Practical Promo Products for Tailgates

I previously wrote about fun promo products for tailgating like the classic cornhole game, but as the weather has begun to cool off here in Atlanta I have begun to think about some other promo products that I would not leave home without when going to a tailgate. These items include, but are not limited to, sweatshirts, blankets, scarves and hand warmers. Not only will theses items keep you warm, they will also let you display your allegiance to your favorite team. You will be glad your mind will be free to focus on the game instead of your shivering self!

Fun Promo Products for Tailgates

There’s food and there’s drinks, but it can’t be a tailgate without some games and there are tons of promo products on the market that can help your recipients have some fun of their own pre-kickoff. Cornhole is a classic tailgating game where players take turns tossing beanbags into raised platforms with holes (that can be imprinted with your company’s name). Velcro Catch is another great game where a ball is tossed back and forth between Velcro-covered mitts. These games make great promo products because they will surely be used over and over again everywhere from the tailgate, to the beach, to the company picnic.

Promo Products for Your Boo-Boos: Custom Band-Aids

Brands beyond the medical industry have been using promo products like custom band-aids to gain advertising wherever cuts and scrapes are found. This week in 1920, the Band-Aid was invented by an employee of Johnson & Johnson (the company who still produces this line of bandages today) for his wife who often cut and burned herself while cooking. Though the first decorative Band-Aids weren’t produced until 1951, since then bandages have been used as promo products for everyone Barbie and Spongebob Squarepants to Louis Vuitton. Consider imprinting your own logo on custom bandages and incorporate them into a creative marketing campaign!

Are you ready for some promo products – er – football?

From high school bleachers, to NFL stadiums, expect to see promo products displaying fans’ favorite football teams all over sports arenas this fall. Spirit accessories like mini foam footballs are some of the most popular items each year to help attendees get into the game. Consider branding such promo products with a team logo on one side and your own company name and logo on the other for some prime sidelines advertising potential. Recipients are likely to hold on to thes items and bring them back game after game giving your brand even more exposure throughout the whole football season.

Promo Products for Teddy Bear Day!

Promo products like custom stuffed animals are the perfect giveaways for Teddy Bear Day, which is celebrated each year on September 9! The “Teddy” bear is named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who, as the story is told, while hunting in Mississippi in the year 1902 refused to shoot a young bear. A man named Morris Michtom is credited with coming up with the idea for a “teddy” bear after seeing a cartoon printed in The Washington Post about the incident. Teddy bears and other custom stuffed animals would make great promo products for any consumers, though they are often associated as toys for young children.

Promo Products for Your Donuts

I know its gonna be a good day when I walk into the office in the morning and see a box of donuts up for grabs sitting on the kitchen counter – and you can bring that same delight while promoting your brand with promo products like a custom donut box. Customize this box with a full color imprint that fills the entire area of the box, fill it with whole donuts, or a bunch of donut holes, and your clients will be delighted. This promo product even comes with a business card slot on the roof so recipients can remember who made their morning!

Promo Products for Back to School

The summer is coming to an end and along with cooler weather and shorter days comes the start of the new school year and the need for back to school promo products! From pencils and pens and notebooks and binders to backpacks and messenger bags and even USB drives, there are so many items that are perfect to be branded with your company’s name and logo. Remember to customize these promo products specifically for the age group you are targeting. Young students will be drawn to bright colors and logos, while older students may like a more classic, professional look.

Bic Promo Products

Did you know that one of the most popular promo products – the Bic pen – comes from a company in France that was founded back in 1945? A MR. Marcel Bich and his partner Edouard Buffard started the business manufacturing fountain pens and mechanical pencils in a city called Clichy. Today Bic manufactures everything from notepads and stationary to lighters, shavers and even cell phones, but the name Bic is still synonymous with the pen. Bic is huge in the promo products, and last year it even acquired the Norwood company, the second largest supplier of non-apparel promotional products in the United States

USB Connecting Promo Products

Forget about using a USB port to plug in a flash drive, it turns out these computer connections can support a lot of other devices that make unique promo products too. For example, a USB mug warmer plugs into the USB port on a computer and heats up to 150 degrees F. This makes a unique gift for anyone who works at a computer and drinks a lot of coffee or tea. You can even choose to plug in promo products like USB fragrance dispensers that give off scents of lavender, rose or jasmine when plugged in to the computer USB port.

