Personalized Custom Pens

Posted on October 5, 2011 by admin

I was talking with my parents the other day about my childhood years during kindergarten and early elementary school, and aside from a lot of cute stories about activities I was in, friends I played with, or comments and stories from my teachers, I also learned that when I was a little kid, I used to lose everything at school. Apparently, the “Lost and Found” box became my best friend and I was in my school’s main office almost every day, searching through it for my things. My mom would pack up my bag with school supplies like boxes of crayons, pencils, and erasers almost every week, and by Wednesday or Thursday, I had managed to misplace them all. This was a problem for me (and my parents’  wallets) for a few years, until they invested in personalizing my things, so that even if I did lose them, they were branded with my name so that I (or whoever ended up finding them) could instantly recognize my stuff. It was then that everything clicked; I now knew where my ever-present love for personalized custom pens came from.

I remember towards the end of elementary school and into middle school, my friends thought it was cool that I had my own pens and other supplies with my name neatly written on them. It was like I had my own line of school supplies. While others had the standard black and white BiC pens, I had pens in my favorite colors with my name spelled out in scrolling letters along the side. I thought I was pretty cool, and it really did help me recover most of my misplaced things.

By the time high school rolled around, though, these personalized products had become my signature, and also something new that I was constantly teased about. For as far back as I could remember, my own branded items like my personalized custom pens were the norm, so I never thought twice about it. Of course, high school brought along the teenage attitudes of my friends and classmates reminded me that it was not the norm, and for some reason, no one though it was cool anymore.

No matter how hard I tried to ween myself off of these personalized pens, I just couldn’t. It didn’t feel the same when I was writing with something so generic, and in fact, I often joked with my friends that it felt like I was writing with the wrong hand. So for the rest of my high school years, I opted to stick with my own special items. Friends and family alike caught on to my unusual preferences, and I often got “gag” gifts of more personalized pens around the holidays and my birthday. I loved it!

College presented some of  the same issues that I experienced in high school, though I wasn’t teased about it as much as I was in the years prior. I just couldn’t break my habit of constantly using personalized custom pens, and after over a decade of using only “my” brand, I was set on not changing a thing.

My high school classmates can laugh all they want when they think back on the good old days when all of my supplies had my name on them. Five years after college, I started my own company, and in just a few years, was the proud owner of a successful personalization and customization company. I now have a staff of 10 sales representatives along with 10 other marketing and design professionals that help make sure things run smoothly and that my customers are satisfied with their products. Though the business started off just by selling my beloved pens, the product line eventually expanded, and now the products my company offered  for customization reached far beyond pens, and went into mugs, hats, shirts, bracelets, and almost anything you can think of. Now, with thousands of dollars in sales from large corporations and small businesses all around the country, I am reaping the benefits of my love for personalized custom items.

My plans for the next five years are to expand my business even further, and head into international territory throughout North America and open one more office here in the U.S. where my company can expand and continue to increase in sales and profits. Though it will certainly be a lot of work, I am confident that my business will continue to grow, all because of my knack for losing things as a child!

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Ballpoint Pen

Posted on September 27, 2011 by admin

When we think of gifts for teachers, a lot of us picture the oh-so-cliché apple sitting on the corner of the desk. If only it were this easy to show your teacher appreciation, but if every student brought in an apple or a ballpoint pen, I don’t think the teacher would be highly impressed or excited. Buying for a teacher creates a lot of anxiety for students (or their parents if their too young to be concerned). You don’t want to get anything too personal, but at the same time, buying something too generic shows you didn’t put much thought into the gift. How can you properly show your teacher you truly appreciate the hard work and time they’ve put into their career and your education?

For starters, it depends on how close you are with the teacher and what type of relationship you have. Some students have formed special bonds with teachers and even have inside jokes. For example, if you have had them for a science class during which your rocket ship ended up exploding and causing a huge disaster, you might always look back on this moment and laugh. Giving your teacher a model rocket ship, or even a card with a rocket on it with a witty joke inside, would be enough to show that not only are you thinking of them and what they’ve done for you, but you also cherish the moments you had during that class. You can do this in cards by just making jokes about something you never got the hang of in class, or a time when you or your teacher did something embarrassing (but laughable, of course) in front of the entire class. Showing that those moments will stay with you forever is a good way to bond with your teacher.

