Insinc Promotions

spotlight on: Tommy Hilfiger

2012-02-16T10:47:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited that Tommy Hilfiger has entered the corporate market. With the nautical flare they are known for, Tommy speaks loudly to both the modern and the traditional which are under your umbrella. It is their first year, and I think they've done an excellent job at selecting key pieces that will work for your market.

Tommy Hilfiger Ace Polo

Tommy Hilfiger Clinton Shirt

Tommy Hilfiger Linton Jacket

Tommy Hilfiger Lionel Vest

Recommended branding is subtle, meaning that your clients and employees will wear this both on and off the clock, day and day again.

Let's give Tommy a warm welcome to our wonderful corporate world!

What do you colours say? Part Deux

2012-02-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

Colours draw me in, my eye just seems to gravitate towards them - I'm sure yours does too. Which can only mean your clients does! Ahh logic on a Friday morning, nothing beats it.

Let's play with colour today!

my favourite new product! the softspout water bottle w/ a silicone sipper!

inspire nostalgia w/ Lifesavers!

custom microfiber cleaning cloth that screams whatever message you'd like it to!

sticky spiral book, a must have for the desktop

can't wait to wash my car in the summer with this custom sublimated chamois

a brave colour choice, compliments of Fila

mmmmmmm...m&m's....

this toy watch can spruce up the greyest of days and the blackest of outfits!

Your turn! What are your favourite colourful items this season?

What do your colours say?

2012-02-09T08:54:00.003-05:00

click to enlarge

Ask us how to incorporate more colours into your branding (without even changing your corporate colours)! Promise, you will love what we have to recommend.

Wellness Ideas

2012-02-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

Wellness Ideas: These branded products are perfect for wellness, healthcare and stress relief initiatives.

Logo Board Game

2011-11-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

Working in the branding industry has made us much more aware of logos, and we spot them from miles away (we're so proud when we see your logos out there!). They're not just a part of OUR daily living though, they're a part of consumers everywhere! There's actually a new game out there called the Logo Board Game:

A lot of these logos give a nostalgic feelings (like how excited you'd get as a kid to open up a pack of Sun-Maid Raisons) which made us think that your brand can pick up on the nostalgic vibe too! Giving warm and fuzzy feelings to your customers.

What DOESN'T the Magic Answer Ball know?!

Custom mmmmmm&m's

The song "You take a piece from the bottom and you put it on top!" comes to mind...

I've still never figured this one out...

Everyone loves a promo spring!

Getting back on track

2011-11-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

Food is the way to my heart. I let Halloween in to my heart - rather, the chips, when I came into the office and opened my desk to a drawer FULL of Lay's! I let them in alright, I can own it. So now I'm trying to get back on track. There are quite a number of products in the industry that can help me! I've narrowed them down to my favourites.

Food jar for our famous homemade soups.

Drink more water by adding fruit and herbs to the infuser!

This actually filters your water - awesome for the days when all you have is a tap.

Shake shake shake your protein shakes and keep smoothies smoothe.

Just big enough to pack my breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Nice & Naughty Lists

2011-10-26T11:12:00.002-04:00

Ever since I was little, I've been a catalogue shopper. Enter internet. I become an internet shopper. So yes, I'm familiar with the Brookstone line. It has recently been introduced to the promotional market, so you can gift your Nice List with these memorable gifts which will be valued.


This bad boy actually rotates automatically & steams for EASY grill cleaning!

A revolutionary new lever-pull design that allows for effortless corkscrew removal.

Just push to remove the caps effortlessly! A must for every household.

This ultra-thin travel speaker works w/ your MP3 player, smartphone, laptop and more!

And for those with a Naughty List, we've got you covered too...

Marbled rock stress reliever... Marbled rock, that sounds better, right?

Eye Spy with my Little I

2011-09-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

Something that is awesome!

