Event Branding that Works
Whether you're hosting a corporate meeting, showcasing at a trade show, or representing your brand at a recruiting fair, one thing is clear: thoughtful branding assists in making these events more ...
Print Trends for 2025 - Innovations Shaping the Future
The print industry is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in technology, sustainability, and security. Businesses continue to rely on print for branding, marketing, and operational needs, making ...
Show Some Love - 2025 Recognition Trends
Recognition isn’t just a nice touch—it’s an essential part of building strong relationships with employees and clients. Showing appreciation fosters loyalty, boosts morale, and strengthens business ...
Buying Guide: Workplace Wellness
A healthy workplace is a productive workplace. Encouraging employees to adopt healthy habits not only boosts morale but also enhances performance, engagement, and overall well-being
Plan Your 2025 Marketing Mix
As we approach 2025, it’s the perfect time to evaluate your marketing strategy and identify the tools and tactics needed to achieve your goals. A well-thought-out marketing mix ensures your brand ...
Top Marketing Trends for 2025
As we begin 2025, the marketing landscape continues to evolve rapidly, presenting new opportunities for businesses to connect with their audiences. Staying on top of these trends not only ensures ...
How Can Employer Branding Help Your Business?
No matter the size of your company, branding helps create an external reputation. This includes opinions on your products, services, employees, logo, and more. How you present your business, and its ...
5 Tips to Ensure Your Print Marketing Stands Out
Marketing takes on many different forms. Today, it’s critical to not only have a strong digital presence, but a thoughtful print marketing strategy as well.
How to Set Up a Uniform Program
Uniforms are a critical component of many companies’ branding. Whether showcasing professionalism, highlighting brand identity, or displaying conformity, the clothing that employees wear should ...
5 Ways XPRESSLink Stores Increase Efficiencies
If you're an organization with multiple sales reps, sales offices, distributors, dealers, or locations all needing marketing collateral, business printing, branded merchandise, and/or identity ...
How To Host An Awesome Virtual Event
Considering how social distancing has completely changed the event landscape, virtual conferences and tradeshows represent the "new normal" – keyword being "new." So if the concept is new to you, ...
How to Choose Custom Company Apparel
Choosing the right custom apparel for your company is essential for many reasons. Clothing can create a culture of inclusion and consistency for your employees. It can set the tone for how your ...
Employee Engagement, Recognition, & Retention Trends
The last couple of years has brought about some undeniable shifts in the workplace. The switch to remote work, virtual meetings, and fluctuating schedules has taken corporate culture by storm. And ...
How to Increase Customer Loyalty in 5 Steps
Customer loyalty can be easy to define. Think of it as your clients’ likelihood of doing repeat business with your company and recommending you to others. You want to provide enough value to keep ...
Mark the Date for Year-End Planning
Year-end is right around the corner which means new calendars, appointment books and planners for many homes and businesses. Despite the rise of the digital age, paper calendars are still popular and ...
Buying Guide: Rush Order Gift Ideas
The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and sometimes gift-giving can sneak up on us. Whether you’re scrambling to show appreciation for employees, clients, or partners, there’s no need to panic. ...
Plan the Perfect Holiday Gift for Your Employees in 2024
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and you want to do it right this year! Giving your employees gifts is a perfect opportunity to show appreciation and strengthen their connection to your ...
Inspire Your Brand
In today’s world, it’s not just about what you do, but how you show it off. It’s more important than ever to present your product, employees, and organizational culture in unique and interesting ...
Christmas in July: Ordering Holiday Gifts NOW
Summertime is THE right time to start planning ahead for the holiday season. The end of the year is always a dash to get everything done - and often comes with a higher price tag, since everyone else ...
How School Pride Creates Home Field Advantage
Set apart your elementary school, high school, college, or university with high-quality, custom large-format printing. Reinforce shared community values through consistent branding and design. ...
Why Financial Enterprises Need a Company Store
In the financial industry, brand consistency is crucial for a cohesive organizational identity. One powerful tool that can help these companies achieve this is an online company store. Offering a ...