There are also plenty of less personal approaches when it comes to buying gifts for your teachers. Depending on the subject they teach, you should be able to get a grip on at least some of their interests. Perhaps your history teacher has mentioned a museum he/she has never been to and would like to, or your science teacher would like to take his children to the Franklin Institute. Even though they could very well do these themselves, buying them tickets or passes to anything like this shows that you really pay attention to what they’re saying. Tickets can be cheap or expensive, and can range from plenty of different events. You could get tickets to a Broadway show, a sporting event, a museum, a concert, an exhibition, a tradeshow, etc. All of these things show that you were thinking specifically of that person, but nothing too deep or personal.

An even more generic option would be a gift card. This can be to a restaurant, Movie Theater, or even just a local coffee shop. That way, you can show your appreciation for the person without delving too far into their personal lives. This also shows that you value and respect that they have other things going on besides just teaching! A lot of people run into teachers at the mall or grocery store and it’s utterly shocking to see them in a “real world” context. Well, believe it or not, teachers have lives outside of school too!

If you’re looking to just drop a line and say hello, or buy a tiny gift to show your appreciation without breaking the bank, there’s still a few options. While these are the least personal, it’s still the idea that you were thinking of your teacher enough to get them a gift that really matters. I would go with something they can use, like a nice ballpoint pen or desk calendar. If you still want a personal touch on your gift, get whatever item you decide to get inscribed with your teacher’s name or a message like, “Thanks for everything Mrs. Smith!” You can get practically anything you want written on a writing utensil, so a quality ballpoint pen is something your teacher will not only appreciate, but will think of you every time they use it (hello bonus points!). You probably shouldn’t invest in a gift just to suck up to your teacher after failing the midterm, because let’s be honest, it’s going to be pretty obvious. Buying a gift to make them feel bad for you might have the reverse reaction. You don’t want your teacher thinking you’re just trying to bribe them! The best thing to do if you’re not doing so hot in a class is be up front with the teacher and have a discussion about your concern for your grade. If you’re open and sincere with teachers, odds are, they’re going to treat you with mutual respect.

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Promotional Items

Posted on September 23, 2011 by admin

It’s easy to think of promotional items for the summer time. Companies give out beach items, like towels, umbrellas, tote bags, or sunscreen key chains. Even the standard barbeque set is a gift no one can refuse. But when the summer sun starts to take a bit of a vacation (leaving us saying farewell to our own vacations!) companies have to be a bit more creative in what they’re offering as promotional items. There are actually great ideas for each season, as well as year round, but if you’re looking to specifically get your company noticed in the frigid winter months, here’s a few:

Ice Scrapers

Let’s face it, as much as we dread waking up in the wee hours of the morning, we have to set our alarms twenty minutes earlier to allow our cars to warm up and the ice to melt away. For those of you who live in a climate where ice and snow are pretty much non-existent, lucky you; but the rest of us must deal with winter’s wrath. Since so many of us rely on ice scrapers to quickly get moving in the morning, they are practical promotional items to print your company logo on. A great place to distribute these would be gas stations, because everyone there is probably in need of one!

Socks

We may not know where our socks disappear to, but we sure know that keeping a pair of socks together after a load of laundry is like pulling teeth. We always seem to need new socks, either because we lose them, or the fact that we dirty them so quickly! Putting your company logo on a pair of socks might seem a bit silly, but in reality, what other product does virtually everyone use besides things like toilet paper!?

Key Chains

It’s true that we need key chains all year round, but winter is a good time for you to give out holiday-inspired key chains. You could put your company information on ones shaped like Christmas trees, Jewish stars, Jack-O-Lanterns, or turkeys. Keep a bowl of these fun key chains at the front desk of your office, and watch how fast they disappear. For some reason, people never seem to have enough key chains on their key rings!

Lock De-Icer

The worst feeling when you’re running late for work, freezing cold, and just finished scraping off your car, is when you go to unlock your car and the lock is frozen. Everyone should carry lock de-icer on them, but even those of us who have it tend to misplace it or forget to carry it with us. By putting a little bottle on a key chain, you’re making this imperative tool very handy and easy to reach. Also, by putting your company logo on the bottle, you’re getting exposure for your business!