The temperature at which wine is served can have a dramatic impact on its
taste. Our stainless steel wine thermometer makes sure that the serving
temperature for your wine will be correct. The thermometer clips around
any standard size 750ml wine bottle and displays the temperature on the
easy to read illuminated scale. Use the guide printed on the thermometer
to check champagne, sparkling wine, sweet white wine, aperitifs, rose,
chianti, dry white wine, very dry sherry, medium sherry, burgundy, cream
sherry, claret, and port.

Cheers to that.

we heart bbq's

2011-07-21T10:29:00.000-04:00

When we go on vacations around here, we go on the hunt for hot sauces. We like to get them, we like to give them, we like to keep our fridges fully stocked with a minimum of 3 types.

BBQ Sauce, Sweet Chili Sauce and Seasonings are great to give away:

at tradeshows
company BBQ's
with street teams at summer concerts and sporting events
as employee incentives
to your clients and customers

seasonings!


bbq / sweet chili sauce

get on board

2011-07-20T11:31:00.000-04:00

This last weekend I had the chance to get up to Honey Harbour to a friends island. Water sports were plentiful up around the islands. It's time to get on board!

skimboard

wakeboard

bodyboard


eva foam surfboard

and of course we wouldn't be canadian if we didn't pump you up for...

the almighty snowboard!

the heat factor

2011-07-20T11:07:00.000-04:00

Here in Toronto, we are just beginning the heat wave. It's hot and we're glad to be in an air conditioned office, we feel for those working outside in this. Tomorrow might even be the hottest day recorded in Toronto. Ever!

With all of this heat on our minds, it's got us thinking about how to add some to your promotions. Enter retail image. We like to crack open boxes, we like to rip through the packaging, this is proven every birthday and Christmas!

Here are just a few ways that we can attach that excited feeling to your brand:

t-shirt, all wrapped up!

add your item to this custom card!

pizza cutter in a little pizza box!

gifting mugs

We'll chat soon about the many possibilities :)

safety slogans

2011-06-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me. Ha! We're suckers for a good pun, or clever tie in's. From Advantages, our favourite industry read, here are some great lines:

"Never Take A Break From Safety" imprinted on a lunchbox.
"Get A Grip On Home Safety" imprinted on rubber jar openers (I LOVE these!).
"It Can't Hurt To Be Too Safe" imprinted on a first-aid kit.
"Heads Up For Safety" imprinted on a cap.
"Safety Shines" imprinted flashlights and LED keychains.
"Step First Into Safety" imprinted on an indoor/outdoor mat.
"Take Time For Safety" imprinted on watches or clocks.
"Quench Your Thirst, Think Safety First" imprinted on sports bottles or travel tumbler.
"Eyes On Safety" imprinted on goggles or sunglasses.
"Take Safety On The Road" imprinted on a travel emergency kit.

What's your favourite pun?

safety program primer

2011-06-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

Nearly 3 times as many employees suffer injuries while not at work. In response, the National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) recently launched the Family Safety & Health Employer Resource, a tool for safety professionals, wellness coordinators, HR professionals and others to promote safety beyond the workplace. This free online guide will help you plan programs to benefit employers by focusing on how employees can stay safe around the clock, at home and at work.

An effective way to keep employees safe when away from the worksite is to provide them with safety items that they can take home with them (such as first-aid kits, emergency preparedness tools, flashlights & weather radios).

Some of our faves...


This light is magnetic & allows you to use both hands! Also has a fancy little laser pointer. As low as $3.99!

Regulation body temperature is extremely important during the hot outdoor events. This scarf actually cools the body! (Think golf / marathons / picnics). As low as $2.89!

Keep your employees and their families safe! This Power Bar Charger allows the car to be charged from INSIDE the car! As low as $45.99!

This Roadside Rescue Kit is a MUST for every family! As low as $23.95!

What's YOUR favourite safety tool?

Life Saver

2011-05-16T15:02:00.000-04:00

One of the Insinc team members just came back from sunny and beautiful Negril. Working in an industry where this fine product is available, she was disappointed to discover it days after having to unplug televisions and lamps just to use the hair straighter and iPod speaker. This little guy would have left room in her overweight suitcase for the 10 bottles of hot sauce she brought back. Imagine the thank-you's your clients will give you when you save them from having to get ready for a-la-carte dinner in the dark. You're welcome.