Key Considerations for External Company Stores
For many organizations, providing an external audience the option to order branded merchandise is an exciting opportunity. The most common example is a school store where relatives can order apparel ...
The History of Promotional Products
If you've ever been to a music festival or convention and walked away with a bag full of freebies, then you know that promotional products work! But did you know that those quirky logoed products ...
4 Lessons from Companies with the Best Recognition Programs
Looking forward, progressive companies realize that employee recognition will continue to be vital within a competitive job market. To this idea, you may be wondering what the best of the best are ...
2024 Product Catalogs Guide
New trends, seasonal offerings, fresh styles... Our collection of 2024 catalogs has it all. Get the scoop on what’s going to be hot with this rundown of our latest batch of apparel and product guides.
Wayfinding Signage Checklist for New Locations
When opening a new location for your organization, signage is critical. Wayfinding signage helps customers, members, and employees locate key areas of interest, as well as vital safety information.
Employee Recognition and Retention Trends for 2024
Keeping employees engaged through meaningful rewards and recognition will continue to be vital in 2024. However, the tactics that are most effective may change. Explore the top trends for employee ...
What to Consider When Building a Company Store
Offering a company store is a fantastic way to streamline uniform ordering and offer employees (or customers) an opportunity to promote your brand through real-world applications. Before building an ...
2024 Promotional Swag Trends
As we round out 2023, it’s time to look ahead to the next year. Below are five promotional product trends that we’re seeing emerge and expect to increase in popularity in 2024.
How to Get Employees Excited About Company Swag
Employees can be the best form of advertising for your business but how do you create these sort of genuine opportunities for promotion? Offering unique company swag is perfect for real world product ...
Print and Direct Mail Trends for 2024
Print and direct mail strategies are ever changing and continue to evolve through the years. Stay ahead of the curve by scoping out these three big trends that will impact your print marketing plans ...
Create an Employee Recognition Program That Works
Most companies have some form of employee recognition. Few have a strategy that’s effective. In order to create a recognition program that actually works, you need to be intentional with both your ...
Create a Fun Unboxing Experience with Corporate Holiday Gifts
The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to show appreciation to clients, partners, and employees with thoughtful corporate gifts. But here's the catch: how do you make this year's gift-giving ...
How to Create a Culture of Recognition
Employee recognition is a critical tool for retention and attracting new employees. The most effective organizations understand the impact of these programs and build an incentivization structure ...
Types of Employee Recognition Programs
Employee recognition is about more than just bonuses and awards; it’s about making your team feel appreciated in whatever way means the most to them. This includes things like a team trip, a paid day ...
How Recognition Programs Fight Burnout
Burnout is a problem most organizations are facing today. Whether a seasoned employee or new member of a team, anyone can be susceptible to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from their job. Putting ...
Why You Should Let Employees Pick Their Recognition Gifts
How a company recognizes its staff greatly impacts how those employees view their overall career and contributes to workplace satisfaction. One of the ways you can cultivate a positive and productive ...
How to Create a Custom Company Store for Your Employees
Creating a custom company store for your employees can be an innovative way to boost morale, cultivate a sense of belonging, and even promote your brand. Whether you want to provide personalized ...
The Constellation Model: Understanding Customer Buying Behavior
Why do consumers make the buying decisions they do? How do they choose a company to work with? It’s not as simple as picking the “best” option for their needs. In fact, customers are often willing to ...
Why Employee Recognition Should Be Part of Your DEI Program
Organizations with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs should consider employee recognition as a key element to further any DEI initiatives - but unfortunately, not everyone does. The ...
12 Summer Catalogs for Bold Branding Ideas
Summer is here - and so are our new catalogs! Get some inspo for your promo, wearables, and recognition with these bold summer catalogs.
Use Promo to Tell Your Brand's Story
Every successful brand has a story. Not just the events on a calendar - but a mission, vision, and values that create a compelling narrative. An effective branding strategy taps into these ideas and ...
