In The Bag

Phew! It’s been a busy few months here at Rocca. And by busy we mean fabulous! It’s been so fabulous, in fact, that In the Bag got a wee bit neglected. But we’re back and better than ever! One great reason we’ve been busy is that Rocca is growing. As our team continues to develop, [...]

There are always opportunities for gifting, marketing, or event branding – and the political world is no exception. With Texas’ 83rd Legislature in full swing, Rocca Productions is busy executing thoughtful plans for some political product placements. Recently, Rocca Productions created custom cookie jars in the shape of the Texas State Capitol for a client [...]

Red roses, strawberries, boxes of chocolates…these things reign supreme on the fourteenth of February. But why confine gift-giving to Valentine’s Day? Here at Rocca, we’re putting Cupid in business for the rest of the year, and it starts by sending some corporate love to our valued employees. Rocca is partnering with our parent company, JHL [...]

We may not buy for Neiman Marcus, but we still want the best for our clients. In the early months of each year, Rocca takes its big ol’ shopping bag “to market” to find specific products for our clients and discover the latest and greatest in branding opportunities for the year ahead. The Dallas Market Gift [...]

  Did you know that Rocca’s Supply Closet features quick, easy-to-understand tutorials on graphic design shortcuts and commonly-used software programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign? Rocca understands that many of our clients don’t work in design programs all that frequently, so, we’ve got everything you might need to perform an occasional design task without it robbing [...]

  As the Rocca elves are busy creating amazing holiday gifts for all of our wonderful clients, we wanted to share our official list of “Favorite Things” from 2012! Hall Decking One of our favorite ideas for the season is using gifts that help you deck the halls! A wreath or a custom ornament makes [...]

What do Gisele, Kate and Rocca Productions have in common? We’ve all got cover girl cred! Advantages Magazine recently read some of our In The Bag blogs and thought we’d be a perfect company to feature in their cover story on professional promotions. Would we ever! They highlighted a campaign in which we sent Lucky [...]

For two years, Rocca has blogged about timely topics we feel deserve some attention. Now we’ve officially named our blog to reflect who we are and what we do … So, welcome to In The Bag, the official blog of Rocca Productions, bringing you all types of goodies, favors, and must have essentials. Here at [...]

Two… four… six… eight… who do we appreciate? Smart tailgating hosts, of course! With football season here and the World Series just around the corner, you’ll find that September is a great time to score with products for your awesome alumni gathering or company watch party. Face Paint is for Amateurs Whether you’re looking to [...]

At Rocca, we make creative product solutions look easy, but it does take some work. Brainstorming is a way of life at Rocca and a permanent part of our customer service process. As the first of an occasional series letting you inside the minds and operations of Rocca, we invite you to take on a [...]

Holiday business gifts often take on the bad reputation of “that” box under your childhood tree. You remember the festively wrapped but disappointing socks, don’t you? We know you’re still enjoying your summer, but your Rocca elves want to save you from the boring-gift reputation this year. We’re adjusting our hats and tinsel to let [...]

We’ve got news of a fabulous unveiling, but it has nothing to do with the runway or clothing designers! After two years, we are finally done committing the biggest faux pas by carrying around our giant bag of products to client meetings. Rocca is offering a new way for you to take a peek at [...]

Rocca is two! Although two-year-olds tend to earn a pretty bad reputation, we feel this is an excellent age for a company just starting to hit their stride. We like to say that we are actually two in dog years. Let’s take a look at some of the areas where we’ve grown. Experienced Aging means [...]

It’s baaack! Summer, that is! Whether you’ve been celebrating longer days at the lake, family reunions or simply under a shady tree at a favorite park, you might have played a game or two of washers. Chances are you’ve quickly become addicted and want more. Do we ever have some friends we’d like you to [...]

No, our calendar pages aren’t sticking. We’re not talking about the Oscars, Golden Globes or Grammys. For most outside the world of red carpets, awards season falls squarely during the summer convention months. For the bulk of Rocca’s clients awards are presented when a group gets together – and that means anything from a massive [...]

Today, in this space where we usually share tips and products with our clients, we instead offer a Memorial Day tribute. Almost 90 years ago … long before the battles of our most recent memory … President Calvin Coolidge delivered these poignant words. Our country does not want war. It wants peace. It has not [...]

Their economy might be hitting the skids, but those Europeans sure know how to leave work behind on a four-week holiday. Unfortunately, this is not an American reality, as our modern time on the clock  — and the accompanying emails, voice messages and team questions — never seem to vacation. However, Rocca knows tips for [...]

