Goals & Bucket Lists- Making It All Happen

How do you achieve your goals or bucket lists?  Is it a vision board or a list you post where you can see it every day?  Or is it in your head?

We are well into the New Year at this point and if you are not working daily on achieving the goals you set for this year, let this be your reminder. Get to it.  No one else is going to do it for you.

Whether you are working off a goal for your business or a bucket list for your personal life, here are some suggestions to keep those goals top of mind and get them achieved.

1. Write it down.  I’m as guilty of this as anyone. I keep lists in my head or haphazardly write them in various places.  Keep one list, separate it out into work and personal if you like, but keep everything in one place. Even if that list is on your phone.
2. Review that list every day.  Every. Single. Day.  First thing in the morning seems to work for most people.  Mid day for some.  Still other find that reviewing the list as one of the last things they do at night gives them a sense of completion- you can review what you did that day to work toward each goal and think about what you need to do tomorrow to get even closer.
3. Realize that goals or bucket lists may need to be adjusted as you go.  If you had a goal to lose 20 pounds and you are almost there, then maybe you adjust that to also start training for a 5K.   Analyze the goals every few months and see what adjustments need to be made.
4. Visualize what will happen when you reach your goal- see yourself on the streets of Rome or driving that new car.  Visualize what you will be able to do when you reach your sales goal, or how you will feel when you get that new job or finally get up in a hot air balloon.  Seeing yourself reaching your goals helps make them more real, Sit down on a regular basis and see yourself there.
5. Don’t give up.  Frustrations set in, you forget to look at your list for months, you got off track. That’s fine. It happens. Just get back on track and start working on it again. Don’t write off something just because it doesn’t feel attainable at the moment.  Take the next step, then the next one until it feels real again.

We have goals as a business then of course personal goals.  It is a struggle to keep on track all the time.  Sometimes I do great with the business goals and careen way off course on the personal ones.  But I give myself a pep talk and a swift kick in the butt and get back on track. You can too.

http://www.barefootswag.com

866-247-4320  sales@barefootswag.com

 

 

Promotions With Heart

Everyone loves a theme party, right?  The same thing goes for promotions and marketing.  Tying into a specific theme is a fun and effective way to get your marketing message across and, when done well, can help increase your brand and message recall with clients and prospects.  Themes allow you to be as serious or as playful as you would like with your campaigns – or maybe combine the two to reach an even larger audience.

February is a perfect time to add a different spin to your advertising and tie it to Heart Health Month, Valentine’s Day or a general Love theme.  On site promotions, in store giveaways and direct mail pieces can convey a message of “We Love Our Clients” or “Keep Your Heart Healthy” and any message in between.

Heart Frame magnets are inexpensive swag ideas for on-pack promotions, direct mail or event giveaways.  Double your marketing with an imprint on both the frame and the punch our heart center.  A heart magnet is another choice for a cost effective promotional product. We can also attach the magnet to such items as packs or jars of treats, such as these cat treats.

Scented Wonder Beads therapy packs tie into the heart theme of February as well as give you the opportunity to “warm up” your clients.  The natural lavender scent will help relax them as the warmth soothes away aches.  For hot and cold therapy packs, check out this gel bead heart.

Candy is a classic Valentine’s Promotion ideas and there are a lot of options you can add your logo to.  You can’t go wrong with either the heart shaped chocolate box or  box of chocolate hug & kisses.   Check out other heart candy ideas to fit all budgets or go with the heart shaped mint cards, such as this one:

Even with the vast array of heart shaped swag ideas, you don’t have to go with a heart item, you can still tie in with the theme by using a tagline or graphics on your merch.  A simple “We ❤ Our Customers” never goes out of style.

We can help you keep consistency with your message no matter what promotional items you decide to use!  Just give us a call to get our creative team working for you.  We ❤ Swag.

 

866-247-4320   sales@barefootswag.com

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What is your “Pup Cup”

This is Ozzy.  Ozzy is my constant companion. He follows me from room to room, lays by my desk when I’m working, makes sure I don’t oversleep, ensures I get a daily walk and that I have play time with him every day.  But NOTHING excites Ozzy more than the drive thru at Starbucks (I share his excitement).  Now, before everyone gets all crazy about how unhealthy this is, we don’t drive through most days. I order ahead and go in to pick it up.  Mainly because I can’t say no to him in the drive thru, but mostly because I don’t want him to get fat or become diabetic.  So he gets a treat every few weeks.

As soon as I pull up to the order screen he is up on the seat waiting, licking his lips.  I pull up to the window and he is up on the armrest in anticipation.  His tail wagging and his eyes glued to the Barista. He does not appreciate the idle chit chat of the barista while waiting. He already knows how handsome he is, he just wants his pup cup.  And he enjoys every last bit of it with reckless abandon.