As low as $10.25!

No Power

2011-05-03T09:30:00.001-04:00

Last week, we were one of the lucky blocks in the GTA without power because of the windstorm. For. The. Entire. Day! This gave us time for some much needed spring cleaning and power reading (by window light)! A great article from one our favourite magazines helped to lead the way:

Everyone from Fortune 500 companies to one man operations should organize their daytimers and calendars around a 3-way colour coded system for folders, tasks, mail and flags.

GREEN: GO! Green tasks take precendence. Marketing, selling and fulfilling client obligations are top priority (at Insinc, our clients are absolutely our driving force).

YELLOW: Those we need to do, but not at the expense of green.

RED: Lowest priority, those matters that have essentially no impact on business that can be dealt with after hours.

some of our favourite colours

We love ourselves some colours, the more the merrier! But fine, if we have to narrow it down to 3, we'll do it.

Source: Advantages

brands for on & off the green

2011-04-27T10:10:00.000-04:00

Associating your company with elite brand names instantly boosts your reputation. Yes, we said it. Instantly. Your clients will be tickled pink to receive this high end golf apparel, ensuring that your logo will be seen for years to come!

Orders of any of these brands, over $1000 will receive a discount of 10% when you mention the code: APRILSHOWERS11. What are you waiting for? Order by April 29th!

QR Codes

2011-04-01T13:58:00.000-04:00

Wondering how to use QR Codes for your next project? Get inspired.

Liquor Brand? How about a personalized link to drink and food recipes?

Law firm? Think about linking your code to your newsletter or to automatically dial you number.

Fitness center? With just a click your target audience can be viewing a Youtube workout video that you've posted as inspiration!

Mining companies? Linking your code to your investors section can keep your investors in the know.

One of the greatest things about QR Codes is that we now have the technology to brand your promotional items with them! From umbrellas, to totes, to BBQ sets - we're ready to take on your QR project.

Take a peek at some examples of what has been done and let the creative juices flow to where you can go.

For a great link to a QR Generator, see: http://www.qrstuff.com/

The Basics of QR Codes

2011-03-04T08:40:00.002-05:00

What is a QR code?

QR means quick response and is a barcode read by a smart phone.

How does someone read a QR code?

QR code scanners are "apps" that run in a smart phones. They are available from a number of providers for no charge.

What information does a QR code contain?

They contain a web page address (URL) and other information such as websites, e-mail addresses and contact information.

How is a QR code made?

It is generated by software and is generally created by the company printing the media on which it is displayed.

Visit again next week to learn how to make QR codes work for you! Or give us a call: 416.251.9403

Monday Mornings

2011-02-07T09:31:00.000-05:00

First thing on a Monday morning at the office, our favourite thing to do is bond over weekend stories. We share stories about the new dance we learned (salsa / line dancing), that amazing book that we read cover to cover (we even have an unofficial book club!) and our silly cooking fiascos! Monday mornings are never dull. What better to rise and shine to the week? But it would not be the same without a cup of coffee in hand. I repeat, not!

Next Friday, gift your employees and customers with Fair Trade Coffee with a note that you can't wait to hear about their weekend on Monday morning over a cup of coffee. You never know what brilliance will be sparked!

To see your logo on this product, click or call. info@insincpro.com | 416.251.9403

How Much Water Should You Drink Today?

2011-02-01T09:17:00.000-05:00

I want to share this link with you - it's a 30 second quiz that will help you determine how much water you should drink today. Neato!

http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

Awesome New Drinkware for 2011

2011-02-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

Drinkware continues to thrive in 2011! With the ever growing responsibility that we are taking amongst ourselves, it just makes sense. When I used to drink out of plastic water bottles, I would never throw them away. I would keep my growing collection by my side so that I could recycle them. This made me just how aware of how many I would go through! Now, I keep my trusty stainless steel water bottle in my purse, in my car, on my desk and my nightstand and it never lets me down (except for the time that I spilled it in my purse and ruined my Blackberry).

