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Ultimate Corporate Gift Guide For 2022

Need corporate gifts but no time to shop? We can help!

The holidays present the perfect opportunity to show clients and employees appreciation by gifting them useful and high-quality gifts. We’ve curated the perfect gift guide based on hot items we’ve seen grow in popularity this season. Scroll our guide below and view the link at the bottom of this article for more information on these fully customizable products.

 

TECH

Digital Photo Frame

This unique way to display photos is timeless and versatile. Whether displayed on a desk or as home décor, a digital photo frame makes a great all-around gift idea. It also comes with handy alarm clock and calendar bonus features.

Wireless Charger

Wireless chargers have gained popularity over the past few years for convenience in the office, at home or while traveling. They can be found in a variety of styles such as a wireless speaker and charger in 1, charging stations, portable and magnetic. Recently they have been created with more sustainable materials, such as the bamboo option featured in the presentation below.

Wireless Headphones or Ear Buds

Wireless headphones and ear buds are perfect for music lovers, podcast listeners or the average work-at home professional aiming to get a crisp sound for virtual meetings. The JBL headphones in the link below are known for their sound quality, charge life, adaptability and convenience of Bluetooth technology.

LIFESTYLE

Insulated Cup

Both fashionable and efficient tote bags are perfect for trips to the office, gym or travel. Branded with a company logo they make a great gift that doubles as a brand exposure tool.

Tote Bag

Both fashionable and efficient tote bags are perfect for trips to the office, gym or travel. Branded with a company logo they make a great gift that doubles as a brand exposure tool.

Garment Duffle Bag

Employees who travel for work will enjoy this 2 in 1 bag. It serves as both a garment and duffle bag in one. Spacious enough to store items for an overnight bag and small enough to meet carry-on requirements for airline travel, this bag will make your employee trips a breeze!

Wearable Blanket

Winter evenings by the fireplace or cool nights on the deck enjoying company will be the perfect setting to enjoy the plush coziness of a wearable blanket. Consider embroidering a company logo on the pocket.

Throw Blankets

Blankets make excellent gifts and are universally enjoyed by all. They come in a variety of materials, thickness, and styles. Great for sports games spectators, couch accents, and extra warmth on chilly occasions. We have added 2 options in our presentation below, microfleece and micro-chenille polyester.

 

KITCHEN

Electric Wine Set

Wine lovers will adore this 6 in 1 wine set. It comes with an electric corkscrew wine opener, wine aerator pourer, seal cutter, vacuum stoppers and a base for storage.

Lunch Cooler

Gone are the days of generic, plastic lunch coolers. This modern and elegant version is very spacious lending it to additional uses such as a toiletry bag or picnic bag.

Backpack Cooler

Made with recycled water bottles, this sustainable backpack cooler makes storing and transporting drinks much easier and stylish!

Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are elegant and a great gift for any person who enjoys hosting or creating. This board is made with eco-friendly bamboo and is naturally heat and bacteria resistant!

You can view all of the above options in our custom presentation here. To search for more items on our promo store, browse here or feel free to reach out to us and we can shop for you!

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Merch

When most businesses think merchandise, their ideas and goals are consumer oriented. While branded merchandise serves your company a multitude of benefits (boosting exposure, brand awareness, customer loyalty, etc.) there are many benefits to gifting internally as well. By giving your employees branded goods, you can…

• Create a sense of unity/belonging
• Build company loyalty
• Boost morale and motivation
• Reward employees or express appreciation

When it comes to brainstorming ideas for gifts, you may find yourself stuck. There are thousands of frequent promotional items that companies hand out day to day – but what do your own employees want themselves? Here is a guide to choosing meaningful merchandise for your workers. The good news is that often merchandise is not as costly as you think – there are quality items for every budget. Follow this guide we constructed, with links to each item, to get an idea of what your employees may like to be gifted!

