The Business Base

It's that time of the season. We're excited for all the future food we want to indulge in, but we have the pressure of gift purchases left to make. Let us help you generate gift ideas for the holiday season! By: Stephanie Lopez Leave it to Leisure Since last year, the want for ultimate comfort became so common that wearing leisure items were also acceptable when going outdoors. Engaging in self-care and ultimate comfort has been encouraged recently since working from home became the norm. People love receiving items they can use when they want to unwind. Items like blankets or robes are timeless. They are always needed and always used! Take it to a new level by gifting a blanket hoodie that can be lounged in during the winter months whether it's indoors or at the next sporting event. Gifting some wine tumblers or whiskey glasses with a meat and cheese board from Maple Ridge Farms is also a nice gift for people to enjoy during the holiday months. Trending in Tech Year after ...

In the world of interactive marketing it's extremely important to remember that the product that you print your name or logo on represents your organization. We get so caught up in finding products that are cost effective that sometimes we forget about the lasting effect it will have in your customers' hands. By: Stephanie Lopez Finding the best products for some may mean finding the products that will give you the most bang for your buck. Ordering a cheaper item may not always be the best value when the utility of the product is also considered. Let's look at a shirt example in terms of price, material, and longevity. Shirt A costs $15.00 - It is made of unfiltered polyester and the material feels comfortable. - Because it is made with cheaper materials, the shirt has a 10% shrinkage rate after being washed and dried. - On average, the consumer may keep this shirt but may not wear it often. Shirt B costs $23.00 - It is made with filtered heirloom cotton and feels very ...

Summer is just around the corner. It is about that time when planning takes place for any upcoming festivals, outdoor events, fundraisers and more! Plan with ease by making sure you include these items at your next event. By: Stephanie Lopez Spread Cheer, Not Germs More than ever, everyone has become extra cautious about spreading germs. Make sure your guests at your event have hand sanitizer readily available to them. A great way to ensure people are constantly reminded to sanitize their hands is by having several hand sanitizing stations around. Since they are battery operated, there is no hassle in trying to hide any wires and they can be displayed just about anywhere. The hand sanitizing station is also automatic, so with a wave of your hand, you can dispense hand sanitizer. The best part is that it is reusable! Even after your event you will get so much use out of this item. Check out more details on this Hand sanitizer station. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwYKLmAKO9g Say Chee...

A lot of us have started to work from home since the stay-at-home orders that began in March. Working remotely from their homes is a new environment for many. Whether you have a home office or not, here are some items we think could be beneficial to your new workspace. Having all the things you once loved on your desk in your home office will make it more comfortable! By: Stephanie Lopez Office staples Sticky notes are great to help remind you of your tasks at hand and keep you on track with your work. While this may seem small, if you are starting a home office from scratch these will be essential. Check out the variety of Post-It Note sizes we offer  here . A duo we can't forget is a sturdy journal along with a smooth writing pen . You never know when you'll have to jot down ideas or information to keep that isn't temporary enough for a sticky note. Some of our favorites are these Italian leather journals you can find on our site, check it out. Consider getting a statio...

As we go into this transition period of re-opening some parts of the state, it can be a time where we need to adapt to guidelines we weren't accustomed to before. Reconnecting to usual business practices impacts so much more these days as we all continue to stay safe. By: Stephanie Lopez First and foremost, let your loyal customers know that you have re-opened and what guidelines you now have in place. Depending on your kind of business, sending clients an email to advise you are now providing service is a great way to notify them. Another great resource to use is social media. Posting online that your game plan is to reopen will leave customers anticipating their return. If for any reason a client cannot find information they are looking for via your website, most customers turn to social media pages to find what they're looking for. Be sure to advise customers of your new (if applicable) business hours and what safety guidelines they are required to follow when coming back. P...

It's during times like these that maintaining communication with people is so crucial. Letting your clients know that you are there for them or checking in on them can let them know that you care about maintaining your relationship. By: Stephanie Lopez Send them an update via email Getting a response back from clients can sometimes depend on what they have going on so make sure your subject line is interesting and eye catching. While this is the easiest way to reach out to your clients, it may not always yield an immediate response. Still, any effort to show you want to be there for your customer is essential in keeping that connection. Give them a call If you're able to reach your client over the phone, this could be a great time to build that relationship further. This is an opportunity to really get to know your client on more than just a business level. Sometimes a phone call can brighten someone's day and what better time to check in than now. Video has...

With everything going on, a lot of companies and businesses are having employees work from home. If you aren't accustomed to working at home, it can be a challenge to keep yourself on a schedule and setting boundaries between work life and home life. Here are a few tips to help you get your work done even if it's not at the office. By: Stephanie Lopez Set the Scene At the office, everyone has their own designated area. So why should working at home be any different? Making your own workspace is pivotal in being productive. So, make sure to have your set-up in an area where distractions are limited, and you have enough room to not feel crowded. If you have the opportunity to set-up your work space near a window, that's one thing I would highly recommend. Stick to a routine Just like work, you have a routine to get up and get ready for work every morning. When working from home, I would encourage you to do what you normally would. Wake up, get ready, make you...

Companies, Organizations and businesses are rapidly growing as more young adults are entering the work force; filling entry level jobs everyone once started out doing. With the office compiled with different age groups, the various communication styles may cause some confusion or issues when it comes to interaction. A refresher on the types of Generation age groups are as follows: Baby Boomers: 1946 - 1964 Generation X: 1965 - 1980 Generation Y (Millennials): 1981 - 1996 Generation Z: 1997 - 2012 Every generation is presumed to have certain qualities that others are not aligned with but in some instances some age groups are quite similar. Be aware of generational differences and participating in generational bias. Getting to know your employees individually will help facilitate work relationships that will help instead of hinder interaction with other co-workers. By assuming someone's qualities according to their generation, you are basing a significant group of pe...

The hardest part about expanding your business online is getting noticed among the rest of your competitors in the industry. Getting the same type of clientele on social media platforms can take a while to build, especially if you have no idea where to start. Here are a few tips on how to make your business come alive online. By: Stephanie Lopez Google My Business Once you already have a website assigned and have it up and running, you want to make sure your presence on Google is accurate and up to date. It has been reported that 97% of people searched online to find a local business. I don't know about you but I know if I'm curious about a business the first thing I do is Google it. Creating a Google My Business page helps users find you with ease and get a glimpse of just what your business entails. Approximately 56% of local stores have yet to claim their local listing on Google. Don't be apart of this 56% and make your own Google page, It's free and contro...

What are these logos anyways?  Logos are a company's first point of contact with the world. A logo is a range of elements that work together to form a distinctive picture. A logo is brand identity. By Shirleyann Cameron With a logo comes branding, they go hand in hand. Together with logos and branding there leads to a plethora of business possibilities. When you think about it what do you first notice in a logo?  You see shape, colors, and if you are still focused you explore what it's about. The use of a logo is a  prehistoric  identity practice.  History shows us the deeply rooted and vast cultures all had the need for communicating identity, visually, in common. Looking a the past's ideas leaves much room for interpretation on a broader aspect of future designs in branding for a company logo. So when you are ready to choose something that will bring your company some recognition look into hiring a graphic designer to burst out creativity for ...

