Clean Up Their Desk - Earn Their Love

Looking at my desk it doesn’t take long to figure out who I have to thank for helping me control my office clutter — wonderful businesses who have gifted me everything from the little mug that holds my paper clips to my pen caddy. Their logos sit proudly on my desk for everybody to see. And years later I can still remember who gave me what and how I got them. My personal favorites are the items that were given as thank you’s.

Things like pen caddies, desktop organizers, and other desk accessories make for great promotional items because the are used regularly and are often used for years. They also put your name right where people can see it when they are making the decision about what company to use for their next big project.

And the timing could not be more perfect. In today’s economy, many office workers have had to get used to doing without the little niceties. Nobody wants to ask their boss for money to buy a new sticky note caddy for their office, but many don’t have the money in their own personal budget to cover expenses like that either. People have had to learned to do without and ignore the inconveniences.

So companies that give away something like a sticky note caddy not only makes their clients’ life a little easier, but they also send the message that they’re worth spoiling a little. And who doesn’t love a company that spoils them?

Office Supplies Desktop Carousel
From $7.83


Pen Caddy Clock
From $8.25


Sticky Note Caddy
From $5.45


Telephone Cord Detangler
From $2.75

Office Supplies Desktop Organizer
From $4.15

Time To Start Thinking About Your July 4th Promotions

We all enjoy the Fourth of July. Not only does the holiday allow us to honor those who have given us so much, but it is a great chance to enjoy food, fireworks, family, and friends. Joining in on the patriotic celebration can also be a big boost for your business.

Consumers like to do business with companies that share their values. So when companies show their patriotism they naturally appeal to customers with a strong sense of national pride. Companies that don’t show their patriotism risk excluding a large section of their market.

When designing July 4th promotions it is important to convey a proper sense of respect for your country. Try to keep everything in good taste and be careful about mixing humor with patriotic messages. Be especially sensitive to those who have made great sacrifices for their country. They deserved to be recognized and honored.

Here are some great ideas for celebrating the fourth.

American Car Flag with Reinforced Clip
From $1.30


3FTx5FT American Flag with Metal Grommets
From $3.11


American Flag Golf Umbrella with Wood Handle
From $4.76


Complete Flag Pole Kit with Mounting Bracket
From $6.86
Bio-Degradable Folding Pen
From $0.48

Cooling Off With A Hot Promotion

Fairs, sporting events, and expos pop up like weeds during the summer months. This year make your promotional items unforgettable by setting up a “cool off” station at a local county fair or other event. Booths like these attract people like flies during the summer months and they are very simple to set up. Most importantly you will want a couple of pop up tents for shade. Make sure you have some signs printed so that your company name and information are readily visible. You can also have some fliers or business cards ready to hand out.

Now it is time to stock your station! Here are some ideas:

1. Provide ice water in large water coolers and then hand out branded sport bottles for people to fill up. If you are unable to provide sport bottles for everybody, you could have some paper cups printed with your logo. Then mark several of the cups as winners. If somebody draws a winning cup, they receive a free water bottle or other promotional item. Or if you want to build up your contacts, offer the bottles as an incentive to sign up for your mailing list.
2. If the event is an executive event, put together a “cooling off” bag. You can stock the bag with things like mini fans, sport bottles, visors, hats, and umbrellas. You could even use a cooler or tote bag to put everything into.
3. Rent some water misters. These are great at cooling people off quickly.
4. Hand out snow cones! These ice cold treats bring out the kid in just about anybody and they cost hardly anything to make.
5. Freeze some wet, branded hand towels beforehand. These feel great when placed on your forehead!
   

Mini Handheld Personal Pocket Fan

From $1.22


Half-Liter Water Bottle
From $1.75


Collapsible Cooler
From $1.50

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