Being that one of my 2011 resolutions is to drink more water, I just might have to add these suave new styles into the bottle repertoire. I just hope la stainless doesn't take it personally...

I can't pick just one, please don't make me!

To see your logo on one of these, call us: 416.251.9403 or email us: info@insincpro.com

2011 Image Awards

2011-01-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

Here's a little snapshot of us at the PPPC Image Awards on Monday night. It was a great night, with many fun memories that were made.

Left to right: Leah Cormier, Irene Oseli, Melissa Quito, Tara Cline and Kyle Davidson.

Unfortunately, our team members Ginette Juha and Irene Cappuccitti couldn't be with us that night, but certainly were in spirit!

Do Promotions Really Work?

2011-01-20T10:16:00.000-05:00

The proof is in the pudding! According to a survey conducted by the Advertising Specialty Institute:

• 84% respondents remembered the advertisers of the promotional products they’re received.

• 42% of respondents had a MORE favorable impression of an advertiser after receiving the item. And 24% said they are MORE likely to do business with the advertiser on the items they receive.

• 62% have done business with the advertiser on a promotional product after receiving the item.

• Writing instruments are the most-recalled advertising specialty items (54% of respondents recall owning them), followed by shirts, caps and bags.

• The majority (81%) of promotional products were kept because they were considered useful.

• More than three-quarters of respondents have had their items for more than 6 months.

• Among wearables, bags were reported to be used most frequently with respondents indicating that they used their bags an average of 9 times per month. They also deliver the most impressions: Each bag averages 1,038 impressions per month!

• The average CPI of an advertising specialty item is $0.004; as a result, marketers get a more favorable return on investment from advertising specialties than nearly any other popular advertising media.

Now isn't that something?

For the full report, click here.

What's Your Favourite Promotional Product?

2011-01-13T14:04:00.002-05:00

Who better to ask than the gurus themselves?

Leah

"My favourite promotional item has to be sticky notes/flags. I always use them to leave myself notes, mark pages, and highlight items. It’s a multi-functional item, and when branded it leaves your logo front and center on your customer desk. It’s a win win in my eyes :)"

Ginette

"I think my new favorite promotional product is the notebook. With the prevalent use of calendars in our BlackBerrys and I phones, nobody carries a day timer anymore! But the need to keep notes during meetings, or to log my work on a project still calls for pen to paper. The notebook allows me to have all of the info in one spot (no notes on scraps of paper, which can never be found when I want them!). And the logo on the cover is prominently displayed every time I take it out at a meeting. Useful, AND with a long shelf life!"

Irene O

"I love a custom calendar, pre-printed with industry events and Holidays! It's helpful to help me plan out the year and stay on top of my game. I find them to be so useful that I have one on my desk, one on my wall and one on the master wall. Keep them coming! I can never have enough."

Kyle

"HMMM it's hard to pick a specific item that has really stuck out since I have been in a position to be buried in promo gifts since I was 10 [having been raised by promotional product gurus]! I suppose my favourites are the ones I have had to earn by signing up for arbitrary credit cards or catching t-shirts that have been shot out of a cannons. I do have a nice collection of beer glasses from different sources. I find beer tastes better out of a nice glass. I got one from my old employer, Boston Pizza. It has a gold rim around the top and some gold cursive writing I've still yet to read. As long as beer stays delicious, I will collect the glasses."

Tara

"My favourite promotional item is a reusable stainless steel water bottle. They are durable, reliable and light weight which is great for work or to take to the gym! With a product like this it could be used daily, which means the logo is seen everyday. They are also environmentally friendly which is a huge bonus."

Irene C

I love the goofy laughing pens, I can't get enough of their laughs! Every executive should have one on their desk for those long days when they just needs to hear... "click here" . It also works great when you tell a joke that just doesn't go over as well as it did in your head *cue goofy laugh*"

Melissa

"Hand sanitizer is something that I will always stop and pick up at a trade show & happy to receive in any trade show bag. I keep one on my desk, one in my car and one in my purse (umm..not that I'm a germophobe or anything, ha!). It's nice to have during the cold season, after pumping gas at the station or before eating on the go. The best part is that when someone takes out hand sanitizer, it has to make it's way around the whole group right? Well there goes YOUR logo across the hands of 6 people each time I take it out (repeat as necessary)! It's inexpensive and leaves a lasting impression and product with your customers."

