Throw Your Best Backyard Summer Bash

Now that you’ve finally recovered from your 4^th of July party, you’re probably ready to turn your backyard into a party scene again. But coming up with ideas for entertainment has you stuck. Hosting a 4^th of July party is easy; you cover everything in red, white, and blue, grill up some burgers and dogs, and you and your guests get front row seats to your neighbor’s fireworks show. How do you top that?

Games are always fun and prevent everyone from just standing around. There are some awesome backyard games that pair well with fun summer-time drinks. You could try Kan Jam, the new hit Spikeball, or the backyard favorite: cornhole. Are your guests Harry Potter fans? If not, they will be with this DIY backyard Quidditch game.

For decorations: take out the holiday lights early this year! Wrap them around tree trunks or hang them from branches to light up your party. You could even hang a frame from a tree branch for a fun outdoor photo booth. Gather some creative photo props for guests to use. And for chilling the drinks, nothing is better than our very own pub table cooler, seen below with Narragansetts on ice. If you don’t have a cooler (how do you not?), you could use the wheelbarrow that’s already sitting in your yard and just fill it with ice.

We have lots of other ideas to help you make your party great on our Backyard Summer Bash Pinterest board. We hope you have a blast and enjoy!

WBENC 2015 Recap

What a week! We recently returned from our trip to Austin, Texas for WBENC’s 2015 National Conference & Business Fair and are missing the armadillos and line dancing already!

Gayle, Kathryn, and Sam had a wonderful week filled with networking, learning, and laughing with fellow women-owned businesses. Danica Patrick, Carla Harris, and Jonathan Sprinkles were just some of the many inspirational speakers at this year’s event. We had a booth at 2014’s WBENC Conference in Philadelphia, but this year we decided to leave our displays at home and spend our time walking the floor and meeting as many great businesses as we could.

We left the Business Fair with some great advice, awesome promotional pieces, and a bunch of selfies! Promoting and ramping up for this WBENC conference was really important to us, so we went into the event with the #WBENCConf hashtag blazing. Using our custom-branded Selfie Sticker, we took lots of selfies with the friends we made throughout the day. We even got one of the workshops we participated in to take a big group selfie. Here are some photos from our week in Austin, but make sure to check out our Twitter and Facebook for the rest!

And, as always, be sure to support women-owned businesses!

Buona Fiesta!

Our hometown of Gloucester, Massachusetts is bustling. Tonight, St. Peter’s Fiesta begins, bringing the Gloucester community and surrounding area together for five days of fun and celebration.

Read below for the full 2015 schedule of events.

Who is St. Peter and why do we throw a fiesta in his name? 

St. Peter is the patron saint of the fisherman. Every year, the Italian-American community of Gloucester throws a five-day festival in his name. People come from all over to enjoy the carnival, watch the boat races, and witness the famous greasy pole contest!

Carnivals and boat races sound pretty normal for a fiesta… but WHAT is this greasy pole contest?

Since 1931, men have been running (or falling) onto a greased up 45-foot telephone pole that extends over the water. The goal: to grab the red flag at the end of the greasy pole. The contestants go through several rounds until the flag is grabbed, but the first is a courtesy round. No one can grab the flag during round one… or else. According to stpetersfiesta.org, in 1979, someone grabbed the flag during round one and was confronted by "the sheriff" of the greasy pole. He was given a knuckle sandwich and the flag was placed back at the end of the pole.  It’s an event that you won’t want to miss!

In case you aren’t going to make it, here is a look at what it would be like if the GAP team participated in this year’s greasy pole contest!

JAMIE

JEFF

JUSTIN

KIM

MARISSA

MIKE

PAT 

SAM 

ERICA

KATHRYN

2015 St. Peter’s Fiesta Schedule

Wednesday 6/24

7:00-10:00 pm: Musical Entertainment (Barry Mooney and Friends) @ St. Peter’s Park

Thursday 6/25

6:30 pm: Fiesta 5k Road Race from Stage Fort Park to St. Peter’s Park

8:00-10:00 pm: Dance & Music Entertainment (Jenny Dee and the Delinquents) @ St. Peter’s Park

