August 25, 2014

What is a Soft Opening?

When launching a new business, an official grand opening gives you the opportunity to connect with potential customers, build brand awareness and increase sales. People can learn about your product or service and what makes your company worth a try. As effective as they are, grand openings are still pretty scary. You don’t want anything to go wrong and leave a bad impression with customers, after all.

For these reasons, some business owners choose to have a soft opening. A soft opening is like a dry run of the grand opening. Business owners can diagnose and correct any problems that they foresee, and hold the soft opening without the pressure of having a large group of people. In fact, some industries require that businesses do a soft opening in order to proceed with a grand opening. Casinos are among them, as officials want to make sure that employees are taking the right precautions and handling money correctly.

As a small business owner, it’s probably your choice as to whether or not you want to hold a soft opening, but the benefits generally speak for themselves. Being able to make sure that everything is in working order sets your grand opening up for success, and you can give everything a trial run without having a crowd of people under your feet.

Great Atlantic Outfitters works with new and existing companies, and we can help you with your soft opening and grand opening. We have wonderful promotional products that are creative, unique and affordable. They are a great reminder of your business and can help drive traffic, visibility and sales, especially in the early days when your business is just forming new connections.

We recommend that during a soft opening, you place out the promotional products and determine the following:

Is the quantity enough?
When are you planning to hand them out?
Will you use them to encourage customers to sign up for your newsletter, enter the raffle, play in a game, etc?
Do you feel that the items accurately represent your brand? Your logo?
Do you have a plan for leftover promotional items?

Get your business off to a great start by doing a soft opening. You’ll be glad you did!

August 19, 2014

Tips for a Successful Fundraising Program

Fundraisers are a great opportunity to raise money for a particular purpose. At Great Atlantic Outfitters, we help customers create strong fundraising programs that raise money and encourage everyone to have fun! Not only can we help you with your fundraiser, but also we have some of the best promotional products that can be used as rewards, incentives and handouts.

Here are tips for creating a fundraising program that works for your great cause!

Choose a Unique Event

Once you determine what you are raising money for, decide how you will do it. A fundraising event should be dedicated to the cause so that people can come together and raise awareness. When deciding on an event, also consider the amount of help you have and the location where the event will be held. This will impact what you can do. Ideas include:

Silent auction
Food and entertainment
BINGO
Raffle
Bake sale/homemade meals
Karaoke
Car wash
Cook off

Spread the News

With social media, it’s easier than ever before to let people know about your event. If you’re selling tickets to get into the event, make it clear where the money is going and what it will be used for. Otherwise, let people know how you will be raising donations at the event, such as by selling homemade goods or playing games. In addition to social media, you can hang up flyers at local businesses, place an ad in the newspaper and send home newsletters from school, church, etc.

Use Promotional Items

You want everyone to have fun at your event and remember that they are supporting a great cause, so setting up a subtle donation box can be enough to raise additional money. You can also use promotional items as rewards for participating in games, prizes for raffles and so on. Popular promotional items include silicone bracelets, car decals and screen printed t-shirts. These items will leave the event and continue to promote your cause, leading to more awareness and donations after the event.

Setting up a fundraising program doesn’t have to be difficult. Great Atlantic Outfitters has tried-and-true methods that work, so let us help with your next event!

August 8, 2014

Shop Wholesale for Your Back-to-School Supplies

When it comes time to shop for school supplies, it’s apparent that these basics go up in price each year. Between folders, notebooks, crayons and calculators, you can easily deplete your bank account if you have several children to buy for come back-to-school time. And, if you want to donate extra supplies to the school, your dollar is stretched even further.

Thankfully, there are creative ways to save on school supplies, and it doesn’t include racing to the latest back-to-school sale with mobs of people. Shopping wholesale is a great way to save money and headache, as well as make sure that your kids have everything they need for the school year. Wholesale school supplies become even more important as the kids get older and enter high school and college, as the cost of calculators and textbooks rises significantly.

So, where can you find a great selection of school supplies at wholesale prices? Great Atlantic Outfitters. We have an extensive selection of school items such as:

Pens
Pencils
Highlighters
Lanyards
Folders
Padfolios
USB ports
Writing pads
Appointment books
Calendars
Optical mouse
Laptop and tablet holders

To order your wholesale school supplies, simply look through our catalog and check out the products that we offer. You’ll find much of what you need in the following categories: Good Value Calendars, Meeting, Office, Technology and Writing Instruments. Don’t forget to check out our current promotions to save even more money!

