What's your Vision?

I've been wanting to write a vision for myself and my sweetie for years...Intimidation.;..I started and stopped, let work get in the way, thought what do I really want ( and  Yes!! just how is this going to happen?), where do I really want to go, and so many more questions go running through my mind!

Bleck!!  What do I say?

Recently I had the privilege of going to International BNI conference
and two of the speakers spoke to just this!  It was just what I needed.

One said what are your non negotiables?  That struck home to me and I knew I could do it from there.
The other speaker spoke about his new book, Eyes Wide Open--as he is blind!!!  We didn't know this
until he told us!!  How cool is that?

Anyway, he just put into words what I needed to hear.

And we took the advice and calendared it and took a half day and wrote it! 

I am so excited to have it done for one, but it inspires us!!

So totally cool...



So find something that inspires you, ask yourself what are your non negotiables and DREAM BIG!!

A quote I recently heard....Might as well Dream Big, small comes anyway.

What's your favorite Tee?

This time of year we print hundreds of different kinds of apparel and most of them are t-shirts.  What would you say are your favorite characteristics of your favorite tee?

There is the Beefy t shirt, the 100% cotton t shirt, the 50/50 t shirt, the new performance t shirts, but the one that is my favorite is the new soft, yummy feeling ones, spun cotton.  They make up my sleep shirts for sure!

Did you know...."The dubbed "T-shirt" surfaced  in the United States when they were issued by the U.S. Navy sometime around the Spanish American War. They featured crew-necks and short sleeves and were meant to be worn as underwear beneath the uniform.  Soon it was adopted by the Army as part of the standard issue ensemble given to recruits. It got its iconic name from its shape resembling the letter "T"....  Bet you just needed this little bit of trivia:)

Currently we can find just about everyone wearing a T shirt from time to time, whether it has our favorite rock band, cute saying, or advertising a brand.

Using that T shirt for brand awareness is a major smart choice.  A branded T shirt on one of your crew members tells the public that they are meant to be on the job and gives them instant credibility.

And you get to let everyone see the name of your company!  What can be better than a walking billboard that you don't have to swing on the corner.

We print T shirts for companies, churches, camps, fire departments, fundraisers, walks, runs, swim teams, family reunions, you name it!  

As our saying goes, If you can think it, we can ink it!

Community Give Back

It is such fun to just think about being able to empower another business owner with the skills
to make their 2015 just so much more powerful--where they can pay it forward and impact
so many other lives around them at the same time.

This all came about as I applied for the Chase grant last year and was filling out the application.
It had lots of questions about how my business could impact the community I live and work in.
I thought I love to do business makeovers and I could give 10 a year away with my grant money.

So then Rebecca Hall Gruyter and I were talking and Voila!!  The Business Success Makeover
was born!  It is our way to give back to our communities and also showing up as the experts
we are.

Our Business Success Makeover I like to describe as a combination of the Chase Grant project
and a really nice Shark Tank!  LOL

We are taking up to 100 applications this first time around and are selecting at least 30 business
owners to come and present their business plan in front of a fantastic panel of experts.

Then we will pick the finalists that will WIN the business makeover!!  How cool is that?
You want in?  Just go to www.BusinessSuccessMakeover and fill out the application and
join us in moving small business in our communities to the next level!

We are so excited and know we can make a huge impact, not only on individual business owners,
but on the communities we live in as well.  We have a huge resource team that are all coming
together to donate their skills and empower our winning business owners to be able to
make a dramatic impact on their bottom line as well as themselves.

So join us in bringing about a Success revolution!!

T Shirt Turns 100--Celebrate it's Birthday!

You know that great ratty t shirt that you just love 

to wash the car in, sleep in, paint in, YES it is your favorite....Well that T Shirt celebrates it's 100th birthday this year!

 "In 1913, the T-shirt as we know it first appeared as standard-issue gear within the U.S. Navy. Since then, it  has become an essential part of the American wardrobe and identity."

A survey  revealed  "that 95 percent of Americans wear T-shirts and 89 percent wear Ts at least once a week. Nearly nine in every 10 Americans (87 percent) own at least one T-shirt they refuse to “trash” because of a sentimental attachment.

In fact, on average, they have 13 T-shirts they hold onto for that reason.

Most commonly, these shirts are from a group of which they were a member, or shirts commemorating a major event. They also said that they would have a stronger emotional connection with a shirt that they or someone they knew custom-designed!"

Custom designed T shirts, can you believe it!!  Look at your favorite T and see what memories it brings to mind and why you just LOVE it!

And that's the thing, WE LOVE creating custom T shirts that you can make your NEW favorite to wash the car in, go to coffee, take a walk, or just sit back and read a book in!