A Promo Products Classic

One of the most classic promo products of all time is probably the promotional can cooler – or what is more commonly referred to as the koozie. These promo products lend themselves easily to such a wide variety of promotions, especially outdoor events in the summertime when people really need a means of keeping their drinks cold. These products can actually keep a can at about 40 degrees F or below for an average of 35 minutes – that’s three times longer than a can could stay that temperature without a drink holder! Available in a variety of different sizes, colors and with a huge imprint area, they’re perfect for just about any company.

Promo Products for Your Head!

Custom hats and caps are classic promo products that appeal to everyone of all ages and genders – and provide maximum advertising for your brand. Like with other items of apparel, recipients who wear these promo products essentially become walking billboards for your company, displaying your name and logo for all to see. From classic structured caps, to mesh trucker style hats, to custom imprinted visors, these days there are so many different styles to choose from anyone is certain to find the perfect headwear items to fit their consumers and their brand. Give custom hats to your employees and let them wear them to the office on casual Fridays!

Patriotic Promo Products

The Fourth of July is quickly approaching and I hope you are already prepared to promote our nation’s independence, while promoting your brand, with patriotic promo products. Items in red, white and blue or those printed with America’s flag are perfect to give to recipients during this time of year. Or perhaps you want to use some patriotic promo products for a 4th themes company picnic. From sports bottle and tee shirts to stress balls and key chains, there are so many different promotional items to choose from that you are sure to find something to fir your brand and your event.

Solstice Promo Products

Today, June 21st, marks the official first day of summer, or what is commonly referred to as the Summer Solstice, and is the perfect excuse to break out your summertime promo products. Today the tilt of the earth’s axis is the most inclined toward the sun that it will be the whole year, which means daylight will remain the longest on this day all year, so even if you have to be at work all day you can still have time to hit the pool early in the evening! Just don’t forget to bring along your promo products like beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses and maybe an inflatable beach ball!

Nike Sneakers – The New Canvas for Promo Products

When it comes to sneakers as promo products, 21-year old sneaker designer Daniel Reese really knows how to make them stand out. He takes regular Nikes and customizes them with different designs, essentially turning them into promo products for the artist, game or whatever else they feature. Some of his designs have featured The Simpsons, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Pacman, and even Google and Twitter, to name a few. Check out his site at http://brassmonki.bigcartel.com/, but be weary, he closes down shop when he gets a boatload of orders and will reopen when he has time to take more.

Social Media Uses Promo Products Too

As social media continues to grow, popular sites have now turned to the world of promo products to appeal to their fan bases on a whole new level. Check out these custom pillows created by Craftsquatch’s shop on etsy.com that feature the logos for numerous social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter and Myspace among others. And it doesn’t stop there. Shoppers can even find stockings as Twitter promo products imprinted with the message, “follow me” and of course the now iconic Twitter bird. And for the men, there are rhodium-plated “Facebook me” cufflinks that feature the Facebook “f” on one, and “me” on the other.

Promo Products – Save Taxpayers Money?

Yep! According to the Advertising Specialties Institute, the US government used promo products as part of their advertising efforts to encourage and remind households to return their 2010 census form. The awareness campaign resulted in a lesser need for census workers going door-to-door to get info, thus saving taxpayer money. About $22.7 million was spent on promo products for the census from mugs to t-shirts to water bottles and more, totaling an estimated 62.5 million promotional items. So far about 72% of the nation’s households have responded (an already greater response than the 67% total response rate from 2010)!

The Perfect Promo Products for Summer - Part 3

Okay I am going to add one more part to this series of promo products perfect for the summertime because I cannot leave out promotional chairs. Planning a company picnic? Provide your employees with custom imprinted outdoor chairs on which to relax while enjoying the day outside with their coworkers. Maybe you’re looking for a grand-prize giveaway for a charity sporting event. Winners will love a deluxe folding chair with carrying bag so they can transport it home with ease. These promo products really make great gifts or giveaways for so many different occasions, and of course provide plenty of room to advertise your brand!