Another perk to shopping with Great Atlantic Outfitters is that we screen print or embroider items. If you want to order school supplies for a nonprofit organization and include them in screen printed bags, for instance, we’re the place to shop at! We have high-quality equipment, forward-thinking techniques and a great staff, resulting in quick, accurate and affordable orders all of the time.

Don’t delay in getting your kids ready for the 2014-15 school year. You can get everything your kids need to be successful in school without having to enter a busy store!

August 1, 2014

Cool Down With These Summer Promotions

With summer in full swing, you may have noticed more foot traffic in your store or more opportunities to hand out promotional items at trade shows, venues and other outdoor events. Summer is a great time to do some brand building to increase brand awareness, sales and ROI. Here’s a few ideas that will make your summer marketing sizzle.

Use the Weather to Your Advantage

A great way to get people through the door and paying attention to your sales is by running promotions depending on the weather. Ideas include giving $10 off a $100 purchase if the temperature reaches 100 degrees or rainy day discounts. Both offers attract people when the weather may be too hot or rainy to be outside, but they still want to get out of the home.

Hand Out Summer Promo Items

Fundraisers, festivals, parades, etc. are all examples of the types of events you can attend in your local community to brand your image. Hand out useful promotional products that correlate with the summer season such as drink koozies, crazy straws, stadium cups, sunglasses and t-shirts. The items will be useful for the hot weather and draw attention to the company that’s handing them out.

Run Summer-Related Promotions

Spice up your summer sales by running a ‘buy this, get that’ type sale. Feature products or services that are useful during the summer such as sunscreen, beach towels or AC tune-ups. Or, run a summer promotion where customers who spend a certain amount of money get a free ticket to a local zoo or water park.

Partner Up with Local Businesses

How can you bring more attention to your business and build rapports with other businesses in the area? Partner with one! Think about the different businesses in your area and how you can link your business to them. When you put something together with your own business – kids eat free night, free haircuts, discounted admission, free car washes – customers will get more for their money, and you get more positive brand recognition.

It won’t be long before we’re thinking about fall promotions, so make the most of the warm weather and find creative ways to link it with unbeatable summer deals!

July 1, 2014

Make Summer Camp Run Smoothly with Screen Printed Tees

Summer camps are a typical part of the summer. The benefits are endless: spending time with other kids, less time spent in front of the TV and the growth of confidence, resilience and independence. It’s no surprise why so many parents choose to send their kids to camp for at least a few weeks out of the summer.

If you will be helping out or organizing a summer camp this season, you’ll need the essentials to ensure that it runs smoothly. With so many kids running around, there needs to be a way to identify little ones and do quick head counts, especially if you’ll have both half-day and full-day campers. Screen printed t-shirts from Great Atlantic Outfitters are the perfect solution. Available in many different colors, you can have your camp shirts printed on a budget.

Many camps choose to have their t-shirts printed with the name of the camp and its sign or logo for easy identification. This is especially helpful when going on field trips or to a public swimming pool. You can also choose to color code groups of kids based on age or program. There are plenty of bright colors that will stand out, such as green, yellow and tie-dye. Plus, the shirts are made from cotton and will keep kids cool and comfortable on hot days.

Other items to consider for summer camps include:

Lanyards
Sports bottles
First aid kits
Sun protection
Duffle bags
Tote bags
Lunch bags
Backpacks
Pens

When you shop wholesale for these items, you save a bundle of money. Great Atlantic Outfitters works quickly and efficiently to get orders done on time, so you can include the cost of these items in the price of the camp. Or, you may send an order form home with parents and have them pay a small fee for additional camp shirts and include one shirt with registration. Most parents will be grateful that they don’t have to pick out clothes each morning!

Screen printed tees keeps kids safe, comfortable and accounted for at summer camps. Plus, you’ll benefit from the added branding that your camp will get. Whatever your needs are, Great Atlantic Outfitters is here to help!

June 24, 2014

4 Reasons to Use Great Atlantic Outfitters

Are you looking for a reliable, hardworking screen printing and embroidery company to take care of your printing projects? If so, count on Great Atlantic Outfitters for your needs. We offer screen printing and embroidery services as well as a full selection of promotional items at wholesale prices. With our extensive catalog and printing services, we’re able to serve a variety of industries such as schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses and more.

