Do You Have a Plan?

I can't tell you how many morning I come into my office without a plan.  I start reading emails, answering calls, writing up orders and before I know it I'm bouncing around in more directions than a pinball trying to avoid the gutters.

I just signed up for my first half marathon February 19th the Heartbreak Half (not going to lie the name intimidates me).  The race involves quite a bit of an uphill journey and running uphill stresses me out just a little (okay a lot).  I realize it would be pretty stupid to just show up February 19th start running and plan on finishing a 13.1 mile run with a good time and no injuries.

Yet how many of us run our businesses that way just taking off and hoping everything works out for the best.  Hoping that the sales come in, the orders go out and that at the end of the day we can hopefully call it a win.

Here are a few things I've learned from this adventure that can be applied to your business:

1.  Find a coach.  Those of you who know me know that I have Katie.  She is my trainer, coach and incredible friend. She tells me when I'm doing too much (or not enough), when I need to rest and most  importantly when I need to suck it up, quit whining and shut my mouth.  You need a Katie in your business.  Someone you can talk to and strategize with. Someone who isn't afraid to tell you they think you're wrong or heading down the wrong path.

2.  Create a plan.  With the help of Katie I have a plan.  It's a 12 week plan that runs right up to the race.  I know how many miles I need to run each week and how many days.  It lays out how many bootcamps, swim, spin and zumba classes I can take and on which days as well as what intensity of workout I should do.
Now I am sitting at my desk this morning thinking what is my 12 week plan for sales.  How many calls do I need to make? How can I structure my day to get the best results?  Am I doing too much? Too little?

3.  Form a team.  I realized a long time ago it's much harder to achieve success if you try to do it alone.  My friend Heidi signed up to run the half marathon with me.  We are training together.  We can share the fun as well as the pain and hurdles (and I am betting there are going to be a few hurdles).  It makes me accountable to someone else besides just me.  I can't just say I don't want to run today because it would be letting her down. (Fortunately for me Heidi is a great motivator so she won't let me back out and goof off anyway!)  I have other friends who have volunteered to run with on days we need it and even more that provide encouragement, motivation, cheering and often the well timed kick in the butt.  Everything is easier and more fun it you have a great team.

I love how doing something in one part of your life can impact other areas.  Stay tuned over the next 12 weeks as I'm sure there will be more lessons learned from this half marathon.

Is it Important to Say Thank You to Your Clients?

I'm in the business of helping clients reward their customers for loyalty and helping them to find and keep good clients.  Sometimes, however, I'm the one that learns a lesson.

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to go out with a group of friends. Even better they were bringing along another friend so the two of us could meet.  Well of course I had to head down to the mall and pick out a new outfit just for that night. What with all the exercising and weight loss the clothes closet is a little bare.  I went to two separate department stores buying a new jacket at the first store and jeans and a dress shirt at another. 

Two weeks passed and yesterday I received two pieces of mail.  The first was a beautiful 5 panel postcard with my name typed on the front a bunch of great marketing material inside and two gift cards attached inside.  One for $25 off my next purchase of $100 and one for 20% off an entire days purchases.

The second was hand address envelope with a hand written thank you card that in nut shell said:

"Just wanted to follow up with you to see how your date went?!  I hope you had an amazing time, we know you looked great!"  Inside was also her business card with her cell phone number hand written.

Now it turns out I need to get a couple more new shirts.  I can give my business to the store that sent me  the generic mailer with an offer of cash off or I can choose the store with the incredible sales woman who showed me she listened to what I said and cared (or at least pretended to) about how my evening went.

No contest I will be calling the saleswoman today and setting up a time to come in and buy my shirts right after I finish sending out some handwritten thank you cards to some incredible clients of my own.

Moral of the story "Never forget the importance of a simple thank you!"

American Eagle Graphics Showcase of Ideas

Wow okay I've gotten a little behind on updating the blog.  Funny how life gets a little fast and furious some times.  A lot has happened in the last couple months.  I finished the Warrior Dash a 5k plus obstacle course and am training for my first 10k in October.  I'm just two days away from facing my fear of heights (actually less a fear of heights and more a fear of hitting the ground from extreme heights) by doing a tree to tree adventure course.  Basically, it is an aerial obstacle course in the trees.

I set out this year with one simple goal to try new things and stretch my comfort zone.  I've done quite a bit of both so far.  Speaking of trying new things and stretching our comfort zone a little my company, American Eagle Graphics is putting on our first annual Showcase of Ideas/Customer Appreciation Event October 6th from 3PM -6PM.

This showcase will be an opportunity to meet our staff and discover great ideas from our top suppliers. With over 25 product lines represented this will be a great opportunity to see the latest and greatest ideas in print, promotion, and apparel.  Not to mention we will be serving some great food and tasty beverages.

If you will be able to attend please take a moment and register here.

Great gift ideas for the iPad or Tablet Owner

I've been busy training getting ready for the Warrior Dash on September 11th. The warrior dash is a 5k obstacle course where you get to leap over fire pits, climb over walls, crawl through the mud under barb wire and a host of other fun adventures.  I like the excitement of trying something new and testing my body to see if I have what it takes and mostly competing against myself.

I love a good challenge and as most of you know I love anything new and exciting.  I was especially glad when Lisa (one of my favorite suppliers) brought in the new Gemline Fall/Holiday catalogs yesterday.  I am a technophile.  I love gadgets whether I know what to do with them or not (usually not but that's why I have a teenager to teach me).

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Gemline has a couple great new accessories for the tech-savvy professional to hold their tablets or e-readers.  I love the new Tablet Keyboard Stand.  I think this is going to be a great gift idea for the tech lover.  It can be used as a carrying case or presentation stand. It adjusts to three different positions to find best display angle.  The deluxe keyboard charges from computer and the bluetooth keyboard pairs with various tablet devices.