Apparel

Company apparel is great gift for your employees. Whether working virtually or in-person- everyone appreciates comfortable garments to throw on after work (or during for those remote). Below are a few examples of warmer apparel items that are great for the upcoming cold seasons, and are extremely popular among both women and men!

Home/Lifestyle

• Blanket

  Blankets are a symbol of warmth and trust. Whether used for comfort or a picnic, your employees will cherish another one added to their collection!

• Candle

  Beyond scent, candles add relaxed ambiance to any space or office setting.

  

• Tumbler/Coffee mug

  Did you know the rise of working remotely has led to an increase in coffee consumption? Whether they are traveling to your office, or working from a space in their own home, your employee will appreciate a customized cup for their first, or third cup of the day. *Include your own branded coffee bean as well!

• Bluelight glasses (reading or no magnification)

  If your employees are staring at screens all day, they will value a pair of blue light glasses. Blue light blocking glasses are known to reduce eyestrain, eye damage, and improve the quality of sleep.*Available with or without magnification (reading glasses)

  

• Lint roller

  An easy tool, yet a necessity in most people’s daily routine. While your employees love their pets, chances are they are not looking to bring traces of them around. This simple gift will get some good use!

On The Go

• Reusable tote bag

  The world is going greener, and so are your employees. The average family uses 4 grocery bags weekly, totaling 208 per year. By giving your staff a reusable tote, you are not only giving your workers a thoughtful gift but lowering the number of plastic bags that end up in our oceans and landfills (one trillion yearly). They are also great for transporting personal belongings!

  

• Laptop/tablet sleeve

  Transporting laptops/tablets requires care and support. A laptop bag will give your employees’ devices that extra protection needed.

• Lunch box/cooler bag

  These insulated bags are great for heading to the office or the park!

• Lunch box set

  If your employees will be packing lunch, help them out by giving them a compact container to throw their leftovers in. These sets even include utensils, making for the perfect grab and go set up.

• Portable charger

  There is nothing worse than traveling and realizing that your phone has low battery. Portable chargers are a great asset to anyone’s life.

Office/Work Life

• Desk organizer

  The home and office can get cluttered during day to day tasks. Help your employees stay organized with a branded desk organizer.

• Desk materials (pens, sticky notes, etc.)

  In giving your employees desk materials, you are setting them up for productivity and success. These supplies are great to keep your employees stocked up with, or used in new hire kits. Desk supplies are a thoughtful, yet useful gift.

 

If you are looking for assistance in purchasing merchandise at an affordable cost for your brand, contact Think3 today!
Browse our store here: https://www.think3promos.com.

Women Owned and Diversity in the Workplace

While there are more women in business today than at any point in history, and the journey has been commendable, there’s still a long way to go. We support the need for equal opportunities for women and diversity in the workplace to push the global economy to its full potential. The opportunity to bring diverse backgrounds to the forefront provides unique perspectives on how to relate to individual lifestyles.

Women and minorities in business, as well as aspiring minority entrepreneurs, need to build and improve confidence, network and achieve a growth mindset. Think3 Marketing is committed and actively involved to support the greater effort of providing resources, coaching, and business practices to individuals with aspirations to build opportunities for a thriving workplace and a new generation of commerce.

When you support women and minority-owned businesses, you are investing in economic empowerment, gender and race parity in commerce, vibrant communities, and the growth of the economy overall. Buying women and minority-owned is both socially conscious and economically sound. Recognizing and celebrating women and minority leaders who take risks and personal challenges to make a difference in our commerce, our environment, our future, and most importantly the individuals they employ…is what drives Think3 Marketing to stay passionate and ALL IN.

Think3 Marketing supports women and diversity-owned businesses’ opportunities through WBENC:

• Access to supplier diversity and procurement executives at hundreds of major U.S. corporations and federal, state, and local government entities that accept WBENC Certification.
• Formal and informal opportunities to pursue business with Corporate and Government Members, as well as with other WBENC-Certified WBEs.
• Access to networking events, procurement opportunities, mentoring, executive education, capacity development programs, and other business tools and resources.
• Eligibility for regional and national recognition and awards.
• Community of support from other female business owners and like-minded professionals all dedicated to the growth and success of women and minority-owned businesses.

