When Kermit the Frog sang, “It’s not easy being green,” little did he realize how misinformed he would be. Muppets aside, it is an environmentally conscious world and growing more so with each passing day. Blink if you’re aware the Green Movement has a starring role in today’s business climate at every turn. And, the promotional products industry is certainly no exception. Eco-friendly or “green” is cropping up in every product category. It is all the rage. Not a day passes that my e-mail and snail mail are replete with items made from recycled and biodegradable ingredients. More and more, you are not paying a premium for living in a greener pasture for the best of both worlds.  Companies that want to be portrayed as eco-friendly have quickly realized that their commitment to a cleaner earth is essential, heralding environmentally and socially responsible business practices. And further that the ad specialties they use to promote and create awareness are manufactured in plants that the amount of energy they use or the volume of carbon emissions they release into the environment are diminished.

In the wearables arena, organic apparel is growing.  Everything from polo shirts, jackets and hats made from recycled plastic, coconut fiber, bamboo and organic cotton are quickly becoming plentiful. Plus, an array of products from pens to reusable bags and lanyards to notepads are being made in eco-friendly forms. If your company or non-profit is concerned about an eco-friendly image, the future truly is now. There are numerous examples of those who have already wholeheartedly embraced promotional products that even the great Mother Nature would approve of.

A natural foods company asked consumers to submit designs for organic shirts. These cotton shirts were definitely in line with company values, engendering a circle of trust and purity. A health care provider handed out green products at a yearly sales summit including an organic t-shirt. The strong message—‘we’re not just paying lip service to our commitment to green marketing’. Another company planted trees and gave out aluminum water bottles to demonstrate their eco-friendly stance. Even a fast food restaurant converted to organic shirts as well as recycled cinch sacks and pens to accentuate environmentally responsible traits.

Going green can be incredibly simple, given the plethora of eco-friendly products in almost every promotional category and many more on the way.

So see, Kermit, now it is easy being green.

Mention Reebok, Nike, Adidas, Timberland, Cutter and Buck, Champion, Dunbrooke, Izod, Dickies and Weatherproof … watch eyes open wide and yes, smiles break out all over the place. No doubt about it, people relate to higher-end brands. Especially if they’ve seen them in their favorite retail stores. And no matter the kind of recognition program—i.e. safety, productivity, employee of the month or other— there are a host of benefits that relate to your company’s well being. Age, gender and even income level will have an effect on the recognition process. Gen Xers concerned about how things will help them personally will react differently from baby boomers that are more flexible in their tastes and style acceptance. But, the common thread among employees is that branded apparel always gets kudos and generates a stand-up-and get-noticed theme. And, as long as people don’t feel like walking billboards, they will proudly wear their tastefully placed company logo on their left chest, sleeve or back. Polos, sportshirts, jackets and fleece are recommended rewards that will elicit pride and insure wear-ability. Generally speaking, the bigger the accomplishment, the greater the award. Add special/elegant packaging and presentation such as a box with custom-designed tissue and gold elastic bands and you’ve further enhanced the perceived value and special nature of the gift. Working side-by-side with a promotional products expert like Wear It’s At will help you cover all the bases and create a cohesive, budget conscious program featuring major brands that truly recognize achievement and promote notoriety among your minions.

You need fantastic-looking decorated t-shirts, polo shirts or sweatshirts. Maybe you have a full color design and maybe you only need a few for a trade show or other event. You’re thinking silk-screening. But there are several factors that may dissuade you. First, you need to set up the screens at about $15.00/color/screen. Then, there’s the running cost. Generally, you’ll get killed if you print less than a dozen. Not to mention the time factor if you need them quickly. The solution is here. It’s called DTG or direct-to-garment and it’s the latest wrinkle in the evolution of decorating. When I attended the NBM Show in Baltimore, featuring sign & digital graphics, printwear and awards and engraving, digital printing was prominent and prevalent. My eyes opened widely as I saw a way for my clients to use the direct-to-garment technology to get low quantity, full color and fast turnaround….all at a reasonable price. Digital printing machines hook up directly with a computer, so there’s no screen set-up required. It’s a flexible, versatile way to handle many kinds of your apparel decoration requirements. And whether you need light or dark colored wearables, the result should be equally crisp and vibrant. Of course, it’s a close representation of the art supplied.  Truly, a “WYSIWYG” what-you-see-is what-you get situation, somewhat similar to printing from your monitor to a color desktop printer. But bear in mind, you are printing on material, not paper. Files can be supplied in many formats including: .tiff ; .psd ; AI ; and .cdr. The only drawbacks you may encounter is that 100% cotton apparel is recommended. Also, text and fonts that are smaller than 14 point may not print clearly. A left chest imprint is likely to be around $7.00 each for quantities 1-11;full front or back up to 11 x14” will cost about $10.00 for the same minimum quantities. Should you want a full color sample, it should run you about $20.00 and give you added peace-of-mind.

