Blue Sky Marketing is proud to join the fight against Covid-19. We have partnered with Simoniz to offer Covid killing disinfectant and sanitizers. Here is a link to three disinfectants that have been accepted by the CDC to kill Coronavirus.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
7 New Direct Mail Kits
We have added more drop ship kit ideas for the colleagues and clients working from home. These have been extremely successful and we have gotten incredible feedback.
Each direct mailer includes branded product, custom postcard, packaging, and postage! Click on the image to see details.
Enjoy and Blue Sky's Ahead!
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Thursday, April 9, 2020
Creative 'Thank You' Gifts for Frontline Workers
Industries such as healthcare, emergency services, food processing/services, delivery drivers, law enforcement, postal workers, sanitation and more have been classified as essential workers, unable to stay home while the rest of the country practices social distancing. These people on the frontline deserve our gratitude for their selfless contributions, so we've updated our product lines accordingly.
Sweet Treats
Everybody has to eat. Of course, frontline workers don’t always have time to cook or run out for a bite. Sending food as a token of appreciation is a major trend right now, according to suppliers.
Everybody has to eat. Of course, frontline workers don’t always have time to cook or run out for a bite. Sending food as a token of appreciation is a major trend right now, according to suppliers.
We have gotten quite a few requests for “thank you” and “thinking of you” brownies since the coronavirus pandemic began. Clients are sending gifts to hospitals, first responders, nursing homes and any place that a caregiver might be going the extra mile. Now that offices are closed, companies are conducting virtual meetings with brownie treats for their breaks. Others are sending gifts of encouragement just to let their team know they’re thinking of them. Birthday programs are still going strong – people are sending them as gifts to friends and family they can’t celebrate with in person.
Several requests for “Thank you” and “thinking of you” brownies.
We have developed “hero recharge” kits, which include Jolly Ranchers, mini wafers, chocolate bars, roasted and salted almond bags, cinnamon fig bars, raisin nut trail mix and Starbursts. We also have a “healthcare heroes appreciation gifts.” Choices include a gift box or tin of candy and snacks, an assortment of fresh baked cookies, heart-shaped lollipops and a recovery kit filled with an Emergen-C packet, Nature’s Valley Granola Bar, Synder’s Mini Pretzels, Peppermint Lifesavers and a lollipop.
Snack-filled recovery kit to recharge the batteries of frontline workers.
Our partner, Maple Ridge Farms has dedicated a section of its website to work-from-home products, offering gift boxes of candy, chocolate, nuts, gourmet cheese and other snacks. The company is offering discounted pricing, free setup and free drop ships on most of the items. “Work-from-home gifts have been really popular,” says Traci Simonis, national sales executive at Maple Ridge Farms. “It’s a great way to be able to show frontline workers that we’re all thinking about them.”
Self-Care Items
With the hectic schedules, increased workload and ever-changing demands during the pandemic, frontline workers could use some time to unwind and take care of themselves for a change. Clients should seek self-care packages that focus on comfort, relaxation and stress relief. Lotions, lip balms, hot and cold packs, stress balls and other personal care products are sure to be valued.
With the hectic schedules, increased workload and ever-changing demands during the pandemic, frontline workers could use some time to unwind and take care of themselves for a change. Clients should seek self-care packages that focus on comfort, relaxation and stress relief. Lotions, lip balms, hot and cold packs, stress balls and other personal care products are sure to be valued.
One of the hottest product is personal soap in a travel tin.
We have requests for a luxe spa line, which features bath salts, candles and the company’s biggest seller, personal soap in a travel tin. We also have an entire zen category that is apropos during this anxiety-ridden time. We are providing candles, essential oil, room spray, diffusers and other bath products to soothe the body and mind.
Family-Friendly Activities
Let's not forget that frontline workers have families, too. Even though they’re on the job, their children are home from school, and boredom is surely setting in. Journals, puzzles and coloring books are some fun options to keep kids occupied. Adult coloring books are useful, too, as studies have shown a link between coloring and mindfulness.
Let's not forget that frontline workers have families, too. Even though they’re on the job, their children are home from school, and boredom is surely setting in. Journals, puzzles and coloring books are some fun options to keep kids occupied. Adult coloring books are useful, too, as studies have shown a link between coloring and mindfulness.
“During bad economic times, coloring books always rise in sales,” says Wayne Bell, CEO of St. Louis, MO-based Really Big Coloring Books. “All the expensive electronic toys go out the window as families try to save money, and a lot of people turn to that family table time with kiddos and grandkids and coloring books.”
Really Big Coloring Books has seen an increase in orders – for both adults and kids – during the coronavirus.
Trusty Equipment
People want made-in-USA and name brands right now. They want to reward everyone doing hard work, from hospital workers to truck drivers.
People want made-in-USA and name brands right now. They want to reward everyone doing hard work, from hospital workers to truck drivers.
Leatherman tools, like this multipurpose pocketknife, remain popular items.
We have creative decks – products curated for specific industries to help narrow down the perfect gift item. For example, the first responders deck includes an assortment of Maglite flashlights and Leatherman multipurpose pocketknives.