Here are a four reasons why customers like you choose our company for their printing and promotional items.

1. Exceptional Customer Service

Our work ethic is second to none. Our staff is comprised of dedicated individuals who will come in early to make sure that your project is complete. We never hesitate to go above and beyond for our customers, and we strive to make each experience with our company unique. You can expect that your order will be handled with accuracy, as we listen to the details and make ordering easy and hassle free.

2. Extensive Selection of Products

When you need promotional items for an event, trade show or summer festival, we have you covered. We have a huge catalog online that is regularly updated. We also have promotional events where you can save even more money off our already low prices! And since we offer screen printing directly from our company, you can request printing on most items. Dealing with one company for all your needs saves a lot of headaches.

3. High-Quality Printing Services

At Great Atlantic Outfitters, we have state-of-the-art screen printing equipment that ensures each project gets done right the first time around. This saves time and money for us, which is then rolled on to the customer – you! Our staff is trained and experienced in using the printing equipment and techniques, so you never have to worry about the work coming out subpar. We work toward excellence, and we’ve been proudly serving North Florida since 1994.

4. Hassle-Free Ordering

If you need to place an order, we’ll make everything simple – we promise! Our staff is kind, friendly and patient, so never hesitate to ask questions. In fact, we encourage our customers to talk to us so that we can get an exact idea of their vision. That’s why we don’t have pricing broken down on our website because there’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Request your free quote today and see what we can offer you!

October 29, 2013

What is Co-Branding?

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Co-branding is when multiple brand names come together on a single product or service. Two or more companies will feature their logos on one product so that customers see the relationship as a joint enterprise. Co-branding is nothing new; just take a look at your local supermarket and see all of the products that are co-branded, such as Breyer’s and Hershey’s, Kellogg’s and Healthy Choice and Lay’s and KC Masterpiece. Co-branding is an effective way to introduce one brand’s product with the loyalty of another brand.

With competition steeper and more companies working with smaller budgets, co-branding often makes sense. If you are a small business owner, for instance, co-branding with a larger, more established company is a great way to market your product or service. The simplest approach is to split the cost of promotional items and have both logos printed on the products. This gets your name out there, positively reinforces your brand and saves money.

Speaking of money, cost savings are another benefit of co-branding. We’re still going through tough economic times, so co-branding is becoming more commonplace. You can split the cost of promotional items and marketing materials, allowing you to do more with less. Co-branding also allows you to reach a larger audience since you can connect with not only your target audience, but also the customers of your co-brand.

There are things to think about, of course, as you don’t want to co-brand with just any label. Consider which labels will enhance your brand image and credibility. Since local targeting is effective, partnering with a local Florida business in your niche may be the best co-branding opportunity for your small business. For example, a restaurant can partner with a packaged foods company, while a physician can partner with a new medically related product line.

Choosing a company to co-brand with is an important decision because if the brand leaves consumers with a negative impact, it will rub off on your brand as well. You also want to ensure that your brand looks strong, as sometimes one brand will look secondary or weak to the other. Yet with careful planning, implementation and effective promotional items, you can smartly build a successful co-branding relationship.

August 30, 2013

Why Choose Embroidered Promotional Items

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Screen printing is an excellent option for tees, totes and other items because it is cost-effective, fast and delivers great results. If you’re looking for another option for personalization, you may find that embroidery is a better fit. Let’s take a look at the advantages to embroidered sportswear, which can be purchased from Great Atlantic Outfitters, along with screen printed items.

Advantages to Embroidered Items

High-Quality: Embroidery leaves an impressive design that other types of printing and personalization can’t replicate. It looks tasteful, sophisticated and high-class, giving a stylish edge to the products that are embroidered.

Versatile: Many items can be embroidered, including curtains, linens, blankets and handkerchiefs. Where other types of printing are limited to clothing and tote bags, embroidery is sophisticated enough that it can be used for other items. This is an advantage if you want to hand out unique promotional items.

Brand Recognition: If you’re looking for brand recognition, embroidered items are an excellent way to achieve this. It will set your brand apart from others and show that your business isn’t afraid to spend extra money to make their customers happy.

Unlimited Designs: There are limitations with other types of printing based on the complexity of the logo and the colors used. Embroidery, on the other hand, has no limitations. There are excellent software programs on the market that will allow a specific design or pattern to be created, and machine embroidery will execute it perfectly.

