One of the newest promotional items on site is this pelican-shaped stapler ($5.86), an award-winning design that will look really neat with your logo on it. This multifunction office accessory comes with a removable stapler (yes, you don't have to lift the entire thing to staple documents), a built-in staple remover, and slots to hold business cards and Post-it flags. It's also got nonslip rubber feet, so you're certain that this promotional office accessory stays in its place. Any office worker would love to have this multifunction desk accessory. Zoos and safaris might also want to offer this branded as a souvenir item in their gift shops. Nonprofit organizations might want to consider giving this as a thank-you gift to donors and supporters. Any way you do it will surely boost your brand. SAVINGS ALERT: We're currently offering this new product at a special price only to those who have registered with us or subscribed to our newsletters. If you've done so and haven't received the promo code, e-mail me at cbenjamin[AT]branders[DOT] com and I'll make sure you get it.

By April next year, tobacco companies will not be able to add their logo to sporting, athletic, or entertainment events or on custom T-shirts and other apparel and other promotional items. With the bill that President Obama signed recently, granting the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco, cigarette companies will be seeing a lot of changes. Aside from being banned from adding logos to promotional items (similar to what happened to the health industry early this year), tobacco companies will have to pull out flavored cigarettes off the market. In addition, manufacturers and importers will have to disclose the ingredients in their products. It's been a longstanding battle between legislators and tobacco companies, one that many probably thought they won't see the end of. Obama, who has publicly disclosed his struggles to quit smoking, hopes this new bill will reduce the 1,000 teenagers who become smokers every day. If your organization is looking into promotional items to help you in your anti-smoking campaign, this box of custom Australian chewing sticks is a good encouragement. Infused with Australian tea-tree oil, peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, fennel, and menthol, these promotional chewing sticks freshen breath and leave a long-lasting flavor in the mouth that promises to ...

A bad economy can't stand in the way of true love, and for a couple of Branders clients, it's all systems go, recession or not. In fact, we went through our client list and found some brilliant but affordable wedding giveaways that will not put a dent on one's wedding budget: Soon-to-be bride Amy Stendardo had these big white totes ($1.45) embroidered with a personalized artwork of two fish kissing and the line "Two less fish in the sea." I thought it was very sweet! Ever thought of giving out personalized air fresheners? Well, upcoming bride Megan Wilson did so. The heart-shaped paper air fresheners ($0.59) she ordered had a personal inscription in gold color that said "Thanks sharing this special day from our hearts to yours." We bet there was a lot of puckering up at Jessica Settle's wedding as premium lip balm giveaways ($0.71) that carried photo labels of the bride and groom were handed out. Detail-oriented bride Terry Lowe had all the elements personalized for her December wedding, right down to the three-ply dinner napkins ($138.79). Her custom bookmark giveaways ($0.29) came with blue tassels and a very hopeful message that is sure to move any stone-hearted commitment phobe out ...

Don't leave a bad business card behind. This week (June 7 to 15) is National Business Etiquette Week, and I thought I'd share with you some of the best business etiquette practices that our account managers (and savvy sourcing experts) do to keep their customers. These business practices are so fundamental that apply to any industry. We hope you find them useful: Respond to customers' e-mails or calls promptly. It's rude to keep customers waiting and leaving them wondering whether anyone has acted on their requests. A Branders client, Sandra Pecora, writes that what she she likes about her account manager, Alex Andersen, is that he always "responds to my e-mails and calls very quickly" and that "he has always answered my questions or found answers for me in a timely manner." Deliver what you promise. It's easy to guarantee to deliver on time or to say "we'll give you your money back," but no amount can pay for a failed marketing campaign that resulted from a promotional products order that arrived two days late. One Branders client, Chelle Watson, says she can always depend on her account manager, Chris Florendo, for any project because her orders always arrive on time. Ensure an excellent ...

Father's Day is just around the corner. Have you ordered personalized gifts for the fathers in your list? If you've already planned a big Father's Day celebration, here are some of our best Father's Day picks, perfect for every kind of father there is: For the dads who wear their hearts on their sleeves, why not order personalized T-shirts for everyone imprinted with the words, "Proud to be Dad." Highly recommended: This promotional Gildan shirt has gotten good reviews by many clients. Because hardworking dads need to play hard too. Give your sports-fan dad a day of relaxation with this custom-printed stress balls or how about a fun game with this custom football? For the dad who is always fixing things, get him a new set of toolkits. While buy a new tie for the dapper young dad who is always careful about how he looks. For the fathers who enjoy cooking, buy them their own personalized Grill Master aprons, a complete  kitchen helper that comes with a detachable bottle opener, padded oven mitt, and towel. For daddies who are regulars at the airport lounges, give them something they can take on their next business trip: a pair of custom earphones so he can ...