Holding his cup and watching his excitement this morning, it made me wonder, what is my “pup cup”?  What is your “pup cup”?

What do you enjoy that you give your everything to?  What do you immerse yourself in to the point that nothing else matters?

I love my business and what I do. To me, it is not work.  I love the creative aspect of working with clients to find the perfect swag ideas for their marketing.  To tie ideas and products together to convey a message that is memorable. Helping take a concept and create a marketing campaign that will bring client’s their desired result.   Coming to work every day is never a chore that I dread, I’m always eager to see what the next project is or what I can help a client create.

Beyond work and spending time with Ozzy (and my other dog Katie), the things that make me happy are a good book (I literally can’t start a book during the week or will stay up all night reading), playing tennis, hiking (which I don’t get to do enough of), fishing and traveling.

After my business, travel is definitely  my “pup cup”.  I love exploring, experiencing the local food, customs, cultures, sights and sounds. Travel opens your eyes to a life beyond your comfort zone, it shows you that while people may look, live or eat very differently from you, they are basically the same.  Travel gives you the opportunity to see first hand what you have read about in books or seen on TV.  Maybe travel is my favorite “pup cup”!

We should all do more of the things that make us happy.  We should all enjoy every last bit of our own Pup Cups.

 

http://www.barefootswag.com

866-247-4320   sales@barefootswag.com

 

 

 

Top 5 Holiday Gifts For Clients And Employees

Amid all the other projects you need to complete by the end of the year, you also have to think about year-end appreciation gifts for clients and/or employees.  Don’t let the gift selection stress you out.  Here are our Barefoot Swag top 5 gift ideas to show your appreciation.

1. Food is always a popular gift, especially if you are looking for something an entire office can share.  Tins of cookies, nuts or popcorn are top choices for sharing. Towers with an assortment of items offer variety and an impressive presentation.  Individually wrapped treats, such as cookies, give you the flexibility to adjust the quantity you give out based on the recipient.  Just fill an imprinted gift bag or gift box with the appropriate number of individual treats for a personal gift.

 

Individually wrapped cookies with logo

Food Towers offer a variety of fill options

 

2. Backpacks are a great choice for something that is a little different from a traditional gift, but sure to be appreciated by employees and clients alike.  Whether they commute to work, use it for travel or a trip to the gym, backpacks are a great choice for a unisex gift across all generations.

Sleek designs are trending

3. Power Banks come in handy for, well, everyone with a mobile phone.  Ranging from those that will simply charge your phone to those that will also charge a laptop, there are power banks to fit every budget and need. You can get a simple power bank or one that includes other features such as a built-in flashlight or speaker.

Gold Power Bank and Speaker Combo

4. Blankets are an excellent choice for a gift for the family, a more generic personal gift or a gift for the home.  Fleece, sherpa and wool blankets can be decorated discretely for a high-end look and a more subtle message.  Fun retail inspired designs such as plaid or cable knit offer a high end look.

Cable knit patter will match any decor

5. Retail brands such as S’well, Igloo, Ogio, RTI, Nike  and others give appreciation gifts a higher perceived value and also allow you to tie in to their brand integrity and increases your value as well.   Contact us to see what brands will work best with your logo.

 

http://www.barefootswag.com   866-247-4320

sales@barefootswag.com

 

A Breakdown of Decorating Terms

Putting your logo on swag should be simple right?  Just plop it on there.  There are so many variables we have to look at when deciding the best way to get your logo on an item- the material it is going on, the number of colors in your logo, the look you want to achieve and the message you want to send, just to name a few.

If you are looking for something trendy and eye catching for events, using glitter, which is trending right now, is a fun choice.  For insurance companies that want to convey their solid reputation, a left chest embroidery is the obvious, traditional choice.

Not sure what you want or even what is available for your logo? Just ask us and we will help you find the option that will work best for your logo.

Here is a brief explanation of various types of imprints we have available.

Screen Printing An imprinting method in which an image is printed onto fabric or other substance, by straining ink through a stenciled screen stretched over a frame.

Embroidery The art of embellishing a piece of apparel with a needle and thread or yarn to create depth, movement and detail.

Direct-To-Garment Printing (DTG) Also known as Digital Textile Printing, DTG uses specialized inkjet technology to print detailed, colorful graphics directly onto apparel.  DTG is often used for full color or multi color designs and is also an option for small runs of garments.

Heat Press/Heat Transfer The use of a heat press to transfer a design onto an apparel surface, popular for small runs, sports uniforms and specialty finishes (such as foil imprint).

Emboss Embossing creates raised relief images on surfaces using a metal-engraved die. Embossed patterns are raised against the background material and will not fade or wash away.

Deboss Debossing creates recessed relief images on surfaces. Debossed patterns are sunken into the surface of the material and will not fade or wash away.

Laser Etching A subtle tone-on-tone decoration style created by etching a design or pattern into the top layer of the apparel or other material, using focused laser beams.

