Your Customized Promotional Items Can Come Alive

Bring spring & summer to your clients all year round. There is nothing like a live plant to pick up someone's spirits or brighten an office. Even in these bleak winter months, flowers & herbs can grow from an assortment of planters--all with your logo on them.

At the same time these are eco-friendly gifts. When you distribute these to your clients, you'll be giving out two messages: your own, advertising your company & another one showing you care about the environment.

Yoko Ono has designed a plant that, once grown, is printed with the word 'love'. The 'Grow Love With Me' limited-edition piece was originally created for the Serpentine Gallery in England. A recyclable aluminum can houses a seed that promises to grow love. The text is laser-etched onto a bean. Then, as the plant grows, it's message becomes easier & easier to read.




Want an imprinted seed/plant to grow your own message......something that will remind your customers who you are & what your business stands for? Good news, you don't have to travel to England--just pick up your phone & call a distributor who sells promotional custom products.

This is a recycled plastic imprinted planter (several colors available) that contains growing mix, 5 magic beans & planting instructions.  The price includes a lid that also serves as a saucer, an imprinted one or two color logo & 5 various words to be engraved on the seeds--a different word for each bean.  You choose the words that best describes your company or the message you want to relay.



 Besides handing them out to your customers as promotional imprinted products, they can also be used at fundraising dinners, for environmental awareness & as favors at weddings or other special occasions.

How about a planter kit that contains everything that is needed to grow flowers & herbs? Your customers can have a mini garden at home or in the office all year long.  Choose from plastic planters or leak-proof pouches. Both come with seed packets, soil discs & instructions for planting & drainage. The planter shows your logo in a one-color imprint while the pouch as a multi-color label  on one side advertising your company & on the other, a color graphic of the plant chosen.


Seeded paper products are unique customized promotional items--when you are through with them, don't throw them away but plant them instead. You can grow flowers, wildflowers, herbs or spruce trees; depending on what the paper is made from. The actual seeds or flower petals are blended into the paper or vellum. How's that for an awesome idea!  These come complete with your company name & logo & instructions for planting.  It's not a gimic........they really will grow!

1. BOOKMARK: Full color bookmark with a seeded paper shape attached. Keep the bookmark & plant the seeded paper.  There's a wide variety of shapes & colors.

2. NOTEBOOKS & JOURNALS: Thick seeded paper embedded with flower petals. The cover is debossed with your logo or message & then bound with 40 sheets of recycled paper. After the paper is used, the cover can be planted flowers.

3. MAILERS/POSTCARDS: Your message & company is printed in full color on one side of recycled card stock. The seeded paper shape is attached.

So bring your logo to life & give something that will keep on growing!
IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

The Birth Of Promotional Custom Products

George Washington's birthday is in a couple of days so let me ask you this......what else, besides being our first president, did he do before anyone else?

The father of our country was also the father of promotional imprinted products. In 1789, George Washington used three different presidential buttons commemorating his inauguration. Those buttons are the first known promotional items used in the United States. Today they are worth $3000 - $10,000 each. Much like promotional products today, the intent of these inauguration buttons were to raise awareness.

In the early 1800's, advertising calendars & rulers were circulated, but it wasn't until the late 19th century that custom promotional products really began to catch on.  Credit for this is given to Jasper Freemont Meek. He owned a failing newspaper in Coshocton, Ohio. Having the equipment to do so, he looked to supplement his income by taking on additional jobs.

Jasper Freemont Meek

After seeing a child drop his books in the dirt on his way to school, Mr Meek approached his friend, Mr. Cantwell, owner of Cantwell Shoes, with an idea to increase traffic & sales. Meek's idea was to create a simple, burlap book bag with the message "Buy Cantwell Shoes" imprinted on it. Cantwell would give every child who came into his store a free bag. The bag would then be seen all over town as the children went to & from the schoolhouse. Mr. Meek manufactured & printed the bag on his press & both men reaped the rewards of the partnership.

The  success of the book bag lead to the launch of his second promotional product: imprinted horse covers seen on horses throughout town. These were moving billboards. Meek eventually formed the Tuscarora Advertising Co., established a sales force & enjoyed a successful customized promotional company with little to no competition until 1889.