Coffee Mugs

OK, this one might be a bit cliché, but it’s also one of the most practical promotional items you can give out. A lot of things might seem like a great idea, but they end up just being another gadget or knick-knack that families toss when they’re doing spring cleaning or preparing for a yard sale. Coffee mugs don’t go out of style, and it’s safe to say they’re here to stay. Virtually everyone has a few coffee mugs with business labels printed on the side of them, so what’s one more for the collection?

Umbrellas

Can you picture how many times you’ve been sprinting through the rain thinking, “Why didn’t I just bring my umbrella!?” Well the problem is usually that you’ve forgotten it until it’s too late. This is why companies should keep an extra stash of umbrellas with their logo printed on them in a safe place for an employee in dire need. Of course if you had a huge supply of free umbrellas sitting in the supply closet, more than likely a dishonest employee would take several. However, you could keep them at your front desk with a sign out sheet. That way, if an employee is running to lunch and a thunderstorm sprung up out of the blue (literally!), they can “check out” an employee umbrella for the day. Now, your company logo is getting seen by everyone at local restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets, and you didn’t even have to give away any of your products to make it happen.

Keep in mind that the best promotional items are ones that are useful and practical. Sometimes things that are neat and eye-catching will interest the public, but you want to pass on products that will become staple household items. The best way to gain brand identity is to have your brand exposed for as long as possible and to as many people as possible. The longer you can get people to use your promotional items, the longer your brand will stick in their minds!

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Custom Pencils

Posted on September 20, 2011 by admin

Starting a career in the field of education can be rough for recent college graduates. Besides the fact that you’re being thrown into the world of teaching with only the experience of student teaching and substituting here and there, you’re also getting your own class of students for the first time. As exciting as it is, it’s also a nerve-racking experience because the children in your class are yours for the entire school year—whether they like you or not! I know this, not because I am a teacher, but because I have several friends who have just entered the wonderful world of educating the youth of America. While my friends are more than ecstatic to have received careers in exactly the field in which they applied, they are also reluctant to—for lack of better words—mess things up. Oscar Patterson*, a new third grade teacher in Virginia, has shared one of his biggest concerns with me: What if your students don’t like you? One way that Oscar has decided to win over his students (after all, third graders go crazy over presents) is by giving them a few gifts!

Oscar’s first gift of choice for his students was a set of custom pencils. If they were a bit older, he might have gotten them custom pens instead, but it’s pretty standard for third graders to stick with pencils. For starters, they don’t have as much self control as older children, so they’re more apt to draw/write on things other than what they’re supposed to. Also, they tend to make a lot of writing mistakes, as they’re just beginning to master printing and cursive. Pencils with erasers are a must for this age group. Oscar was careful to make sure he got the pencils customized, because children this age are not very fond of sharing. He was worried that some students might steal pencils from other students. Now that every pencil has a name on it, Oscar can tell which pencil belongs to whom should a conflict arise.

The next gift that Oscar included was a folder. He stuck to a very simple design for both boys and girls, and tried to keep the colors generic. Students were also allowed to trade folders if they liked someone else’s more, but the trade had to be approved by Oscar. This worked out better than Oscar could have even imagined because the students cooperated very well. Most liked the folders they received just fine, and any necessary trades went smoothly.

Lastly, Oscar gave his students “Get out of Jail Free” cards. Each student received one card and each card could only be used one time. The cards allowed the students to get out of one regular homework assignment throughout the school year. He’s going to see how this works out, and if it’s very successful he might allow his students to have another for the second half of the school year. This works best in classes where a lot of homework assignments are given, especially in higher grade levels. He wanted to give the students something they would truly be excited about, since the custom pencils and folders were more like school supplies (not that exciting!). He knew giving his students candy or other types of food may not be a good idea without proper parental discretion, and we all know how third graders can act after ingesting a bit too much sugar!

The delivery of gifts to your students can be done in a few different ways. One thing Oscar’s colleague did was to have paper bags with each child’s name on them sitting on their desks. Initially, the children had no idea what was in the bags, but they were definitely intrigued! Oscar took a more blatant approach, by just placing the custom pencils, folders, and “Get out of Jail Free” cards on the student’s desks. The children were then instructed to find their desk based on which custom pencils had their names on them. They were super excited to get the presents, and it was also a fun game for them to interact while searching for their desks.

