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Crop to Campus: A Journey of Sustainable Fashion

Hanes Sustainable Fashion

The textile industry has been a major contributor to water waste and pollution. Manufacturers haven’t always put much thought into their sustainability practices. As a result of growing concern for the environment, many manufacturers are making strides to reduce waste and pollution by implementing sustainable practices into their supply chain process. Hanes is paving the way as an example of sustainable manufacturing for apparel. Their goal is to provide apparel in a low-waste, energy efficient manner without sacrificing comfort and quality.

Hanes hosted an advanced premiere last month of their new documentary titled Crop to Campus: A Journey of Sustainable Fashion. Christopher Fox, Hanes VP of Social Responsibility, and Michael Johnson, Hanes Director of Marketing participated in a question panel. They provided great insight into how the documentary came to be, and why Hanes places such a heavy emphasis on sustainability.

Furthermore, Michael Johnson explained that Hanes has a great story in terms of sustainability, people and planet. A lot of companies tell messages on these topics, but aren’t always fully transparent. Therefore, consumers have trouble believing in their stories and real practices. Hanes opened up the doors to four college textile students, allowing them to see everything with full transparency and honesty.

The premiere attendees learned what really goes into crafting sustainable apparel, why transparency is important when it comes to sustainable practices, and how to appeal to today’s generation. All attendees received a free ComfortWash tshirt in the mail as a “Thank You” for watching the documentary and panel discussion. Keep an eye out on our social media channels for a review of the ComfortWash tshirt from our Social Media Manager who was able to attend the online premiere.

Hanes ComfortWash Apparel

Transparency Matters

For the making of Crop to Campus: A Journey of Sustainable Fashion, Hanes invited four college students from the North Carolina State University Textiles program to take a first-hand look at the entire supply chain and manufacturing process of the Hanes ComfortWash Tshirt line. This started with a visit to locally owned cotton fields of North Carolina. Their trip ended at the energy-efficient sew and dye Hanes facility in El Salvador. The entire process was presented with full transparency to the students. This gave them a deep inside look at the level of care taken when it comes to Hanes sustainability practices. Mamie Trigg, one of the four students featured in the documentary, had this to say:

“There are so many steps that go into making a t-shirt that you don’t really think about. You just pay money for the final product. It’s cool to see every step in the process and not take it for granted.”

Sustainable from the Beginning

Every ComfortWash garment starts with U.S. grown cotton that is mainly raised and harvested in the southern states, on naturally irrigated local farms. At David Grant Farms in North Carolina, the 1500 acres of organically grown cotton is harvested by only four people. The farm uses very sustainable practices such as an advanced low-water irrigation system. As a result, the farm has lowered it’s use of fuel and diesel. The cotton then travels to Parkdale Mills –  a zero-waste, energy efficient facility where the cotton is spun into a superior, softer yarn. This facility wastes nothing and puts everything to use – even recycling the byproducts as cotton feed.

Next, the spools of yarn go to energy-efficient, low waste facilities across the globe for dyeing, cutting and sewing. The group of students went to the Hanes owned facility outside of El Salvador. This is the knitting, sewing, and dyeing facility where all the ComfortWash shirts reach the final stage of production. The facility utilizes on-site renewable energy production, including its water-treatment process. Hanes is the #1 employer in El Salvador, and they also place a heavy emphasis on workplace culture and wellness. They have many resources and benefits available like their Future Moms program and Green for Good volunteer program. Additionally, they have a school for employees to help advance career paths within the company.

From the cotton harvest to sewing and dyeing the final garments – every aspect of manufacturing for the Hanes ComfortWash line has sustainability in mind.

Sustainability is a big deal to this generation. Therefore, Hanes continues to work on meeting their sustainability and environmental goals with this and the next generation in mind. Hanes believes that the key to being a successful manufacturer is transparency about manufacturing and sustainable practices.

To view Crop To Campus: A Journey of Sustainable Fashion, click here!