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On a slightly more basic level (but also more affordable) they have introduced the Deluxe Tablet Stand.  It has all the features of the Keyboard stand minus the keyboard.  This product will make a great tech gift for as little as $14.98.

Holiday Gifts in August?

Wow its August already.  Been a little negligent on the blog for the last couple weeks working on a couple big client events.  Can't believe we are into the last 5 months of the year already.  I just finished signing up for the 5k Warrior Dash Obstacle course in September and the "Run Like Hell" 10k in October both of which should keep me busy training for the next couple months.  After that it is holiday season.

Speaking of holiday season I just received my first batch of Holiday catalogs from one of my favorite suppliers Logomark.  Many of my clients like to get there holiday gift shopping done early so they have less to worry about the closer we get to December.  An extra added bonus some of these gifts are great for events and current promotions.  In fact Logomark currently has a number of their holiday products on a sale.

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Just in case anybody is wondering what to get me I've picked out a couple gifts that I wouldn't mind receiving. First is the Erasable Memo Pad and Solar Calculator.  I'm always looking to jot down a quick note someplace where I will see it and pretty much use a calculator all day long.  Tie it in with something catchy like "Take Note!"

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Those of you who know how much I love exercise will know that I recently started going to yoga along with my spin classes, running and bootcamp.  So the new Yoga Mat would make a great gift for any Spa or Fitness related program or gift.   Also perfect for wellness programs.

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Finally, maybe because it's August or maybe because I can't seem to find just the right temperature in my office I love the Chrome USB Oscillating Desk Fan.  Plug it in and prepare to be blown away (sorry couldn't resist the pun).

Best Way to Submit Art for Your Projects

Just finished up an incredible weekend of fun after the sun decided to come out here in Oregon.  I managed to pack in a couple concerts, a wedding and a friend's birthday party all into 2 days.  Since it was one of my bootcamp friends getting married we even managed to get a group photo with the bride and 5 of us other bootcampers doing a side plank across a bridge in formal wear.

Sometimes you are just glad to get back to work so you can rest a little bit.  However, now that I'm back I have several clients rush projects sitting on my desk this morning.  Several of those projects are going to require that I have my graphics department redo art that was provided.

Today I thought we would take a moment and talk about the best way to submit art to ensure your project flies right through production (especially if you are dealing with a quick turn date or need to waive a proof).

I get a lot of art files that we can't work. Jpegs are the worst as we can manipulate or resize them. Almost as hard to work with are bmp's (bitmap art very grainy), gifs, and png files.  All of these mean we have to convert and clean up art which takes time.

If you want to speed your order and project along without any additional costs or delays the best file you can provide your promotional products distributor is an Adobe Illustrator eps file in vector art with all fonts converted to outline.  The less anybody has to touch up your art the less likely there is to be a mistake.

Before You Throw in the Towel Autograph It.

My bootcamp instructor watched a Navy Seal training show on TV which inspired our class last night.  She had us run down the hill in teams of 2 holding an 8' divider over our heads and then do lunges all the way back up the  hill carrying the barrier.  Then for fun a little crab walking up the hill feet first to get the blood pumping. Anyway those were just two of the many exercises last night.  I won't even get into the pushups, burpees, mountain climbers, planks and running lines.  It was what I call a two towel night at the Y.

Speaking of towels when it comes to fitness towels, beach towels or golf towels there is only one towel manufacturer I use.  Towel Specialties has several unique products and exceptional customer service.  One of their products I like in particular is the Autograph Towel.  This towel is perfect for any event or fundraiser. It allows you collect the signatures of all the participants or donors and have them imprinted along with your logo on the towels.  To make the presentation of the gift even better take a look at the many packaging options provided by Towel Specialties.

Ready for S'More Great Promotions

It's summer time (not that you can tell right not here in Oregon thanks to the rain) and with that comes all the fun activities.  Camping, picnics and kayaking trips just to name a few fun things to do this summer.  I'm going on my first kayaking trip in a couple of weeks and I'm sure there will something to blog about after that adventure.

As most of you know I'm always looking for those promotional products that are unique or different.  Just in time for all those summer BBQ's and picnics Wildline has come out with the Reel Roaster a hand crank marshmallow and hot dog roaster.  I'm still working on the perfect slogan to go with it maybe "Reel in the savings" or maybe "A toast to you" (toasted marshmallows).  Oh well, I'll come up with something.  Anyway, this is a fun different product that with the right message and promotion could certainly raise eyebrows and awareness of your product or promotion.  Also, I'm suddenly really craving a good messy s'more.

Use it or Lose it!

I had my first 5A.M. spin class in two weeks this morning.  My trainer Katie has been gone two weeks competing for Team USA in the World Masters Race Walking Competition in Sacramento where she brought home the silver in the 5k, and gold in both the 10k and 20k.  A pretty impressive feat and one of the many reasons she is my trainer, friend and mentor.  This morning was difficult to get back into the swing of things and left me extra sore (and I still have two bootcamps with her this afternoon).

I think the lesson I take from this is that if you aren't constantly honing your skills and practicing them they will suffer from lack of use.  Even though I exercised several times in the last two weeks it wasn't at the same intensity as when I'm accountable to Katie.

Sales is the same way.  If you aren't constantly practicing your skills prospecting, getting referrals, closing sales you will suffer from the inactivity. Never stop practicing your skills and just like in exercise find someone who will hold you accountable to your goals and push you when you need it.

