ASAP Event Advertising Supports Payton’s Lemonade Stand and the Lemon Giving Tree

The holidays are a time for giving, and here in Cincinnati, local businesses and community members are coming together to make a difference. ASAP Event Advertising is proud to participate in Payton’s Lemonade Stand and its annual Lemon Giving Tree—an initiative that sweetens the lives of children facing hardship. This season, we’re not only giving back, but we’re also encouraging other businesses to get involved. Here’s why small businesses like ours play a crucial role in supporting non-profits, and how you can join us in making this holiday season special for local children in need.

Why Small Businesses Make a Big Impact on Local Causes

Did you know that small businesses donate 250% more to non-profits and community causes than larger corporations? According to the Seattle Good Business Network, smaller businesses are often the backbone of local charitable efforts, giving back in ways that have a direct, personal impact on their communities. At ASAP Event Advertising, we believe in the power of small businesses to create change, and we’re excited to be a part of that change through our support of Payton’s Lemonade Stand.

But it’s not just about giving money—there are tangible benefits for small businesses that actively engage in community causes. Research from Score.org shows that businesses that give back not only foster a stronger sense of community but also have more engaged employees who are happier with their employer. When your employees see that your company is committed to social good, it boosts morale and creates a more cohesive, motivated team.

The Mission of Payton’s Lemonade Stand

Payton’s Lemonade Stand isn’t just about selling lemonade—it’s about empowering young people to make a difference. The mission of Payton’s Lemonade Stand is to sweeten the lives of children who are facing medical, personal, or economic hardships. The organization raises funds to support these children, but it also teaches young participants the value of philanthropy. Kids who host lemonade stands not only raise money for others, but they also learn the importance of giving back. Payton’s Lemonade Stand gives children the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of other children, one cup of lemonade at a time.

How ASAP Event Advertising is Giving Back This Holiday Season

This holiday season, we’ve teamed up with Payton’s Lemonade Stand to collect gifts for local kids facing medical, personal, and economic hardships. Stop by our main lobby (55 Techview Drive, Cincinnati, OH) to pick a lemon tag, shop for the designated gift, and then drop off your unwrapped gift by December 9th!

The Lemon Giving Tree is a simple yet powerful way to support local children in need during the holiday season. Here’s how it works:

• Choose a Giving Tree for Your Office: ASAP Event Advertising has a Giving Tree set up in our main office, where employees and visitors can select a gift tag and contribute to the cause.
• Choose a Gift: The tree features wish tags with specific gift requests for local children, ranging from toys to clothing and other essentials.
• Shop and Donate: Over the holiday season, you can purchase the gifts and drop them off at our office. ASAP Event Advertising will make sure the gifts are delivered in time to brighten the holidays for children in need.

But there are other ways to donate as well—whether you’re unable to make it to our office or want to support the cause from afar. Here’s how you can still get involved:

• Venmo: You can make a direct donation through Venmo to support the Lemon Giving Tree and help purchase gifts for local children.
• Amazon Wish List: Payton’s Lemonade Stand has also created a Holiday Wish List on Amazon, where you can easily select and purchase gifts that will go directly to children in need.

Join Us in Making This Holiday Season Brighter

At ASAP Event Advertising, we’re proud to be part of such a wonderful cause and encourage other local businesses to get involved. The Lemon Giving Tree is a powerful way to give back to children who are struggling, and your company can make a real difference. Whether it’s a small donation or a group effort with your team, every little bit helps.

If you’re ready to make this holiday season sweeter for local children and create a positive impact in your workplace, consider participating in Payton’s Lemonade Stand’s Lemon Giving Tree. Let’s show our community that small businesses really can make the biggest difference!

Other Ways to Donate

If you can’t visit our office or want to make a donation from home, consider these additional ways to get involved:

• Venmo: Send your donation to Payton’s Lemonade Stand through Venmo (@PaytonsLemonadeStand).
• Amazon Wish List: Visit the Amazon Holiday Wish List for easy-to-purchase gifts that will be directly delivered to Payton’s Lemonade Stand.

Together, we can make this holiday season a little sweeter for those who need it most.

In the fast-paced world of marketing, staying ahead means more than just creativity. It’s about seamless project management, exceptional sourcing, and cutting-edge proprietary technology working in harmony. In this blog post, we’ll unravel how this triad sets our marketing agency apart, driving unparalleled success for our clients.