Friday 6/26

4:45 pm: Greasy Pole Contest @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Women’s Seine Boat Races @ Pavilion Beach

7:30-11:30 pm: Formal Opening and Music Entertainment (Seabreeze) @ St. Peter’s Square

Saturday 6/27

9:30 am: Family Activity Day (details at Newell Stadium)

10:00 am: Military Seine Boat Race @ Pavilion Beach (US Coast Guard vs. US Navy and Gloucester Fired Department vs. Gloucester Police Department)

3:00 pm: Children’s Games @ Beach Court

4:45 pm: Sports Events @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Greasy Pole Contest @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Seine Boat Races @ Pavilion Beach

8:00-11:30 pm: Musical Entertainment (Panorama) @ St. Peter’s Square

Sunday 6/28

10:00 am: Celebration of Mass of St. Peter @ St. Peter’s Park

12:00 pm: Procession following the Celebration of Outdoor Mass

3:00 pm: Blessing of the Fleet @ Stacy Boulevard    

3:00 pm: US Navy Band Northeast Concert @ St. Peter’s Park

4:45 pm: Sports Events @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Greasy Pole Contest @ Pavilion Beach

4:45 pm: Seine Boat Races @ Pavilion Beach

6:30 pm: Children’s Piñata Contest @ Pascucci Court

6:30-7:15 pm: Musical Entertainment (Jimmy Geany) @ St. Peter’s Square

7:15 pm: Awards Ceremony

8:30 pm: Musical Entertainment (Paul London) @ St. Peter’s Park  

11:00 pm: Raffle & Closing Procession

Save the date for next year! St. Peter’s Fiesta is June 22 – June 26, 2016.

Bonus: There's a greasy pole game!

Your Gift Guide for Father's Day

I’m sure your dad really does like that tie you got him a few years ago, and he probably has used the power drill you got him a couple of times over the years. Why not switch things up this year and get your dad something rad? Coming up with gift ideas is the hard part, so we’ll take care of that. You and your dad can relax and enjoy celebrating Father’s Day.

If your dad is a master chef:

Maybe he would like a smoker, crock-pot, or a mini indoor grill? Or maybe his grilling tools need an upgrade. You can make it a personalized gift with a fun tag like this one!

If your dad wishes Steve Jobs was his BFF:

Is your dad super into technology? On our Father’s Day Pinterest board, you’ll find some new gifts for the tech-savvy - everything from a custom phone case to a HD recording Drone.

If your dad loves music:

Check out SONOS. It’s an awesome speaker system that your dad can control right from his phone. Get him one for Father’s Day, and next holiday, you can get him another and soon he’ll have them all over the house. Is his favorite band on tour this summer? Get him a couple of tickets to a show, a gift that both of you can enjoy together!

If your dad is a bookworm:

Already planning on getting him some new books? Make him some custom bookmarks like these to make the gift more special. Does your dad like books but not like reading them? Gift him a subscription to Audible, and he can listen to audiobooks right from his phone.

If your dad loves his backyard:

You could buy your dad a fire pit OR you could build one WITH your dad. If you want a simpler outdoor project to undertake on Father’s Day, there are more ideas on our Pinterest board.

“I’m getting him beer”

Great idea! To make that gift even better: get him tickets to a beer festival or go on a brewery tour together.

Happy Father’s Day!

How to Beer Fest: 9 Tips to Make Your First Beer Fest Experience Awesome

Are you a newbie to the huge beer festivals that take place all summer long? Maybe a friend invited you to the summer kick-off festival at a local brewery and you have no idea what it is or what to expect. Don’t fret! With this “How to Beer Fest” guide, you’ll be ready for a beer fest of any size.

Tip #1: Pace Yourself

You’re going to be at the beer fest for a while, so you’ll want to make sure you take it in stride, especially if you’re at the type of festival with unlimited samples.

Tip #2: Eat and Drink Water

While you’re enjoying all the delicious beer, make sure you eat food and drink plenty of water. Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea! If you’re allowed to bring a bag into the event, stash a bag of pretzels and a water bottle in there.

Tip #3: Be Ready for Long Lines

The lines to grab a beer can get long at times, but you’ll meet plenty of new friends while you wait. Long beer lines also means long lines for the bathroom, so keep that in mind, too.