Performance Fabrics with Style

Since I've started doing 6 bootcamps, 2 spin classes and at least one long run a week I'm getting really used to sweating and laundry.  I really love the fabrics that wick away the moisture and dry fast.  Shirts that  have the antimicrobial feature and UV protection are even better.  Especially with the rising price of cotton new performance fabrics are becoming more readily available and priced competitively.

When I first got into the apparel business I couldn't wait for December and January for my suppliers to come out with their new styles for the next year.  Since then each year the new catalogs come out faster and faster.  One of my favorite apparel providers, Ash City, just launched their 2012 catalog effective August 1st.

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Today I thought we would look at a couple of their new performance fabric pieces.  I have a lot of clients who are tired of the same old solid polo's and want something with more flair and style.  The new Performance Polyester Pique color-block Polo provides the necessary performance with its moisture wicking, antimicrobial and UV resistance.  It is available in 5 different color choices and has a stylishly cut open placket ladies' companion piece.

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I am also a fan of their new North End Sport Polyester Pique Polo.  Available in 4 different color options this ladies piece comes with a johnny collar neckline, and a lot of contrast piping.  This will make an excellent tradeshow or event shirt with its comfort, functionality and fun color.  This shirt is also available in a men's companion piece.

Don't forget to check out all of the other new pieces at Ash City.

Sales Is All About Being Yourself

In 20 years of sales I've read a lot of sales books.  I've attended a lot of seminars, webinars and teleconferences.  For a little bit of money (or sometimes a whole lot) someone will share with you the secret of how to increase your sales, "close the deal", "find the client's pain" or empathize with the client.

20 years ago when I graduated from college with degrees in marketing, management and psychology I was ready to try my hand at anything with the exception of sales.  Sales is where I drew the line the one thing I wouldn't do.  Life is kind of funny that way most of the companies coming to interview on campus were hiring for sales positions.  The rest is history and now I'm sitting here with 20 years of sales experience under my belt.

Well what has 20 years of sales experience taught me?  I've narrowed it down to 5 tips that have certainly have helped me throughout my career.

1.  Be Yourself!  I've never had any success with trying to be anything other than who I am.  I think people value genuineness and honesty.

2.  Be picky!  Everyone I've talked to who deals with the public always talks about their nightmare client.  The one who complains about everything, doesn't pay their bills  and wastes hours of your time.  I'm going to let you in on a big secret.  You can choose your own clients.  You can even say no to someone.  Most of my clients I would consider good friends.  Many of them I've worked with for over 10 years.

3.  Customer Service is not optional! No joke here what can I say if you are not providing your clients with excellent customer service someone else will.  If you give more value than your clients expect or are used to only good things can happen.

4.  Integrity above all else!  I wish this just went without saying but sadly not everybody does business or lives their life with integrity.  Stand behind your product, your people and most importantly your word and you will seldom be disappointed in the results.

5.  Ask for referrals!  There are lots of ways you can build a book of business.  Cold calling (for those who enjoy it or don't), networking, direct mail and on and on.  However, the most successful way I have found is through the power of referrals. If you provide excellent value, service and integrity to your clients why wouldn't they want to share your name with their friends and associates?

Shuffle up and Deal!

I have loved playing poker ever since college.  I love watching the World Series of Poker and would really enjoy playing in it if it weren't for the $10,000 entry fee and my lousy poker faces. A poker tournament can be a great addition to any incentive trip or company meeting.

One client just recently held a sales incentive trip aboard a cruise ship and one of the events was a Texas Hold'em Poker tournament.  We made up clay poker chips from Beyond Manufacturing with the clients logo for their group and decks of poker cards from Liberty Playing Cards. The event was wildly successful and each participant received their own deck of cards and some of the poker chips to commemorate the game and trip.  Decks of cards can be printed in 4 color process for under $3.00/ deck and the chips can be printed for under $0.20 apiece.  Keep poker in mind for your next big meeting or corporate event.

Playing cards provide a huge imprint area for up to 4 color process art.  Another client was looking for a giveaway for their conference in Las Vegas and wanted to be able to include the event logo as well as the sponsor's logo.  The resulting product is something people will keep and use.

If it Squeaks or Moves

Every once in awhile a great promotional product comes along that really excites me.  I've already talked about this once but now that I have samples in my office I like it even more.  As a man there are two items I always have in my garage and in my car.  They are duct tape and WD-40.

If it squeaks it get's WD-40 and if  it moves and shouldn't it gets duct tape.  Seriously, they are the answers to at least 75% of the world's problems.  Both have been around for a very long time so why I am I so excited?

Natural Trends one of my favorite suppliers of lotions and sanitizers now has two different products: the mini fix-all kit and the Ultimate Fix-All kit that both combine duct tape, WD-40 and your logo.  I can't imagine two better products to associate with your logo or that will be better received by your clients and prospects.

Why Print Your Calendars in July?

What a great 4 day weekend!  Ran my first 5 mile run took my first Pilates class and cooked for a big 4th of July party yesterday.  The Pilates class taught me once again that I'm not very flexible.  We won't go into graphic detail about what the instructor made me do to my body but let's just say I'll be feeling it for days.  That may be lesson we can all derive from Pilates that we should learn to be a little more flexible in life.

It's actually nice to be back in the office today where I can rest up a little.  It seems life is just always so busy what with meetings, appointments, sports and classes.  If you have kids the list grows exponentially.  That's why today I thought we would take a moment and talk about calendars.  Calendar's in July you have got to be nuts!! (I am but that's a whole other story!)

In my opinion calendars remain one of the best promotional products you can provide to a client.  I know some of you might be thinking who uses calendars now with everything stored in i-Phones or Droids?  The answer---- lots of us!  I have one calendar on the fridge where my daughter keeps her schedule for her two jobs and her first term of college classes.  This way dad knows when he has to provide dinner or might be able to work a minute or two into her busy social calendar.  I have another calendar on the wall where I keep track of all of the bootcamps, spin classes, runs, yoga and anything else workout related.  Another one is on my office wall to track client deadlines and another is on my desk so I can work backwards to figure out if we can meet the rush requests of many of our clients.

