Dear Celine, We're thinking of something to give to the mommies in church this Mother's Day, and we're working with a small budget. Can you suggest something below $5? Cheap-O Mom I feel your economic pain, and I am immensely proud of you for even thinking of giving your church mommies with a Mother's Day present. They who work so hard to keep the house, make sure the kids are well fed and dressed, balance the budget, and go to bed still thinking of ways to pay the bills, the mortgage, and have enough left to run the house--moms are just amazing! They're simply superb. And yes, I know every frugal, hardworking mom will hit the roof if she finds out you spent so much on a gift for her (but of course, you know she likes it anyway). So here are some Mother's Day choices below $5. Have fun choosing! 1. The Accent nonwoven tote ($4.19 for a minimum of 96) is both durable and fashionable. It's made of 75gsm nonwoven PP, has thick shoulder straps, and an adjustable snap closure. Moms know this one's a great buy! 2. For mommies who are constantly stressed, these custom sensations aromatherapy sticks ($1.20 for a minimum ...

Dear Celine, I own a small seafood place, and I'm looking into building relationships with customers. I was wondering what Branders has that I could put to good use. Can you recommend something that's not too expensive for me? I was randomly searching the Branders site for something useful and saw this really cool promotional disposable nonwoven bib ($1.23 for 300 pieces ), which will really be useful for your diners. I especially like how it looks on you, and it doesn't get in the way of a good meal. This promotional bib measures 18x20 inches and has an imprint area of 8x12 inches, which is a big opportunity for brand promotion, if you ask me. Even Branders client Sachar gives the item five stars, saying, "These are great for lobster bakes and weddings! Quality is above and beyond and classy (for a bib)!" Promotional mints are cheaper alternatives if you want to build rapport with your customers. No matter how good a seafood meal is, it can leave a bad taste in the mouth sometimes, so it's always a good idea to leave a small bowl of custom mints at every table. Don’t miss out on these special subscriber-only promos! ...

There's another reason to celebrate April 22, and it has something to do with candy. National Jelly Bean Day, which falls on the same date as Earth Day, is just another excuse for everyone to enjoy Jelly Beans after Easter, but what the heck, we love those Jelly Beans, and isn't it great that they have a day all to themselves? More than just party giveaways, some people have found creative ways to use those Jelly Beans. Let us count the many ways you can use Jelly Beans: 1. Deck your cake or cupcakes with it. 2. Mix them into your favorite drink. Jelly Bean mocktails are for those who'd like to drink and drive. (My favorite is the Cape Codder.) 3. Use them as table centerpieces and personalized napkin holders. 4. Make them party or wedding giveaways. Singer Gwen Stefani once gave out a box of Krispy Kreme as wedding favors, so why not Jelly Beans? You might want to personalize these small plastic light bulbs and fill them with those colorful beans. I personally like my Jelly Beans as they are, given to me in a reusable promotional tin. Nothing beats the raw thing, don't you think? Looking for other promotional Jelly Bean ideas? Call ...

When we're stressed at work, what's the first thing we reach out for? Depends on what one has within reach. Some may have chocolates and cookies stashed away in a bottom drawer for those moments when one needs something to chew on. (I plead guilty.) However, have you thought that you may be giving your recipients more than a sweet treat, but may in fact be fostering habits that may not be good for their health in the long run? A couple of these pieces at a time may be good, but once they've formed the habit it'll be hard to kick. Instead of giving out cookies, biscuits, or chocolates, how about handing your customers some promotional stress balls. When they're pissed off with someone at work and need an outlet for their anger, they don't resort to binge eating. Instead, they stretch their fingers and take some time away from their work stations. After all, the best solution to stress is simply to step away and relax, right? Don’t miss out on these special subscriber-only promos! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Travelers this Valentine weekend will be treated to love-themed exhibits, sweet giveaways, and special deals on romantic gifts, says this USAToday article. How about you? Do you have something wrapped up as a way of thanking customers or promoting your brand? Chocolates are some of the popular giveaways for Valentine's Day and usually given out with flowers or greeting cards. While you don't have to go that cheesy route this Valentine's, how about taking the time to remember some of your best customers with these Valentine's giveaways? Whether Valentine's or not, these personalized chocolate hearts (as low as $0.38) are perfect treats. You don't have to give an entire box to customers. Simply have one of your personnel stand by the door and give out a couple of pieces to customers coming in and out. In corporate offices, have a basket within arm's reach at the lounge so guests and clients can help themselves to a couple of sweet treats while biding their time. You can also have your logo imprinted on these promotional chocolate tins, which hold some M&Ms (as low as $1.65). For a couple of select clients, why not gift them a special Valentine treat such as this box of ...

