a fun ride!

I am often asked how long I have been doing the embroidery, screen printing and promotional products. Most are amazed when I tell them how long ago I started my own business.

I had hoped to tell a little bit of the history of Kristie's Kreations on the official birth date but that didn't happen. I spent last week stuck in a blizzard in Washington DC. It was a fun trip but we stayed a little bit longer than planned due to mechanical problems on our plane as well as other snow storms happening throughout the country. Once we finally made it home yesterday, I didn't even open my laptop. Therefore no birthday wishes were made!

Stay tuned I will talk more about the history tomorrow!


In the mean time, Happy Valentine’s Day from Kristie’s Kreations which officially turned 9 years old yesterday!

Labels: Anniversary, Birthday, Embroidery, Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products, Screen Print

Do you find yourself playing alot of golf anytime you can? Do you sponsor tables at golf outings? Do you sponsor a team at a golf outing?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions then I have one more for you.
How many of the following do you have?

• Logoed Golf Bag



• Logoed umbrella



• Logoed Windshirt



• Logoed Golf Balls



• Logoed Golf Gloves



• Logoed Shoes.
  

Now, how many of them do you want? You know the golf course is where alot of business is conducted. What a better way to show off your logo to you clients and potential clients!

At the Holiday Show that I talked about last week I saw some really great golf ideas. These can also be used as holiday gifts for the golf lover in your life!

One of the most unique items that I found was the custom logoed golf shoes. There were several different styles to choose from! These can also be purchased with your favorite MLB, NCAA and NFL logo!

I know that the major golf season is over but you never know when there will be a nice, warm fall or winter day that you will want logoed items to show off! It is always better to have them ready than to be scrambling around right before you need them.

Labels: Golf Outing, Logoed, Promotional Products, shoes

Last summer we bought new refrigerator. I love the refrigerator because it has a bottom freezer and a top refrigerator. I was not sure if I would like the bottom freezer because it is the pull out basket and I have not ever had a freezer like that before. I was afraid that it would be hard to find the food but it has a couple of different areas to separate the food so it has worked. The top has french doors which I love! You can get larger items in it and it has a huge pull out drawer! The other requirement for me was a door water and crushed ice dispenser. The main problem with the refrigerator is that it is Stainless Steel. Most of you are thinking what is the problem with that because that is the popular style.

The problem is that I have two little kids and we like to display their artwork on the front of the refrigerator and with stainless steel we can't. That was until I found the CRICKiT. It is great! We are now able to displayt things on the front of the refrigerator!
Another great thing about the Crickit is that it is made here in Indianapolis! It is made by the same company that makes the Gatorclip.

Do you have a place that you would love to put a clip but just can't because a magnetic clip won't stick to it? If so then you need to see the Clickit!

Labels: Bentcil, Clickit, Clip, Gator Clip, Promotional Products, Stainless Steel

In the last post, I talked about wrapping gifts for customers. The last item I showed you is one of my favorite logoed items. I like it because it is so practical and can be used over and over again. In fact, I just keep a Therm-O-Tote in my car filled with other logoed shopping bags. Before I go into a store I grab the one bag and am off. I am constantly reminded of who gave me the bags or of my own logo. Not only that, but the others around me see the logoed bags! Another example of a walking advertisement!

Since the holidays are almost upon us, have you thought about using using this wrapping idea as a GIFT? Why not use a couple of different sized bags or three of the same size and giving those as your holiday gift? You might even have requests from others in the office once they see what you have given!

Because these bags fold up flat, they wrap nicely. They also wrap up well with logoed ribbon. Nothing to throw away, only things that can be recycled!

Would you like to see some samples of these great holiday gifts?

Labels: Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift, Logoed, Promotional Products, Wrapping

Well, the gift giving season is upon us. Many people have already started their Holiday shopping. This means that the wrapping will begin. I know the normal way to wrap up a gift is with wrapping paper. Some people, including myself, also wrap gifts with paper gift bags that are used once or maybe twice if re-gifted.

How do you wrap up a customer's gift?