Here's the secret though.  The first few people who get me calendars are usually the ones I keep.  Why else should you order calendars in the summer?  Many suppliers offer discounts for placing your orders early.  They would love to work on your project before the rush season gets under way.

I use two companies Norwood and PCA  for all my clients calendar needs.  They have both done amazing jobs for me and my clients and they offer tons of ideas to make the calendars more successful.  Over the years I have learned a few tips to make calendars more successful and be sure they get placed where you clients will see them every day.

1.  Don't start with January.  Perhaps do a 16 month calendar and start with September.  This will ensure your client gets your calendar up on the wall first.

2.  Coop the cost of the calendar.  Want to do calendars but don't want to pay for them all by yourself.  Go to a few of your bigger suppliers and sell them advertising space on your calendar.  I have several clients who have never paid for the cost of the marketing benefits they reap.

3. Make sure it is visually appealing.  The calendar manufacturer's have great stock art or you can use custom shots of your products, facilities or people.  Just make sure that the finished product is something people will want to put on their wall.  A puppy calendar seldom gets thrown away but a calendar showing the different stages of infection might.  Just be sure to tailor it to your audience.

Reaching Your Goals

After finishing up my bootcamp last night at the Y I jumped on the scale (never one of my favorite things to do for fun).  Much to my joy I was down another 5 pounds this week bringing my total weight loss to 44 lbs. since I started doing all the bootcamps, spin, yoga and running.  I love the sense of accomplishment when I start to feel that I'm reaching the goals I've set.  What I really want is to figure out what is working and translate that to all the other areas of my life.  Each year I set goals in all of the following areas: career, financial, personal development, social, physical and family.  If I'm honest with myself I find that focusing too much energy on one area causes something to suffer in another.  It's very much like spinning plates you have to keep running around spinning them again.  However, there are some things that can really aid you in achieving your goals.

1.  Choose the right Mentor.  When it comes to my physical fitness goals I have Katie.  Katie is an incredible coach.  She is the fittest woman I know.  She is a world class speed walker and extraordinary athlete.  I know that if I slack off in my training or binge on junk food I have to answer to Katie. I find that I really don't want to disappoint her or as a result myself.  She is there when I need someone to tell me to quit whining and get my butt in gear.  She's there when I think I can't lift one more rep but she knows I can. She's there to ask the hard questions like "Do you want to be a loser forever"?  "Did you forget to put on your big girl panties? (As a man that's enough to get me to do at least an extra 20 sets right there.)  She has a heart of gold and is there to be the first one to congratulate you when you succeed.  It's important to find your Katie in every aspect of your life.

2.  Build a team.  I don't care if your goal is to run a marathon, get out of debt or sell that million dollar account you've been working on.  If you want to be successful you have to have a good team around you.  Again, I have been blessed in the fitness arena to be surrounded by a team of friends who help me reach my goals.  They are there to encourage me when I need to be lifted up. They are there to challenge me when I need to be motivated and they are there to celebrate with me when I have an accomplishment.  Recently while running my first 4 mile run they all held back and encouraged me even though they all could have run much faster and been back home enjoying a cold tasty beverage before I finished.  I wouldn't trade these friends for the world and will be there for them whenever they need me.  I have another team at the office who I would entrust any of my clients with because I know they have my back and are the best at what they do.  Develop your team for each area of your life.

3.  Reward Yourself.  I try to always have rewards set up for when I accomplish a goal.  They might be something very simple like a massage after finishing a race or a beach vacation after losing 20 lbs.  It doesn't have to be big or expensive but enough to reward you and encourage you to strive and achieve your goals.

4.  Raise the bar.  Don't be satisfied once you achieve a goal.  You need to raise the bar and set new goals something that will be difficult but possible.  Now that I've completed a couple 5k's I've set a goal to finish a 10k.  Each week I'm adding a half mile to my run.  A great teacher once told me "When you are green you grow, when you are ripe you rot".  I've always taken this to mean you must constantly strive to be better and to enjoy the journey along the way.

Sales and Clearance Lists Provide Great Bang for Your Buck

Everybody likes a good deal.  Coupons, discount websites and sales have a way of enticing people to buy what they might otherwise put off.  My clients are no different they want to know they have gotten a good deal.  They want to be able to purchase the greatest amount of marketing bang for their promotional dollar.

One way to save some money is too look for manufacturer's specials.  The maker's of promotional products have sales just like anyone else.  By planning your promotions ahead of time and buying products when on sale you can often get 25-30% off, a two for one specials or any host of great product savings.

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One of my favorite ways to get clients great deals is to purchase discontinued items.  A huge warning note thought some things are discontinued for a reason.  However, companies like Leeds regularly update new products and have a special spot on their website for clearance items. What are the advantages of clearance items?  In the case of Leeds regardless of what the catalog minimums are normally with clearance items you can order as few as 12 pieces with decoration. Prices are discounted anywhere from 10 to 90% as shown on the site.  You can also click on the inventory button to make sure they have enough stock for your needs.
For example the Quest Aluminum Water Bottle to the right is marked down 41% to $3.98 (a great price for an aluminum water bottle).  I typed in 500 under requested quantity and it says they have enough to cover my order.

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Another example is the High Sierra Backbeat Compu Messenger Bag that is available for $29.98 which is 80% off the original price.  Take a few minutes to look at all the great deals to be had.

