2026 Fourth Quarter Marketing and Promotions Guide
Finishing Strong. Starting Stronger
How many different directions does 4th Quarter have your team running?
How many different directions does 4th Quarter have your team running?
Most businesses don't have an unlimited promotional products budget. Whether you're buying items for a trade show, an employee program, a customer thank-you or a community event, there is eventually a decision to make about where that money will do the most good. What do you buy? And when you decide, do you buy more items so you can reach more people, or spend a little more per item in hopes that what you give away will have a longer life?
Hiring has become one of the most difficult challenges in the business world. If you own or manage a business, you've probably been there. Someone gives notice, business picks up unexpectedly, or you simply realize that your current team can't keep carrying the load. Suddenly, you need someone. Not three months from now. You need them now.
This is the third installment in our four-part Promotional Planning Guide series, designed to help business owners, marketing directors, HR professionals, and leadership teams stay one step ahead of the natural rhythm every business experiences throughout the year.
The final out is recorded. The buzzer sounds. Confetti fills the air. Within minutes, players are wearing championship hats and t-shirts while fans are ordering merchandise online and retailers are preparing displays.
From stronger supply chains and faster turnaround times to supporting American jobs and manufacturing, U.S.-made promotional products offer advantages that go far beyond the logo. Discover why more organizations are making domestic sourcing a priority.
After 30+ years working with businesses, teams, and organizations, we’ve realized that customer satisfaction is usually decided before the customer interaction ever happens.
This is the second in our four-part Promotional Planning Guide series, built to help you stay a step ahead of the natural rhythm most businesses experience throughout the year.
Every year, businesses and organizations spend a lot of time planning, sponsoring, and showing up at golf outings. Most of them are well-intentioned. Most of them are “fine.” But only a few stand out in a way that actually builds relationships. And that’s really the point.
If you manage branded merchandise inside a larger organization, you already know the tension.
People need items quickly.
The brand has standards.
Budgets matter.
Mistakes are visible.
And somehow, branded merchandise sits right in the middle of all of it.
Getting this right is important. It’s making sure those products work for the brand, for internal teams, for your customers, and for the reality of how your organization operates day to day.
The first quarter is where the pace of the entire year is set. Are you ready? How prepared is your team? How is your brand perceived? Is your hiring process in place? Will you confidently enter the busy season when it arrives? The smartest promotional strategies in Q1 are intentional, created on purpose, with a plan.
October 27, 2025
This time, in the third part of the series, we’re continuing that conversation by taking an in-depth look at what we know best, branded merchandise and promotional products.
October 27, 2025
As a business owner or marketing director (or more likely, both!), it probably feels like there’s always something new you’re supposed to be doing. New platforms. New algorithms. New strategies to go “viral”. New “must-try” trends that promise more visibility, more engagement, more growth.
September 24, 2025
Everyone is competing for your customer’s attention. Sources estimate Americans are exposed to anywhere between 4,000 and 10,000 ads per day! Wow! How can a business compete amongst the noise?
August 22, 2025
Thirty-three years ago, we fired up our first press with little more than a vision, a whole lot of grit, and the kind of stubborn belief that family businesses are made of. We started in our garage, believe it or not! Since 1992, Bullseye Activewear and Promotions has walked alongside thousands of companies. We’ve provided printing, stitching, and branded gear through booms, busts, recessions, reinventions, and everything in between.
July 31, 2025
At Bullseye Activewear and Promotions, we’re proud to be a family-owned, local business right here in Brunswick, Ohio. We know what it’s like to operate with limited time and resources, to serve customers who are friends and neighbors, and to make every dollar count.
June 3, 2025
Things change. Boy, do they change! Fast! This is especially true in marketing, when it comes to branded, promotional apparel and merchandise. There is a constant need to “outdo” the competition, to put an even better foot forward, and to improve your marketing materials and results.
April 30, 2025
You’ve been asked to sponsor the latest golf outing. Does it make sense? Will the investment pay off? Does the cause match your brand initiatives? As important as those questions, what can we do to create value to make it worth it?
March 25, 2025
All things for everyone is not a marketing strategy. It’s also not affordable. When it comes to promotional, branded merchandise, finding something that everyone likes can be a hard-to-reach target. Activewear and promotional products embroidered or screen printed with a business logo are meant to bring people together under the banner of your brand. Yet, if the branded merchandise isn’t something that is appealing to the largest majority, the campaign can miss its mark.