By, Victoria Martinez Studies have shown that the average consumer in America sees thousands of advertisements every day. With that kind of competition out there, how do you make sure that your business/organization stands out? 1. Customer Service Customer service is arguably one of the most important aspects of a business.  If a customer leaves your business feeling negatively, this will reflect poorly on your business as a whole.  Clients and consumers like to have positive feelings when they finish doing business with a company. If you have superior customer service at your company, positive word of mouth will be spread about your company thus increasing profits! One easy way of improving your customer service is to implement surveys. By asking your clients & customers about their experiences, you can learn what you do well and what you can improve on.  2. Competitive Advantage What makes your company different from other businesses? Why should custom...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Although July is over, summer in Texas is far from gone. With each day in the 90's, it's important to remember to stay cool! Promotional Products offer a great way to keep your business cool all summer long! I have picked out my 5 favorite products to help you and your customers keep cool in the heat: 1. Sunglasses Lets start with the basics, no one likes having the hot sun beating down on their eyes. So why not try a pair of sunglasses ? While you're at it, why not add some spice to your sunglasses to really make your outfit POP ? Sunglasses have many different designs to choose from whether its the frame, the arms or even the eyepieces themselves, the options are endless!  2. Cooler  No one likes to have a hot drink when they're out and about, so why not offer them a cooler ! Not only do coolers offer a large area for you to add your logo, but they are also a very useful product for your customers. Whether is small or large, e...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Salespeople are arguably the foundation of many great businesses. Without talented, outgoing, positive people reaching out to new clients for us, we would find ourselves in a lull during business days!  So what are some key aspects of being a successful sales person? I had the pleasure of interviewing one of YNIS best, Georgie Wiebe. Georgie is not only a successful salesperson but she is also an extreme NASCAR and cat enthusiast! Georgie started out at YNIS as the Front Desk and Admin Assistant and then moved to a Production Manager and then later the Owners Assistant. Because of her strong foundation within the company, she was able to continue and enhance the relationships with many of the clients when her boss retired. Georgie is now an Inside Sales Manager at YNIS and loves her work. What words come to mind when you think of yourself as a sales person? Achiever Projects Deadlines Multitasker Follow-ups  Explain the typica...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Technology has become such a prominent part of our everyday lives. Sometimes, the best way to escape from the never ending emails and phone calls is to go on an adventure! People love to travel. So why not provide them with really cool traveling products emblazoned with your logo on them? In this blog, I am only going to mention my top 3 favorite travel products. However, there are hundreds more that you can find on our website . While on any adventure, I love to eat! That's why the first traveling products I will mention are mugs/thermos' . There are so many different options for you to choose from! You can get anything from a classic plastic mug, to a 3-in-1 thermos. Not only are these essential to any trip, but they can also be really fun to show off to your friends. After I have planned out all of my meals for my  adventure, I think it's a great idea to grab a travel kit with all of my traveling necessities already ready to go. If you...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Many of us have a lot going on at work. Finding a way to juggle everything at once can become really challenging. In my opinion, the best way to overcome disorganization is with time management. Personally, I try to incorporate these 5 things into my everyday life to stay organized at work. 1. Positivity Starting off each day with a positive attitude is the first step towards a more organized work day. Instead of thinking "I have to go to work today" try "I get to go to work today". Putting yourself in a good mood will help to motivate you throughout the rest of the day! 2. Plan Ahead Monday's and Friday's are great for planning ahead. Every Friday, I go through and make a list of everything I need/want to get done. Then, every Monday, I go through this list and set goals for myself for the rest of the week based off the list I made on Friday. These blogs are a great example of planning ahead! The Friday before I post, I w...

BY VICTORIA MARTINEZ Summer is upon us! Here in Texas, we're already up in the triple digit heat. With the heat moving in, vacations are on the rise. Instead of allowing your brand to take a break during the summer time, your company should embrace the heat and enhance your summer marketing campaign! Below I go into more detail on how to revamp your summer marketing campaign in 2018: Social Media Social Media is a great way to market your company. So why slow it down during the summer time? By pulling on your creative strings, there are endless ways to effectively use social media during the summer time. Start off by taking some photos outside. Highlight products in images with cute "beachy" vibes. Not only will your social media platforms stay active and engaging, but they will also keep your followers excited about what you want to post next! Videos People LOVE videos. Not only are they visually pleasing, but they are also a great way to learn/spread...