Spirit Acrylic Tumblers are Popular Promotions

Over the course of the last week, our landing page for the Spirit Acrylic Tumbler has been driving considerable interest for these excellent double wall acrylic 16 oz tumblers and for our Sedici Tumblers. People like the 11 available colors, the option to have of color lids on the clear tumblers, the choice of straws, and the expanding options in lid styles. The Spirit Tumbler is coming out within the next month with a hot cold lid option.

We even had a call from a company who was seeking to buy these acrylic tumblers in the 24 oz. size blank for the purposes of decorating them with vinyl graphics for their own clients. That was a first. The innovation of small business even in small variations always energizes and amazes me.

I enjoy reading other entrepreneurial successes, and recently, I've really taken to enjoying a little downtime browsing Kickstarter.com which is a great home for innovation on the web. More on that in later posts.

Upscale your brand with the Pedova iPad Case

If your organization or customers are among the millions of people who have made the iPad an indispensable  part of their lives, you may consider gifting the Pedova iPad Stand and Case. This refined and elegant case also features a pen loop and a ruled pad for notes. The organizational panel built into iPad stand features three ports for pen, stylus or USB memory, five business card pockets and a receipt or memo pocket. As a promotion, it will not break the budget either as it is crafted from UltraHyde as opposed to spendier leather.

If you are simply looking for a nice non-promotional case with a unique flare, I really like the Twelve South BookBook iPad Case and if you are looking for something rugged, try the Gumdrop Cases Military Edition in the rugged military green. 

AP Video: Travel Sentry Tag and Lock Promotional Product

This American Promotions video demonstrates how to use the Travel Sentry Luggage Tag and Lock promotional tool.

This imprinted Travel Sentry Luggage Lock is tiny, but that's just what you want in a luggage lock. It's TSA compliant, so you know it's strong, and the handy personal information label on the lock helps you keep track of your bag. This video shows how to use the simple combination lock. 

For more luggage tags and accessories or some imprinted luggage, check out this page on our website.

For product and ordering information, and for samples, contact us at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646.

What accessories to you use when you travel?

AP Video: JournalBooks Pedova Custom Printed Journals

This American Promotions video showcases a JournalBook from the Pedova line of promotional journals.

These Pedova JournalBooks are made from faux leather that looks real and feels very soft. The Italian style covers have a thread sewn binding, a high quality detail.

The imprinting is blind deboss. You can deboss your logo, or can choose a full cover design, from four stock designs, to complement your logo. Watch the video to see the difference between the two logo options. The Pedova JournalBooks come in five different colors and they include two satin ribbon bookmarks and an elastic pen holder. To complete your promotional package, choose an imprinted pen (we have hundreds of different pen choices).

Click here to see more JournalBooks on the American Promotions website.

To take a look at some of the pen options from American Promotions, click here.

For product and ordering information, and for samples, go to our website or feel free to call us toll-free at 1-877-604-5646.

Do you write in a journal? Would you like a gift like this from your employer?

AP Video: H2Go Stealth Promotional Water Bottle

This American Promotions video displays the H2Go Stealth promotional water bottle.

Designed for cold liquids, the H2GO Stealth promotional water bottle has a large opening for easy cleaning and for adding ice easily. It is BPA free and comes in nine translucent colors.

The H2Go Stealth has a large imprint area and its clean, modern lines make it a standout in promotional drinkware.

For samples or more product information, contact us at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646.

To see a similar promotional water bottle, the H2Go Vornado, click here.

What is your favorite type of water bottle and why?

AP Video: H2GO Aluminum Classic Promotional Water Bottles

This American Promotions video showcases the H2Go Aluminum Classic promotional water bottle.

The H2GO Aluminum Classic promotional water bottles come with carabiners and are BPA FREE. They're manufactured in ten vivid colors and are designed for cold liquids. They're available with your imprint or with full wrap stock designs that cover the whole bottle and can be color changed to match your logo.

These full wrap stock designs are very attractive! Simply choose a full wrap stock design out of many choices, click colors to match your logo, and then your logo is printed nestled in a full coverage design that maximizes the water bottle's promotional capability.

To see a line of stainless steel promotional water bottles, click on the names below:

• H2Go Bolt promotional water bottle
• H2Go Athans promotional water bottle
• H2Go Stainless Steel Classic promotional water bottle

For more product information, visit our American Promotions website by clicking here. For samples or answers to your questions, call us toll-free at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646.