February 24, 2025
Are your employees “brand ambassadors”? Do they live and breathe the company mission, and share in the commitment to success? Do they represent your company as an owner, or at least as a motivated contributor?
December 18, 2024
It’s never been easier to order branded merchandise for your business. Just pick out your product, add it to your cart, upload the logo, and wait for arrival. But is it really that simple?
November 26, 2024
In our 32 years of branded sportswear and promotional items experience, we’ve learned a lot. One of those lessons keeps repeating itself over and over again.
October 31, 2024
Nothing beats a hoodie sweatshirt! They’re soft, warm, feel good, and last long. People love to wear them, and people love to get them. That’s why they make such great branded merchandise for businesses and corporations of all shapes and sizes.
October 1, 2024
Here at Bullseye Activewear and Promotions, we’ve seen a lot of “fads” come and go. Different colors, different materials, and different products come in and out of style all of the time. We stay on top of it, too, to make sure you are never promoting your brand with something out of date.
September 3, 2024
Bullseye Activewear and Promotions has been coming up with big ideas for big events for over 32 years, and we’ve got some ideas for what’s next.
July 24, 2024
Everyone feels differently about coming back to school. Usually, people are excited to come back, or they’re not. Perhaps they are lukewarm about the idea. No matter what, they are coming back, and if you are a school leader, then it’s up to you to make the most of the school year, starting on Day One.
June 21, 2024
It is always a good idea to be careful with the budget. Never spend more than you should for the quality you expect. Every dime matters and every dime adds up.
However, sometimes those dimes are spent fixing a problem or making something right that shouldn’t have gone wrong.
May 23, 2024
Running a small business is a blessing. Serving your employees, making a good life for you and your family, and serving your customers with excellence brings rewards that can’t always be measured. Best of all, when things are good, you get to “give back”.
May 3, 2024
We don’t have to tell you how important a logo is for your business. A brand name and visual logo is a first and lasting impression that is made every time someone comes into contact with your business’ products and services.
April 1, 2024
A Deep Dive into Logo Variations… How, When and Where to Use Them. A logo isn’t just important, it is personal. Sometimes the logo is the first and only interaction with a new customer, and it can set expectations of excellence with each impression along the way.
February 20, 2024
You may think that once you have a logo you like and the vector files to go with it, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. Nothing is further from the truth. The trick is to maintain brand integrity across all of those promotional products and platforms.
January 25, 2024
(Hold on a second…a t-shirt, sportswear, and promotional items printing company who cares about KPI and ROI??? Yes…that’s how we roll! Read on)
Marketing is tough to measure. Did the expense increase revenue? Did it change a customer’s mind? Did it accomplish the brand persuasion you wanted to see?
December 22, 2023
When you envision your logo on a t-shirt, your mind's eye paints a picture. You might see colors, brightness, or vibrance. You might imagine it to be faded or distressed, or looking sharp like new.
Everyone sees it differently, and different looks and styles match different needs. Bullseye Activewear and Promotions has seen it all, and we know how to make it come out exactly as you dream it will.
October 6, 2023
When you’re creating branded merchandise, there are a lot of questions to consider.
How many do you need? What budget can you spend? Perhaps most importantly, what do you want to give away in the first place? Mugs, koozies, blankets, shirts, sweaters, hats, bags? The options are endless.
August 1, 2023
When it comes to branded merchandise, spending less per item to get more items may be costing you results. Spend a little more per item. You may end up with fewer things to give away, but a better ROI.
June 23, 2023
When you want to create branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, backpacks, and more that can help show off your company and your message, you’ve got a lot of choices to make.
May 19, 2023
There are several types of summer events where branded T-shirts and company SWAG and merchandise can be beneficial and commonly used. Check out this list and see if anything pops to mind.
April 21, 2023
You know you want the SWAG, and you know you want it done right. But there are so many options, price ranges, and products to consider.
April 4, 2023
You’ve worked hard to establish your brand and identity. Now, you want to make sure you stand out in the crowded marketplace.
