<![CDATA[FrogTown Tees

<![CDATA[FrogTown Tees - Blog]]>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:06:10 -0500EditMySite<![CDATA[How to Select the Right Promo Items for Your Brand]]>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:48:19 GMThttps://www.frogtowntees.com/blog/how-to-select-the-right-promo-items-for-your-brandDear Shimmer,
I’m looking to purchase some promotional products to include in my advertising mix, but there are so many options to consider, and I don’t know where to start. Do you have some tips on narrowing down my search?
Sincerely, Paralyzed by Promo Possibilities

Dear Paralyzed,
You’re not wrong that there are a lot of options out there for you to choose from. It can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for or consider. I’ve got five things you can think about as you contemplate your decision, plus one more bonus consideration.

1. What is the objective or goal you’re trying to accomplish? Thinking about the end result and what success looks like to you can knock out plenty of options already. Are you looking to reach a lot of people in a short amount of time? Maybe you want to reinforce brand values. Having a clear picture of your best result will give you an idea of where to start.

2. Who are you trying to reach? Thinking about the demographics such as age, location, industry, access point and more will help narrow down options even further. I mean, you’re not going to give a child a decanter, but maybe you’d offer it up to a client you’ve done a lot of work for as an appreciation. The way you show up for a trade show audience might be different than if you were dropping in for a sales appointment one-on-one.

3. Is there a theme for your campaign or promotion? This will definitely narrow down the scope of the products you’ll be looking at. Whether it’s specific colors or an aesthetic you’re going for, you won’t be staring into the abyss of every product known to man.

4. How do you want to give these products out? If you’re attending a tradeshow and trying to reach as many people as possible, maybe you will go with something on the more cost-effective and smaller side. Alternatively, if you’re looking to target a specific industry or provide client appreciation gifts, you’ll want something that can reach your audience on a more personal level.

5. What is your budget? This is probably one of the bigger considerations you’ll look at. Even within the same product category price can range from inexpensive to luxury, so you’ll want to look at your budget per person or per item to get an idea of what you’ll be able to purchase.

6. BONUS: What are your brand values? Think about what you want people to infer about your brand based on what you give them. If you stand for sustainability, try to source products that are eco-friendly or long lasting. Your organization’s values can create a roadmap on products to consider from the jump.
Once you’ve thought through this exercise, you’ll have a much narrower scope of products to consider meaning you’ll be way less overwhelmed in the decision-making process. And hey, if the thought of sourcing these products, even after working through these questions, is overwhelming, we here at FrogTown Tees are happy to help find the best products for your campaign.

Until next time, keep it local and keep it custom – Shimmer 🐸

]]><![CDATA[Custom Apparel & Promotional Products Basics]]>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.frogtowntees.com/blog/custom-apparel-promotional-products-basicsWelcome to the very first FrogTown Tees blog post! We’ve created “Shimmer’s Corner” to be the go-to spot for educational resources and materials for all your questions. Each week we’ll dive into a different topic or sector of the industry, so you know the best ways to keep your brand top of mind in the community.

This week we’re kicking off with a topic that confuses A LOT of people: what’s the difference between custom apparel and promotional products? TLDR; they’re both awesome but serve different purposes, so the best approach is to use a combination of both.

The first question we have to answer is what exactly custom apparel products and promotional products are.

Custom apparel is any clothing piece (t-shirts, hoodies, sweats, uniforms, hats, etc...) that can be customized with a logo, message, or branding using various decoration methods (embroidery, screen printing, DTF transfers, etc...). This creates a cohesive, professional, and unified look for your team.

Promotional products are non-apparel branded items (pens, mugs, bags, keychains, stickers, etc...) used for giveaways, thank you gifts, or in your day-to-day business. These tangible items are meant to keep your brand top of people’s minds.

Custom Apparel	Promotional Products
Definition: Articles of clothing that can be customized with a logo, message, or branding using various decoration methods	Definition: non-apparel branded items (pens, mugs, bags, keychains, stickers, etc...) used for giveaways, thank you gifts, or in your day-to-day business
Purpose: Wearable form of branding that creates a unified, professional look for your team or event	Purpose: Tangible items that keep your business or brand top of people’s minds
Longevity: Years; people will rewear these products consistently, especially if they’re part of a uniform	Longevity: Varies; dependent on the product selected
Visibility: Your people (or pets) become a “walking billboard” because anytime they’re wearing the item in public, your brand gets seen	Visibility: Since most things can be branded to be a promotional product, it can be seen almost anywhere (kitchen, car, desk, waiting rooms, etc...) and thus becomes a constant reminder to those who see the item
Best Use Cases: • Uniforms •.Event Branding • Spirit Wear •Trade Shows & Conferences	Best Use Cases: • Giveaways • Client Appreciation & Thank You Gifts • Direct Mail Campaigns • Seasonal Campaigns

Sometimes your brand will only need custom apparel or promotional products, but a good marketing plan will include both options. When partnered together, they become a powerful combination that ensures your brand will be visible both within your team and out in the community.

So by this point of the article you’re asking me, “well that’s all fine and dandy, but what does this look like in practice?” Great questions!

Let’s say you’re the organizer of a new youth sports team in your area. You’ve got a decent budget to work with to get the word out about the team, uniforms, and league fees. You call up your local apparel and promotional product experts *cough* *cough* FrogTown Tees, and work with them to determine immediate needs.

Custom Apparel	Promotional Products
1. Home Uniforms 2. Away Uniforms 3. Practice T-Shirts 4. Spirit T-Shirts 5. Hoodies 6. Sweatpants	1. Team Backpacks 2. Yard Signs 3. Postcards – Direct Mail outlining information sessions & tryout dates 4. Spirit Poms 5. Water Bottles 6. Car Magnets / Decals

Imagine if you just went with custom apparel. You’re missing out on all the impressions you’d get when your player’s parents are driving around town with their new car magnet. Or the impressions of the players using their team water bottle in school amongst their friends.

Here’s the bottom line: Custom apparel will make your team look good and professional. Promotional products keep your brand in people’s hands.

Have more questions? Give us a call and speak to one of our expert brand concierges about the best solution for your organization.

Until next time, keep it local and keep it custom – Shimmer 🐸

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