This happening before the pandemic might have felt like the end of the world if a child or husband walked into the room or interrupted my presentation.

Two years later, we don’t even notice when their cat crawls up their back or a child interrupts because they are hungry or thirsty. I’m able to see into their homes and offices – what kind of sports they follow, what kind of art there is and it all just seems so much more personal. I have so loved these moments.

It was also pretty hilarious as people were learning to use Zoom. How many times have you yelled “turn on your microphone” or you can only see the top of their head. My 26 year old daughter, who was quarantined with us, was constantly rolling her eyes bursting into the room yelling “TECH SUPPORT to the rescue!”

Despite all this, most of us were able to find the beauty in continuing our relationships remotely. I think because of the pandemic we are more open and vulnerable and had to let go of the small stuff, like worrying about the little things.

I’m ready for some serious outdoor time now that it is getting warmer, but I feel like I have grown closer to our clients and that I will always cherish.

It’s no secret that promotional products can be a highly effective addition to your existing marketing strategy. When used correctly, promotional products have the ability to increase brand awareness and keep you in front of your prospects for when they plan to use your products or service. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when buying promotional products:

Waiting until the last minute
There are many promotional product companies that can handle rush orders with little to no problem, but waiting until the last minute costs more and it will give you less time to fix mistakes, should they arise. Supply chain issues have been discussed in all industries.  One of the hardest hit industry is Promo. If you know that you’re going to need promotional products for an event, make sure you give yourself enough lead time between your purchase and the event. If you need a timeline for your specific project, reach out, Kirkwood can help. 

The items aren’t tailored to your audience
One of the most common mistakes businesses make when buying promotional products is selecting a product that you like rather than one your audience will like. Rather than choosing items that appeal to you, try to pick items that your audience will enjoy and appreciate.

A common promotional item is koozies, and while they’re great for many businesses, they’re not right for everyone. If you’re an office supply store, a healthcare provider or a company that’s geared towards children, koozies may not be the right promotional item to throw into your marketing mix. On the other hand, if you’re a craft brewery, koozies would be more appropriate.  With thousands of products, Kirkwood can help, pair down your choices, based on your audience.

Too much or too little information
When was the last time you saw a pen that tried to cram too much information on it or a white mouse pad with only a logo? This is a common mistake that businesses make,  putting too much or too little information on their promotional items. It’s fairly common for businesses to pass out promotional products with nothing more than a logo. At the very least, give people a way to reach you – whether that’s a phone number, email address or website URL. 

Don't chose your product, based just on the price
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s easy to just buy the cheapest items you can find. However, when you have less money to spend, you should focus on quality instead of quantity. Don’t compromise your brand’s image with a cheaper version of a more expensive item. For example, if you have $5.00 to spend on each promotional item, you should buy the highest quality item you can buy for $5.00 rather than buying a cheaper version of the item so you can save money.
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When ordering your promotional items, don’t rush through the planning stages. Take time to find the right items for your audience, order far enough in advance and don’t dismiss an item simply because it’s more expensive.

At Kirkwood, we have an onsite showroom with thousands of products you can review. Finding the perfect promotional product sometimes happens when you actually can ho0ld the piece, verses seeing it in a PDF.  Reach out should you require help marketing@kirkwoodus.com. 

Pantone is directing its users to download Pantone Connect, an app that's available via the 
Adobe Extension Marketplace for use in Adobe Creative Suite, App Store® (iOS) and Google Play® (Android) for your smartphone, and as a web application for your web browser.

Pantone Connect provides access to more than 15,000 colors on the free version.  The premium, paid version includes more colors and additional features, such as accessibility support and collaboration tools. 

The jury is still out on how bumpy this change in workflow will be for both designers and printers, but will definitely mean an added cost for those who want to continue accessing the full gamut of Pantone colors within Adobe products.  At the time of this writing, the app costs $7.99/month or $59.99/year.  ​https://www.pantone.com/connect/pricing

Benefits Using a Metal Bottle
​Metal drinking bottles are becoming increasingly popular. They are made primarily of stainless steel or aluminum and are durable, retaining less odor and taste from preceding contents than most plastic bottles. 

Drinking bottles made of metal (especially steel) are heavier than those made of plastic. Cold liquids will stay cold, and hot liquids stay hot in double-walled metal bottles with an external surface that is neither too hot nor too cold. Double-walled bottles are more expensive because they contain more metal. They’re usually vacuum-sealed, but some have solid or gel insulation between the metal walls.

1. They are more environmentally friendly
Every second, 1,500 single-use plastic water bottles are consumed in the United States alone. This generates a lot of waste, especially since 80% of plastic bottles are never recycled. Every year, over 38 million plastic bottles end up in landfills across the United States.  These figures are alarming, but the good news is that many people are switching to stainless steel water bottles as a more environmentally friendly option. This is a significant advantage because the more people who use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic bottles, the fewer plastic bottles will end up in landfills each year.

2. Free of Harmful Chemicals
Boston University School of Public Health, co-authored a study showing a clear link between BPA and reproductive problems, BPA is still found in many plastic bottles, including disposable and reusable water bottles. Nearly all plastic bottles leak other endocrine-disrupting chemicals after sitting for a long time or being exposed to heat. It’s really disgusting!

3. Keep mold and other bacteria in check
Apart from the fact that stainless steel water bottles are chemical-free, they are also resistant to rust, corrosion, and staining. They don’t give room for mold and bacteria to hide if they’re well-designed. Like this one HERE. Disinfect your stainless steel water bottle regularly to keep it clean by washing it in a dishwasher.

4. Stainless Steel Containers are durable
You know how flimsy a plastic water bottle can be. Some plastic water bottles are designed to be used only once and tossed away. Others are designed to be reused several times. Stainless steel bottles are perfect for almost any environment. Stainless steel water bottles are the bottles of choice for many athletes and adventurers due to their versatility and durability.

5. Ability to keep your drinking water cold or hot
One of the most significant advantages of metal drinking bottles over plastic and glass containers is that they can keep your beverages hot or cold for longer. Stainless steel bottles can help you wave goodbye to lukewarm coffee and too-warm lemon water by ensuring your beverages stay hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours.

Metal drinking bottles are a great alternative to plastic water bottles because they are environmentally friendly, durable, safe, and easy to clean. Special caps, cool colors, carrying straps, spouts, handles, clips, and unique shapes are among the many desirable features available on the steel. If you want, you can order branded bottles from the Kirkwood Promotional Department (minimums may apply) personalized bottles here.