March 3, 2023
Does this sound familiar? You are trying to hit a deadline, for uniforms, employee logo shirts, branded customer giveaways, etc. But you’re running late. Now there is a backup, or supply is low. Shipping is backed up, or the color is wrong.
February 24, 2023
It also helps your bottom line. Here's how! Doing business in your local community feels good. But doing business locally isn’t just about “others”. It’s not just “the right thing to do”.
February 17, 2023
SWAG. Stuff we all get. It’s fun and it’s funny. And for lots of people on the receiving end, it’s free!
SWAG is stuff businesses give away. Too often, it gets treated that way.
If you are a business owner, be very careful about your SWAG.
September 27, 2022
March 1, 2022
Sam’s The Man Tree Service consulted Bullseye to improve their business vehicle’s graphics. The vehicle already had existing graphics on the door, but the tree service wanted better visibility on their brand. Bullseye designed and printed a graphics package offering several improvements.
February 16, 2022
Bullseye Activewear proudly printed t-shirts for the 28th annual Super Cruise coordinated by Cruises Etc. and KHM travel. The Super Cruise is the largest Big Game Watch party at sea! The Super Cruise kicked off with a watch party for the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl and ended with NFL fans cheering on their favorite team during the Big Game.
November 8, 2021
Over Bullseye Activewear’s nearly 30-year history, the company has completed numerous projects for fundraisers, non-profit organizations, and organized benefits. The number of stories of loss and success caused Bullseye owners and founders Jim and Susan Heiser to think outside the box about how the company could take service a step further...
October 18, 2021
Bullseye Activewear is featured in the 2021-22 issue of Brunswick's Community Leaders Magazine.
read moreMay 28, 2021
Bullseye Activewear recently produced apparel, banners and bags for a team of workers who will be renovating the USS Stennis Supercarrier.
read moreApril 9, 2021
Bullseye Activewear met with friends of Curtis Helman last week. They had designed a t-shirt as a tribute to their friend, a Brunswick native and football player who passed away in an ATV accident on March 28th.
read moreMar 2, 2021
Bullseye Activewear recently worked with the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center’s (CVCC) digital design class to create t-shirts for the senior class. CVCC created the design for the t-shirts and Bullseye Activewear imaged the film, made the screens, printed, and packaged the final product.
read moreOct 30, 2020
In the spirit of Halloween, we are sharing this incredibly detailed fall harvest design we recently embroidered. When people tour our facility, they are always fascinated by the sophistication of the embroidery process so we thought we would take you behind the curtain of the embroidery process. read more
Sept 23, 2020
Carso Rosso Winery recently opened in Strongsville. Bullseye Activewear partnered with Carso Rosso to produce several different items for their grand opening and beyond... read more
July 15, 2020
Bullseye Activewear is now printing custom bandanas in addition to our custom masks! Trades workers and those participating in outside events can wear these around their necks and pull them up to double as a face covering when needed... read more
May 22, 2020
Over the past weeks, Bullseye Activewear has provided nearly 20,000 masks to our community to support them during COVID-19... read more
March 12, 2020
The NWBA has a rich history dating back to the mid-to-late 1940’s. The game of wheelchair basketball was developed by World War II Veterans in 1946... read more
February 22, 2020
Check out these new t-shirts Bullseye Activewear created with Duramax Marine! Duramax came to Bullseye looking for a partner capable of designing and printing a unique, high-end t-shirt... read more
February 13, 2020
Branded promotional products and corporate gifts are a great way to advertise your business. Bullseye Activewear has released a brand-new promotional products catalog for 2020! read more
January 21, 2020
The Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS) is long known as the premier tradeshow in the printing industry. For 2020 the show’s name was changed to The Impressions Expo to better represent the range of product exhibited. The show will be held in five different locations in 2020 and includes over 400 top exhibitors. read more
December 4, 2019
The Meadows Turkey Bowl started out as a backyard football game and has evolved into a tremendous fundraising event for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and individuals affected by tragedy and cancer. read more
November 8, 2019
The 2019 SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center through November 8th. read more
October 23, 2019
We know… we know… talk of holiday gifts already? The truth is, it’s never too early to start planning your corporate gifts for the holiday season. read more
