The Holiday’s Are Here, Drink Up!

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Today is the first official day of winter! It is cold, it is Christmas week and we are all looking forward to the festivities to start! When curling up near the tree to open presents or lighting menorah candles and celebrating with family and friends, what is in your glass? We have a few of our favorite selections, Mind you, any and all of these options can be made a little more “Merry” with the addition of a little liquid festivities. This list makes me thirsty just thinking about it!

Egg Nog

The be all and end all of holiday drinks. Sprinkle a little nutmeg on top of a chilled cup of egg nog, maybe add a splash or two of brandy or bourbon to liven it up and you are ready to begin the celebrations.

Food Network Paula Deen Mamas Eggnog

 

Hot Apple Cider 

Perfect after a day in the cold, garnish with a cinnamon stick, a little nutmeg and an orange slice to really boost the flavor, and if you really want to warm up, add a splash of spiced rum to enhance the orange and cinnamon flavors.

Mulled-Cider

Hot Cocoa

I just really love Hot Cocoa. I’ll take it plain, with whipped cream, with marshmallows, flavored with some cinnamon or garnished with a little crushed peppermint. The possibilities for hot chocolate are never ending and a word to the wise, you have not lived until you have had a hot cocoa spiked with a little whipped cream flavored vodka. You can thank me later.

Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil

Drink up and Happy Holidays!

4 Ways To Engage Your B2B Customers And Build A Lasting Relationship

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The world of B2B marketing never stands still. What worked for your company several years ago is outdated, and if you aren’t keeping up with the marketing trends, you will be left behind. But no matter how much technology advances, or how many breakthrough ideas come about, one thing will always be certain: Your clients need to be drawn into your product or service in a way that engages them and makes them committed to your company. Luckily, there are many different marketing tactics you can use to accomplish this mission:

Draw Them in Online

Everyone uses the Internet. Even if your company doesn’t seem like the best fit for online purchasing, it is still crucial that you have a strong online presence. Direct Marketing News believes that every website should tell a story. It doesn’t matter if you are selling high-end printers or a consulting service, your website needs to draw in your visitors, build trust and, of course, get them to contact you.

So what is the best way to do that? You need to target your homepage to your ideal client. Demand Base recommends taking an in-depth look at your current customers to develop a persona for your target audience. Where do they live? How large is their company? What industry are they in? What did you help them accomplish with your product or service? When you can precisely narrow down whom you need to reach, you will be able to create the content needed to engage them.

Capitalize on Social Media

As you probably know, it is not enough to have a website; you also need to have a strong presence on social media. This is crucial for engaging your audience. While your website is great for information, it doesn’t offer many opportunities for interaction. According to Bite Global, social media allows you to connect with your current and potential clients on a personal level. This helps you build relationships that all but guarantee future business.

While the world of social media is very detailed, with separate rules for each platform, its success all comes down to being active in the communities it provides, offering valuable content to your followers and engaging in conversations with them. Again, social media is not about making sales (although that is the end goal); it is about getting to know your clients and prospects and allowing them to get to know you.

Personalize Your Follow-up

One of the biggest marketing mistakes B2B companies make is using automated follow-up. It is a giant waste of money and you may as well not even do it. However, if you take the time to personalize the correspondence you send, you will notice the true power of email marketing.

For example, you can keep track of when it is time for your client to restock your product. A few weeks before they are about to run out, send them an email with a friendly reminder, along with a discount code to use on their order. Always use their names, and throw in a sentence or two about their history with your company. They will feel like you value them as a customer, and they will probably make a purchase without a second thought.

Make a Lasting Impression

After you have engaged your clients online and built a relationship with them through social media, you need to seal the deal by leaving them with something tangible. It today’s online world, people love to have something to hold, and they will appreciate the extra effort. This can be done with a practical gift after a consult — such as a branded lunch tote or pen — or a handwritten thank-you note after a purchase. The goal is to send one final message that you do value their business and appreciate them as a customer.

5 Drinks of Summer

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With Memorial Day upon us and summer around the corner, what better way to spend the holiday weekend than by filling your promotional drinkware with one of these yummy cocktails recommended by www.webstaurantstore.com!