Here come the caps and gowns! Makes you a little nostalgic, doesn’t it? The graduation parties. The new opportunities. Translating that game-day enthusiasm into workday victories. Learning to “creatively” stretch those first paychecks! Before these graduates step foot on that ladder to success, help them with the tools they might need along the way. Rocca [...]

Fingers cramped in a calculator-hovering position? Spreadsheets stacked to the ceiling? Expense reports expending your patience? Whether your tax preparation was a write-off winner or deduction disaster, Rocca brings you cash-flow comfort this week by reminding you how we extend your business dollars year after year. Here are just a few reasons why we save [...]

Ahhh … spring. That precious time when the Earth renews itself before facing the incinerator called summer. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we stayed in a constant state of rejuvenation? While we can’t promise your brand the dewy, youthful glow of celebrity-pitched skin moisturizers, we can offer it a little halo shine! Let us help [...]

We hope you’re deep in bracket success during this year’s March Madness. But in case you picked Duke to win it all, we offer some consolation: in a few weeks you can move to the next sports obsession! Here at Rocca, we’re always game to help out our sports fans. So this month, we hope [...]

At Rocca, we love staying ahead of trends and the latest news so we can pass our informational gems along to you! SXSW, or in full form, South by Southwest, holds its annual interactive, film and music festivals right at our doorstep in March. As much as we’d love to say we’re hip to hearing [...]

Although most won’t think about Independence Day until the grills fire up on the Fourth of July, Texans celebrate our state’s Independence Day today. Pondering those thoughts of freedom made us think about the battle our clients encounter most often: the ability to free their time. Whether you are an executive with a looming annual [...]

Let’s see, almond, avocado, oatmeal, mint and … houndstooth! Nope, we’re not cooking at Rocca, but we’re certainly watching them stir the pot. We’re combing through the results of New York’s Fashion Week, and it has nothing to do with our closets but everything to do with you — our clients! While you’ll encounter few [...]

We’re seeing spring fever diagnoses reach epidemic status already this year, and for many that means thinking about long days on the greens. We can’t cure your springtime longings, but if you’re planning an upcoming tournament or just a few “working” afternoons complete with clubs, Rocca can help you hit ‘em straight. High-Class Hydration Cart [...]

You want to make your mark, but are you always sure how? At Rocca, we answer a lot of questions regarding printing and engraving methods. We can guide you to best choices on a variety of materials. But, just in case you’re carrying around one of those pesky, “learn something new each day,” resolutions, we’re [...]

There’s definitely a whiff of elections in the air! Though Austin streets are quiet during this off year for the Texas Legislature, we know the wheels of government are turning, ideas are flowing, and hands are shaking out there. As the sister-company of a public affairs consultancy, Rocca Productions stands well-versed and ready to assist [...]

While we’re out there pounding the convention floor and keeping our eyes open for the latest and greatest gadget, we keep you in mind. We came armed with an arsenal of notes and well thought out plans to spur us along to ideas and products that would meet your needs for your next event. Our [...]

How wonderful is that blank appointment calendar those first days after the hectic holidays? But scroll a few weeks ahead and there it is … the big presentation you’ve been dreading for weeks. Turn 2012 into the year when you present your very best each time you enter the room. Rocca has all the tools [...]

John Galsworthy said, “Beginnings are always messy.” No offense to the late Nobel Prize recipient, but we couldn’t disagree more! Only days away, we’re looking at the New Year as a great time to get clean and tidy. If the thought of organizing already gives you the 2012 blues, consider these time and frustration savers [...]

The close of this year most likely marks the close of a long, tedious budgeting process for the coming year. After months of back-and-forth on your marketing numbers, totals for 2012 may only now be jelling like your great-aunt’s holiday fruitcake. As you polish your final predictions, we encourage you to consider a few more [...]

Boy, are we in a thankful mood! Not only do we have our national day of thanks coming up, but this week also marks the one-year anniversary of Rocca Productions’ blog. To celebrate, we’re going back to our Thanksgiving roots. So today we present— just as you might have done in the third grade —our [...]

You know the holidays have arrived when you receive those thick, mailed catalogs to be searched, dog-eared and starred. We’re keeping that holiday tradition alive in the digital age by sharing some of Rocca’s favorite holiday products for 2011. Coffee Table Books Put yourself on display with a limited edition of personalized books relating to [...]

