Super Bowl Schwag: The Science of Product Choice
Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on their Super Bowl 44 victory! The game was a great one, but it was the promo marketer in me that couldn't help but notice the NFL's promotional product strategy as the game came to an end.
The NFL chose two specific promotional items to give to Saints players as soon as the game ended - custom hats and printed t-shirts. We see this schwag on display every year after the Super Bowl, but the product choice is definitely no accident!
First off, shirts and hats can be inexpensively made and quickly handed out to players right after the game in order to receive maximum exposure (as opposed to say, custom bobbleheads). Secondly, t-shirts and hats are the products that Saints fans are most likely to purchase and wear. By using these two top-selling, high-visibility products, the NFL got free marketing for their official gear all throughout the trophy presentation ceremony.
Simple, but extremely effective!
Side note: I can't wait to see where the first set of "Indianapolis Colts: Super Bowl Champions" shirts will leak out onto the internet.
Posted by josh at 8:47 AM. Permalink: Super Bowl Schwag: The Science of Product Choice
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Air Freshener: Drunk Driving Awareness
This custom car air freshener has a good cause to match its good scent. The iconic tree-shaped air freshener was distributed in Romanian gas stations to raise awareness about the surge of drunk driving that occurs around Christmas time. This is a perfect place to imprint a warning against drunk driving - drivers can't help but see (and smell) it every time they get into their cars. The dent in the tree is a nice touch also!
Posted by josh at 1:21 PM. Permalink: Air Freshener: Drunk Driving Awareness
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Don't Judge A Laptop by Its Cover
I'm not sure if this laptop sleeve was designed for stealth purposes or just to look flat-out awesome. Most of the laptop bags I've seen have trendy and modern designs, but this "leather book" cover easily stands out. Logo laptop sleeves are becoming a popular employee gift as more workers are required to travel with their computers.
Posted by josh at 8:09 AM. Permalink: Don't Judge A Laptop by Its Cover
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
More Fishvertising
Though the fish probably aren't complaining, it has been awhile since we last saw fishvertising in action. This ad puts an end to the hiatus and demonstrates the irresistible attraction of "living" billboards. Using live fish to show that this fish company's product is "as fresh as can be" is definitely a unique approach. Judging by the video it did an excellent job of getting people to pay attention!
Posted by josh at 8:04 AM. Permalink: More Fishvertising
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Not Welcome Mat
Here's a welcome mat that's well...not very welcoming. This fake doormat was placed around Israel to raise awareness about the nearly 300,000 teens who don't have a place to call home. The flip side of the custom doormat has some information about donating to the organization and helping kids find a way off the streets.
Posted by josh at 8:42 AM. Permalink: Not Welcome Mat
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Auto Show: Custom License Plate Frames
Here's one more specimen from the Pennsylvania Auto Show this weekend. Although Toyota's logo tote bags were the only promotional product given to attendees, plenty of dealerships took advantage of custom license plate frames to get some exposure.
Posted by josh at 8:29 AM. Permalink: Auto Show: Custom License Plate Frames
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Pennsylvania Auto Show: Toyota Tote Bags
I was at the Pennsylvania Auto Show this weekend in Harrisburg, and I'm sure I was the only one there who was stunned by the lack of promotional products being used. The focus was obviously on the cars, but the info booths I inspected were curiously lacking in the free stuff department. In fact, the only promotions I did see were these recycled logo tote bags that Toyota was handing out. Because they had a complete monopoly on promos, they also had a complete monopoly on booth traffic. People were carrying these things everywhere and believe me, they really stood out. I had at least 5 people ask me where the booth was so they could get a tote bag of their own.
Posted by josh at 9:18 AM. Permalink: Pennsylvania Auto Show: Toyota Tote Bags
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Puma World Cup Foosball
Here's a really well-done campaign that makes use of lots of different things to "fire on all cylinders:" a guerrilla street event, promo invitations, and even an interactive tournament to get people involved. The event took place in Canada and aimed to raise awareness of Italy's World Cup Qualifier. Judging by the video it looks like they did a great job getting people involved and informed.
Posted by josh at 8:17 AM. Permalink: Puma World Cup Foosball
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Wicked: Souvenir Cup
My friend got her hands on this promotional cup at a showing of Wicked on Broadway the other day. Although drinks cost a pretty penny at plays in New York City, at least you get a nice souvenir cup out of the deal. Right now she's using it as her daily coffee mug, which is a nice testament to the branding power promotional products.
