Promotionally Yours: 7 Tips for the Perfect Custom Apparel Printing Exp...

Promotionally Yours: 7 Tips for the Perfect Custom Apparel Printing Exp...: 7 Tips for the Perfect Custom Apparel Printing Experience Posted: 29 Jun 2016 11:20 AM PDT Branded apparel is everywhere, and at so...

7 Tips for the Perfect Custom Apparel Printing Experience - Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux Halo Branded Solutions

7 Tips for the Perfect Custom Apparel Printing Experience

Posted: 29 Jun 2016 11:20 AM PDT

Branded apparel is everywhere, and at some point in every organization, someone is going to say, “Hey, we should put that on a t-shirt/bag/hoodie/hat!”  Which of course is a great idea, the benefits of branding with apparel are numerous and people love getting apparel from their favorite brands.

So, how do you do it?

The options available for garment printing today are numerous and can be confusing. Heat transfers, digital direct to garment printing, dye-sublimation and screen printing are a few of the options available. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, but with versatility in imprint location, garment colors and fabrics options nothing beats the quality and relative cost-effectiveness of screen printing. Screen printing is the standard imprint method for most apparel. The process consists of burning your design into a fine mesh screen for each color in your design. The ink is than squeezed screen by screen through the mesh by squeegee onto the garment and heated in a dryer to cure the ink.

The options on the where to purchase imprinted apparel are just as numerous as printing methods. A quick web search on “screen printing” will return an almost endless list of local and national printers. Before you make that all important decision on who to use, here are some tips to make sure you’re ready.

1.      Quantity – Quantity plays a direct role in how much you will be charged per shirt. Most printers use tiered pricing in increments of 12 with costs decreasing as quantities increase with an average minimum of 12 pieces. The “sweet” spot is typically 48 or 72 pieces for the best value.

2.     Imprint Sizes – Standard imprint sizes for apparel sizes vary, click the thumbnail to the right to view the standard imprint locations.

3.      Apparel Colors – When choosing your apparel colors keep in mind that printing lighter colors onto darker garments might require an extra white screen or a “puff” print to use as a base increasing the printing cost.

4.     Imprint Colors – Since each color in your design will require a screen, the amount of colors in your design directly affects the cost of printing. For designs with more than 4 colors or photographic images it might be more cost effective to use four color process printing. This method uses four screens to combine cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks to a full color spectrum. This process works best on light or white garments.

5.      Design – If you have a graphic artist you use, now is the time to put them to work. Vector files (.eps, .ai, .cdr) are the standard files needed for screen printing. If you are unfamiliar with the term “Vector” then the artwork you are creating is not going to be considered “good art”. If you do not have access to vector art most printers offer this service at an additional cost.

6.     Apparel Sizes – Choosing how many of what size can be tricky. Click the thumbnail to the right to view suggested sizes to purchase.

7.      Charges – It’s not unheard of with screen printing to think you have a great deal and then be hit with a number of charges you didn’t expect. Based on the complexity of the print options you have chosen for your apparel printing other charges may apply. Here is a list of typical screen printing charges:

1.      Run Charge – This is the standard cost of screen printing your apparel

2.     Screen Charge- This charge covers the creation for each screen

3.      Additional Location Run Charge – If you use the same imprint on multiple locations on a garment there will be charges for each location.

4.     Change of Color Charge: This charge incurs if you want multiple colors of the same imprint.

Looking for a way to make your custom apparel process as simple as possible? Contact Sheri Breaux, a HALO Account Executive, 281-658-1392

Promotionally Yours: How to Give and Get the Most with Cause Marketing ...

Promotionally Yours: How to Give and Get the Most with Cause Marketing ...: Promotional Marketing Blog by HALO Branded Solutions How to Give, and Get the Most With Cause Marketi...

How to Give and Get the Most with Cause Marketing - Halo Branded Solutions - Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Promotional Marketing Blog by HALO Branded Solutions