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Tips for Making the Most of 2020 Holiday Gifting

Plan for 2020 Holiday Gifting

In case you didn’t notice, 2020 hasn’t been what everyone expected when the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. Most of the world threw out their 2020 planners by mid-April, and we’ve all been in a constant state of adjustment to a rapidly changing environment. It’s the beginning of the end of the year with the start of Q4  – and although those 2020 planners are still chilling in the garbage, the holiday season isn’t cancelled and is quickly approaching. We know, we know – wasn’t it June just a few days ago?

With Q4 budgets in hand and everyone living in unprecedented circumstances, planning for the holidays may look a little bit different than usual. Even if your budget is small, and things seem challenging – don’t push holiday gift giving to the side! It’s more important than ever to show your employees and clients how much you appreciate them. When planning out gifts for this season, keep in mind the current environment and what items are trending. People are spending the majority of their time at home with their families, and your gifts should resonate with that. Here’s a few ideas to make the most of 2020 holiday gifting,  keeping Q4 budgets and today’s trends in mind.

Be Mindful of Sustainability

The demand for eco-friendly apparel and products is growing more and more people place a deeper focus on the environment. People are paying more attention to the sustainability of the products that they use, as well as the practices of the companies who manufacture them. Consider choosing products that are made from recycled materials, and that come from companies with environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Consider the functionality of these products as well – just because it’s eco-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a useful gift. Choose items that your clients and employees are likely to incorporate into their everyday lives, that can be used to form habits that support the health of the environment. Reusable totes are a great example – these encourage people to avoid single-use plastic bags.

Left – Coffee mug made from recycled cups. Right – reusable shopping bag
Keep it Comfortable

These days, getting ready for work looks a little different. For example, you’re likely reading this post in a comfy pair of sweatpants from your home office. Comfortable logoed apparel is a great gift for this year as people continue working from home with their suits and dress shirts sitting in the closet collecting dust. Consider a neutral color hoodie or sweatshirt, or even a lightweight athletic jacket. Trucker hats are another great option that people are very likely to use, especially when quickly covering up messy hair right before morning Zoom calls (it’s cool, we know you just rolled out of bed).

Left – Sweatshirt made with 100% recycled fabric. Right – Classic mesh back Trucker Hat
Color is Key

It’s no secret that color can be a major influence when it comes to moods and emotions. Be mindful when you are choosing gifts for this season, to choose a color palette that blends well with the gifts you are sending out. For example, if you want to create an at-home spa kit, you would likely use light blue and lavender, which are known to invoke a sense of calm. If you are sending out backyard BBQ kits, you’d likely use red and yellow, as those colors create a sense of energy and happiness. Worried that the colors you choose won’t coordinate well with your company color palette? Consider using a black or white version if your logo on the products, or even leaving it off all-together. You can always brand the packaging, or a notecard inside of the gift.

Left – Backyard BBQ Grill Master Kit. Right – Luxury Bath Bomb Gift Set
Don’t add to the Clutter

People are spending lots of time at home, so choosing items that will be useful and not just take up space will be seen favorably. Think about items that can be incorporated into everyday life, such as kitchen gadgets, Bluetooth speakers, or fitness accessories. Another great option for sending a gift that won’t take up space is food. Gift boxes from Batch & Bodega make an excellent holiday gift that the whole family can enjoy.

  • Logoed Gift Baskets
Left – Bamboo engraved chips and dip tray. Right – Batch & Bodega Gift Basket
Choose Items for Everyone

Speaking of family, there is a lot of family time happening this year for many people (maybe a little too much at times). Choose a gift that can be enjoyed by everyone living in the home. We mentioned food baskets earlier, which are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Another great option is a family game night kit with a custom board game and gourmet popcorn included.

Left – Box set of gourmet popcorn. Right – Custom branded Monopoly.
Make the Most of Smaller Budgets

If you are working with a very tight gift budget this season, you can still create something memorable for your employees and clients. Consider investing in a high-end holiday card with a heartfelt message from your company executives. More often than not, words of appreciation and thankfulness will have a huge impact on people as opposed to a physical gift. Another great option to make the most of 2020 holiday gifting on lower budgets is sending vouchers for a food delivery service like DoorDash or UberEats. Taking care of the cost of a meal is always appreciated, and gives people to the chance to take a night off from cooking at home.