Rest and Re-Fuel

By Megan Clemmer, Account Manager, Think3 Marketing

Work hard, play hard. That’s the mantra for a successful professional right? There is one important thing missing from this equation. Rest. Though it is good to be productive, making time for rest is imperative. Rest not only re-fuels our body physically but also fosters mental performance. When our bodies and minds are worn down, our ability to be open-minded, and create solutions for projects and challenges wears down as well. Here are 4 simple, yet effective ways to add rest to your lifestyle.

Sleep

Yes, sleep is a given, but it is arguably the most important component of rest. We live in a culture which thrives on productivity. However, if this means going to bed late and waking early, then productivity in the long-term will be affected negatively. Healthline shares this statistic taken from a publication in the National Library of Medicine “One study published by the Association for Psychological Science found that getting only 5 hours per night for 4 nights in a row negatively affected mental performance to the same extent as having a blood alcohol content of 0.06.” Memory, creativity, and cognitive thinking are just a few areas of the brain that can be affected by a lack of sleep. Making the choice to schedule at least 7-8 hours of rest a night is a good decision and not to be considered a waste.

Recreation/Exercise

Traditional workouts, sports or even leisure walking are all forms of movement that the body needs to reduce stress. Chronic stress wreaks havoc on a variety of areas in the body. Exercising is a great way to bolster energy and work off office frustrations. It is also known to help increase creative thought processes and help the mind work through challenges. As far as physical benefits, muscles strained from sitting at a desk all day can be worked and stretched when taking even a short 15-min walk at a nearby park. Tip: Include some outside exercise activities for fresh air, vitamin D and enjoying the natural landscape. A fun way to share your activity is through the smartphone app “Relive”. You can record your activity, take pictures, create a video of your route and share with friends and family.

Dream/Set Goals

Rest allows quiet. Instead of busying the mind during every waking hour, give it the time to process life. It is very beneficial to set up time to create life goals, assess situations and think about future aspirations. When we get settled into the monotony of day-to-day life, we miss the opportunity to process what our life actions are producing. Our lives should be a work in progress…always ready to pivot!

Interact with Others/Pets

Most people interact with others regularly at their job, but it is generally for work purposes only. When we are consistently living in “work mode” and do not make time to maintain our sense of self, unfulfillment can settle in. Scheduling a few dates on your calendar each month for dining with friends, attending a fun event or just a simple get-together at a local coffee place can be refreshing and refueling. Interaction doesn’t have to just involve humans! Time spent with our furry friends has also shown to be beneficial for stress relief. An article from John Hopkins Medicine states “Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol , while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies).” For those that do not have pets of their own, volunteering at a local animal shelter is a great way to de-stress and give back!

Here at Think3, productivity and achieving goals is important to our work life but we also respect the need for our team’s rest. We encourage and support each team member to rest and re-fuel in their daily lives!

 

The Influence of TikTok on Brands

 

Undoubtedly, social media plays a massive role in defining how brands represent and interact with people online. The explosive growth that TikTok has had on the social media space has helped expand growth opportunities for creators and large brands alike. For example, a recent study by State Farm found that 52% of survey respondents said they would be more likely to purchase from a brand if they saw it on TikTok.

The influence of TikTok on brands is undeniable as consumers flock to this platform to find what they are looking for and express themselves. With the public interest surrounding this platform at an all-time high, brands have an excellent opportunity to seize the moment and grow their presence within the space.

Many successful brands have used TikTok as an opportunity to launch new lines and expand their influence within the space. TikTok has helped comedians, artists, and many other creators grow their audience to viral levels. There are numerous reasons why brands should use this platform and use it to develop their advertising revenue.

