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June 29, 2007Tiny Posters, Too!
In a follow-up to the tiny popcorn ipod promotion, we noticed that Apple also created tiny movie posters to go with their theme of movies in your pocket.
Posted by mark at 4:56 PM. Permalink: Tiny Posters, Too! | Comments (0)
Google Dog
| Google has done some goofy, clever promos in the past, but this time they've really gone to the dogs. Of course, if you're Google, why not do some pet promos? After all, when your online, no one can tell you're a dog. |  |
Posted by mark at 6:52 AM. Permalink: Google Dog | Comments (0)
June 28, 2007Everybody Loves Free Shirt
No wonder Google has so many promotional t-shirts! According to a blog post that is purportedly from an interview at Microsoft with an ex-Googler, they give out lots of free shirts to employees:
"The culture at Google is very much like the old culture at Microsoft back when the company felt like most employees were in their mid 20s. These kids dont have a life yet so they spend all of their time at work. Google provides nearly everything these people need from clothes (new T-shirts are placed in bins for people to grab *twice* a week!) to food three, free, all-you-can-eat meals a day."
Posted by mark at 9:28 AM. Permalink: Everybody Loves Free Shirt | Comments (0)
Flickr Beach Ball Photo Contest
In a follow up on the flickr's use of pink and blue promotional beach balls as part of their ever expanding range of promos. They did something really cool by encouraging people to actually use the products and post photos on flickr as part of Yahoo's "Be a Better..." campaign. Because if there's something better than just giving someone free stuff, it's getting them to have fun with it!
Posted by mark at 6:45 AM. Permalink: Flickr Beach Ball Photo Contest | Comments (0)
June 27, 2007Coat Hanger Direct Mail
Some of the best promotional products make great advertising because they're useful and the recipient gets repeated exposure to the brand and message while developing a positive view of the company or organization that gave out the promo. Other times, the use of a product is functioning primarily as an attention getter, as in this case. We've actually featured some cool, recycled coat hangers recently, but in this case, the hangers were part of a direct mail piece for a newspaper marketing association, which doesn't really have anything to do with coat hangers, but did benefit from having a mailing that was more effective because it was more striking.
Posted by mark at 7:35 AM. Permalink: Coat Hanger Direct Mail | Comments (0)
June 26, 2007Tiny Twist Makes Red Sand Hourglass Great
Something as simple as changing the color of the sand in this hourglass makes all the difference for this Red Cross promo. The sand plays double duty representing both time and blood supply and serves as a great visual metaphor. Could your business or not-for-profit organization do something similar? Probably, but as obvious as this hourglass seems after the fact, it probably took some real creative thought to come up with it. Start by considering what your message is, think out of the box when it comes to product and customization, and I bet there's a striking creative solution to your promotional challenges no matter who you are.
Posted by mark at 4:24 PM. Permalink: Tiny Twist Makes Red Sand Hourglass Great | Comments (1)
June 25, 2007Everybody Loves Broken Stuff
Following up my post on the clever use of ceramic business shards to promote a greek restaurant, we have another promo making use of something broken. This direct mail piece promoting super glue features a broken vase. It's a bit like a promotional puzzle, and it definitely makes a statement, even if you don't have the patience to reconstruct the vase.
Posted by mark at 6:20 AM. Permalink: Everybody Loves Broken Stuff | Comments (0)
June 24, 2007Something Sweet from Yahoo!
Most of the news surrounding Yahoo! these days is a little troubling. Their CEO, Terry Semel recently stepped down and their market share continues to erode. These customized hard candies, however, are guaranteed to sweeten up their corporate image. Because it is possible to control the color so effectively, candies are a great way to create a promotional product that is an exact match for your logo and branding. Sweet!
Posted by mark at 4:14 PM. Permalink: Something Sweet from Yahoo! | Comments (0)
June 23, 2007Second Life for Promotional T-shirts
My girlfriend's uncle has been involved in BRAN (Bike Ride Across Nebraska) for approximately forever now, the bike ride is in its 27th year. The ride generates revenues for a scholarship fund, but also provides a great opportunity to get to know the state, get in shape and have fun. Anyhow, the quilt pictured below features dozens of BRAN promotional t-shirts from each of the years of the ride, which is a great way to keep those memories alive.
Posted by mark at 4:06 PM. Permalink: Second Life for Promotional T-shirts | Comments (0)
June 22, 2007Business Shards
Looking for business cards? Interested in highlighting your Greek heritage? I recommend picking something from our ceramic mug collection and a hammer.
