Cool Promotional Ideas - Customized Napkin NotePad

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POWER NAPKINThe Napkin Notebook, which is available with one- or two-ply sheets, is made with linen-embossed or coin-edge cocktail napkins. Get it with 10 or 15 pages for a memorable retreat giveaway or offsite meeting tool.

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Eco-Friendly Promotional Products

Personalized Recycled Toe Bags

Perosnalized Recycled Coffee Cup

Personalized Recycled Bike Bottles

Personalized Recycled Journals

Personalized Single Bulb Pot Set

Personalized Recycled Pens

Check out these Really Cool Eco-Friendly Promotional Products

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Holiday Cards - Go Green - Seeded

GOOD TO GROW PROMOS

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The entire cover of the Seeded Journal is handmade from natural, biodegradable paper, and when planted, will sprout basil or daisies. Packed with 40 unlined sheets, it includes a bookmark with details on how to plant the journal cover.

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Promotions for Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast-Cancer Awareness Info for Your Promotions
(Pink Ribbon Marketing)
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The little pink ribbon is arguably the most recognizable of all awareness-campaign symbols. As a show of support for breast-cancer awareness, it’s been placed on everything from tubes of ChapStick and yogurt containers to M&Ms and Visa credit cards. But not everyone’s happy about the cause-awareness craze. Somewhere along the way, efforts to raise awareness have been labeled as “pinkwashing,” or using the cause for financial gain to help promote products. While a percentage of proceeds is generally donated to breast-cancer research
(Susan G. Komen for the Cure reportedly benefits from these corporate partnerships to the tune of $30 million a year), critics claim the means are deceptive and that the companies gain much more than the charity does.

Still, breast-cancer awareness is big. Many dollars are spent promoting it and raising awareness, and many organizations are trying to associate their brands with this goodwill. Right now, there are about 2.5 million breast-cancer survivors in the United States. Add to that their families and friends, and you’ve got a huge market of people all very receptive to the pink ribbon. To help your clients exercise sensitive, goodwill marketing — and hopefully raise a little awareness in the process — read on for more information about the disease.

Facts and Stats
• In 2004, almost 187,000 women and about 1,800 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States; in the same year, almost 41,000 American women and 400 American men died from the disease. (Editor’s note: This data is from 2004, the most recent statistics available.)

• For men in the U.S., the risk of getting breast cancer is about one-tenth of 1 percent. The rate of breast-cancer cases in men has been fairly stable during the last 30 years.

• Breast cancer is the sixth-leading cause of death for U.S. women.

• Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. It is also the No. 1 cause of cancer death in Hispanic women and the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and native Alaskan women.

• Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, South Dakota and Tennessee have the lowest incidence of breast cancer, while Connecticut, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont have the highest.

• In the U.S., the incidence of breast cancer among women decreased significantly — by 3.5 percent per year — from 2001 to 2004. Deaths from the disease among women decreased by 2.2 percent per year from 1990 through 2004.

• Of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, approximately 11 percent died from the disease within five years and 20 percent within 10 years.

• Sixty-two percent of women regularly give themselves a breast self-examination, while only 14 percent of all women get a skin-cancer screening at least once a year.
Risk Factors

• Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have any risk factors.

• Seventy percent to 80 percent of women who get breast cancer do not have a family history.

• Risk factors for breast cancer include: age – a woman’s risk increases as she gets older; genetics – about 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are suspected to be a result of genes; family history – risk is highest among those who have a biological relative who has been diagnosed with breast cancer; race – white women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than are African-American women, but African-American women are more likely to die from it; not having children or having a first child after age 30; birth-control pills; hormone-replacement therapy; excessive alcohol consumption; and being overweight or obese.

Fundraising
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure (formerly The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation) was founded in 1982 after Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, that she would help find a cure for breast cancer.

• In 2007, for its 25th anniversary, the organization changed its name to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, created a new logo and adopted the explicit mission “To end breast cancer forever.”

• The Komen organization has invested nearly $1 billion in the effort.

• Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

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Personalized Digital Picture Frames

Customized Digital-Picture Frames Make Great Promotional Client Gifts

Digital-picture frames are less complicated than you might think.
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It’s time to size up your clients’ promotional goals. Are they looking for great gift ideas that end users will actually use? Of course they are. Unfortunately, many promotional gifts seem like a smart choice, but recipients are reluctant to use them because they are obvious advertising pieces.