Countermats and other POP

Finished a 5k twilight run this weekend for the Hot Air Balloon Festival.  Not sure what was more amazing the fact that I am getting faster or that I am actually starting to enjoy running.  Either way it was as great event and very well managed.  I really like the free swag that comes with the race.  I received a very nice Nike drifit shirt, free samples of food bars and energy drinks, coupons etc.  There were signage and sponsorship messages everywhere.

Today I thought we would talk just a little bit about POP (point of purchase materials).  What better way to get your name or retail brand out there than through the strategic use of POP.  I work with a lot of clients who sell through dealer networks so we are constantly looking for the best ways to advertise my client's products in the dealer's shops.  One of the most effective products is counter mats.  I like to use Digispec for all my domestic countermats.  Digispec has always come through for me when I need a quality piece with full color and have a tight timeline (which is most of the time).  Overseas production can be another way to get countermats done economically if you have the time.

Stay tuned over the next few week and we will have more on POP including signage, tents, flags and even blimps.

The Perfect Summer Accessory

Summer is certainly one of my favorite times of year.  The perfect weather for picnics, outdoor concerts, wine tastings, maybe even a little canoodling given the right romantic moment.  What is the perfect promotional gift to go with all of the above?  If you guessed a nice quality blanket or throw then you are absolutely correct.

If you are going to give out a nice blanket or throw then there is only one supplier I recommend and that is Kanata.  There are 2 reasons this is the only blanket manufacturer I recommend. First no one can touch their quality.  The second is their packaging.  If you know me at all you know it's all about the packaging.

Explorer

The Explorer is a water resistant polyester picnic blanket with the Kanata high performance fleece interior with a molded rubber carrying handle.  These blankets can be embellished with embroidery, patches, lasering on the fleece or screen printing on the exterior.

ECO Fleece Sport/Travel Blanket

I am also a huge fan of the Sport/Travel Blanket in Eco Fleece.  This functional and versatile pillow/blanket combo comes with a zippered carrying case in Eco fleece with carry handle and micro cord trim.  It is soft, luxurious and with your logo on it will look absolutely gorgeous.  With minimums as low as 12 pieces everyone will love the thought behind this gift.

antique wood suitcase box

As I mentioned, packaging is everything and Kanata does not disapoint in this regard. They have a variety of packaging available like the beautiful antique wood suitcase box or the sea grass basket both shown below.  (By the way all of our employees received a beautiful throw from Kanata for Christmas packaged in the seagrass basket and the basket was every bit as well received as the blanket.)  Take a moment to check out all of Kanata's products including their spa and thank you gifts.

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Managing Your Task List Without Losing Your Sanity

Sitting at my desk this morning looking at what literally appears to be at least 100 tasks that need to get accomplished today.  My first urge is run out the door and go play in the sun while we are experiencing this great 80 degree weather.  Of course that's the little kids voice in my head the adult voice is telling me to buckle down and get the work done and then I can play. (Keep in mind those are only two of the voices in my head I'll introduce you to some of the others as you get to know me better.)

We all get busy and have times when life and works is hectic, chaotic and just downright stressful.  When I have to buckle down and get a lot accomplished I have a process I go through that I thought I would share with you.

1.  Organize your work.  If you come into the office and start on whatever presents itself first you will never get caught up you'll just live your life moving from one emergency to the next (and usually they aren't even your emergencies there someone else's).  I like to lay out my daily roadmap the night  before. I sit down and lay out the most critical tasks what I have to get done, what I'd like to get down and what really doesn't need to get done right away.  I always pick 6 tasks that I expect to get done the next day so that at least if I accomplish those things I feel like the day has been a success.  Honestly some days only 1 or 2 might get finished but I've learned to cope.

2.  Delegate.  I can't say this enough.  I use to think if it didn't get done by me then it wouldn't get done right.  As your workload and business grow there comes a point when you have to learn to let go and hand projects off to others (of course that doesn't mean you don't still monitor what's going on).  When you have a team in place like I do you can accomplish so much more than you can as one person.

3.   Close the door.  When I buckle down and need to get a lot accomplished I shut the door to my office.  Otherwise I will get bombarded with a dozen distractions (sports updates, what celebrity couple just broke up, and well you get the idea).  I like to turn on some background music to motivate me.  I have a playlist for brainstorming, busy work, and even my "chilax music" when I need a break.

4.  Take breaks.  I find there is no quicker way to burn out than to work non-stop on never ending projects so I like to mix it up.  Take a break between projects. Get up go for a walk around the building.  Go grab a cup of coffee.  

5.  Reward yourself when you accomplish the tasks.  I love to turn things into a game (and also to challenge myself).  I like to set little rewards.  If I get the first 3 things accomplished before lunch maybe a treat.  All 6 things by 3 then maybe it's time to cut out early.

It's Finally Summer Time to Protect Your Skin

Today is already the first off official day of summer.  Coincidentally, it also supposed to get up in the 80's here in Portland for the first time this year.  Bring it on we are so ready to put the rainy season behind us and enjoy Oregon's brief love affair with the sun.

Today I'm focusing on Aloe Up, one of my favorite suppliers of sunscreen and skin care products.  I love the fact that they will create custom packages of whichever products I want them to kit together.  They have come out with a complete line of environmentally friendly called the Jute Collection.  Jute is one of the most environmentally friendly packaging options available today.  

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The small jute bag includes a 2oz spa SPF 30 and Aloe Vera Gel 2oz plus a spa/exercise towel that measures 11 x 20.  Great for spa gifts, pillow drops, cruises and outdoor events. Small Jute bags come in Green and Khaki.  Cost includes one color custom imprinted logo or message. 

I really like the fact that you can choose what items to include in the bags and mix and match.