Posted by josh at 8:22 AM. Permalink: Wicked: Souvenir Cup
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Top 10 Things People Steal From Hotels
According to this list of the top 10 things people steal from hotels, it seems that lots of people can't tell the difference between a hotel freebie and hotel property. I can't really see why anyone would go through the trouble of taking used linen or light bulbs, but logo towels and embroidered bathrobes do seem like pretty enticing souvenirs. As for promotional bath products like soap and shampoo - give me a break! I don't feel guilty about taking those and I'm going to keep ransacking the housekeeping carts in the hallway too.
Posted by josh at 8:30 AM. Permalink: Top 10 Things People Steal From Hotels
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Planet Fitness T-Shirt: One Size Fits All?
Don't ruin a good idea with poor execution. Case in point - this promotional t-shirt is given out to every new member who signs up at Planet Fitness...in size XL only! I'm not sure what Planet Fitness is trying to say about their members, but one size definitely doesn't fit all.
If you are going to make logo apparel part of your marketing campaign, make sure you buy a variety of sizes for your audience. My girlfriend and I both received these XL shirts and now they are doomed to gather dust in our closet forever. Planet Fitness had good intentions for this campaign, but the execution falls short (and wastes money).
Posted by josh at 9:37 AM. Permalink: Planet Fitness T-Shirt: One Size Fits All?
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
2010 Census Schwag
2010 Census workers have some pretty cool GPS gadgetry this year, but leave it to the promo guy to notice their new logo tote bags instead. One census office manager in Tucson reminded people that workers "will be carrying a side tote bag with the census logo on it," so it seems that the Census Bureau is actually using the totes as a way to help the public identify real census workers.
Posted by josh at 8:50 AM. Permalink: 2010 Census Schwag
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Rayban Face Tattoo
God help us if the latest viral video from Rayban is real. The video shows an intelligent youngster having a pair of Rayban sunglasses tattooed directly onto his face. There's no shortage of people lining up to call this guy an idiot, so it looks like the campaign got the visibility it was looking for whether the tattoo is real or not. Next time lets try some promotional sunglasses before adding more people to the list of permanently unemployed!
Posted by josh at 8:21 AM. Permalink: Rayban Face Tattoo
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Golden Globes Promotional....Pig?
Long ago, savvy advertisers realized that giving free stuff to celebrities was a pretty good investment. If you're lucky enough to have someone famous photographed while using your products, you've got a high-status endorsement. This line of thinking is the reason behind the elaborate celebrity schwag bags that are given out at big awards shows like the Emmy's, Grammy's, and Golden Globes.
This year's Golden Globes bag featured the usual assortment of designer apparel, high-end cosmetics, and desirable fragrances. But, there was something unexpected as well (besides an IRS tax form) - a miniature pet pig. For all celebrities willing to take a one hour course on caring for pigs, a company called Patty’s Royal Dandie Miniature Pet Pig decided to waive the usual $5,000 fee and give away free miniature pot belly pigs.
Here's to hoping Paris Hilton doesn't find out.
Posted by josh at 8:15 AM. Permalink: Golden Globes Promotional....Pig?
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Bubble Wrap = Instant Ad Success
I have always thought advertisers hadn't done enough to take advantage of the primal urge to pop bubble wrap. It's in our blood - we see it, we HAVE to pop it. This advertisement for a car-free mountain resort uses bubble wrap to somehow symbolize "mountain air." This barely makes sense to me, but judging by the pictures, it seems it was a success anyway.
Here's an older ad that makes use of bubble wrap in a more relevant (but disgusting) manner. These anti-acne cosmetic surgeons advise people: "Don't Pop It. Stop It." The thought of the general public coming together to pop fake acne grosses me out, but it's clear that once again bubble wrap equals instant ad success anyway. |  |
Posted by josh at 3:17 PM. Permalink: Bubble Wrap = Instant Ad Success
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Red Cross Fundraising Promotions
| I was over at the Red Cross Web site making a donation to their Haiti earthquake relief fund, and came across some nice items for sale in their online store. Products like custom first aid kits and promotional emergency preparedness kits especially caught my eye. Some of the proceeds from the sale of these kits go to Red Cross relief efforts, making them a useful fundraising product. Selling promotional products is a win-win situation for donators and charities alike. | 
|
Posted by josh at 8:47 AM. Permalink: Red Cross Fundraising Promotions
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Alzheimer's Society: Blank City Map
Here's a map that's not quite as useful as the promotional mini maps we've seen before. At first glance, this blank map is confusing and frustrating - until you realize that it's actually a promotion with a cause. The Alzheimer's Society put these blank city maps in bars, restaurants, and hotels to raise awareness about the nature of Alzheimer's disease, which affects patients' memories.