As with all successful businesses, competitors eventually formed. The next one to jump on the wagon was Henry D. Beach, another newspaper owner. Both men began printing advertising on anything that could be run through a printing press: caps, aprons, marble bags, card cases, calendars & fans.

original package of Juicy Fruit gum

Then in 1891, the Wrigley Company took advertising specialties to new heights. At that time they sold soap & baking powder. To get an edge on their competition, Wrigley included a promotional imprinted product in each package. Can you guess what that give-away was? That's right......chewing gum with their logo on it. The gum that was included in every package of baking soda seemed to be more popular than the product is was designed to promote. A year later, William Wrigley Jr., introduced a new gum called Juicy Fruit. And so began the world's most popular & successful chewing gum business. Now that's a $5 billion dollar history lesson on marketing.

There's no way you can give out the first promotional item nor will you reach the level of success that the Wrigley Company did; but you can still be successful in distributing promotional imprinted products with your logo on them. If you do nothing, you will be missing out an efficient & economical way to gain company recognition.

Today promotional products play a role in businesses everywhere. Countless companies rely on these products to promote their brand, attract new customers & express appreciation to loyal customers.

How do you or your business use promotional products today?
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Customized Promotional Pens--They're Essential

Here is a fun poem about customized promotional pens that I found on the Internet (written anonymously). It shows just how many times in one day a logo on a branded pen is seen......that could be your company name on that pen.

I  think this is understated--a pen is actually used & seen by even more people in a day.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PROMOTIONAL PEN
As a promotional pen I have to say,
you would be amazed how I'm seen along the way.

I'm dragged from drawer at the beginning of day
to be shoved in a pocket of a jacket that's gray.

Bounced around as we run for the train,
I guess we must be late again.

Crushed & pushed but soon we settle,
now out with a crossword puzzle to test his mettle.

I'm tapped & chewed as he ponders his clues,
quick to complete the answers he'll choose.

We arrive in the city, crossword complete,
newspaper discarded, left on the seat.

But I'm back in the pocket, nice & snug
as he stops for a coffee in a take-way mug.

We get to the office, time to spare;
jacket is hung on the back of his chair.

Not me, his promotional pen--I'm here on the desk for all to see
sitting next to his work & his new PC.

Answers the phone with his left, me in his right,
ready for note taking, ink shiny & bright.

Someone enters our office with pen & paper in hand,
I can see that pen also carries a brand.

We go to a meeting, top brass are all there,
I notice a promotional pen in the hand of the chair.

You really can't miss us or the message we hold,
that's our purpose in life or so I am told.

Manufactured with care, printed with style;
we are displaying your brand all of the while.

The meeting is ending, chairs sliding back,
a quick word with you, says a colleague named Jack.

Couldn't help noticing your promotional pen,
I need a birthday present for my lovely wife Jen.

Just need the website & number it holds,
of the jeweler who specializes in golds.

You see we are top of our game,
when it comes to spreading your name.

We to to lunch & discuss a promising deal;
when it over, he uses me to sign for the meal.

Return to the office when someone asks,
"Can I borrow your pen to sign off on these tasks?"

Back at our desk, me in the pocket,
Jack calls by--he's ordered the locket.

Glad my pen was of help, was the reply;
hot date tonight so got to say good-bye.

Back on the train, I'm out & in use,
jotting down notes on some sheets that are loose.

Home in a hurry fast as he can,
bacon & eggs are thrown in a pan.

I'm put on the side for about an hour,
while he eats his dinner & takes a shower.

Mouthwash gargled, aftershave spraying,
looks like he's out for an evening playing.

Sitting in the top pocket of a nice clean shirt,
I can see the lady & hear him flirt.

He's doing quite well, she seems really nice;
he certainly seems to have broken the ice.

They want to trade numbers to keep in touch,
she uses me & says she likes me very much.

Numbers exchanged on a handy beer mat,
I'm put back in the pocket with a reassuring pat.

At home I'm in the drawer for the night,
to be taken out tomorrow--my imprint in sight.

We promotional pens are essential you see;
we are functional, welcome & usually free.

And if a pen could really talk, that would probably be a typical day.  There is one other scenario......a pen that gets lost or "borrowed". It can travel from hand to hand just like a dollar bill does on any given day. That's really good for you because then any number of people can see your message & one of those could result in a sale.

Pens are great promotional imprinted products because they are something everyone uses, even in this day of the computer. You don't have to worry about your target audience. There are gadzillions of styles to choose from & an assortment of colors......you can make it uniquely your own. Another benefit, it is one of the most economical ways of advertising your business as it reaches a vast audience.

If pens imprinted with your logo could talk, what would they tell you: "Get me out of this storage closet & let me see some sunshine." or "Keep handing me out--I love to meet new people."

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman