Considering Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow a few weeks ago and we’re facing six more weeks of winter, we’ll keep our fleece handy for a bit longer. It’s our go-to layer when it’s chilly, and based on many of our orders we know it’s also a favorite for people across the country.
Why is fleece so great? Pound for pound, it provides twice the insulation of merino wool and four times the insulation of cotton. (Not bad.)
It wasn’t until about 1979 and the invention of Polar fleece by a company called Malden Mills (now Polartec LLC), that a fabric was able to be warm, lightweight, and perform well even when wet, although those wearing it will likely perspire less, allowing them to be cool and dry when not active and will retain more body heat when they are active. (Great for skiing, snowshoeing, even dog walking!)
But what’s it made out of? Polyethylene terephthalate (say that three times fast) or other synthetic fibers, or sometimes from recycled plastics such as soda bottles. Typically, it takes about 25 disposed plastic bottles to make enough polar fleece for one piece of clothing.
It’s easy to wash. Easy to dry. Vegan. Comfy. Durable. Looks good. And just feels good to wear. It was even named “One of the hundred great things of the 20th century” by Time Magazine in 1999.
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Seems to be the case with Sherwin Williams new LetsChipIt.com website. Their ad agency’s copywriter was looking to create easy color palettes so she teamed up with a few other smarties to create the site, which uses an algorithm to analyze every pixel in the image and find prominent colors. It then composites the top 10 into a shareable ChipCard.
Take your favorite photo, piece of art or whatever you just pinned on Pinterest and turn it into the color palette for the room you’ve been waiting to decorate. Of COURSE you’ll buy the paint from Sherwin Williams, they’ve made it too easy not to!
Amazing what technology can do to bring an idea to life. What image would you pick to create your new living room? Too bad painting the room isn’t as easy as picking the paint!
A recent article from Ad Age, Why Brand Love, Satisfaction Aren’t Keeping Shoppers Faithful, shares recent survey results about brand loyalty and satisfaction. More than half of U.S. consumers switched brands last year despite their reported increase in satisfaction. Consumers are happier with shorter wait times, the ability to solve issues without having to speak to someone, and the ability to resolve an issue by speaking to just one person.
So with the higher satisfaction, why the switching? Higher expectations. No wait times and easy issue resolution has become the norm. Now companies must do more to keep customers loyal.
With love on our minds this Valentine’s Day, we can’t help but compare brand loyalty to a romantic relationship. Patty Smythe was right when she sang, “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough.” Good relationships take work. We thought of a few tips that might keep the spark alive (and keep your customers loyal!).
Be yourself. No one wants you to pretend you are anything but your authentic self.
Pay attention to their needs.
Listen. Listen. Listen.
Be honest.
Admit when you are wrong. Fix it. And don’t do it again.
Show your appreciation.
Surprise them with something good!
Give them your best.
You must have mutual trust and respect.
Don’t take them for granted.
Surely there’s nothing surprising on this list, but we all need a little reminder now and then to exceed expectations for the people we want to keep in our life.
Whether you have any of her music in your library or not, you can probably sing (or dance) along to many Madonna songs. As we joined the more than 114 million viewers in the most-watched Halftime show during last Sunday’s Superbowl, it was obvious that Madonna is a branding master. (Did anyone else Vogue in your living room or was it just us?)
Since her debut album in 1983 Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the world’s top-selling female recording artist of all time by the Guinness World Records. Not bad for a girl from Bay City, Michigan.
In the nearly three decades of her reign as a household name she’s reinvented herself time and time again: dancer, singer, director, producer, actress, mother, wife, humanitarian. She’s been provocative and tame, outspoken and peaceful. While every movie and album (and marriage) wasn’t a wild success, she’s always been on the forefront of fashion, trends, and pop culture. And she’s reinvented herself to not only keep up with, but also set the trends.
We try to stay ahead of the trends at Promolux. Just like the technology, automotive and food businesses have trends (cake pops, anyone?), promotional products also have cycles and trends. We spend time researching the newest and latest products to help you represent your company in the coolest way possible.
As for the Madonna jelly bracelet phase? While some of us might not wear all 50 bracelets half-way up our arm as part of our daily wardrobe, we keep them safely tucked in a drawer as a reminder of the days we belted out Borderline in front of the mirror.
