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I recently attended a holiday kickoff event hosted by one of our vendors, InTandem Promotions, a promotional products distributer. Held at SweetWater Brewing Company, the event showcased some of InTandem’s top manufacturers for branded items. Let me start off by saying that this was one impressive event! InTandem thought of everything and delivered an effective brand experience, creating powerful interactions between the companies involved and their attending demographics. They also did an amazing job blending their company’s branding with SweetWater’s — a hippie vibe, complete with tie-dye and an emphasis on nature, specifically fishing. When I arrived at the event, I was greeted by InTandem staff members dressed in gray tie-dye shirts with their signature teal logo on the front, and given a lanyard — a bright, tie-dyed piece showing the vendor’s logo — with my name badge attached. Right off the bat, InTandem made sure to personalize their attendees’ experience while making them feel welcome and appreciated, using their brand to effectively create a lasting emotional connection to their company. As I moved through the event, I was given a pint glass that was co-branded with the brewery and the vendor’s logos (brilliant!) and a branded water bottle. But it didn’t stop there. To make sure each attendee left on a positive, memorable note, we received cool parting gifts: An insulated cooler bag A stainless steel beverage holder (multi-purpose that can hold liquid, a can, or a bottle!) A great ball cap with the brewery’s signature tie-dye look on the inside of the bill (check out this stylish item in my profile photo below!) A bottle opener A stress toy in the shape of the fish in SweetWater’s logo   InTandem OWNED that event with their products, attention to location and detail, and customer service — in other words, their brand. Even if some attendees didn’t want all that swag, they were still a part of the experience. So, how does this apply to you? Say you’re hosting a wine event at a restaurant, a winery, or your office. A piece of drinkware like a branded wine glass or wine kit is a must. When your clients and prospects take home branded items they’re likely to use repeatedly, they’ll see your name over and over, which means they’re more likely to call you when they need your services.   Hosting or sponsoring a golf event? Consider branded golf balls to give to each player. Looking for something with a longer shelf life? Think about giving away a branded golf towel or golf shoe bag. When planning your event, you want to create not only a unique, memorable experience for clients and prospects but also a world of your own design where you can engage with your audience, just like InTandem did when they worked with SweetWater. You’re creating an emotional response. And there’s almost no better example of this than a child’s themed birthday party — yes, a child’s themed birthday party. Recently, my husband and I hosted a superhero-themed party for our son’s birthday. Everything, from the invitations to the decorations to the plates and napkins to the party favors, had a superhero’s touch. We even named the snacks after superheroes! These children’s theme parties build their own worlds where kids and adults can come together to have a fun, memorable experience — in a brand wonderland. Speaking of themed parties, consider throwing your own. Guests love them, and a little creativity goes a long way!       Much like it is at your office, your brand should be the star of any event that you host. Do you have an event coming up that you’d like to weave your brand into? Contact your marketing manager today for some great ideas on how to extend your brand through your events.

The Promotional Products Industry has been around since the late 1800’s, and yet, we still struggle with how we introduce ourselves to others and what it is that we exactly do. From SWAG to Schwag, Ad-Specialties, Promotional Products, Branded Merchandise all the way through to infamous Tchotchke, it’s a constant conversation through our industry marketing channels about what is the correct way to describe our industry. Personally, I’m a swag girl. I don’t take offense to that word. It’s current and relevant and at the very least provides a reference point to the service that we provide. There are no marketing classes about swag in school and how they truly impact your buying decisions. Very rarely, there is not even a blurb in a textbook. You don’t learn about it as a marketing media and yet it is a $20.81 BILLION-dollar industry. Take a look around your personal belongings or desktop. Twenty bucks says that you can tell me which company or organization gave you that imprinted bag, portfolio, charger, pen, etc. You are probably also able to tell me where and when it was given to you. The service we as an industry provide enables us to put your organization into your client’s frame of reference. And ultimately, in all forms of advertising – TV, radio, or print, that is the main objective. When an individual or organization is looking to make a purchase, your main goal as a marketer is to be included in their frame of reference when they go to make a purchase. And it’s a tangible reminder. Did you know that 65% of the population are visual learners? Just saying! Where