Do you use logoed wrapping paper? Have you ever thought about using wrapping paper that has your logo imprinted on it? Think about all the different times throughout the year that you give gifts and would be able to use this unique logoed item! What a great way to let you customer know IMMEDIATELY who the gift is from!

The next item I want to show you I love! If you are looking for a way to wrap up your customer's gift but don't like the idea of it being used once and then thrown away. . . then this is for you!!! It will be used much more often than the ones listed above!

When you go grocery shopping, do you come home with the store's loged bags? What do your customers come home with? Why not have them see your logo each time they go shopping? Why not have them reminded about you each time they get out a cooler? So many people are getting into green products. One of the easiest ways to do this is by reusing their shopping bags.

The item on the left is the Therm-O-Tote. It is great for keeping the cold items that you purchase cold. Not only is this a great shopping bag but it has a zipper so it can also be used as a cooler! I keep one of these in the back of my car filled with other reusable shopping bags including a couple of the bags on the right. These bags are the most popular non-woven bags. They can be imprinted with a one color logo or with multi-color imprinting. The best thing about these is that they are EARTH FRIENDLY BAGS:
20% post-industrial recycled content

Labels: Gift Wrapping, gifts, holiday gifts, Logoed, Promotional Products

Labels: Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products, Unique Give Away, Yo-Yo

If you are in sales. . . what do you leave behind on a sales call? What do you leave behind with your clients when you just stop in to say HI?

Have you ever thought about leaving behind food?

Food is a great and inexpensive leave behind that is always appreciated! Here are some great examples that I recently came across at a trade show. I made sure to taste them all for you! :) They all taste great!

* Candy
* Popcorn
* Gum
* Microwave Popcorn
* Nuts

Would you like to try a sample of one of these great food items?

Labels: Food, Leave Behind, Logoed, Promotional Products

Do you purchase solely on price?

Do you purchase based on the sales person or company?

Do you shop around and find the cheapest product?

How much do you research a product before you purchase it?

Do you only buy from those that you are comfortable with?

Last week I received an email from a potential customer.  At the end of the email, she asked me if I would be willing to put together a quote for her.  Of course I responded.  I called her back instead of in an email so my questions were not as confusing.  At the end of our conversation, of course I told her that I would be more than happy to give her a quote.  I ended up stopping by her office later in the day to drop off a catalog.  I sat in her office and had a great conversation with her and one of her coworkers.  It was very nice!

During the conversation I found out that she knew a lot about me and we had just met.  How did she know so much about me?  I asked and found out that she had really researched me.  She checked out my website and read several of the posts on my blog.  She knew more about me than some of my existing customers!  It was great!  This was proof that what I am doing and spending my time on . . . IS WORKING!  Now we have not completed an order for her yet but it is moving in the right direction!

Then today I had a conversation with a great friend, Amy Stark.  During this conversation, I found out that she feels as if most people do business with those that they like and are comfortable with.  For me, this is very true!  I will do business first with my friends, those that I have met networking or from a referral!

Does everyone else feel this way?  Unfortunately I am not so sure that they do.

What do you think?  Who do you like to purchase from?

Labels: Amy Stark, blog, Competition, Embroidery, Fishers, Friends, Indiana, indianapolis, kristie, Kristie B, Kristie Bradford, Kristie's Kreations, logos, Networking, Promotional Products, Purchasing, Stark Reality, Website

Have you ever thought about putting you logo on toys?

Are you a fan of Rubik Cubes?

Did you grow up trying to figure out how to make all sides the same color?

Did you keep it original or get frustrated and change the stickers so they were the right color?

This game game has came back into popularity!  Just go to Target and you will see them available in different sizes.  Guess what, you can now have ones made in what ever color you want with whatever imprint you want on the different sides.

Here are two of the many different styles available.  I just love Rubik Cubes!  In fact, we have my old one as well as a new one. . . which the stickers have not been removed and replaced! :)

[caption id="attachment_445" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Rubik Cube"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_447" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="4 Boxes Cube"][/caption]

One more thing that I always loved playing with and still have my original one. . . The snake!