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The clear front Jute is always a great looking packaging option and includes Serious SPF 30 4oz sunscreen, Serious SPF 15 4oz sunscreen, SPF 15 lip balm and an exercise/spa towel 8" x 26".

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Finally, not being an expert on lotions and potions myself I am told by the ever knowledgeable customer service ladies in my office that Burt's Bees products are some of the best on the planet.  Aloe up has an extensive grouping of Burt's Bee's items.  I really like the Everything kit Jute Envelope which includes soap bark, chamomile deep cleaning cream, hand salve, fresh peppermint and rosemary body wash, coconut foot cream and beeswax lip balm.  All included in a very attractive jute envelope with clear window.

If You're Going to Pack Around Extra Baggage at Least Make it Stylish.

It seems like I'm always grabbing things throwing them in a bag and running out the door.  It could be my gym bag as I head out to exercise, my computer backpack for office or a sample pack as I head out to see clients.  One way or another bags have become an integral part of my life.  I guess I am packing around some extra baggage.

I was glad that my supplier High Sierra stopped in to show me their latest and greatest products this last week.  Long known for their name in the retail and hiking markets as a maker of quality bag products I thought we would take a few minutes today and focus on a couple of the High Sierra products.

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Speaking of gym bags I like the Switch Blade 22" duffel.  This bag is perfect if you are like me and take multiple classes at the gym. There is wet pocket to throw the sweaty shirt and towel.  A mesh pocket is included  for my extra water bottle as I usually pack at least two. It has a pocket for my weight gloves and elbow brace as well as well as an elastic shock cord and monster hook so I can attach my yoga mat if I'm feeling like getting in a more zen mood. One thing to note about High Sierra's product is that not only do they come in the standard red, black and blue colors you see prevalent in the promotional products industry but also the retail fashion colors and even plaids more prevalent in retail (and yes plaid is back).

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Since I spend a lot of time travelling with my laptop and a host of other business gear I like a good quality computer backpack that can take a lot of wear and tear.  It needs to have wheels and an extendable handle as well as being able to be carried like a backpack.  The  Powerglide  is the perfect bag for my needs.  It is able to hold up to a 17" computer with a padded sleeve, headphone port, corner guards and kick plate to protect from abrasion and a host of other features.

24" Pack-N-Go Duffel

Finally I want to take a look at the 24" Pack-N-Go duffel  which is a unique piece with 2 in 1 functionality. It's a regular duffel bag that folds away into a toiletry bag.  The storage pouch turns into a toiletry bag when the duffel is removed. These come in some very nice color choices. Don't forget to check out the complete High Sierra line.

Healthy Employees are More Productive Employees

I love the creative part of marketing.  Brainstorming to come up with ideas and strategies that are new and unique.  I would love to hire my bootcamp instructor as our chief marketing officer as I have yet to meet anyone who can create such awe inspiring tortures with as much creativity as she does.

Last night we had 8 people in class each person lined up in front of a medicine ball ranging from 2-20 pounds.  We each had to do a 30 second plank on the ball then pick it up run across the gym then carry it as we ran up and down the stairs, outside up and down the hill.  Then we had to repeat the process until we had done all 8 of the balls.  Really who thinks these kinds of things up?

Well today since I still have fitness on the brain I thought we would look at some great fitness products for those on the go.  Many companies today are offering wellness programs. What better way to show your employees you care about them than by providing a gift to aid them in their pursuit of health and fitness.

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I like several of the products from Gemline another supplier I have used for years. Wellness products don't have to be expensive or complicated.  For instance, the Motivations Wellness Kit includes a BPA free water bottle, pedometer, fitness journal and carabineer featuring 3 "get healthy" tip cards packaged in a nice storage bag for as little as $7.98.

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For just a little more money you can get the Travel Fitness Kit which includes resistance band with molded handle grips, jump rope, and pedometer.  Perfect for the on the go traveler that still wants to get a little exercise wherever they are at.  This set is also packaged in a very attractive cinch bag.

Avoid those Late Night Work Related Panic Attacks

This hardly ever happens to me anymore but last night I woke up at midnight thinking about several projects I was working on at the office.  Some were tight deadlines some were large dollar orders being produced overseas.  I literally had a brief panic attack worrying about what might go wrong with the projects.  I don't know if any of you have faced this type of panic attack but once the brain gets going it's pretty hard to shut it off.

I used to get stressed out by things I really couldn't control but over the years I have learned how to turn off work when I leave the office.  Today I want to share a few ideas for avoiding those work related panic attacks after a busy day.

1.  Exercise.  Since I started working out every week night I seldom lay awake thinking about things.  Something about exhausting the bodies seems to help the mind sleep as well.  Usually I lay my head on the pillow and 10 minutes later I'm slumbering away.

2.  Read for a few minutes.  I just finished a great book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall which I highly recommend to anyone who likes running.  I've noticed a few minutes of reading right before bed usually lulls my brain into a sense of calm.  Another book I highly recommend is Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living".  This is a great must read for anyone who worries too much.  I can't recommend it enough.

3.  Avoid the computer and smart phone right before bed.  I was just reading an article talking about how the glare of the screen can affect your ability to sleep.  By no means read your work email before bed time.  The last thing you need is to see something in an email late at night that you can't do anything about before tomorrow except worry.

4.  Plan your project list before you go home.  I try to always take the last few minutes of the work day to plan out my morning schedule.  What are the 6 most important things for me to get down when I get into the office?  The better task list you keep and the better you structure your day the less important things slip through the cracks and the less you'll have to worry about when it comes time to go to sleep.

As I can attest to last night no system is perfect but at least these steps tend to help me avoid panicking about work most of the time.

It's BBQ Season!

My daughter turned 18 yesterday, truly a milestone, and I'm just amazed at how fast time flies by.  We had a great barbecue for her and all her friends which now has me in the summer mood.

