Unique Promotional Products that Change Your Life

Last week, the marketing crew carpooled to Cobb Galleria for the GAPPP trade show. As we met with vendors and looked at all the unique promotional products for 2011, one in particular caught my eye.

While at the Gemline booth, their salesman gave a great pitch on a new product via his iPad. Although iPads themselves are wonderful, what really intrigued me was the iPad Bluetooth Case he was using as a display. As he flipped open the cover and sturdily adjusted the case to the perfect viewing angle, I realized this promotional product was the perfect presentation, trade show, everyday product.

This unique promotional product's many features makes it possible to transport and use your iPad all day, every day, for any purpose. Whether you're giving an interactive video presentation or just taking notes via the wireless bluetooth keyboard, it can be done effortlessly through this functional product.

It has been hard enough to restrain from buying an iPad, but I think the iPad bluetooth case may have just pushed me over the edge!

Gym-worthy Custom Sports Bottles

Now that my gym no longer has a complimentary water cooler, I have been testing out a variety of custom sports bottles in attempts to identify which one is the most “gym-friendly.” So what makes a water bottle suitable for toting to a workout facility? Is it a particular shape or size that makes a piece of drinkware conducive to exercising? How important is the drinking mechanism in determining “gym-friendly” sports bottles?

In my opinion, there are several key factors for consideration when evaluating a sports bottles’ aptitude for enhancing a gym trip:
1) How durable is the bottle? I know that when I move around the gym using assorted machines and equipment, I tend to tote my water bottle around as I go, and I am not always careful about where and how I set it down. Sports bottles that are resilient to scratches and wear and tear are best suited for an athletic environment and will serve you well over the long-run as you hydrate yourself on-the-go.
2) How much liquid can a bottle comfortably hold? Is it too big, so as to become unwieldy, or does it not hold enough water to quench my thirst? Personally, I prefer larger bottles, but compact compartments in exercise equipment are not made to accommodate bottles larger than a certain size.
3) What about insulation? Does the sports bottle keep my beverage at the optimal drinking temperature? Nothing is worse than lukewarm water after a strenuous workout!
4) Last, but not least, how easy is it to sip from the sports bottle? Does it require me to stop what I am doing for a water break, or can I efficiently drink from it without spilling on myself or my equipment while I continue exercising?

Drinkware comes in an endless array of styles, so consider your desired end users and their lifestyles when determining what custom sports bottle to incorporate into your marketing efforts.

Trade Show Items That Help You Stand Out From the Crowd

No matter what industry you're in, chances are good that you've been to, been invited to, or heard about a trade show related to what you do. Trade shows are a great opportunity to establish your brand and share ideas among your peers as well as your current and potential customers, but it is important to make sure that visitors to your booth come away with the right message. You want them to remember you, and the best way to ensure that they do so is through the use of trade show items.

Trade show items should represent the value that your brand holds for the visitors who receive them. They should be memorable gifts that recipients will keep and show off. Some popular trade show items that we love are USB drives, unique pens, and reusable bags – all of these are useful objects that recipients can use both on the trade show floor and as they go about their day-to-day life, creating an impression that lasts long after you've packed up your booth and left the venue.

What Do your Company T-Shirts Say About You?

Everyone's heard the old adage, "you are what you eat." But in today's age, are you what you wear? Valerie Andrews, at the Loyola School of Mass Communications, mulled over this question in an interesting blog post earlier this morning. After being mistaken for a Texan, thanks to her "Keep Austin Weird" t-shirt, she was surprised by how many people identify others based on their apparel.

Here in the promotional products industry, we know that t-shirts are like billboards, but with an added advantage of providing a personal endorsement; however, as Andrews discusses, rarely do people consider themselves a form of advertisement when they put on a t-shirt. And that's why company t-shirts are a cost-efficient and functional means of promoting a brand. Through her post, Andrews enforces why it is necessary to put a lot of thought into your giveaways and select company t-shirts that are intriguing and eye-catching while still consistent with your brand guidelines. So, the next time you buy branded apparel, be sure to think about the message that you want to communicate.

A Promotional Flashlight Saves the Day

This morning, there was an unusual occurrence in the Pinnacle Promotion's office that inspired me to write about a very handy promotional product…promotional flashlights!

Just as Pinnacle's hard working employees were settling in to their normal routines- e-mailing, making calls, and more, the power in the entire facility went out. Helplessly we all cautiously (because it was dark) convened, awaiting for the power to restart. And there we sat waiting…until out of the darkness came a glimmer of light.

It grew brighter and brighter until we realized our COO, Dave had come to save the day with one of our promotional flashlight samples. With the bright light guiding him through the many switches and wires, our fearless leader had us back and running in no time. The moral of this story…for safety and efficiency every office should have promotional flashlights. You never know when the lights will go!

Promotional Ice Scrapers to the Rescue!

Last week, Atlanta, Georgia saw up to 6 inches of snow accumulation that left the city in a state of emergency with roads coated in sheets of ice, grocery store aisles scarcely stocked and schools closed for a full week. And it left me, with a newfound appreciation for promotional ice scrapers. As a citizen of the state of Georgia for almost twenty years now – nine of which where I had reached the legal driving age – I have experienced very few occasions that necessitated the use of promotional ice scrapers, but this past week certainly was one. Thanks to a dear friend, I was able to make use of the Ice Scraper Hand Mitten – a 4 ½ inch heavy duty ice scraper blade connected to a mitten to keep your hands warm and dry – it did and they were.

Get Out Your Promotional Radios, Here Comes Ted Williams

Ted Williams, a homeless man from Ohio, made national headlines last week after The Columbus Dispatch broke news of his "golden" voice. Within a matter of a week, Williams went from living on the street to something of a pop culture icon, making appearances on the Today Show and CBS' Early Show, to name a few. He also lent his voice to a Kraft Mac & Cheese ad, which aired Sunday night, and was offered an announcer position with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former radio host hopes to return to the airwaves soon, so tune in on your promotional radios and listen to the voice that propelled Williams to fame.