Posted by mark at 11:27 AM. Permalink: Business Shards | Comments (0)
June 21, 2007Tide Uses T-Shirts and iPods to Promote a Great Cause
A recent promotion by Tide used hip, vintage-style promotional T-shirts and a totally customized iPod nano to drive their Loads of Hope program to benefit New Orleans. I think it's a great idea to tie their logo merchandise into a benefit and creating items that appeal to a hip, young demographic can serve the dual purpose of helping Tide develop brand recognition in consumers at an age when they are developing brand preferences, and encouraging them to be active citizens. I'm sure the PR doesn't hurt, either. It's also nice to see someone still doing something to help rebuild New Orleans, even though that news cycle is over.
Posted by mark at 10:10 AM. Permalink: Tide Uses T-Shirts and iPods to Promote a Great Cause | Comments (0)
June 19, 2007Flickr Turns Logo into Beach Balls
Flickr has always had some great promos that make use if their simple, blue and pink circles logo. The promos are a great way to promote the flickr brand as a community, and they send out free promos to people who organize get togethers. Often, photos of the promos show up on flickr, and lately a bunch of photos show that flickr started giving out promotional beach balls in their logo colors. The custom-colored beach balls actually embody the flickr logo without even printing on them!
Posted by mark at 1:55 PM. Permalink: Flickr Turns Logo into Beach Balls | Comments (0)
Ch-ch-ch-chia Card!
| One way to bring attention to your marketing materials, from direct mail to books, is to make them grow. We've even seen growing keyboards. This time someone's made a great growing business card, with pictoral instructions on the back. |  |
Posted by mark at 11:53 AM. Permalink: Ch-ch-ch-chia Card! | Comments (0)
June 18, 2007Building a Better Bag?
As issues like climate change and oil dependency push environmental concerns into the spotlight, one popular target for change is reducing use of disposable plastic bags. Below are some stats from a recent Ad Age article about alternatives to plastic bags that really points out the scope of the problem. With retailers, like Ikea, promoting reusable bags we will hopefully see these numbers decrease over time. At ePromos, we've seen a big increase in sales in some of our inexpensive promotional bags, which make great alternatives to disposable plastic bags. In particular, non-woven totes are sturdy, reusable and compact, making them an ideal substitute for plastic.
Posted by mark at 1:50 PM. Permalink: Building a Better Bag? | Comments (0)
June 17, 2007Swizzle Inn Logo Merch: Drive Revenue and Awareness
| The Swizzle Inn, which I have mentioned previously, is the birthplace of the delectable Rum Swizzle and also a popular pub and restaurant in a 17th century house. They also know how to make the most of their name and brand. From their tagline, "Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out" to their guestbooks going back decades, they know how to develop relationships and increase word of mouth. So it's no surprise that they have a variety of promotional merchandise for sale both at the pub and online. It's clearly no accident that the Swizzle Inn is the best known pub on the island, it's really hard work and smart branding. Inventing a delicious drink doesn't hurt, though. |  |
Posted by mark at 3:53 PM. Permalink: Swizzle Inn Logo Merch: Drive Revenue and Awareness | Comments (0)
June 16, 2007Logo Apparel: Just in Case You're on the News
A friend of mine runs his family's soap-making business, and when I was visiting this spring, he was involved in a bizarre court case involving his soaps (a cult-favorite and the only soap I use personally, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap). To make a long story short, a punk rock drummer was arrested for drug possession when his bottle of soap tested positive for the drug GHB. The field test for this drug was actually to blame, and all natural soaps test positive for GHB using this test. At any rate, we spent one day of my visit at court, with the media, and testing the faulty field test (below), and this footage ended up being used for a short video on the Dr. Bronner's website. That day, my friend had the foresight to wear his Dr. Bronner's embroidered polo shirt, which was a great way to instantly make a couple key points: a) he represented the company and b) the company was a legitimate enterprise with it's own corporate apparel. Now I need to get Dave to send me one of those polo shirts.
Posted by mark at 3:42 PM. Permalink: Logo Apparel: Just in Case You're on the News | Comments (0)
June 15, 2007Why Blink When You Can Wink?
Last time we were in St. Martin, we happened to be there during the Heineken Regatta. As far as I could tell, the race was more about having a good time than being a real competition, but it was nice to see the boats. With competition from various local Caribbean brands, the promotion is probably worthwhile to Heineken. Below is one of the promotional t-shirts they were giving out. The sentiment on all of the shirts was definitely more island than Teutonic.
