March's Product of the Month: 1 GB Folding USB 2.0 Drive

It seems like only yesterday that I was popping a 5 1/4" floppy disk into an Apple IIe to play Oregon Trail at school.  The evolution from a 5 1/4" floppy to 3.5" floppy (that was actually hard) to Zip Disks to CDs to DVDs and now USB drives seems to have come at warp speed.  Oh yeah and let's not forget compact flash, SD, xD, MMC and the memory stick.  Wow, it's amazing that consumers can figure out what the heck is going on!  So let's forget all that and talk about this month's Promotional Product.  This handy-dandy 1 GB USB 2.0 is something totally functional that your Clients will love.

1 GB Folding USB 2.0 Flash Drive 30727

This USB drive folds up to protect important information.

Folds for easy storage

Materials: ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic and iron

Product Size: 2-1/4"w x 3/4"h x 1/3"d

Product Colors: Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Red

Price Includes: 1-color imprint, 1 location

Standard Imprint Method(s): Screen Print: Front, 1"w x 7/16"h, 4 color(s) max

Normal Production Time:   15 Working Days Setup Fee: $50.00 Min. order 25 pieces $12.23 each  *shipping cost not included

An Alternative for the Not-so-Artsy people...

While embroidery is our primary service (it is in our name after all), we offer many other embellishing methods for all sorts of products for all types of events.  Some methods work better in certain situations and embroidery is not always the best solution for all purposes.  For this post, I'd like to feature our Easyprints system which are screen  printed transfers that are great for those of us who need a small run of shirts and don't want to mess around with coming up with a design from scratch.  With the Easyprints system, Customers can choose from a plethora of templates for any event or sports ranging from work wear to basketball to reunions.  Just choose a template you like and change the text and graphics to suit your needs.  No more killing your brain cells thinking about your design layout.  Choose it, Change it, Wear it!  No setup fees.  The minimum order is only 10 pieces and you can get an awesome one-color printed tee for only $16.00 each!  Turnaround time is 2 weeks.  For more information, click here.

February's Product of the Month: Exercise Mat

With the New Year comes those new resolutions which undoubtedly for most people will include getting fit.  What better way to make sure they are reminded of your brand than to place your logo on a fitness bag!  Sure, you could pay $3 million for a Super Bowl ad but I think that's a little more risky.  Besides, I read somewhere that the Super Bowl ads are already sold out.  Let the big boys have their talking babies and frogs, geckos or whatever.  Make sure the next time your top clients are doing push ups, warrior poses or downward dogs that your brand will be front and center.

Exercise Mat #45341

Ready to get in shape? This Exercise Mat is an essential! Great for yoga or pilates, this mat with stylish coordinating bag will proudly display your company's logo.
Textured, non-slip surface Includes mat and carry bag Rolls up for easy storage
Materials: Mat: polyurethane, Bag: nylon
Product Size: Carry bag: 24-1/2"w x 8-1/2"h, Mat: 24"w x 68"h (flat)
Product Colors: Black Mat with Silver Bag, Blue, Red, Yellow
Price Includes: 1-color imprint, 1 location
Standard Imprint Method(s): Heat Transfer: Carry Bag, 12"w x 4"h, 4 color(s) max
Normal Production Time:   5 Working Days Setup Fee: $50.00 Min. order 48 pieces $18.75 each  *shipping cost not included

January's Promotional Product of the Month!

Okay, I have to admit that I've been extremely bad at posting a Promotional Product of the Month every month.  In fact, the last product I posted was in December....of 2009 that is!  So I think we're due for one.  With all the downpour in Hawaii we've had in the last couple of weeks, what could be better than a custom imprinted umbrella!  With it huge 60" arch, people will be sure to see your logo as long as you don't poke them in the eye with it.

I.D. Pro Umbrella

#25003

Manual open Pinch proof runner to protect fingers Fiberglass windproof frame Nylon fabric Plastic ID handle Less than 1% metal Dimensions: Folded length: 37.5" Arc: 60" Max imprint area: 10"W x 8"H

Normal Production Time: 10 Working Days Setup Fee: $62.50 Min. order 36 pieces $17.33 each  *shipping cost not included

Make Money with our NEW Custom Shops!

Do you have a school, club, team, business or non-profit that you'd like to promote?  Have you always wanted to sell your own product line or apparel with your logo on it but didn't want to buy inventory for fear that you'd be stuck with the overstock?  Well, look no further as we have the solution for you through our Custom Shops at Threads!

Raise money for your organization by selling your organization's logoed apparel: caps, polo shirts, hoodies, tote bags, t-shirts,etc. and you don't even have to buy the inventory!  We set up a Custom Shop for you, process all the transactions and cut you a check at the end of the month.  It's that EASY!  All you have to do is PROMOTE and PROFIT from the sales!  The process is fast, easy and fun from start to finish!  Contact us today for details.  Check out some of the Custom Shops that are already using our new service.

Lady Cougars Soccer

Kukui High School

Record Highs for Cotton Prices

The price of gold isn't the only thing skyrocketing these days.  According to our suppliers, cotton prices are at record highs and aren't expected to come down anytime soon.  Prices for t-shirts, sport shirts and fleece from the largest manufacturers including Hanes, Gildan and Jerzees will increase 5-10% starting in November.

What does this mean for Threads and our Customers?

It means that we'll have to shell out a lot more dough for our cost of goods; however we will do our best to maintain our current pricing to you for as long as we can.  We will also promise to continue to offer excellent customer service and exceptional quality...two things that we can control.  Thanks for your continued support!    

Interesting survey on 'party' swag....

Since it's almost election time, check out this interesting survey conducted by ASI providing insight into what type of promotional products Democrats, Republicans and Independents are more enticed by.

Courting Votes? Send Republicans Food
New study says Republicans far more likely to gobble up promotional
food basket than Democrats or independents

TREVOSE, PA - October 19, 2010 - Republicans like food gifts, Democrats prefer logoed pens and independents might scoff at anything less than a brand-name shirt, according to a new study of political party preferences released today by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI).
An ASI study reveals what Democrats, Republicans and independents think about promotional products, a.k.a. swag (stuff we all get) and freebies, millions of which are distributed during election season along with bumper stickers, buttons and yard signs.
Here are study highlights:

• Independents get more promotional T-shirts than either Democrats or Republicans.
• Democrats receive more outerwear than Republicans by a 2-to-1 margin.
• Independents are less inclined than Democrats or Republicans to take free pens.
• 86% of Republicans give away the freebies they don’t want.
• 75% of independents prefer name-brand consumer promotional products, nearly 1.5 times more than Democrats or Republicans.
• Republicans are nearly 1.5 times more likely to accept a free promotional food basket than Democrats.
• Independents value promotional swag the most - on average, they own 11.6 logoed products, compared to 9.4 for Democrats and 10.3 for Republicans.

Final results of the 2010 Advertising Specialties Impressions Study will be released in November. For a sneak peek at preliminary results of the breakdown by political party and independents, and the study methodology, click here.
“Want a Republican’s vote? Send him a food basket emblazoned with your candidate’s name. Want to impress independents? Make sure the shirt you send has a brand-name label - or it might end up in the trash bin, along with their vote,” said Timothy M. Andrews, ASI’s president and chief executive officer. “Our study reveals that when it comes to courting voters, you’ll get more bang for your promotional buck if you consider their likes and dislikes.”
According to new results from the upcoming 2010 Advertising Specialties Impressions Study, the average cost-per-impression of an ad specialty item is $0.005, making it less expensive per impression than prime-time TV.
 
About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties.  Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to over 22,000 ASI distributor firms.  Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain nearly every product in the industry from more than 3,500 reputable suppliers, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers.  ASI provides catalogs, information directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers e-commerce, marketing and selling tools.  Visit ASI online at asicentral.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, the CEO's blog and the ASI Social Network.

NEW! Snag-Proof Tactical Polos

All types of fabric have their pluses and minuses.  Cotton is generally high quality and is nice and cool for most uses.  Some cons are that it shrinks, easily wrinkles, colors fade quickly and for polos shirts, the collar tends to curl over time.  Polyester is generally hotter especially if there's no breeze but its color retention is better than cotton, it's wrinkle-resistant and the collars tend to stay flatter.  The polyester "dri-fit" type of materials are extremely popular nowadays with its moisture-wicking properties and more fashionable appearance.  All major companies including Nike, adidas, Under Armour have their own version of a dri-fit material; however they all basically have the same properties.  A common complaint with dri-fit material is that it tends to snag easily because of the micro-mesh holes that allow for the breath-ability of the material.

Now you can have the best of all worlds with the new Snag-Proof Tactical Polos!  These polos are moisture-wicking, odor-fighting and are made of 100% snag-proof polyester.  They will keep you looking great both on and off the job.  Terrific for security, law enforcement, event staff, restaurant staff, network technicians and even for everyday office attire.  Available in both men's and women's.  For more detailed information, click here.

What kind of Gift should you Give? A Gift of Appreciation...

Deciding on what to give your Clients, employees, friends or family to say thank you can be a tough task.  For businesses, you want your clients and employees to remember you and show them how much you appreciate their business and hard work.  But will that Frisbee with your logo on it do the trick?  Probably not.  Or how about the extra large men's polo shirt for your petite sales consultant?  I think it's safe to say she won't being the dance of joy if she received that either!  It's not about how much you spend or how much a Client spends with your company that should determine what you should give.  Hopefully, through the relationships you've built with your Clients and employees over the years, you'll know what their interests are and what they would appreciate.  It's a great idea from a business standpoint to give a gift with your logo on it but just make sure it's something the recipient will enjoy.  By knowing what they'll appreciate, you can show them how much they are appreciated.  Read more about this at The Art of Giving.  Happy giving!

That's why it's called Custom Embroidery....Off the cuff placement

It's not called custom embroidery for nothing...you can truly customize what you want to say and where you want to say it.  Here's a few of some not so usual placements or items we've worked on recently.

Moped seat...check out Wrench Werks, they specialize in repairing Audis and Volkwagens.

Matching track jacket sleeves for a wedding gift...embroidered on opposite sleeves so that they "match up" when holding hands.  Awww...how sweet!

Embroidered toilet paper?  Yup, that's right...they make great favors or gag gifts.

The possibilities are endless, the only limitation is your imagination...