Pop up and spinner custom holiday cards.

Gift giving this year doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Let us help you make the most of 2020 holiday gifting, and find the perfect way to say thank you to your clients and employees. Contact us today to start your holiday planning!

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These Kits from Batch & Bodega make the Perfect Holiday Gift

Batch & Bodega

The concept of Batch & Bodega is a simple one – pairing branded swag with amazing snacks and treats to create a memorable, one of a kind gifting experience. They search across the country to find the best treats from small-batch makers instead of big box companies. The packaging for each “batch” – their term for gift box – is highly customizable. You can brand the box as well as the products, essentially giving you the ability to brand the entire experience.

Batch & Bodega has a one piece minimum on all of their products, as well as a 3-day turnaround with zero setup fees. Each batch is available in a variety of tiers, allowing you to choose something that best fits your budget. Whether you go with a lite, regular or deluxe batch option, these kits from Batch & Bodega make the perfect holiday gift for customers and employees.

The Trailblazer

A full-flavor experience for the refined tastemaker. Classic snacks with a modern spin are accompanied by practical, artisanal accessories. This trendy assortment will turn heads and also feed the soul.

Cookies & Crumbs

Unbelievable cookie flavors crafted by the country’s finest cookie aficionados. We advise you lock the door behind you before opening the box.

Road Trip

Hit the road with easy-access snacks packed with salty goodness, complete with a game-changing drive-thru sauce holder.

Movie Night

Three blockbuster popcorn flavors have been assembled for your chewing pleasure.

Snack Attack

Our best snacks united for momentous sharing occasions. Vast flavor ranges make this a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Speakeasy

Slide the secret panel on the box to gain exclusive access to the dark & rich flavors and classy, matte black products waiting within.

These kits from Batch & Bodega make the perfect holiday gift, so let’s talk today about creating a holiday marketing program for your customers or employees. Reach out on social media or fill out our contact form on the home page!

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360 Team Attends the 2020 PSDA Emerging Leaders Summit

2020 PSDA Emerging Leaders

PSDA Emerging Leaders is a community that engages the future leaders of PSDA and print-related industries by organizing a network of resources to help build careers, companies and people. PSDA puts a heavy focus on the personal and professional development of future industry leaders. Along with a quarterly webinar series and online community, PSDA hosts an annual Emerging Leaders Summit that brings together distributors and suppliers – providing networking opportunities as well as educational content.

This Summit holds particular significance within the 360 community. A new relationship began at the 2017 event with a distributor out of Phoenix, Arizona. Through our partnership with this distributor – who would normally be an industry competitor – we were able to create a unique marketing piece for one of our existing clients. We still partner with this distributor on the project and together were awarded a 2017 PSDA Peak Award.

The 2020 PSDA Emerging Leaders Summit moved to an all-virtual format. We had the largest showing from one company in attendance. Here’s what some of our 360 representatives had to say about the experience:
Hayley Twiss, Key Account Manager

“Attending my first ever PSDA Emerging Leaders Conference virtually was certainly an interesting experience. However, it lead to a uniquely engaging set of sessions with speakers who were energetic, motivated, and purposeful with their words. I learned so much about perseverance, even in the most uncertain of times, adapting to meet client’s needs, and how to set myself and the company apart. I am excited to take what I have learned from PSDA Emerging Leaders and apply it to my daily work!”

Chris Adams, Account Executive

“I really enjoyed the presentation by Johnny Quinn. He spoke about having a Champion mindset and overcoming obstacles which we all have to deal with right now. Being a former athlete myself, I really resonated with what Johnny was saying. It was so interesting to hear his life story and how he overcame injuries, being cut from teams and even the loss of a friend/teammate. During the current economic state, we have all had to overcome certain obstacles. The important thing is that if you have the right mindset, you can get through anything. That is why I really enjoyed Johnny’s speech.”

