Summer is Coming...Break Out the Warm Weather Products!

After the winter we had, it's about time to look forward to warmer weather and the fun products to get everyone into the spirit for summer fun.
Are you ready to head to the beach?  Hit the sand in comfort with a a double chair/cooler combo with an umbrella to keep things cool.  Your logo will be there for all to see as everyone gathers around for a good time.  Great for tailgating too!

Of course protection from the sun is important when you step out from under your umbrella too, so make sure you have your suntan lotion and lip balm and aloe vera handy as well. 

Walking on the beach can be an experience if you're not protected, so why not let everyone know who you are or who you represent along the way with these fun flip flops that stamp your logo in the sand as you stroll along the shore?

 And don't forget to shade your eyes with the classic Wayfarer sunglasses in great neon colors!

Whatever your summer needs (or wants!)  Safeguard is more than happy to help you put the cold winter behind you and let the sun shine in.  Give us a call today at 203-371-6000 or email us at info@ctsafeguard.com and we'll get you started making this a summer to remember.

Have a pen? Look around. I’ll be you have plenty, and I’ll bet that a good percent of them have the name of a local businessperson or company on them. The business could even be a competitor of yours. Why do you keep them? Because people use pens. People also use shopping bags, something you see more and more every day. With the push to conserve and reuse, many businesses are using reusable bags to make sure their message is carried around and viewed by many people. But what else is there? Are you doomed to a life of pens and post-its? Not if you don’t want to be. The enormous selection of promotional products that are available gives you the ability to find something that fits your business or event to a ‘T’. There’s no need to lock yourself into the ‘same old thing’ when there are plenty of useful products out there to choose from.

Planning an event for the summer? Get some sunscreen, or aloe printed with your information or logo. Lip Balm, lens cleaner, anti-fog wipes, even sunglasses or beach towels would be fun. If you’re looking to make a bigger statement, you can even get a beach chair! Your information would be there for all to see, every time your chair opens at a beach, park or parade. Above all, make sure the product you use provides use to your targeted market. A perfect example is the water proof case for smart phones seen here. The number of smart phones users is growing daily and this case is the perfect gift as the summer months arrive and outdoor activities are more frequent. This useful gift will be used again and again, and those who see it will want to know where it came from and how to get one for themselves.

The Road To A Trade Show

So you’ve decided to take part in a trade show.  Trade shows are an excellent way to let your current and future clients know about your products and services.   We’ve got a few tips to give you a head start and ensure your success.

Before you do anything, know what your objectives are and who you are trying to reach.  There are many types of trade shows, all over the world.  Are you trying to build your local business?  A regional trade show, geared toward businesses within a specific area, would be the best bet.   Who are you trying to reach?  If you’re trying to market the tax services of your accounting office, it doesn’t make sense to attend a trade show focusing on toys and games. 

Once you’ve decided on the right venue, the next step is making sure people know that you’ll be at the trade show.    Post the information on your website, as well as your social media channels.  You can send invitations, or create an event on Facebook and ‘invite’ people to attend.

Getting people to the trade show is the first step.  Getting them to your booth is another.  Consider sending out a direct mail piece with some type of incentive to encourage visitors.  A simple tear-off card that guests drop at your booth to enter a contest is one idea.  Another is to offer a free gift to those who present the mailer at your booth.  This will not only increase traffic, but allow you to gauge the effectiveness of your mailing. 

Now that you've let the everyone know you will be at the trade show, it's time to start preparing for attendance.  Is the show local?  Will you need transportation?  Hotel reservations?  Don't wait until the last minute and find yourself out in the cold.   What type of accommodations will you need at the show itself?  Will you need an electrical outlet nearby to power a display at your booth?  Make sure you make arrangements well before the day of the show.  

Know your booth size so that you can properly plan what you will display.  Will you have plenty of space to showcase your products and services?  Will you have space to hang items if you need to?  It's important to plan ahead so you can utilize the space in the best way possible.

As long as you plan ahead and have a firm plan to make the Trade Show a success it will be.  Stay tuned here for more great tips for making your trade show visit a triumph. 

What's Vector Art And Why Do You Need It?

You've done it.  You've decided to create a marketing campaign using promotional products.  You've done all your research, and know that promo products are a great way to reach your target audience and to make them aware of your business and the services you provide.  There's excitement in the air and you can't wait to get started.  And then...someone asks you for your logo in vector format.  What?  What or who is vector?  What does vector have to do with you?  Why, after so much time and effort did you not know that vector was going to come along and stop you in your tracks?

Don't panic.  It sounds more complicated than it is, and it's not the end of your marketing plans. Vector is your friend and just wants your campaign to look its best. Providing your supplier with vector art will make sure that your promo items look crisp and clear, rather than a jumbled mess.  Basically,  a vector file allows your image to be scaled or modified without changing the original image.  Vector is really in your best interest, trust us.

If you're not sure if your file is vector art or not, look at the file type.  Vector art files usually end in .eps. .ai, .cd or .fh.   If your artwork file ends like this,  you're in good shape.  There's no reason to lose all hope if your file is a jpg or a .gif since you can get them converted.  No, typing .eps at the end of your file won't convert them to vector magically, but it can be done.

Not ready for the marketing campaign just yet?  You should still make sure that you have access to your logo and design work in vector format.  It will make things easier for you and all parties involved in the long run.

Keep Your Resolutions

Resolutions.  Everyone makes them, but they're not always the easiest thing to keep.  Some resolutions are unrealistic, such as a massive weight loss in a short time.  Some are unattainable, such as becoming president of the United States. (Especially if it’s not an election year) One thing we can all do, in our business as well as our personal lives, is break things down into manageable tasks.  

