Well, according to this recent study, prenatal exposure to Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, a chemical found in most polycarbonate water bottles, makes girls aggressive. Previous studies have also claimed that exposure to BPA slows down synapses, which, if proven true, will explain why some of us are a little, uh, slow and on the chubby side. (Does this mean we should let mean people get off the hook?) While these claims need stronger proof to back them up, I think it's but wise to be on the safe side and make sure your sports bottle is BPA free. (Doesn't hurt to be safe. Ask your mom.) So the next time you call your Branders rep to order some logo-imprinted sports bottles for your next promotion, make sure you ask for the BPA-free ones. Check out our BPA-free drinkware selection

Branders client Diana Sidrak was looking for $8 promotional mugs and wanted to order 65 pieces for a women's recognition banquet that her company, aerospace and defense technology specialist Northrop Grumman, was hosting. Always up for a challenge, account manager Penny Williams offered Diana the 12oz Pedestal mug, which cost less than $4 apiece. It was inexpensive yet looked classy because of its polished finish, which was just what Diana was looking for. "We chose this mug because it was very affordable. It was an attractive-looking mug and the custom artwork looked great!" Diana wrote in an e-mail. The verdict is in the recipients' response. "Weeks after the event had passed, people were still talking about the mug and asking to see if there was any way they could get one. All those who didn’t attend the event were very disappointed because had they known the gift was going to be that nice, they would’ve attended!" Diana shared.

One of the cheapest ways to expose your logo is through promotional coasters. They're not only for bars and restaurants, or the food and beverage industry in general; these flexible promotional items are great for any theme and industry. Here are some of the reasons why: Promotional coasters are a great for any message. Imprint your number, a recipe, your URL, or your product's tagline on the coaster. It's a good way to be remembered. Ask your account manager for high-density models--something that can withstand moisture and doesn't easily flake off. They're conspicuous. You always see them on top of people's desks. Customized coasters are so cheap! Some of the lowest-priced models I have come across are at $0.12 apiece.

These promotional drinkware items will make your brand a household name. The best thing is, they're all on sale! Made from polycarbonate, the Coolgear Arctic (ON SALE: $3.42) is a cool way to get people's attention. This promotional tumbler features a freezer stick to keep drinks cold for up to 4 hours. The freezer gel is safe--it consists of purified water and a nontoxic cooling agent. The 12oz stainless steel Wave Tumbler (ON SALE: $8.79) is a great companion in the morning. Your recipients will love its plastic thumb-slide sipper and rubber skid-proof bottom. You save 50% off from its original price of $16.19. The 16oz Wrap-around Tumbler (ON SALE: $4.51) has a stainless steel interior and a press side-lock lid. This promotional item comes in a gift box, to save you the hassle of wrapping. Get subscriber-only discounts on promotional items when you sign up with the Branders newsletter.

Actions say much about our character and help establish our identity, and this goes the same for corporations and personalities. Consistency in messaging is important. How will a company (or a personality, for that matter) gain the trust of supporters if it says one thing and does another? Take the case of Hollywood actor Gwyneth Paltrow, who was recently criticized for allowing herself to be photographed with a real fur stole. Paltrow, who is a vegetarian, quickly made a public apology to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals saying she was unaware of the stole's make. [Read the back story from PETA.] Branders client Treadwell & Rollo, Inc. knows consistency too well. The company, which offers geotechnical, environmental, and earthquake engineering services, is a certified green business and does its best to incorporate eco-friendly practices, down to its choice of giveaways. Searching for corporate gifts and employee incentives, Treadwell marketing coordinator Meredith White chose the Tech Tumbler for its quality and reusability. "Treadwell & Rollo is a green business, so we like our promos to be green. These promotional mugs help cut down on waste," Meredith says. Treadwell also had a special informative poster made to illustrate how a reusable mug helps cut ...

It's almost a month away to Christmas! Have your Christmas giveaways been ordered? You don't have to withdraw from the festivities even with the bad economy. The holidays and the end of the year are the best time to say thank you to customers for their loyalty and to employees for sticking it out with you despite the bad times. Here are some possible Christmas giveaways--they're currently on sale, so why not buy a lot of these? I'm sure you'll be needing these in the coming months. Promotional aluminum sports bottle, now at the bargain price of $3.68 Custom canvas tote, now selling for $1.35. This will make a great giveaways for grocery stores and organic markets, especially as some cities in the US are starting to ban plastic bags. Kodiak bowler bag (a steal and a great Christmas gift to clients!), now at $14.73, a 50% savings from the original $31 price tag.

In a recent survey, we asked Branders customers what products they wanted to go on sale, and this red aluminum sports bottle topped the list. And because Christmas is fast approaching and we wanted to give you all a treat, you can get this sports bottle for only $3.68 until November 28, 2008. Target's Jennifer Strangis tells us these promotional sports bottles were a hit when the company did a back-to-college marketing campaign. "Target handed out over 25,000 of Branders' red aluminum bottles to help eliminate plastic bottle usage around campuses. They were a huge hit!" Jennifer shares. Read her full-length product review here. Find out what other sale items we have in the bag.

The easy part about setting up a business is the initial stage: planning, securing the licenses and permits, stocking, hiring people to run your business. It's the keeping the business on its feet that's the hardest part. Growing your business means going out there and telling people about it, and for many people, promotions are a waste of time and money. "Why spend," they say. "People will come to us anyway!" That's where they're wrong. See, with a handful or a gazillion of other businesses like yours, why would people come to you when they've been going to this other store for decades? Because your oil is much cheaper by a dollar? Or because you offer more choices? Or is it because your people offer the best customer service on your side of town? You can name so many reasons for a consumer to choose your company, but if you don't go out there and tell them about it, they'll never know. This is where promotional products come in. Give customers something to remember you by. Do the people in the next building visit more frequently this week than they did two weeks back? Why not give them a freebie as ...

I notice that when I see successful individuals they look and play the part. They dress nice and have expensive cars--basically they look like they have money. But success isn't just measured by just your salary. Individuals are successful because they achieved the goals they set out for themselves. For example, being apart of a loving family, or getting the gold in the Olympic games. People set out goals that they want to achieve whether it be short-term goals or long-term goals. On the other hand, when I see successful businesses, they also look and play the part. Their web page looks professional, or I might see their logo on something with more value to it than a pen or a mug. Not that anything is wrong with putting a brand name on a promotional pen or mug, but it's also beneficial to put your brand name on something with more value. For example a promotional fleece jacket, or a premier duffel bag. When people see brand names on promotional items that are more costly, you are telling them that you are a successful business because you treat your clients with care and respect. This gives your business the clients that ...

I miss those days when everything in this world was fresh, safe, and free of toxins. These days, not only is your water or the air you're breathing possibly contaminated, even the sports bottles you take with you during your workout or your baby's milk bottles are made of materials that, at certain amounts, may be unsafe to humans. If you've been following the news, you probably heard of the debate on bisphenol-A, a substance used in polycarbonate that, in animal studies, have been found to affect reproduction and brain development., Polycarbonate is in almost every hard and plastic thing we have at home--sports bottles, baby milk bottles, sippy cups, food containers. Some studies say, however, that under normal use, the potential leaching of BPA to food is extremely low and that the average adult would have to ingest "more than 600kg (about 1,300 pounds) of food and beverages in contact with polycarbonate ...