Posted by josh at 8:40 AM. Permalink: Alzheimer's Society: Blank City Map
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Staples Easy Button
The only thing better than a promotional product that sells your brand is a promotional product that sells itself as well! Staples really hit the jackpot with their "Easy Button" campaign. The intent was to show customers how Staples makes things as easy as pushing a button, and now the button itself has become a fun part of corporate culture. We spotted a cartload of these Easy Buttons in the Staples store, where people are actually buying them. Imagine that - people lining up to pay money for products intended to promote your company! That's the epitome of a win-win situation.
Posted by josh at 8:51 AM. Permalink: Staples Easy Button
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
New Hire Promotion
Although this promotion would probably get you tazed in the United States, I still think it's awesomely creative. A security company hiring new personnel created this briefcase in order to get their message out to qualified candidates. The briefcase contains nothing except a message to jobseekers that only shows up on airport X-ray screens. I don't think the TSA is going to be very happy with this one.
Posted by josh at 8:42 AM. Permalink: New Hire Promotion
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Promotional Calendar: An Apple A Day
I gotta say that I've been really impressed with the promotional calendars we've seen this year. Today I'm adding another to my list of favorites - the "Apple-a-Day" calendar from AOK Insurance. The old "apple a day keeps the doctor away" adage is the theme behind this calendar, which is a long clear tube that holds up to 31 apples. The calendar probably wouldn't work as a direct mail gift, but it does work well as the official calendar in AOK offices around the country.
Posted by josh at 8:28 AM. Permalink: Promotional Calendar: An Apple A Day
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Hot Topic
Interactive coffee cup promotions are nothing new, but I think this is a pretty nifty variation. Ever been stuck in an awkward small talk conversation? Next time, let this coffee cup make things more interesting. Wherever your spoon stops spinning, that's the conversation topic to talk about!
Posted by josh at 8:08 AM. Permalink: Hot Topic
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Avatar Merch
Any time you have the birth of a billion dollar movie franchise, you can expect tons of promotional merchandise to follow hot on its heels. This Avatar schwag stash - t-shirts, ski hats, and messenger bags - was recently spotted by our CEO Jason Robbins.
Posted by josh at 12:41 PM. Permalink: Avatar Merch
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Stand At Attention
The last time we saw toy soldiers, Monster.com was urging us all to find new jobs. This time, the toy soldier promotion isn't playing around. This package of what looks like soldiers was sent to UNICEF supporters and potential corporate sponsors. The "soldiers," however, aren't really soldiers at all. Each one of the figurines is actually a child doing things like riding a bike, reading a book, playing soccer, and other childhood activities. The message is that there are too many children being forced into combat in developing countries, especially on the African continent. This powerful promotion does a good job of raising awareness about the situation.
Posted by josh at 8:34 AM. Permalink: Stand At Attention
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Presidential Promotions
|
We saw tons of traditional Obama promotions during the election, but here's one that turned out a little differently. During the President's recent trip to China, the Weatherproof jacket company got one of the best endorsements they could possibly ask for - Obama was photographed wearing one of their jackets during his visit to the Great Wall. After being turned down by several newspaper ad departments, the company finally managed to turn the photo into a massive billboard ad in the middle of Times Square. Although the White House is going to inevitably force the jacket company to take the billboard down, it's already been seen by thousands of people in Times Square, and thousands more during the media coverage that followed. And now, you've seen it too.
| 
|
Posted by josh at 8:52 AM. Permalink: Presidential Promotions
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Get Bitten
As if the Twilight saga hasn't gotten enough publicity, these promotional stickers were distributed as part of a viral campaign to convert normal advertising into Twilight advertising. Just slap a few of these on any supermodel or sports star billboard you see, and voila, instant Twilightvertising! No word yet on a promotional wooden stake or imprinted garlic gloves to put a stop to it.
Posted by josh at 8:00 AM. Permalink: Get Bitten
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Yo-Yo Pro-mo!