Oscar not only found that the students were excited to receive these gifts from him, but the parents thought highly of the idea as well. They enjoyed the fact that even though he is a brand new full-time teacher, he’s really taking interest in how the students feel about him. He wants them to have a fun while partaking in a positive learning experience. Oscar also firmly believes in rewards, so if students are progressing well and behaving, he might give them a few more incentives along the way. Lots of teachers use star stickers and such as rewards, but Oscar figured the students would react more positively to something they can actually use and benefit from. Needless to say, his students are quite fond of him!

 

*Name changed to ensure privacy.

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Business Gifts

Posted on September 20, 2011 by admin

With the holiday season quickly approaching, gift giving is going through everyone’s minds. The latter months of the year should be seen as a time of love and joy, not stress and anxiety! But even so, lots of us dread the idea of having to think of what gifts we’re going to give. If you’re one of those people who hates Christmas solely for the fact that it’s the most stressful time of year, don’t fret. We’ve got some great suggestions on how to find the perfect gifts for some of the hardest people to buy for: your significant other, your colleagues/clients, and your in-laws!

The easiest person to buy for should be your significant other, because odds are, you know almost everything about them, right? But that’s not always the case. In fact, this can be one of the hardest gifts because you’ve either already gotten them whatever they want/need, or you don’t want to get them the same old boring thing. Sure, you’re husband needs some new underwear, but do you really want to buy him the same gift that his mother would? The best approach to buying your significant other a gift is to listen to them. Yes, this sounds extremely cliché, but if you want to find something as personal and creative as possible, you’re going to have to do your research. This isn’t to say that if you know for a fact that your wife wants to see a specific concert, you shouldn’t just take her, but you can throw something else into the mix. For example, maybe she’s mentioned always wanting to try crepes (those little pancake-type desert foods). Take her to a cute little crepe café before the concert. Now, not only have you shown her that you listen, but you’ve managed to surprise her as well as get her the tickets she wanted.

Buying business gifts for your boss, co-workers, or clients is always dreadful. You don’t want to get them anything too personal, but if the gift is too generic, does that show that you didn’t put any thought into it what-so-ever? The easiest route is to match the gift to their hobbies. For co-workers that you go golfing with, anything related to the sport would be thoughtful. If you’re the manager and you’re purchasing for your employees, get them business gifts related to your company. Hey, a little free advertising never hurt anyone, so don’t be afraid to mix business and pleasure. Perhaps wine holders or cork screws with your company’s logo, or Christmas tree ornaments, would be a practical gift that you can get some advertising use out of. When buying a business gift for a client this holiday season, go with a similar approach. Nothing too personal, and keep it business related. You want them to think of your company for years to come, so getting business gifts that are useful and handy would be your best option.

A lot of you are more afraid to buy for your in-laws than even a group of strangers, even if they are a part of your family now! Most of the reason for this is that we have such a strong fear of disappointment. You want to impress these people, and getting them the wrong gift might do just the opposite. After all, your significant other cares what they think more than anyone in the world, so why shouldn’t you? When getting holiday gifts for the in-laws, you should let your partner do the thinking. If you’re just starting a new relationship and don’t know what to get for your boyfriend/girlfriend’s parents, stick to something very simple and homey. For example, a picture frame set or candle-holder set is as generic as they come. Ask if they’re into any specific types of wines, because at least you’re getting them a gift you know they’ll use. In general, do NOT be afraid to ask for suggestions, because going into this blind can be big trouble.

You always hear that a gift from the heart is the best gift of all, but let’s face it, if you don’t have a clue what to get the person, this can be easy to mess up. Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but if you don’t even know the person well enough to find a substantial present, you’re going to have to do some research and that’s all there is to it. For the most part, don’t buy anything too personal for someone you are not dating and are not related to. Also, try not to just buy a boring, generic gift set, unless you’re really in a bind. And lastly, realize that showing up to a holiday party without a gift is even worse than showing up with a bad gift.

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Promo Items

Posted on September 13, 2011 by admin

No matter what business you’re in, promo items are a great way to get your brand noticed by hundreds or even thousands of prospective customers. In addition to being the “cool” company that gives out free stuff, promo items are great for increasing brand awareness and visibility and are often great ways of extending your advertising campaigns for years at a time almost without any effort. But there is more that goes into deciding what promo items to give out than just cheap cost. Promo items must be easy on your wallet, but they must also be functional, provide some value to your customers, and be related, in some way, to your overall brand or specific event.

