Need to prepare for 2023? Three consumer macro-trends we’re watching
Part of our job at Sonic Promos is to keep up with consumer and retail trends. While we are a business to business sales organization, we need to know what end users want so we can make our recommendations relevant to our clients. The appeal of branded merchandise is that it’s advertising that is seen over and over again—often for years. Research also shows that people will change their perception of a brand in a positive way after receiving a branded promo product and are more likely to use the services of that brand than if they do not receive an item. In order to keep a promo item in use, it has to be three things: timely, on-trend, and useful. If it doesn’t hit the right notes, it ends up in the trash. So here are the macro-trends that we’re thinking about as we move through 2023 to help keep your promo products in front of customers. #1 First of all: consumers don’t want an item—they want an experience. This trend was already popping up before the COVID pandemic but has reached new heights in the past few years. At Sonic Promos, we’re delivering experiences in a few different ways: our branded kitting services, online portals, and in-person event activations. Part of that experience is also telling a story with the items you choose. Why are you giving away pens? Why did you choose that particular pen? Remember, promo items are seen over and over again and should invoke a memory or sentiment whenever they are seen. Make sure you are being consistent with the story of your swag. #2 The second big trend we see emerging are serious conversations about sustainable practices. Consumers are more conscious about their purchases than ever. Items shouldn’t just be reusable, they should have a clean and sustainable supply chain to reach them. We’re committed to sourcing more eco-friendly options that have a clean supply chain for our clients and providing transparency. #3 Finally, the third trend is quality. Fast fashion is out, quality is in. This is good news for marketers: a high quality items lasts a lot longer and gets used a lot more—giving your branding more impressions than ever. Sometimes that means that the pen you give away writes longer and smoother than the other guy’s pen. At Sonic Promos, we have the expertise to recommend those high quality, lasting items.
Viva Magenta! All About Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year
If you’re a designer or know a designer or work with a designer, you’re probably already familiar with the famous Pantone Color of the Year. If you don’t let me give you a quick overview: Pantone is a company that is responsible for the Pantone Matching System (PMS) used by printers and designers all over the world to make sure that a color is printed the same way all the time. This is important as brand logos rely heavily on color recognition. Imagine Target’s red being pink or maroon sometimes. Or some Best Buy employees wearing teal polos. Customer would be confused and it would hurt the image of these companies. Every year, Pantone releases their “Color of the Year.” It’s part marketing and part trend forecasting. In the paste, muted colors have reflected on a somber mood in society while bright colors usually indicate cheer or hope for the coming year. This year, Pantone has named Viva Magenta their Color of the Year for 2023. Per their website: “Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative. This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering. It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all”.” We have fun finding Pantone’s Color of the Year in our product offerings! If you’re looking to inject a little Viva Magenta into your marketing next year, we’ve got some options for you on our website.
Make Your Goals Stick!
January is commonly considered a month to reset our lives. After the hectic holidays, it’s a great time to rebalance and reflect on what we want to accomplish in the coming year. That is why so many people like to set some resolutions for themselves! If your January includes some new goals, we have a couple of tips to make them stick: 1. Break your goals into realistic steps. If running a marathon is in your sights but you haven’t run since elementary school PE, ask yourself how you can get to the marathon realistically. Maybe you commit to training for a 5k in the spring, a half marathon in the summer and then a full marathon in the fall. Give yourself a ladder to success. 2. Don’t get discouraged by failure. To fail is to be human. A year is a long time and many things can happen along the way to achieving your goal. Dry January is a popular resolution this year but if you have a drink two weeks into the month, that’s okay! Take it as a small moment of human failure instead of throwing away your goals. Keep pushing forward. 3. Dream big. Yes, your goals should be realistic but it’s good to have big goals. The process of achieving them will make the taste of victory that much sweeter. 4. Write them down. Keep a journal, write your goals on a post-it note or in a checklist. Writing helps ideas stick around longer and you can go back to read them if you ever forget or feel discouraged by your progress. 5. Start now! It’s already January 3 and it’s still okay to make resolutions and goals now. Or in a week or in a month! Your goals do not have to wait for a brand new start–you can set the timeline. Looking for some branded items to support and reward goal-setters this year? Check out our online catalog at signaturesonic.com
Sonic Promos Community Spotlight: Save a Child’s Heart
Sonic Promos Community Spotlight: Save a Child’s Heart Save a Child’s Heart began in 1995 in response to a gap in cardiac care for children. The founder, Dr. Ari Cohen, was contacted by a mutual friend from Ethiopia who had two children in his care that desperately needed surgery for their heart conditions. Dr. Cohen flew the children to Israel, got them the surgery they needed, and let them stay in his home while they recovered. Since then, Save a Child’s Heart has grown to an international organization that helps save children’s lives every single day. They do not discriminate on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or financial status. While they fly children from around the world into their hospital for care, they also send volunteers out to train local doctors on diagnosing and treating children with cardiac conditions. Recently, Save a Child’s Heart held their second fundraising gala in Washington, DC. They worked with Carmi from Sonic Promos to provide a giveaway to event attendees. A coaster was selected since it featured a large area that could be printed in full color and would be set on tables or desks—gaining more impressions over time. The photo on the coaster shows three children who we recipients of heart surgery. It was given to attendees as they left the event and will serve as a constant reminder of the work that Save a Child’s Heart does. If you want to find out more about Save a Child’s Heart, you can connect with them online: https://saveachildsheart.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saveachildsheart/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaveChildsHeart Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saveachildsheart/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/saveachildsheart1
Support Local Schools with Hanes4Education and Sonic Promos!