[caption id="attachment_446" align="aligncenter" width="175" caption="Snake"][/caption]

Have you ever thought about a Rubik style UPS drive?  Those are also available.   I just do not have the picture available right now.  If you are interested, let me know!

What do you think about the toys listed?  This can also be imprinted with you logo on it.

Labels: Fishers, Indiana, indianapolis, Kristie's Kreations, promotional product, Promotional Products

What do you think about promotional products?  Are they useful or throw aways?

Do you feel as if they are a waste of your money?

Do you think they are not worth your time to look into them, order them and then pass them out?

Have you ever thought about all the promotional products that you have in our house?

Today I was browsing through one of my supplier's websites.  On this site I saw so many different items that I use on almost a daily basis.  I often times will hear my potential customers or competition say that promotional products are 'trinkets and trash' or other similar terms.  In some ways, I have to admit they are right.  BUT in so many ways they are wrong.

Here is just one pure example:

What do you use when you are trying to open a new jar such as pickles?

I can tell you what I do . . . I open up the top drawer next to the stove and pull out one of my three jar openers.  I wrap it around the lid and turn it.  It easily opens right up!  I did not purchase any of these three grippers.  In fact, they are promotional products that were given to me.  They are such a useful item!

This is an excellent way to put your logo in front of your customers, or future customers, on a daily basis!  Yes, it might be put back in the drawer but when they are finished with it, but they will pull it back out again to use it!  Each time your logo is right in front of them!  An even better reason to go with something as simple as a gripper is that you can put it in their hands for under a quarter each!!

[caption id="attachment_428" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jar Openers"][/caption]

As I was reviewing the many different varieties of simple jar openers I found a new on that I have not seen before.  It is a great idea!  Why not put it on the door knob, on a hook inside the cabinet or on a handle on the cabinet?!?  It is always conveniently located and proudly showing your logo!

[caption id="attachment_427" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Door Hanger Grip"][/caption]

Do you use a promotionall product on a daily basis and have not ever really given it much thought?  What is it?

Labels: Fishers, Indiana, indianapolis, Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products

Well, another one is here! It is Friday the 13th.

I find it interesting but I am not concerned about it.  In fact, what perfect timing.  The last week while I have been working out, I have been reading Indiana Ghost books that I checked out of the library.  They are interesting!

Here is  a little bit of trivia about Friday the 13th and the year 2009. . . Which months in 2009 have a Friday the 13th?

Should we be worried that it is Friday the 13th??  No, because tomorrow is Valentine's Day!  Are you doing anything special for Valentine's Day?  I am pretty sure that in the Brandford's house we will not be doing anything too special.  Nathan has a birthday party to go to for one of his classmates.  Unfortunately, it is at one of my least favorite kid party places.  Oh well, the kids love it!

After the party, or maybe even during, Mark, Lisa and I will go out to dinner since the party is at 5:00.

What are your uplans for Valentine's Day?  Did you get our Valentine's Day Newsletter this week?  If not, let me know and I can send you a copy and add you to the list for upcoming newsletters!

Happy Valentine's Day!

By the way, the answer to the trivia questions is. . . .February, March and November!

Did you know the correct answer?

Labels: Embroidery, Fishers, Indiana, indianapolis, Kristie's Kreations, Newsletter, Promotional Products

Have you seen the cooler scooter? It is a cooler with a seat, handle bar, foot pedals and a motor. You can ride around on your cooler! It is very unique.

Originally I saw it on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show but recently I found out that it is one of the unique promotional products that I can offer to my customers!! The Cooler Scooter (item 51-300XE) is a 300-watt electric ride-on cooler from Cruzin Cooler. You can check it out at: http://www.cruzincooler.com.

[caption id="attachment_423" align="aligncenter" width="235" caption="Cooler Riding"][/caption]

It is such a unique item! You can use it for so many different things. Here are just a few ideas:
*Use it as a giveaway at your trade booth
*Use it as an incentive for your sales staff
*Use it as a golf outing give away
*Use it for the company picnic
*Use it for your own personal prize

What a great way to show off that logo! You will be remembered that is for sure!

