A new home for Brio

We’ve been hard at work this summer developing new marketing strategies and expanding our product line, and we’re happy to report that our effort has paid off. Starting this month we will be working out of Brio’s new headquarters at 19 Merrill Drive in Rockland, Maine. This move was prompted by our merge with screen-print shop J&B Printers. This longtime community staple has been providing mid-coast Maine with creative printing services for over 30 years, and we’re happy to be joining forces to bring Maine’s businesses the promotional products and printing they need to get noticed.

Promote like a Pro: Tweetups, Contests, and More...

This week we're brainstorming ideas for how to combine promotional products with online marketing strategies. 
Here's what we've come up with so far:

Organize a Tweetup: Tweet the time and place for your next Tweetup, and encourage followers to attend by offering a free tote bag, travel mug, or padfolio for the first 10, 20, or 50 guests who show up.  

Stage a photo contest: Distribute t-shirts, mugs, sunglasses, hats or cuddly plush toys to be used in an online photo contest. Fans and followers take pictures with your promotional product and share them on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. The more creative the better! 

Reach more readers: Expand your email list by using promotional products as an incentive to opt in. Offer a free travel mug, iPad case, messenger bag, or desk organizer for new subscribers to your email newsletter.

Get 'liked' at trade shows: Give away smartphone accessories imprinted with your logo at your next trade show for visitors who 'like' your Facebook page on the spot.

Have an idea for how to use promotional products online?
Leave us a comment below! 

Oscars 2013: The Swag in the Bag...

Photo credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN via Aceshowbiz.com

Ever wonder why the wealthiest celebrities always get things for free? Like tonight, for example, at the Academy Awards, some celebrities will walk away with gift bags worth over $45,000 (and in other years worth over $90,000!!) Businesses compete for a spot in the swag bag to promote their products and gain exposure. Even if the product is not publicly flaunted by a celebrity, it still gets a piece of the limelight when everyone asks: “Hey, what’s in that bag?” This is why businesses pay to give away their products: prime publicity and media hype. 

Believe it or not, this Hollywood marketing tactic can work for you too. When planning your next special event, fundraising gala, or corporate function, consider putting together a swag bag of your own. It won’t cost you $45,000, and you’ll generate some Oscar-worthy buzz. Things to keep in mind:

The bag: This is important because--first of all--you'll need something to hold the swag, but--second of all--a bag is the perfect product to promote your brand or message. Choose a bag that fits with the theme of your event and offers eye-catching features. Style and functionality will ensure that the bag (along with your brand) is enjoyed long after the event is over.

What's in the bag: This is where you get to choose what goes in the bag. Think of other promotional items that will generate a lot of use and attention from participants. Include products that fit with your brand and the specific event. 

Who gets the bag: Decide who will get a swag bag. Will everyone attending the event get one? Or will only special donors, supporters, or contributors get one? Swag bags could be raffled off or given away as prizes during the event. 

If you're not sure which products to use, let us know. We can put together a customized swag bag for your event. If you need a little inspiration, take a stroll around our Pinterest page. We're always posting new items to our collection of favorites. 

Nemo in New England

As we slowly make our way out from under the snow, we can’t help but notice the marketing opportunities that pile up when winter weather hits. So, before you buy your one-way ticket to Key West, take a look at our hand-picked winter collection of promotional products, and think of snowstorm 'Nemo' as a unique opportunity to start a new marketing campaign for your business or organization.

Where Did January Go?

At the ASI Trade Show w/ ASI mascot "Promo"!

The Brio team has been busy this month, so it’s no surprise to us that it’s February already! (Ok, we’re a little surprised.) Since ringing in the new year, we traveled to Orlando, FL for the ASI Trade Show and returned to Portland just in time for a heat wave and a snow storm. We stocked up our sample department and researched the best new products of 2013. We started a Brio Pinterest page, showcasing our favorite products, our adventures out of the office, and a glimpse of Brio history. All in all, it’s been a great start to the new year, and we want to keep it going, which is why we’re offering a special for the month of February: free artwork for any order. Give us your ideas, even the scribbled-on-a-napkin ideas, and we'll bring them to life for you. Don't have any? That's ok too. Contact us for a free promotional marketing consultation, and we'll talk it out together. Here's to a great new year!

Going Somewhere?

Aero-Safe Travel Kit

Happy Holidays! Since we'll be doing a lot of traveling over the holidays (and we bet you will too), we thought it would be nice to share some of our favorite travel-themed promotional items, starting with the always-important toiletry bag. Help your customers and clients travel smarter this season with these on-the-go products.

Multi-pocket Hanging Toiletry Bag

This Aero-Safe Travel Kit is perfect for keeping shower essentials together while traveling. It comes with airplane-approved bottles and a funnel to help transfer soaps, shampoos, and lotions. A clear case makes it easy to see if anything has been left behind (like perhaps a toothbrush?) and provides a large, easy-to-read imprint area for your logo. 

We also like this Hanging Toiletry Bag because it has multiple pockets, a carrying handle, and exterior storage compartments. Very useful for the multi-tasking traveler.

Luggage Tag

Travel Kit

Travel Tip #349: Make sure you can tell which suitcase is yours at the baggage claim. "Of course no one else will have the same black, square, rolling suitcase," you think to yourself while heading out the door--but newsflash: we all have that exact same one. So stand out from the crowd with a bright, colorful, practical and hard-to-miss luggage tag. Best qualities: Many fun colors to choose from, large imprint area, and durable. 

And now we get to the absolute must-have. This travel kit includes the holy trinity of overnight flights: eye pillow, neck pillow, ear plugs. Whether the family is across the country or halfway around the world, this kit has everything for an en route nap or good night's rest.