Travelers don't have to put off their exercise routine when they're away from home. Many hotels today understand that keeping fit is a concern for many traveling business executives, and they have gone extra lengths to offer exercise essentials in house. At Omni hotels, for example, guests can request for a Get Fit kit, which consists of a handy canvas with a floor mat, two dumbbells, an elastic exercise band, and an exercise booklet. Along with these, guests also get a bottle of chilled water and a hand towel. At Tel Aviv's Melody Hotel, guests can avail of the Morning Jog kit, which contains a map, hat, towel, and a bottle of water; or the Fit kit, which has weights and an exercise video; or even the Bicycle kit, which offers the use of a bike with a bottle of water and a map of the city's bicycle routes. Resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, and inns may not have the budget that hotels have to offer their own fitness kits, but they can make do with small gifts like jump ropes, yoga mats, and pedometers. Pocket sliders, which cost under $1, can help you build a good rapport with your guests. Leave it at bedside tables, ...

The bedroom is a sanctuary where we spend a third of our day. What happens in the bedroom influences much of the next day's mood: if we slept poorly the previous night, it affects our performance at work. But if we had a good night's sleep, we get up energized and ready to take on the day's challenges. Promotional bedroom gifts aiming to score some eyeball points would do well to be subtle and enhance the bedroom experience. Here are 5 practical gifts that will help you maximize logo exposure in the bedroom: With exotic essential oils that soothe and relax, these Sensations Aromatherapy Sticks are sure to give anyone a good night's sleep. They come in a case with a keychain, so they're certain not to be left behind. Sleep will come easily to anyone who has this aromatherapy eye pillow. Filled with flax seeds and lavender buds, it soothes and relaxes the eyes. It can be refrigerated and used over and over. Washable too. Counting sheep is so out of fashion. The Aura cube clock changes hues every hour and will have you spellbound with its sleep-inducing colors. On a bedside table, the Confetti frame, with its debossed and embossed heart embellishments, is ...

Building readership for your blog and corporate or e-commerce site is no easy task. Unless you have 100 family members and very close friends, you can't expect to have 100 regular readers just a month after launch. So aside from exchanging links with similar blogs, networking, and shamelessly leaving comments on other people's sites, what else should you do to drive people to your site? Here are some recession-friendly promotional items, all under $1, that can help you build up your site's popularity: Pens are just about the cheapest way to promote your Website. The Bic Retractable Wide Body Ice pen (as low as $0.73) comes in fun, attractive colors, and its wide barrel offers a 2x0.6-inch imprint area for your URL. Be spotted on the road by having bumper stickers (as low as $0.10) imprinted with your Website's URL. Make sure you get the outdoor-type light-fast stickers that can withstand exposure to sunlight. Refrigerator or business card magnets (as low as $0.15) bearing your URL will ensure quick recall for your Website. This 4x4-inch coaster (as low as $0.17) offers a huge imprint area that you can customize with a full-color design plus your logo. Diners are sure to give it a second glance. Offer an ...

Whether you're working or studying, note taking is an important skill that will help you ace your exam or perform your job well. Studies show that people recall only 50% of what they hear, of which 20 to 30% is incorrect. Can you imagine if we all had to simply rely on memory? Much of our ideas would be lost if we didn't write them down. We waste time and money when we drive back to the supermarket for that missed can of canola oil. We pay penalties when we forget to pick up our kids from day care on time or when we miss paying our credit card bills. Note taking would be so much easier if everyone were equipped with the right tools. Here are some promotional note-taking tools that you can give out in school and at work or keep within arm's reach: A good pen that writes well, with ink that doesn't dry up easily. Or how about something that writes well even on an aircraft? Lined notebooks with good paper, especially one that looks good inside and out. (I love this notebook's soft leather cover, available in red and pink!) Thank God for whoever invented sticky notes. Whether you're looking ...

"Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month" is coming up this September. What do you have in the bag for your hardworking writers and editors? In behalf of all the exhausted writers and editors out there who badly need a break, here's a list of items that will make every writer/editor happy: Can't afford to treat your writers to a massage? Let them enjoy the spa at home with the Essentials Renew Spa Set ($20.32). Each set includes lotion, shampoo, pillow mist, scrub, and candles and comes in a valet box that can be reused as a jewelry holder. Writers need peace when they're working on their masterpieces (even though it's just a 200-word post, they need silence to think). If getting them their own quiet room isn't a possibility, why not give each of your writers a pair of earbuds ($4.70)? We heard this particular model offers amazing clarity and quality of sound. Ready to spend a little more? Buy them a CD of their fave artist. Give them a couple of their favorite pens. To a writer, not all pens are created equal. I prefer the fine strokes of a gel pen to the bold lines of a fountain pen. What's your ...

And I hope you don't get them to make coffee for you or run over to Starbucks to get a doubleshot espresso for you . . . But there are three reasons for getting interns: Get more work done. In this economic climate, people are forced to step up, learn new skills, and tap their other talents, previously gone unnoticed. But because there's so much work to do, they've been working long hours to get work done. Solution? Get interns--not to get coffee for you or to pick up your dry cleaning but to help out with real work. Share the knowledge. Isn't it nice to take part in molding young minds? Consider it your company's legacy to give back and contribute to the knowledge pool--internships are the easiest way to do that. On-the-job training gives them a taste of what it's like in a real workplace, where deadlines are the order of the day and one needs to keep learning new strokes to stay afloat. One day, when one of your interns becomes a hotshot marketing/sales maven, she'll look back and thank your company for the education. Learn from them. Who says learning is a one-way street? Interacting with young minds helps you ...

Take advantage of the good weather and take your brand outdoors this season. My personal favorites for an outdoor event come in bright, eye-catching colors that will play up your brand's presence. Made of hard plastic, these colorful 22oz promotional stadium cups will not only make sure everyone doesn't go thirsty in the middle of a playoff, but will give you good exposure for a minimal price. Don't throw them away! Encourage guests to reuse them as pen holders or reclaim them and recycle into something creative--a Christmas tree, perhaps? Planning an after-football party? Quench everyone's thirst with this 16oz bottled spring water with your logo on the label. Not a fan of PET bottles? The 128oz Bubba Keg football-themed dispenser will minimize your carbon footprint as long as you bring reusable stadium cups. This dispenser holds enough to keep six female guests hydrated, but for part-camel football players, you might have to bring more of these to the field. Order at least 16 for only $24.50 each. These 17oz Stanley Heatkeeper vacuum containers are perfect door prizes for an outdoor party. (Makes a great loyalty gift for credit card companies any time of the year.) Organizing a walkathon? This custom polo twill ...

Planning a beach event? Here are some fitting promotional items that will show off your logo at the beach: These promotional flip-flops are made with a single-layer high-quality EVA and are similar to the popular Havaianas brand. They make great giveaways for a beach event or can be sold as logo'd souvenir items at surf and resort shops. Want to leave a brand footprint? Ask your account manager how that can be made. The Jenev bag is fitting for a beach getaway. With its 15x14-inch size, it can hold all your beach essentials: sunscreen, water bottle, lip balm, hat, and even a beach towel. Makes a good giveaway for beach retreats. A beach outing or a picnic is best enjoyed with this custom fleece blanket. This easy-carry item folds conveniently into a sleek case. This one makes a great take-home gift for employees and their families.

July, which happens to be National Park and Recreation Month, offers you endless branding possibilities while encouraging Americans to explore the great outdoors. Staying at home has its economical advantages, especially in this economic climate, but going outdoors doesn't necessarily mean you'll be spending much, as more national parks are starting to offer free admission rates throughout the summer. If you're planning to promote your brand or preparing for an event this summer, here are some activities you can pursue: Organize a Frisbee competition. Not only is Frisbee a fun way to bond, it's also good exercise. TIP: If you're doing some fund-raising, make a little money by selling Frisbees or refreshments. Go on a company picnic. Whether you'd like to build camaraderie or just want to get together, a picnic is a good excuse to go out. Promotional picnic blankets make good take-home presents for every family. If you're headed for the beach, the custom San Tropez beach mat is an ideal giveaway to make your logo conspicuous. Plan a sports tournament. Make sure guests are comfortable by giving out these promotional stadium cushions. Your outdoors event will not only build camaraderie among your group members, it will also be a good excuse to ...

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.