Are you still doubting the influence that TikTok has had on major consumer brands, trends, and advertising? Here are three commercials that were released in the last six months. The new Burger King Quarter Pound King sandwich advertisement shows the recent viral TikTok trend and song. Applebee’s goes all-in featuring the new Walker Hayes’ viral song and showcases popular dances from several TikTok creators while showcasing unique menu items. Coors Seltzer plays into the trend of “Thirst Traps,” unveiling the new line of hard seltzers.

Incorporating TikTok into your marketing strategy will allow you to get your message across as uniquely convenient for the consumer. Through this action, you’ll have the ability to reach people who otherwise may not be able to access and interact with your brand. As a result, you will be presented the opportunity to either convert customers into possible fans and followers or create a buzz around your brand’s image using this new social media network.

It is essential to understand that a majority of brands have not yet entered this space. If you are looking for a way to stand out as an innovator in the online marketing space, contact us today and see how Think3 can help create your own unique presence within the platform.

 

PRINT ADVERTISING 2021

 

B2B INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS

It is anticipated that most industry vertical publications will continue to consolidate into 2021. This could be a positive trend since the remaining publications will be more relevant to audiences. Also, as social distancing continues, and non-essential travel is avoided content delivered to the audience’s home for consumption becomes more of a connection point within industry circles. Therefore, let’s have a conversation of how to improve your print advertisement presence and media buys with B2B industry publications.

THE PERFECT MEDIA BUY

Negotiation with publication companies is an important component from the onset of the media buy. Print ads are incrementally more effective when they are combined with digital presence, email sponsored content and native content marketing. The top media sales representatives will present a comprehensive plan that meets the advertiser’s marketing objectives. Placing a single print ad insertion is not an effective approach to contributing to marketing goals. Working with the media sales representative to maximize all available assets offered from the publication is a huge step in making for a successful marketing campaign. Then, ask for the price you want to pay!

Timing is a main factor in ensuring your media dollars work to uplift your sales goals. It is a smart practice to chart out your key selling periods and more importantly your customer’s consideration period. When you can align your content and messaging with when your customer is in a decision-making phase this will elevate your marketing strategy. Similar to when you are investing in a key industry event, whether virtual or hopefully in the future in-person, priming your presence with a solid pre-event media presence can help maximize the marketing budget across all investments. One key take-away is to not get lost in the crowed space of special editions or pre-event editions. Think differently and create a plan that stands out from the competition.

DIFFERENTIATION

The key to having a successful print media presence is grounded in differentiation of creative, integration among other media buys, and strong language and call to actions. A proper audit of competitors and other advertisers in the publication will help to create a presence that stands out from the total print environment.

Ideally, you want to create a campaign that spans across several insertions. The main objective is to have a common thread of visuals, seductive content, or a series of calls to action that links the ad insertions together and avoids the boredom of creative that is re-run over and over again.

ENSURING PERFORMANCE

There are certain situations where testing publications alongside each other can offer superb insights into how effective each individual publication performs. Aligning run times and similar media insertions allows the marketer to assess how to spend future media budgets more effectively. It is also important to request from the publication for average performance metrics, so the marketer can assess their individual campaign compared to other advertisers that are targeting the same audience. Whatever you do, make sure you start with the end in mind, setting measurable objectives at the outset.

 

Branded Merchandise Ideas for Outdoor Events

The summer months are approaching, and outdoor events and activities are popping up nation-wide. As in-person events begin again and people are more active outside, there will be ample opportunities for businesses to use branded merchandise in their marketing efforts for both employees and customers.

Sponsorships

Companies participating as a sponsor for an event have a great opportunity for boosting exposure and brand awareness to thousands of people. The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) 2019 Survey reports that “Data shows the average household in the U.S. owns 30 promotional items.” Sports, festivals, music performances and community activities are popular events to sponsor. Many sponsorship packages include an exhibitor booth or other avenues to distribute merchandise to spectators. For the summer months, items such as baseball caps, rally towels, water bottles, sunscreen, beach balls, wearable speaker, drawstring bags, mini-fans, pens and sunglasses are great options that are both functionable and fun!

