In a world where marketing trends come and go faster than you can say "retweet," it's reassuring to know that some tried-and-true classics of marketing are still as effective as ever. From branded merch to good old print ads, these retro strategies are like cool kids who never go out of style. 1. Merch that Matters: In a sea of digital noise, physical items like branded merch stand out like a disco ball at a punk concert. Whether it's a t-shirt, a slick water bottle, or a handy tote bag, these goodies stick around, giving your brand more exposure than a Kardashian at a selfie convention. 2. Personal Touches: In a world of automated emails and chatbots, a personal touch can go a long way. Sending a handwritten note along with a branded gift shows you care, and it's a surefire way to make a lasting impression. Plus, who doesn't love getting snail mail that's not a bill? 3. Nostalgia Sells: Remember the good ol' days when phones had cords and MTV played music videos? Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool that can transport your audience back to simpler times. Whether it's a retro logo or a nod to a classic TV show, tapping into nostalgia can create an emotional connection that's stronger than your morning coffee. 4. Print Ain't Dead: In a world of swipes and scrolls, print media is the unsung hero of marketing. There's something special about flipping through a glossy magazine or finding a surprise in your mailbox that no amount of pixels can replicate. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to break out your collection of novelty bookmarks. 5. Consistency… Consistency: Just like your grandma's secret cookie recipe, consistency is key in marketing. By maintaining a consistent brand image across all channels, you build trust with your audience and establish a strong brand identity that's as reliable as your favorite pair of jeans. So, before you go all-in on the latest marketing fad, take a page from the past and give old-school tactics a spin. Whether it's rocking some rad merch or sending out snail mail with flair, these retro strategies are sure to make your brand stand out in a world full of digital noise. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
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Welcome to the green side of branded merchandise, where sustainability meets style and fun! At IMC, we're not just about promoting your brand; we're also passionate about saving the planet one sustainable product at a time. It's not just about saving the planet - it's about having a blast while doing it! Let's face it, talking about sustainability can sometimes feel like watching paint dry. But guess what? It's actually super important! Gone are the days of boring, bland eco-friendly products. From reusable bamboo coffee cups to funky recycled tote bags, we've got everything you need to make a statement while saving the planet. By choosing sustainable products, we're not just saving the planet; we're also making sure we have a planet to party on for years to come. Plus, who doesn't love feeling like a superhero every time they rock their eco-friendly gear? Who says saving the planet has to be serious all the time? We believe in the power of humor to inspire change. Whether it's a witty slogan on a recycled t-shirt or a clever eco-friendly pun on a reusable tote bag, your branded merchandise is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face - and maybe even a snort of laughter! We believe that small changes can lead to big results. Whether you're a small business looking to make a big impact or a corporate giant ready to go green, we've got the perfect eco-friendly merch to suit your needs. So, what are you waiting for? Let's save the planet, one t-shirt at a time! Have you heard about "brand image?" It's like the secret sauce that makes your brand stand out in a sea of competitors. We're about to unravel this mystery with four tips that'll have your brand image soaring higher than a superhero with a jetpack!