Pad Printing The used of a soft silicone pad and an etched plate to imprint the design in ink onto products.  Often used for items that are too difficult to imprint with other methods.

Dye Sublimation A printing process that uses extreme heat and pressure to transfer a design that is printed on a special paper onto fabric.

Different imprint methods can be combined to create a unique look, such as screen print and embroidery, or laser etching and deboss.

At Barefoot Swag, we listen to what you want to achieve and will make suggestions based on your item, logo, budget and timeline.

http://www.barefootswag.com  866-247-4320

sales@barefootswag.com

What’s Trending in Swag?

That’s a loaded question.  There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when we are suggesting products for your marketing & branding- we look at your industry, your customer’s demographics, where and how you will be giving items away just to name a few.

But, for the sake of this blog,  let’s take a broad overview of all the new swag giveaway ideas out there- what we see that is popular, what people are loving to get as giveaways and what is popular at retail, which is playing a larger and larger roll in the promotional products industry.

S’well bottles have recently become available to add your logo to.  As a widely recognized, and well respected, retail brand S’well has a wide line of products and colors that you can add your logo to.    The S’well logo will still appear on the back of the bottle and your logo can be etched or printed on the opposite side.

Straws are being banned everywhere, by all the big names (not saying it isn’t justified), but it is going to create a branding opportunity for either paper straws (like the fun ones above) or reusable stainless steel straws.  I’ve seen some fun options for collapsible straws as well with the logo on the case.  I can see logo reusable straws being an ideal marketing idea for food or beverage manufacturers, wellness programs or environmental services.

Tech items continue to be a favorite way for companies to brand themselves with employee gifts, trade show giveaways and general swag.  Tech organizers are especially popular for companies with a mobile workforce or for trade show giveaway ideas.  Everyone has an abundance of power cords, adapters and accessories to keep track of and with the variety of style and price ranges available it makes these a cool corporate gift.  We are really loving the Ruckman Tech Roll above for its hip look and feel and the fact that you can order only 1 with your logo if you like.

Bags continue to be one of the most popular overall categories for swag, but the new trend is the rucksack look for backpacks and other bags.  This gives bags a younger vibe with a more retail look.  Imprint options for your logo go beyond screen printing or embroidery as well.  We can do full color patches (like on the backpack above), debossed leather patch or full color transfer depending on the bag style you choose.  Combing a cool bag with a creative decoration gives you a memorable swag bag giveaway item.

Internet security and safety concerns continue to grow on a daily basis, and honestly freak me out when I think about someone watching me through my webcam, phone camera or even my smart TV!!   Webcam covers are an inexpensive giveaway item with a big impact.  Choose from mini sizes for smart phones or full size for desktops, laptops and tablets in bulk or add a custom backer card.  Or do a set to cover both!  With their compact size they make an excellent option for a direct mail promotion or trade show giveaway.

Call or email us today for more information on these items or additional ideas for cool swag to brand with your company logo.

http://www.barefootswag.com          866-247-4320

sales@barefootswag.com

 

 

 

 

 

Rewarding and Recognizing Employees

A job well done

A goal accomplished

A milestone reached

Sales Record

Years of Services

Volunteer Appreciation

Donor Recognition

The reasons behind rewarding and recognizing people within your company or organization are as varied as the awards themselves.  However, the reason behind the act of the recognition remains the same- to show the recipient they are appreciated and valued.

According to this Inc article, Employees consistently list appreciation and recognition of their hard work as one of their Top 5 desires.  Gallup analysis found that employees who receive praise for doing good work perform better.  It seems pretty common sense, but it is often overlooked or not considered a priority.

Customized awards are an effective way for companies to attract and keep talent as well as to encourage employees to continue putting their best efforts forward.  According to the Gallup analysis referenced above, employees who do not feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they will quit in the next year.

When asked about what made recognition the most memorable, one of the top answers was public recognition or acknowledgement with an award, certificate or commendation.  This shows us that people want to feel important and appreciated.

The same can be said about recognizing volunteers for your group or organization. Because volunteers give so freely of their time and are often key to an organizations function, acknowledging their contributions is vital.  This can be as simple as a “Volunteer of the Month” recognition, a plaque or volunteer wall.

Donor walls are popular and affordable ways to recognize those that contribute to your organization or cause.  Small paperweight type awards are also popular to show appreciation for donations.

Let us help you design a recognition program or yearly awards that will align with your needs, company culture and budget that will also achieve your reward and recognition goals.

    

Awards can range from framed certificates, custom paperweights or wall plaques up to custom crystal awards, grandfather clocks (great for years of service awards), beautiful art glass awards or even awards where we embed your product or a reproduction of your equipment inside to make it truly unique.

      

barefootswag.com   866-247-4320

sales@barefootswag.com