Thank You
The simple act of saying thank you or sending a creative gift goes a long way. These people deserve our gratitude for their contributions. We are all in this together.
The simple act of saying thank you or sending a creative gift goes a long way. These people deserve our gratitude for their contributions. We are all in this together.
- Blue Sky's Ahead
PODCAST - Blue Sky Marketing, The Resiliency of Family
Blue Sky Marketing was founded 23 years ago by President Elliott Zirlin and has since been a family-led business, with sons Todd Zirlin as CEO, Corey Zirlin as VP of Business Development, and Brady Zirlin as VP of Sales, with locations in Cardiff, CA, Carbondale IL, Denver Co, Tucson AZ, and Austin, TX. Blue Sky has a high-touch service and a relentless work ethic that stems from Elliott’s influence.
They have also experienced multiple setbacks, including a challenge two years ago that disrupted the business but also caused the family, and the company, to rally together and work through it, culminating in their best year ever in 2019.
Which is a great object lesson for us because this conversation was recorded in late January, before the challenge of the coronavirus and the subsequent economic fallout hit us all. Throughout the Blue Sky journey, resiliency has been the hallmark of their operation. It was my privilege to sit down with the Zirlin family and explore, what has not only held them together as a family but what has allowed them to rebound to success time and time again.
Join us as we journey with the Zirlin’s through the rise, fall, and rise again building Blue Sky Marketing!
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Working From Home: A Starter Kit
How To Set Up Your First Home Office.
03.13.2020
Perhaps you've heard? Lots of people are working from home these days – many for the first time. While nobody minds sleeping in and skipping the morning commute, there are definitely some adjustments. For one, collaboration can be tricky, considering you can't just get up and walk over to a co-worker's desk.
On the other hand, nobody can steal your parking space.
So that's a win.
Without further ado, here are a few essentials for making your home office feel like, well, an office.
First things first: coffee. Your 9-to-5 mug should be different from your Sunday morning mug. We like this one because of the push-on lid, all the better to prevent spills on your laptop.
We've got some news: You're your own office manager now. And that means new responsibilities, including office supplies. This desktop kit's a great place to start, with paper clips, sticky notes and sticky flags. Best of all? It doubles as a wireless charging pad.
One of the perks of working at home is you don't have to worry about distracting anyone, so find your favorite Spotify playlist and turn up the music as loud as you want. We recommend this compact Bluetooth® speaker for lots of reasons – not the least of which is it doubles as a wireless power bank. Talk about multi-tasking!
If you're used to using a mouse at the office, your laptop's built-in mousepad can feel kind of awkward. This sleek mouse works wirelessly, meaning one less cord to get in your way.
Sure, you could theoretically work in your pajamas all day. But you're a professional! And if you're doing lots of video-conferencing throughout the day, you need to be presentable. The stylish, comfy Amos is made with 34% recycled polyester, so it's more than a good look – it's good for the planet, too.
Hats Off To The Grads
Making Graduation Day Special
04.03.2020
Graduation Day is a celebration of hard work, a farewell to fellow classmates and a toast to the road ahead. And even if the ceremony isn't being held this year, it's important to give these grads something special to remember their alma mater by on the next step of their journey.
Grads who have "school spirit" perform better academically, are more engaged socially, and are happier in general than their less-spirited peers (NFHS.com). That's right, giving departing seniors a gift to feel connected to their alma mater can actually help them down the road.
You can bet that life is going to take these grads many places. Help them travel in style with the High Sierra® Composite 21" Carry-On. It can fit a laptop, notebooks and a weekend's worth of clothes with room to spare. It's also got a telescopic handle and wheels for getting around the airport in a hurry. This is a bag that checks all the boxes.
Whether they're heading to college, grad school or the workforce, everyone could use a padfolio. Our Zoom 4,000 mAh Wireless Charging Zippered Padfolio will help them stay organized AND wirelessly charge their phone. A gift like this is going to get a lot of use, and that school logo is going to get lots of looks over the years.
You can't go wrong with tees. They're affordable and everyone wears them. Our best-selling Bodie is made with super soft, cozy fabric they'll love to wear all the time. It even comes in 12 awesome colors so you can find one that looks great with your logo.
They may be done with school, but they're not done with coffee. This Welly® Bundle Set includes a bamboo-accented, vacuum-insulated tumbler and a bottle keep their coffee hot (or cold) through long days at the office or all-night cram sessions in the library. The set includes a beautiful gift box that any grad would be thrilled to open.
After it's all over, grads will reflect on their school years fondly. They'll miss their friends and remember the pep rallies, football games and dances. Here's a gift that lets them look back on the good old days. The Glimpse Photo Frame with Wireless Charging Pad holds a photo of their favorite memory, so they can smile and remember the good times. It'll also charge their phone wirelessly, so they can text their friends with funny memories … "Remember that one time in Mr. Jones class?"
By The Numbers: The Benefits Of Working From Home
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More Productivity And Less Stress – And That’s Just For Starters
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