2019 PPAI Expo Recap
We are home from the PPAI Expo and wow – we saw so much, learned even more, and had a great time connecting with old and new friends! It was great to attend the 2019 PPAI Expo with our whole team because there is so much to take in and we were able to have three sets of eyes. Also, having three people let us be very organized about what we saw, learned, and visited! Every year at the PPAI Expo is a great experience and 2019 certainly did not disappoint.
Preparing for Year Ahead with the 2019 PPAI Expo
We love that the PPAI Expo is at the beginning of the year because it allows us to see the latest and greatest products while our clients are preparing marketing strategies for the year ahead. We have projects on the horizon for clients and, knowing that, we were able to connect the right products with the coming projects.
What We Saw at the 2019 PPAI Expo
Tech promotional products have been popular for a while and this year was no exception. Wireless chargers for phones are all the rage. They are easy to brand and everyone needs a phone charger. The upside of a promotional wireless phone charger is that it will likely be used often so your brand will constantly be in front of whoever receives your promotional product. Additionally, we saw some cool octopus-style charging cords that can charge multiple devices, of different kinds (smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.), at once.
Our Takeaways from the 2019 PPAI Expo
The best part about the 2019 PPAI Expo is not necessarily the event itself, but all that we learn and take home to our clients. We are most excited about a movement in our industry called PromoCares. With PromoCares, all of our clients have access to supplies in our industry that give back to others in some way. If you’ve read our blog before, you know that we believe strongly in not just connecting the dots for our clients but serving the community in which we live and leveraging the power of our clients to support organizations that give back.
We cannot wait to share all that we learned at the conference with our clients. If you are planning your 2019 marketing calendar or are ready to plan your next promotional products campaign, we at Connect the Dots would love to meet with you. We would be happy to share with you about the latest and greatest products in our industry and how you can utilize promotional products to promote your business and encourage brand loyalty.
It has come to the time of year known as the ‘holiday season’ and with that, as well as the end of the calendar year, comes a lot of celebration.
Promotional Jacket or Pullover
Promotional Chocolate, Popcorn, Nuts, Oh My!
Promotional Tech
The weather has begun to cool off and fall and winter holidays are upon us.
Try saying that three times fast! Warm winter wearables are always a popular promotional product to give away at fall and winter events because they are just so useful! While it may seem like there isn’t much exciting happening with things like gloves and hats, there’s new technology and there are great ways to brand these items.
One great way to save on the cost of cups, be eco-friendly, and have a great gift all in one is to invest in branded water bottles, branded tumblers, or branded mugs.
We all love to root for our favorite home team, represent our alma mater with pride, or show off our school colors!
At 
When choosing marketing and promotional products, it is common to wonder what the ROI (return on investment) will be. While this is understandable, there is no set formula for what works best in marketing. It is impossible to predict what a promotional product’s “ROI” will be, particularly because in marketing there are different types of promotional product ROI. To label a return on investment as only monetary would be significantly simplifying the impact that promotional products can have for your business.
In addition to utilizing someone’s desk real estate, you can strategically use promotional products as creative marketing tools that create brand recognition and help you grow your social media presence.
Everybody needs a beach towel whether they live near a beach or not. Beach towels are incredibly useful for the beach but they are also useful for the pool or the park. The best part about a beach towel is that you know it will get used, time and time again. And, if it is custom branded like the 
If you are having a family-oriented gathering such as a picnic, beach day, or another fun corporate event, a 
The perfect gift to give to employees or clients at any company BBQ or summer client appreciation event is a BBQ gift set. Summer is the time that everyone grills and most people can always use a new set of handy BBQ utensils. The kit comes with a party Kooler, apron, pot holder and oven mitt, spatula, fork, tongs, and grill brush. It is a generous gift that is sure to impress and be used often. The gift sets are available in a variety of colors to coordinate with any brand or school colors.
The 
Many businesses think they don’t have the budget to do a gift during the holidays but that is a misconception. Investing in promotional holiday gifts and a strong holiday marketing campaign can pay off big for your company, as the 
When you plan ahead, you can discuss you can carefully weigh your marketing options. This will allow you to tailor a marketing campaign and promotional products to your brand and customers. There is more than simply celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or the Holiday Season in general in December. Get creative with your marketing and make a memorable impact! October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so consider ordering promotional products to give to employees or survivors. Halloween is in October and why not have a little fun with your promotional products? Also, both Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving are in November and offer unique opportunities to promote your business. Avoid the headache of having your promotional items delayed or backordered because of the seasonal rush. Maximize your 2017 holiday marketing campaign and start planning for your promotional holiday gifts now!