Personalization: Nothing is better than having your initials or company name stitched on an embroidered design. This is exactly what you get with embroidery, as it leaves room to customize the designs as you wish.

Durability: Some types of printing are more vulnerable than others; for instance, certain inks used in screen printing cannot be ironed over. Embroidery is very durable and can be washed, dried and ironed. The print will still continue to look like new, and because of this, your dollar will go further.

Although embroidery is more expensive than screen printing, it may fit a particular marketing effort. Embroidery doesn’t have to be used on all products, for example, but it can be used on items that are handed out at more elite events, such as golf outings. Also, with improved software and machinery, embroidery delivers fast results.

August 20, 2013

Top 10 Promotional Items for the Fall

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It seems like just yesterday we were all anxiously awaiting the official start of summer, and now we’re getting ready for the fall months. Maybe the weather won’t be changing that much in our sunny state, but kids will be going back to school and the days will be getting shorter very soon. It’s true – fall is right around the corner!

For businesses and organizations, it’s time to start planning for fun, unique and fresh ideas for the fall season. Let’s take a look at the top 10 promotional items for the upcoming months.

1. Koozies

Koozies, or can coolers, are definitely popular for the summer months, but they are still appreciated during the fall. Why? Football season of course! Koozies are great for tailgating, especially before a Jacksonville Jaguars game.

2. Umbrellas

Fall has unpredictable weather, and Florida is known for our impromptu rains. Umbrellas are great to take with on the go, and just think of all the free marketing your business will get since umbrellas are always used outside of the home.

3. Travel Blankets

Picnics, fall festivals or outdoor concerts are all made happier with a roll-up blanket. These blankets are primarily used outside the home, making them great marketing tools. They’re also perfect for camping trips and other fall events, and they come in an assortment of fun colors.

4. Quad/Captain Chairs

Did we mention that we love football? Quad and captain chairs are great for tailgating, outdoor concerts, t-ball games and beach days. They’re useful throughout the entire year, and they come in plenty of cool colors to represent your label.

5. Rain Gauge

Do you ever wonder how much rain the last cloud brought in? A rain cone can help keep tabs on the quantity of rain your household is getting. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sprinkle or an afternoon of rain; these gauges are always fun to use, and they may save you from having to water your fall mums!

6. Stadium Cushion

People hate having to sit on the cold bleachers while watching a football or soccer game, which is why a comfortable, spongy stadium cushion comes in handy. Other people will certainly be wondering where they can get their hands on a cushion – another great way to market your brand!

August 14, 2013

Save Money on School Supplies by Shopping Wholesale

[image title=”Wholesale ” size=”full” id=”381″ align=”left” linkto=”https://greatatlanticoutfitters.com” ]When you get to college, or even high school, school supply lists become a lot less fun. There’s no colorful crayons or fluorescent markers to buy. Notebooks available in a solid color replace the themed spirals. One would think that school supplies would become much cheaper since less is needed and the items are neutral, but this isn’t the case. Classes require their own notebooks and folders, some in a specific color, and students must still purchase the teacher-specified pens, pencils and highlighters. Not to mention, the costly calculators and university books will give a new meaning to school supply costs.

What’s a student to do?

The problem is that most students shop at office supply stores or other large superstores that sell their products for a high price. It may look like you’re getting a good deal, but really, you’re paying a much higher markup. And, if you shop at a university bookstore, you can expect to spend triple the amount of money! You need to shop early to find the best deals and come to school prepared so that you’re not forced to pay premium dollar for a few basic supplies.

Shopping with promotional item companies like Great Atlantic Outfitters is an excellent choice when looking to save money while still getting your hands on top-quality supplies. Here are just a few of the items that high school and college students can find for wholesale cost:

USB ports
Writing instruments (pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.)
Lanyards
Folders
Notebooks
Padfolios
Laptop and tablet holders
Writing Pads
Calendars
Appointment books
Optical mouse

When ordering from Great Atlantic Outfitters, you get the dual benefit of having your items embroidered or screen printed. If you are part of an organization or club, you can order school supplies along with tees or totes that have the logo printed on the items. Or, we’re more than happy to create a logo for you, which is great for new and emerging campus clubs and organizations.

For the 2013-14 school year, save money and get the supplies you need from Great Atlantic Outfitters. We work with schools, non-profit organizations, on-campus academic clubs and many other school-based programs to deliver high-quality screen printed and embroidered products, and we have a great selection of basic school supplies at wholesale cost.

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