Have you presented your clients with a digital frame? With a tactful blend of style and value, digital picture frames have crept up in the retail and promotional worlds as popular gift items among both givers and receivers. In today’s competitive market, digital frames are changing the atmosphere by providing a useful combination of elegant style and promotion. As a promotional product, they incorporate a company logo in a discreet yet mindful manner, and advertisers can feel certain their gift will be displayed — giving a subtle, yet prominent, reminder of the relationship between company and client.



Digital Frame-ology
One-hour photo finishing and digital cameras helped incite demand for seeing pictures immediately. Today, film and photo developing are mostly gone, and the digital camera — and more importantly, the digital frame — have changed everything. Now, pictures that one could once only be viewed via computers or in clunky albums have a new place to call home.
So, if your clients are still putting their annual-convention pictures in photo albums, it might be time to warm them up to the idea of digital frames. If it’s a fear of the unknown keeping them from considering them for this year’s company gift — or if it’s kept you from upgrading to the latest in picture frames yourself — fear no more. With easy-to-use features, digital frames are a perfect choice for everyone.



Digital frames are actually quite basic. To load pictures onto a frame, you can either insert a memory card with images direct from a digital camera or upload images from a computer with the proper cord.



Digital frames often come with many built in editing features, including the ability to zoom and rotate photos. Slideshow capabilities are one of the most popular options, allowing users to create a personal picture show and showcase more photos than a static frame. Some frames are multi-media capable, too, for further personalization that includes music. Some frames even have video capability. Best yet, many of today’s frames come standard with remote controls.
Remember, not all digital frames are created equal. Look for internal-memory capacity and resolution — higher resolutions mean clearer pictures, and a frame with a larger memory will hold more pictures. Quality digital frames will have at least 128MB of internal memory. For smaller digital frames, such as a 3.5-inch or 5.6-inch, the image resolution should be at least 320-by-234. For a 7-inch frame, the resolution should be at least 480-by-234.



Variety — The Spice of Life
There are many different styles, sizes and types of digital frames available, from traditional to modern, to fit with any décor. Choices for the finish include acrylic, silver, metal and wood.
Screen size also plays an important role in choice. Options range from 3.5-inch to 15-inch LCD screens, but a standard 7-inch screen is popular. Digital frames are measured from the upper left corner of the LCD to the bottom right, just as with televisions and computer monitors. Don’t be fooled by the size of the frame — like the old cliché: Bigger isn’t always better. Many smaller frames display high-quality pictures and still have numerous features, such as music and video capabilities.





Regardless of screen size, digital frames can hold anywhere from 50 to more than 1,000 photos. To determine how many photos a frame will hold, divide the amount of memory by the size of the digital photos. So, if a frame or memory card holds 128 MB and your photos are 2 MB each, then your frame will hold approximately 64 photos.


(Photo size may vary, so any calculation is just an estimate.)



Once you choose a frame, it is important to ensure end users proudly display it for years. While front imprints are available, the latest trend is for companies to imprint their names more subtly on the back. This trend has increased as digital frames have become more popular as holiday and executive gifts and allows recipients to tastefully display their frames at home or in the office while never forgetting from whom they came.



Not Just a Digital Frame
Digital-frame manufacturers continue to create new and exciting ways to use their products. From desktop frames with pen holders to fabulous travel accessories, the digital market continues to expand. In fact, the presence of these products has grown exponentially this year alone.



The digital key-chain proves to be one of the most popular in this category, and it caters to the budget-friendly market. Priced quite a bit lower than a full-sized frame, there are still plenty of brands with the fantastic quality you would expect with a larger digital frame. On average, digital key rings have at least a 1.5-inch screen and can display high-resolution images. Depending on the internal memory, a digital key chain can hold anywhere from 30 to 90 photos. Its compact size allows users to take it everywhere. Companies can imprint their name and logo on these products, too, making it a newer must-have accessory.
Another great business product is the alarm clock with digital picture viewer, which is perfect for travel or the office. Many picture viewers come equipped with calendars, clocks, alarm features and all-important snooze buttons.



Digital frames are now being incorporated into digital advertising vehicles. Such products typically have 15-inch or larger screens. They not only feature still photos, videos and sound, but hold advertising copy below the screens. Digital advertising vehicles are used in hotels, bars, elevators, showrooms and by trade-show exhibitors.



