New Promotional Product Ideas from ASI Show Chicago

A few weeks ago, I attended the ASI Chicago Show, a trade-only promotional products show where new promotional products for the mid-year were introduced. I always find these shows inspirational for thinking up new, unique ways to help my clients promote their business at trade shows, events, grand openings, or through promotions. I wanted to share some of the more unusual ideas to inspire you with some out-of-the-box promotional thinking.

Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips
A great perk to going to one of these large trade shows is getting to sample a variety of delicious treats, so it won't surprise you when I start off talking about food.  The first promotional product idea is Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips.

The manufacturer describes it as a "sensational marriage of sweet and salty, with a kick of crunch" and I can't improve on that description.  Best of all, there are two sizes an eight ounce or a 16 ounce box, both at affordable prices that even include a four-color imprinted label for you to promote your brand. These would be a great item to have out on a snack table if you were sponsoring lunch or snack time at a large conference.

Cookie Dipper

Staying with the food theme, it's time to go retro and think fondly on the days when you dunked chocolate cookies into milk for a tasty treat. (Maybe you still do!) Now you can look like a professional cookie dipper with this dipping utensil that takes away the messiness, yet leaves all the fun in cookie dunking!  

The dipper can be purchased on its own or in sets with a mug and even a packet of cookies to get you started--yum! This would be a unique promotional idea to leave in your guests' hotel rooms at night for corporate retreats, company-wide conferences, or VIP customer travel trips. 

Beach Towel Clip

Two unique summer items are worth mentioning.  One is a plastic clip that slips right over your beach towel and clips it on to the frame of a chair, boat rails, or balcony railings to keep it in place. This handy clip can also hold a sign, a tote bag or even to prevent a trash bag from blowing away at a sponsored event to give you one more logo placement.  At 6" long, the clip features a large imprint area. 

Floating Beverage Holder

The second summer item is another revolutionary outdoor leisure product, the BevBoy.  This item is a floating cup holder that allows your beverage of choice to float in a body of water without spilling. The patented "tail" prevents the holder from tipping over, yet keeps the beverage floating nearby.  If you have ever wanted to relax in the pool enjoying your favorite drink without having to hold it, then this product is for you!  The cup holder can be printed so that your corporate brand will be seen above the waterline when floating. How fun and impactful would it be to walk into a poolside event and have these custom logoed cup holders floating all around the pool?

Golf Club Cleaner

The game of golf just got a little easier with this new product. Although it doesn't actually improve your game, the ShoeToothe does make playing a little more convenient. The handy ShoeToothe clips onto your shoe and allows you to remove debris from your golf club with one swipe. You don't need to bend down and use your glove or have to wipe dirt onto your pants or shorts.  You don't have swing with a dirty club or get your hand wet or dirty.  It comes in a variety of colors to tie in with most corporate brands. 

Team Spirit Clips

A great way to show spirit to a sports team or corporate team is to wear that team's logo and the new FanFlair logo makes it easy to do that.  The logo is attached to a patented clip that allows the embroidered logo to be easily attached (and detached) from shirts, hats, bags and even as a hair barrette! It's a fun item that gives you endless ways to show who you are rooting for. But more importantly for marketers, you don't have to worry about ordering the right sizes for people. Just give them the clip with your logo or sports team logo and let them clip it to their own apparel. 

Fingernail Tattoos

If you are looking for a more subtle way to show your team spirit or promote your logo, what about tattoos for your fingernails? Nail art has become all the rage so why not give people an easy way to show their love for your team or even company? These peel-and-stick, hypoallergenic tattoos can be applied without water for instant nail art. 

Cold Weather Touch Screen Gloves

Speaking of fingers, another new promotional item addresses a big cold-weather dilemma for business people and teens alike--how can you keep your hands warm but still use your touch screen device?  Thumb Dogs were created so that users can stay in touch, get directions, and access the internet with their gloves on while its cold outside. Thumb Dogs are an add-on that stretches and grips the users' own gloves; you no longer have to own special texting gloves. There is even a "leash" to keep the item on securely. ThumbDogs are made of medical-grade conductive fabric for ease of using a touch screen. This unique item can be printed with a one-color corporate logo and comes with a stock card and instructions. 

Which item inspired you most? If you need help with a unique promotional product for an upcoming trade show, travel trip, event, or even an impactful direct mail promotion, give me a call. I'd be happy to brainstorm ideas on how to promote your brand most effectively. You can reach me at 847-398-5500 or dona.blunt@newportpros.com. 

Hot Summer Promotional Products

Summer is in fun full swing but it's not too late to grab some promotional products to help keep your brand in front of your customers during summer events.

Here are a few of our top selling promotional products for your summer promotions, corporate picnics, and even client appreciation days.