Caitlin George, Key Account Manager

“This was my first time attending a PSDA event. It was so nice to talk to industry professionals that have the same hardships as us and how they overcome and persevere! The speakers were not solely talking about PPA. It was great to hear about topics outside of the norm, like “Succeeding in a Virtual Environment” and “Personal Finance”. I was able to get personal and professional growth out of this experience and can’t wait for the next one!”

Stephanie Page, Director of Strategic Account Development, has been attending the PSDA Emerging Leaders Summit for several years. She served on the planning committee for the 2020 virtual event.

Stephanie says, “This community and annual event has been one of the highlights of my career thus far. The knowledge and networking built from my participation has created so many opportunities.  It was thrilling to see some of our rising stars within Regency participate this year!”

The 2020 PSDA Emerging Leaders Summit was a huge success for the members of our team. They came away with ideas and tactics to continue their personal and professional development – setting themselves apart as industry leaders.

Are you an up-and-coming leader within the print industry? Join the Emerging Leaders online community. Here, you can connect with fellow emerging leader members, ask questions, share resources and tips, and more.

Head back to the Office Depot 360 Home page

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Do Good with Products from Cotopaxi

Do Good Cotopaxi

Getting a new bag from Cotopaxi is a little like opening a gift. You can feel the size and shape of it, but you don’t know what it looks like until you open it up! That’s because each bag Cotopaxi makes is built from high quality remnant fabric, making them both sustainable and vibrant. Their sewers have the final creative control over each pack, with the only guidance being to not make them all the same. You read that right – each Cotopaxi pack is designed to be unique.

Environmentally friendly Cotopaxi

Additionally, Cotopaxi is a certified B corporation; they put 1% of their revenue toward addressing poverty and supporting community development. Through their grant program, they promote organizations successfully improving the human condition. To date, they have awarded 42 grants in six focus countries. Cotopaxi also places a huge importance on ethics during the production phase of their products – enforcing a rigorous code of conduct and promoting fair labor practices at every factory they use.

We are featuring three Cotopaxi pieces designed with large spaces of dark color to make your lighter company logos pop.

You’ll notice that you can’t specify a color when you order a Cotopaxi bag. The combinations are practically endless, and what you get will always be a surprise! That’s because the colors change from piece to piece, at the discretion of the sewers. The images in this post are just a few examples of the endless color combination possibilities.

Luzon

The Luzon is a lightweight, do-everything daypack. This is your easygoing, spontaneous adventure buddy. A lightweight, do-everything daypack, it’s perfect for anyone who prefers an unstructured pack that works for a variety of situations. To summarize – stuff it up, cinch it closed and you’re on your way.

Batac

 The Batac is an unstructured pack designed for quick trips and grab-and-go convenience. Originally designed to pair with larger travel bags, the Batac is a stowable daypack that deploys for fast-and-light daytrips, hikes and other excursions. It’s unstructured for added versatility, therefore making it a great school pack, gym bag or daily travel companion. 

Bataan

The Bataan, a versatile hip pack that can also be worn over the shoulder, rounds out the collection with compact storage for necessities. The Bataan is a spicy take on the classic hip pack. With its 3L size, this handy hip hugger keeps your necessities secure, organized and 100% at-the-ready. Wear it up front, on the side or in the back.

Do Good Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi’s creed, Do Good, touches every aspect of their company. From their giving model to company culture and sustainable product design, their business is a vehicle to make an impact. Do good with products from Cotopaxi.

Consider these products for your next purchase of branded bags and backpacks, and support this amazing business. Contact us today to start your order.

To learn more about Cotopaxi, take a minute to watch the video below.

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Lunch Bags Designed for the New Normal

Consumers are looking for products that will help keep themselves and their families safe from exposure to germs while transitioning back to work and school. Shared eating surfaces such as lunch tables, break room counters, picnic areas and more will require extra measures to maintain a clean and safe environment while managing daily eating routines. These lunch bags designed for the new normal are the perfect solution to maintaining space and cleanliness on shared surfaces.

FlatBox is a patented, machine washable lunch bag that easily converts into a placemat, providing a clean and safe eating surface anywhere at any time. FlatBox is made of durable neoprene and is machine washable, allowing sterilization to protect against harmful germs, bacteria, and more. The triple-layer insulation keeps your food warm or cold, helping it to stay fresh.