What better product to use for an antacid promotion than a hamburger yo-yo? You put the hamburger down, but it keeps coming back up. Actually, there's more to this campaign than the clever product choice - Citrosodina chose this item for an important reason. Too many people had viewed the antacid as a medicine, whereas Bayer wanted them to focus on its "pleasant and bubbly taste". Going with a lighthearted promotional toy allowed them to change up their image without spending a fortune.
Posted by josh at 8:25 AM. Permalink: Yo-Yo Pro-mo!
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
BIG Mistake
This CNA store campaign is more along the lines of a practical joke than a practical promotion. In order to advertise their stock of 4GB Sandisk memory cards ("space for 4,000 photos!"), CNA stores decided to make their customers lug around a massive, wasteful bag when they picked up their developed photos. Yes, we get it, the memory cards fit 4,000 photos...but do you have to waste so much paper? And what about the fact that these memory cards also sell because they are so small and portable?
Posted by josh at 8:09 AM. Permalink: BIG Mistake
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
PC Load Letter?
| Every now and again a promotion leaves me asking, "How has nobody thought of that before?!" This is a classic case. To encourage companies to switch to their non-jam photocopy paper, Double A had these custom tissue boxes designed to look like jammed copy machines. As you pull tissues out, you're reminded of the soul-crushing frustration of battling a paper jam. Plus, we already know that people love free tissues (in Japan anyway). Bonus points on this one for turning an office essential into fun ad space. |  |
Posted by josh at 8:35 AM. Permalink: PC Load Letter?
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Door-to-Door Advertising
After being denied booth space at a big industry trade show, Commercial Trader magazine decided to bust out the big guns and go guerrilla. These promotional floor mats were placed outside the bed & breakfast rooms of guests who were in town to attend the convention. The promotion included a doormat with a toy tractor that appears to be "harvesting" the fabric on the mat, as well as a free copy of the directory. Kudos to Commercial Trader for turning lemons into lemonade, and finding a way to engage attendees before they even set foot in the trade show venue!
Posted by josh at 8:03 AM. Permalink: Door-to-Door Advertising
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Sit. Stay. Bench Press!
To promote the idea that their dog food makes pets strong and healthy, Iams had custom frisbees designed to look like 10kg weights. The frisbees were then given out at dog parks where many happy mutts proudly became four-pawed slobbering billboards. Why should humans get all the free stuff, anyway?
Posted by josh at 12:08 PM. Permalink: Sit. Stay. Bench Press!
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Business Card Roundup
Happy New Years! I predict that in 2010, business cards get so complex that they evolve self-awareness and physical bodies. Here are some recent cards to keep you busy until that happens (they are pretty awesome in their own ways).
This painter gets interactive with peel-and-reveal business cards:
A massage therapist gets the message across:
| Keeping it simple and clean with sponge cards. |  |
 | The recession has hit Roger Keynes' business card budget especially hard. |
What will they think of next?
Posted by josh at 11:27 AM. Permalink: Business Card Roundup
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Primo Packaging
| We've talked about stand-out packaging in the past, and here's another great example from the Canadian Sea Turtle Network. To raise awareness about the hazards of commercial fishing gear in sea turtle habitats, CSTN wrapped issues of National Geographic in eye-catching promotional packaging. Subscribers literally had to cut through the netting to get to the magazine, giving them a real sense of what is happening to leatherback turtles. | 
|
Posted by josh at 12:15 PM. Permalink: Primo Packaging
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Skin Cancer Awareness
We've seen some really interesting promotions to raise awareness for skin cancer in the past. But in the last couple months, I’ve come across a couple more really good examples of drawing attention to the dangers of skin cancer and sun-bathing.
The most recent example also uses imprinted beach towels, which are a great place to put a skin cancer message. These coffin-shaped towels are a bold reminder that people die every day because they don't protect themselves in the sun. This promotion works well by shocking people and catching them off-guard with the unique design.
A previous skin cancer campaign in Israel used towels with fire, grills, and charcoal imprinted on them to show beachgoers that they were literally roasting themselves to death if they weren’t using sunscreen. Like the others, this promotion paints a strong picture of the risks of sun exposure, and encourages people to consider their own lifestyles.
Posted by josh at 11:22 AM. Permalink: Skin Cancer Awareness
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
Copyright 2005-2008 - ePromos Promotional Products, Inc.