The Future of Apparel

2010-12-21T13:52:00.002-05:00

An interesting video on the future of apparel (after a short advertisement):

Feliz Navidad

2010-12-15T12:44:00.003-05:00

To see the team at Insinc performing Feliz Navidad for your viewing pleasure, click here!

Announcement

2010-12-15T12:37:00.003-05:00

As we're hustling through the busy Holiday Season, we wanted to share the great news with you. We won't make you guess or keep you waiting... Insinc Promotions is up for a PPPC Image Award in the Professional-Dealer category! We're looking forward to the Awards Show to discover whether we have been placed with the Gold, Silver or Bronze award. We're excited whatever the outcome is... It's an honour to be recognized within our industry!

Year Round Gift Giving

2010-10-05T12:46:00.000-04:00

When it comes to gifting, be a little creative. Instead of focusing on the winter holidays, look for wacky occasions to let your clients know you're thinking about them (every day).

January
Everyone loves to have a little fun and unwind, so organize a trivia event as a team-building exercise! In honor of Trivia Day on January 4, hand out imprinted trivia books and games to share in the fun.

February
Since we all know that April showers bring May flowers, you'll be surprised to hear that National Umbrella Day is February 10! Be 2 months ahead of the game by handing out high quality umbrellas to your top clients.

March
I'm not making this up just because I love potato chips - National Potato Chips Day is March 14! What better way to celebrate than imprinting bags of chips and sending them off to your clients? Everyone can enjoy a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. As a lasting add-on, hand out imprinted bag clips with the bags! And for those of you who hand out tooth brushes at Halloween, how about a pedometer to help log some steps?

April
Garlic Day is April 19! For those in the health industry, we encourage you to spread the word of the benefits of garlic (which is considered a "miracle food"). It's also great for those in the food industry. Gifting idea? Spice racks of course! Or a fun garlic shaped stress reliever!

May
Nurses Day is May 6, and it's an excellent time for physicians, hospitals and clinics to show nurses how valuable they are by giving them fashionable, high-quality, "feel good" scrubs!

June
June 4 is Cheese Day. There are a lot of great opportunities for gifting on this tasty day, whether it's wine and cheese pairings (for those in the beverage industry especially), fondue sets or cheese knife sets. Tempt your client's palette with some cheesy snacks.

Also in June is Take Your Dog to Work Day (on the 25th). This is a great opportunity to add furry fun to an otherwise normal day in the office. You can imprint pet seat belts, waste bags and saddle bags to support your promotion!

July
July 29 is National Lipstick Day, so for you salons, spas and all other female oriented industries - celebrate in style! Whether it's a lipstick-shape pen, or purse-shape USB drive, you're bound to tap into the appreciation of pampering.

August
Do you need a reason to celebrate happy hour? August 5 is National Beer Day! Calling all bars and restaurants, let your patrons know about the value of unwinding with a beer or two. As a token to remember this special occasion, offer beer mugs, steins and even packaged nuts!

September
Your clients are the reason that you stay in business, so show them how grateful you are on National Thank You Day on September 27. Say thanks with a personalized and creative gift.

October
Everyone recognizes the importance of financial education, so make sure your customers know that October 21 is Get Smart About Credit Day. Banks, credit unions and financial aid offices - think about educating your consumers with a piggy bank.

November
Encourage the whole family to curl up by the fire with a cup of tea and a good book, as November 1 is National Family Literacy Day. With texting, video games and computers filling the world today, it's nice to remind your clients that reading a book is a great family activity. Send home a good book and a packet of logo'd tea/hot cocoa with a note about this special day.

December
Looking for an excuse to hit the casino? December 4 is National Dice Day, so roll 'em! Dice can be used as a promotional item for all sorts of events, whether it's Casino Night or Family Game Night!

