J&M Has Got Some Baggage!

Here at J&M, we’ve got lots of baggage… the good kind that is! Now, when I mean we’ve got a lot, I’m not talking about just a few measly bags, I mean totes, duffels, briefcases, beach totes, backpacks, golf bags… the list goes on and on. We’ll have pretty much any bag for any occasion that can have virtually any custom logo. I’ve come up with a pretty extensive list of the bags we have, but really, it’s just the tip of the ice burg.  If you see something you like, let us know. If you don’t, let us know anyways, I am sure we can find it for you!

Click HERE to see the list!

Ash City Summer Sale!

Things are starting to get pretty chilly around here…. at least in our air conditioned office it is. Outside however, things are really starting to heat up and when temperatures rise, prices fall.

Now, I know you are probably gonna say, “What the heck are they thinking, jackets in July!?!?” Well hear me out, although most of you probably aren’t thinking about trying to keep warm while you are sweating in the sun, but saving and sales- that is something that is always on your mind!

Until the end of July, Ash city is having an amazing sale with discounts up to 84% off! Click any of the images below to see what great stuff they have on sale!

Summer’s Top Sizzling Promotional Products

Summer is almost here and you know what that means! Beaches, boats, barbecues, water fights, camp-outs, and lots and lots of fun in the sun! With people engaging in so many different activities over the next couple of months, now is the perfect time to focus on summer themed giveaways that are not only affordable, but are fun and usable too. Check out these idea boards of custom promotional products and get inspired!

GRADUATION GEAR!!

The season of commencement is upon us, and you know what that means…. parties, celebrations,  grad-night shirts, stoles,  tassels, summer, friends, and family! Graduation is a special event in someone’s life, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. At J&M Promotion, we congratulate those library warriors, all-night crammers, coffee junkies, test takers, and early morning aspirants. Your achievements are electrifying and inspiring and we have some great products to help you commemorate the occasion!

If you are interested in any of these products or have some ideas of your own… contact us at info@jmpromos.com. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Top-10 tips for Using Pinterest to Promote Small Businesses

Today, the star of our show is that little image sharing website turned overnight social media sensation. You know, the one that you post pictures on and everyone likes and shares them. Ya, ya, that’s the one. The one they call…Pinterest.

Pinterest is a pinboard-style social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, ‘re-pin’ images to their own collections and/or ‘like’ photos. Pinterest’s mission is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting” via a global platform of inspiration and idea sharing.

So, that sounds all fine and dandy, but how in the world does this “photo sharing,” “inspiration” board apply to your small business? Sure, it looks like it would be good if you were planning a wedding, remodeling your home, or shopping for the next season’s latest fashions, but for your business, I don’t know.

The truth is, Pinterest is not only good for business, it is GREAT! Pinterest actually drives more referral traffic than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn combined!

Starting to get a little intrigued about this photo sharing behemoth? Well, I have a list of the top-10 tips for using Pinterest to promote small businesses. And guess what, I am sharing them with you!

So, sit back, put your seatbelts on, and click here to be part of the crazy new ride called- Pinterest.

Pinterest, the online social-driven bulletin board, is the latest trend in social medial channels. Seventy percent of the site’s visitors are women ages 25-44, and they spend an average of 15 minutes looking around the site. This alone should make your business pay attention, as well as the fact that the site has grown by a mere 4,000 percent in the past six months.

Here are the top 10 tips, brought to you market and industry leaders, on how to have success using Pinterest.

1. Turn your content into infographics and data charts. This is a user-friendly (and visual) way to showcase information useful to your audience, unique to your industry or business and on point with your expertise.

2. Promote user-generated content with a guest pinner board. Allow visitors to add videos and photos that fit in with your niche. You may also want to consider running a contest for the most interesting, unique, useful, etc., pins on a specific topic. Offer a juicy prize and drive traffic with the competition.

3. Don’t just pin pictures, pin videos. Think segments from speaking engagements, news clips, interviews and YouTube videos that are highly relevant to your Pinterest boards.

4. Use strong visual images with all your blog posts. The more captivating your images, the more likely they will be repinned. Adding an image to every blog post you put up gives you the opportunity to pin it and drive traffic back to your site.

5. Pin cover images of your e-books and traditional books. If you have a series of e-books, or traditional books you have authored, make a board featuring your work. Consider offering a free chapter or download of the entire e-book to add value.

6. Put your presentation materials on Pinterest. Are you giving a speech, leading a webinar, conducting a class? If so, why not create a Pinterest board for that specific presentation that you can share with the attendees as supplemental material after the session is over or as a resource for those unable to attend.