The Perfect Promo Products for Summer – Part 2

Help your employees and customer beat the heat with promo products like mini fans customized with your company’s name and logo. You can choose fans in different colors and styles and even those that have attached water bottles that act as personal misters, or flashing LED fans that can be programmed so a personal message appears when the fan spins! Any of these promo products would be perfect to hand out during company picnics or summer sporting events. They are sure to be well received by just about any demographic too so keep them in mind if you have any outdoor events coming up!

The Perfect Promo Products for Summer

Quench client’s thirst this summer while advertising your brand with promo products like custom water bottles. According to the Centers for Disease Control approximately 318 Americans die every year of heat-related illnesses – many which can be prevented if one stays properly hydrated. You can help clients and employees stay hydrated by providing them with custom water bottles that can serve as reminders to drink up in addition to being reminders of your brand. From stainless steel sports bottles to translucent, colored BPA-free bottles, these promo products are available in just about any style to fit your business and your marketing needs.

Promo Products for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May) is only one day away so I hope you have already ordered your promo products to take advantage of using this occasion to advertise your brand! Cinco de Mayo honors the Mexican Army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla that occurred on May 5, 1862. Today it is often a more general celebration of Mexican heritage and pride that is often observed with plenty of Mexican food, drinks and music. You can celebrate this Cinco de Mayo with promo products like custom drinkware to hold celebratory margaritas and tequila shots!

Classic Promo Product Turns 30!

One of the most popular promo products on the market – the Post-It Note – marks its 30th anniversary this month! Of course the 3” x 3” sticky yellow pad has grown and evolved over the past three decades to now include eight standard sizes, 25 shapes and 62 colors, but the appeal of this promo product remains the same. It is an item that has such versatility with its revolutionary repositionable adhesive and moreover is relevant to such a wide range of recipients from corporate executives to stay-at-home mothers. Today they are even sold in over 100 countries across the globe!

Promo Products – An Ode to the Zipper

In my personal opinion, the zipper is one of the greatest inventions ever and its inclusion in the construction of everything from apparel to promo products makes that item instantly better. The invention of the zipper as we know it today is often attributed to Mr. Gideon Sundbäck, a Swedish-born engineer, and his “Hookless Fastener #2,” created in 1914. In terms of promo products , my favorite use of the zipper is as a closure for tote bags. You can sling your tote all around and never worry about its contents falling out with the security of the interlocking teeth of the zipper!

Promo Products for Earth Day (Part 2)

Good thing Pinnacle Promotions offers Rocketship service so in case you have not yet ordered your promo products for Earth Day (remember that’s April 22) – you still have time!

That being said - a few weeks ago I mentioned using eco-friendly products for an Earth Day campaign such as a koozie made from post-consumer materials. Well today I wanted to mention another “green” option – products that save energy. Yes, energy-efficient promo products also fall under the category of Earth Day-worthy. Consider giving away something as simple and inexpensive as a water-powered calculator, imprinted with your company’s name and logo.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (With Promo Products!)

Today, baseball fans around the country are rejoicing – it’s the first day of the new Major League Baseball season, commonly referred to as Opening Day! People everywhere are sure to be heading to the stadiums to cheer on their favorite team, and they better be accompanied by promo products imprinted with their team’s name and logo. One of the most popular promo products for the Atlanta Braves (my hometown team) is the foam tomahawk, which fans use during the “Tomahawk Chop” – a hand gesture whereby one moves their arm up and down as if chopping with an axe while humming the Braves’ chant.

Promo Products for Earth Day

Earth Day is quickly approaching (April 22) and this annual holiday provides the perfect opportunity to use promo products to show that your company is committed to doing its part in helping the environment and our planet earth. It would be a great way to market your company and bring awareness to your business and services in general, as well as the fact that you are dedicated to eco-friendly initiatives. Consider giving eco-friendly promo products in support of this occasion – and these days its easier than ever to find “green” alternatives to almost any promotional items from pens made from bamboo to koozies made from post-consumer materials.

Promo Products for March Madness

We are now in the middle of March which, aside from St. Patrick’s Day and the Ides of March, means its time for March Madness! The informal name for the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship provides the perfect opportunity to create a marketing campaign for your business, and using basketball-related promo products can help solidify your efforts. From basketball stress relievers to basketball-shaped car magnets, these promo products would be perfect for a mid-March campaign as they are relevant to what is going on in consumer’s lives at this time. You could even consider giving actual basketballs imprinted with your company’s name and logo.