Caipirinha

This is sunny Brazil’s national drink for a reason! Refreshing citrus makes the Caipirinha an ideal drink to sip on a hot evening.

caipirinha

Recipe

  • 1/2 lime, quartered
  • 1 tsp. white sugar
  • 1 1/2 oz. Cachaça
  • Squeeze limes and place them in a rocks glass
  • Add sugar
  • Fill with ice
  • Stir in glass

Applejito

applejito

Fruity apple and cool mint combine with vodka to make a drink with a freshly-picked taste.

Recipe

  • 1/3 cup vodka
  • ¼ cup apple juice
  • 1 oz. bar syrup
  • 10 mint leaves, crushed in glass
  • Pour liquid mixture over ice
  • Stir gently in glass
  • Garnish with apple slices

Peach Mango Summer Sangria

peach mango summer sangria

Perfect for serving a crowd, the fruit, wine, and Grand Marnier mingle together to make this drink a summer favorite.

Recipe

  • 1 cup Grand Mariner
  • 1 oz. bar syrup
  • 1 bottle of white wine (TBD)
  • 1/4 cup mint
  • 1 mango, diced
  • 2 peaches, sliced
  • 1 cup seltzer water (optional, for a little sparkle)
  • Stir all ingredients into a pitcher and serve

Gin Basil Smash

gin basil smash

When combined with the classic flavor of gin, basil and lemon juice offer a summery perspective in this tasty drink.

Recipe

  • 4 oz. gin
  • 2 oz. lemon juice
  • 2 oz. bar syrup
  • 10 basil leaves
  • In a cocktail shaker, crush basil leaves with lemon juice and bar syrup
  • Add gin and fill with ice
  • Shake and strain into a glass with more ice
  • Garnish with the basil leaves

Mexican Mai Tai

mexican mai tai

This classic tiki drink gets a makeover with tequila, but still incorporates the tasty citrus flavors of the original.

Recipe

  • 1 1/2 oz. tequila
  • 1/2 oz. orange curacao
  • 1/2 oz. orgeat
  • 3/4 oz. lime juice
  • Rimming salt
  • Rim a rocks glass with salt
  • Shake liquid ingredients well

Bomberger, Sabrina. “Restaurant Supply Blog.” WebstaurantStore Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2015.

Social Media as a Marketing Tool

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Everywhere you look people are utilizing technology on the go. They are using smartphones and apps to keep in contact with family and friends. Using tablets and laptops to keep up with the latest news and events from around the world. It only makes sense in this modern, tech savvy era that companies are more and more relying on social media as a means of marketing their brands and upcoming events.

Marketing times are Changing

In the past much of marketing and advertising was done through print media. Newspapers, yellow pages and magazine advertisements were the standard form of communication for companies looking to get their brands out to the public. Nowadays media travels so much faster than a day old newspaper or a month old magazine edition. People have all of the information they need at the touch of a button and when they are looking for a brand or a product they will more often than not go straight to the web for immediate action.

Bring your message to the people

Social Media Sites such as Facebook, Google, Yelp and Twitter are designed to bring instant information to the masses so it only makes sense that companies get ahead of the competition and utilize these great resources to market and promote their brands, products and events. The benefit of these sites above and beyond just paid promotions is they allow for a more organic “Word of Mouth” spreading of promotions. People share links, pages and write reviews willingly to their followers and friends creating a more trustworthy marketing campaign as new impressions aren’t just purchased but shared from a known source whose opinions typically matter to the person being exposed to the campaign.

Save money with Organic campaigns

Although print media may never become fully obsolete, Social media marketing has rapidly overtaken all other methods of medias as the forefront for promotions. Another benefit of online social marketing is that it is cost efficient for the brand on a budget. Rather than having to purchase ads, billboards or air time, brands are heavily relying on the satisfaction of their existing customers to help them spread the word of the reliable services and products they provide. As sites such as Yelp have indicated, customer Testimonials and reviews are an increasing persuasive tool to convince potential clients to utilize products and brands.

5 Mobile Marketing Trends You Can’t Ignore

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Promotional items such as drinkware and tote bags still play an important role in an overall marketing strategy. However, mobile marketing is arguably the most interesting (and increasingly lucrative) area of any marketing strategy. This guide will discuss the growth of social media worldwide, and the tools that allow that user base to be targeted more accurately. It will also discuss the increase in mobile video content and the general growth in Internet marketing as a whole.

