AP Video: Metropolitan Desk Organizer

This is a video we made to show the Metropolitan Desk Organizer.

It has a logo area on the top, an integrated photograph frame, and four velvet-lined trays that can double as coasters.

The Desk Organizer makes a great gift for employee recognition or for industries that use tiny objects, like scrapbooking, beading, train models, etc.

American Promotions carries a whole line of Metropolitan office tools and gifts. Contact us for samples or more product information at 1-877-604-5646.

Does your desk need organizing? What are your favorite office tools?

Real Promotions: "Read" Visor Glasses Promotional Clip

I was thinking about the promotional products that stick around in my life and that I use, when I looked up (I was driving at the time) and attached to my visor was this:



It's a clip that attaches to a visor that holds glasses or sunglasses. I use it all the time, since I only use glasses when I drive. I wish I had two, since I keep my sunglasses in the car too.

The successful part of this promotional product is that it gets used every day, so the imprinted logo gets repetitive visibility. However, this particular company did not use the visor clip to its upmost. The imprinting simply says "Read." I'm assuming it came from a promotion by our local library. Or was it the school? The truth is, I don't remember. The company that paid to gives these visors away made a big mistake by not self-promoting their business. They didn't print their company name or contact information. So I can only give half points to this nameless company! They chose a good promotional product, but they didn't imprint it memorably.

Visor Glasses Clips would be a useful promotion in the Auto industry, from car washes to oil changes, and for an optometrist business, to carry their glasses in the car, as well as a sunglasses business for the same reason.

American Promotions carries a line of visor clips called the Auto Visor Mate Sunglasses Caddy. If you choose this advertising product, be sure to include your company name and either a phone number or website, so that your whole promotional package will point toward your company.

What's on your visor?

Real Promotions: Lexapro Plastic Reusable Grocery Bag

I bought eggs from my neighbor's little girl, and she gave them to me in this bag:



Her father is a pharmaceutical rep, obviously. But, since I'm always interested promotional items, after I put the eggs away I examined the bag. It's a simple plastic bag with handles made of the same material. This company imprinted a full coverage four color logo on both the front and the back.

Is this a successful promotion? Yes, I think it is. The logo is bright, eye catching and readable from afar--useful attributes on a bag that gets carried around. The base of the bag includes the company name, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and their five focuses: Pharmaceuticals, Therapeutics, Healthcare, Managed Care, and Specialty Sales. There is no contact number or website--but I don't think that's an omission on their part. The purpose of the bag is not to encourage people to shop at Forest Pharmaceuticals. Since prescriptions can only be written by a doctor, the purpose of the bag is to encourage people to recognize the name of the drug Lexapro and maybe ask their doctor about it. And the cost of plastic bags are lower than if they were non-woven or cotton bags or totes, so these bags help make marketing dollars go farther.

American Promotions carries a line of plastic bags so your company can "carry" your logo into promotional success too. Here's a Vinyl Accessory Bag, the clear Weekender, INSERT PLASTIC BAP LINK HERE

What promotional bags have crossed your path?

Real Promotions: Whole Foods Market Reusable Shopping Bag

I came across this Whole Foods Market bag. It's very large, non-woven and laminated. Here's a picture of it:



Whole Foods Market not only promotes their company, with their logo front and center, but they show how they feel about the environment, with their bold bag statement "I used to be a plastic bottle" above their logo. They even explain how this bag is "made from 80% post-consumer waste."



I would consider this promotion a success because:

1. The Whole Foods logo is prominent. People who use the bag and people who see the bag will be reminded of Whole Foods Market.

2. The recycled message appeals to Whole Foods consumers

3. The bag is made of laminated non-woven polypropylene which is durable, and the handles are re-enforced, so the bag will last.

4. The bag itself is a successful part of the promotions because it replaces plastic and paper disposable bags at the store, and so it is USEFUL to the Whole Foods customer.

Good job Whole Foods for a great promotion!



This Eco Message bag is similar to the Whole Foods bag: it is made from non-woven laminated polypropylene, and it has a full wrap of environmental designs that can surround a logo.

To look at more non-woven bags we carry at American Promotions, click HERE.

Real Promotions: Cotton Reusable Bag from the Library

The fundraising arm of our county library is called Central Point Friends of the Library, and they gave away, as part of a promotion, a cotton bag. You can see it here:



A bag likes this fits perfectly for a library promotion, since these cotton bags are sturdy enough to hold heavy books and inexpensive to buy.

To see our line of similar cotton bags and totes, click HERE. and HERE.

Click here to see our whole line of cotton bags and totes.