we are failing as an industry, is taking the approach of allowing Halloween trick- or-treating to be the norm in how we are selling products to our clients. Here is your one color one location pen to hand out to everyone. Just like my child’s Halloween bag, all of that candy comes home, is dumped out, sorted, and no one remembers from which house the candy comes from. And at the end of the day, I end up throwing out all of the candy that is not relevant or tasty. That’s what happens when attending tradeshows and events in the business world. We bring home our swag, dump it on our desks, hand out the items that our team members and family are interested in, throw-out what is no longer relevant, and keep what we are the most excited about. That’s where the acronym SWAG came from (stuff we all get). And the reason I don’t take offense to using it when describing what I do is because the SWAG that InTandem is selling is not stuff we all get. I want to change your thought process in how you approach ordering swag to ensure that you are not handing out another piece of trick-or-treat candy. It’s simple, promise! Brand with a purpose. That’s it. What is the focus that you want your clients, prospects or attendees to come away knowing about the event? What do you want the recipient to DO with your promotional product that you are handing out? Why are you handing out that item? What is the main message and purpose behind your organization spending those branding dollars? Brand with a purpose. It doesn’t take any more time than selecting the one color one location pen. But the impact is far greater. FAR greater! Your reach is further. You stand out as an organization. You are REMEMBERED! For example, if you are recruiting your next class of potential employees, there are some key things to remember. In many instances, they are still in college. They don’t want to be seen carrying your branded giveaway to another competitor’s booth. Their only focus is to find their next stage in life. They are nervous. They are not going to remember which organizations they gave their resumes to and who all they spoke with. They are also told to not pick up tons of promotional products. My suggestion – give them something small, that enables them to slide it into a padfolio or a bag discreetly and meet with other organizations. One option would be the webcam cover where you are able to include all of your company’s profile, locations, positions that you are searching for, skillsets, etc. on the branded card that comes with the webcam cover. The cover includes your company’s logo and brand where your potential recruit will look at your brand every single day (as well as their friends and family). That’s a return on investment. Additionally, it provides them with how to get in touch with you after the event (because again, they are nervous and aren’t going to remember you and why they stopped by your booth). They remember your organization, why they were interested in stopping by and will consider you when they are making their career decisions. If you love handing out pens, then include a tailored website link that directs them to a page specifically created for your recruits. Content that can be tailored based on the season, the needs of the organization, etc. This is your opportunity to create an online space that encourages and promotes your organization – so use it! Extend the life of the pen and direct your target audience where to go and what their next steps should be. Another suggestion, include a romance card – with EVERYTHING you hand out. Why? Because they are already picking up or receiving your gift, use that opportunity! When InTandem Promotions sponsors an event, we are looking for more than just slapping our logo on the back of a t-shirt or a banner. The additional branding is nice but rarely do attendees say to themselves, “Those sponsors were really nice and that event was great. I think that I’ll call them up when I get back to the office”. My sponsor dollars are very valuable and I don’t have that many of them. When InTandem is able to sponsor an event, I need to make sure that all of the attendees (whether I get to know you and network with you at the event or not), know WHO InTandem is and why we are a sponsor. For the recent golf tournaments that we sponsored, we included an insert card inside the gift for use during the tournament. In sponsoring running races, we handed out jogging shoe lights where we attached a hang tag about our services and health promotions. In attending conferences for the automotive industry, we gave out relevant products with an insert card and relevant information about us as an organization. It’s branding with a purpose. Even if they receive 10 of the same item, mine will stand out beyond just my logo on the item. They will remember the company, what we do, and will consider us for their next promotional purchase and I’ve given them the next steps how to contact me, why to contact me, why I am a rock star. I am now in their frame of reference when they are considering their next promotional purchase So, whether you want to think of us as SWAG, Promotional Products, Ad Specialties, or Tchotchkes, focus on branding with a purpose and make that your focus and deciding factor when selecting your next promotional item and save trick-or-treating for Halloween.

