It’s a June Saturday Afternoon. My wife just left to meet friends. My mind wandered to the night before. I performed music with friends at a small venue—classic rock. We dressed the part. Blue jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, and I wore a cap. It’s a rock and roll cap, black with red and green lettering. It was a promotional product for a now defunct race team sponsored by a musician. The cap has outlasted the race team. It got me thinking about caps.

It got me thinking…

I have a shelf in our entryway coat closet where I store my ball caps. I wondered. How many caps do I own? How long have I had them, and does what they represent still exist or is it like the race team and only a memory?

I have 17 caps, technically a couple of them are my wife’s, but she never wears them. Here’s the count by category.

6 Caps Promoting Businesses 

One is from an out of business Chevy dealer, two from TKO, two from a previous employer, and one from a lawn care company—I mow the grass in it.

6 Racing Team hats

I have two #24 Jeff Gordon caps, two #3, a Bell South Racing #42, and a bright red Bryant Racing cap.

2 Sporting Teams 

One Colts cap—it’s actually a visor, and a Butler Blue ball cap, go Dawgs!

2 Clubs 

Both are from the Circle City Corvair Club. We own a 1966, and my wife is a past board member

And One…

A  Red Rock Canyon Cap I purchased after hiking the canyon near Las Vegas, NV. I was there for a convention. I’m not a gambler. Believe me, I’ve tried gambling. I always lose and I don’t like losing, so friends and I went for a hike.

I like this cap. A lot. It’s been with me to Mexico, Florida, and the Grand Canyon. People have asked what it was and I shared about my hike and why they should go for a drive or a walk there if they ever find themselves with time on their hands in Vegas. It beats losing money by a mile.

What’s all this have to do with your Organization?

Of my 17 caps, one-half represent organizations that continue to strive. I’ve had a couple of these caps for more than 15 years. A lot of folks have seen these ball caps. That’s a lot of free advertising. According to ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute), ASI Impressions Study one promotional cap generates 3,136 impressions over its lifetime.

What does it have to do with your organization? It’s a great way to share your message. Caps are relatively inexpensive, easy to brand, and they get a lot of exposure. If you haven’t created caps for your team it might be something you want to consider for your next marketing campaign. If you’d like to take a look at a few caps check it out –> Caps & Hats.

I’m heading out to the grocery. I promised my wife I would go. It’s 85 degrees and 80% humidity without a cloud in the sky. I need a cap, which one should I choose?