Do you own a metal water bottle, or a water bottle made of some other material? What's your favorite?

AP Video: High Sierra Multi-Tool Promotional Product

This American Promotions video showcases the High Sierra 15-Function Multi-Tool promotional product.

The advertising specialty High Sierra Multi-Tool is made from stainless steel and comes with a whopping 15 functions. This video shows where they are, helpful since a couple of the tools have multiple function. This tool is so useful and durable recipients will use them for years, giving your logo long term visibility. This product has two locations where logos can be imprinted.

Go to our American Promotions website for product and ordering information, or for  samples and answers to your questions just call us toll-free at 1-877-604-5646.

Do you own a multi-tool? What are its most useful functions? 

AP Video: H2Go Vornado Promotional Waterbottles

This American Promotions video shows the H2Go Vornado promotional waterbottle line.

The H2Go Vornado water bottles hold 32 oz. of cold liquid and are BPA FREE. They come in 9 translucent colors. They display a large imprint area of 7 x 3 inches, although if you want more, ask us about the full wrap option. Their large opening makes cleaning or adding ice easy to do.

To see a similar water bottle, called the H2Go Stealth, click here.

For product and ordering information, or for samples, contact us at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646.

What's your favorite type of water bottle?

Product Review: Promotional Stuffed Animals, A Beaver

We got an order for 250 of these stuffed animal beavers. They're so soft and cute!

 Here is a picture of the beaver with the t-shirt. The logoed tiny t-shirts are on their way here from the printer, the one this beaver is wearing is blank. Both blank and logoed tiny t-shirts are available.

Stuffed animals are a growing promotional category. Probably because there are so many animals to choose from, all of them appealing, and animals advertise well---almost everyone loves them.

These beavers are for an organization that fights wildfires. They're going to give them away to their people.

American Promotions carries a large line of stuffed promotional animals. Go here to see a stuffed Bull for a financial company her for a stuffed Bear that was ordered for a bank, and here to see a stuffed promotional cow that was ordered for a pharmaceutical company.

What's your favorite animal? What company do you think should use a stuffed animal promotion?

AP Video: SS Classic Promotional Water Bottle

This American Promotions video displays the H2Go Stainless Steel Classic promotional water bottle.

The H2Go Stainless Steel Classic water bottles are made from 18/8 stainless steel and hold 24 oz. of cold liquids. Their screw-on black lids come with a hole for the add-on carabiners. They're manufactured in 7 colors. Imprint area is 5 1/4 x 3 inches, but be sure to ask us about the full wrap option (using color coordinated stock art to design a fully covered water bottle).

Go to our American Promotions webpage for product and ordering information of the H2Go SS Classic. 

To see similar stainless steel promotional water bottles, click on their names:

• The Stainless Steel H2Go Bolt promotional water bottle
• The Stainless Steel H2Go Athans promotional water bottle

For an aluminum version, the H2Go Aluminum Classic promotional water bottle, take a look at this video by clicking here.

For samples and answers to your questions feel free to contact us with a toll-free call at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646.

Do you prefer a water bottle made of stainless steel, or a different material?

Real Promotions: Mousepad

We had an order recently of full color mousepads. Mousepads are a classic promotional product because of their low cost and high logo visibility.They have a soft fabric top layer on top of a rubber circle, and come in different thicknesses.

I'm using one of these mousepads under my computer mouse at this very moment. It works great, even at the thinner size, which is key to a successful promotion. The product must work well! I think the colors on the mousepad make it a successful promotion as well. What isn't as successful, to me at least, are the five initials printed at the bottom of the pad. I assume it has something to do with the company, but it doesn't tell me what the company does or how to contact them. Including that information would take the promotion to a higher advertising level--even if the phone number or website were tiny on the pad. However, this company still gets high points for choosing long lasting mousepads and for the bright full color logo that catches the eye.

Thanks for your order, and best promoting wishes to you, WPAFB.

What's under your computer mouse? 

AP Video: H2Go Bolt Promotional Water Bottles

This American Promotions video shows the H2GO Stainless Steel Bolt promotional water bottle.