Last month we talked about our vintage t-shirt collection [here]. While it’s still small, we’re staying on the look-out for shirts and designs that speak to us.
Today, a recognizable classic:
This classic design originated in 1977. Graphic designer Milton Glaser was recruited to work with ad agency Wells Rich Greene to develop a marketing campaign for New York State. He did the work pro bono, only expecting the campaign to last a few months. Decades later, this icon is still a big seller and instantly recognizable. Doyle donated Glaser’s original concept sketch and presentation boards to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Anyone who has been to camp knows it’s an experience that stays with you forever. You’ll always remember the name of your favorite counselor, the first person you kissed behind the tree (or wish you did!), the crazy camp songs, the smell of the campfire, and the taste of s’mores. Even though you outgrew the shirt you got at camp – the one you wore so much it faded and tattered – you kept it because it was a symbol of one of the best weeks of your life.
We have the pleasure of working with a number of camps across the country. We’re inspired by their passion for camping and for giving kids a great experience. We want to help kids – and their parents – relive the memories of camp all year round. What better way than with some pretty cool gear?
Are you a camp director? Take a test drive on our sample online camp gear store. Tell us a little about yourself and you just might get a little something. Let us know if you’d like an online store for your camp. (Even though this is a YMCA-focused site, we can tailor for any camp.)
Spread the word to your camping colleagues about this great way to keep your camp top-of-mind all year long!
Not a camp director, but would love an online store for your own customers? Let us know that, too.
We get inspired and a little geeked out around here when we see creativity in marketing and advertising. Lately, we’ve posted some of the new Superbowl ads on Facebook (have you liked us yet?). Pretty amazing when a 30-second commercial can make you laugh, want to share it, and – most importantly – remember it. (And of course buy what they are selling!)
Arguably one of the most creative minds in our time is Steve Jobs. He (humbly) had this to say about the topic, “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.”
The truth is, everyone doesn’t see things the same way, and we’re not all able to connect things so brilliantly. So it’s pretty cool that those who do are willing to share.
A top ad agency, Ogilvy Chicago paid tribute to their agency’s co-founder using push pins. While not a new concept, we liked the manner in which they shared it with us: cool music, video, and a pretty darn good portrait. (Words of wisdom at :55, “Don’t be a bore. You cannot bore people into buying your product.”)
Hmmm…maybe there’s an embroidered Tyra somewhere in our future?!?!
Mostly sunny, windy and very cold
High: 8
Wind Chill: -15
Wind: NW 15-20 mph gusting to 25 mph
Thick socks. Check.
Lots of layers: Check.
Gloves. Heavy coat. Check. Check.
And lastly…my hat. Double check!
While it’s been disproven that most of your body’s heat loss is through your head (they say now it’s only less than 1/3 to 1/5 of total heat loss), I’ll keep all the body heat I can. Besides, there are some pretty great looking options, all of which can bear YOUR logo.
Used to be we’d worry that a hat would mess up our hair. Now it’s one of the coolest (rather, hottest) accessories out there. In any climate.
Today we celebrate the life of a man who changed the course of history, whose bravery inspired a nation, and whose courage defied the threats and hatred that tried to silence him. Across our nation the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are quoted to remember the struggle and the triumph of a movement and to inspire us all to continue to work towards peace and acceptance.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Then, it was race. Today, it is still race, but also divisions of social class, poverty, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious beliefs. While we have come so far since the 1960s, we still have a long way to go.
The time is always right to do what is right.
We are faced every day with opportunities to do what is right. Sometimes it is as small as helping an elderly woman carry groceries to her car. Other times it is as difficult as speaking out against an injustice or prejudice.
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the
silence of our friends.
But we must continue to use our voice and to live in the spirit of Dr. King. To live with light and peace, love and acceptance. To bring his Dream to reality.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Malden Mills (now Polartec LLC), that a fabric was able to be warm, lightweight, and perform well even when wet, although those wearing it will likely perspire less, allowing them to be cool and dry when not active and will retain more body heat when they are active. (Great for skiing, snowshoeing, even dog walking!)
