December 31, 2021
New Year Dawning
It's been a while since posting, and a whole lot has changed in the world of branded merch. Yes, the 'Rona has been a constant drag on society, now with Omicron coming on board, well... good times!
But with upheaval comes opportunity, and this year we (he's about to use a buzzword) pivoted to building a brand new site for you to get that Amazon experience in purchasing branded swag! Introducing...
You now have access to over 50,000 products that show live inventory levels and can be decorated online quickly! A true labor of love for us, and we hope an easier way for you to transact quickly and efficiently. Check out our new product ideas for 2022 here
https://www.brandextenders.com/theme/new-branded-products-apparel
Let me know what you think! Happy New Year to all.
October 1, 2020
2020, the year of Ch Ch Ch Changes
This year can only be described as the year of change. We've seen a pandemic sweep across the world and abruptly put a halt to a booming economy, an election cycle hit new depths of weirdness, and all senses of normalcy disrupted. And as you can see below, crazy home haircuts and facial hair growth!
Note to self, masks tend to push facial hair in to your mouth and long beards are not as "COVID friendly" as one would think! But I do believe there's a silver lining for all that isn't being covered as much. We've been able to spend more time with family, redefine what is truly important to us, and reinvent what it means to do business in a technology-driven society. Let's face it, in a business world that is defined by relationships, forced separation is tough and telling a brand's story without "pressing the flesh" at times isn't viable let alone profitable.
But as they often say, life - and business - finds a way. We may not be able to have events or large trade shows, but brands have pivoted to technology, be it Zoom conferences, Virtual Reality, or smaller COVID-controlled outdoor sessions to maintain relationships and promote their stories. Leveraging new tech with old-school mailed packaging has allowed brands to maintain their reach and in some cases increase their business despite a rather sluggish economy.
Looking forward to 2021, we will still have masks and distancing as a mantra, and despite a contentious election that is coming at us like a freight train, the sun will come up and your brand will still need creative ways to tell its story. We have a positive outlook to 2021, and are more than ready to put 2020 in the rearview.
Let's just hope that I don't find another hair style for 2021, and that my wife still keeps the clippers hidden so we don't have another balding moment... I'm ready for 2020 to end and am positive for a 2021 growth year for all, just probably not on my head!
July 22, 2020
Brand Bossin' - Disrupting an Industry
- I love a good bootstrap story, especially when that #brandstory involves someone special from the ATL. I first found out about Sara Blakely while watching her climb up a hot air balloon to have tea with Richard Branson on his TV show. If that doesn't scream risk taker, I don't know what else will!
Little did I know, my wife loved Spanx's shapewear products, and her company had taken off to create a new product category in an old industry. The intimate apparel industry - particularly hosiery - had not made any significant innovations for ages, and as any entrepreneur knows, opportunities arise at, well the most peculiar times. For Sara Blakely, it came via a personal need - looking good in white pants.
Working as a fax machine (yes, those were a thing y'all) sales rep and dreaming of more, she took a pair of pantyhose, cut the feet off and wore those under her fitted white pants. Necessity created the "ah-ha" moment, which brought forth a whole lot of NO's. Entrepreneurs know that getting off the ground requires thick skin and an abnormal amount of determination, and Spanx was no exception. Add in the glass ceiling affect when it comes to a female going in to a male-dominated (umm, yes that's true) industry, and it's amazing that Spanx has become a powerhouse brand in such a short period of time.
Sara Blakely is now a billionaire focused on helping women grow businesses of their own. Spanx has transformed how women and men dress and is continually innovating in the intimate apparel industry. Sara Blakely is one of my favorite follows on LinkedIn, and is truly an Atlanta rock star in her own right - as well as a part owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
For young entrepreneurs and brand builders, she's a model for how a good idea can disrupt an entire industry. She also typifies how a company can go from an apartment concept to a billion dollar business through determination, stubborn positivity and sheer will.
Whiteboard Promotions is a brand extension agency focused on telling your brand's story through corporate swag and apparel. Visit us at whiteboardpromos.com. Follow us on Instagram and Chris Wilson on LinkedIn. Also follow our articles and posts at #brandxtenders and #brandstory.
March 1, 2020
A Tale of Two T-shirts
A staple in the corporate swag world, the t-shirt is a fantastic storyboard for your brand. Let's face it, we all love t-shirts and have drawers full of them, you might even be wearing one now. For advertisers, having walking billboards of your brand's story is a home run with lower cost-per-impression than most mediums and an average 3400 impressions per year for a low per-unit expenditure (2019 Impressions study)
With a large portion of t-shirts used today being made of 100% cotton material, it's a win-win for brands right? You get the big ROI and are able to check that eco-friendly box at the same time - a no brainer for brands. Well... not exactly my friend. Those 100% cotton shirts do indeed break down much easier than the blend shirts, however production of t-shirts is heavily water and pesticide intensive. Add in the dyeing process for colored tees and the shipping, and even though you get a good feels moment of buying green, the impact on the environment of that tee isn't good, let alone indefinitely sustainable.
So what are brands to do who want to win the storytelling game and stay true to their environmentally conscious principles? Apparel brands like econscious have worked with their supply chain to provide solutions that are not only fashionable but eco-friendly. Utilizing green textiles such as certified organic cotton, hemp and recycled polyester, brands can achieve their environmental goals and win raving fans with apparel that their end users will wear.
After all, a t-shirt that is worn more than for an event will extend your message well past a social media post or T.V. ad. It is true that organic and recycled material shirts do cost more, but your audience is buying more sustainability-marketed products these days, and more importantly, they are demanding fashion-type apparel options. Your brand's story will benefit from upping your apparel game by using responsibly sourced eco-apparel. For apparel ideas, check out our pop-up shop or contact us for your next project.
As you have seen, our logo has gone green for this Sustainability series over the next several weeks. Look to our social media posts and articles for further information on how your brand can benefit from sustainable corporate swag and apparel.
January 26, 2020
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Holidays, these are all times where we get excited about receiving those special packages from loved ones. I for one have geeked out over that amazing box that Apple puts together for all of its phones and iPads. Let's not forget that little blue box from Tiffany's, the gift box that is iconic in the jewelry world and typifies the brand's excellence and recognition.
It's often overlooked when talking about branding that how you present things are as important in the branding process as the messaging itself. The perception of your brand is elevated when the collateral is paired with unique packaging concepts that are consistent with your brand's story.
Many brands are turning to sports teams and colleges in how they package their collateral and custom swag to cultivate brand loyalty and raving fans. Teams like our home team Atlanta United and Falcons have been able to maintain their season ticket holders base by yearly outdoing themselves in the tickets packaging that they send out. The teams would send the tickets along with other collateral and swag to energize their fan base about the upcoming seasons.
When looking to promote a new product or energize your team to your Brand's new direction, build up momentum by launching with the complete package to elevate your year.
Whiteboard Promotions is a corporate swag agency that specializes in promoting your #brandstory. Visit www.whiteboardpromos.com for more information or here to start your next project.