Designer Neoprene Laptop Sleeves

Put a wetsuit on your laptop. Honestly, I would not advise submersing your laptop underwater. These are not waterproof, but the slick feel of neoprene fabric makes for a hip laptop cover and gives you some cushioning and climate control for your computer. You can have these laptop sleeves made up in dozens of color and size combinations, with fashionable designer fabrics to integrate them with as well.

Here is a a design by P.K. Reese



Here is the standard solid color style



And here is a cool two-tone, which is perfect for school color applications

Free Design With Purchase of Promotional Item

I saw something for the first time today which I think is potentially going to be a major trend in promotional products marketing. ETS Express, one of my favorite promotional products suppliers is now offering ready prepared designer graphic wraps for several of their stainless steel water bottles.

These wraps are colorful, customizable and you can just insert your logo and order. They really aren't anything more than graphic design done for you, and included in the price of the water bottle. They are also very smart, on ETS part, because they encourage additional upcharges as the customer needs to pay additional run charges to replicate some of the designs. And several of the retail water bottle companies have bright colorful designs like this, and so I can see these being popular in the promotional arena as well for those that can afford them.

I think we may see more pre-designed graphics which can be used in connection with a corporate logo to really dress up the look of a promotional product. In an earlier post, I mentioned designer neoprene computer sleeves, with the designer stripes already worked in.

I see this high level of customization becoming more and more prevalent in the industry.

Slinky Adhesive Notepad

A note pad which looks and plays like a classic slinky. It looks fun and surprising. American Promotions sells the slinky notepad here in five separate colors.

Icefil Performance Cap

The Icefil Performance Cap by CapAmerica is very innovative. The Icefil technology takes sweat and converts it to a refrigerant cooling the wearer's head faster and more efficiently than the sweat alone. The fabric contains Xylitol, the same ingredient in an "icy" chewing gum. The cap also shields the wearer from IR and UV rays.

It is moisture absorbing, fast drying, have 2 way air circulation and an anti-bacterial coating. So ditch your basic fabric poly cotton caps and put your org's logo on the coolest cap of the year.

American Promotions, Inc. sells the Icefil Performance Cap here.

Fabriko Ship-N-Tote Bag

A very cool way to get your package opened, provide a gift with a big "Gee Whiz!" factor and be green all at the same time.

The Fabriko Ship-N-Tote Bag is a mailing packet which converts into a tote bag after it has been opened. It can be all over printed.

It comes in a drawstring bag and shopper's tote variations.

Awesome Floating Globe

This awesome floating globe is the type of thing I can't have on my desk, because it would be hugely anti-productive. I would just spend the whole day spinning it and playing with it. The globe floats via magnetic suspension. This reduces all friction except the air around it, so it can spin effortlessly.

This is the perfect gift for letting an employee or a great customer know you can work magic. I want one!

We sell the magnetic floating globe here.

14 Best Designed Products of 2009

I'm a fan of ASI, the Advertising Specialty Institute, which is a major information provider and technology developer for the promotional products and advertising industry. They have a great website at www.asicentral.com. The best stuff is for distributors only, but there is all kinds of neat promotional ideas for the general public as well.

Not everything about ASI thrills me, but for the most part, they provide more utility and service for the promotional products professional than any of the their competitors (of which there are only a handful).

I was reading on ASI's website today, and I found an article featuring the 14 best-designed products of 2009 and all of them are very cool and unique - true standouts among the literally hundreds of thousands of promotional items in the marketplace. I liked them so much, that I have decided to feature them on this blog, with my own comments - 1 per day for the next 14 days (Sundays not included.)

MoMA Magnetic Perpetual Calendar

Uniquely designed functional art which gives you the date and month. Sits on a desk or on the wall. Perfect for an advertising agency or a design centric client.

And you get to put your logo on it!

MoMA Magnetic Perpetual Calendar