Digital frames are also finding their way into retail stores as video shelf-talkers. These advertising vehicles can run continuously or come with motion sensors. They have the ability to grab consumers’ attention while providing product education.



It’s been almost 20 years since digital frames entered the picture. Now, they are focal points in executive offices, hotels, stores and of course, homes. In the last few years, the digital frame has become more popular, more prominent — and more affordable. The promotional products industry has taken it to an even higher level by incorporating the ability to imprint company names and logos, allowing this item to become the perfect choice for holiday and executive gifts.

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Personalized Pens - Choosing the Perfect Fit

Personalized Pens - Choosing the Right Pen for Your Promotion

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Vast selection, many options make for difficult choices
Overwhelm, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means to “overpower in thought or feeling.” In the busy business world, it can be brought on by too many phone calls to make, too many e-mails to read or too many meetings to attend. In the promotional sphere, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by one simple product category: writing instruments.

Promotional pens are everywhere!!!!!
They’re often inexpensive, everyone needs them and they’re easy to disseminate. So, how do you narrow the playing field to choose the best option for each of your clients? It’s another seemingly overwhelming task.



“Faced with the vast selection, it is difficult to decide where to begin your search,” says Scott Pearson, vice president of merchandising for Sweda.
But take some advice from industry experts, and the task becomes much easier.



Cost Effective
For starters, know when to choose a high-priced writing instrument. As Lisa Newell, vice president of sales for Gold Bond in Hixson, Tenn., points out, the uses are different for high-end and low-end pens. “Higher-end pens are usually given out as gifts or awards, where low-end pens are used for trade shows and hand outs.”



The less expensive varieties also can mean reaching a much larger audience pool — and therefore greater buying power, says Eric Flecha, Ritter
The end result, Flecha adds, is more effective brand awareness.
"The higher–end variety, due to cost, may only reach a limited market niche but is perfect for awards and incentive programs.”

High- and low-cost pens “serve different purposes depending on whether your campaign is directed toward a mass or niche audience,” affirms Scott Meng, marketing director with KTI “If your goal is reaching the most eyeballs, then a low-cost pen is great. Plus, these pens can even float from person to person, gaining additional exposure.”

End users view more expensive pens, Meng continues, as keepsake items. “High-end pens work well for building and maintaining relationships with key contacts.”



Supplier Choice
Once you’ve slashed your number of options by determining a price range, you can further narrow the options by asking targeted questions.
“Quality, production time and competitive pricing are some of the main factors [about which to ask],” Pearson says. “Also weigh your options between general market pens or proprietary designs, but always keep in mind, cheapest does not mean profitability. Make sure you have pre-qualified your suppliers.”
As expected, suppliers have different ideas about how best to choose a writing-instruments supplier with which to work. “Ask fellow distributors about working experiences with different suppliers,” Meng advises. “Determine if pens are a supplier’s main product line; if so, they will have more knowledge and experience than suppliers who carry a few pens along with many other product categories.”



Flecha offers these criteria for choosing a pen supplier:
Does this company stand behind their product?
Is it 100 percent guaranteed?
Does the supplier manufacture its own pen product or do they outsource?
What is the supplier’s rating?



Meng, too, recommends asking more questions beyond price.
“What is the end user’s brand personality — conservative, edgy, fun?
Who’s ultimately using these pens — age, gender, lifestyle attributes?
Any other special considerations — eco-friendly, multifunction, novelty?” he suggests. “The more detailed information you can get, the easier it will be to narrow down the number of choices.”



Fun Facts from the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association
A typical pencil can draw a line 35 miles long or write about 45,000 words. Most ball point pens will draw a line 4,000 to 7,500 feet long.



In 1977, the rollerball pen was introduced as a new type of ball point that uses low-viscosity ink.
An unpainted pencil inserted into the soil of a potted plant can eliminate mealy bugs on plants.
Plant growers mark their plant labels with pencil because it won't fade in sunlight.
Seeing a pencil in your dream indicates that you are making a temporary impact in a situation. It may also suggest that a relationship may not last long. Dreaming that you are sharpening a pencil suggests that you need to be more flexible in your way of thinking.
Typically, text is printed on a pencil from tip to head so you can read it while writing, but left-handed pencils are printed from head to tip.

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