“We hope to provide employees with the tools they need to be more aware of healthy lifestyles,” said Chris Vernon, President, “and ultimately get employees more involved in their overall health & wellness.”  

The Commit To Be Fit program officially kicked-off with a ribbon cutting at the company’s new, on-site Fitness Center.  The center, a remodeled large conference room on the company’s first floor, features multiple treadmills, elliptical machines, complete fixed weight machine and free weights.  The fitness center is available for employee use from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM.   In addition, the company installed on-site showers, lockers & dressing areas for men and women.

Last fall, Vernon instituted a Wellness Council to oversee corporate health activities. The council conducted an employee-wide survey to gauge awareness and interest from staff and has been planning a number of innovative programs to address employee health and wellness concerns.

Vernon Wellness Council

From the survey feedback, Vernon opened the on-site employee Fitness Center, has conducted complete wellness screenings for employees, tested all water sources on-site, installed two new ice machines and switched to healthier food options in its vending machines.  All vending machine food items are clearly ranked according to nutritional value. 

Later this month, the company will break ground on its new, onsite company garden.  Planting, cultivating and harvesting will be done by company employees and their families.  A portion of the fresh produce harvested from the garden throughout the Summer and Fall will be donated to local agencies to feed the hungry.

Events such as health fairs, lunch-and-learn sessions, guest speakers, healthy food demonstrations, and more, are planned to educate employees about healthier lifestyles.  Employees are also being encouraged to get up and get moving through the fitness center, group walks, employee exercise groups and fitness classes (e.g., walking/ running club, 5K training programs, etc.).   The wellness council also has implemented “Fruitilicious Tuesday” where a variety of fresh seasonal fruit is made available to all employees each Tuesday.

As part of the program, the company also instituted a completely tobacco-free campus, effective last November.  Smoking cessation classes are offered to employees as part of this initiative.

Commit to Be Fit merchandise rewards are awarded to active participants in the program, to continually motivate and reward employees’ healthy behaviors.

“We’re excited to see how this program helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and change their lives, for the better,” said Vernon.  “We’ve been thrilled by the employee support and general enthusiasm to make positive, meaningful changes to improve their health.”

               
About The Vernon Company
The Vernon Company, a fourth-generation family business founded in 1902, manufactures and markets targeted promotional advertising-based solutions to help businesses build their brand, establish a corporate identity and increase profits. The company has over 30,000 customers, served by 330 account executives and sales managers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and 190 administrative and production employees in its Newton, Iowa, headquarters and two sign graphics manufacturing subsidiaries based in Missouri and New Jersey.

Being inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame is the most prestigious state-level honor an individual can receive for their volunteer work.  The people selected are those who have changed their community, state or the nation through their volunteer service and action.

Governor Branstad said, “Volunteering enriches the lives of Iowans, and it pleases me to see that we have such great citizens of the state who are determined to make a difference in their communities.”

Vernon earned his induction by serving on numerous civic, government, cultural and educational committees and was one of the co-founders (serving as board chair for several years) of Progress Industries – a nonprofit organization designed to provide job skills and independence for citizens with disabilities.  His vision helped Progress Industries grow from providing only vocational services to less than 50 adults into a highly respected agency that provides vocational and residential services to more than 375 adults throughout Central Iowa.  He also created the Iowa Sports Foundation (ISF) and served as board chair for its first seven years.  During his leadership, the ISF introduced the Summer and Winter Iowa Games to athletes in our state.  Iowa had the second largest start up Summer Games with over 7,000 athletes in 1987.  He helped design the Games’ logistics to be handled by volunteers; thousands of volunteers make the events successful because of Bill’s initial leadership.

In addition, he was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal (third highest civilian award) from the Department of the Army for his two terms as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the State of Iowa.

Bill was previously inducted into the Hall of Fame for the industry (PPAI) and Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, IL. 

The Vernon Company, headquartered in Newton, IA, was started by Bill’s grandfather, F.L. Vernon, in 1902, and is one of only 30 companies in America that is over 100 years old, still owned by the founding family, and continues to be in the same industry.

About The Vernon Company
The Vernon Company, a fourth-generation family business founded in 1902, manufactures and markets promotional products designed to help other businesses increase sales and improve profits.  The company has over 30,000 customers, served by 330 account executives and sales managers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and 190 administrative and production employees in its Newton, Iowa, headquarters and two sign graphics manufacturing subsidiaries based in Missouri and New Jersey.

Use that behavior to your advantage and take the opportunities the change in seasons provides to promote your business. Associating your marketing strategies with upcoming warm-weather events and activities will increase your brand visibility, helping you grow your business (and build goodwill with those Spring fever sufferers).

Top 4 Opportunities For Spring Promotions

Add to your marketing mix with these promotional opportunities inspired by the season.