Ride away with pride!

What do you think about this cooler?

Labels: Embroidery, Fishers, Indiana, indianapolis, Kristie's Kreations, logos, Promotional Products, Trade Show

Today I was in a meeting with a client and he mentioned Mr. T and then followed it with, 'You may be too young to know who he is".  Well, I am definitely not too young to know who Mr. T is but I have to admit I did not remember the Mr. T quote he was mentioning.  Then later in the day, Nathan, my soon to be 6 year old, was watching Scooby Doo.  As I sat with him, I starting thinking about all the things that TV characters can teach us.  Then I remembered a conversation that I had with Erik Deckers about what Gilligan's Island can teach you.

I wondered, in a weird sort of "spent too much time in the Mystery Machine" way, what could Scooby Doo and the gang teach us about promotional products.  Here's what I came up with:

[caption id="attachment_400" align="aligncenter" width="163" caption="Scooby Doo Backpack picture"] [/caption]

1.  Scooby-Dooby-Doo, Where are you?. . . make sure others can find you from your imprint on the promotional product!

2.  Logos mean everything for Name Recognition. . .even 'Scooby Snacks' have a logo!

3. Keep trying different things until you find just the right one that works for your company. You may make a few mistakes along the way but something will always work out!

4.  Get away from the monsters (your competition) by standing out in the crowd.

5.  Promotional Products are like "Scobby Snacks". . .everyone loves them. . .  even Shaggy!

6. Even the littlest promotional product can 'catch' your business. . . just like Scrappy!

7.  Don't run away from something different and unique. . . it may come back to haunt you!

8.  Be like Freddy. . . .Always have a plan!

9.  Confront danger with a hearty "Zoinks!". . . or better yet, don't get discouraged, you will find the right product for your business!

10.  Have a great tag line. . . Scooby Dooby Doo

Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all!  Not only do some of them really make sense but it was also fun doing it!  In fact, I had Nathan help me write some of them!   Great job Nathan!!

Labels: blog, Embroidery, Erik Deckers, Fishers, Indiana, indianapolis, Kristie's Kreations, Logo, logos, Promotional Products, Scooby Doo

OK, so now I guess it is my turn! I receive this last night on Smaller Indiana and completed it but this morning I noticed that Kyle Lacy wanted me to post it on the front page as well as my blog.

So here goes. . .OK, so now I guess it is my turn! Thank you Allison for sending this to me!

1. First and foremost, I love my family! I am married to a wonderful husband (Mark) and have two great kids, Nathan (almost 6 yrs old) and Lisa (3 yrs. old). I have an awesome younger sister (Angie) and brother (Andy)!

2. My husband Mark is very understanding and knows that I have to get out there in order to grow my business! He makes sure that he takes care of the kids at least two days a week so that I can attend events!

2. I wish I saw my family more! Most of my family is down south so I do not see them very often! I do have a brother and sister-in-law that live in Fishers! I wish I spent more time with them and my kids got to know them more and vise versa!!

3. I used to be a special education teacher. I was a teacher for 7 years before I stayed home to grow my business and raise my family.

4. I am from Southern Indiana- Evansville area - and almost all of my family still lives down there. Excluding my sister and her family (in St. Louis) and my brother and his wife, Allison (in Fishers)

5. I love networking and meeting new people! Anyone who knew me in my teaching years will be really surprised about this but it is true! I love getting out and meeting new people and then figuring out how I can connect them to others!

6. I have a great group of friends! Many are from networking and then others from when I moved to Indianapolis! They really made me feel at home when I was 3 1/2 hours away!

7. Allison Witmeier is my sister in law! She is married to my great "YOUNGER Brother"! Which I love to say because he is much bigger than me! If anyone knows him, "He is kinda of big deal" Or so he says! I grew up with him and can tell stories otherwise!

Rules are below. Enjoy!

Now my turn to continue:

Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
Link to your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
Let them know they’ve been tagged.