If you have any ideas you'd like to discuss, send us an email at info@insincpro.com

When to produce custom

2010-09-16T08:58:00.002-04:00

Firstly, what is a custom product? It's an item developed from a concept to delivery exclusively for your brand.

Now, you've probably always loved the idea of producing a custom project - here are the top reasons to take action:

1. A special event or milestone (gift to employees)
2. To add that extra WOW factor
3. A product launch or opening of a new facility
4. When your campaign needs a cutting edge promotional product that picks up on trend directions
5. If your campaign requires custom pantone colours and characters you'd like to incorporate into promotions

At Insinc, we work with the finest overseas factories which produce fantastic results. Let us know about your project so that we can help plan. Keep in mind, overseas custom projects typically take 10-12 weeks (although we have been known to pull off miracles!).

TOPS+ Show Invite

2010-08-09T11:41:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday! You're invited to the upcoming TOPS+ Show! We'd love to see you there. You're certain to leave with plenty of ideas to plan for your 2011 year.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to info@insincpro.com with the name(s) of attendee(s) by September 3, 2010.

Mix & Mingle

2010-07-27T14:09:00.000-04:00

Are you using conferences and business social events to your advantage? Most people just talk to a small group of people from their company and miss the opportunity to meet new people and potentially new clients! Here are some tips:

- One is the loneliest number. Go up to the person who is alone; they will be grateful for the company. Introduce yourself, shake hands and ask a question. If they seem disinterested, excuse yourself and try again with someone new.

- Get some good eats. Take advantage of the food and drink line to spark up conversation while you are waiting. Say something positive about the food, surroundings or the event itself and if you get a response, converse away!

- Tag-team it. Two person groups are often in private conversations and therefore harder to join. When you see a larger group, casually join in and listen for awhile, when appropriate add in to the conversation!

Remember that practice makes perfect. You never know what great opportunities are right around the corner.

Source: Advantages

Bring your lunch to work!

2010-04-05T10:40:00.007-04:00

Everyday at about noon people everywhere flock to the local coffee shop / fast food joint / drive-thru. It's time to start packing healthy lunches to fuel you throughout the busy days. These soon-to-launch lunch bags serve a convenient carry bag and also remind you that: "Bring your lunch to work and save $5 a day, $100 a month, $1200 a year!". It's a great way to launch your company Health & Wellness program!

Step Up Challenge

2010-03-25T10:10:00.004-04:00

The sun has come out of hiding and gotten me thinking about cottages, beaches and... shedding some "winter insulation". In the month of April, Insinc is having a friendly "Step Up" walking competition! Here's how you can too:

1) Brand pedometers with your logo and an inspiration message and distribute them to employees, volunteers and customers.

2) Announce the prizes for the Top 3 Steppers!

3) TIP: Have them register at http://www.active2010.ca/PedometerChallenge/ to keep track of their daily steps (and compete against other groups & companies!). If not everybody participating has access to a computer, hand out branded jotters & pens for everybody to keep track.

Call us and say the magic words, "We want to Step Up too!" and let us do the rest.

Logorama

2010-03-23T15:47:00.008-04:00

Gone are the days when we'd hang on to every word of every commercial to avoid missing even a second of 'Who's the Boss?'. Enter Tivo: where ads can be skipped with the click of a button. The days of product placement are among us - every computer is a Brand X & every cola is Brand Y.

While watching a snippet of the Oscar's 2010, this caught my eye... No beating around the bush!

Can you spot your logo?

why you should care about trends

2010-03-23T15:22:00.007-04:00

Let's say you're targeting young adult women. Would it be more effective to giveaway a boxy cotton t with a one-colour imprint of your brand's logo? Or to give them a lightweight, fitted burnout t-shirt with a tattoo-inspired design a la Ed Hardy? The latter, of course!

Bottom Line: You have to apply trends to promotions to evoke responses: hot fashion, societal direction or the economic movement.

Source: Advantages Magazine, "Maximize Promotions with Trend Tracking" by Tonia Cook Kimbrough