Now that the temperature is starting to dip, there's another reason to have lip balm within easy reach. More than its cosmetic use, lip balm acts as a moisturizer to relieve dry and chapped lips that are caused by heat, dry air, wind, and extreme cold. So if you're looking for a handy giveaway that is quite useful this season, lip balm is one of the cheapest and most effective promotional items you can have for $2 or less. The lip balm has come a long way since it was first made. The original lip balm was made from a mixture of ear and candle wax--quite unpalatable. Thankfully, the ones available now come in attractive--and edible--flavors, from fruit to coffee. If you're clueless about what lip balm to choose for your next event, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind: Flavor. Turn prospects into fans with the right flavor. Guys generally don't care about how lip balm tastes so peppermint-flavored lip balm is a safe choice. Impress your female recipients with this promotional lip balm, which comes in vanilla and orange flavors. Portability. A lip balm that one can wear around the neck is perfect for physically active people such as mountaineers ...

May is Family Wellness Month and a timely opportunity for health care facilities, hospitals, clinics, physicians, and other medical professionals to emphasize the importance of staying healthy and well. The economy may not be at its rosiest, but it doesn't mean people should let their health go because in the long run, a healthy body and a sound mind are what will keep us all going. Here are some promotional health-care giveaways that medical professionals and institutions can use to remind their patients and clients that "health is wealth." 1. Nothing beats handwashing in preventing the spread of germs, says the Mayo Clinic, but when one's outdoors or traveling, it's important to have hand sanitizers within easy reach, more so when one's traveling with kids. Family soap brands and doctors can personalize these promotional hand sanitizers with their logos, names, or hotline numbers as a gentle reminder to patients that maintaining good hygiene can minimize illnesses. 2. Need to remind your patients of their next medical/dental appointment? These promotional medical diaries are good welcome gifts to new clients. First-time parents have their baby record books, so why can't we grown-ups have our medical record books too, right? Best for busy people who ...

Whether you're a frequent business traveler of staying home, the increasing cases of swine flu are cause for concern. Some things to consider, in light of this health threat: > It would be wise to heed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay put and avoid traveling to Mexico, or stay home when one is showing possible symptoms of the virus: headache, cough, sore throat, nausea, fever, dizziness. I remember being stranded in a Shanghai airport many years back during the height of the avian flu occurrence, and it's not an enjoyable thing--trust me. Health should always be a priority, more than closing a business deal. > Maintain good hygiene. Custom hand sanitizers, alcohol, and antibacterial gel are always good to have when one is traveling or outdoors, so it would be good to have these logo items within everyone's reach. Of course, nothing beats handwashing with soap, pandemic or not. > See your doctor. I subscribe to the belief, "Better safe than sorry." Some relevant readings: 5 things you need to know about swine flu Avoid Mexico, travelers are told Is it safe to fly during the swine-flu outbreak? Don’t miss out on these special subscriber-only promos! Subscribe to our ...

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 ...

America is on the top of the list when it comes to obesity, being overweight, lack of sleep, heart problems, diabetes, all kinds of health issues in general. Something needs to be done to address these problems and from August 17 to September 30, millions of Americans will get the lifetime opportunity to promote and be involved in a nationwide program to do just that. A new program called AOM, which stands for America on the Move, is launching a nationwide campaign that will motivate millions of Americans to attain a healthier and happier life. Individuals, neighbors, friends, co-workers, families, and communities are joining the AOM program, and they are taking the challenge to better their lives. Statistics say that people enjoy exercising much more in groups rather than by themselves. It doesn't matter what your goal is for your group or for yourself, but I recommend you do it with a group. Get your mom, dad, and friends to set out a plan and follow through with it. The goal could be anything from reducing the risk of illness, losing weight, or trying to attain the ability to run a marathon. Good health for you and your family depends on your ...

Remember those instances when a button popped off your blouse and, thank goodness, you had that hotel sewing kit in your cosmetic purse from last month's business trip? Or how about that time on the airplane when the baby of the passenger beside you puked on you and good thing you had some handy pack tissues in your bag? Don't you just love how these giveaways happened to be there at the right time? There's nothing more disconcerting than dusty shoes or loose threads on your blouse when you're meeting a potential client for the first time and need to make an impression. From a female's perspective, we give you a rundown of what every woman needs to have in her purse for all sorts of emergencies: Promotional travel toothbrushes are handy implements for a journalist who's always mobile and needs to make several interviews in a day. Throw in a sachet of toothpaste to complete the ensemble. Or better yet, how about this promotional travel kit? It's a good thing to have when one's in the beat and waiting for breaking news. Promotional ballpens for writing down appointments, those light-bulb moments when you're in the most unlikely places, or for ...

It's nothing new or surprising, this discovery that music helps calm babies and the sick. Didn't you ever wonder why soft, nonlyrical music is played in spa facilities? Or that doctors recommend that pregnant mommies listen to classical music? Music helps reduce blood pressure, lowers heart rate, and does away with patient sedation, says the USAToday article. I've proven this myself. During a rough workday, I sleep right away when I set Enya or Chopin nonstop on my music player. When I get a good night's sleep, I wake up energized, happy, and excited for another workday. So if you're looking for a useful promotional stress-reliever that you can give your employees, customers, or clients, why not send them a promotional CD with your compliments for a good night's sleep? Complete the ensemble with promotional aromatherapy candles. They'll wake up happier and in a better mood, and have only you to thank.

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 ...

Corn plastic is increasingly becoming a green alternative to petroleum-based plastic, a ubiquitous but not a very eco-friendly material, which makes up the bulk of consumer products around us. The idea of using corn as a filler or base for new products is nothing new. Many decades back, it is said, Henry Ford's conceptual Model U car had tires from corn-based filler and a fabric roof from corn fiber. If you're intent on bringing green into your marketing, you'd be happy to know that Branders has some eco-friendly promotional items in its inventory: corn plastic luggage tags, corn plastic notepad and holders, corn screwdrivers, corn mugs, corn pens, corn letter openers, corn ice scrapers, and even corn golf tees! It's an exciting line-up, and we can't wait to share it with you! We're featuring some of our newest corn-based (and very earth-friendly) promotional items in this blog, so we hope you keep visiting the blog. BUT if you can't wait, why not call our account managers and ask for some advice about our newest eco-friendly promotional items. They'll be so happy to help.

Cover the Uninsured Week happens on April 27 to May 3, so if you're an insurance agent or with a pre-need company and need some promotional boost, this is the best time to do so. The statistics are alarming: According to the Cover the Uninsured organization, 47 million Americans do not have insurance coverage, and 9 million of them are children. Some 22,000 Americans die each year because of lack of health insurance. The clincher: If you think only the unemployed deal with this problem, think again: 23 percent of uninsured workers are actually with companies employing more than 500. Living without health insurance is no joke. Imagine having to gamble daily, making sur you don't get sick or meet an accident. If you're planning a seminar or hosting an enrollment for insurance coverage, here are some promotional products you can give out to encourage the uninsured to get covered: This 4x0.75x4-inch promotional notepad is a gentle reminder to prospective clients This promotional pen comes with a house-shaped topper, a reminder that they have families to go home to and are working for This promotional desk clock tells your prospect that time is of the essence, and he or she should thus consider getting insured Don't ...