Case Studies

A VOTE FOR RAS COMMUNICATIONS IS A VOTE FOR YOU!

Since 2009, RAS Communications has been involved with numerous political campaigns — and second and third campaigns — in Chicago and beyond! Working with the same candidate from campaign-to-campaign allows RAS to help build the candidate’s brand identity and voice. During these campaigns, RAS handled every visual aspect: ad books, banners, billboards, door hangers, flyers, newspaper ads, posters, promotional items, signage, social media pages, event tickets, walk-cards, websites, and more! Just think of the efficiency and consistency we can bring to YOUR campaign — you can almost taste it!

We have worked with political campaigns on both sides of the aisle, from local union candidate elections to aldermanic campaigns, state representatives and senators, judges, and even a campaign for Governor. Can a national senator or presidential campaign be far behind??? Time will tell!

And when it comes to political campaigns, RAS does more than promote a pretty face, we are actually daring, cunning linguists and can help you throw around an effective word or two. If you have been in the campaign game for a while, you know there really isn’t a down season, so let’s get to work today!

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2020 Demographic Swingometer

Start with the results of the previous election, adjusted for demographic change since 2016. Then, adjust the sliders below to see how shifts inturnout and support among five demographic groups could swing the Electoral College.

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Creating Winning Campaign Swag During COVID

Hannah Coplen, founder of States Made Apparel in Los Angeles, has been making trendy political merch for an array of candidates since she started the company three years ago. She discusses how the Coronavirus has changed the way supporters get their election merch, which items are trending and what the final weeks before the election look like for her business.

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2020 Election: Why Campaign Managers Need to Think Like PR Pros to Win

On November 3, registered voters in the U.S. will cast their ballots to elect the next president of the United States. Interest in the election is remarkably high; a Pew Research Center survey indicates that 83% of registered voters say it ‘really matters’ who wins the presidency, up from 74% four years ago.

Eighty-three percent is a remarkable data point, because right now a reasonable amount of apathy toward any election news could surely be forgiven. The average American’s already-miniscule attention span is taxed as we frantically try to keep up with news about the coronavirus, the economy, climate change and sending kids back to school – with more unforeseen stresses popping up daily.

It’s been said that in this election, there are no undecided voters. Based on national polling and the incumbent President Donald Trump’s steady approval rating, that would appear to be the case. But just because voters have made up their minds doesn’t mean they don’t want to hear from the Trump and Biden campaigns.

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Voter Merch Is in Fashion

The biggest fashion trend this fall might just be voter merch. As a highly contentious presidential election draws ever closer, it’s become in vogue to wear your intention to cast a ballot on your sleeve, around your neck, in your ears, on your knee-high boots – even across your face. And many of the items do more than just make a civic-minded statement. Proceeds from several collections fund various nonprofits, and some of the pieces even feature QR codes that actually direct customers to a voting registration site.

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The 7 Debate Soundbites Turned into Moment Merch

The first presidential debate of 2020 rapidly devolved into The Jerry Springer Show, as both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden eschewed decorum in favor of exchanging verbal blows.

Perhaps the talk show host would have been better suited for moderating than Fox News’ Chris Wallace, who lost all control as the candidates interrupted and shouted over each other. The trash talk did produce some hilarious and controversial soundbites, which savvy screen printers have already turned into highly sought-after merchandise.

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The State of Election Promos

Take a look around (from the front window) and it’s hard to believe it’s an election year. What should have been an exciting few months will go down in the history books as one of mass illness and fatalities, coupled with business shutdowns and huge unemployment numbers. Instead of meet-and-greets, raucous rallies, hotly anticipated debates and two massive conventions, most people just look forward to a return to life’s basics: dining in at restaurants, visiting the salon and shaking hands.

• Several supervisors of elections offices are asking for cheap single-use pens for upcoming primaries and the election.
• Campaigns and interest groups have asked for sublimated face coverings as well; they’re ideal “high-visibility” items for campaign supporters. Most campaigns include them for purchase at online stores, while some have mailed them to donors as a thank-you gift.
• While direct mail pieces and easily shipped supporter items like buttons, bumper stickers and bags will still play a role in marketing this year, consider swag for virtual events. Some campaigns have turned to experiences like virtual wine-tastings to build relationships with constituents, since the usual meet-and-greets and rallies are currently off the table.

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Tracking Trump

The 45th U.S. President has been an engine and an anchor for the promo market. Here's why - The Good and The Bad.

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Counselor Commentary: Promo Products Predicted the Election

After the results were in and Donald Trump was named President-elect of the United States, it became clear to us here at Counselor that promotional products propelled him to the White House. Our reporting over the past year showed how he outspent each of his opponents in the primary and general election on promotional items, and his use of them was rampant. Yes, the ubiquitous red hat certainly led the charge.

Never have we seen an election result so clearly determined by the use of promo products. Let’s put politics aside here – it has nothing to do with this. Hats and bumper stickers and yard signs and pens and mugs and T-shirts are what led a political outsider to take the country by storm.

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How Democrats Designed Branding for the First Virtual National Convention

When the 2020 Democratic National Convention scrapped its usual plans for a large-scale, in-person event for a mostly virtual one, plans for its visual identity had to shift as well. Without an arena to fill with signs and other physical collateral, branding assets would need to be largely digital. Instead of a local Wisconsin focus to celebrate Milwaukee as this year’s host city, the message was now of a “Convention Across America,” with attendees and speakers joining virtually from around the country.

The new approach feels like it’s due in part to the increased attention political branding receives today. Candidates use logos to illustrate their personal histories and values, and some campaigns, giving supporters the story behind their visual identities as well as assets to make their own graphics. It also speaks to the need for conventions in 2020 to be multi-platform and merch-friendly. Visual identities that are flexible can more easily be adapted to everything from physical backdrops and T-shirts to photo filters and Facebook banner images.

The Democratic Party is the oldest continuous political party in the world, and it’s undergone multiple rebrands. As early as 1840, some of the first Democrats were identified with a rooster symbol. In the 1870s, cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the Democratic donkey, which had been used previously as a symbol for Andrew Jackson. From then on, the donkey became the de facto Democratic symbol, depicted in a patchwork of varying logos across the party.

Meanwhile, Republicans have stuck to elephant iconography for its party logo, as well as for the logos of its conventions for at least the past 40 years. In June, the 2020 Republican National Convention released a new logo for this year’s event in Charlotte, North Carolina. Initially, it featured an elephant and crown, a reference to the “Queen City” nickname of its host city, but the crown was dropped when Republicans moved the convention to Jacksonville, Florida so as not to have to comply with North Carolina’s health precautions. The following month, they moved the convention back to Charlotte for a “scaled down” event on August 24th, but the logo showing an elephant with five stars for “a five-star experience” remains.

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How Bernie Sanders Built a New Visual Language for Democratic Socialism

Bernie Sanders’ campaign logo is one of the defining visual representations of socialism for many Americans, but look a little closer, and it rejects some of the most well-known tropes of socialist design. The standout color of socialist images is red, while the Bernie wordmark is most often set in blue. The wavy lines in Sanders’ logo are reminiscent of a toothpaste brand, and they stand in stark contrast to the sharp angles and shapes seen often in socialist posters. While socialism is sometimes described by critics as un-American, Sanders’ logo is pure Americana.

Sanders’ branding attempts to introduce a new kind of visual vocabulary for democratic socialism, one that deviates from the popular image of what socialism is supposed to look like. It imbues his candidacy with a sense of familiarity and accessibility, and suggests his ideas are as American as it gets, despite detractors who say otherwise.

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The Power of Political Promos

Michael Wenger of Quality Logo Products says it starts with political promos, sparked by 2020’s major election. “Have you seen or heard about a MAGA hat or Feel the Bern stickers? We all have. Promotional items work,” Wenger says. “Beyond the millions politicians spent, many more times over did other businesses spend trying to catch the wave. In a way, the MAGA hat and other items had a butterfly effect on the entire industry. All of a sudden, a hat became an instant sensation and unexpectedly reignited the world’s love for promotional products.”

Whether for building a brand or eliciting millions in donations, election promos have transformed from afterthought to ESSENTIAL for each and every presidential candidate . . . what about YOU??? Promotional products have a long history in American politics, stemming all the way back to George Washington. But never have they played such a central role for candidates, who are using swag to help build their personal brands, raise vital funds, and gather data about supporters that can be used to fuel advertising and marketing efforts. In the end, promotional products alone will not decide who wins the next election, but they will have played a fascinating – and significant – part in the process!

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Political Divide

In a country bitterly split along party lines, there’s little agreement on which candidate is best equipped to lead America’s recovery. As for the promo industry? Here’s what a Biden presidency or Trump second term will mean.

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Political Promo Quick Stats from March 2017

Top Political Promo Items:

1. Writing Instruments - 75%
2. Bags - 50%
3. Apparel - 36%
4. Desk/Office - 36%
5. Headwear - 29%
6. Drinkware - 21%
7. Tech - 7%
8. Health/Wellness - 7%

The average Political Promo Order size was $622

When are Political Promos Sold?:

1. Quarter #1 - 15%
2. Quarter #2 - 29%
3. Quarter #3 - 61%
4. Quarter #4 - 54%

Trump Ahead in Bumper Sticker Sales

Top 40 supplier Gill Studios has reported printing more than 7 million bumper stickers related to the presidential candidates this year . . .

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