Comparing 5 Popular Customer Loyalty Models
Loyalty programs are a proven, effective way to connect with your customers and gamify the shopping experience to incentivize loyalty and repeat purchases. There are a few options to choose from when ...
How to Create Cool Corporate Gifting Kits
No matter the brand, all companies have the opportunity to be seen as cool, especially to those in their orbit. Make a big splash with employees or customers by building an impressive corporate gift ...
Reach Your Target Market Using Direct Mail
Direct mail remains one of the most effective ways to reach your target market - but only if you’re smart about it. If you take the shotgun approach and push generic mailers onto as many people as ...
5 Unique Ways that Signage Helps Promote Your Business
In today's digital age, it's easy to overlook the power of traditional marketing tactics. However, signage can be one of the most effective ways to attract new customers and promote your brand.
5 Tips for Navigating a Multigenerational Workplace
In 2023, multigenerational workplaces are the norm, not the exception.
Surefire Strategies to Keep Employees Engaged
The last few years has presented the workforce with many challenges, including the increasing difficulty of keeping your employees engaged and motivated. With societal and individual pressures ...
How to Create Buzz Around a Launch With Promo Products
So, you’re launching a new product or service? Congratulations – what an exciting time for your business! We understand that your next step is to develop your action plan to make this launch ...
How to Incorporate Print into your 2023 Marketing Plan
There are many people that are under the false impression that print marketing is dead. In fact, it’s still a proven way to create positive customer relationships and improve your overall reach to ...
Case Study: It’s a Date!
Description: Desk Calendar
How to Choose Uniforms the Whole Team Will Love
If you’ve been in the workforce for a couple of years, you’ve probably had to wear a company uniform at one point or another! Across all industries, trades, and professions, uniforms are common – ...
Case Study: Make a Spectacle
Description: Rubberized Sunglasses Industry: Broadcast Media / Telecommunication What it was purchased for: A vampire-based television show hosted blood drives at outdoor events. These were given out ...
Case Study: A Gift to Build a Dream On
Description: Medium Pillow Box
Case Study: Improve Sales and Traffic
A hotel wanted to promote its amenities to guests in a personable, yet non-intrusive manner. The goal was to encourage guests to utilize hotel amenities instead of going off-site to fulfill their ...
Case Study: Wheelie Important Paperwork
Market: Automotive Objective: A motorcycle dealership wanted professional, branded document pouches to hold important paperwork for new customers to take home after their motorcycle purchase. They ...
Customer Experience + Branding: The Relationship Goals of Marketing
Customer experience can make or break your company. How you and your employees treat customers directly reflects your brand’s values. But the truth is, positive customer experiences can be difficult ...
Case Study: Time for a Rebrand
Objective: A university had just completed a major rebrand complete with a new logo and wanted to make sure they had all the necessary branded items for functions throughout the year. They had ...
Drive Traffic with These 6 Trade Show Ideas
Tradeshows are important opportunities for your company to reach out to customers and prospects face-to-face and make lasting impressions. Make sure you’re prepared with the proper supplies to ensure ...
Case Study: Promoting Positive Finances
Products Industry Application
6 Things You're Missing by Not Using Promotional Products
Promotional products aren't just for niche industry operations. Whether you are a small organization looking to grow your business or an established company wanting to reach a new market, a product ...
6 Reasons You Need a Company Store
As more and more companies turn towards e-commerce, shopping online has never been easier or more enjoyable. Ordering branded products is no exception! Company stores give you a convenient and ...
Branding 101: Let’s Talk Logos
A logo is often a company’s first impression and it can impact a customer’s perception, purchase decisions, and overall attitude toward your company. A logo is a symbol or graphic element that ...
Lead a Healthier Lifestyle With These 6 Promotional Products
Eating healthy. Weight management. Working out five times a week. There are many health-related resolutions we set at the beginning of a new year. But, do we follow through with them? Many times, the ...
Case Study: 3D is the Key
A company in the automotive industry was looking for unique items to commemorate the celebration of its 45th year in business. They wanted to incorporate a new logo they had created that communicated ...