Hi, Celine, I know many people will be traveling this season, so I was wondering if you could give me some promotional travel ideas to get me going. Isn't it good to know that people are actually traveling or plan to travel this season? Not only will this help the economy, but traveling will give us all stressed-out folks some time off to recharge. Those heading to the beach will need ample supply of lip balm and sunscreen to last the season, so make sure you order more more than enough--the better to have your logo visible the entire summer. Some people like me will continue to travel on business, in which case, neck pillows personalized with your logo will make cozy on-board companions. Jetsetters will love practical travel accessories like these luggage spotters, so they won't have any problems telling their bags apart from the others (this will also get your logo seen), as well as these custom earplugs (to discourage the talkative seatmate from chatting them up the entire flight). FoxNews recently came out with a feature that some practical-minded families prefer to stay at home or camp in nearby areas, in which case, camping and picnic essentials that can be shared, ...

It's that time of year again when we all bid books and homework goodbye and say hello to summer, sun, and sand. With the seasons a-changing, isn't it time for you to change your marketing moves to suit the season's demands as well? Hosting a beach party? Make your brand visible even from a distance by adding your logo to this beach umbrella. A beach party is no fun without games. How about hosting a beach volleyball or Frisbee competition? Garb your players in these moisture-wicking promotional T-shirts so they remain cool amidst the summer heat. Get people to remember your brand with these promotional personal-care items they can take home with them. We highly recommend adding your logo to this herbal green tea lotion or to this premium lip balm.

Dear Celine, I run a small deli shop, and I'd really like to promote my turkey products. Turkey is a healthy, low-calorie alternative to chicken and pork, and meat vendors like us really need a lot of help to boost our sales. Thanksgiving and Christmas are still a long way off, but I'd like my consumers to know that they can buy turkey and canned turkey byproducts any time of the year. There are countless things you can do to promote your turkey products. And you're right, Thanksgiving isn't the only time to promote turkey. June happens to be Turkey Lovers Month, so why not boost the turkey love with these promotional items, all below $5: Build brand recall with these promotional turkey-shaped stress relievers. Offer it as a giveaway for at least $50 worth of turkey products purchase. Promote turkey recipes as healthy options! You can print your recipes on promotional coasters or custom magnets and give them out to shoppers or send them by direct mail to regular clients. Remember to have your number printed clearly so customers know how to reach you. SAVINGS ALERT: Another less costly way to send your recipes is through an e-newsletter. Ask for your customers' e-mail addresses by offering a small gift in exchange, ...

I've always loved reading, but I am ashamed to admit that while I read everything and anything when I have the time, I didn't know until today that May is Get Caught Reading Month and that this book-loving celebration is actually on its tenth year! I also found out that the National Basketball Association has teamed up with Get Caught Reading to bring this activity to new heights by distributing posters of NBA and WNBA players caught doing their favorite deed: reading. As I come from a family that treasures reading (my parents are educators and my dad's a writer), I feel sad knowing that fewer people are reading these days. GCR's program this year is to emphasize that reading brings you to greater heights. The greatest achievers in history were big readers. Now I wish I'd known about this event earlier, or I would have suggested the following promotional items for GCR, libraries, and bookstores to encourage people to buy more books and to read more: Booklights ($1.69) are great giveaways for book clubs and bookstores to people who can't get enough of reading. To encourage sales, these booklights can be used as a reward for a minimum purchase. These brass bookmarks with tassel ...

In this economic climate, when people are looking for ways to stretch their dollar, one can make money simply by offering store-brand products, which cost less than well-known branded items. Here are a couple of items you can add your store brand label to: 1. Gourmet Cookies - You can personalize these cookies' foil packaging. Available for less than $1, these custom cookies come in chocolate chip, white macadamia, oatmeal raisin, and triple chocolate variants. Five cookies go into a bag. 2. Bottled spring water -Make money by selling these during fairs, concerts, and tournaments. The custom labels on this bottled water come in colorfast, tear-resistant, waterproof material. SAVINGS ALERT! This item comes with free set-up and no run charges. 3. Fortune cookies - A good strategy to market these is to place these custom fortune cookies at the checkout counter. (Makes a good after-dinner giveaway for Chinese restaurants too.) People love reading the message in fortune cookies like they do their horoscope. 4. Granola bars - Great as snacks, these granola bars come individually wrapped in custom packaging. Sell these at fitness centers, school cafeterias, or cafes. They make good fund-raising items for Girl Scouts. 5. Animal treats - Pet stores can make extra money ...