In a world where first impressions can make or break a brand's success, the importance of design cannot be overstated. Packaging design plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions, influencing purchasing decisions, and ultimately, determining the success of a product. From eye-catching graphics to innovative structural designs, packaging is more than just a protective layer - it's a powerful marketing tool that can elevate a brand's image and drive sales. First Impressions Count Imagine walking down the aisle of a store filled with products competing for your attention. What catches your eye? Chances are, it's the packaging. The design of a package is often the first point of contact between a consumer and a product. A well-designed package can instantly grab attention, pique curiosity, and create a positive impression. On the other hand, a poorly designed package can easily be overlooked or even worse, create a negative perception of the product and the brand. Reflecting Brand Identity Packaging is not just about aesthetics; it's also a powerful way to communicate a brand's identity and values. The design elements used - such as colors, fonts, and imagery - can convey a brand's personality, target audience, and positioning in the market. For example, a brand that prides itself on being eco-friendly may use recyclable materials and earthy tones in its packaging design to reflect its commitment to sustainability. Storytelling Great packaging goes beyond just looking good; it tells a story. It creates an emotional connection with consumers by evoking curiosity, nostalgia, or excitement. Through clever use of imagery, messaging, and symbolism, your packaging can convey the story behind your product, capturing the imagination of your audience and leaving a lasting impression. Whether it's showcasing the origins of your ingredients or highlighting the craftsmanship behind your creation, storytelling adds depth and meaning to your brand experience. Creating a Memorable Experience Packaging design can create a memorable and shareable experience for consumers. Think about unboxing videos that have become a trend on social media. People are not just excited about the product itself; they're also drawn to the packaging and the experience of unwrapping it. By designing packaging that is not only visually appealing but also engaging and memorable, brands can create a strong emotional connection with consumers, leading to increased brand loyalty and advocacy. Differentiation in a Crowded Market In today's competitive market, standing out from the crowd is more important than ever. Packaging design plays a crucial role in helping products differentiate themselves from competitors. A unique and innovative design can capture attention, spark curiosity, and make a product more memorable to consumers. Whether it's through bold colors, quirky shapes, or interactive features, packaging design can be a powerful tool for brands looking to make a lasting impression. The Bottom Line When it comes to branded merchandise, design is not just about making things look pretty - it's about creating a powerful and effective communication tool. From attracting attention on the shelf to conveying brand values and creating memorable experiences, packaging design plays a crucial role in the success of a product and a brand. By prioritizing design excellence and leveraging the power of packaging to tell your brand story, you can create meaningful connections with consumers and leave a lasting impression that extends far beyond the checkout aisle. It's time to refresh your color palette and stay ahead of the trends. In the world of branded merchandise, staying ahead of the curve is essential. Colors have a profound impact on consumer perception and can significantly influence purchasing decisions. Whether you're designing custom merch or revamping your brand's visual identity, incorporating these trending colors can help you connect with your audience and make a statement.
It might be the peak of summer, but the upcoming school year is just around the corner! It’s never too late to prepare for school, especially with the long lists of supplies that students need. With the way technology is advancing, every year there’s a new gadget or accessory that’s added to the list. Pew Research says that the vast majority of Americans, over 97%, now own a mobile phone. This means that phone accessories are one of the most universally in-demand products in the world! What products are students looking for to use on their phones? Stay on top of the trends!
Not only are all of these items super useful for students, but they’re brandable as well! Interested in one of these products? Visit our website for more information!
A logo is one of the most important parts of creating a unique and recognizable brand- and our world is saturated with them! However, sometimes companies are up for a change and go for a rebrand. Sometimes these logo rebrands don’t succeed, but other times they improve on the original and then some! Keep reading for 5 great examples of logo rebrandings that simplified the original design, and why they’re so great that you might not have even noticed they changed! 1. Burger King As part of their first rebranding in 20 years, Burger King modified their classic red, yellow and blue logo! The rebranding changed not only font, but the company colors as well. This new logo resembles the original by keeping a burger shape, but also simplifies the font and imagery into just yellow and red. Sleek! 2. Starbucks Starbucks is another brand that gradually simplified their logo over the years. Beginning with the classic two-tailed mermaid, the original logo was black. As time went on, the chain began using their dark green color as well as a more graphic mermaid. Despite these changes, the logo is still recognizable through each transition- the mark of successful rebranding. 4. Airbnb What a drastic change! Airbnb’s original logo was a lot to take in, with cursive font and a light blue and white coloring. It was not sleek and didn’t help get the brand’s mission across. Now, their new logo completely changed the brand font, colors, and even added an image! The result is a much more straightforward, simple, and appealing design. 5. Nissan