October 18, 2019
Parni Valjak is one of Crotia's top bands and they recently worked with Bullseye to print t-shirts for the their 2019 American Tour! read more
July 16, 2019
Jim and Susan Heiser of Bullseye Activewear just returned from the ASI Show in Chicago. The ASI Show is a 3-day show, with 1 day devoted entirely to education, held each July at Chicago’s McCormick Place. read more
May 6, 2019
Enjoy a great day at Bunker Hill Golf Course while benefiting Feeding Medina County! There is still room for golfers & sponsors. read more
April 22, 2019
Check out a video of t-shirts being printed for the Cleveland Monsters playoff game 1. read more
April 22, 2019
Vitamix reached out to Bullseye Activewear to help produce branded apparel for their marketing team to wear during an important presentation. read more
April 15, 2019
Bullseye Activewear recently screen printed the jerseys for the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League All Star Game at Quicken Loans Arena. read more
April 8, 2019
On Sunday afternoon the Cleveland Cavaliers dedicated the day to celebrating Channing Frye. The Cavaliers wore special Channing Frye warm-ups during Sunday’s special event and Bullseye Activewear was honored to have a part in the day by... read more
April 5, 2019
Recently Bullseye’s owners Jim and Susan Heiser attended the annual ISS (Imprinted Sportswear Show) in Long Beach, California. read more
March 2019
The positive impact that promotional materials have on your bottom line is often under-estimated. Did you know that investing in your business by purchasing custom promotional products is one of the most cost-effective forms of advertising? read more
March 2019
Recently Bullseye Activewear donated boxes of coats, hats and clothing to Laura's Home - a Women's Crisis Center serving the City of Cleveland... read more
March 2019
Bullseye Activewear owner Jim Heiser, recently sat down with Made in Medina County for a question and answer session. read more
February 2019
Bullseye Activewear & Promotions partners with the Cleveland Monsters Hockey Team to provide the tees for their T-Shirt Toss at home games. The t-shirt toss is one of Quicken Loans Arena’s most popular in-game promotions. read more
October 2018
Bullseye Activewear takes you inside what is involved with the production or pro sports championship apparel.... read more
October 2018
In honor of the Air Force, Bullseye Activewear designed and printed a unique camouflage pattern as a fill to the Cavaliers branded “C” logo on Nike T-Shirts and Polos. read more
September 2018
The 2018 Stuff The Bus Campaign was a huge success and Bullseye Activewear was pleased to participate. Fifteen companies donated school supplies. read more
August 2018
The 2018 Stuff The Bus Campaign was a huge success and Bullseye Activewear was pleased to participate. Fifteen companies donated school supplies. read more
August 2018
Exciting progress is being made constructing Bullseye's new facility addition. Check out this photo gallery and see our progress. The gallery will be updated regularly, so check back! see gallery
July 2018
Bullseye Activewear has entered the construction phase of a brand new 4,200 SF addition to its production facility. The new addition will provide Bullseye with much needed warehouse and increased production floor space. read more
September 2017
What a Streak! Hot Market Production! Hot Off The Press! Leading up to this weekend’s series versus the Royals, Bullseye Activewear was busy printing the “Take 17” T-Shirts so they were available immediately after the Tribe clinched Sunday afternoon. read more
May 2017
Sports Teams in the Land are on fire and so is Bullseye! Over the past few days the team at Bullseye has been screen printing The Cleveland Cavaliers 2017 NBA Finals Locker Room Tees... read more
January 2017
Bullseye Activewear & Promotions is proud to be featured in the 15th Annual Edition of the Strongsville Image Book & Community Guide. The subject of the feature is Bullseye’s 25th anniversary and the company’s strong history in the Strongsville area. read more
October 2016
Have you ever wondered how local retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lids, JCPenney’s and Online Stores like Fan Fanatics can have Championship Apparel on sale only hours after the winning moment of a sporting event? read more
October 2016
We are very excited about our new embroidering machine read more
April 20, 2016
If you are looking for a company who can handle complex promotions give us a try... read more
April 2016
Now is the time to start planning for your summer events. Whether it is a family reunion, company picnic, 5k run or a charity golf outing... read more
March 2016
Vehicle lettering is another service we offer at Bullseye. Here is a picture of one of the trucks we just did for the Village of Grafton...read more
January 2016
Here is our new Tajima 15 color, 6 head embroidery... read more