Recently, Wear It’s At utilized DTG technology to beautifully satisfy the need for a single polo shirt for a school administrator’s program as well as staff tees for a local gym. DTG has wide-ranging application for both novelty, personal/family and business-related projects. Your promotional products professional can help you make the call when it comes to traditional screen printing vs. DTG.

The veritable brochure has been a staple in the advertising industry, for forever. Well, times change and I wonder out loud why anyone would need a brochure in this great internet age. After all, a brochure is one dimensional. You can’t very well add streaming video or audio or make visuals do tricks and dazzle like zooming in and out, changing color or shape of type and photos. Guess today’s motion crazed, bells and whistles demanding brains can’t justify reading a boring brochure, right?

Not so fast kemosahbee. Believe it or not, brochures are still being produced and coveted. Albeit not nearly at the pace of even 2 years ago according to research at various printing sources. Go to any car dealership, local bank branch or your doctor’s office and you’ll still find brochures in the rack. Visit an apartment community or new housing development and you’re likely to find a brochure with floorplans, site plan, and the like, characterized by pocket folder and inserts. My agency has done tons of these brochures over the past 26+ years. Maybe corporate capabilities brochures may have seen their heyday, but companies like those in the plethora of consumer and business-to-business fields still feel a need to print at least a moderate quantity to be mailed or presented as a leave behind after a meeting. It lends credibility and stability to the decision process and creates a degree of separation from the competition. I also know, first hand, that the steady stream of printed catalogs from promotional product suppliers still fills my vertical file drawers.

Maybe I’m a Cro-Magnon, but I think (and hope) there’s still a good reason to produce and print brochures. I’ve always thought of brochures as telling acaptivating story in a very creative process which involves the close collaboration of talented and experienced copywriters, graphic designers/production specialists and printing purveyors. You start with the premise of cooperation between words, graphics and stock. Writing copy (narrative) that’s compelling. Brainstorming a crisp, well-crafted layout design for the cover and inside pages that flows via use of typestyle/pattern, color and graphics to establish the desired look and feel. The image is further enhanced with the kmnowledgeable use of stock (paper) and other smart accoutrements such as die-cutting, embossing, debossing and foil stamping. Personally, I love going through the numerous stock swatch books with clients and choosing sleek coated or uncoated paper appointed with a linen, laid or other textured look to convey the perfect image.  Tell me how you get that from a computer monitor. Of course, many are happy to save the costs of producing and printing the brochures, opting to add PDF’s to their website which can be easily downloaded and printed to the desktop Epson or HP color printer. Great idea, but it can really lose something in translation…don’t you think?  I say, what the heck, invest in the brochure, too, and have the best of both worlds….hmmm.

Signage has always played an integral role in merchandising and marketing. The main objectives of signage are, naturally identification and direction with certainly an image component. And, like most elements of today’s sophisticated marketing process, signs are a true reflection of the times. The revolution is underway and going strong into the second decade of the 21^st century. Electronics, in the form of digital production and printing, is king. The age of the  ”sign painter” is fading into ancient history. Computers equipped with powerful software, wide format printers and skilled computechs now aid in the majority of design.

At a recent East Coast Sign Show held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the signage variety and new techniques were absolutely mind-boggling. Everything from electronic billboards and displays to new types of illumination using semiconductors to distribute light on thin, flexible ribbons were on display. Peripherals such as vinyl cutters for lettering and logos, as well as devices, which carve designs into wood, metal and plastic substrates with precision are the latest tools of the trade. Vehicle wraps are another innovation, representing the future of outdoor advertising. Cars/SUVs, Buses/Trailers, and Trucks/Vans print messages and images in high quality, scratch resistant and removable adhesive backed vinyl.The vinyl material produced on large format digital printers are applied to the vehicles and conform to the body surfaces. Wraps are often mistaken for high-end paint jobs, which cost thousands more.

Here are some tips for creating more successful signage:

• Get type and graphics as big as possible, given your space limitations.

• Keep the signs readable at a distance by simplifying verbiage with only the most important information.

• Well-designed landscaping and/or berming go hand-in-hand with a comprehensive signage program.

• Consult with a site planner, landscape architect and marketing professional to seek advice on placement and overall intent of the signage. Have them submit design concepts in color comprehensive form, even project signage in a virtual reality setting

Like every other element in your merchandising and marketing, take time to plan your work and work your plan. And, always think in terms of advanced technology to achieve your signage goals and objectives.