Most recently, companies in all industries are bringing value to their prospective customers by jumping on the “go green” bandwagon, and are using consumers’ interest in this area to help build popularity with their company and the promo items that they are handing out. From eco-friendly branded notebooks to non-toxic water bottles, “green” items are this year’s hottest giveaways and promo items.

While some companies reach out to new vendors to get their eco-friendly promo items, there have also been several companies that have sprung up within the last few years that only provide “green” promotional products. Many of today’s environmentally friendly promotional products are 100% biodegradable, making their disposal a way of giving back to the earth. Many of these green promo items are made of natural materials, like corn resin or recycled cotton, that can be naturally broken down by the soil or other methods, so consumers know they are making a positive impact on our environment.

Some of the most popular eco-friendly promo items that companies have handed out this year cover a wide variety of products that are sure to catch the attention of any prospective customer. The ever-popular tote bag has become more widely used than ever, as more and more people are using them to replace disposable plastic grocery bags, book bags, or leather goods. While some of them have the words “I am not a plastic bag” written on the front to show their support for ending our contributions to waste, others have company logos or names displayed on them to advertise the brand. Not only does the logo get displayed to anyone who views the bag, but the company on the bag will likely be remembered, if only subconsciously, by those viewers and associated with the “going green” movement.

Another popular eco-friendly promo item this year has been recycled school supplies. There is no doubt that the school supply industry rakes in money during the end of summer as students prepare to go back to school, and parents spend a considerable amount on supplies like notebooks, pens and pencils. Recently, companies have come to the parents’  aid by handing out recycled promo items for kids to use at school. Anything from folders to notebooks, lunchboxes and pens can be created from recycled goods, and companies are now using these products to support school kids, raise awareness for the eco-friendly movement, and of course, to advertise their company. This is a great way to gain exposure in a community and make a brand visible to parents and kids alike.

Many consumers have dropped their reliance on use-and-toss water bottles and have started saving money by switching to the reusable water bottle. Though this may seem like a small step in the fight for environmental clean-ups, it is estimated that at least 2,480,000 tons of plastic bottles and jars are thrown away in one year, so any small improvement can help reduce these startling statistics. Companies have noticed this switch in consumer behavior and have started handing out reusable water bottles as promo items at trade shows, events and product launches. This is a useful item for customers and one that they will carry with them nearly every day, providing a great opportunity for a company to gain exposure to new customers on a daily basis.

Green and environmentally friendly promo items are hot this year, and with consumers now being more conscious than ever about their carbon footprint and their impact on our world, these items will likely be popular for quite some time. If you’re looking to hand out new promo items to advertise your newest product or upcoming event, consider using green promo products to appeal to your target audience.

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Promotional Gift

Posted on September 13, 2011 by admin

Happy employees make for a happy work place. There are happy customers and happy bosses. Everyone is just happy all around when the employees are happy. As an employee, I am sure that you can relate to how much better your work day is when you are happy there or likewise, how much worse going to work can be when you are unhappy in your job. So what makes employees unhappy at work?

Some of the leading causes of low employee morale include employees feeling underappreciated, useless to or uninformed about the workings of the company as a whole, and being talked down to or cut off from the common goal of the business. In order to make your employees feel that their job matters, they need to feel like you are grateful for the work that they do and tell them why what they do impacts the company. Tell them what is going on in the company so that everyone is a part of major implementations. Create a sense of unity in the company. After all, everyone should be working towards the common goal of bettering the organization. One way to aide in employee appreciation efforts and company unity is to give your employees a promotional gift. A promotional gift will help to promote your brand image while giving the employees something to make them feel rewarded for all of their hard work.

An example of a useful promotional gift for your employees is to get them a coffee mug. Most employees drink either coffee or tea throughout their work day and would get a lot of use out of a coffee mug. You could also consider other things like water bottles if you think they would be of more use to your employees. Everyone has to drink at some point in the day so everyone could get use out of some sort of drinking cup. Plus, the matching cups would help the employees to feel connected to each other while at work.