7. Introduce the members of your team. Although Pinterest is primarily an online platform for showcasing your interests, hobbies and lifestyle finds, it can also serve as a way to let customers in on the inner workings of your company by featuring members of your staff. In addition, look for ways to pin photos of your company’s behind-the-scenes scenarios such as conferences, speaking engagements, company events and actual production of your products as appropriate.

8. Create customer boards. Much in the same way introducing your customers to your staff creates a more intimate business relationship, showcasing your client similar benefits. Use Pinterest to tell your clients’ stories and highlight  case studies. Just be sure to check first before making their mugs public.

9. Create a coupon graphic. In order to give potential clients a promotional discount on Pinterest, create a coupon graphic that can be pinned to an appropriate board. Use the description section to further detail the goods and services being offered at a discounted rate.

10. Create an FAQ for working with you. Think of this as the owner’s manual for your business. How can clients work most effectively with you? What are the most frequently asked questions people have about your business, products or expertise? Perhaps a glossary of frequently used terms in your business would be useful. Once up, you can use this board as a place to send potential new clients for suggestions on how they might best take advantage of what you offer.

Take a look at what some of these companies are pinning… Pottery Barn, Cost Plus World Market, Apple, Toyota, World Wildlife Foundation.

If you are interested in learning more about how Pinterest can help your business, contact me at info@jmpromos.com. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Happy pinning!

Source: Karen Leland is a best-selling author, marketing and branding consultant and president of Sterling Marketing Group, where she helps businesses create killer content and negotiate the wired world of today’s media landscape–social and otherwise.

http://pubs.ppai.org/2012/04/pinterest-tips-for-small-businesses-part-1/

http://pubs.ppai.org/2012/04/pinterest-tips-for-small-businesses-part-2/

Spring Cleaning at J&M Promotions!

At J&M Promotions, we tend to acquire a fair amount of samples throughout the year. Therefore, by the time spring comes around, our cupboards are full, things are spilling out of our cubicles, and our sample apparel storage room… don’t even get me started on that one.

With that said, we decided to let you go wild, have a ball, and pick through some of these products, and if you want one, it’s yours! These products are brand new and are in excellent condition. Like the saying goes… “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” although, these are definitely not trash- we are just over flowing!

These products can be shipped to you and payments can be made via credit card. There will be an additional shipping charge depending on your location. These products are available on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested, send an e-mail to Kelly@jmpromos.com!

Leeman New York Leather ipad® Case/Stand. This is a Cowhide leather tablet folder which folds out to become a stand for iPad® and other tablets. Soft velveteen interior prevents scratching and magnetic closure. It does not feature camera window on back. This item is BLANK and DOES NOT have any imprints on it. Retails for $45…..Buy from us at $32!!

Women’s windproof/water resistant 7.4 oz. 60% cotton/40% polyester twill short trench coat lined with polyester. Zipper front with a snapped storm flap. Two side pockets and inner right chest pocket. Ruching along shoulders and back yoke add a stylish touch. We have a red and a black, both in size Large. Retails for $87.50…. Buy from us for $35 each!

Listen to all your tunes on the go without wires. Connect this speaker to any smart phone or mobile device via Bluetooth. Listen to your MP3′s or stream music from the web. Offers up to 3W of power with a built in rechargeable lithium ion battery. Control your mobile device through the postable speaker. Easy to collapse and easy to carry. Product is offered with a USB cord and instruction manual. Retails for $35…. Buy from us for $20!

Navy and white 64″ arc golf umbrella with large canopy. Unique shaft offers the strength of fiberglass with the elegance of a wood grain look. Wood hourglass handle and fiberglass ribs make this umbrella a great value! Duraflex construction with a wind proof feature. A super value! Available in over 20 colors to meet most of your needs. Retails for $23…. Buy from us for $12!

Brown New York Single Bottle Wine Carrier with elegant designer fabric with simulated leather and creative detailing combine to make this unique wine bottle cooler tote. Hand grip.  Retails for $25…. Buy from us for $14!

Black insulated wine tote with shoulder strap. Leakproof PEVA lining. Retails for $20…. Buy from us for $10!

Black Sunset Delux Wine Carrier- Sophisticated and uniquely designed, the book style opening of the Sunset Deluxe Wine Carrier makes a striking display. Fully insulated it holds wine and glasses for two or remove the glasses for a two bottle carrier. This COMES WITH two wine glasses, napkins, and bottle opener. An impressive gift for any wine lover! Retails for $37…. buy from us for $16!