Global social media penetration is at 40 percent worldwide (and growing)

Social media has caught the world by storm, and is being used by an increasing percentage of populations around the world. Currently, social media penetration is around 40 percent worldwide, but that number is significantly higher in countries like the United States (81 percent), Canada (82 percent), the U.K. (76 percent), South Korea (74 percent) and Australia (73 percent). This rapidly growing market spends the majority of its social media usage on mobile devices, and the advertising and marketing opportunities are only now beginning to be utilized. The mobile social media advertising market is poised to be one of the most lucrative advertising venues, and companies should begin to ramp up their efforts in this area as soon as possible.

Geography-based marketing is increasingly popular

For years, Internet advertising on platforms such as Facebook and Google allowed advertisers to target their audience through geography-based advertisements. Back then, geography was defined by the “hometown” or “current city” of the user, which provided some insight into their geographic location, but did not provide up-to-date information about where the user was located. For individuals who moved without updating their profiles, or for individuals who travel frequently for work or otherwise, the geographic information was far less accurate.

Today, however, mobile devices are increasingly using GPS coordinates to determine a user’s location in real time (with the user’s permission). This provides a unique opportunity for companies who wish to target users who are currently in a particular geographic location to do so.

Micro-targeting is increasingly accurate and effective

Geography-based marketing is one (significant) element of a larger trend known as micro-targeting. Micro-targeting is the utilization of specific demographic and geographic user information for the purpose of more accurately targeting the right audience. Micro-targeting is a benefit for everyone involved. Users receive advertisements that are more relevant to their interests, while companies are able to communicate directly with users cost-effectively, by removing a significant portion of advertisements that would otherwise be seen by unqualified users. Micro-targeting will increasingly allow companies to be more cost-effective in their overall marketing efforts, and is quickly becoming a necessity in the mobile marketing world.

Video content is increasing viewed on mobile devices

Video content is one of the best places to reach users, and it is increasingly being viewed on mobile devices. In fact, more than 40 percent of video content on YouTube is now viewed directly on a mobile device. Creating video content that is formatted for mobile devices is still a relatively small market, but trends like this are set to make video content formatted for mobile devices a crucial part of any marketing strategy involving video.

Internet advertising growing significantly each year

Of course, it is important to remember that all of this growth in the mobile advertising market is taking place within the broader context of a growing Internet advertising market. Internet advertising has seen robust and rapid growth over the past few years, and that trend is only set to accelerate. This year, Internet advertising grew by 16 percent, and mobile advertising grew by an astonishing 47 percent. Most interestingly, however, is the fact that mobile advertising still only makes up 11 percent of the overall Internet advertising market. With all of the factors described above, that number is likely to increase significantly over the next couple of years.

The Screen Printing Process

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Screen Printing or Silk Screening, is a decoration process that has been in common usage for over 100 years and still proves to be one of these best methods of decoration for many items. The basic process is to create an outline of the art that you would like to imprint onto your item, on an impermeable material. That outline is then placed back to back with a screen that has very small openings in the mesh. This creates the Screen or Set Up for screen printing. Originally, the mesh was a silk material and that is the root of the moniker “Silk Screening”; Polyester is used more commonly now for the mesh.

How it’s done

These screens are then placed against a flat or curved surface of an item and ink is SM7374pushed through the mesh part of the screen to transfer the image in the screen onto the item being imprinted. A block or squeegee is used to force the ink though the screen and remove any excess ink, to create a clean rendering of the image on the item being printed. Each color being silk screened requires its own screen and own application of the color, or Set Up and Run. The screens can only be used for one color as the ink is spread across the whole screen to imprint the design of each screen. For additional colors, the screens need to be placed very precisely to create a cohesive image with the spot colors.

When it’s used

33382ETSScreen printing is an excellent form of decoration, but works best for artwork that has spot colors, or solid colors without gradients. Also, it is not ideal for very small details and it does not provide the same resolution as printing on paper. The ink used in screen printing can vary greatly and the density of the screen adjusts along with the desired result and the material being screened onto goods. This process is used for everything from promotional tote bags to snowboards and balloons, and can provide hugely different results depending on the variables and methods.

Contact Bag Warehouse today for help finding the perfect item for your company to customize using silk screening or any of our other great

Promotional Items: What Every B2B Marketer Needs To Know

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The world of B2B marketing is complex and diverse. From using SEO for lead generation to direct mail to help with branding, a company has a lot of options when deciding how to spend their marketing dollars. However, one marketing tactic that should never be overlooked is the use of promotional items.