Another promotional gift that would be used a lot by your employees would be a pen. There are many different types of pens, some of them simple, some of them more elaborate. You can easily have your company name printed on the pens or even a small logo. Everyone needs to write so you know that your employees will be able to use this promotional gift.

A promotional gift you could consider giving your employees is an umbrella. Umbrellas can be printed with your logo and will be appreciated by your employees when they go to leave work one day and it is raining. Another plus of giving umbrellas as a promotional gift is that the umbrella also acts as a walking advertisement for other people to see the name and the logo of your company.

Like an umbrella, your employees could get use outside of the office with a bag as a promotional gift. There are several different types of bags that you can choose from. There are tote bags, duffel bags, backpacks. It all depends on your employees and what you think they may best use and enjoy. Giving a bag as a promotional gift makes it easy to get your logo put right onto the bag. You can even get the bag in your company’s colors. If your employees are going to an event together, having matching bags is a great bonding touch.

A unique promotional gift for your employees could be Christmas ornaments. Ordering a customized Christmas ornament and giving it to your employees as a Christmas gift lets them know that they are appreciated and also lets your brand follow them into their home so that you can hope that they have pride in the company even outside of work. Show your employees that you can get into the holiday spirit.

If you would rather keep your promotional gift choose inside of the office than you could decide to get your employees calendars or day planners. You can personalize the planner with your company logo or even get a calendar made with pictures of the company during the workday or at various company events. Employees would use these organizational tools everyday and be able to feel a connection to the company.

No matter what gift you choose to give your employees they will know that they are appreciated just because you took the time to think of them. Promotional gifts benefit the employees while being useful for the employees. Running a business is a big job, but make sure to never forget all of the employees who work hard every day to keep your company going.

 

 

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Advertising Products

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

I was at a business convention last week, filled with thousands of people, vendors and tables piled high with information, media packets, and of course, advertising products. While I am normally used to seeing the typical branded pen, mug or the occasional mouse pad, (who even uses those anymore?) I was pleasantly surprised to find a whole array of new advertising products that I had never seen before. They all had quite a unique design, related directly to the company’s industry or services, and seemed to really capture the attention of everyone who walked up to the table to speak to the company’s representatives.

Advertising products play an important role in any company’s marketing and advertising strategies and can often yield great results when they are distributed to the right target market. Products that are unique or eye-catching in some way or that offer its users a helpful tool to completing their every day tasks are often the most well-received. Studies have shown that people who use a company’s advertising products on a regular basis or that can distinctly remember their unique design are more likely to return to that company for their products or services. This, of course, results in increased sales, brand awareness, more visibility, and new customers, which are all things that businesses strive for. Advertising products that are of good quality and have stood the test of time are also great tools for increasing sales and visibility because the more people that use the products, the more they will relate this quality to a company, and it will also indirectly expose a brand and advertise its products and services to more people.

I had to make sure to grab at least one unique advertising product from the most innovative companies at the convention to show my company in hopes that we can offer something a little more exciting than pens for next year’s show. I brought them in to the office this week, and my colleagues were most impressed with three products that seemed to really stand out from the crowd.

The first unique advertising product I came upon was for a radio station whose featured advertising product was a black t-shirt, compressed into the size and shape of a record or CD. On the outside of the package holding the t-shirt in its round shape was plastic wrap with the station’s radio frequency number displayed with their logo, and when you opened the package, the t-shirt again showed the logo and radio station number along with the words, “We Rock”. I thought that was a great idea! The advertising product was directly related to their position in the music industry and their fun slogan on the t-shirt had a dual-meaning.

The second great advertising product I came upon at the convention was for a local veterinary clinic, who, in addition to a lot of really cute puppies and kittens there for adoption, also had “pet survival” kits and representatives from the drug company who makes the flea and tick repellent they give out to their pet patients. On their display table they had samples of a new flea and tick medication, along with little doggie t-shirts that said “Ticked Off” and the logo for their newest line of flea and tick repellent. I loved this one, and so did a lot of other people, because their supply of pet shirts was out in just a few hours.