FAQ How much cash can a school earn from Hanes4Education? With Hanes4Education, schools can earn $0.10 for every eligible Hanes®, ComfortWash®, Alternative® and Champion® piece of apparel ordered from wholesalers for embellishment. For example, if you order 2,000 T-shirts, your designated school will receive a rebate check for $200.00. A maximum of $1,000 (10,000 pieces of apparel) can be earned per rebate request, and a single school may earn a maximum of $5,000 from the Hanes4Education® program per calendar year. Rebate requests in excess of this maximum will not carry over to the following calendar year. What schools qualify for Hanes4Education? Public and private schools (K-12) registered with the appropriate state agency are eligible to receive rebates from the Hanes4Education program. Do products purchased in stores qualify? The Hanes4Education® program only applies to Hanes®, ComfortWash®, Alternative® and Champion® shirts purchased in bulk for embellishment from wholesalers. Products purchased at retail stores do not qualify What types of products qualify for the Hanes4Education® program? Hanes®, ComfortWash®, Alternative® and Champion® printed T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and shorts purchased in bulk from wholesalers qualify for the Hanes4Education program. I have two schools that I would like to support. Can they both earn a cash rebate from my purchase? No. A single order may only be used once to support a rebate payment to a single school. Duplicate order submission is not allowed. However, you may have one order to benefit one school and another qualifying order to benefit a second school. Are there limits to how much money I can earn for schools? While each school can only earn up to $5,000 per calendar year, there are no limits on the amount a printer/PPD can earn in rebates to benefit schools through the program. If a school has reached its maximum of $5,000 per calendar year, you designate a different school. Of course, the maximum of $1,000 (10,000 printed shirts) per rebate submission still applies. Click here to browse qualifying styles
Deliver Joy! Sonic Promos 2022 Holiday Gifting Guide
Sonic Promos 2022 Holiday Gift Guide For the remote worker: For employees who are working from home, give them a gift that they’ll want to use outside of office hours. Pre-selected kits make holiday gifting easy. All items are branded and packaged together in an easy to mail box for maximum impact. Blankets have dominated the holiday market for years–for good reason. Coming straight from retail, Slowtide blankets are trendy enough to be valued and classic enough to stay. No need to stay quiet when you’re working from home. The Sonosphere speaker fills the room with sound and looks great while doing it. These Seventh Avenue Apothecary candles are hand-poured and crafted using American-grown soybeans and supplies sourced in the USA. Each candle is made from 100% natural soy wax. Proceeds from the sales go to our partnership with 1% for the Planet. For the in-office admins Thank those who keep the office running smoothly with some of these sweet gifts! Employee recognition isn’t just for show, it increases productivity and retention. These earbuds seamlessly transition from in the office to on the go. The Auden bamboo wireless charger and mousepad looks good and is good for the environment. A fresh twist on an old favorite: this ceramic mug is sure to be kept on hand. The wood lid adds some insulation to keep drinks hot through the day. Stylish and sustainable, this quarter zip is made from recycled and sustainably sourced materials. It looks good in the boardroom or out at happy hour. For the star sales person Reward that hustle with a gift the the sales team can use on the road! Custom jewelry and cufflinks are sure to be a high end hit for any sales team member. These items make great keepsakes year after year. TUMI is a market leader in luggage. For your sales team that’s always on the go and hustling for their next big break, give them something that reflects the hard work they do for you. Day Owl is committed to building the first circular bag, taking back and reusing landfill bound bags to make their items with. Their backpack is slim and sporty, ready to take on any challenge. Apple Airpods Max pair crystal clear audio with Active Noise Cancellation. These are a holiday gift winner for sure. For the client Where would we be without our clients? Show your appreciation to those who make your business grow every day. Treat towers are a huge hit around the holidays because they make an impact twice: once with your recipient and once with everyone they share it with. Bamboo and marble coaster sets have a high perceived value and make their way into the home–giving your brand staying power as it’s seen over and over again. Custom puzzles are a popular gift for anyone, especially ine post-covid world. We like them for their large, full color decoration that can pass on messages about you to your clients. These stemless wine glass tumblers are an elegant gift that have a give back benefit. For every order, a portion of the sale goes towards One Tree Planted reforestation initiatives. for the on-site team On-site workers will appreciate the appreciation you show them! These practical gifts are made to be used in any and all conditions. The Coleman Klondike cooler is rugged and spacious, the perfect gift for crews working outdoors all year long. Hydration is important when you’re working hard. These large 64oz jugs from Heritage Supply keep water cold or coffee hot for the whole team. Heritage Supply PRO collection features durable and functional products specifically built for the tradesperson. Keep your contracts and paperwork safe on-site with this rugged padfolio set. These recycled beanies are made out of 100% recycled polyester. Made for tough days and cold nights, a beanie is always appreciated. Looking for more? Click here