InTandem Promotions is turning five this year. Which compared to organizations that have been in business for decades or centuries, is not monumental. To me, it’s a huge milestone. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the stats for business owners is not good. According to the statistics, 80% of businesses with employees will survive their first year of business. But, by their fifth year in business, only 50% of businesses with employees will survive. Yikes! When I decided to take the leap and build InTandem, it was more out of necessity. Things were changing in my previous organization and there was a difference of beliefs and future direction. All of a sudden, I found myself filling out paperwork to create a corporation. And here we are. InTandem will be turning five this coming June. What I have learned in the last five years, is more than I could have learned in all of my years of schooling. Professionally and personally, I have grown as a human and am still amazed in reflecting on InTandem’s accomplishments especially in the relatively short timeframe. Looking back, I can absolutely attribute InTandem’s success to 6 key areas. The funny thing is, if you are starting out in your own business, you already intuitively know them. You just have to actually apply them. Cash is king. Whatever amount you think you need to start a business, double/triple/and quadruple it. And do all you can with cash. Limit your borrowing to only what you have to. Leverage your knowledge of what is right with your personal finances and do the same with your business finances. Don’t overspend. Save. But do what is necessary to enable the business to breathe and grow. Your team can come from the most unlikely sources. I love my team and have been amazingly fortunate to be part of their success! But they did not come to InTandem from the usual online sources. They have come to InTandem through close relationships and friendships over the years – friends on the soccer field, a previous client, a friend of a client, my daughter’s boyfriends mom, etc. Seeing people for who they are, their potential, and the skills that they have is what will build a successful team. You never know where your next hire will come from. Constantly seek and find amazing talent to grow your organization. Brainstorm about your next hire or the hole that you have within your organization and seek out individuals that exhibit those strengths (regardless of their resume). Watching people in their “real-life” showcases their true talent and you won’t be disappointed. Be human. When I was an assistant, a partner came to the office and asked me to get him a cup of coffee so that he could meet with my boss. Now, that partner is doing business with InTandem. You never know where your next client, partner, or relationship will come from. No matter a person’s stage of life, be human. Treat people with respect. Your reputation is everything. And it follows you everywhere. I was fortunate to have built a strong reputation at my previous organization. I treated everyone with respect. I was fair in my approach in handling challenges. I worked hard to make every opportunity an advantage on both sides. To my complete surprise, when I opened my doors, those same relationships opened their arms to InTandem. Partners gave us credit when we didn’t have any. They provided samples, ideas, and offered amazing advice for which I will be forever indebted. Without those relationships, we would not be where we are today. Never stop learning. Throughout my career, every opportunity that I have been given has been a stepping stone for the next. Every position that I held, I learned from it. I worked my tail off consistently exceeding the expectations set forth but always striving for more of myself. Yes, there were many times where I felt I was passed over for a promotion or I would have been better for a certain position. But each time, I watched the person that received the promotion and worked to learn from them. I soaked in every opportunity. And that has given me the knowledge, strength and insight to grow and build InTandem. But I don’t stop learning. I continue to seek advice from professionals, to read as much as I can, to take classes, and build on what I have already learned.  Keep grinding. It sounds cliche but five years in and I have worked harder and longer now than I did when I was just starting out. Owning a business means that you give it all that you are and all that you have. You hustle. You work late nights. You seek constant balance. You don’t get to shut your computer down at night or turn off your phone for texts. You don’t take vacations without being accessible. In owning a successful business that beats the odds, you give it all you have 24/7. You will face adversity. You will encounter hills and valleys. Just keep moving. Tweak what you have learned. Do not stop. Do not allow fear to consume you. InTandem is not only surviving, we are thriving. We are in the 50% success statistic and in 10 years we’ll be in the 30% of businesses who survive. Looking forward to the next round of lessons to come. ABOUT INTANDEM PROMOTIONS InTandem Online is your place for all that is new and fabulous in the vast world of promotional products and corporate branding. Have a look around and get those creative juices flowing then contact us for ideas that WOW, insane customer service, and to experience the value of a true partner for all of your branding and promotional marketing needs! InTandem Promotions – Your Partner in Promotions!

Recently, InTandem CEO, Sara Webb, sat down with Mark Graham and Bobby Lehew of CommonSku, our business management software provider, to discuss the first 5 years of InTandem Promotions and the entrepreneurial spirit required to be successful in the fast growing and ever-evolving promotional products industry.  What followed was a very retrospective, but insightful discussion that we feel is applicable far beyond even the promotional products industry.  We hope that you enjoy! Listen Now #BrandWithPurpose #NothingGreatIsEverEasy #NeverStopHustling

On a recent flight, I happened upon a documentary from HBO, “Out for Blood in Silicon Valley” with Elizabeth Holmes.