Posted on
August 31st, 2011
Labor Day, which occurs annually on the first Monday in September, is a time to honor American workers. This year, why not support American industry by distributing USA made promotional items?
From food products to travel and leisure accessories, there is a wide range of USA made promotional items available. I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites below to help you navigate through the large selection, but keep in mind that we can help you find a made in the USA version of just about any product out there.
And, don’t worry if you’ve already planned a promotion for Labor Day! USA made promotional items also make great corporate gifts during the holiday season.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
August 24th, 2011
If you’ve ever been to the emergency room with a less-than-life-threatening affliction, you know that there’s a good chance you might have to wait upwards of an hour before seeing a doctor. Well, not anymore, thanks to a new technology that allows hospitals to publicize emergency wait times via text message.
How does it work? Patients on the way to the hospital can text a designated number and, within seconds, receive a message that contains a list of local hospitals and their current emergency room wait times.
In recent years, some hospitals have used digital billboards or designated websites to publicize this pertinent information. Billboards are costly, however, and require that organizations have a large enough budget to spend on such technologies. While websites offer a cost-effective solution, they are not nearly as ubiquitous or practical as text messages. In order to find out the wait time from a website, patients must either waste precious time looking up the information before they leave the house – or have a smartphone and a driver so that they can access the site while en route.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
August 17th, 2011
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, one of the biggest and busiest air transit locations in the country, is hoping to give travelers a better taste of Atlanta by encouraging local restaurateurs to open eateries throughout the terminals.
As part of the initiative, the airport has decided to distribute over 100 new contracts to qualifying food and beverage vendors. Richard Blais, the Kinjo brothers (of MF Sushi), and Shaun Doty (of YEAH! Burger) are just a few of the big name local chefs competing for their chance to help add quality and “southern flair” to Hartsfield-Jackson.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
August 15th, 2011
A recent survey by American Airlines found that business executives expect their travel needs – and those of their employees – to increase through 2012. One possible reason for the rise in travel may be the slight economic recovery, as well as the fact that more than half of all survey respondents viewed face-to-face business meetings as vital to the ongoing success of their business.
In the ad specialty industry alone, many owners are beginning to include tradeshows in their fiscal budgets. And, it seems as though they won’t let an out of town location stop them, according to Advertising Specialty Institute, the leading industry organization.
As a result of the increase in air travel, promotional travel items are becoming an increasingly effective way to reach business owners and C-level executives in all industries.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
August 10th, 2011
If you’ve ever thought that college students are addicted to electronics, you could be on to something. A recent University of Maryland study asked students not to use media for 24 hours and found that many of those participants experienced symptoms similar to drug withdrawal.
Student dependence on electronic devices is not necessarily a bad thing, however, as 91% of students use email to seek extra help from teachers and almost 90% of students feel that tablets help them study more efficiently.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
August 5th, 2011
As an avid HGTV and promotional products lover, I’ve dedicated a series to products inspired by HGTV’s Color of the Month. This month’s color, chrome yellow, is a great pick for August. With back to school season right around the corner, chrome yellow items are the perfect way to extend the happy feeling of summer, even as temperatures begin to drop. This sunny color lifts recipient’s spirits and works well for both practical products – such as school and office supplies – and tailgating necessities.
For example, every football fan knows that a trusty cooler is a tailgating must-have, so why not order
one in an eye-catching yellow hue? I recommend the Ice® 6-Can Cooler with Coolflex®. It’s made from durable nylon with a tear-resistant, leak-proof lining and can easily hold six 12-ounce cans. My favorite feature, though, is that the cooler folds down flat, allowing recipients to easily carry it into the stadium after finishing the contents. And, even when collapsed, the cooler still prominently displays a company logo.
Another great way to ensure brand visibility at sporting events is to distribute a bold, chrome yellow t-shirt such as the 100% Cotton Tie-Dyed T-Shirt. The soft, seamless cotton makes the Tie-Dyed T-Shirt a hit at professional football games, high school games, and everywhere in between. Organizations in the education industry, in particular, can customize t-shirts with their team name and mascot to promote school spirit both on and off the field.
However, chrome yellow promotional products aren’t just for leisure time. A golden tone adds a cheerful element to classroom and office products that recipients traditionally associate with functionality and monotony. The Conyers USB Flash Drive is one of my top picks for making the classroom colorful!
Have you purchased any yellow products lately? How do you plan to distribute them? We’d love to hear from you!
Sarah
Content Manager
View my bio
Posted on
July 26th, 2011
Welcome to this week’s edition of “Trending Topic Tuesday,” where we share our take on what’s going on in the world and what promotional products would appropriately (or inappropriately) market the subject matter.
Football fans everywhere can rest easy now that a new labor deal has officially brought the 136-day NFL lockout to an end. The deal, signed Monday by both parties, gives owners more money to invest while providing safer working conditions and better health benefits for players. What does all of this mean for viewers? That it’s time to don jerseys, get out the promotional spirit accessories, and start rooting for their favorite team!
Sarah
Content Manager
Posted on
July 25th, 2011
With temperatures consistently reaching record highs across the country, it’s safe to say that this has been one hot summer! But the weather isn’t the only thing turning up the heat. This month, Counselor Magazine is featuring the hottest products in the promotional products industry. From golf bags and kites to koozies and cookies, this list is full of unique AND practical giveaway ideas to keep your brand sizzling year-round.
Let’s start with the dog days of summer. During this time, when clients and employees are looking for fun weekend escapes, consider distributing branded items that recipients can use on vacation. Counselor suggests kites with full color logos and travel pillows, and I’ll also add water bottles and personalized sunscreen to the list of effective summer giveaways.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
July 22nd, 2011
The Georgia License Plate Design Contest reopened for voting on Monday, easing concerns that a misunderstanding about an optional “In God We Trust” sticker marred the outcome of the original results.
Of the eight semi-finalists, three designs featured the sticker on the bottom of the license plate while the other five displayed a county name, just like the current Georgia plates. According to officials, it was not clear to voters that the “In God We Trust” label would be an optional addition to the winning plate. Thus, to mitigate confusion, the Department of Revenue decided to showcase the eight individual designs with a blank placeholder to represent where individuals would display the sticker of their choosing.
Read the rest of this page »
Posted on
July 21st, 2011
From the personalized coffee mugs at your local Starbucks to the 10-year-old t-shirt emblazoned with a high school logo that your cube-mate insists on wearing every casual Friday, promotional products are all around you. But just how effective are these branded gifts and giveaways?
Incredibly powerful, according to MP Mueller, author of The New York Times’ small business blog, You’re the Boss. Mueller arrives at this answer by way of a letter opener. But this isn’t just any letter opener. “In the clear acrylic handle,” Mueller writes, “float[s] a mini uterus with two pills strategically placed where the ovaries normally reside, alongside the drug’s name…”
Read the rest of this page »
