Umbrellas: A Perfect Way to Show Off Your Message

Fresh off Memorial Day weekend, we are all looking forward to the summer months and a little fun in the sun. And although we love being out in the sun, who doesn’t want a good umbrella when the weather starts to get hot?

For some of the following reasons, umbrellas are a top pick when it comes to promotional items.

Size: The top of an umbrella offers plenty of space for your message. Unlike with smaller items (such as pens or coffee mugs), you don’t have to consolidate your message to fit in a tiny area. On an umbrella there is plenty of room for your logo and contact information. Keeping things large also makes sure that your logo can be seen from a distance.

Options: Besides the top of the umbrella, you can also print your logo on the handle or casing. So even when the umbrella isn’t open, people can still see your message.

Exposure: Umbrellas are often seen in very public places like beaches and sporting events, giving your brand lots of visibility. It is a great way to make sure your brand is seen by more people than just the recipient.

Creativity: There are hundreds of creative ways to tie umbrellas into promotions. Car companies can tie them into weekend or beach kit giveaways. If you are in the health or beauty industry, branded umbrellas are great for a skin care promotion. If you are in the service industry, let your clients know that you have them “covered” by handing out umbrellas.

Windproof 60” Jumbo Golf Umbrella with Hardwood Handle
From $5.81


Beach Umbrella with Tilt and Shoulder Strap
From $8.88

Keeping Mud Off Your Face This Father's Day

Although promotions are an excellent way to boost sales and build your brand, sometimes they can go embarrassingly wrong.

Last year, English retailer WH Smith decided to set up a display of “Top 50 Books for Dad” for Father’s Day. The display included popular titles like Dan Brown’s Angel and Demons and Sebastian Faulks's Bond novel Devil May Care. However, shoppers were shocked to find The Crimes of Josef Fritzl, a book about an abusive father who kept his daughter captive for 24 years, also on the display. Not exactly a shining example of fatherhood. The store took plenty of flak for what some thought was a sick joke.

Although you’re unlikely to make any mistakes that will land you in the newspaper, it goes to show that taking a little time to think about your promotions can go a long way. So whether you are creating displays for your store or giving away promotional items, here are some tips that can help prevent any major faux pax.

1. Have plenty of other people take a look at your idea, including people outside of your organization. They could catch something embarrassing that you may have missed.
2. The devil is in the details. Take time to look at all the elements of your promotion, including how the item will be packaged and given to customers. Wrapping an mp3 player in a cheap box will make the mp3 player look cheap too.
3. Make sure the promotional item is appropriate for the event, holiday or audience. For example, an alcohol and drug treatment center giving away branded bottle openers might not go over well.
   

So instead of handing out copies of The Crimes of Josef Fritzl this Father’s Day, try a nice key chain or pocket screwdriver set instead.

Polished Bezel Analog Clock Keychain in Matte Silver Finish
From $4.16

Pocket Screwdriver Set
From $0.87

Want To Be Remembered?

Just how effective are promotional items? Incredibly effective according to a recent study by PPAI Research. The study surveyed 1,005 consumers who recalled receiving a promotional product in the past 24 months to find out how they responded to promotional products.

The study reported that promotional products delivered much higher recall rates when compared to print, online advertising, and television. Out of respondents who had received a promotional product in the past two years, the study found that:

• 83 percent could recall the brand/company advertised
• 75 percent remembered the product/service
• 80 percent clearly identified the type of promotional product
• 74 percent could recall the company/brand and the product/service/message advertised
• 69 percent could remember all three aspects

What were some of the items with the greatest advertiser or message recall?

1. Pens
2. Calendars
3. Coffee Mugs
4. Magnets
5. MP3 Players
6. T-shirts/golf shirts
7. Tote bags/bags
8. Gift baskets of food

Why We Love Office Toys

The mammoth-sized toy collection on Michael Scott’s desk in NBC’s The Office is only funny because it is so true. We all know a few people at work who take desktop knick knacks to the extreme. The expandable rainbow ball, the train whistle, the chatter teeth, the Slinky, the World’s Best Boss Mug...

But the truth is that we all like at least a little something at our desk that expresses who we are. Sometimes it is just a few photos and something like a stress ball to fiddle with while talking on the phone. Or it can be something a bit more elaborate like a miniature Zen garden to help us relax.

As Michael Scott has so "skillfully" demonstrated, office toys can be a great way to break the ice or loosen things up a bit. But regardless of whether or not we are office toy aficionados, it is nice to have something in our office that makes us smile.

Here are a few great promotional items that will help make somebody’s day a little brighter.


Zen Garden with White Sand and Incense Holder
From $3.76


Large Magnetic Clear Acrylic Frame with Round Edges
From $6.25


Desktop Darts
From $1.50



3 in 1 Car Racing Game
From $7.52

Commercials During The NBA Playoffs Not In Your Budget?

As thousands gear up for the NBA playoffs, basketball fans all over the country are planning on spending some serious time sitting in front of their TVs. Can’t afford ad time? No worries. TV commercials are not the only way to pitch your brand during the playoffs.

Tie your brand to the playoffs by offering special playoff promotional items. Being a hardcore sports fan is not easy and they are going to need some help staying comfy while watching the games. Many promotional items are the perfect fit for the dedicated sports nut.

