We are Open and Ready to Help You Promote Your Business

Hoping this finds you and those close to you still in good health and spirits. Staying inside can get crazy with the whole family together but the weather is getting warmer so we can walk, bike and (soon) read outdoors. In fact, above is one of my paintings that reminds me that this is only temporary.

I've received several email inquiries asking if Newport Promotions is still open. Yes, I am working from home and checking emails and texts regularly. Both Newport Promotions and Kaeser & Blair are financially sound and are ready to assist you with any promotional needs.

I care about all of your professionally and personally so here's some other information I thought you might find useful this week.



1.) It's easy to stay in touch. I can be reached by email (dona.blunt@newportpros.com; by phone 847.398.5500 (work); 847.293.9101( mobile & text) or via chat on our website www.newportpros.com. We can also set up a video call so I can show you product samples or talk face-to-face. I'm going to resume my quarterly mailing of promotional product samples, which will inspire you with new ideas for promoting your brand. Please send me your physical mailing address if you'd like to be added to my list. Remember social distance does not mean social isolation.

2.) Be vigilant: There are a lot of scammers out there trying to take advantage of the current situation. I've received emails about hand sanitizers, masks and other PPE from companies that I have never heard of before. They are asking for pre-payments on large quantities. Don't fall victim to these scammers. There are numerous anecdotes about poor/inadequate quality and prices increasing at the time of shipment as well as outrageous freight charges for some of these protective products. I am avoiding all untested factories and staying with companies with whom I have previous transactions and a proven track record. If you need masks or sanitizers, please know that I will be using reliable/proven resources.

3.) Personal scams: The following tips were sent to me by Itasca Bank & Trust Co. to help avoid personal scams from hackers who are taking advantage of the outbreak to trick people into giving them personal information.

• Practice stop, think and listen to that “voice in your head” before you act. Ask yourself could this be a scam?
• Fraudsters can spoof a phone number of an organization.Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or they spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust; for example, from a bank, credit card company, Social Security, etc. and asks for a password or verification of a Social Security number, or an account number. Hang up.
• Beware of fake emails. I have received some pretending to be from other companies. What saved me was slowing down and looking carefully. (I recently received one saying that my website had a misspelled word and please click on a spell check program to correct any other errors. I did not click on the link and deleted the email and btw, there was nothing misspelled.)
• If you stop receiving mail, call your post office to make sure that someone did not forward your mail to another address.
• FTC.gov has a wealth of information on various scams and how to report them.
• Click here for Itasca Bank’s CURRENT FRAUD AND SCAM ALERTS. 

4.) Increase your company sales by selling other items. People may not be able to visit your businesses right now but they want to support you. So, here's an idea - sell logoed apparel and other promotional items online. It allows them to stay loyal and support you, help the local community by supporting their favorite business, and provide you with some cash flow.

For example – a pet groomer can sell dog brushes, nail clippers and pet accessories while a gym can sell jump ropes, exercise bands and running safety lights to promote staying healthy while practicing social distancing.

Please contact me if you would like to add these types of items to your website. 

5.) Healthy Habits: In addition to frequent hand washing, regular exercise, good eating habits and adequate sleep; please take time to relax/meditate to help ease your concerns and reduce stress and tell your employees and clients to do the same. We have soaps, stress relief items, food snacks, children's toys, family games and home exercise equipment that can be shipped directly to individual home addresses.

6.) Non-Profits need our help: Fundraising events for non-profits have been canceled and resale stores have been closed all while demand for their services have increased. Thus Newport Promotions will be making a donation to WINGS (www.wingsprogram.com) for every order placed in the month of April.

Give me a call at 847-398-5500 or send me an email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com if I can help in any way or if you have other stay-at-home suggestions to share.

Most of all, I hope you stay healthy and hopeful.

Dona Blunt, MAS
Newport Promotions
Authorized dealer of Kaeser & Blair, Inc.