Nissan’s logo has always resembled the wheel of a car, with the shiny gray coloring and the circle around the words. In 2020, the brand simplified the design even further and changed the silver of the wheel to black lines. The font also underwent a simplification. Ambitious! Disagree with any of our faves? Have a logo you think should’ve been on the list? Saw a logo change you never even noticed? Let us know in the comments below! Have you ever bought a product from a business without realizing that the product was made unsustainably, or that the business was not one you want to support? We’ve all been there, and it’s not a good feeling! Luckily, there are a multitude of brands that focus on sustainability and giving back that you can support without feeling any guilt! By co-branding with these brands, you’re demonstrating that you care, value, and support doing good in the world. And doing good feels great. 1. Welly Water Bottles Welly collaborates with charity: water to help bring access to the 785 million people in need of clean water. Having access to water helps keep kids in school and gives women time to take charge of their futures! Welly donate 1%+ of all sales to charity: water projects that bring wells and other long-lasting clean water solutions to communities worldwide. 2. FinalStraw Single-use plastics are a disaster- polluting our lands, endangering marine ecosystems, and contaminating the food chain. FinalStraw’s mission is to create reusable Foreverables that reduce the need for plastics! They also empower individuals to change their buying habits, and raise awareness of the impacts of our everyday decisions. And, it all comes in sleek, compact, sustainable packaging! 3. Camelbak CamelBak believes that doing the right thing isn’t just good business sense, but common sense. Sustainability is in their DNA, and they’re more committed than ever. By 2025, all CamelBak products will be designed to reduce climate impact and continue to be made with the safest materials. Repurpose is CamelBak’s sustainability label, and represents thoughtful designs and creative solutions for a more sustainable life. They’re a brand dedicated to making decisions that count. 4. Soapbox Soaps Founded in 2010 with a simple mission: to empower people to change the world through everyday, quality purchases, Soapbox Soaps lives by the phrase “Soap = Hope”! For every Soapbox product you purchase, we, together, donate a bar of soap to someone in need, either state-side or abroad. Truly a company focused on giving back! 5. Eos Ingredients matter, and eos has always believed in adhering to the strictest safety standards while using the best sustainably-sourced oils, butters, and beeswax for their products. They are partnering with TerraCycle to help recycle the plastics in the spheres that hold their lip balms. In the process, they’re substantially reducing the amount of waste contributed by eos products. Finding sustainably produced and handled makeup can be a challenge, but eos is up for it! Which of these brands would be most excited to co-brand with? Let us know in the comments below! Due to the pandemic, most employees are working from home. However, many of these employees are not prepared for full-time work from home. Here are some ways you can help support workers that may be new to working away from the office.
Give them the technology and tools they need Video and messaging tools like Skype and Zoom are more common than ever in the workplace, but these tools can be utilized to allow remote employees to meet ‘face-to-face’, even if they are not in the same location. Encouraging everyone to use the video features can increase personal connection and help working from home feel less isolating. Set clear goals about communication and expectations Setting clear goals and expectations can help manage the stress of working from home. Let them know you trust them to do their work. Schedule regular video meetings for teams so they can communicate with each other and make sure everyone is on the same page. Feeling out of the loop can be extremely demotivating and can also cause anxiety in workers that are used to frequent in-person collaboration. Stick to these regular meetings and avoid micro-managing For supervisors that are not used to managing remote workers, it can be challenging not knowing exactly what your team is up to at all times. However, it is important to demonstrate that you trust them to get the job done. Respect work-life balance If everyone on your team is now working remotely, it can often be a struggle to separate work-life from their home-life. It is important to set clear expectations about hours you expect them to be working, what flexibility might be OK and that you do not expect them to go beyond their regular. Appreciate everyone’s unique situation Working from home can be different for everyone. Maybe some employees have room for a dedicated office or workspace. Others may live in a studio apartment without much room for their work life to invade their living space. If they are working at home due to the virus, maybe their children are home as well. This can be difficult, and you should have some empathy for everyone’s situation. The Takeaway: Support and Appreciation goes a long way The most important thing to takeaway from this is that your employees should feel supported (tech tools, clear communication) and appreciated (with clear boundaries, trust them to do their jobs). You can let them know their work and effort during these difficult times is appreciated. Maybe send them a gift or other token of appreciation. Or maybe some branded merchandise that can help them be more productive while at-home. These types of signs of appreciation can let your employees know that you care and understand that they are working hard.
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