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 ...

An insurance agent I spoke with recently complained that fewer people were buying insurance, specifically auto insurance. For most people, that may be a practical thing to do, especially as their primary concern is the immediate needs: food, shelter, clothing, and education. If you're in the insurance business, the recession doesn't mean your promotions will have to take the back seat. You don't have to stop marketing your insurance or financial services just because nobody's buying at this time. Here are some low-cost ways to stay visible in this recession: Find low-priced giveaways to add your logo to. The idea is to continue working on your visibility so that when the need arises, you're the first thing clients think of when they finally decide they have money to spare for insurance. Low-cost promotional items such as this promotional dollar-sign notepad (as low as $0.47) or this personalized dollar-shaped stress ball (as low as $1.39) are good ways to stay in your clients' line of vision. Give them practical giveaways they need. Personalized bandage dispensers (as low as $0.52) or the magnetic medical diary (as low as $0.90) are good ways to remind them how important it is to get health insurance. Encourage them to get ...

Are you planning early for a Christmas party? Here are some practical Christmas giveaways below $5: Promotional ripstop backpack (SALE! $4.10) - it's made of 450d ripstop material and features a rubber grip handle and an opening for a music player's headphones. Write N Roll promotional luggage tag (as low as $3.44) - this one's a perfect gift for employees who are constantly traveling for business. Unlike the usual luggage tags that display one's personal information for all to see, this one rolls up to keep details safe from onlookers. Custom pocket-sized radios (as low as  $3.35) - people will surely bring this along with them wherever they go, and it's easy to do so, with the handy clip that keeps this nifty gadget in place in a purse, pocket, or briefcase. Ms. Hollywood promotional sunglasses (as low as $2.66) - a perfect fashion accessory for every woman. These custom sunglasses will make them feel like stars! Promotional metal money clips (as low as $2.86) are one of the few accessories that your male recipients will find practical.

It's almost the end of October, which should get you thinking about promotional items that will give your brand much exposure throughout the year. Okay. What item do we look at every day, 365 days a year? A calendar, what else. Our whole lives revolve around calendar. Deadlines, work days, birthdays, holidays--all these events in our lives would be difficult to track if there were no calendars. So while it's still October in your calendar, why not start shopping for promotional calendars to give out this Christmas? Shopping early will give you less stress--by having your gifts prepared way before the holidays, you will have more time to enjoy them.

Now who says you can't do a beach-related promotion in October to have customers anticipating or remembering a beach event? If your customers loved these promotional flip-flops on last summer's beach outing, they'd remember those days of sun and sand fondly with these custom flip-flops keychains. Made of EVA, these promotional flip-flops keychains come in dimensions of 2.,5x2.5 inches and are available in nine bright colors. They're make great zipper pulls for jackets or backpacks as well.

Looking for an out-of-the-box solution to declining traffic to your trade show booth? Funny convention giveaways are effective in getting people's attention because they're unique and unexpected. Mention the word "construction" and the next thought that comes is B-O-R-I-N-G. If you're with the construction industry, this promotional hard hat weepul ($0.51) is a good way to show your funny side. Or if you're introducing a new line of bath and personal care products, why not include this cute promotional rubber mallard (as low as $1.69) in your sampler kit? It'll add a lot of fun to bathing! Branders has a lot more promotional fun giveaways. Have a look-see and go call your account manager for some tips!

Okay, admit it: How many times have you "recycled" a gift you received and didn't like and passed it on to someone else, as you would the proverbial fruit cake? Knowing our habits as recipients will help us as marketers select gifts that clients and customers will not pass on to others but will keep and remember us by. What kind of gifts do we keep? Unique. Between a custom travel mug, which you have a whole cupboard of from several holidays back, and a custom fleece scarf embroidered with a corporate logo, which one would you keep? Naturally, you'd keep the one you don't have. Attractive. I'm not a big fan of custom mugs, but the ones I keep are imprinted with whimsical designs like snowflakes, trees, bears, and other aesthetically pleasing images that evoke warm and comforting memories. People love surrounding themselves with beautiful things as they leave a positive feeling. Useful. People often kept personalized kitchen timers, logo spatulas, custom aprons, luggage tags, and other practical promotional items and corporate gifts that they are certain they will find use for one day. Memorable. Not every gift is tied to a memory, but people tend to keep commemorative gifts that remind them of ...

Yesterday we suggested some back-to-school giveaways below $1 you can use to pep up your business in time for school opening. Now here are some promotional items that every dormer will find useful: 1. A promotional ballpoint pen that encourages them to write home. If being away from home is stressful for college kids, just imagine how nervous parents back home will be. The custom Write Home ballpoint pen carries every reminder of home: house, key, welcome mat, and sold sign icons. I think this pen sums up what our old folks always say to us: "Take care of yourself--it's the best thing you can do for those who care about you." 2. A personalized door alert to make sure they're safe. Instead of the usual boring university pennants, this one makes a good welcome gift to dormers. 3. A promotional door hanger indicating when to stay away and when it's okay to visit. More than a sign, this custom door hanger is a good way to reach out to a big group. University laundry shops, fast-food delivery outlets, car and laptop repair shops, bookstores, school supplies stores, counselors, and teen support groups can use this giveaway to target dormers, especially college freshmen who are still ...

If you're thinking of a promotion in time for school opening, here are our top picks for less than a $1: 1. Promotional trinamic tools What's to like: It's a four-in-one tool that consists of a ruler, magnet, paper holder, and letter opener. What's not: It's got sharp a edge that's a no-no in some schools, so this one's staying at home or in the office. Keep away from people with murderous tendencies. (I'm watching too much CSI.) 2. Sports bottles with your logo What's to like: These 20oz promotional sports bottles are BPA-free, which means they don't contain any substances that may not be good for your health. Also, minimum order per color is only 50 pieces. What's not: They don't come in my favorite colors, but surely that won't keep you up at nights? 3. Promotional notepads What's to like: This giveaway is a good way to build presence especially if you're marketing toward a college-age demographic needing a sticky note to remind of everything that needs to be done for the day. What's not to like: You don't get to choose where to imprint your logo--the imprint area is at the bottom of the sheet. 4. Promotional maze pens What's to like: It's a handy toy to have ...

People are coming up with new ways to make life easier for everyone. Some of those inventions and gadgets are simple. Like a promotional wristwatch or a promotional stress ball. Little things can make a big difference when it comes to making a day at home or work easier and more enjoyable. The promotional USB flash drive is for everyone, because everyone in this time period has used a computer at least once. Those of you who have a flash drive or multiple flash drives know that they are small (easy to carry with you), portable, reliable, tough, and have a lot of room for storing information. These incredible gadgets can be used in your work life and personal life as well. They make the lives of students, teachers, businessmen and women, IT workers and other professions a lot more relaxed and carefree. So using this product as a way to advertise, expose, and expand your business is a logical idea.