1. Spring into action. Spring is synonymous with outdoor activities – and promoting your business with activity-based items puts your brand where your customers are. Water bottles, pedometers and sport packs are an active lifestyle item that can be used on biking and hiking trails and at walks and runs. Koozies, folding chairs and coolers will be used at the ball field, putting your brand on display for others to see.
    
2. Spring fling. Celebrate the warm weather with outdoor themed promotions. Host a company picnic, golf tournament or trip to the baseball park with gifts to compliment the event theme. Branded items like caps, visors, sunglasses, sunscreen, t-shirts, tote bags, umbrellas and golf gear can be used again after the event is over, keeping your brand working throughout the season.
    
3. Spring awakenings. Gift customers with a picnic basket, portable grill or blanket for a fun day at the park. Give gardening kits or plantable promotions to the gardeners in your audience. Think customized barbeque gear, accessories and outdoor game sets as the perfect companions for backyard barbeques. Used around family and friends your brand gets increased exposure.
    
4. Spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with fresh, new ideas to promote your brand. Branded screen cleaners and desktop organizers encourage spring cleaning and decluttering. Or focus on cleaning up the environment with eco-friendly organic cotton totes or solar-powered technology gifts.

Branding your business with corporate apparel improves your image with both employees and the public. It promotes communication and increases morale and loyalty among employees, while boosting public perception of your brand’s quality, service and reliability.

With that kind of power to influence people, you want your corporate apparel to convey the right message about your brand, and at the same time you want employees to look good and feel proud wearing it. So how do you choose the right pieces?
 
Trending Now
If you couldn’t make it to New York’s Fashion Week to see the latest styles, all is not lost. Here are some of the key trends to note as you develop your branded apparel program for 2012.

1. Custom Caps – With end-users seeking something unique, it’s no surprise that custom caps are hotter than ever. The sky is the limit. If you’re looking to stand out, headwear is a great way to achieve this result. Whether it’s a frayed out visor, woven label, or taping on the inside seam, there are numerous ways to customize and get the “Wow” factor. 
2. Performance Wear – This category’s comfort and easy maintenance make it a top buy. Performance wear is functional, multi-purposing and has great properties like antibacterial, moisture-wicking or UV protection. Performance fabrics are used in everything from polos to long-sleeve T-shirts to hoodies to jackets.
3. Jackets – Lightweight jackets are popular because their weight and style offer a lot of versatility. They can go from winter chill to spring rain; from the office to the weekend. Because they are so versatile they give more exposure to your brand and a greater return on investment.
4. Color Blocking – A major runway trend this year is colors. Instead of soft colors, bold colors are getting extra treatment with color blocking. Bold colors and patterns tend to keep people’s spirits high and give them a sense of hope.
5. Non-traditional Decoration – While traditional left-chest embroidery isn’t going away, hot new decorating techniques and imprint locations are taking off. New techniques like full sublimation, heat press and laser etching give apparel a more retail feel and give your brand a customized, embellished look.

Putting your brand on a pen or notepad that is used at a desk each day is effective. But think about a person putting soothing foot lotion on their aching feet at the end of the day or applying protective sunscreen on their family during a fun beach outing.

If your brand is on that lotion or sunscreen, you have just become part of an individual, personal experience – and all the good feelings associated with it.

Branded personal care items offer you a chance to show you care about the well-being of your customers and employees.

Practical Ideas
These items work for any type of business, can be incorporated into many marketing campaigns and have universal appeal – everyone can use sanitizers, sunscreen, grooming or spa kits, sewing and first aid kits, lotions and lip balm.

Here are a few of the more popular personal care items.

1. Hand Sanitizer – Any event where large groups of people will be attending is a perfect chance to provide a sanitizer. It’s timeless – the right fit during cold and flu season and summer travel months- and grabs multiple impressions daily due to frequency of use.
2. Lip Balm – Portability and multiple daily impressions make lip balm a great choice for a variety of promotional situations. It’s connection to both weather protection and taste provides a wide range of opportunities – like dentist patient-care bags, hospitals, and for outdoor events like races, runs and walks.
3. Breath Freshener – Breath mints and sprays offer a different angle, providing confidence to the user. Unlike preventative products, these are focused instead of improving how you’re perceived. Breath care items can last a long time, making the cost per impression very low and their effects (fresh breath) long lasting.

Wellness programs result in real savings: with savings-to-cost ratios of more than $3 saved for each $1 invested.

By improving employee health through gradual behavioral changes, workplace wellness programs reduce your overall healthcare costs. Sounds great, right?

But how do you make your program effective and get the greatest ROI? By incorporating promotional products.