Tip #4: Enjoy the Activities

The activities can vary depending on who’s throwing the party, but most festivals have games, live music, and maybe even food trucks. Festivals like these are perfect to go to with a group of friends and you’ll have a lot of fun socializing and enjoying the entertainment.

Tip #5: Bring Cash

Don’t leave your house without cash and your ID!

Tip #6: Be Prepared for the Weather

If it’s an outdoor event, you are going to want your sunglasses and a hat. If it’s an outdoor event and it’s raining, make sure you bring a rain jacket.

Tip #7: Dress Accordingly

Wear comfortable, casual clothes. You’re going to an event where people are drinking all day long, so there is a chance you’ll end up going home with some beer on your clothes. Leave your 4” heels at home for this event. Sneakers are ideal since you may be walking around all day.

Tip #8: Transportation

Before the day of the event, do some research to find the best public transportation to take; or go with a designated non-drinking driver. Be responsible!

Tip #9: Have Fun

This one is easy. You’re going to a beer festival. Enjoy it!

Bonus: Upcoming Beer Festivals

American Craft Beer Fest Boston

Boston Bacon and Beer Festival

Woodchuck Ciderstock

New England Brewfest

Great American Beer Festival

Are you one of the wonderful people organizing or pouring at a beer festival? We have an awesome, brand new bottle opener perfect for any brand. Check it out:

To order, email customerservice@gappromo.com or call 978.281.0083

2015 CWE Auction & Gala Celebration

Last Saturday night, April 25, GAP Promo joined CWE in celebrating their 20^th Anniversary at their 2015 Auction & Gala in Boston. It was a fun-filled evening packed with great entertainment and wonderful people, and we were thrilled to be a part of it. At GAP, we believe giving back is important, and as a certified Women Owned Business, this event was a special one for us.

For those of you who don’t know, the Center For Women & Enterprise has four local chapters of the WBENC (The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council). CWE is a non-profit organization that helps people start businesses. When you support CWE, you are supporting women-owned businesses get started and become established.

Typically, CWE will raise close to $500,000 at this annual event. This year, GAP participated in helping raise money for various scholarships. We donated several silent auction items including a Tito’s Handmade Vodka Retro Trailer Grill, a Yuengling Swag Pack, and some fashionable tote bags. We also donated selfie sticks and sunglasses, which were placed at the tables for the guests. They were a huge hit! We think those selfie sticks can even help out with CWE’s Selfie Campaign.

Participating in events like this help create opportunities for women-owned businesses and help them to become economically self-sufficient, strong, and successful. GAP Promo was honored to be there and we look forward to future CWE events!

Check out some photos from the event:

                                      

72nd Annual WSWA Convention Wrap-Up

Last week, the GAP team exhibited at the 72^nd Annual Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Convention & Exposition at Grande Lakes Orlando. This was GAP’s fifth year exhibiting and second year as a sponsor of the convention. Overall, the show was fantastic! Our booth was right at the main entrance of the Mediterranean Ballroom, which attracted a lot of attention and traffic. Our booth was comprised of some of our most interesting display pieces from this past year, including our Tito’s Retro Trailer Grill and Evan Williams Guitar Display. As a sponsor of the event, we had a product display case in the main hallway featuring miniature versions of some of our all-time best displays.

The team had a great time at the show. In addition to walking the floor and learning about many exciting new brands, we attended some amazing keynote speeches given by Coach K from Duke University Men’s Basketball and Robert O’Neill, the former leader of Seal Team Six. We also attended the Opening Night Reception, which featured drinks provided by Heaven Hill, FloridaCaribbean Distillers, Sazerac, and Proximo. We tasted the delicious new Capriccio Bubbly Sangria, which we know is going to be a huge hit.

As with every year, after months of planning, preparation, and anticipation, the convention flew by. As we were disassembling the booth, it felt like we had just finished setting it up. All that time and hard work paid off, because we believe it was our best WSWA Convention yet and we can’t wait for next year!

Here are some photos from the show:

Our booth right before the show opened

Another angle of our booth

Our sponsorship display case

The team at the Opening Night Reception

Opening Night Reception

Keynote speaker Robert O'Neill