Posted by mark at 7:38 AM. Permalink: Why Blink When You Can Wink? | Comments (0)
June 14, 2007Stickering the World
Promotional stickers are one of the most inexpensive purchases, yet they do give you the opportunity to spread your brand far and wide. Their easy to mail and the perfect giveaway item because they're so cheap. Rock bands always have stickers because they're a way of raising awareness, leaving a trail of where you've toured, or using as a freebie to bring fans over to the merch table. The Swizzle Inn, a Bermudian pub that's housed in a 17th century house, but has the vibe of a rock club, lets visitors post stickers, write on the walls and pin business cards to the ceilings. With a couple stickers in your pocket, you can take your brand anywhere.
Posted by mark at 1:31 PM. Permalink: Stickering the World | Comments (0)
June 13, 2007Notebook Makes Novel Promo
From Citi's "Live Richly' campaign, to this warm and fuzzy bank promo, it seems that the top branding priority for retail banks these days is to make people feel like banks aren't just about money. This campaign, by Nedbank in South Africa, uses custom imprinted notebooks to connect to their customers' creative side. "Everyone has a novel in them. Start yours." is printed on the first page, and the rest of the book is blank. There's no word yet on how many novels have been completed as a result of this promo, but it is a nice gift that has the potential to really connect on a personal level. Plus, the books are really useful for plenty of things besides novel-writing. (via Direct Daily)
Posted by mark at 10:35 AM. Permalink: Notebook Makes Novel Promo | Comments (0)
Snap, Crackle, Promote!
My friends Zack and Maria had these at their apartment and I snapped a picture of them, because they're pretty awesome. I don't know that they necessarily eat a lot of Rice Krispies, and I haven't bought any since I saw these figurines, but I do know that having a brand mascot this popular is bound to increase brand awareness and sales. Do you have a mascot? Perhaps you need a custom mascot costume, or custom manufacturing of a mascot doll, or just a custom bobblehead.
Posted by mark at 7:25 AM. Permalink: Snap, Crackle, Promote! | Comments (0)
June 12, 2007NYC Condom Bus Stop Ads
| In previous posts, we've covered the NYC Condom promotional campaign, and some of the ways they maximized the impact of the promotion. In addition to generating awareness before the launch, by having a contest to design the condom wrappers, the city has also done a good job maintaining awareness post-launch, with reminders like this advertisement on the side of a bus stop. Just another great example of the effectiveness of combining PR, advertising and promotional products to make the biggest possible impact. |  |
Posted by mark at 7:20 AM. Permalink: NYC Condom Bus Stop Ads | Comments (0)
June 11, 2007Industry Expert Talks Not-for-Profit Promos
In the latest issue of impressions magazine, an article about how promotional products companies service the not-for-profit sector features the opinions of top industry experts - most importantly, me. I could quote the article quoting me, but you'll probably just want to read the whole thing, because I say all kinds of insightful stuff. And if somehow you read that and are not convinced that we are experts at working in that area, check out our not-for-profit promo collection featuring items that are ideal for fundraising, awareness promotion and more.
Posted by mark at 2:27 PM. Permalink: Industry Expert Talks Not-for-Profit Promos | Comments (0)
Tiny Popcorn Makes Big Impact for Video iPod Promotion
| Bigger isn't always better, particularly with handheld electronics. In this case, tiny promotional popcorn buckets made a big splash in South Africa as part of a video iPod promotion. The tagline on the popcorn was, appropriately, "iPod: Movies in your Pocket." It just goes to show that, from iPods to promos, good things do come in small packages. (via The Unofficial Apple Weblog and our art department manager James) |  |
Posted by mark at 10:06 AM. Permalink: Tiny Popcorn Makes Big Impact for Video iPod Promotion | Comments (0)
Stickering Machine in Action
Promotional personal care products, particularly ones that are handy to take on the go, like chapstick, hand sanitizer, sunscreen and bug repellent, are more popular this year than ever. Many of these products are customized with a unique labeling that allows for vivid color while remaining waterproof and resistant to wear. The machine works by spooling a sheet of labels through a printer that contains multiple colors of plastic film and multiple print heads. The print heads are basically a grid of individual points that are heated in the appropriate pattern to melt the colored film into the label, creating a custom label that can withstand a lot of wear and tear and still look great. Here's a video of the machine:
Posted by mark at 7:29 AM. Permalink: Stickering Machine in Action | Comments (0)
June 10, 2007Embroidery Capital of the World
When I was waiting in traffic trying to get in the Lincoln Tunnel the other day, I noticed this billboard. Previously, I had no knowledge of North New Jersey's claim to Embroidery Capital of the World. Apparently Union City staked out this claim early on. Later on, in the 1960s, Union City also became Little Havana on the Hudson due to an influx of Cuban immigrants.