• Less than 1 in 5 employees will participate in wellness programs that do not offer rewards. This changes dramatically when incentives are offered…4 in 5 will participate!
• The programs with the best outcomes almost always include incentives and rewards – not only to encourage participation but to reward for achieving goals.
  

Make It Successful
According to the Incentive Research Foundation, there are three components to changing behavior and adopting a healthier lifestyle:

1. Incentives. Use incentives to get employees excited about the program, encourage participation and help them want to become healthier. Challenge employees to reach milestones with incentives throughout the program.
   What works: water bottles, pedometers, tote bags, lunch bags, wellness kits, micro-fiber towels, exercise bands, nutrition journals.
2. Rewards. Reward as goals are achieved along the way to keep employees engaged and motivated. Rewarding successes, in addition to incentivizing participation, is what leads to prolonged change, not just a quick win.
   What works: Tees, hoodies, caps, workout active wear, fitness gear, gym bags.
3. Recognition. At program completion, recognize accomplishments with a prize. By recognizing a job well done, employees feel rewarded for making healthy choices and keeping such habits a regular part of a healthy lifestyle.
   What works: Fleece jackets, MP3 player, merchandise certificates.

Careful targeting, clear messaging and long-term visibility make this universal advertising tool the high-impact, low-cost alternative to other media.

Get Your Brand On…24/7/365

Branding opportunities are constant with calendars. Research shows the average person looks at a calendar 12 times a day. After 365 days, your brand will leave a lasting impression: 4,380 times.

Here’s what else a calendar gives to your brand:

• Meaning. To customers a calendar isn’t advertising. It’s a thoughtful gift – more than just “another ad.” Plus, a calendar serves as an important point of reference viewed countless times a day – giving it meaning and purpose.
• Endorsement. A customer displaying your calendar is like a personal recommendation of your brand to anyone who sees it. When one person demonstrates loyalty to a brand, others think they should buy that brand too.
• Relevance. The functionality and visual appeal of a calendar keeps your brand personally relevant day after day, and gives your message a high-perceived-value.
• Value.  A calendar overcomes the “tune out” common with other forms of advertising, maximizing your advertising dollars for an entire year.
• Personality. Since a calendar can convey the full scope of your brand’s personality for an entire year, it can help your company become as familiar and welcome as an old friend. And customers who feel they are buying from a friend won’t buy from anyone else.

There’s still time to order your calendars for 2012. Or get ahead of the game, save tons of money and order now for 2013.

• Presentation
  The classic gift basket packed with cookies, candies, nuts and other gourmet treats is still king of gifts. The extra beauty of food gifts is that they typically come prepackaged in beautiful, festive packaging for a statement-making presentation.
• Customization
  Traditional leather and crystal gifts are always popular holiday items.  Customization is key with these more traditional gifts.  Engraving a “thank-you” message or the recipient’s name on the gift makes it one they’ll cherish and keep forever.
• Lasting Impressions
  Product function is the way to go when looking for lasting impressions. A branded gift that can be enjoyed and used multiple times – like BBQ tools, wine sets, desk gadgets – have staying power and deliver your appreciation message repeatedly.

1. Technology Rules
   People love their electronic gadgets. Accessories for these items – skins, cases, covers – make a big impact and are easy on the budget. And because they’re always with a recipient, so is your brand and thank you sentiment.
2. Name Brands
   People recognize name brands and associate them with high quality. Gifting with a well-known name brand item increases your gift’s perceived value and elevates your brand’s value.
3. Be Bold
   Bold colors, graphics and patterns are hot this year. Add a fun pattern or graphic with your logo for a more fashionable gift. If it’s perceived as hip and cool, recipients are apt to like it better and use it more.

The Counselor Power 50 reflects an impressive group of principals at innovative and successful industry companies, who set the tone for the marketplace today and whom other distributors and suppliers emulate in their leadership practices and business operations.  The ranking is determined by a panel of editorial experts at ASI’s Counselor magazine, “the voice of the industry,” and is based on factors such as nominees’ achievements throughout the year and the health of their companies.  

“It’s both gratifying and humbling to be recognized with the Power 50 designation again in 2011,” said Vernon.  “I feel very fortunate to have hundreds of outstanding team members who make The Vernon Company a very special place to work.  I think that’s really what this industry honor is all about – our dedicated people who work hard every day to achieve success for our clients’ promotions and branding campaigns. It’s definitely a team effort.”

About The Vernon Company
The Vernon Company, a fourth-generation family business founded in 1902, manufactures and markets targeted promotional advertising-based solutions to help businesses build their brand, establish a corporate identity and increase profits. The company has over 30,000 customers, served by 330 account executives and sales managers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and 190 administrative and production employees in its Newton, Iowa, headquarters and two sign graphics manufacturing subsidiaries based in Missouri and New Jersey.

About ASI
Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of 24,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers).