This Friday brings Veterans Day, first observed over 100 years ago as Armistice Day after the end of World War I. In 1954, at the urging of veterans’ service organizations, Congress renamed it Veterans Day. The holiday has been observed over the years with parades and solemn ceremonies, and it’s a great opportunity to thank the veterans in your community for their service.
November is also a good time to take a look at promo products and businesses that support military veterans, as well as veteran-owned businesses that specialize in marketing and promo.
One Veteran’s Promo Story
Navy veteran Shane Whitecloud, new to the industry, says he got into promo because he was looking for an artistic hobby during the pandemic and discovered a love for custom decoration, from screen printing and embroidery to laser engraving. He started selling custom tumblers and other branded items to local businesses around Reno, Nevada, and quickly caught the promo bug.
“I found that a lot of people were really appreciative of the things that I was making, and it was a medium where I could express myself,” he says. “People were asking me for stuff right and left, and I realized over the span of one Christmas that I had made enough to pay off one of my machines, so I thought I was onto something.”
He and his wife, Amanda, were mentored by their friend Amy Clyne, a longtime distributor with Kaeser & Blair in Sparks, Nevada, who showed them how the promo industry works. After relocating to the Houston area, the Whiteclouds relaunched Team Valor as a distributorship, and they are committed to supporting veterans through their business, including contributing to a foundation that helps pay for veterans’ substance and alcohol abuse treatment.
“We would love to be known for advertising veterans’ businesses,” adds Whitecloud. “Putting up a storefront that showcases veteran wares would be ideal.”
Promo Products That Support Veterans
Birdy Boutique, aka Veteran Threads, is a small Michigan textile manufacturing business founded by an army veteran and military spouse. They make custom textile products, including plush educational blankets for children and fully sublimated blankets perfect for school fundraisers.
The Patriot drinkware and cooler line from Houston-based supplier Hirsch is another option, and each purchase includes a donation to Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.
The Basecamp brand from Utah-based supplier SnugZ USA (formerly Sweda) offers a wide range of products, from flashlights and speakers to drinkware and coolers to hats and bags. These are great choices for practical promo items with a greater purpose, and proceeds support the Wounded Warrior Project.
Be sure to communicate these give-back stories to your clients and urge them to share that information with recipients as well.
“I always try to include an item that has a charitable or giveback component where it fits. Clients like knowing that their purchase can go just a little further these days, and while some initiatives like eco-friendly are great, being able to support wounded veterans is a cause many Americans can and should support,” says Javier Melendez, a national account executive with Boston-based distributor Walker-Clay. “It’s especially impactful when the product communicates what the purchase supports to help the end user realize the further impact of the product.”
Here are a few promo items that support veteran-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations serving those who served:
For a plush product with purpose, consider custom blankets like this school spirit Fundraiser Blanket from Birdy Boutique, a women-owned and veteran-owned business based in Michigan. Made of 100% polyester microplush fleece, these 50×60-inch blankets feature full area sublimation in unlimited colors.
Veteran Threads LLC dba Birdy Boutique / PPAI 812642, S1 / www.birdyboutique.com
The Patriot 30-oz. Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler keeps beverages ice cold or steaming hot for hours with its interior copper lining. Every purchase includes a donation to Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. Available in 12 colors (shown in black).
Hirsch / PPAI 221823, S10 / www.hirschpromo.com
A portion of the proceeds from the RK Stars & Stripes Knit Cap with Cuff is donated to Camp Hope, a no-cost retreat for veterans recovering from PTSD. Available in four color combos (khaki with olive stripes shown) this 100% acrylic cap is made in the USA and features four vertical stripes topped with stars and a solid 3-inch cuff for branding.
Cap America / PPAI 111597, S10 / www.capamerica.com
Keep your grooming gear organized on the go – and support the Wounded Warrior Project – with the Basecamp Hanging Travel Kit. The 12x8x4-inch woven black PVC bag features six zippered pockets in addition to the main interior storage space, and Basecamp will donate $125,000 in 2022 help WWP honor and empower wounded veterans.
SnugZ USA / PPAI 112982, S11 / www.swedausa.com