• Converts to a Two Bottle Carrier
• Unique Book Style Opening
• Adjustable Shoulder Strap
• Exclusive Leather Trim
• Custom Antique Brass Accents
• Signature Contrast Detailing on all Straps
• Thermal Shield� Insulation
• Durable 600 Denier Canvas

Once again, these products can be shipped to you and payments can be made via credit card. There will be an additional shipping charge depending on your location. These products are available on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested, send an e-mail to Kelly@jmpromos.com! Happy shopping!!

If J&M won the lottery…

As you know, the Mega Millions Lottery has reached a record setting high. Currently sitting at a staggering $476 Million, nearly half a billion dollars, the options for what you might do with the money are virtually limitless.

At J&M we like to dream about winning the lottery just as much as the next guy, so we decided to ask each other “What would you do if you won the $476 million dollars?”

Before I get into these pretty interesting answers, let me first let you know that here at J&M we have a pretty eclectic group, so these answers are, well, they are pretty interesting!

Jonny, our Production Assistant was first up when I asked him what he would do with the money. He said that he would invest $100 million of it, get his record studio and label started, and send his band, The Higgs, on a four year tour around the world. He would also get a G5 Airplane and a panda, qualla, and penguin. “Oh ya,” he adds, “I’d finally get my drivers license and a car, too!” Oh Jonny, always keeping the little things in mind.

Georgette, one of our Sales Associates said that she would buy a huge cruise ship and travel around the world with her friends. Her cruise ship would have everything she needs and she would travel from port to port seeing the world.

Drew, our Production Manager, took a more minimalistic approach to winning the lotto. He decided he would go live in a cabin in the mountains in the middle of nowhere. Companionship would not be an issue according to Drew because he would have a pet mountain lion to keep him company. He would spend his days fishing with his fishing pole made of pure gold and cruising around in his ATV which ran off air. As for the rest of his money? He would bury it and leave clues and a map so that upon his death, treasure seekers could embark on an adventure to find the infamous gold of D. Meyer!

Elena, another Sales Associate said that she would travel around the world with her family. She would consider buying a cat farm for her daughter (who is an avid cat lover), so she can rescue all the strays she wants and not have to worry about them living with her. Elena would continue with her charity work and explore other forms of philanthropy. She would also grant one million dollar wishes to each of her children.

Eric, our Sales Manager would pay off his house and wanted to buy the Dodgers until we told him $476 million still wouldn’t be enough money besides the fact they have a pending buyer. Eric also wanted to buy properties in places like Lake Tahoe and Aspen, buy a GT3RS Porsche, (he wasn’t sure what his 4 door car would be), and….. “It is just so much money I can’t even fathom what I would do.” Well Eric, wait till you read what your other coworkers have said, I am sure Kurt and Jonny can give you some interesting ideas, lol.

Wendi,our Social Media Coordinator and bid winner would remodel her house, “very slowly though, so it doesn’t look like I won the lottery.” She would also take a very nice and long vacation and develop a plan to give half her money away to various non profit organizations. Go Wendi, always the philanthropist!

Kurt, our Graphic Artist, would buy his own island, with an airstrip, and a castle… with a moat, and a cheetah, and a mini giraffe. In his castle with a moat and a cheetah and a mini giraffe, he would also have a gigantic “wall size” touch screen computer monitor. He would also buy a huge yacht to travel around with when he didn’t feel like staying in his castle. Kurt has always been the dreamer!

German, our Screen Printer, would like an endless supply of Mango Chili Pops. He would also like a Yukon Denali XL and to travel around the world with his family for 10 years.

Jack, the President and Owner of J&M would pay all his bills and take care of all his family. “I can’t imagine what I would do with all that money, I have to think about it for a while,” said Jack earnestly. Jack does have a special spot in his heart for Lake Tahoe though, so I am sure that some land purchasing up there might be in the works if he won.

And me, Kelly, Office Assistant, would retire my parents and finish and publish book one of my fiction novel series. I would buy my own plane to fly back and forth from Germany and buy my sister, who is currently studying large animal veterinary at UC Davis, her own farm and veterinary practice. I would also set up and develop superb reading and writing programs across the United States to better educate people in  the fruitfulness of the imagination.

Now, the big question here is….. what would you do if you won $476 million dollars? Don’t be bashful now, you can see that some of our answers definitely weren’t! Lets see what big ideas you have. Comment below, we might find on Friday that your collection of dreams has actually come true!

Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times®

On Saturday March 10th, our very own, Eric Williams, attended the Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® 16th Annual Tennis Marathon. The event was held at the Mountain Gate Country Club in Los Angeles where the weather was perfect for a fun filled tennis event. There was a great turnout of support for the event with lots of smiling, friendly faces. The event is known for its fun, yet competitive, tennis, delicious food, caring and compassionate people and a few guest speakers to remind everyone why Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® and the Ronald McDonald House Charities® are so important in helping children and supporting their families. All proceeds from this event provide much needed support to thousands of children with cancer through our cost-free, medically-supervised, year-round sleep-away Camp.

The first of two guest speakers, Ana Varela, is the older sister of Fernando Varela who was diagnosed with Leukemia but has been in remission for four years.  Both Ana and Fernando have been attending Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® every year for the past 8 years.  Ana mentioned several times how wonderful it is to experience a real camp experience, surrounded by children and families all going through a similar experience.  Both she and Fernando were able to build lifetime friendships that had a special, unbreakable bond in a time when it was most crucial.  Ana’s story about her family’s entire experience really reminds us why it’s such a great charity and what phenomenally positive impacts it makes on children with cancer and their families.

In addition to Ana, Dr. Cecilia H. Fu,, MD spoke.  She is a pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and a volunteer physician at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times.  Dr. Fu spoke about her experiences at Camp, but more importantly, she shared how much she cared.  She didn’t have to say it because it was very evident when she spoke.  She is one of many reasons why Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® is so important to children with cancer and their families.

Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® was founded in 1982 by a group of caring individuals who dreamed of a place where children who have had their lives devastated by childhood cancer could recapture what being a child is supposed to be. In August of 1982 this dedicated group of parents, doctors, nurses, community leaders and volunteer counselors set off with 60 kids to Calamigos Ranch in Malibu and conducted the first Camp Good Times ever.

Originally “Camp Good Times,” the camp became “Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times®” in June 1984, when McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California announced they would support the Camp’s efforts to provide memorable summer camp experiences for our campers. Ronald McDonald House Charities® as well as local McDonald’s owners and operators contribute generously to the operation of Camp programs.

In 1994, with the purchase of a 60 acre, fully accredited campsite in the mountains near Idyllwild in Riverside County, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® took the first step in fulfilling its dream to create a barrier-free camp designed around the needs of the children we serve.. In 1997, we celebrated our 15th Anniversary with a reunion of 1,600 campers, siblings, parents, counselors, donors and neighbors, and we dedicated Phase I of our new facilities: the Brotman “Med Shed” infirmary complex; the McDonnell Douglas Courtyard; Jackson Pond; and the Bob Chandler Courage Course, a 50-foot tall challenge/ropes course which is fully handicapped accessible.

Currently, the Camp Board of Trustees is in the process of raising the capital funds needed to expand facilities through three phases of construction. Once complete, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® will serve as a model of both a fully accessible campsite and an inclusive special-needs camping program.

Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times would love your support.  No matter how large or small, every little bit helps.  You are always welcome to donate.  Please be sure to check out the Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® website for more information.

Get your Drink on for St. Patty’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner and here at J&M, we are celebrating in a big way. As most of you know, besides the pinching, the shamrocks, the green everything, the corned beef and cabbage, and Chicago’s dyed green river, what most people like to do on St. Patty’s is drink! Whether you are a wine connoisseur, a beer aficionado, a lover of fruit punch, a water-aholic, or can’t live without coffee, there are literally hundreds of drinkware promotional products to fit any need.

Sit back, put your feet up, grab your favorite drink and check out these great products! Please let us know if you want to find out more about these also!!

Where oh where could you use BPA Free Stainless Steel Water Bottles? Well, let’s think… Fishing trips, scouting events, summer camps, sporting events, walk-a-thons, bike rallys, mud run, in the office, at a picnic, at golf… the list goes on and on! There are dozens of these reusable water bottles that are very affordable, ding and dent proof, washable, stay cool, and are easily transportable with the little carabiner clip that can attach to almost anything. The ACADIA STAINLESS STEEL BOTTLE, featured above is just one example of these very versatile water bottles.

Looking for a way to keep your liquids cool without having to lug around an ice chest? Styles of water bottles like the COOL GEAR HYDRATOR BOTTLE featured above come with their own built in ice pack! These are great for keeping the kids cool at baseball or soccer practice, to bring to the gym, or even to yoga.

Add a little “Frost” to your step with these VERY COOL PERMA-FROST WATER BOTTLES. These BPA Free “frosty” bottles are truly revolutionary and are made with high tech materials which are extremely impact resistant. Let me just tell you, these bottles are really neat and did I mention re-freezable!?! They come in red, smoke, and ice blue. These would be perfect at a college sorority or fraternity, or to be part of a gift basket for a store opening, an awards ceremony, or auction event!

Now, summer is coming up and there are going to be a lot of adventure outings, camping trips, road trips, and of course- world traveling! When I travel, I do often get a little concerned with the water I am drinking and end up sticking to plastic water bottles. Well, there is no longer a need for those pesky land fill bottles anymore. Now there are reusable, filterable water bottles! Each one of these filters is good for 200+ refills, that is 200 plastic water bottle out of the dump and out of the ocean! Did I mention these water bottles can withstand subfreezing to boiling temperatures? There a a few different styles of these bottles, but the one above, the Tritan Advantage, is one of my personal favorites.

Now, I know you have see these very trendy sippy cups at Starbucks, the grocery store, and pretty much everywhere else. These cups come in tons of colors, are washable, won’t break, can be used in for almost everything and make an all around great cup! These make great promotional giveaway products and are perfect to sell as retail items at a hotel, cafe or restaurant.

This water bottle is nothing short of STYLEISH! The TUFF LOVE STAINLESS STEEL TRAVEL TUMBLER is edgy, chic, and fearless! These mugs in Black Matte and Stainless Steel and are complete with studded heart detailing. These would look great logoed in any boutique clothing store, used to promote a jewelry line, or to support women’s causes! These would also look great with a band’s or singer’s logo on it too!

SHAKE IT BABY, shake it, shake it baby! This shaker bottle is one of my personal favorites and is actually sitting in my car right now, waiting to be taken home and tried out. The shaker ball inside keeps you shakes, smoothies, and protein drinks, WELL shaken up! Machine washable, plastic, and  BPA Free, these shaker cups are great to sell or giveaway at a gym, perfect for any athlete, and an all around great thing to have! I can’t wait to try mine out!

Now, for the bottle you have all been waiting for, I present to you, FLAVOUR IT! This bottle is BPA free, dishwasher safe, and adds a splash of flavor to your water! These very luxurious and sophisticated bottles are great for keeping guests refreshed at resort heath spas, or keeping staff hydrated and healthy!

Im sure there are many more uses for these bottles and drinkware, so I would like to know- what could you use them for? Please share your thoughts and ideas and if you have any questions or would like to know more about these products, please e-mail me at info@jmpromos.com!

I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Until next week,

Cheers!

All About Screen Printing!

You have seen them every where- screen printed shirts, jackets, sweatshirts, tote bags, shoes, and pretty much anything else that can hold a screen print. Did you ever stop to think though, what really goes into the process of making a screen print?

Before a screen print ever makes its way onto a t-shirt, it first has to be turned into a digital image or logo using the appropriate computer software. Once the image is in the proper format, it can then be transferred, in a dark room, onto a screen. Once the screen is set up or “registered” in the press, printing is ready to begin.

The next part of the screen printing process involves passing ink, with a rubber squeegee, through a “screen” that has been stretched on a frame to which a stencil has been applied. The stencil openings determine what image or parts will be printed. The ink that is pushed through the screen is printed directly onto the shirt. The shirt is then carefully removed from the press, without smearing the ink, and placed on a conveyer belt which runs under a dryer. Once the shirt reaches the other end of the dryer, the ink has been cured and it is ready to wear!

All this doesn’t sound too tricky right? Well, there are a couple more details I need to point out. First, the complexity and amount of colors in a logo or image is very important. Screen printing is not like digital printing which literally prints an image just like your printer does at home. Screen printing involves the layering of colors, one on top of the other, to produce the image.

A screen printing machine, depending on its size, has anywhere from four and 16 heads. On each head goes a screen and on each screen, a different colored ink. Therefore, depending on the printing machine’s size, it can print an image with 1 to 16 colors.

Now ok, we have got the colors figured out, but can a light color such as yellow or pink print on a black or red colored shirt? And can a lighter shade of green be printed right on top of dark blue? No. Depending on the color of the shirt or the colors of the inks, you might need a base layer. A base is basically the “primer” of screen printing. Would you paint white over a red wall? No, not without a primer first. The base must be applied to darker color shirts before the ink goes on and sometimes between inks depending on their colors. Therefore, in the world of screen printing where you are charged by the screen or color, you must remember that white bases do count as a color.

Hopefully you have a clear understanding of how screen printing works, but why are screen printed products beneficial to your business? Screen printed products are a great way to get noticed. A logo, image, or saying can be screen printed onto almost any promotional product. Whether you are planning an event, giving away freebies at a trade show or using screen printed apparel as part of a uniform or in a professional setting; the versatility of screen prints make them perfect for any occasion.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW J&M PROMOTIONS SCREEN PRINTING WEBSITE!