News

Canadian Made Products

We have access to Canadian made products from several suppliers. You can check our catalogue listings for both these, and union made items. Below, find the link to Redwood Classics, which features Canadian made active wear, corporate casuals, and even custom garments.

QR Codes - What are They?

A QR code, which stands for Quick Response code, is a type of barcode designed to be read by smart phones, and allows its contents to be decoded at high speed. The code consists of a black and white pattern that may be encoded with text, other data, or a URL. The difference between QR codes and the traditional barcode is the amount of information they can contain.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes now are used in a much broader context, and may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader can scan the image of the QR code. Then, the user may receive information about a product or company, have contact information added to their device’s address book, or be taken to a mobile website.

Some suggestions for QR code use: Provide installation instructions, list sources for replacement parts, give directions to your business, offer coupons, suggest complementary products and services, and provide feedback forms. Several free QR code generators are available to get you started with your own code. A simple Google search will give you a list. The QR code is just one of the latest ways to interact with your existing and potential clients.

July 2011: Canadian Survey Rusults

In a recent study of Canadian residents, surveys were conducted to gain an understanding of ad specialty use within the past year. The purpose of the interviews was to understand where items are kept, frequency of use, why the items were kept and to estimate the number of impressions the advertiser gets with them. Below are some of the highlighted points regarding ad specialty use in the Canadian marketplace.

Nearly one-half (47%) of Canadian respondents had a more favorable impression of advertisers after receiving a promotional product. 37% of Canadians were more likely to do business with an advertiser they had not previously done business with.
One of the more popular products used in Canada is headgear/caps. Caps are worn 5.8 times per month: the most of any country!
The three items most likely to be kept in Canada are writing instruments (44%), shirts (42%) and caps/headwear (22%).
As far as which product makes the most impressions per month, Canadians favored caps once again, averaging at 1,007 impressions per month! Jackets generated 579 impressions per month, twice as many as in the U.S.
Promotional products are usually kept and used in Canada for an average of 5.7 months. The longest-held product was calendars at 7.5 months, followed closely by caps at 7.2 months.
Advertising specialties are less expensive per impression than any other media. The investment in advertising is modest, more targeted and achievable by smaller businesses than other forms of advertising. The average cost per impression is only 0.0039 in Canadian dollars.
The majority of respondents (74%) indicated usefulness as the prominent reason behind keeping ad specialties. The second most popular reason for keeping products was due to their attractiveness.
More than half of the respondents said they have done business with an advertiser after receiving an item.

Lapel Pin Terms

Do you know what the terms used to describe lapel pins mean? If you don't, this introduction will give you an idea of what to order to get the desired results.

Hard Enamel: Sometimes pins produced with this process are called semi-cloisonneor imitation cloisonne. They are the most durable of all lapel pin styles. The colours are rich and sit level with the metal separation lines.

Soft Enamel: The colours on these pins sit lower than the metal separation lines, and look more like painted enamel. Sometimes the manufacturer will coat the surface with a clear epoxy, which makes it smooth.

Struck: This means that a piece of metal is struck with a die. The die creates raised and indented marks that are filled with enamel. They can also be finished into a sandblast or antique look pin.

Cast: The finished pin looks much like a struck pin, but is produced by pouring liquid metal into a rubber mold. Once the metal cools it is coloured and finished in the same way as a struck pin.

Epoxy: This is a thin clear coating that coats the surface of soft enamel pins, which provides a smooth, wet look surface, and protects the pin. Over time, epoxy can yellow.

Plating: Plating can be gold, silver, copper, brass, nickel, or an antique version of the same.

Antique Finish: This process tints the recessed areas of the pin darker and keeps the raised areas of the pin lighter and more polished. This creates great contrast without adding any colour.

Sandblast Finish: The pin is first sandblasted, then the texture is polished off the raised portions of the pin.

Photo Print: This type of pin uses artwork that is digitally printed directly onto the surface of the pin. There are no metal separations between the colours. An epoxy coating is usually needed to protect the printed image.

Your Promotional Items Can Be A Source of Income

If you have a catchy or humorous business name, a beautifully designed logo, or an innovative marketing idea, products you choose to promote yourself can result in another source of income for your business. Some companies have developed a T-shirt for employees to wear on “casual Fridays” which has in turn sparked a demand for T-shirts from their customers. If these shirts become good sellers, the line can be expanded to include caps, hoodies, children’s sizes and maybe even pet apparel. When looking ahead beyond wearables, try to introduce useful items to your line that tie in with your name or business to double the effect of your message.

Dedicate a little floor or shelf space to your items for sale so they are in sight of your customers. Sell items near cost. If people wear and use them they will advertise for you. Or, if you prefer, sell a T-shirt that cost you $5.00 for $7.50, and include a coupon for a sample of your product. For example, a T-shirt and a burger for $7.50 might appeal to your customers more than a coupon for half off a $5.00 burger.

The success of adding a promo line to your sales depends on having an item that is intelligent, funny, or beautiful enough to catch the eye of a potential buyer. Make sure that items you are using as thank you gifts or employee awards are of a higher quality than those you are selling to the general public.

Plan Your Promotions Early for Best Success

"To ensure successful promotions, plan in advance." say experts in the advertising field. Some ideas for consideration are: New Year's promotion in January, Valentine's Day promotion in February, spring or Easter promotion in March or April, Mother's Day promotion in May, Father's Day, or summer madness promotion in June, Canada Day promotion in July, back to school promotion in August, Labour Day promotion in September, Halloween or Thanksgiving promotion in October, Grey Cup promotion in November, and Christmas, Boxing Day, or winter promotion in December.

Choosing three or four events and dates early in the new year gives you time to plan and be ready for any hold-ups that may occur. Analyze the results of your promotion, so you can calculate the return on your investment, thus spending your promotional budget wisely.

Wall Calendars Remain One of the Best Promotional Items

In the world of smart phones, netbooks, and iPads®, the tried-and-true wall calendar tops the list of best promotional items. A recent study shows that 82% of households like receiving advertising calendars, and that more than 70% recalled the advertiser and the message.