Exhibitor Booths

Outdoor events often have exhibitor booths available and are designed for companies to sell and promote their product or service. Branded merchandise is an effective way to boost traffic and sales leads. Create a merchandise strategy with items complementing your product or service. For example, if a company is selling moving services, incorporating a tape measure, tape dispenser, flashlight or small tool kit are helpful items for people in the market for that service. The goal is to be the popular booth that everyone wants to visit. The more visitors, the more impressions!

Employee Initiatives

The summer season is a perfect time for companies to encourage health initiatives. There are a number of high-quality active apparel items available to brand such as jackets, shirts, pullovers, fleeces and joggers. Wireless earbuds, health monitors, water bottles, beach towels and gym bags are all fun accessory options that also work well in rewarding and motivating. Employees can don the company logo while working out at the gym or running in the park for all to see!

Tips on Choosing Merchandise

• Select merchandise that reflects your brand or marketing campaign. For example, if your company has a spirited culture, choose merchandise that shows off your humor!
• Choose colors that complement your company or campaign logo.
• Coordinate merchandise with the message of your company slogan or tagline.
• Imprint contact information or social media handles along with your logo.
• Invest in volume discounts. The more you purchase, the bigger the price discount. Think about current and future opportunities to distribute materials. It is often helpful to have a supply of items on-hand for last minute promotion opportunities.
• Research current merchandise trends. Tech products such as wireless charging mousepads, power banks, and wireless headphones are popular with current crowds.

Branded merchandise is a cost-effective tool that increases brand awareness, generates sales leads and builds brand loyalty. ASI reports, “The cost per impression (CPI) of promotional products can be as low as 1/10 of one cent – lower than nearly any other advertising medium…” With so many different options available for branding, any business, in any industry will find items that will work great for their company. If you would like assistance in creating a winning merchandise strategy for your company, contact Think3 today or visit our merchandise store today Shop Today!

Networking

 

As we come out of the COVID pandemic, we can expect live events to surge. In the meantime, virtual events are still a great way to network and exchange industry goals and information. However, whether it be an in-person or virtual event you need to choose wisely as your time and efforts are precious.

Finding the Right Venue

When choosing the right event to spend your time here are some considerations:

• Time and place. Essentially spending time to network takes away from your daily work obligations. The opportunity should outweigh what your regular work schedule requires.
• Several events have a scale of investment levels. Chose the right event that meets your budget. There are times where sponsoring, presenting and exhibiting make sense while other situations can be successful with walking the floor, planning dinners or participating in social activities.
• Attendees and Sponsors. Your time is precious, so do the homework on ensuring the attendees and participating sponsors are on target. Check the attendee list from previous years of the event to help verify the participation list.

Know your Audience

Once you determine that the audience is on target for networking, create a target list of who you want to connect with at the event. Also, make sure to have specific talking points that will help make the connection point relevant. For instance:

• Do you have common connections?
• Do you have prior experience with their company?
• Do you know any pain points that they could be experiencing?
• Is their specific service offerings or product knowledge that you can offer to them?

Understand the Conversation

Strategize your conversation and goal from the networking interaction. Everyone’s time is important and ensuring that an effective conversation is respectful and effective. Managing the conversation is critical to offer mutual benefits. If there is something you can offer make sure that you present that all the while by connecting on a personal basis. Never forget we are all human and making a personal connection is key to building strong and confident relationships and partnerships.

Gain the Attended Outcome

Once you have established a strong networking conversation, make sure you state the desired outcome. Whether it is a simple business card exchange, an industry referral, a next meeting or a cocktail in the lobby…ask for the outcome that you are intending. Never leave a conversation as a pointless conversation.

Don’t be shy to go for the “ask”, your confidence is key to your success. Also, networking should be expected in certain situations. So be confident and lead with your entrepreneurial spirit.