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Today I thought we'd look at some great summer BBQ products.  Living in Oregon has its advantages and disadvantages.  One of the disadvantages is that even in the middle of June you can have overcast blustery days. If you've ever tried to light birthday candles during wind gusts you'll know what I mean.  Leeds (always one of my first go to suppliers) offers a complete line of igniters sure to get any BBQ or candle lit up.  The Zippo MPL is a great product with refillable butane tank and advanced soft touch ignition system.

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Once you get the fire blazing and the mesquite charcoal burned down to coals it's time to get some food going.  What better way to grill up some outdoor masterpieces than with Leeds Grill Master Set.  Great for a summer time gift with purchase this 12 piece set includes spatula, tongs, knife, fork, four skewers and four corn holders all in a classy aluminum case and one piece gift box.

Don't forget to check out Leeds complete line of Outdoor Living Products.

New Technology Products

As most of you know I love techie products.  I might have to have my daughter show me how to use half of them but I still love them.  More than once I've considered rigging up some kind of Batman Utility belt just to hold all my toys I need on a daily basis.

Today I thought we would look at a few techie gifts that are available.  One of my favorite suppliers for many years has been Sweda.  My absolute favorite product of theirs is the USB People.  Not only are they a great USB drive to store your important data but they can be customized so you can choose their clothing and hair styles, facial features etc.  We did an order of these last year for a clients; trip to Japan. One of the gifts everyone received was a digital picture frame.  We wanted to give them an easy way to store their pictures and easily upload them to the frames so we custom designed a USB person that looked like a Geisha girl.  They were a huge hit at the event.

While I love techie things I am horrible at remembering to charge them.  I can't tell you how many times I've headed out for a run with my iPod only to have it die 2 blocks into the run.  Then I'm left with just the voices in my head to entertain me.  Sweda has just introduced the Beam External Power Bank which holds enough juice to charge up your i-Phone, iPad or other 1amp electronics.  It will hold up to 800 charges and has an LED indicator to let you know how much charge is left.  This will make a great speaker gift or executive giveaway.  I know I'm going to order in a sample for the next time I need a quick charge.

Finally I like the new Cookie Presenter from Sweda as well. This lightweight circular laser pointer with remote control is great for PowerPoint presentations using infrared transmission.  It comes in a gray velvet pouch and again would make an excellent speakers gift.

Face Your Fears

I just found out that next Friday I get to go do a tree-to-tree aerial adventure program.  Rope courses, zip-lines and aerial obstacles oh my!!  I have a healthy respect for heights and a natural aversion to rapid descent from extreme heights (falling).  This will be a big challenge for me and an opportunity to face some fears.  I've faced a lot of them over the last 9 months since starting the whole bootcamp exercise program.

Today I thought we would look at a few steps to translate your fears into successes.

1.  Identify your fear.  What's holding you back?  Are you afraid to pick up the phone and make that cold call?  Are you afraid to tell the client no because you might lose the business?  Are you afraid to tell your boss that you think his new idea is wrong for the company? Are you afraid of big hairy spiders (okay that one is really justified)?  A nameless fear is the worst because we have a sense of dread and aren't really even sure why.  By giving a name to our fear we can begin to combat it.

2.  Have a support team.  In all of the new things I've tried this last year and all the fears I've faced I haven't had to do it alone.  I have a great support group of friends in the trenches with me who lift each other up when we fall (literally and figuratively).  I know they have my back and they know I have theirs.  Gather your team who will motivate you, cheer you on and when needed give you that good solid kick in the behind that you need.

3.  Break it down into smaller parts.  My trainer always tells me to remember "It's a marathon not a sprint!"  When she first told me to roll up on an exercise ball balancing on my knees while doing bicep curls with weights I just looked at her like she was nuts.  Balance and I have not always been the best of friends.  I was afraid I'd bounce head first into the nearest piece of equipment.  Breaking it down into pieces helped.  First just practice getting on the ball without weights.  Once you've mastered that piece now do it while holding the weights.  Once you've mastered that begin to do curls.  It took me awhile but I own that ball now.

4.  Set a reward.  I like to believe that I can do things just for the intrinsic satisfaction but it just doesn't always work.  I love to set goals.  Having been in sales for the last 20 years the biggest fear I see among sales people is the dreaded cold call.  Somehow the mere act of picking up the phone and calling someone you don't know and possibly hearing that person tell you no mortifies many sales people.  Early on I learned to turn it into a game.  I'd give different points for different type of activities and try to score as many points as possible.  If I did it then I got a reward.  Recently when I ran my first 5k I rewarded myself with a massage.  It doesn't have to big just enough to help spur you across your own finish line.

5.  Go for it!  The longer you think about the doing something the harder it is to jump.  I have a feeling that standing in the top of a tree and getting ready to let go and trust the zipline to carry me down would terrify me if I dwelt on it too long.  Very few things are ever as bad as our minds would have us believe.  I don't think anyone ever died from public speaking yet people fear it more than death.  Tune back in after next Friday for an update on the results of the Tree Challenge!

Duct Tape and WD-40 Together at Last

I figured since I woke up wide awake at 4 AM this morning I might as well go ahead and get some work done.  I started wading through 742 supplier specials emails (insider tip many of them are not all that special).  However, as a kid many years ago growing up my dad, who was a carpenter, taught me that there are two products that will stand the test of time: duct tape and WD 40. Therefore, imagine how excited I was to see the two products kitted together.