Posted by mark at 12:19 PM. Permalink: Embroidery Capital of the World | Comments (0)
Performance Apparel for the Masses
This post is somewhat overdue. Over the past couple months I've field-tested some excellent performance apparel that is also surprisingly affordable. Without going into too much detail here, moisture wicking performance apparel has quickly moved from the gym to everywhere. Many people are discovering that they love the look and feel of performance fabrics as much as the wicking aspect. At ePromos, our performance and high-tech apparel category was dominated for a while by name brands, but recently we've been able to source some high-quality items at amazingly affordable prices, including performance t-shirts in the $10 range with printing included and moisture wicking polos starting around $20, making them competitive with even non-performance apparel. The quality is great, often using the exact same fabrics that you'll find in expensive retail brands, and they're perfect for summer, or vacation! And, I'm not just making this up, I've worn them:
Posted by mark at 12:10 PM. Permalink: Performance Apparel for the Masses | Comments (0)
June 9, 2007Chia Keyboard
Here's another item that isn't actually a promo, but does remind me of a couple promos, including the chia direct mail, jungle book and the logo bean plant. This chia keyboard makes for kind of a cool juxtaposition of high-tech and nature.
Posted by mark at 3:35 PM. Permalink: Chia Keyboard | Comments (0)
June 8, 2007Candyfab is Fabulous
| This is one of those things that is not exactly promotional product related, but is clearly very awesome. Part 3D printer, part custom candy, 100% awesome, this device can fabricate large candy objects from sugar. Basically, the device uses a focused beam of hot air to melt the printing medium (sugar) in a specific pattern in 2 dimensions, then it moves the level at which the air is focused to do layer after layer until the whole object is created. Basically the same concept as other prototype printers, but tastier. Becasue first you get the sugar, then you get the prototypes, then you get the power. (via Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories) |  |
Posted by mark at 12:54 PM. Permalink: Candyfab is Fabulous | Comments (0)
June 7, 2007Ten Pounds of Carlsberg
Carlsberg beer created these irreverent promotional stickers. They use Queen Elizabeth's image on the ten pound note to bring attention to the quality of their beer. Hopefully Carlsberg doesn't have the same problems Fox and the Franklin Mint ran into with their Silver Surfer quarters.
Posted by mark at 9:02 AM. Permalink: Ten Pounds of Carlsberg | Comments (0)
June 6, 2007Dent Magnets Scare and Promote
While I'm sure these tricky promotional magnets made a big impression on their unwitting recipients and probably made the desired impression regarding Volkswagen's dent-resistant cars, I really hope the benefits outweigh the risk of potentially frightening/angering the target audience into hating your brand. At the same time, Volkswagen has had outstanding advertising since before I was born, so I'm not going to pass judgment quite yet.
Posted by mark at 4:37 PM. Permalink: Dent Magnets Scare and Promote | Comments (0)
June 5, 2007Promo Shirt Mocks Marx
| Question: Free "capitalists of the world unite!" t-shirt, oxymoron or conundrum? The act of distributing free t-shirts would seem to be socialist, but the message is clearly capitalist. Regardless, it does make for an amusing promotional shirt. |  |
Posted by mark at 10:18 AM. Permalink: Promo Shirt Mocks Marx | Comments (0)
June 4, 2007Microsoft adCenter Direct Mail...and That's All I Need
Microsoft is promoting adCenter, its pay-per-click service, with a great direct mail piece and a special offer for $100 in free clicks for 5 clients and 60 days of free support (the piece is targeted towards search marketers, it seems, more than in-house buyers). The packaging features "Search Master Steve" (totally unrelated to Grandmaster Flash), and the paddle ball game is branded as Search Master Steve's Smack-a-Goal Paddle Game: "See how many times you can hit your clients' paid search goals!" A nice effort, but can they compete with Google's clever promos? Let the (paddle ball) games begin!