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How to Give, and Get the Most With Cause Marketing Posted: 27 Jun 2016 08:26 AM PDT With 94% of consumers willing to switch to a comparable brand based on the causes they support, Cause Marketing has become a part of many corporations’ sales strategies. That doesn’t mean it should be all about your bottom line; the cause you work with should benefit as much as your company, if not more, from your efforts to help make the world a better place. Here are a few resources to help make sure that you get and give the most with your cause marketing efforts. Cause & Effect White Paper – Enhancing Your Cause Marketing Campaign with Promotional Products This cause marketing white paper helps new and veteran marketers alike increase the effectiveness of their cause marketing initiatives. Topics include: What is Cause Marketing, Choosing a Cause, Developing a Campaign and Using Promotional Products. Download the complete paper by clicking here! Cause Awareness Ribbon Meaning – Know Your Color Color plays an important part in promoting any cause awareness campaign. Before you get too far into the planning process, check the colors below to see which one you should use in your marketing pieces. Stick with the color already established for your cause. Support groups across the country use this color to raise money and awareness, and by committing to the established branding people will recognize your efforts. Read More. Awareness Month Calendar – Get Involved Are you thinking about getting involved in a cause and not sure where to start? Check out our Awareness Month Calendar. This handy calendar identifies the color associated with a cause, , its awareness month and the organization that champions the cause. Download by clicking the image. No matter the cause, we have the perfect solution to show your support and extend the life of your cause marketing efforts. Check out our quarterly BrandED brochure with a section on YOUR CAUSE, view our Awareness Events section on HALO.com or contact your HALO Account Executive to help you find the perfect product for your campaign needs.

Promotionally Yours: Embroider Terms to Guarantee your Logo Looks GREAT...

Promotionally Yours: Embroider Terms to Guarantee your Logo Looks GREAT...: Embroidery Terms to Guarantee Your Logo Looks Great Posted: 17 Jun 2016 11:01 AM PDT Apparel decoration can be tricky, and decorator...

Embroider Terms to Guarantee your Logo Looks GREAT - Promotionally Yours, Sheri Breaux

Embroidery Terms to Guarantee Your Logo Looks Great

Posted: 17 Jun 2016 11:01 AM PDT

Apparel decoration can be tricky, and decorators may sometimes use terms and phrases you don’t really understand. With embroidered apparel, it’s good to understand the basics so you know exactly where your money is going. We covered some basic embroidery terms in a past post (What to Know Before Ordering Embroidered Apparel), but today we’re going to dive into terms more related to your specific type of embroidery decoration.

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Embroidery can be as simple or as complex as you wish. There are various techniques your embroiderer can use and different tools to make your design look its best. If you want your branding to stand out, talk to your embroiderer about some of the options below.

Appliqué and Reverse Appliqué: These decoration methods are similar looking, but different in technique. Traditional appliqué is the stitching of one piece of fabric to another to create an image. Reverse appliqué is similar, but instead of adding fabric to a base, the top fabric is cut away to reveal a base fabric in a specific shape.

Applique photo from DesignsByJuJu.com

Thread Types & Colors: One of the benefits of embroidery is the fact that you are almost guaranteed a color match to your logo. Thread is available in hundreds of colors, and it’s fairly easy to match to PMS colors depending on the type of thread you’re using. When you order your promotional apparel, ask about the thread. Be specific in your requests for the decorator. Specialty threads do exist and can give your branded apparel a look that your recipients won’t forget. There is glow in the dark thread, metallic and fire resistant thread just to name a few! Also, consider safety when choosing thread. If you’re decorating something for children or pets, ask about threads made with non-toxic dyes and materials.

Embroidery topping on a towel. Photo from CraftStylish.com

Stabilizer, Backing & Topping: Stitches will sit differently on different types of fabric. Stabilizers, sometimes called “backing” help keep fabric in place for the machine so your fabric doesn’t pucker or pull where it’s stitched. If you have a very thick design, backing also helps maintain structure on the apparel. Some types of fabrics like terry cloth, commonly seen on towels or bathrobes, require a topping. This goes on top of the fabric instead of behind to keep the stitches from sinking into the thick fabric. It ensures that your logo is visible and not hidden.

Embroidered monogram photo from SouthernCharmEmbroidery.com

Monogram: If you’re personalizing apparel as a gift, you might opt for a monogram. A monogram is a style of lettering that displays initials. Most often, monograms include initials for the first, middle and last name of the recipient. Note that the middle letter is generally the initial of the last name. The traditional monogram order is first initial, last initial, middle initial. The last initial (in the center) is usually slightly larger than the other two. Some monograms only include one letter, usually the initial of the last name.  Two letter monograms are usually the first and last initial embroidered in that order.

Ready to get started with a promotional apparel order? Contact HALO today!

Promotionally Yours: What STyle Fits My Brand?

Promotionally Yours: What STyle Fits My Brand?: Promotional Marketing Blog by HALO Branded Solutions What Style Fits My Brand? Posted: 15 Jun 2016 ...

What STyle Fits My Brand?