What 7 things would you list about yourself?

Labels: 7 Things About Me, blog, Embroidery, Evansville, Family, Fishers, Indiana, Kristie Bradford, Kristie's Kreations, Promotional Products, Smaller Indiana

It is important that you find just the right item no matter what is important to you.

Labels: Kristie's Kreations, logos, Promotional Products, Table Covering, Trade Show

Are you thinking about having a booth at a trade show?

Are you signed up for a booth at a trade show and you are wondering. . . Now What?

If you answered Yes to either of these questions then I can help!


There are two very important things to consider. What will my display look like and What will I pass out? For this post we begin to discuss what your table will look like. You will have more visitors to your booth if it looks nice and stands out especially from a distance.

Once noticed, customers will walk across the room to see what you have to offer if it looks good! The first way to assure this is by having a logoed table covering.

There are several options out there for table coverings but we have found one that we really like! These table coverings look good no matter what size table you are putting it on. The logo always embroiders very nicely on the material as well.

You might be thinking that the embroidery would be really expensive for a table covering. Well, the answer is that it is more expensive than a left chest design, but it is well worth it! The look and detail in the design is phenomenal! There are times when we can also help to reduce the number of stitches in the design. More information on this to come. Please check back.

Many locations will require that the table coverings be fire retardant. If this is your case then you are in luck! These table coverings are fire retardant and will fulfill this requirement.

Have you realized how important the table covering is for the trade show? If so, read the next post for more information!

Labels: blog, Embroidery, Kristie's Kreations, logos, Promotional Products, Table Covering, Trade Show

What are you doing to promote your business?

This is a question that I like to ask when I am networking.  When I meet someone I begin by saying, "I help companies increase their name recognition."  Sometimes I continue that sentence with "with embroidery and promotional products." other times I leave it at that.  Then I am usually ask, "How?"  If not then I try to remember to ask, "What are you doing to promote your business?"

There are so many ways to do this.  Some of the ways include:  social media, blogs, advertising, coupons etc.  My favorites are of course embroidered apparel and promotional products.  Within these two categories the options are endless!

The simplest and most common way is by wearing a shirt with your logo embroidered on it.  You can expand that simple promotion by adding your website on either the sleeve or the back of the shirt.  Another very simple way is by carrying a portfolio and or bag with your logo on it.  I have carried a portfolio for years with my logo on it.  It is always recognized and of course is a great example of my work.

Another simple and inexpensive way is to keep a handful of pens with you at all times and pass them out.  How many times are you with someone and they cannot find a pen or are rummaging through their bag trying to find a pen?  You can always be 'Johnny on the Spot' with a pen to hand them.  They will be very grateful and you just passed on your company information.  Let them keep that pen and they will remember you the next time they grab to use it. . . your pen!

If you are a looking for something a little bit more expensive then why not give a nice jacket to your clients or employees? 

Why not give them some nice chocolate or food that they can snack on with your company logo on it?  If you put it in a nice logoed tin then they can keep the tin and always have your logo in front of them when they go to use it again.  Another thought. . . why not give them a nice coffee mug that they can carry around with them on a daily basis?  Everywhere they carry that mug or wear your jacket they are advertising for you.

So. . . back to the first question. . . what are you doing to promote your business?

Labels: Embroidery, Kristie's Kreations, logos, Name Recognition, promote, promotional product, Promotional Products

The big theme that I continued to see at almost every table today was "Green".  There were so many green products to choose from.   It has taken this idea some time to get to the Midwest but this show proved tome that it is finally here and taking off!  I saw the most green products here than I ever have at a show!

How about a recycled Pencil?

[caption id="attachment_93" align="alignnone" width="55" caption="Recycled Pencil"][/caption]

Or a water powered calculator?

[caption id="attachment_94" align="alignnone" width="289" caption="Water Powered Calculator"][/caption]

How many of your customers support being green?

Is being green important to you or to your company?  If so, you are not alone!  I want to hear from you and let me know why.

Labels: gifts, Green, Kristie's Kreations, logos, Promotional Products, Recycling