So you’re worried that jingling isn’t sleigh bells, but the limited change you have for client and employee gifts this year? Rocca is up to that challenge! Many people worry tight budgets make a service like ours an unaffordable luxury. Today we’re providing a little Elf 101 on how working with Rocca actually saves you [...]

Even without that cool invisible plane, Wonder Woman contemporaries surround us each day maneuvering through life and making our world a better place – across the conference table, on the jogging trail, or down the block. We’ve heard stories of amazing women overcoming incredible challenges since posting about Rocca’s commitment to fighting breast cancer. We [...]

Next month, Rocca and our parent company JHL will lace up our collective kicks along with hundreds of men, women and children to support Austin’s Race for the Cure. Breast cancer has touched many of us through numerous friends and loved ones, and unfortunately, odds predict those numbers will rise. That’s why Rocca is committed [...]

The economic news this year is making many feel as if their wallets — and hearts — have grown two sizes too small. In a recent survey, nearly 60 percent of business owners reported the downturn affected their gift-giving habits. Only 47 percent of small business owners anticipate giving corporate gifts to clients, a slide even [...]

These cooler evenings mean fall’s on its way, and it’s time for the outdoor festivities and functions to begin. Austin kicks off the festival season September 16 with the ever-popular ACL Music festival. While your function may not be to this scale, Rocca can help your al fresco event please the most demanding divas for [...]

“I was campaign manager for John Cornyn at the time, and we had just finished a staff meeting concerning the September 12 kickoff tour to announce his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Our consultant asked me to come back to the conference room because a plane hit the World Trade Center. The words didn’t even make sense. I [...]

It’s time for turf, touchdowns and tailgates! Football season is here, and Rocca is ready with our newest All-Star player, Texas-based YETI Coolers. These sleek coolers not only look great toting your marinating ribs, but they are also tough enough to withstand the blitz of an all-American defense. This “king of coolers” boasts a thicker [...]

  We’re kicking off our second year at Rocca Productions with an expanded web presence! We thank all who followed our blog during the past year, and we will continue bringing industry updates and practical tips your way – now housed on a beautiful, expanded website! What You’ll Find While much of the site is [...]

The late Don Snell, the Texan behind Jon Hart Designs, not only launched a successful Texas business but became a major theater actor and Hollywood star — even singing at Carnegie Hall. Two Thumbs Up for Jon Hart Quality & Design While Snell definitely had star-power, we most admire the legacy this Houstonian built by [...]

You know the shape, you know the colors, you might even know the standard proportions, but do you really know what your logo says when you place it on products? From canvas bags to crystal awards, here are some things to keep in mind when you make your mark. Size Matters Bigger is not always [...]

We hope you’re wrapping up and heading out early for a fun Independence Day Weekend! In our work, we continually witness what’s made this country so extraordinarily resilient — the spirit of America’s creative, innovative and hard-working entrepreneurs. That’s why we like to keep our blessings in mind year-round by supporting the economy here at [...]

We know it’s a billion degrees outside, light enough to mow the grass until 9:00 p.m. and a daily battle to fill the pool before more water evaporates. Who said summer was relaxing? After all this work, we want you to treat yourself to a peaceful holiday season – by planning ahead with Rocca. When [...]

Yes, we’ve entered the long summer days when office attire goes casual, airports fill with pint-sized passengers and every third e-mail receives an out-of-office vacation notice. Before your brand wanders off for a mid-year siesta, talk to your Rocca team about taking advantage of the slower pace and revving up your brand in an uncrowded [...]

This week at Rocca, we’re thrilled to spotlight one of our new approved vendors – Austinuts. Why do we say approved vendor? At Rocca, we’re very picky about who we work with to achieve our clients’ success. We don’t want a single item of your seasonal gift basket or client thank-you supplied by someone who [...]

People often ask us the origin of the name Rocca. Actually, we’re named after a baby bump. Yes, when our President Jennifer Lustina was expecting her second child, she teased her own father that she was following celebrity trends and naming his granddaughter Rocca. Fortunately for her child the joke ended at delivery, but the [...]

Picture the scene next Sunday: dozens of children in their Easter Sunday best running out on the lawn hunting plain, white hard-boiled eggs? Not very appealing. You might as well hide some lettuce or jars of mayo. What provokes the frenzied gathering of eggs at Easter? Of course, it’s the colorful packaging! It may seem [...]

With rising obesity and health care costs, that old apple a day gem just doesn’t cut it anymore. The number of small- and mid-sized businesses taking part in weight management and wellness programs jumped 25 percent in 2010. When participating in these programs, 38 percent of employees said they increased productivity, 28 percent reported they [...]