Promo Products for National Pig Day

Today is National Pig Day – and what better way to celebrate than by giving promo products featuring pigs?! They often get a bad reputation for being dirty animals because of all their time spent rolling around in the mud, but covering themselves in mud actually serves many important purposes. For one thing, pigs do not have sweat glands, so they cool themselves in mud when it is hot outside. They also use the mud to cover their skin for protection from the sun. So celebrate pigs today and give pig promo products from pig-shaped stress relievers to piggy banks!

Red Mittens – Sough After Promo Products of the Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are well under way by now with people all over the world tuned in to see how their country fares in the many different sporting events taking place in this year’s host city – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Aside from the medals won by the sport champions, there is another item that has become a must-have memento of these Olympic Games – a pair of red mittens. You could call them promo products for these Vancouver Games, and they are seen worn by everyone from athletes to spectators in support of Canadian competitors. You can get your own pair of these promo products at the online Olympic store!

Promo Products for the Snow

This past Friday 49 of the 50 United States experienced snow (Hawaii was the only place who didn’t get any of this cold precipitation). A rare occasion for the southern states like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, residents of these areas rejoices in the downfall, as opposed to those in states in the north like Massachusetts and Illinois who are used to this wintry weather. But it just goes to prove that nationwide, people can benefit from receiving promo products geared towards the winter season. Promo products such as ice scrapers and fleece jackets, thought to only be beneficial to those in the north, can really be appreciated by people all around the nation!

Promo Products for Kite Flying Day

Today is Kite Flying Day! (Yes I too find it a bit bizarre that the day designated to fly a kite occurs in the middle of winter). Nonetheless, it is the perfect opportunity to use promo products such as kites to promote one’s brand! Kites have historically been used for a variety of different purposes. On ancient China, kites were used to measure distances and test wind strength and directions, as well as communication for military operations. In Japan kites were flown to keep evil spirits at bay. Today kites are generally used for recreation – and kites that are promo products can be used to advertise one’s brand!

Promo Products to Help Quit Smoking?

It is estimated that across America approximately 24.8 million men and 21.1 million women are smokers. Those that smoke are at a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, emphysema, lung cancer, cancer of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer, among other preventable diseases. Many smokers want to quit smoking, but it can be a very difficult process due to the addictive affects of nicotine. Smokers try everything from nicotine patches and gums to acupuncture and hypnosis try and stop smoking. But what about promo products that have the positive effect of aiding in giving up smoking?

One of the newest promo products on the market for 2010 are Australian Chewing Sticks. These sticks are made from renewable, fast-growing birchwood and are infused with Australian tea-tree oil and mint for an intense long-lasting flavor that freshens breath and promotes healthy oral hygiene. Additionally, these promo products can also help reduce the stress that is associated with giving up smoking. Often times the hardest part about quitting smoking is the habitual nature of having something in one’s mouth so these can help one transition from the awkward feeling of being without cigarettes. Some even claim these sticks can help one from idly snacking throughout the day for the same reasoning!

The Australian Chewing Stick promo products would lend themselves perfect to both dental hygiene promotions and anti-smoking campaigns. Plus, when imprinted with one’s company name and logo, the Australian Chewing Stick promo products can promote one’s brand while promoting such better health initiatives.

Energy-Saving Promo Products

Did you know that 30% of corporate computers are left on unnecessarily overnight? And one PC monitor left switched on overnight wastes enough energy to laser print 800 pieces of paper. You can help your company conserve more energy, and in turn save more money, by distributing energy-saving promo products. One such product is a computer power saver button. This item puts a computer in "ecomode" with a press of a button to help conserve energy. It actually saves more energy than standard sleep mode on a computer. Other such energy-saving promo products include water or solar-powered items like clocks and calculators. You can even purchase promotional conservation sets that come with energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs, a refrigerator thermometer that displays the optimal temperature for a refrigerator to help conserve energy and save money, and a gift box that doubles as a battery disposal box.

