Infographic: A Healthy Office - Fighting the Office Bug

The chorus of sniffling, coughing, and blowing noses is something that most employees dread. Knowing that someone in the office is sick is almost as nerve-wracking as the first telltale signs of a cold.

Companies are learning the benefits of having happy employees, and this—combined with the knowledge of what a cold can do to an office’s morale—means that employers should fear colds being passed around the office just as much as the employees. Given these concerns, knowing what steps can be taken to manage any potential outbreaks is paramount to maintaining general efficiency.

Color of the Year

PANTONE recently released their color for 2014.  I'm always fascinated as to what color will be the color of the year. Last year was emerald green, the year before; tangerine tango-great indie band name by the way. Other creative names for the past were mimosa (yellow hue) and  Honeysuckle (dark pinkish hue).

Any guesses as to what this year's color is? Drum roll... Radiant Orchid. A brighter more vibrant orchid than what you would normally think when the color orchid pops in your mind.

 What's interesting about the release from PANTONE from my standpoint is they always couple the release of a new color with branded merchandise that corresponds to it's new color of the year. Which I think is always a brilliant move. Any campaign coupled with product is always successful and build brand loyalty. Also I love the Iphone case that they've made out to look like a chip from their PANTONE chip book.

It also helps in giving guidance to clients looking for fresh color pallets to use for their upcoming promotions and campaign launches. Recently a client asked for some ideas to freshen up their black non-woven grocery bag. So with the new color from PANTONE we were able to create for them a fresher more upscale recycled grocery tote that won't get forgotten in the trunk.

Laminated Recycled Tote

Don't be a Scrooge by Giving a Gift Card

Giving gift cards to your employees for the holidays may be convenient for you, but not so simple, or desirable, for the employee.

While gift cards seem like a quick and easy alternative to more personalized gifts, the Internal Revenue Service considers gift cards to be additional compensation, so it's taxable income. That's right. Employees will have to declare money, gift certificates or gift cards -- pretty much anything that can be converted into cash -- with their usual taxes.

Consider giving one of these non-taxable gifts (as defined by the IRS' Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits) instead:

•             Any item that costs about $25 or less is not taxable. There are a wide range of office and personal gifts available that can be customized for your company or for individual employees.

•             For the foodies in your company, consider an edible gift such as a holiday ham or baskets of assorted items like chocolate or coffee.

•             Don't forget to consider throwing a holiday party for your employee and their guests. The cost of throwing a party for employees is tax deductible (with some caveats).

Source : http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/218976

Organize a Charity Run with Gifts For Runners and Walkers

If you don’t have the right plan organizing a walk or run can be a challenge. Take a step in the right direction and get prepared with our planning guide. There are plenty of great causes with that need your support. Capitalize on the community’s desire to give back and stay fit by organizing a walk or run.

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Identify a Specific Cause For Your Charity Run
Choose a specific organization or cause to support. Once your cause is clear, you’ll be better able to visualize the theme of your event, 
how you’ll raise awareness and most importantly, you’ll be able to promote the charitable cause you’re raising money for.

2. Deciding How Many Participants You and Your Team Can Register
Recruit a planning committee to help determine what works for your event. You may want to consider other fundraisers held in the area or in a community comparable to your town’s size to get an idea of what’s doable. Publicize the free and easy way. Social media is a great way to spread the word and invite others to share your event.

Don’t let your event run away from you though. If you’re worried too many people will register for your walk or run, set a cap. This limited participation approach can help hype your cause and attract more attention if the deadline publicized. Make sure the number of estimated participants is in-line with the number of available staff or volunteers you’ll have on hand.

3. Selecting a Venue for Your Organized Charity Run
Whether the event is indoors or outdoors, there’s likely a cost involved. Research different outdoor and indoor venues in your area to accommodate your goal number of participants. Since family and friends of participants come to watch loved ones walk or run, an outdoor space is usually ideal.

4. Budgeting for Success
Once the number of participants and venue are decided, it’s time to consider the special features of your event. Your committee should decide if the event will have snacks or prizes. You might also want informational booths, volunteer uniforms or items to sell on site. If you’re planning a walk or run during warm weather conditions, plan ahead and provide big sellers like customized rally fans, sun block and water bottles.

Providing items to beat the heat during summer months is essential to creating a successful outdoor event — not to mention, selling these items helps raise more money for the cause! Be the host with the most by planning ahead and incorporating extras you know they’ll need on the big day.

5. Make Fundraising Packets
Fundraising packets clearly identify the cause they’re raising money and awareness. Since most charitable walks and/or runs require participants to raise an allotted dollar amount to participate these pamphlets can be used to collect money and keep record of who donates.

Motivate participants to raise more than the entrance fee by rewarding those with the highest donations. Advertise a prize for those whom collect the most. Useful, gifts for runners include custom water bottles or personalized duffel bags featuring the cause are great ways to thank participants.

6. Showing Your Sponsors Some Appreciation Through Branded Gifts 
To help alleviate some of the cost, try to acquire sponsorships from local businesses who want to support the community and the cause. A sponsorship letter that outlines the company’s contribution and consequent publicity helps clearly identify reasons why they should support your cause. Allowing local businesses or organizations to advertise at the event can help.

Tell a Story

How to Tell Your Company’s Story

Every business has a story to tell, something that will connect potential customers to your brand. In
order to engage customers, strive to create that emotional pull. Try these three tips to articulate your
core value and humanize your brand.

1. Expand your idea of value.

To stand out in today's market, define your value in human terms, not in business terms. Look for the
thing that your organization truly cares about -- an aspect of your business that makes you unique and
valuable.

2.Establish common language.

Ask a handful of people in various ranks and roles to share five adjectives they'd use to describe the
company and two aspects of the business that are unique or valuable. Look for themes or especially
strong responses, and synthesize them into a clearly defined description.

3.Give your brand a human voice.

Determine the type of person that could best deliver the message you have established. If your business
was a human being, who would it be and what would it care about? That clarity leads to a real and
relatable persona that can help you build a loyal customer base.

From Entrepreneur.com

5 Surprising Marketing Trends for 2013

1. Smarter social media. Not all social media sources are perfectly suited to every industry. This year Businesses should decide which platforms are the most worthwhile places to reach their audience.
2. Simplicity will reign supreme. 2013 is likely to be a year where the most successful marketing strategies will be ones that are not only simple in nature, but promote goods and services that serve to simplify the consumer’s life or customer experience.
3. Campaign-based marketing will take a break. Up until now, companies have been progressively integrating social media and real time customer engagement as a supplement to campaign-based marketing. From here on out, real time marketing, through social media and websites, will be the focus.
4. Marketing will be more tied to revenue generation. Instead of just measuring lead generation,marketing’s worth to a company will start being weighed against sales growth, changing key performance indicators and leading to a more effective marketing department.
5. Mobile will get its due. Last year, more people purchased smartphones than PCs. Count on “mobile”being a bigger, bolder item on every major marketer’s strategy this year.

Forbes.com

Introducing the 2013 Color of the Year - Emerald

Emerald 17-5641(PMS 3278), a lively, radiant, lush green, has been named Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2013.

Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions.Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

Contact me to learn how to incorporate this year’s hot color into your next product or imprint for a stylish and timely upgrade! 

(Pantone.com)