A Smashing Success
We are thrilled to share some exciting news! Dryvve has been named the 2024 recipient of Counselor magazine’s prestigious Best Distributor Self-Promotion Award! This incredible recognition is a testament to our dedication to creativity, innovation, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with branded merchandise.
The Big Launch: A Sweet Surprise for Clients
Have you ever considered hiding your big news in a cake? That’s how Consolidated Marketing Services and Progressive Promotions announced our rebrand as Dryvve and invited our clients to celebrate once the time was right. If a client visited the Dryvve website before midnight on January 22, 2024, they saw a countdown clock, creating anticipation for the website’s live launch.
When Dryvve launched, we knew we wanted to make an unforgettable first impression. We didn’t want a typical announcement — we wanted an experience. So, we put our heads together and devised a fun, interactive way to reveal our rebrand to nearly 500 clients.
Our solution? A custom-branded chocolate smash cake. The cake came in a branded box that read “Do Not Open Until 1/22/24,” and the cake itself had a design of a scientist pouring two beakers with the Progressive Promotions and Consolidated Marketing Services logos together. A gavel, branded with a QR code linking the user to a press release about the rebrand, was included to smash the cake.
“It was one of those things where we wanted to articulate two companies coming together to form a completely new entity,” says Erica Smotrycz, director of merchandising for Dryvve. “It’s basically designed like a much larger jewelry box – a chocolate jewelry box.”
Each of our clients received a beautifully designed box featuring a hint of our new Dryvve branding. But the real magic was inside. A chocolate smash cake was tucked inside each box — a delicious, interactive treat. The best part? Hundreds of tiny chocolate candies were inside each cake, all branded with our new Dryvve logo. As our clients broke open their cakes, they were met with a cascade of colorful branded candies, unveiling our big news in the sweetest way possible.
The response? Unbelievable! Clients loved the surprise, and many shared their smash cake experiences on social media, amplifying the excitement and showcasing just how innovative branded merchandise can be.
“I don’t think our clients previously had thought of us as a full-service agency,” says Charleen Smotrycz, president of Dryvve. “And so, we benefitted from that since the launch, with being asked to participate in larger programs with our clients – things that require the creative chops, if you will, to unlock a whole section of business we hadn’t had previously.”
A Creative Experience that Sparked Excitement
The Smash Cake campaign was designed not just to inform but to delight. By hiding our announcement inside a chocolate treat, we created an experience that engaged the senses. Our clients got to touch, break, taste, and interact with the news, turning the rebrand reveal into an event they’d remember.
This is what we love to do at Dryvve — create memorable, impactful experiences that go beyond a simple product drop. We don’t just think about promotional products; we think about how those products can make lasting connections with a brand’s audience. The smash cake project was a perfect example of that approach, and it’s a big reason why we were honored with the Best Distributor Self-Promotion Award.
What’s Next? More Innovation, More Excitement!
At Dryvve, we believe that creativity and innovation are at the heart of great branded merchandise. Whether we’re helping a company launch a new product, promote an event, or thank their employees, we approach each project intending to make it memorable.
Receiving this award from Counselor magazine only fuels our passion for continuing to deliver out-of-the-box ideas and custom solutions. From interactive experiences like the smash cake to eco-friendly merchandise and cutting-edge technology integrations, we always look for the next opportunity to surprise and delight our clients.
We can’t wait to show you what’s next! If you’re ready to create an award-winning campaign or explore mind-blowing branded merchandise, let’s start a project today. Our team is here to brainstorm, design, and execute your next big idea!