Posted by mark at 6:07 PM. Permalink: Microsoft adCenter Direct Mail...and That's All I Need | Comments (0)
400,000 Pounds of Logo Horror for London 2012
| No, it doesn't weigh 400,000 pounds, it cost £400,000. Am I just jealous because New York didn't get the 2012 Olympic Games? Not really. Over at the BBC News, London 2012 organising committee chairman Seb Coe has some choice soundbites:
"This is the vision at the very heart of our brand." - Yes, the jagged, fluorescent heart. "It will define the venues we build and the Games we hold..." - So apparently this ghastly vision will be transformed into architecture that can scar the London landscape for decades. "It won't be to be everybody's taste immediately..." - For sure. "It's not a logo, it's a brand that will take us forward for the next five years." - Is this a prediction that we are only 5 years away from a design apocalypse in which this logo is awesome? Designers, start clawing out your own eyes now! I'm not sure which is more disturbing, the unveiling of this logo, or Putin's threat of starting a new cold war. Either way, the message is clear: The 80's are back. |  |
Posted by mark at 4:14 PM. Permalink: 400,000 Pounds of Logo Horror for London 2012 | Comments (0)
A Shift in Identity Marketing
| The times they are, indeed, a-changin', and like it or not, many of your companies best marketers don't work for your marketing department, they're your customers. This power shift has numerous implications, including the importance of community and value of dialog rather than a one-way communication. As the lines continue to blur, identity marketing is no longer just about how the corporate identity is represented. |  |
Posted by mark at 3:14 PM. Permalink: A Shift in Identity Marketing | Comments (0)
Custom Cushions for Font Lovers
Helvetica may be the most important font of the 20th Century, but Veer wins for one of the most creative uses of a custom product to promote their fonts. Right now, order $200 worth of fonts and they'll send you two custom imprinted pillows that show off one of their font faces. Previously we've featured some promotional pillows and pillow cases, but offering them as a gift with purchase was a great idea. They also seem like perfect items to have in a stylish design firm or ad agency office, or the home office (read: couch) of a freelancer!
Posted by mark at 11:47 AM. Permalink: Custom Cushions for Font Lovers | Comments (0)
June 3, 2007Can Silver Surfer Quarter Escape Feds' Anger?
20th Century Fox and the Franklin Mint created 40,000 quarters, modified to contain the image of the Silver Surfer from the upcoming movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The US Mint was not amused, however. It is illegal to modify US currency, and the mint issued a press release claiming: "The promotion is in no way approved, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by the United States Mint, nor is it in any way associated or affiliated with the United States Mint," and that they would fine the Franklin Mint. In response, the Franklin Mint claimed that their Silver Surfer-izing of the coins did not compromise the coins' integrity in any way, so it should be allowed. Perhaps we should just go for some chocolate coins instead. I'm sure we could do those in silver (surfer).
Posted by mark at 5:06 PM. Permalink: Can Silver Surfer Quarter Escape Feds' Anger? | Comments (0)
Apes: Advertising's Next Target Audience?
We've been communicating with apes since Koko learned sign language. Since we share most of our DNA, it isn't a huge surprise that they can "talk" to us. Recently scientists have been communicating with apes using a touchscreen that contains 350 lexigrams (symbols, kinda like hieroglyphics). They've found that apes can consistently select the symbol that responds to a spoken word or other stimulus, including recognizing brands, like M&Ms. (via The Adverlab)
Posted by mark at 2:21 PM. Permalink: Apes: Advertising's Next Target Audience? | Comments (0)
June 2, 2007Balloon Makes Bubbly Promo for 7-up Comedy Tour
| This funny direct mail promotion was sent to journalists to generate some buzz for the 7-up Stand-up Comedy Tour. The promotional balloons were used to give writers a taste of how much fun the comedy tour would be: the balloons were filled with helium and a card was attached with instructions to inhale the helium and then read a message aloud. (via Direct Daily) |  |
Posted by mark at 2:06 PM. Permalink: Balloon Makes Bubbly Promo for 7-up Comedy Tour | Comments (0)
June 1, 2007Awareness Soup
| A clever idea and some fancy photoshop are the only things required to turn a can of soup into a breast cancer awareness product and Andy Warhol homage. Breast cancer awareness month won't be here until October, but it is notable in that it is one of the most successful awareness campaigns ever, with a number of organizations working to find a cure for this disease. |  |
Posted by mark at 2:57 PM. Permalink: Awareness Soup | Comments (0)
Maestro Limpio Makes Your Floor as Shiny as His Head
As they say, "location, location, location." In this case, it makes all the difference for what is essentially a sheet of clear plastic. This clever promo is designed to be slipped under the door to show you how shiny your floors would be if you used Maestro Limpio. (That's Mr. Clean to you.) For some related ideas we've featured in the past, check out this clever door-based promo, and this promo that is basically just a flat piece of plastic, but still rocks.
Posted by mark at 9:26 AM. Permalink: Maestro Limpio Makes Your Floor as Shiny as His Head | Comments (0)
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