Real Promotions: Law Office Promotional Imprinted Pens

Imprinted pens are a classic promotional item. I wanted to see how they did in a real life setting.

So as an experiment, I walked around my Dad's law office and collected all the promotional pens they were using. I collected twelve.




The pens I found were all kinds of different designs. One of them wrote so well, that I had to tell my Mom that I would return it that day. She was attached. That was this pen:



These six pens have rubber grips, which were popular in this office.


I found two of the same kind! These two pens, exactly alike except for color, are some of the most inexpensive pens you see everywhere. Both of them were imprinted with hotel logos.



This is what I can learn from this real life search for promotional pens:

1. How a promotional pen writes translates directly into how attached a person feels toward the logoed pen.

2. People like the rubber grips on pens.

3. The most inexpensive pens are the most common pens, and seeing them everywhere means the pens are displaying those logos everywhere.

My conclusion from this "promotional pen journey" is that logoed pens are a classic advertising specialty for GOOD REASON--people use them and share them and do not throw them away.

To see hundreds of styles of promotional pens, take a look at our website at American Promotions.

Product Review: Sedici Tumbler Promotional Water Bottles

The Sedici Tumblers combine the usefulness of fast food cups and straws with the durability of BPA FREE acrylic. These Tumblers have a rubber gasket under the lid that aids the acrylic double walls in keeping cold drinks cold. Comes in 8 translucent colors. Includes a matching straw, but upon request contrasting colored straws are available. Did you see the peppermint striped straw in the video??



For product and ordering information, and for samples, contact us at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646 http://www.americanpromotions.com

Product Review: Classic Promotional Umbrella

Umbrellas make great promotional gifts or giveaways for all seasons of the year: Fall, Winter and Spring for rain/snow and Summer for shade. Because umbrellas are carried open when in use, umbrellas display high logo visibility.

The Classic Folding Umbrella featured in this video is made in the USA, is manually operated, and folds up to a mere 9" long. Available in 5 colors.

For product or ordering information, or for samples, contact us at American Promotions http://www.americanpromotions.com 1-877-604-5646

AP Video: H2Go SS Bolt and Solus Promotional Water Bottles

This is a video we just created to showcase our collection of sleek H2Go stainless steel water bottles.

You can see more information on these water bottles at: http://www.ameripromo.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=H2Go&x=54&y=12

Interested in samples or in making an order? Contact us at www.americanpromotions.com or by phone at 1-877-604-5646

Real Promotions: Shari's Non-Woven Tote Bags

When my husband and I went out to Shari's, a family diner type restaurant, to meet his brother's fiancee's family, we ate dinner and then had pie. Shari's has some good pie! I'm drooling just remembering the coconut cream pie as I look at the non-woven polypropylene bag that Shari's uses pie take out. I took a picture of it here:



They have a two color logo that covers the front panel and rear panel. The tag on the inside says it's designed for multiple use--and that's one of the reasons businesses use these bags for promotions. Because they get re-used and everytime they're being used for shopping, the business logo is receiving more coverage. This is the inside of the bag:



There are lots of different non-woven polypropylene bag and tote designs, some with stock designs that surround a logo with full color and coverage on the front and rear panels. Some non-woven bags are made of recyclable materials (some were former 2 ltr. bottles!). To look at the non-woven polypropylene promotional bags and totes we carry at American Promotions, click HERE. or HERE.

What's your favorite pie?

Product Review: Imprinted Wine and Cheese Promotional Tote Bags

I'm not a wine drinker myself. The closest I get to a little libation is some sparkling cider, but I suppose this handsome Meritage Wine and Cheese Tote by Picnic Time would work for that as well.
We are going to be releasing at least half a dozen new wine totes at American Promotions in August. They make fine company gifts.

Promotional Noisemaker: Thunderstix

This is an American PromotionsTV video that shows Thunderstix tubes, noisemakers for stadiums, school events, parades, and political rallies. Banging the two tubes together makes a thundering boom sound that grabs attention everywhere, perfect for advertising a logo.

Click here to see more product information on Thunderstix: http://www.ameripromo.com/thunderstix%C3%83%E2%80%A0-noisemakers-p-2501.html

To ask for a sample or make an order, contact us at http://www.americanpromotions.com or call us at 1-877-604-5646

Great Balls of Fire - Happy 4th of July!

Here is a little fun for your 4th of July evening.