Follow-up as Necessary

Now that you have established a connection, it is imperative to follow-up and continue the conversation. Refer to your notes from the conversation and recall specific topics that make the previous connection point memorable. Follow-up on the “ask” and move the conversation forward. Also keep in mind people are busy to staying in contact can be a multi-step activity. Ensure outreach via social media as well. LinkedIn is a great way to validate your business networking interchange as well following the individual on Twitter and Instagram. Maintaining updates on your social profiles is also very important to ensure your professional validity and relevance.

The Creative Process

By Paul Gilliam, Creative Director, Think3 Marketing

 

Part 1: an idea

I’m often asked about my creative process and more so about where ideas come from. This is seldom an easy question to answer and rarely has the same answer twice. So let me try and explain how I arrive at an idea for a project.

I feel that the base of a good idea is understanding more than just the project but the product, the company, and the goal. I try to think outside of just the “project” when I first speak to clients, asking questions about the company’s history, the company’s goals, the company’s values. I also look into the competition and what they are doing in the same space. Are they succeeding? Are they doing something bigger and better that we need to outshine? Do they have content that we can “one up” to show why we are the better option? By finding the answers to these questions it gives me a deeper insight into what the client truly wants from an end result and what will resonate with the customer base they have and want.

After getting as much information as I can about the project and the company behind the project, I give the information time to “simmer”. For me, letting ideas flow and bounce around off one another in my mind starts the refinement process. This also gives outside influences time to work themselves into the process (this is one of the most important steps). I feel many designers get an idea in their head right away then run with it. While this is great for a quick turnaround, and sometimes you really do “strike the nail on the head” often it closes you off to other ideas or refinements to your idea that could improve it. Allowing outside influences into your project helps to keep it current, on target and fresh. I have been struck with inspiration from movies, radio, my daughter, a car ride, shopping for pants, and many others.

Unlike many designers I know, I don’t put ideas down on paper until I have narrowed them down in my mind. I’m good in the Adobe Suite, but I can do it all much faster in my head, so if it doesn’t work there I don’t try and beat it out on “paper”. Once these ideas coalesce into something more firm, I move them to paper. This is where a project really starts to come together, and if the idea is strong, and the message is clear, the act of creation is much smoother.

At Think3, we think beyond they visuals, pushing creative solutions that not only “wow” in the visual spectrum, but drive a message that is refined and targeted to deliver maximum results. Check out our website to see how we can help you redefine what targeted marketing and design is about.

Now that we are moving to paper stay tune for “Part 2: a layout”.

 

Event Marketing

 

Corporate Meetings & Conferences

Corporate conferences are hugely effective in fostering alignment amongst leadership teams, kicking off a new year or motivating employees. Our event planners work with companies, organizations and associations to design strategy, goals, event branding, logistics, production and on-site management. We also gladly produce content, presentations and interactive exercises that deliver engagement and team building. So you don’t have to!

Tradeshows & Industry Summits

When you are looking to build a presence within the industry, we can lend some expertise. Whether it is a tradeshow, summit or industry association conference, we will work with you from start to finish, to determine the optimal level of participation, objectives and craft your on-site presence. Then we’ll build conversation around your exhibit with a newsletter, social media, website content, paid media campaign and industry publicity.

Customer & Dealer Events

Making connections is critical to building brand loyalty, especially with your customer base and dealer/distributor network. We create interactive environments and experiences that build better understanding and value of your organization among customers and your reseller network. We’ll help you craft effective communications and content strategy, while managing logistics, speaker management and on-site execution.

Training & Sales Meetings

Keeping your teams knowledgeable and passionate is a critical investment. We assist our client partners in creating the right agendas, objectives and interactive environments to train, launch new products, team build and motivate the teams responsible for your business growth. With engaging training materials, team building, meeting logistics, production and motivational speaker management, we’ll take the burden of event management off your shoulders so you can focus on your business needs.