You could also use such promo products to create energy-saving awareness externally by distributing these items to your customers. Any recipient would certainly be happy to see that your company is doping its part in energy conservation and encouraging others to do so as well. You can create a marketing campaign centered around the theme of energy conservation anytime throughout the year, or you can choose to plan to launch such a campaign in the month of October which is Energy Awareness Month. There are so many benefits to energy-saving promotional items from promoting your business, and promoting energy conservation, to saving your company money!

Promo Products – When Fun Meets Function

I often write about how important it is that the promo products one chooses be functional. If the items are truly functional, then the recipient is likely to use the product, bringing you more advertising exposure for your brand. I want to make sure, however, that I am in no way excluding the possibility that promo products can be both fun and functional. For example, pens are classic promotional items as they are very practical products that can be used by almost anyone. But “goofy pens” those with bobble heads and suction cup feet can prove to be just as useful with an added element of fun!

Look Younger With Promo Products!

We live in an age where everyone is obsessed with youth and are willing to go to grave measures in order to make themselves look younger – including risky and costly plastic surgery. Americans spend almost $11.8 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2008. There are cheaper alternatives to looking young – including those that can be achieved with a simple purchase of promo products such as water bottles. Drinking water hydrates your skin, making it look plumper and more radiant. With promo products like water bottles kept handy on a daily basis, you can remind yourself to drink more water throughout each day and see a younger you in the mirror!

Multiply Your Marketing Efforts With Multi-Function Promo Products!

The more that promo products are used, the more your company’s name and logo gets seen, and thus the more advertising impressions your business can make. So why not multiply the usage – and marketing potential - of singular promo products by purchasing those that have multiple functions? From pens that double as laser pointers to key rings that double as tool sets, these multi-function items are great products that are sure to be used over and over again by recipients. You can even purchase combination office tools that are staple removers, highlighters, and cutting blades all in one!

Promo Products for the Netbook and More

Inc.Com recently posted an article titled, “Got a Netbook? Now You Need Accessories,” in which the first sentence reads, “Okay, so you've outfitted your mobile employees with inexpensive netbooks, but there are a few recommended accoutrements you should consider to help them remain productive while on the go.” One of these recommended accessories is headsets – which led me to realize how great headsets can be as promo products. These promo products, while great for a personal computer, can also be used for one’s iPhone, iPod or other MP3 player, DVD player, and more giving your brand tons of exposure!

Promo Products for the Cell Phone

Did you know that the United States has over 200 million cell phone users? This number is up more than 30 million from one decade ago, and is likely to continue to climb. As cell phones are such popular items nationwide, using promo products such as cell phone accessories is likely to be a beneficial marketing investment for you and your company. You can choose from a variety of cell phone accessory promo products such as cell phone rests and even grips that cling directly to the phone and prevent it from slipping and sliding when placed on smooth surfaces.

Carry Your Beverages in Confidence With Acrylic Promo Products

Did you know that acrylic is stronger than glass but only half as heavy? These features make acrylic a popular material for promo products like promotional drinkware because it is more impact resistant and less likely to break, yet more lightweight and easy to transport. Thus you can get wide exposure for your brand when you imprint these promo products with your company’s name and logo. Acrylic also has the unique property of being able to be easily shapes, so there is a wide variety of acrylic drinkware available in different sizes and styles so anyone is sure to find the perfect item to fit their company and its marketing needs!

Plush Promo Products For Kids of All Ages!

Looking for promo products that can unleash the kid inside us all? Well promotional stuffed animals are items that can do just that – while offering a fun, cuddly friend that can effectively advertise your brand! These promo products go beyond traditional teddy bears too. Today, you can find promotional stuffed animals in a huge variety of forms from giraffes with posable appendages and monkeys with hook and loop hands and feet, to mice with magnetic paws. They can be used for a variety of marketing purposes as their cute little plush faces can speak volumes to your clients.

Promo Products to Organize the New Year

Many people make New Years Resolutions at the start of each New Year and one of the most popular is always to get organized. Well companies can help their clients and employees achieve these goals – while promoting their brand – with promo products like promotional pocket calendars. Small, and portable, meaning the possibility for wider exposure for a company’s business, these promo products also mean that recipients can stay organized while they are on-the-go, always having their calendar easily accessible. Purchasers can choose from a variety of styles too such as those that display monthly or weekly calendar pages.