Retro Sunglasses
You can't go wrong with these retro sunglasses to giveaway as swag at beach events, picnics, and even golf tournaments. The price is perfect and they come in a variety of fun colors sure to match up with your company logo.

Deluxe Folding Chair
With a large imprint area for your logo, this deluxe folding chair will work hard to promote your brand. If your company is sponsoring any summer outdoor concert events or hospitality events, put these chairs out for your guests to ensure that all concert goers see your logo. Then give a few away to VIP customers or valued employees. Four colors are available, so choose wisely.

Acrylic Mason Jar Tumblers
Mason jars are hot, hot, hot when it comes to promotional drinkware. Designed to look like the nostalgic preserving jars, these BPA free, colorful tumblers come with fun straws to make drinking even more fun. Your customers will hold on to these tumblers for a long time giving your brand some long-term exposure.

Beach Picnic Pack
This fun picnic pack includes everything you need for a fun summer outing. The insulated main compartment holds food, drinks or other beach essentials for four people. The Picnic Pack is designed to be water and sand resistant keeping your food and drinks safe until you are ready to eat. This is an impactful gift for valued customers and employees.

Jelli Mini Fan
Give your customers and prospects a way to beat the heat with this Jelli Mini Fan. The fun translucent colors and attractive price point make this promotional item a winner for outdoor and summer events.

Need more ideas for summer promotions? Give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona.blunt@newportpros.com and we'll get some creative ideas going for you.

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Wooden Truck Food Gift

Want a food oriented promotional gift that will promote your brand long after the food is consumed?  This wooden truck with sliding lid is the gift for you.  It is filled with 9 oz. of delicious pistachio nuts but after the nuts are gone, the truck can serve as a handy storage unit for jewelry, coins, desk supplies or other treasures. These trucks would be fun have out on tables in your trade show booth to serve snacks and then give them away as prizes to VIP customers.

Don't think that this truck is only appropriate if you are in the transportation industry; it also ties in well to emphasize old fashioned service or to commemorate a corporate anniversary.  How about promoting a "truckload" sale?  Or, communicating a safe driving message to your employees?

The truck is 12-1/4" L x 4-12/3" W x 5" H.  You can add your company logo to a laser engraved plate on one side and you can have an optional plate added to the second side for more marketing messages. The personalized promotional item is packed in an individual mailing box; perfect for easy distribution. If pistachio nuts are not your thing, then the truck can be ordered empty and you can either add your own contents or send as is.

This item is on special for the remainder of 2013 at only $37.80 with pistachios and $30.15 empty. As part of the special promotion, you can order as few as six pieces at the sale price, rather the the usual 12 piece minimum order. This sale price saves you as much as $8.00 from the usual price and allows you to give a personalized gift to a small group. 

If you are looking to drive sales and deliver a message of thanks to your employees and customers, this is the perfect promotional gift for you. Call me at 847-398-5500 or email at dona.blunt@newportpros.com to learn more and get your order in for the Holidays.

A Happy Ending for Obsolete Promotional T-Shirts

While many election year promotional products end up in trash cans at the end of campaign season, one group defied the easy route and is putting those old items to good use.

The Daily Caller reports that the Knox County Romney Campaign of Tennessee has donated its leftover Romney-Ryan 2012 promotional t-shirts to a needy school in Kenya.

The campaign managers donated the unused promotional shirts to The Orbit Village Project, a nonprofit organization that runs a school, medical clinic, orphanage and Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. More than 200 of the school's students received their own t-shirt.

"We were thinking, 'What's the best use for these shirts?' And it was very organic in how it came together," said Alexander Waters, campaign director for the Knox Country Romney Campaign. He explained that he became aware of The Orbit Village Project through his aunt, Cyndy Waters, founder and director of the charity organization.

This was indeed a happy ending with promotional items being put to good use instead of ending up in a landfill. So, what else can you do with leftover promotional or logoed marketing products?

1. Give employees first pick. Your employees are your best salespeople and the living representation of your brand. Why not reward them for their hard work with some free promotional items? Everyone loves free stuff and sharing extra promotional items, especially if they are useful, creates a lot of goodwill.

2. Have a "garage sale" and donate the proceeds to charity. Set up a table in the lobby one day and tell your employees or other office workers that all donations for the items will go to a charity. Even if people only pay $1 for each item, you're supply closet will be empty and the charity will be grateful for any help you can give them. Some charity retail stores will take the promotional items, as well. Give them a call to see if they are interested.

3. Donate them to a local school. Kids love free stuff and school PTAs are always looking for prizes to give out to students for contests or motivation. As long as your promotional item is kid-friendly, let the kids take them home and show off their winnings.

What have you done with your leftover promotional items?

If you have the opposite problem and need to create some promotional products or get your logo printed on some trade show giveaways, give me a call at 847-398-5500 or email me at dona@newportpros.com.