• Customer Service Excellence: Crafting Relationships, Not Just Campaigns
  • Proactive Communication: Transparent and consistent communication is at the core of our customer service philosophy. Regular updates, feedback sessions, and open lines of communication ensure our clients are not just satisfied but actively engaged in the process.
  • Dedicated Account Managers: Each client is assigned a dedicated account manager, serving as a bridge between our team and theirs. This personalized touch ensures that we understand their unique needs, fostering a relationship built on trust and mutual success.
  • Continuous Improvement: A commitment to client satisfaction drives our continuous improvement efforts. Client feedback is not just welcomed but actively sought, enabling us to refine our strategies and exceed expectations with every campaign.

• Proprietary Technology: Elevating Possibilities, Redefining Results
  • In-House Innovation: What truly sets us apart is our investment in proprietary technology that allows our team and our clients to have the information they need at their fingertips. This suite of tools empowers our team and our clients with insights, analytics, and capabilities that go beyond off-the-shelf solutions.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Our extensive Zoning Database houses over 6,000 separate jurisdictions and their specific zoning and permitting information. Additionally, ASAP’s extensive experience in each of these jurisdictions is also tracked and that vast knowledge is key in helping our clients make the most informed and data-driven decisions regarding their outdoor marketing campaigns. 
  • Customized Solutions: Our proprietary technology allows us to tailor solutions to the unique needs of each client. This level of customization goes beyond industry standards, providing a competitive edge that reflects in the success of our campaigns.

• Global Sourcing Mastery: If You Can Dream It, We Can Make It. 
  • Extensive Experience: Our journey began as a manufacturer of Cold Air Inflatables, banners, flags etc. Over the years, we have added to our network of partners and honed our sourcing abilities to be able to meet any budget or goal our clients throw at us. With an extensive network and a finger on the pulse of market trends, we bring a diverse range of insights, ideas, and resources to every project.
  • Custom Approach: We work with every Client to best understand their unique value proposition with their customer base. We use this data as well as an understanding of the project objectives to create customized solutions for each Client. 

• Conclusion: Elevate Your Expectations, Elevate Your Results
  • In the competitive landscape of marketing, where creativity is the norm, our agency stands out with a trifecta of excellence. From seamless project management and dedicated customer service to our game-changing proprietary technology, we redefine what success means in marketing. Partner with us, and let’s not just create campaigns but craft success stories that resonate in the hearts of your customers and the boardroom alike. The future of marketing is here, and it’s powered by our commitment to excellence.

You Heard it here first, ASAP Event Advertising is officially certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the U.S. As a team, we couldn’t be more proud of this certification, We are looking forward to what’s ahead and continuing to offer exceptional products, service, and communication to all of our clients vendors and partners.

Being a WBE Certified Business also means that our company is over 51% owned, controlled, and operated by Women, March of this year marked the transfer of ownership of ASAP Event Advertising to the New President and Sole Owner, Brittany Ulrich,  We are honored to have been certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), what this means for ASAP is that we’ll have opportunities to access businesses who seek out women-owned and certified business’,  as well as the opportunity to further education through specific leadership seminars, and of course certifies ASAP as a Women’s Business Enterprise.

So what does that even mean? It means we have been recognized by the City of Cincinnati for doing our part to lessen the environmental impact of our operations. For example, we recycle an extensive amount of material from across our operations including the batteries and ink/toner in our office, food packaging and containers in our breakroom, and the vinyl and polyester scrap from our sign production. And of course, recycling all the paper and cardboard we use!<

Our clients can rest assured knowing we are doing everything we can to ensure the materials from their events are being recycled or reused in a responsible way.

Are you local and want to learn more about how to lessen your impact, either at home or in the workplace? Please visit https://www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/ for more information.

Colors – yes, they’re pretty and everyone has a favorite. But did you know – it’s possible for them to influence your mood and alter your perceptions?

Let me explain further. It has been observed that being in a room painted a warm color (such as orange or red) can cause people to perceive the room as warmer than it is actually. The opposite is true of rooms painted in cool colors (blue or light purple). (Morin, 2014)

It’s also been studied that the color green causes broader thinking and fosters creativity (Morin, 2014). Not surprising considering green is the primary color seen in nature. Green = nature = adventure and possibilities (… or something like that).

Other surprising color psychology facts are: Blue is the favorite (think blue skies and fresh water). Yellow is generally disliked, pink tends to calm the nerves, and white is boring. Huh… who knew? (Morin, 2014)

So why does color matter where work is concerned? Take a minute to consider where you see color? Um, everywhere! The effects of color touch everything: the room you are sitting in, your desktop background, company logo and website, even your email signature!

How is color making your customer, clients, or employees’ feel?

Morin, Amy. “How To Use Color Psychology To Give Your Business An Edge.” Forbes. Forbes.com LLC, 4 Feb 2014 Web. 7 Feb 2014.