Plus what better way to advertise your business than to give out a great designed T Shirt that walks around as a custom Billboard advertising your business.

Have your employees wear them everywhere they go during the workday, give them out at little league games, to business associates, thank you to your best clients, the list is endless.

The T Shirt has an average lifetime of 5 years, yes and where else can you get advertising for the cost of a T Shirt that will walk around advertising YOU for 5 years? 

That is totally the BEST advantage of a promotional product!  And you thought your favorite T Shirt was just for sleeping in!!



Quote from press release from Customink

 

Wow, what a fantastic tradeshow in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay!!

Did you know we walked over 10 miles of aisles just to find the exact right promotional items for our clients great 2013 promotions?  We did it!!  And had fun doing it!

Exercise bands, specific brand even, for one client, bike lights for another for his great kids bike rodeo event, bean bags for our physical trainer--this was a hard one, but we found it!

We had fun finding shooting nerf guns for an August wedding and rubber duckies that are dressed as fishermen along with an alligator, seal, whale, and dolphin for a client's ducky drop event.

We went looking for new ideas for automotive and motorcycle giveaways, spent time checking out all the new tradeshow and banner displays so we can continue to be the expert, and participated in a new booth attracting client event.

And that was only day one!

Then on to finding hats to bling for a swim team, a nantucket red golf hat for a family reunion this summer, a calendar with custom photos for each month, a cap that has lights built into the cap for a client, and sweatshirts that come in tall sizes.  They don't make many of the tall anymore!!

We looked for items for a hand analysis client and checked out lots of bags for an upcoming sponsored event!

We came up with a new website option for us, so keep on the edge of your seat as we unroll some new things in the next couple of months!

We just LOVE tradeshows!

And we even had energy to go see the water show at the Bellagio, but let me tell you the hot tub got lots of use!!

A Mouse and His Cheese-Who is your ideal client & how can you attract more of them?

So I am sure you are wondering what a mouse and his cheese has to do with business, marketing, and promotional items!

I wonder what kind of cheese does your mouse like?  Cheddar?  Swiss? Provolone?  Wouldn't that information be helpful when setting up your call to action for your clients?

Knowing who your clients are or who your mouse is gives us step one.  

Who is your ideal client?  Finding out who your ideal client is takes some investigation into your database.  What is their gender, age, where do they live, what are their interests?   

Do you have a relationship with them?  If not, today is a good day to start and as you build that relationship, you will learn more about them and create loyal clients.

Wouldn't it make your life so enjoyable to be able to work with more of your favorite clients?  Finding out more about your favorite clients and what kind of cheese they like will help you attract more of them!

Step two is finding out what kind of cheese your clients like?  Are they interested in building their business?  Attracting new clients?  Encouraging current clients to visit more often?  Making the average daily sale higher?  Motivating their employees?

So as you do steps one and two, you will come up with some characteristics that show you more about your favorite or "ideal" client.  Then brainstorm some ideas that will attract more of that kind of client--ask them what is your favorite cheese?

As I play with the mouse and his cheese metaphor,  I do so playfully and with the intent of encouraging you to think outside the box and find who your ideal client is and how you can attract more of them to your business and more enjoyment for yourself!

There is a great 3 day workshop in Concord next week, Mar 14th-16th, please come as my guest.  You can get two Free VIP tickets buy going to:  http://brandyandvinca.com/events/, buy one book for $20 and all 3 days are FREE for you and a colleague or friend.  

Here you can learn more about who your ideal client is, who you are, and how to attract more of your favorite clients!  Mention my name and see you there!

Tradeshow Excitement

I just have to tell you that I am so excited for an upcoming tradeshow!

Have you ever looked forward to a tradeshow?  I am looking forward to seeing new items to help my clients build their businesses, learn new ideas, find ways to add to the bottom line for my clients and myself!

I have even set up some goals to accomplish while at the tradeshow!  How's that?!  And to say that it is in Las Vegas, well what more do I have to say!

All of Mandalay Bay ballrooms will be full of advertising specialities galore!  So to say I am excited, is by far not even close!

Tradeshows are great places for you to do business by being a vendor/exhibitor with a fabulous booth (which we can help you create or add to, by the way!), draw people into your booth, or be a participant/attendee at the tradeshow.

But to get the most out of either side of the tradeshow coin, a good idea would be to give yourself some goals and plans.

Here at Ink It Up Designs, we have some great ideas on being the best vendor possible, from complete tradeshow booths, banners, or setting yourself up for success in bringing more people into your booth.

So to your success in 2013, I am going to Las Vegas to find ways to help all of my clients have the best year ever!  And maybe see the water show at the Bellagio.....Fun!!