Here are a few items that any sports fan would love:

Keep warm on the couch with a soft fleece blanket. You can also burrow your head in it if your team is doing badly.

Soft Fleece Blanket with Velcro Stitched Strap
From $3.11


Help reduce trips to the fridge with a travel cooler. The Folding Travel Stool with Insulated Cooler is an especially good pick. The stool can also double as a tray holder for all your goodies.

Folding Travel Stool with Insulated Cooler
From $12.06



Sports and BBQ go hand in hand. This 18-Piece Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set has everything you need to serve up the perfect hamburger.

18-Piece Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set
From $12.73



Now let’s be realistic, not everybody in the house is necessarily going to be thrilled about the playoffs. A Electronic Poker Game might be a good idea to keep those less than enthusiastic spouses entertained.

Electronic Poker Game
From $4.72

Location, Location, Location

Creating great promotional items is like real estate, it is all about location, location, location. No matter how cool your promo items are, they won’t be working as hard for you as they should if they are stuck in the bottom of a drawer somewhere. You want to find something that will be right there front and center when your customers need you.

Let me explain. Imagine you are the owner of a car dealership. A huge chunk of your profits come from the parts and services department. Not only do you want to encourage people to buy cars, but you want them to service their cars at your dealership. So you decide to give out branded emergency car kits with your logo and phone number printed on the front. Customers will not only be thankful for the jumper cables when their battery dies, but they will also know who to call to get that battery changed.

Good promotional items not only encourage sales, they build lasting relationships.


22-Piece Deluxe Highway Emergency Tool Kit
From $9.24



Emergency Car Care Kit in Convenient Fold Out Case
From $8.36

Kudos to Babies"R"Us for putting a new spin on a popular promotion!

Reusable shopping bags have become a must-have item for most stores. They can be seen everywhere from Ralphs to Lowes. They are a great way to cut back on waste and promote your brand. It is almost a marketing faux pas not to offer them.

Recently, Babies”R”Us went a step beyond just selling the bags or giving them away on Earth Day. They tied their reusable shopping bags to a “Fill-a-Bag” promotion. Customers who presented a coupon not only got a free shopping bag, but they also received an extra 25% off of everything they could fit in the bag.



The promotion made quite a buzz and was featured on dozens of blogs. It shows that quite a stir can be made with a simple promo item and a little creativity.

These bags are some of our top picks for shopping totes.


Eco-Friendly Gusseted Bag
From $1.05


Eco-Friendly Stylish Bag
From $1.05


Eco-Friendly Bag
From $2.45

The Little Things

Years ago, I flew out for a conference in downtown Chicago and managed to get a hangnail on my little finger the very next day. Searching through my luggage, I realized I had forgotten to pack a nail clipper.

During one boring conference presentation after another I willed myself not to pull at that hangnail. I knew it would only make it worse. It drove me mad. I looked for a nail clipper in some of the nearby gift shops, but no luck. I finally tried to pull it off and ended up with a painful sore on my finger.

Years later, I still remember that stupid hangnail. Sometimes it is like that. When we are uncomfortable or inconvenienced, we tend to block out everything else.

When selecting promo items, it is good to remember that often it is the simple, thoughtful things like nail clippers or a well-placed bottle of water that can leave a big impression. Remembering a travel blanket for the plane ride, lip balm for the jet boat trip, or an emergency car kit can make or break a vacation.

Here are some ideas to make your customers’ trips more comfortable.



Mini Handheld Personal Pocket Fan
From $2.20




Powerful Ergonomic & Large Handheld Massager
From $2.76




Rolling Backpack with Telescopic Handle and Easy Glide Wheels
From $12.56



Personal Compact 8-Piece Manicure Set with Faux Leather Case
From $1.36

Gearing Up For An Army of Volunteers: Making Your Contribution To The Oil Spill Clean Up

Only days after celebrating Earth Day, the country is watching a major environmental crisis unfold on the news. The BP oil spill in the Gulf Region is now reported to be almost as large as the Exxon Valdez spill, the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

Many environmental agencies are seriously concerned about the oil reaching the coastlines and are starting to assemble volunteers to help with the cleanup in case it does.

So I can’t help but wonder if just days after decorating our stores in green and handing out free reusable shopping totes, are we going to step up and pay more than just lip service to the environment?

Not only are volunteers needed, but those volunteers are going to need supplies and gear. What an amazing opportunity to not only “say” that your company cares about the environment, but to “show” that your company cares about the environment.

Donating something as simple as reusable water bottles not only provides water for volunteers, but it can also give them something to take home to remember their service. I still have a United Way t-shirt that I got from a local clean-up day that even now brings back all those warm fuzzy service feelings whenever I wear it.

Besides water bottles and t-shirts, volunteers are going to need things like hats, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, food, cooler bags, trash bags, flashlights, umbrellas, communications equipment, and first aid supplies.

Here are some ideas:

6-Piece Hiking Set with Water Bottle, Pocketknife, Flashlight, Carabiner, Whistle, and Bag
From $11.26


Compact First Aid Kit
From $8.75



Polycarbonate Bottle
From $2.13