Get Ready for Game Day! 5 Promotional Products for Sports Teams
Having high-quality equipment and gear is an important part of every team, no matter how big or small. When your team walks out onto the field, you want them to stand out from the crowd and show off ...
Case Study: Enhancing Company Initiatives with Branded Promo Items
Wondering how branded promotional products can help your business achieve both internal and external initiatives? Check out this quick excerpt about a company's use of branded promotional products, ...
Pro Tips for Envelope Printing
An envelope can be so much more than simply a covering of some sort for your correspondence. The right envelope can instantly convey a wealth of ideas before its intended recipient even opens it up. ...
Win Customers With Colorful Packaging
When you consider the packaging that you will use for your clients' products, remember that color is one of your channels that communicates instantly. There are thousands of shades of each color, and ...
The Difference Between CMYK and PMS
The complexity involved in color and how big of a difference various color profiles can make on your print project is something you'll want to pay attention to. Is there a specific shade of orange or ...
Make a Splash With Creative Overprinting
Creating dimension in a one-dimensional print project can take some serious creative brainpower. Generally, printed items are planned with colors that do not go on top of each other, as this can ...
Maximize Your Print Mailing with a Well-Written Cover Letter
Whether you’re sending direct mail or proposing a new business partnership, your presentation is always significant. Including a cover letter with your printed pieces is a compelling way to make ...
6 Factors to Help You Find the Right Print Provider
When you need print products (such as brochures, letterhead, and large-scale marketing) to build and strengthen your brand, you need a print provider.
Timely Topics for Direct Mail Campaigns
If you're not already spending your marketing budget maximizing direct communications to prospects and customers, you need to. But first, explore these four customer trends:
Beyond the Box
A custom box will help you build your brand, but what happens beyond the box is what helps you create lasting value. Sometimes, finding value in your brand, or even defining your brand, can be ...
How to Navigate Event Cancellations
Due to the coronavirus, events are rescheduling or canceling causing concern about what to do with the branded product purchased for those events. Here are a few ideas you might want to consider if ...
QRG Acquires Kelty-Best, Inc
Minneapolis, MN (August 1, 2019) QRG proudly announces that Kelty-Best, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin has joined the QRG family of companies. With the addition of Kelty-Best, a full-service promotional ...
If Your Event Has a Seat, You Need a BackSac!
The BackSac is a new and completely original way to create a memorable promotion for your next event. A fully customizable, interactive, branding product that utilizes the seats in venues as an ...
Jumpstart Your Corporate Wellness Program
Having trouble getting your corporate health and wellness program off the ground? Is the interest there, but you need to build some momentum? Here are 3 simple ideas to help you spread the word, ...
Materials Make the Difference
Following up on last Thursday's article about outerwear, we thought it prudent to discuss the materials we choose for our apparel. We're talking about fabrics that have special properties to keep you ...
Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year: Living Coral
Living Coral was announced as the 2019 Color of the Year by the Pantone Color Institute. "Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, Living Coral embodies our desire for playful ...
Fountain Pens are Back in Fashion
According to various news reports, fountain pens are back in vogue. Millennials are said to be turning to handwriting because of digital fatigue. Market insiders are crediting the renaissance to ...
Celebrating Corporate Anniversaries with Decorated Apparel
Every year, nearly two-million companies reach a significant corporate milestone, such as five years, fifty years, or even one-hundred years in business. These anniversaries present great advertising ...
Spamming and Spoofing are NOT the QRG Way
QRG does not engage in call-center telemarketing or spam calls. QRG learned in March of this year that unscrupulous telemarketers have been deliberately falsifying their Caller ID information to show ...
Why You Never Need to Buy a Mailing Lists Again!
Looking for an easy, effective, and affordable way to get your direct mail into the hands of your target audience? Forget mailing lists and talk to QRG about Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM). EDDM lets ...
Hardworking Clothes for Hardworking Heroes
Bouncing back after the recession, the construction industry is hammering out a bright future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending in August 2017 was over $1.2 billion. Numbers ...