Dust off your hat and gloves! ‘Tis the season for apple cider, bonfires and, of course, holiday shopping. Over the years, we have begun to see ads for holiday sales immediately following Halloween. Walking through your favorite stores, Christmas trees, lights and dancing elves greet you beginning on November 1st. It seems like America’s favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, has been lost in the shuffle of Fall sales. Should you say “my favorite holiday” instead?

More recently, Black Friday hours have been pushed earlier and earlier. This year, retailers are going as far as to have their stores open on Thanksgiving. Many people are speaking out and voicing their opinions – the question is, will retailers who are choosing to remain open Thanksgiving evening see a backlash?

Here are some thoughts from friends and family chiming in on the subject:

“Lots of people believe Black Friday is the day (and night) of the best deals for the holiday season. Being in retail, I have noticed retailers offering these deals prior to the official Black Friday date and also offering even better deals than Black Friday the week before Christmas. For customers, this means you can avoid the late night/early morning madness and get better deals without having to suffer lack of sleep and dark under eye circles! As an employee I am fortunate my company puts value in family over profit and allows me to work normal every day hours during Black Friday. I feel for those without that luxury who rush through Thanksgiving dinner or, even worse, don’t get to spend time with their family because they have to be at work Thanksgiving evening. It contradicts the entire meaning behind the holiday not getting a chance to spend time with those that you are most thankful for”.

“While I feel bad for employees that are required to work on Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday, that is what you signed up for. It’s called working in retail. Restaurants are open on Christmas Eve – what’s the difference?”

“I think it’s crazy being open on Thanksgiving and I feel sorry for all of the people who have to work. I am choosing not to shop with companies that are remaining open, versus allowing workers to enjoy the holiday with their families – I would rather spend a little more money, then support a company that does not value their employees”.

Retailers are split – some holding true to tradition and waiting for Friday to kick off their holiday shopping, while others are opening around 4PM, or even earlier Thanksgiving Day. All are speaking out, in many cases, to defend their choice to open their doors early for Black Friday sales.

Nordstrom Inc. wrote on its Facebook page: “We won’t be decking our halls” until Black Friday because “we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time.”

A Macy’s Inc. spokesman said, “We are opening because customers tell us they are interested in shopping on Thanksgiving evening”

“Some things are more important than money”, said Ace Hardware about keeping its 4,600 stores nationwide closed on Thanksgiving.

“Almost everybody to date has moved up, at least one hour, if not more,” said a Walmart’s representative. “We thought 6 o’clock was the exact right time to win the weekend.”

Many retailers, like Macy’s, are emphasizing that their decision to remain open was prompted by customers expressing an interest in shopping on Thanksgiving. Some are providing employees with increased pay, a higher percentage off personal transactions and even a Thanksgiving meal. Some made the decision to remain closed, not so much to honor the holiday, but because in past years their Black Friday sales numbers have not been worth dragging employee’s out of the house and away from families.

There is always going to be someone disappointed, or in many cases, outraged with the decision. Regardless, it seems like the majority of the companies made their decisions based on financial gain, be it they remain opened or closed. Maybe this is just the name of the game now? Retailers are changing their strategies in the fight to win sales and compete with online only companies.

Or maybe, in our fast paced, profit driven world, we have just lost sight of what is really important…family.

Let us know how you feel about the Black Friday controversy.

For a full list of retailers, both open and closed on Thanksgiving, please see the below links.

Stores open for business:

http://www.theblackfriday.com/stores-opening-on-thanksgiving.php

Stores closed on Thanksgiving:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/11/04/costco-publix-lead-charge-as-stores-refuse-to-open-on-thanksgiving-day/

If that just made your stomach drop, you’re not alone. I think it’s safe to say there are a lot of Monday-haters out there. I get it – it’s hard to come back to work after a fun weekend. Monday means back to the daily grind. For the next five days.

So, what can we do about it?

I’ve learned to appreciate a few things about my workweek. To start, I like the structure of it all. You might think that sounds terrible, but just bear with me. Lets say you have an off day, and your schedule is free. You probably have a list of all the productive things you want to get done that day. But my guess is a few to none will get accomplished because the entire day will be spent binge watching something on Netflix.

If I have all day to do something, it will probably get done last minute, if at all. However, if I’m forced to make due with every hour I’ve got, suddenly I’m superwoman. I can work all day, go for a run, stop at the grocery, and even have time to sit down and watch a movie. And it feels great! It doesn’t matter who you are – that sense of accomplishment feels so rewarding.

Something else I find helpful is to start small and look for pleasure in the little things. For example, enjoying your morning coffee or telling your co-workers a funny story from your weekend can make Monday morning a little less gloomy. Give yourself a “Monday” treat – whether that is going out with friends or making your favorite dinner or dessert. Looking forward to something can make Monday seem a little less like a waste of a day.