If you're planning to give away some Christmas hampers to friends, co-workers, employees, and business clients but find the ready-made holiday food baskets too expensive, why not put together your own? Here are some stuff you can slip into those wicker baskets: Chocolate-covered espresso beans ($1.81) - These are perfect for those who love coffee and chocolate and can be shared by many, which is what a Christmas hamper is all about. A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.48) - Just the right amount of spirit for a more enjoyable Christmas. Mini coffee break ($7.02)- This comes with an 11oz white mug that you can personalize, plus some chocolate biscotti, gourmet cappuccino pack, and three coffee candies. Christmas cookbook ($17.07) - A Williams-Sonoma cookbook, this one contains 40 time-honored holiday recipes to inspire the homemaker who is running out of culinary ideas.

The Christmas hamper traces its origin to the English "Boxing Day," when it was customary for masters to give servants boxes of useful gifts. Today, Christmas hampers are some of the best corporate gifts you can give to employees, co-workers, friends, and business clients. A typical Christmas hamper usually contains food and drink and a combination of something sweet and savory with a dash of alcoholic. Some of the most memorable Christmas hamper gifts I've received over the years contain wine, cookies, chocolates, pate, blue cheese, and fruitcake, among many others. The Branders Crowd Pleaser gift basket (as low as $82.41) above contains treats for everyone: 10oz Turtle Popcorn Tower, 4oz East Shore Garlic and Black Pepper Pretzels, 4.4oz Dolcetto Chocolate Wafer Rolls, 3.75oz Cheddar Cheese Spread, 4oz Honey Roasted Peanuts, 0.09oz Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Square, 4 pieces french truffles, 2 pieces Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles, 4oz Haute Cuisine Grilled Onion with Poppy Seed Crackers, 2.5oz Yahoo Chocolate Chip Cake, 6oz Cinnamon English Tea Cookies, and 1.5oz Petit Fruit Candies. The basket comes with a colorful personalized bow. Check out more of Branders' promotional Christmas baskets and hampers.

National Teachers Day happens in May and World Teachers Day in October, but showing teacher appreciation is something we should do any time of the year. Teaching is one of the most noble jobs there are. Teachers have big shoes to fill: They stand as our children's parents away from home. Our kids trust them and look up to them. They have a part in molding our children's lives. As a parent myself, it takes a lot courage to entrust my child's education and formation to someone I barely know. I can only trust that my child will come out a better person with this person's guidance in school. There's a serious lack of teachers in America right now. Teaching isn't exactly the most glamorous job there is: long hours, poor facilities, high teacher-student ratio, poor pay--these are enough to discourage people who want to become teachers not to pursue the profession. One has to start somewhere: possibly a little more support from government in terms of compensation, education grants (our teachers need to keep learning to know more), better facilities and access to advanced teaching tools. You can do your share in keeping teachers in school by showing appreciation for all their hard ...

If you're in the business of food or houseware and kitchen supplies, one of the many fun things you can do this summer to promote your brand is a cook-off. With our national obsession for three-minute meals, culinary shows, and reality contests, what's more exciting than your own Iron Chef without being too in your face? Step up your brand-building efforts with kitchen must-haves such as this promotional BBQ sauce or this Little Black Book on Barbecue. Little incentives such as these logo- or monogram- embroidered promotional aprons, barbecue grills, or personalized spatulas will make sure your message isn't lost on your customers. what's more, these promotional items will be put to good use.

I was just looking at the calendar today and realized how time flies so fast, and we're almost through with half the year! I also thought that about this time, we usually start planning other activities for the second half of the year, including trade shows, launches, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you haven't started thinking about your holiday gifts, now is the best time to do so. I can assure you that before you know it, it will be November and you will have forgotten to put in your order for corporate gifts. So while you're starting to make you holiday gift list early, here are some thoughts to ponder on: Custom food gifts will always be remembered--just as long as you're not sending out fruitcake! The good thing about food is they're for sharing, so that means you're reaching out to many. Reusable packaging has value. Another note on food gifts: It would be wise to place them in reusable packaging--not only is this environment-friendly but your recipients will surely find use for extra tins or boxes at home or in the office. Personalize it! Sign the gift tag by hand. Better yet, leave a personal message so recipients will remember you (say ...