FlatBox comes in three varieties. Each variety comes in several color combinations, and all have the option of a 1 color imprint. People will use this every day, which allows for unlimited branding impressions.

Original Design

This option comfortably fits a typical lunch and is great for both adults and kids. It opens up to a 17.5″ x 15.5″ placemat, and comes in a variety of color combinations.

DrinX Design

This larger size lunch bag is designed with an external pocket to hold most bottles. It opens up to an 18.5″ x 18.5″ placemat. This is an ideal selection for holding larger amounts of food, and carrying your favorite water bottle along the way.

Cheers! Design

This is a three in one lunch box that functions as a wine bag, food bag, and placemat. It includes two holders for your beverage of choice, and ample space for food, snacks and accessories. This is the ideal choice for picnics and outings. The larger size makes this product great for carries lunches for multiple people, and opens up to a 25″ x 25″ placemat.

These aren’t just lunch bags designed for the new normal – they are an integral part of the plan to help people stay safe and healthy as they begin to leave their home. Check out the video at the bottom of this post for more information on the FlatBox. Let’s talk about how you can benefit from adding this must-have item to your current branded product offering.

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Important Elements of a Successful Company Store

Important Elements of a Successful Company Store

Many companies are looking ahead for ways to improve business and rebound from the economical effects of COVID19. Therefore, now is the time to evaluate processes and ensure your eCommerce experience is optimized – setting you up for success. If you don’t currently have a strong company store platform in place, now is the time to start. You need to be able to order company branded promotional products, apparel, printing, office products, sanitation supplies, and more without headaches and lengthy processes. We’ve compiled a list of five important elements of a successful online company store to get you started down the right path.

5 Important Elements of a Successful Company Store

Responsive Design

eCommerce doesn’t simply mean placing an order from a desktop computer. Therefore, you need a responsive platform that will allow ordering on cell phones, tablets, and other digital devices.

Custom Branding

Your online company store should be a reflection of your company’s brand standards. With our platform we can customize your storefront to coexist seamlessly with your company colors, styles, and overall impression.

Single Shopping Cart

A headache many companies experience is having to place multiple orders with multiple vendors, and in turn dealing with separate invoices. The single shopping cart experience allows you to order apparel, promotional products, office products, sanitation supplies, print and more – all within one checkout process and subsequently a single invoice.

Product on Demand

Having a vast network of preferred suppliers provides the ability to source exactly what you need with speed and efficiency. Choosing products that are available on demand in quantities as low as 1 is an important element of a successful company store. Purchasing a single unit rather than investing in inventory will save you resources, time, and money.

User Groups & Access Levels

An important part of a company store is the ability to have multiple customized user groups. Our technology allows you to create groups to control product visibility, pricing structures, administrative permissions and more.

These are just five important elements of a successful online company store that Regency360 can provide. To learn more about other benefits of Regency360’s custom eCommerce solutions, contact us today. Let’s start you off on the right foot post-COVID19, ensuring your company store platform is set up for success.

 

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The Importance of Responsive Web Design

Did you know that almost 60% of today’s internet access is done using a cell phone? What started as a 50 ton machine that filled a 20×40 foot room in 1946 has developed through the years into a tiny tech machine that lives in the palm of your hand. As technology advances, practices for developing websites has to advance with it. Simply “designing a website” doesn’t cut it. Now that the internet is readily available across digital devices of all shapes and sizes, the importance of responsive web design is at an all-time high and is a critical element of success.

 

What is responsive web design?

Responsive web design means that the website is able to render in different ways, adapting to the size of the visitor’s screen. Responsive websites will load without any missing elements or distorted imagery, automatically resizing while also maintaining a consistent presentation.

 

Why does responsive web design matter?

As stated at the beginning of this article, almost 60% of today’s internet access is done using a cell phone. Additionally, a whopping 94% of internet users judge websites on responsive web design. Think about the last time you went to a website on your phone or tablet, and it didn’t fit your screen or function smoothly. Did you stay on the site, or did you search for an alternative that was easier to see and use? Most people who come across a website that is difficult to navigate, will leave.

