One of the benefits of custom neckwear, "This protects the brand from being copied by rivals, and it protects distributors from competitors."
2. Watch for Trends
Watches are one of the most functional fashion accessories out there. But just because timepieces are traditional doesn't mean they have to be boring. At least not if Vito Ciaravino, president of Intelligent Galaxy LLC, White Plains, N.Y., has anything to say about it.
"We don't like boring watches," he said. "Every year, a person will look at his or her watch 5,000-plus times, so each instance the time is checked and the logo is seen, it must be memorable."
Want to be on trend? Check out the company's Chill line of watches. The 11 colors run the spectrum from bright (blue, cyan, green, lime, magenta, orange, purple and yellow) to traditional (black, red and white). But there's more to these watches than good looks. "The Chill was developed by a New Zealand-based sportsman who is very into the outdoors, and he needed a timepiece that can get wet and dirty, and be durable enough to be knocked around," Ciaravino explained.
"The adjustable bezel makes the Chill great for divers, swimmers and runners who want to time their workouts," he continued. "And the silicon band does well in health care markets because it can be easily cleaned, keeping bacteria from embedding themselves into something like leather."
There's universal appeal in sports and leisure markets, and there's opportunity with schools and universities, since the wide variety of colors match most teams and styling is appropriate for a younger demographic. With many decoration and customization options there's something for every brand.
"For the price of a nice sweatshirt, you can get a quality watch with high perceived value," Ciaravino added.
Since 1998, Lisa Horn, CAS, (a.k.a. The Publicity Gal) has been reporting on the issues that matter most to the promotional products industry. Currently, she writes about brand safety and responsible sourcing on behalf of Quality Certification Alliance (QCA). Reach her at lisa@lisakhorn.com.