Next I traveled over to the Home Improvement section of the convention, where there were a lot of vendors showing gadgets to fix broken pipes, mend broken glass, and conceal scratches on cars. One table set up represented a local janitorial and housekeeping agency, and they had posters up showing all of their services and offerings, as well as packets put together for people to take with them after speaking to a representative. What caught my eye about this table, though, was that they had a side table full of rubber duckies lined up neatly beside their media kits. My inner child was intrigued, so I went over to check them out, and I found that they were yet another impressively creative use for advertising products. As I walked up to the table, I noticed that all of the little ducks had the company’s logo printed on one side with the words “Squeaky Clean” on the other side. Though this advertising product was not necessarily the most useful of things, (I mean, what can you really do with a rubber ducky?) I noticed that a lot of people loved the product and were actually “squeaking” the toy after reading the slogan. I thought that was pretty creative and decided to take one home.

After leaving the convention with a bag full of fun and unique advertising products, I got to thinking about what my company’s next promo product should be.

Do you use advertising products as part of your marketing campaigns? Have you seen any really unique and well-thought-out products that are likely to yield strong results for a company?

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Drawstring Backpack

Posted on September 1, 2011 by admin

Folks tend to underestimate the many uses behind one single product. A lot of us use several gadgets to carry things, including tote bags, satchels, fanny packs, backpacks, coolers, purses, briefcases, sacks, etc. A bag is just a bag right? How many uses can it really have? However, the good old drawstring backpack doesn’t seem to get enough credit. Lots of times, were looking for the most efficient way to bring exactly what we need along with us without being bogged down by bags. If you happen to have a drawstring backpack laying around the house, lucky you! Here’s a ton of ways to put it to good use and get the most out of this fantastic product:

  1. Going camping/hiking. Typically when you’re heading into nature, you want to be as prepared as possible. This means bringing all necessary survival items, and also being able to carry them with ease! Most outdoorsmen recommend bringing a backpack with plenty of compartments to fit each gadget, water bottle, sleeping bag, knife, etc. However, what if you want to leave the campsite for a quick hike around the forest, or a trip down to the quarry, and don’t want to lug that huge backpack along with you? A linen/cloth drawstring backpack can be rolled up so small that it takes up just mere inches of space, and expands large enough to fit your essentials. If all you need to bring with you is a water bottle, compass, and knife, don’t try stuffing all these things into your pockets. This is just going to make it harder to maneuver. With a tiny backpack, you won’t even notice you’re carrying anything.
  2. Attending a concert. If you’ve ever been to a concert, especially when all you have are lawn tickets, you know just how frustrating it can be to lug a bag in with you. If you’re sitting on the lawn, it’s hard enough to keep your things all in one place to keep track of. As much as we hate to think about it, people steal things, and having your stuff lying around on a blanket in a huge crowd is just asking to be robbed. Even if you want to run to the restroom, someone will have to keep an eye on your things or you’ll have to bring everything with you. If you have a drawstring backpack just big enough to fit your money, phone, tickets, and keys, then you don’t have to worry about carrying anything. You’re free to roam about the concert with your personal items securely attached to your back.
  3. Heading to the gym. Most people cart their gym essentials in the obvious gym tote bag. While this works perfectly fine for some of us, others find this a huge hassle to carry around. For a lot of us on-the-go types, we’re already carrying a briefcase/laptop case, a gym bag, and a purse for some. Now try juggling a coffee. Not as easy as it sounds to be carrying a gym bag now is it? This is why a drawstring backpack is the best type of gym bag. You can get them big enough to fit your workout clothes and sneakers, and still carry your items for work comfortably. In today’s fast paced society, we’ve got to find ways to fit time in at the office and the gym, so don’t add more stress just worrying about how to carry everything!
  4. Going to the beach. All you beach-goers know just how frustrating it is to carry a beach bag, a cooler, and a beach chair while trudging through the sand with sweat dripping down your forehead. By all means, the beach is supposed to be an enjoyable experience, and this certainly sounds awful. If you throw your beach towel, sunscreen, headphones, book, and whatever else you need into a drawstring backpack, your hands are free to carry the rest. Now you won’t have to leave the beach chair or umbrella behind just because you were dreading carrying them!

Wherever you’re headed, if you’re on the go, the last thing you should be worrying about is how you’re going to bring everything with you. There’s enough to worry about in life than transporting your essentials along with you. If you invest in a good, sturdy, and even fashionable drawstring backpack, you won’t have to think about who’s going to pack a bag and who will bring their purses. Focus your time and energy planning the day/event, and leave the rest to the backpack!

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