The Power of Name Brands
Give your gift that little something extra. In a recent article discussing brands and the benefits they deliver, Rob Wengel, senior vice president of global data analytics firm Nielsen, explained, ...
WiFi Smart Home Accessories Trending
Wifi smart home accessories are one of the hottest trends in promotional products. The devices that turn your phone into a remote control for your lighting, appliances, and speakers are among the ...
5 Top Reasons You Should Have a Wellness Program
According to Forbes, poor health costs the U.S. economy $576 billion a year. That's more than half a trillion dollars! Poor health is bad for business. Corporate health and wellness programs give ...
A Halloween Gift Idea that's All Treats!
Airtight, foil-lined canister preserves the freshness gourmet handmade mini cookies and freshly roasted snack mixes. Made in Minnesota using all natural ingredients quick turn-times, easy mailing ...
The Flannel Phenomenon
We reported Wednesday that "Flannel isn't going anywhere," which got us thinking, where did it come from? Promo Marketing reported that "The long-held joke in manufacturing circles, pertaining to our ...
In Memoriam: Dave Floersch
Dave Floersch, Account Executive of Quality Resource Group (QRG), Minneapolis, MN, lost his battle to cancer on July 16, 2018. He was 51. A father, husband, longtime industry veteran, friend to many, ...
CEO Denny Pottebaum Retires after 47 Years in the Industry
After 47 years of dedicated service, QRG founder and CEO Denny Pottebaum retires. In this video, he sends out a personal message of thanks to QRG employees, vendors, clients, and the community.
Creating the best online experience for customers
Making the online customer experience seamless is critical to a brand’s digital success. Recent studies found that 75% of customer management executives and leaders rated customer experience a 5 on a ...
Spoofing Scam Hits Home
"Spoofing" occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone ...
The most sought-after employee perks
Research tells us that for most American workers, the top three on-the-job benefits are health insurance, paid vacation time and a 401k retirement plan. There’s probably no surprise that those ...
Marketing strategies every small business can afford
Creating a brand that stands out from the competition is one of the biggest challenges every marketer faces. Some of the common setbacks for small businesses include a small budget and limited ...
Online marketing tips for enhancing your business
Maintaining a strong online presence requires staying on top of trends and staying active. On a quarterly basis, companies should update their digital marketing plan to incorporate new strategies and ...
QRG Part of $7.5K PPEF Donation
Kicking the year off to a charitable start, QRG and other Reciprocity Road members pledged $7,500 to advocate for the Promotional Products Education Foundation, an established institution, founded by ...
Three reasons why the best employees leave their companies
Think people switch jobs primarily to earn more money? Think again. Gallup studies have found that about 50% of 7,200 adults surveyed left a job “to get away from their manager.” Other surveys show ...
The keys to consistent marketing for small businesses
Every successful small business owner will tell you that starting and running a business is no easy task. Between the day-to-day operations of accounting, marketing, and customer service, small ...
Benefits of account-based marketing
Creating a strategy for your marketing team and overall plan is crucial for your team as well as business success. Many marketers get caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities and forget how ...
Using e-mail to market your business, the right way
E-mail is one of the most popular marketing tools for small businesses today. But federal law requires that anyone sending out email for commercial purposes follow some specific rules or risk costly ...
Building an Effective Marketing Strategy for Sales
Constructing a successful marketing funnel is an excellent way to maximize a strategy for increased sales and profitability. A marketing funnel is a strategy for turning potential consumers into a ...
QRG CEO Dennis Pottebaum Named to Ben Franklin Honor Society
Plymouth, MN - August 28, 2017 QRG CEO Dennis Pottebaum to be inducted by industry peers into the Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America. He was chosen from among many industry ...
Have you claimed your Yelp business page?
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Common Marketing Strategies You Need to be Familiar with
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
How to Prepare for the Future of Marketing
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Tips on How to Market Towards Generation Z
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Badger Graphic Systems Joins QRG
Plymouth, MN (June 2, 2017)
Does Your Company Have a Mission?
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
The Benefits of Target Marketing
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Making your website a top organic search
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Revamp Your Content Marketing
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Social Media Tips to Having a Focused Marketing Strategy
By Christina Fiebich, Marketing Director
Ways to Improve Your Online Organic Reach
Almost everyone that has touched marketing knows something about SEO. Whether you’re a pro or small business owner trying to reach more people, we found some factors that can be blocking your organic ...
5 Content Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
Almost all marketers will agree that content is king. Creating a strategy that successfully incorporates content marketing for growing businesses is critical, however, it’s easy for businesses to ...
Is there an ideal office temperature?
What is the temperature in your office? In workplaces nationwide, there is an ongoing debate over where to set the thermostat. Research shows that office temperature can affect mood, productivity and ...
4 Overlooked Marketing Strategies That Pay Off
Marketing has evolved so much in the past decade, causing many in the marketing world to create and find new strategies at the drop of a hat. Most marketers will agree this is due to the rapid ...
How storytelling can help your business grow and succeed
Who’s the greatest storyteller you’ve ever met? Maybe it was your grandfather telling you stories from long ago or maybe you’ve been at a party and watched a natural storyteller in his or her element ...
The 3 Best Tools to Help Digitally Promote Your Small Business
Keeping your business relevant online can be one of the more challenging, and costly, ways to attract a new audience – but it’s also one of the best and most effective. Transitioning your budget from ...
Stay Active with Video Marketing
Video marketing has become a great way to engage with consumers and connect your brand in a creative way. To make it easier for you, we’re bringing you three ways to incorporate video marketing into ...
How to Incorporate Guerrilla Marketing into Your Business
Guerrilla marketing is a creative and generally cost-efficient marketing tool to gain exposure and recognition. It has become increasingly popular and, if done well, is a unique and fun way to create ...
Understanding data without being overwhelmed
Every day marketers receive new data about consumers and their shopping habits. It can get overwhelming to make sense of all the new data. Learn how to weave through the information madness like a ...
Clever Ways to Update Your Marketing Campaigns for Spring and Summer
Customers are antsy waiting for spring and summer new arrivals. We have a few simple tips to help your business transition into the season with a spring in your step.
The art of effective brainstorming sessions
When was the last time your team or company had a successful brainstorming session? Did everyone leave the meeting encouraged and recharged or did they leave feeling like they wasted the last hour or ...Is your business ready to handle a security threat?
Businesses face numerous security threats. Will yours be able to defend itself against the latest attack? Here are a few practical tips to take a proactive approach to potential security threats:
The Benefits of Giving Back to the Community
Giving back to your community is not only the right thing to do. It can have valuable benefits for you and your company. That’s why many businesses — even ones with only a handful of employees — are ...
Millennials are Bringing New Ideas to Management
Each generation brings a new approach to the art of management. Generation Y — more commonly called the Millennial generation — is no different.
3 Common Print Advertising Mistakes to Avoid
In today’s plugged-in world, an increasingly large number of companies have shifted their strategy and ad dollars from print to digital forms of media – and understandably so. Digital advertising can ...
Here’s Why Social Media Platforms are Important for Any Business
Social media has become a crucial part of daily business activities, especially for companies looking to attract millennials. Well over half of the American population is plugged into at least one ...
What is your definition of success?
How do you define success? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, success ‘includes not only the achievement of wealth, respect or fame but also the desired result of an attempt.’ While there ...
Why Not to Skimp on Advertising Budgets for Your Business
Marketing is one of the most significant and underappreciated aspects of a growing business. When the going gets tough, many executives cut advertising budgets in an effort to save money. However, ...
Using Social Media to Find New Employees
Is your company using social media to get the word out about employment opportunities? Those that aren’t could be missing out on an incredible way to discover great job candidates.
4 Steps to Branding Your Business
Branding is one of the most important aspects of your business. It’s what sets you apart from the competition. It’s how people identify and connect with you. It’s what you stand for and what you ...