Why Should B2B Marketing Include Imprinted Items?

In short, promotional items are some of the most affordable types of B2B marketing available, and they often yields the best results. It puts the name of the company in front of the desired end user time and time again. This repetitive visualization is what is often required for a company to finally decide to do business with another company.

 

Additionally, promotional items are much more effective than standard direct mail advertising because they usually do not just get thrown in the trash. Not only that, but the ROI is hard to compete with. The cost of most imprinted items is minimal compared to other lead generation techniques, and the amount of customers it can garner is quite dramatic.

Which Promotional Items to Choose?

While imprinted items can be ideal for B2B marketing, not all of them are created equal. A successful marketing campaign using promotional items focuses on quality over quantity. A company with a limited budget should invest in nicer items for fewer people instead of cheaper items for the masses. Generic, run-of-the-mill, cheap items will just end up in the trash, while nicer items will be used for many months to come. In fact, it is believed that some of them (like T-shirts and tote bags) are used for years after they are received.

 

A recent study by Promotional Products Association International backs up the belief that it is really all about quality. They surveyed over 700 recipients of promotional items to get an idea of their views of the items they received. When it comes to perceived value, those costing $25 or more definitely made the biggest impression on the recipient. When they were given an item that they believed cost more than $25, 71 percent of them said their opinion of the company improved — or made them more receptive to what the company had to offer. As the price of the item went down, so did the percentage of people who said it altered their opinion of that company. At a price range of $5 or less, only 33 percent of recipients said that the item improved their view of the company.

How Should Imprinted Items Be Used?

OK, so it is clear that promotional items are a necessary part of any B2B marketing campaign — but how exactly should these items be used? According to Marketing Made Simple, there are three main ways to effectively use imprinted items:

 

Advertising: When handed out at trade shows, sent in the mail or given away at the place of business, promotional items serve as an excellent branding tool.

 

Gifts: Promotional items can also be a great way to thank a new client for a recent purchase, congratulate them on a big accomplishment or even spread some holiday cheer.

 

Incentives: Offering useful, high-quality imprinted items with a certain dollar amount spent can also be a very successful way to encourage clients to place bigger orders.

 

When promotional items are incorporated into a B2B marketing campaign thoughtfully, a company will see large returns. As long as the company chooses unique items that are practical and well made, the ROI will be one of the most impressive in their marketing portfolio.

Covering the Basics: Promotional Marketing Kits

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With the wide array of promotional marketing items currently available for branding, selecting the perfect product for your organization’s image can seem a bit overwhelming. Many of the items currently available are fun, useful and eye catching, all key components of a successful campaign, but may not fit what your company needs. The basic promotional items are usually a great place to start when launching a branding campaign for your organization. Typically these start with a bag, drinkware, pens, and if it is an event with registered attendees, badge holders and lanyards.

It all starts with a bagbag

A bag is one of the most important promotional items you can invest in. They are easy to obtain, relatively inexpensive, and reusable. The benefit to them being reusable is they tend to travel outside of their original location of use, gathering extra impressions and bringing more awareness to your brand that normally would not be obtained with a 1 time use item.

 

More than just a drink on the go5827_blue

Another key component to a good starter promotional marketing campaign is drinkware. Everyone uses cups throughout the day. Whether it is a hot cup of coffee to start your day or a water bottle to sip on, reusable drinkware tends to travel with their end users as they are convenient for staying hydrated. The benefit of this of course, is that everywhere the user goes, the cup and its branding go, widening the impact of the marketing campaign.

 

The writings on the wall

penOne of the most utilized promotional items in this marketing world is pens. They are low cost, widely used and small enough to go just about anywhere. Everyone uses pens, at school, in the office, at home and on the go. What easier way to get your information out there than to hand out pens?!

 

Wear your logo well               

Finally, one of the key components to a basic promotional marketing kit, esplanyardecially for events, conferences, meetings or large organizations such as hospitals and schools, is lanyards and badge holders! When identification needs to be readily available and everyone is going to be wearing a badge, why not put your logo on the holder and the lanyard to ensure that each and every attendee will see your brand and remember your logo!

For ideas on these and a wide variety of other promotional marketing ideas, contact your Bag Warehouse representative today!

Eco Friendly Bags and Drinkware

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As we continue to see the dramatic temperature spikes and wild weather nationwide and worldwide, we are hopefully becoming more aware of how we affect our environment and making efforts to decrease our negative impact on our world. There are many ways to make positive contributions to our future and environment. One way to decrease your carbon footprint is to reduce consumption; Reusable replacements are an excellent way to prevent the occurrence of single use plastic bags and bottles that stagnantly crowd our landfills. Another way is to focus on recycling and purchasing recycled items.

A bag for every occasion

We have great reusable bags for every budget. There are many different options of reusable GGES - Bluebags! My favorite and the most functional reusable grocery bags, are bags that fold up for easy storage in your car or purse. This makes it easy to always have them on hand when you are at a store. While there are many styles of fold-able bags in prices starting from $1.99, the best bag I’ve found is the EnviroSax Green Grocer Bag. These bags are made of Rip Stop nylon and can carry up to 44 lbs, when you’re done with the bags, they fold up and store easily! With a cute imprint, these are bags that your customers will keep and use for years, really maximizing your investment and positively impacting the environment at the same time! They are available in 8 great colors, allowing you to choose a great color that fits perfectly with your logo.

The perfect bottle

Along the same lines of reducing consumption, another way to positively contribute to our environment is to reduce the number of single use plastic water bottles that we use. 5827_blueThe easiest way to eliminate those bottles and the waste they create is to use a bottle that can be washed and filled over and over. The possibilities for water bottles are practically infinite and can easily be catered to your customer or event. One great option is our 22 oz. Gripper Bottle. This bottle is BPA free and made from durable Tritan plastic. Additionally, the bottle has a tethered screw on top, is shatter resistant, and has non slip side rubber grippers. At 22 oz. this bottle provides enough volume without being prohibitively large, which can make bottles heavy and can make people less likely to use them. Convenient lines of measurement are printed on the bottle to make it easy to track water consumption and 6 great colors make this an ideal give away or gift for any client.

Change is hard

WitKW2708Gh a very familiar shape, the 25. Oz Tritan Water Bottle is another great option! This bottle makes a very easy transition from the water bottles we have become so accustomed to, but provides the added convenience of a twist off top for easy bottle cleaning. BPA Free Tritan plastic makes this great bottle shatterproof and long lasting, meaning more imprints for your money!

 

Classic Convention Style

The Indispensable Everyday Tote make for the perfect environmentally friendly tote for AP8380ECO_onyx_3cyour trade show or convention! This tote has shoulder length handles for easy carrying and a zippered main compartment to keep the contents safe. Additionally, there is an interior organizer pocket and this bag is made from 45% recycled PET material. Great neutral color options and a great SALE price make this the perfect environmentally friendly tote for your conference or event!

Earth Day is April 22!!! Contact us asap about these and other great environmentally friendly products for your events and clients for Earth Day and Everyday!!

How Things’ Internet Is Creating Medicine’s Future

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Is it feasible to obtain back my items with all the help of lord ganesha.

Redbox is now promoting Lunch meat at its kiosks: Alright. Fools’ Day hit the millions of Redbox users’ inboxes Wednesday together with the matter header, “Lunchmeat is now offered by Redbox”. The DVD/ Game hire business sent an email explaining their assumed fresh undertaking out, stating that users might currently visit their nearby Redbox to obtain the delicious snack. The email states: ” evening, Desire A treat for your film? We’re proud to supply a variety essay helper of DVD-designed cold cuts, including liverwurst, turkey and bologna. Select Redbox areas also bring bagels and cheese cuts for an unforgettable construct-your-own sandwich experience.”The scam is unbelievable, combined with photograph of a peel of bologna in a DVD circumstance, adopted with options of Child Swiss, Mustard, Roast Beef, as well as Mystery Meat. Consumers who struck “Pick Your Meat” are subsequently taken fully to the Business’s website where they are accepted from the traditional expression “May Fools! Sorry, lunch meat is n’t definitely sold by us. However.” And for being truly a good game, they are supplying those who fell victim with their scam 50-cents off any rentals for April Fools’ Day.

Emotional neglect causes low-self- depression and worth.

As well as for this article’s sake: no food products does be sold by Redbox inside their kiosks. However, their accomplishment is no scam: According to a current pressrelease, Redbox reached its millionth cd rental March 23, on Wednesday, 2013. The PR release describes, to celebrate the milestone hire, the company is offering Canadian movie addicts that may be found on the Redbox Europe Myspace page between now rental offers.