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Natural Trends a great supplier of personal healthcare related items like hand sanitizer's, lip balms and lotions has come out with two incredible promotional products.  First is the Ultimate Fix-All Kit which includes a 3 oz. can of WD 40 and a 5 yd. roll of Duct Tape. As there saying goes "If it moves and it shouldn't use "Duct Tape!  If it doesn't move and it should use WD-40!"  I am positive this is one product that will be used, appreciated and remembered.

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The second product is the Mini Fix-All Kit which comes with the WD-40 no-mess pen along with 3 strips of Duct Tape.  This size is perfect as a tradeshow giveaway and is available for as little as $3.29.  I've already ordered in several samples today and am pretty confident this will be one of the biggest moving products of the year.

Chunky Magnets for Multiple Products, Divisions and Messages

I am always looking for a new promotional item that will be used and constantly seen by the recipient instead of being given to their kids or tossed in the back of a drawer somewhere or worse yet tossed in the round filing cabinet.

Today I like to share with you one of my favorite products from Pinnacle Designs.  The Chunky Magnets are the perfect giveaway for tradeshows, meetings and events. With your choice of a 3, 5 or 10 piece set these magnets are the perfect medium for anyone with multiple divisions, products, or messages to get across.

We recently did a set of these for one of our clients Global Sales Meetings.  There was one magnet for each of their four main divisions and the large magnet was used to commemorate the meeting.  One magnet along with case was given out at each of the five breakout meetings so they could collect the whole set.  This product meets all my criteria of usefulness, attractiveness and affordability.  The three piece set is available for as low as $4.20 and the 10 piece set for as low as $7.80.

Birthday Recognition for your Clients

I started my 44th birthday off today with a 5AM spin class.  Nothing says Happy Birthday like a wiry spin instructor telling you to "pedal faster if you don't want to be a loser", before the sun is even up.

Birthdays are a great opportunity to recognize clients and employees and if you know me at all you know how much I believe in recognition.  Recognition is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to reward those with whom you come in contact.  I recently read an article that stated that lack of recognition is one of the leading reasons employees leave a company.  That always amazes me when saying thank you or good job is such an easy thing to do.

One of the first birthday promotions I did for my clients was with a company that provided a Happy Birthday muffin tin with a fresh blueberry muffin it.  I would send the manufacturer my business cards and a list of the month's birthdays and they would package, ship and make sure they arrived to each of my clients on their birthday.  Maybe because I just cycled for an hour a muffin sounds really good right now.

Promo Joes is a company I love for providing clients with birthday gift baskets.  Their birthday muffin basket is the perfect gift with a variety of scrumptious muffins and even a small plush birthday bear.

Recognition for birthday's or other events doesn't need to be expensive.  I've been in the promotional business for almost 14 years and by now you'd think I would never want to see another pen in my life.  However, I was just given this pen with my name on it.  If there is one thing that never goes out of style it's seeing your own name in print.  With a gift like this you can have them all done up for 6 months or a year and send them out as needed.  This is one gift nobody is going to throw away.

Promote Yourself at the Beach

It's a celebration day the sun has been spotted in Oregon and it's supposed to be nice and warm all weekend.  What better to do than promote some sun related products.

Give me a warm day and I immediately start thinking about beaches, cold drinks and warm sand.  One of my all all-time favorite promotional products are the talking sandals from NeetFeet.  What better way for a client to leave their mark in the sand than by wearing these sandals with their logo cut into the bottom.  I have used these for clients President's club trips, sales meetings and many other fun related promotions.  I've always gotten back great feedback from all the clients who have used them.

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I can remember when I was a kid my friends and I laying out in the sun covered with Coppertone or baby oil trying to get as brown as we could in the sun.  Times have changed a little and now we try to avoid the harmful effects of the sun as much as possible.  I like the fact that a lot of the new performance fabrics in addition to moisture wicking and antimicrobial elements also have a UV protection.  I really like the Nike Dri-fit polos from Sanmar.  Available in 10 different colors it feature UV fabric with a 30 UPF protection.

Finally no day at the beach can be complete without the perfect beach towel.  I love the tone on tone beach towels form Towel Specialties. We recently used these for a client event in Las Vegas recreating the Welcome to Vegas sign and the clients' logo into a full tone on tone towel print with a sort of antique finish.  They were a huge hit with all the attendees.

Eco-Friendly Promotional Ideas

I always try to give the audience what they want.  Yesterday I received my first blog comment asking for more ideas on eco-friendly products.  Today we are going to look at a couple of suppliers who I think have done a great job putting together collections of eco-friendly products.

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I've been working on my cooking skills and made a couple great dishes this last week including blackberry sauced pork chops with spicy carrot fries and chicken stuffed with toasted walnuts, apples, sauteed onions and brie with roasted asparagus.  Most people know I love any promotions that involve giving away logoed merchandise that can be used in the kitchen.  I especially like the bamboo utensils from Starline.  Your logo can be applied tastefully on the packaging and don't worry nobody will forget where they got these great tools.  They also have bamboo carving sets, cheese sets, cutting boards, bbq sets and a host of other bamboo products.  Take a look at their complete line of eco-friendly products.

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For something more in the under $5 category I like the H20 Conservation Kit also from Starline that comes with a 150ml drip counter, ABS aerorater, shower timer, energy saving tip book and a box that can also be used for battery disposal.  These are available at an affordable price of $4.99.  

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Paper or plastic is always a perplexing question to me.  I know the best answer is to bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store but someone the bags and I often don't arrive at the grocery store at the same time and I seem to accumulate several of the plastic bags at home.  That's why I like the bag recycler from Norwood. With this handy bag holder I don't end up opening the cabinet under my sink and watching as a giant tumbleweed of plastic bags cascades out and over the floor.  This product is available for as low as $3.09.  You can check out all of Norwoods eco-friendly products.

If you have things you would like to see more about on this blog don't hesitate to email me.