Below are a few tips that will help make the resolutions you make more attainable. Following these simple steps in your personal and business life will give you the chance to keep your resolutions this year.

Focus:  It’s important to focus on why you want to accomplish something as much as what you want to accomplish.  If you set an unrealistic goal for yourself and don’t even know why, it’s going to be impossible to complete.  How can you motivate yourself when you don’t even know why you are doing something?  Break your goals down into smaller steps, making them easier to concentrate on.  This will also provide you with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn motivate you to move forward with your resolutions.

Clean up:  It’s easy to forget what you’re trying to accomplish when your work is buried under piles of tasks.  Though they are all important, clear your desk of everything but what you need to complete the job at hand.

Manage Time:  Voice mail is a wonderful thing.  Though we all instinctively jump for a ringing phone, there are times when it’s best to let calls go to voice mail.  Allowing yourself time to complete a task without interruption will give you the satisfaction of doing it well.

Have a List:   Writing things down will give you something concrete to work from.  Seeing something rather than trying to remember it is always easier, and allows you to prioritize accordingly.

Delegate:   Though it’s easy to try and control every aspect of a task, delegating parts of a job will make it easier to complete in the end.  In addition, allowing others within your organization to help out will make them feel like part of a team.

Have a Beginning and an End:  Start each day by spending a little time planning what needs to be done and how.  At the end of each day spend a little time clearing your desk and putting the finishing touches on what has been completed.  Starting the day with a clean desk is much easier than trying to dig through clutter to see where you left off the day before.

Who Should Consider Promotional Products?

Whether you’re the marketing manager of a large company or the director of a small charity, advertising and promotions are an important part of your business.  Promotional products are a cost effective way to get the best results for your dollar.  Here are a few key points to consider.

• People love presents.  If you choose a product that appeals to the people you are marketing to, you will already have their attention.  If you choose a quality product that will last and is useful, you’ll have their attention for a longer period of time. 
• Make sure it lasts.  Whether a promotional item, such as a pen or a quality piece of apparel, if it’s made well, it will be used and worn.  A pen that runs out of ink in a month will be in the garbage, and a shirt that is thin or tears easily will be headed there as well. 
• Whatever you choose, it doesn’t have to be expensive in order to serve your needs.  There are so many options available when it comes to promotional items, it’s fairly easy to find something to fit your budget.  If you’re not sure of the best way to go, contact someone who knows the industry and let them help you. Despite the ease of shopping on-line, it is often better to let someone who is in the business guide you.  You’ll get more value for your dollar and you’ll find an item that suits your needs.  Over 17 billion dollars (yes, that’s a ‘B’) will be spent on promotional items and apparel this year.  Don’t let your items get lost in the shuffle. 

Remember, three out of four people have some type of promotional item in their work space. (Look around, we bet you have some too!)   People will keep useful things, and use them again and again.  Every time a product you’ve supplied is used, it’s seen, a visual and useful reminder of you and your business.

Cool Stuff

From one of our favorite vendors, take a look at the WineTaster's Journal from Journalbooks.  This classy little number give you everything you need to track your wine experiences with 100 sheets of their special wine tasting filler, where you can document which wines you've tried and rate them.   The journal also features an 8 page section of wine facts.

Put your company logo on the cover of this stylish and beautifully designed journal and make sure your clients have exactly what they need for your next event.   You can be sure they'll keep coming back for more! 

You can see more of the exciting products that Journal Books has to offer at their website, www.journalbooks.com

How Will You Be Remembered?

How will you be remembered this holiday season?   A sure way to be remembered is with the gift of food. 

Why?

Food is for everyone.  When a business receives a food gift, everyone feels appreciated from the people answering the phone, to the service department, all the way up the ladder to the boss.  It’s important to remember everyone in a business works as a team.  Thank them all with a tasty treat they will remember.  

Smell and taste are the strongest two senses and the more senses applied to something means it will be learned faster and retained longer.   We’ve all experienced this at one time or another.  The smell of baking cookies reminds us of grandma’s house, and we can all relate to the smell of turkey roasting on Thanksgiving!

Giving the gift of food in a reusable container means that even when the food is gone, your container will still be around.  A branded container means that you’re name will still be seen, even after the holidays are over.

Of course food gifts aren’t just for the holidays.  Reward employees for a job well done with a delicious basket.  Drop off a branded jar of treats to a client for the break room.  Every time someone has a snack they’ll be thinking of you.

Why Branding?

Not only is it memorable, it’s fresh. You name on a bar of chocolate means it hasn’t been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse for months, waiting for the holidays to arrive.  Your clients will be able to tell the difference, and they’ll remember you for it!

Don't forget to visit our website for more great ideas to help your business grow.

http://www.ctsafeguard.com/

Cool Stuff!

We love cool stuff...who doesn't?  We also love sharing cool stuff and giving you ideas on how to use it to make your business grow.  Check back often to see what we've found and how you can use it in your business!



We love.... 'The Tangle' from our friends at Prime.

Are you tired of leaning over your desk, searching your computer for an extra hub?  You're sure you saw one, but it's dark in the corner, and hanging upside down is making the blood rush to your head.

Enter...The Tangle.  With a 30 foot cord and four ports that twist 180 degrees, you'll never feel like you're playing twister with your computer again.

Add your logo and give the gift of not having to see a chiropractor to your clients and customers. The Tangle, imprinted with your logo, will be on their desk for all to see.  Great word of mouth and visibility, while providing a useful product..who could ask for anything more?

Imagine how much more productive your employees would be with The Tangle.  Everything they need at their fingertips, and no more work related injuries with heads bumped on desks.   Give 'The Tangle'  to new employees, as awards for great service, or as gifts around the holidays. 

Dont forget to visit our website for more great ideas to make your business grow!

http://www.ctsafeguard.com/