The H2Go Bolt water bottle is made from 18/8 stainless steel and holds 24 oz of cold liquid. Available blank or with your logo, the Bolt also offers a full wrap option that surrounds your logo with a stock art wrap custom colored to match. The stock art wraps are very attractive and give you water bottle a designer look.

The Bolt comes with a screw-on black lid that has a hole for an add-on carabiner and is textured to make screwing the lid on and off easy even with wet fingers. 

To see similar stainless steel promotional water bottles, click on their names:

• The Stainless Steel H2Go Classic promotional water bottle 
• The Stainless Steel H2Go Athans promotional water bottle

For an aluminum version, the H2Go Aluminum Classic, take a look at this video by clicking here.

Click here for more product and ordering information at the American Promotions website (live chat available). For samples and answers to your questions, contact us at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646 

Where do you use your water bottles? What's your favorite?

Product Review: Promotional Sweatshirt Blankets

My eldest daughter just entered high school. I'm rather in shock, because I can't believe she's old enough and I can't believe I'm old enough.

With her in high school, I expect she'll want to go to outdoor football games (high school football is really big in our town). I remember my high school football days. The bright lights, the loud cheering, the chilly fall air...NO, I didn't actually play. But in my senior year I wore the school mascot suit, taking turns with my twin sister, riling up the crowd. It was a comet suit. Yes, most unusual mascot.

A popular school sport promotion is the sweatshirt blanket.

People use sweatshirt blankets to keep warm and show school spirit as spectators, like this woman in a Hunter green promotional sweatshirt blanket....

or like this sport participant wearing a red sweatshirt blanket, and, um, little else.

Imprinted sweatshirt blankets roll up small, making them slightly more portable than the also popular fleece promotional blankets or plush promotional blankets. 

For other school event promotional accessories, check out these fold-out stadium cushions, self-inflating stadium cushions, football shaped stadium cushions, as well as stadium noisemaker sticks (here's the AP video of those noisemakers).

What was the mascot of your school? Anyone else have a Comet for their mascot?

AP Video: H2Go Athans Promotional Water Bottle

We made this video over at American Promotions to display the H2go Athans promotional water bottle.

The H2Go Athans promotional water bottles are made from 18/8 stainless steel and hold 24 oz. of cold liquid. They come with a standard Screw-On Lid but have a Carabiner Lid or a Sport Pull Lid option. They're designed in six metallic colors and have an add-on carabiner available.

The H2Go Athans water bottles look very sleek and modern with their handsome metallic design. They slope in at the "waist" to make a comfortable hand hold when carrying or drinking.

To see similar stainless steel promotional water bottles, click on their names:

• The Stainless Steel H2Go Bolt promotional water bottle
• The Stainless Steel H2Go Classic promotional water bottle

For an aluminum version, the H2Go Aluminum Classic promotional water bottle, take a look at this video by clicking here.


Go here for product and ordering information (live chat available on the website), or for samples and answers to your questions, contact us at American Promotions 1-877-604-5646.

What kind of water bottle do you use?

Marketing Opinion: Courtesy Calls Aren't About Just Saying Hi

When I answer the phone and hear the words, "Hi, I'm [Jane] and I'm calling from [a business] and this is just a quick courtesy call...." I instantly know that it's NOT just a courtesy call. Jane isn't calling to just say Hi.

It's a sales call. And when callers come to the part in their script that asks, "Are you interested?" I say No. Most of the time. Because I'm not interested. And they're off to the next call. Because they have a certain amount of calls to make an hour so they can get paid. No one is really interested on either side of the telephone.

This pattern as a marketing plan doesn't seem to be working. Paying people to make calls that no one wants to hear? There has to be a better way to use the telephone to connect to prospective customers.

I think I know a better pattern. What if a company sent a gift to a prospective customer, and THEN made the follow up call? And the follow up call was to ask them what they thought of the gift. If they didn't like it, then find out why. If they did like it, then find out why. A conversation happens. A real conversation, not just a false courtesy call to see if someone is interested in listening to a sales pitch. The gift begins the conversation.

Here are some items that are:

• inexpensive, which is important for giveaways, 
• small, so they fit into a mailer,
• useful, so they don't get thrown away before the call,
• unique, so the gift will be remembered when the follow up call is made.

Here are FIVE mailer gift possibilities:

The Mint Pen. This is a pen shaped container that dispenses mints one at a time. Available in three flavors: peppermint, cinnamon and squint and sugar free. 

While I'm on the subject of mints, Check out these Slim Mints:

They're small so they fit in a wallet, pocket or mailer. And they have a large imprint space for the money, plus they get double the logo views when your recipient shares a mint! They are available in a sugar free version too.

That flat credit card shape is easy to mail and portable to carry, so take a look at these uniquely shaped Flatinum USB Flash Drives:

The last two mailer suggestions will be promotional pens. Pens are the most popular promotional item, because they are inexpensive and useful to everyone. But to go into a mail, the pen has to be unique, otherwise it won't get much notice.

Here are two unique pens that will make a promotional mailer stand out:

These pens are the Retractable Pocket Telescope Ballpoint Pens.

The ribbed silver barrel telescopes into a full sized pen! The retracted size is smaller, which makes mailing easier.

These pens are the Shorty Sporty Pens. They're only 3 1/2 inches long, great for mailing, and they include a key chain attachment, which increases the usefulness to include portability as well as writing!

So next time you get a courtesy call, ask the caller to give you a courtesy gift first, and then you'll talk.

Does your company use the telephone for sales calls? Have you ever made a business call and got shot down by an uninterested listener? Do you like courtesy calls?

AP Video: Double Wall Plastic Tumbler

Sometimes it's helpful to see a cup in a video rather than in a photograph, so we've created this American Promotions video for the Double Wall Plastic Tumbler. The imprint for this product goes on the side.

With Fall and Winter weather right around the corner, it's time for hot drinks. Steaming coffee, hot chocolate and tea warm us up during the cold season. Then comes Spring and Summer with iced tea and cold sodas to keep us cool.  If you want promotional drinkware designed for cold AND hot liquids, then the 12 oz. Double Wall Plastic Tumbler is an excellent choice.

The 12 oz. Double Wall Plastic Tumbler is a promotional cup designed for keeping hot or cold liquids at temperature. Its dimensions fit most corporate coffee machines and it is BPA free. It comes in WHITE.

American Promotions carries a variety of tumblers made from plastic to stainless steel. For samples or more product information, contact us at American Promotions or at 1-877-604-5646.

What do you drink to keep cool in the Summer and warm up in the Winter?

Real Promotions: Office Break Room Promotional Imprinted Mugs

I wandered over to the Break Room of our office complex. I wanted to see what kind of promotional cups that people kept and used. I found five.

One was from a local radio station, one from an electric supply company, a local college, a local branch of Kiwanis Club, and People's Bank. All five of their imprints were in mint condition. These mugs are used a lot, so it's a real life example of how long logoed mugs last. 

Although these logos were in excellent condition, they could've used the ad space more completely.

Lots of  points goes to the college for including their contact information--they were the only one out of the five. 

Now, there are two camps about including contact information. One side says just use the logo, it will keep your business at the top of the customer's mind, and they'll use the phone book or the Internet to find contact information. That makes some sense, but I am of a different mind. I believe that contact information, even if very small, makes more use of the ad space and makes customer communication more easy. In my opinion, the easier it is for a customer to make contact, the more customers will do so. 

I've used promotional products to quickly access a phone number. I did it with a dentist's refrigerator magnet and a sign maker's pen. Both included their phone number and both of them received my business. 

That being said, sometimes all a company wants is name recognition. I think of the pharmaceutical industry. Since prescriptions are delivered through doctors and pharmacies, name recognition of their drug is all a pharmaceutical company wants. But they are an exception to the general rule. Another exception is promotions for large chains. 

The bank mug that I'm looking at right now is for a large chain. They probably ordered a big mug order through corporate and distributed it to the branches. They exchanged customer contact for a cheaper price on the mugs, and I think that can be justified, but they should've included their website at the very least, to encourage online banking.

The radio station should have included their radio station number! The Electric supply company should have included their phone number to make reorders easier! The Kiwanis should have included their meeting time, which is the same year round (for example: Meet with us the fourth Tuesday of every month). This would be a good reminder for their members and would take their mug's advertising potential up a notch.

Mugs are a classic promotional product because they are long lasting, visible, inexpensive and useful. American Promotions carries promotional Bistro mugs here and Diner Mugs here. If you're thinking about a mug promotion, consider taking it up a notch by pairing it with imprinted packets of hot chocolate or coffee like this:

What mugs are in your break room? Your kitchen cupboard?

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?