 

How does responsive web design affect eCommerce?

82% of people have conducted business activities on a mobile device. In the fast-paced environment that Corporate America has made the norm, being able to complete business tasks across all devices is critical to maximizing efficiency. This includes the ability to make purchases on an eCommerce platform. 50% of today’s total eCommerce revenue generates from a mobile device. If your purchasing platform isn’t set up for responsive use, your user experience will suffer – and you could be missing out on potential sales.

The importance of responsive web design going nowhere but up, making it critical in today’s online environment. Therefore, our company stores have this technology  – giving you easy access to company branded products on any device. Is your current purchasing platform setting you up for success? Contact us today to talk through how our platform can improve your user experience and overall satisfaction with purchasing company branded materials.

 

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Six Current Promo and Apparel Trends

When it comes to promo and apparel, staying on top of current trends is very important in order to remain relevant to your target audience – but that doesn’t stop at just the products themselves. This year, trends revolving around actions are just as important as the ones centered on products and materials. Here are 6 trends you’ll see throughout 2020 that can help you capitalize on business:

1 – Prioritizing the Planet

2 – The 90’s are Back – Totally!

3 – Mix it Up with Materials

4 – More Function, Less Space

5 – Quality is King – but what brand is that?

6 – The Gift of Giving Back

Prioritizing the Planet

Eco-friendly products have always been prevalent in the industry, but this year the importance of the environment has taken on an even bigger presence in promo and apparel. Suppliers are making more of an effort than ever to use sustainable and recycled materials during the manufacturing and shipping processes. Reducing waste is a major aspect of environmental friendliness – things like drinkware, straws, shopping bags, and packaging are the biggest opportunities to replace plastic and disposable elements with reusable and/or recycled components.

 

The 90’s are back – totally!

Fanny packs. Color-blocked apparel. Sun visors. Scrunchies. Tie-dye. Chokers. Tiny bags – Sound familiar? The 90’s are coming back in full force. Some of the new products for the year are fully representative of this trend, while others have drawn inspiration from the decade in more subtle applications. The comeback isn’t limited to just apparel either – promotional products are showing heady 90’s influence with retro designs, bright color palettes, leather patches, metal lunchboxes, snapbacks and more!

 

Mix it up with Materials

Leather, cork, canvas, and soft touch lead the way in terms of materials trends we have already seen this year. Mixing materials is also a popular application – Stainless Steel bottles with a cork wrapped bottom as well as speakers and powerbanks with fabric casings are popular combinations. Leather is used across both promo and apparel, seen on many new lines of backpacks, journals, and hats. Soft touch has really grown in popularity – used on everything from pens and journal covers to drinkware and tech items.

 

More Function, Less Space

With the Millennial generation embracing the concept of minimalism as well as being the most environmentally conscious of all age groups – the appeal of purchasing, storing, or carrying a single product is much greater than the idea of having to keep track of multiple items. This is a big part of the rise in popularity of multifunctional products. This trend is very big in tech, but is also becoming more prevalent among other product categories such as travel and even apparel.

 

Quality is King – but what brand is that?

It’s no secret that when it comes to most products, consumers are more likely to choose a product with a well-known brand name attached to it as opposed to a “dupe” – regardless of the price. Suppliers have moved into tons of new partnerships with well-known retail brands, to bring that product into the B2B promo and apparel space. The North Face, Tommy Hillfiger, Patagonia, SkullCandy, Google, Apple, Amazon, Vinyard Vines, Corkcicle – to name a few. Consumers are more concerned with quality and popularity, so these retail promo and apparel partnerships will continue to increase throughout the year.

 

The Gift of Giving Back

Suppliers are making more of an effort than ever to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and give back to society in many different ways. They are using their resources and influence to help support a wide range of worthy causes – simultaneously creating an advantage over and putting the pressure on vendors who have not implemented CSR programs. Whether it’s a specific promo or apparel product line that a supplier offers that has a connection to giving, or the company as a whole has implemented a blanket CSR program to support in a bigger way – giving back is a trend that we hope never goes out of style.