Upcoming Webinar: Tech Platforms for Programs
Join us next week for a short webinar on our most popular tech platforms to support our client programs! Our 15 minutes presentation will go over some of our platform options and how they can work for you and your marketing goals. Following the webinar, we will have some time for questions to be answered live. Register now: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=fgmqqd4ab&oeidk=a07ejalvmc490e0bda2
Press Release: Sonic Promos’ Kaitlyn Rygula Wins Industry “Up-and-Comer of the Year”
For Immediate Release April 6, 2022 Sonic Promos’ Kaitlyn Rygula Wins Industry “Up-and-Comer of the Year” Gaithersburg, MD— April 6, 2022 — The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) named Sonic Promos’ Brand Manager Kaitlyn Rygula as Up-and Comer of the Year for 2022. The list of winners has been released online and awards will be sent to winners of each category. Kaitlyn Rygula graduated from Hofstra University in 2017 and joined Sonic Promos in 2019. She never imagined herself in sales but after being hired as an assistant to Sonic Promos CEO Seth Weiner, she began building her own book of business. She uses a methodical approach to prospecting that involves heavy online research and targeted email blasts. Once she’s made a connection, her strategy is simple: Get to know clients and find out what’s going on in their lives. She notes down birthdays and asks after children and pets. But she also goes deeper, figuring out the best ways to communicate with each of her clients. Rygula’s favorite project to date was a fanny pack she helped create for Jamie Greenberg, a celebrity makeup artist in California. Greenberg was launching a new line, and to promote it, she wanted 500 custom fanny packs in her brand colors to send to celebrity clients. Sonic Promos worked with Greenberg’s team for about a month, getting the design placement just right and ordering preproduction samples to ensure everything was perfect. The day of the launch, stars like Chelsea Handler posted Instagram pics featuring the fanny pack Rygula had helped usher into being. “It was just really cool seeing it in the real world,” she says. The Advertising Specialty Institute is largest industry membership organization for promotional products professionals. The ASI Awrads are highly regarded by all members and the process is competitive. It announces awards in multiple categories every year for both distributors and vendor partners. Awardees go on to have distinguished careers in the industry. In response to winning the award, Rygula says, “I am so humbled to have received this award. It feels so awesome to be recognized, and it is validating that hard work does pay off.” She is on track to surpass her sales from 2021, continuing her trajectory of remarkable growth at Sonic Promos. Sonic Promos was founded in 1997 and is an award-winning branded product agency based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. ### The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, press only: Mallory Scott mallory@sonicpromos.com For more information on Kaitlyn Rygula: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-hannon/ kaitlyn@sonicpromos.com For more information on Sonic Promos: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonic-promos https://www.sonicpromos.com 301.869.7800
Trend Alert: Get Coastal Grandmother Swag
Trending Now: Coastal Grandmother Style The latest trend from TikTok has hit the mainstream and luckily, no dancing is required. The “Coastal Grandmother” trend is defining our summer styles and Sonic Promos can make it work for your new marketing campaign. First described by TikToker @lexnicoleta, Coastal Grandmothers are people who “love Nancy Meyers movies, coastal vibes, recipes and cooking, Ina Garten, cozy interiors, and more.” And no, as she takes care to explain, you don’t have to be an actual grandmother to be a Coastal Grandmother. Need some examples? While trends come and go, there is something timeless about the aesthetic that Coastal Grandmother encompasses. It’s full of earthy and neutral tones, loose fitting clothing and an air of relaxed classiness. If you want to pull in these vibes for your next campaign, let us help you: Interested in tapping into this style? Send us an email or give us a call at 301.869.7800 to see how we can help you with your next on trend marketing campaign!
Clone our programs!
Welcome to the Sonic Promos Client Club! You’re here because you’ve done amazing things–like choosing to work with Sonic Promos. Thanks for all your support! Back in 1997, when Sonic Promos was first started, another notable announcement was made to the world: scientists had successfully cloned a large mammal from an adult cell. Her name was Dolly and she was launched into immediate celebrity status. While Sonic Promos doesn’t have Dolly’s name recognition (yet), we have also been helping launch brands and companies into the world for the past 25 years. Our years of expertise is why we want you to CLONE OUR PROGRAMS. You don’t have to feel like you are reinventing the wheel. Let us use our successful programs as the template for your next marketing campaign! What is an online program useful for? Want to know more? Check out our latest webinar about our platforms here: See some demos in action here: Simple Store: https://athenasimplestore.orderpromos.com/ https://athena.orderpromos.com/ Basic Company Store: https://blueprint.mybrightsites.com/ Advanced Company Store: https://athena.mybrightsites.com/ For demos of our retail rewards and gift cards programs, reach out to us for codes and demo links! Need more info? Call us at 301.869.7800 or email us at info@sonicpromos.com