A Few Reflections on Independence Day

For me, Independence Day is not a celebration of our government or even of the United States of America. It is a holiday to embrace every human freedom, and to commemorate a group of great men and women who recognized that God is the giver of all freedoms. He, not government, makes us free. When our nation was established, and for the first time in human history, these Founders courageously crafted a government to preserve these freedoms. They instituted checks and balances on the reach of government power. They intended a nation of freeholders, a nation where people can enjoy these freedoms and achieve their highest hopes and aspirations. They weren't perfect - no men are; but they did something which had never been done before.

The governments of men, by and large, are the enemies of human freedom. The constant war, the declining influence of the United States, the confusion of the regular citizen, the immorality of many leaders, and the shredding of Constitutional principles are all evidence of the general rapacious and self-interested nature of those who seek to govern.

The United States of America is in a perilous place, and its future is dark and uncertain, but I am seeing many concerned and liberty-loving people who are actively working and seeking to set us again on the right path. It is my fervent hope and prayer, that the best days for human freedom are still to come.

Bags and Totes: Eco, Polypropylene, Laminated, Recycled

Promotional Bags and Totes is a huge category in the Advertising Specialties business. This American PromotionsTV video showcases bags that are recycled, laminated, made of polypropylene (recycled from the same plastic that makes 2 liter pop bottles), hand wipeable or hand washable, and non-woven materials.

To ask for samples or to order, contact us at http://www.americanpromotions.com or call us at 1-877-604-5646

Horsin' Around.

A month or so back I wrote about my little two year old's adoration of all things equine. He can spot a horse from a quarter mile, and he seems to find every book on the shelf which features a horse, and implores me read it to him. And as the doting parent I am, I do so happily.

Here are three horse theme promotional items for the cowboys, ranchers and horse lovers at work or at play:

Horse Bender
Moseez Horse Stuffed Animal
Horse Stress Ball

Two Legendary Metal Forges

I was reading yesterday on the Advertising Specialty Institute ASI website when I came across an article in the Mergers & Acquisitions section which announced Wendell August Forge's purchase of Old Forge Metals, Inc., the terms being undisclosed.

Apparently, Wendell Forge has come back after a very trying period, as their headquarters burned about a year ago.

I was a little familiar with Old Forge Metals. Years ago, early in my promotional products career, I sold a series of 100 very high end fully custom chess sets with pewter playing pieces on a marble chess board and custom pewter corner pieces to Tahitian Noni International. I can't remember which supplier I used. If it was not Old Forge Metals - they were at least among the various suppliers that I researched when I was bidding the job.

The article piqued my interest, and I browsed the respective websites of Old Forge and Wendell August Forge. They both do stunning, inspiring work.

As just a small example, check out this Common Ground Alliance award exquisitely crafted for only the highest honors.

American Promotions is an ASI Distributor with 16 years of experience, and we are authorized to offer the products of Wendell August Forge and Old Forge Metals. If this supernal level of recognition product is what you require, you can contact us here.

$10,000 Houses From Trash?!

I came across a news article on Dan Phillips today - an inspiring and quirky home builder in Texas who builds whimsical homes from 80% plus reclaimed and recycled products in the $10k to $50k range. He runs the for-profit Phoenix Commotion initiative. His work is simply an inspiration. This man understands the value of a dollar. More importantly, he understands the value of a human being, and how to scale a dream to the dreamer.

Solid Bamboo Cutting Board

Giant bamboo are the largest members of grass family. These mind boggling plants can grow 39 centimeters in the right soil and in the right climate in a single day. Unlike trees they do not narrow as they climb skyward, but instead push into the blue in a regal columnar fashion. I've always been fascinated with bamboo, and if it didn't spread so uncontrollably, I think it would be cool to grow.

Bamboo is a wonderful renewable resource, and many housewares, and home construction materials and decor are constructed from bamboo.

If you are looking for a sincere bamboo cutting board to promote your business or organization, this laser engraved bamboo cutting board is an easy choice. It is generously sized, with beautiful contrasting color and expert laser engraving.

Google Can Be Such A Whale

The past week has been a whale - or it feels like I am inside one waiting to be spit out on some foreign shore.

At American Promotions, we have been dealing with a major Google Algorithm change which has slammed our position in the Google Shopping feed, and we are desperately trying to ascertain which steps to take to move forward. I have been up until between 1 and 2:30 four nights in the last eight or so days, and fairly late on the other nights too, burning the midnight oil.

To memorialize this craziness, and in keeping with the purpose of this blog, here are a couple of Whale promotional products which you may find a way to use for your business.

Whale Stress Balls

Humback Whale Stress Balls

and a cool website on whale watching in Oregon near where I live.

Visittheoregoncoast.com