4 Ideas Friday

Whether you need low-cost T-shirts for an upcoming charity run, embroidered bags for your college bookstore, embossed padfolios for a seminar or engraved pens for milestone gifts, we’ve got you covered! Promotional products help customers remember your products and services, which helps your bottom line. Research shows successful branding can improve your image and increase customer loyalty—two things that help every business survive and thrive.

With so many choices, it can be difficult to figure out which decoration method will work best. We’ll walk you through the most popular techniques to help you find the right one to fit your promotional products, situations and budget!

• Screen printing is one of the most budget-friendly and versatile ways to imprint shirts, tote bags, caps and other fabrics. Screened apparel is perfect for inexpensive giveaways and just about any event. A design is burned onto fine mesh screens, with one screen used for each ink color. As each screen is printed, your design comes to life.
• Direct to garment (DTG) uses water-based inks and equipment similar to an ink-jet printer to create full-color imprints—or even photos—that are impossible to screen-print. The imprint feels softer and more natural. The digital process is ideal for smaller quantities, since the equipment can only print a few items at a time. When you need to turn heads and grab attention, digital printing can help you stand out from the crowd.
• Embroidery is perfect when you want an elegant, durable decoration on polo shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and more. Precision embroidery machines stitch colorful threads to create a permanent design that provides added value to your customers, employees and top prospects. Embroidery underlines your brand’s commitment to quality and attention to detail.
• Appliqué uses material pieces to create a puffed, patch-like design. Combine appliqué and border stitching to create a striking 3-D effect on caps and jackets. This method is ideal when you’re looking for impressive milestone gifts.   

On many products, you can add a second design location to boost the value and create a unique product. Adding a design to a shirt sleeve, for example, is a trendy look that will really draw attention to your brand.

• Screen printing (explained above) or direct printing is used for most drinkware. The flexibility of this imprinting method can do amazing things on coffee mugs, water bottles and insulated tumblers. Screen printing allows you to order a one-side imprint or a two-sided imprint (also called a wrap). For a more unique look, try a spot color (one or more separate, single colors) imprint or a full-color design!
• Laser engraving (sometimes called etching) can be done on glass or stainless steel for a more durable design that creates added value. It’s perfect for milestone, executive or top sales gifts.

• Screen printing a padfolio, bags or tablet case usually works best to create a contrasting imprint that’s visible from a distance. You can choose a single color, or up your marketing game with a full-color imprint that dazzles.
• Debossing and embossing are more subtle, understated methods that work best with leather and vinyl. Debossing is when the design is pressed into the material (indented). Embossing produces an image that’s raised above the surface of the material. Both methods produce luxurious-looking, high-end folders and cases that work as a special milestone gift, or as a standout gift for a special customer. 
• Embroidery on bags (and a few padfolios) is the same as the process for apparel.  Beautifully embroidered stitching will add that extra decorative touch. Bags are among the most frequently seen promotional products, and an embroidered logo will set your brand apart.

Pen options

• Screen printing is used on the vast majority of promotional pens. These economical giveaways are one of the oldest and most popular advertising tools in the business, for good reason. They’re budget-friendly and everyone uses them.
• Laser-engraved pens and pencils provide a high-end look at a lower cost. Metal pens with laser-engraved logos are impressive, elegant and sure to be a winner with your employees and customers.