Promotional Marketing Blog by HALO Branded Solutions

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What Style Fits My Brand? Posted: 15 Jun 2016 05:51 AM PDT Walk into any major department store and  you’ll immediately notice a division of styles in the clothing section. Spend a day at the mall and you will likely pass dozens of clothing stores all targeting a specific audience. The stores that pump loud music and less than subtle cologne are not trying to attract the same crowd as the ones that offer you a personal sales assistant as you pass the in-house classical pianist. As consumers, we know what fits our personal styles, and just as we have personal styles, so do brands. Promotional apparel tends to follow retail trends. What’s popular in retail this season will likely be available on the promo side in the coming year. Just because something is popular does not mean it is the right choice for your business. How do you determine your brand’s style? Who is your target audience? If you’re ever questioning if something is “on brand,” consider your target audience. Create a persona, if you haven’t already, and think about your promotional apparel from your persona’s perspective. For example, these days the athleisure industry is still booming, but does 60-year-old motorcycle enthusiast Richard Smith want a pair of branded yoga pants? Maybe… but it might be a stretch (get it?) What is your core brand message? Are you proud to sell American Made products? If so, vintage Americana apparel might be the route to go. If your audience is more traditional, go with classic American, brighter reds, whites and blues or even American South with boots, belt buckles and cowboy hats. If you’re a part of a tech company, think modern, clean looks like brightly colored tees and V-neck shirts. High-end country clubs, restaurants and enterprise businesses may opt for luxury jackets, button-down business shirts or brand-name polos made with designer fabrics. What’s available? If you’re new to promotional apparel, you may not even know what’s out there. As I said, often if you see it on the rack in a store, it will soon be available in the promo world if it’s not already. If you have something in mind, ask your HALO Account Executive for options. It’s hard to know your style without knowing your options first. You may think you want a “t-shirt,” but even that is too broad. Would your audience prefer a classic cotton tee, vintage heather with a polyblend fabric, V-neck, 3/4  sleeve or something completely different? Can’t narrow it down to just one style? Buy a couple of different styles for your first event and track what’s popular and what’s not. Keep outside factors, such as seasonality in mind. If you’re comparing popularity of hoodies and tank tops in the middle of January, I have a feeling hoodies will win. Want to discuss your brand’s style with a branding expert? Sheri Breaux  281-658-1392 today.

Promotionally Yours: Improve your Prospecting

Promotionally Yours: Improve your Prospecting: Improve Your Prospecting Posted: 08 Jun 2016 09:29 AM PDT 3 Promotional Ideas to Bring in New Clients for August In a prospecting ...

Improve your Prospecting

Improve Your Prospecting

Posted: 08 Jun 2016 09:29 AM PDT

3 Promotional Ideas to Bring in New Clients for August

In a prospecting slump? In search of new customers? Have you considered adding  a promotional product or “nice to meet you” gift to your prospecting campaigns? Promotional products make the perfect ice breaker and give prospects a tangible reminder of your meeting and brand message. Don’t just take our word for it, let’s look at some stats, according to a

PPAI Study

§ 48% of consumers would like to receive promotional products more often.

§ 52% of consumers report having a more favorable impression of the advertiser after receiving a promotional product.

§ 52% of consumers did business with the advertiser after receiving a promotional product.

What does that mean for your prospecting efforts? Nearly half of consumers want a promotional product, think better of the advertiser, and do business with them after receiving a product. Now even with those impressive stats, that doesn’t mean you can just purchase a bunch of branded merchandise and the prospects will come running. You need a plan. 

Increase Your Credibility – School Spirit:
It’s no secret that school spirit runs deep in most communities, and nothing gets people excited like free products with their favorite sports teams on them. By partnering with your local booster club or school athletic departments and co-branding a product giveaway, you not only promote school spirit, your brand credibility gets a boost.

Go Where the People Are – State Fairs: A majority of the country’s state fairs happen in August or soon after. Having a presence at the fair or sponsoring an event is an opportunity to reach people from across your state and beyond. When choosing your product, usefulness is key. 82% of recipients say they keep products because they find them useful, so make sure you give them something with a purpose.

Promote a Cause People Care About – National Dog Day (August 31): National Dog Day was created to bring attention to the plight of animals and encourage adoption. It’s estimated that 70-80 million dogs are owned in the United States, and it’s safe to bet your customer base contains more than a few dog lovers. Partner with local organizations to promote this cause and do some good for our four-legged friends.

Don’t forget to consult  us for a more promotional ideas for August, September and October. Contact your Sheri Breaux @ sheri.breaux@halo.com for expert advice, ordering information and help creating the perfect product for your next promotion.