1.    Ipad Accessories - The ipad craze is not a phase, it is here to stay and changing the way we get information and communicate.  According to a Fortune Magazine poll, Apple sold between 15 and 23 million iPads in the third quarter of 2012 alone.  This growing population of users needs accessories to complement their favorite electronic.  Companies who put their logo on an iPad accessory demonstrate that they are progressive and forward-thinking.  New promotional iPad accessories are being introduced often at varied price points.  If you want the most cutting edge corporate gift this season, make it an iPad accessory.

2.    Acrylic Tumblers - You've seen them in your favorite coffee shop, on the desk of a coworker and in car cup holders all over the country.  Acrylic tumblers with straws in different sizes and edgy styles.  With the populations growing environmental concerns and an increased focus on reusable drinkware, acrylic tumblers are a popular retail trend.  Add your brand to that trend, and give a fun and functional gift that won't break your budget.

3.    Blankets - Bringing your logo into the home is a great way to increase your brand recall rate.  Blankets are the in-demand promotional item for the home this year. There are a wide variety of blankets and price points to consider for your holiday gift.  From outdoor picnic options to plush blankets that make you want to curl up on your couch, you can't go wrong with a logo blanket.

4.    Chairs - From the soccer field to the outdoor concert to the campfire, portable chairs are a necessity in almost every family.  A great promotional item for almost every audience, chairs are topping the list this year.  When your recipient pulls that much needed chair out of their trunk at his or her son's next soccer game, you can be sure your company will be remembered - in a good way!  With a high perceived value, chairs are a go to item for the holidays.

5.    Food Storage Containers - Did you know that more than half of office-working Americans do not leave their desk for lunch?  That means that these people are likely bringing their own lunch to work.  Food storage containers are a great inexpensive gift for anyone bringing their lunch to work on a daily basis.  There are some super-functional new options for soups, salads, sandwiches and more.  If you have a limited budget for your holiday gift this year, storage containers are a great option.

Whether you decide to follow the trends this holiday season, or come up with your own great gift idea, don't forget to say thank you to those who impact your business with a functional gift they will remember throughout the entire year.

Visit our holiday selection for a huge selection of gift ideas for the holidays.

Any smart sales rep knows that your image and relationships with your customers are a key factor to your success.  Customers often view their sales rep as the face of the company, and their relationship with the sales rep affects their repeat business with the company. 

Are you a sales rep who is truly memorable to your customers?  Do you want to know how you can be? The newest trend for sales representatives around the country is to create your own personal brand that your customers will remember.  Below are five tips for creating a personal brand that will set you apart and create a lasting impression with your clients.

1. Understand your audience.  A vital element in creating any brand is taking the time to profile your audience or customer base.  Are they conservative or relaxed?  Are they mostly males, females, or a mix of the two?  Do they typically fall in a certain age range?  Understanding these factors will help you determine the best way to approach them.  You might want to make your message all about facts for a highly educated audience.  You may incorporate relevant trends for a younger audience.  Take some time, just as you do when approaching your clients in a meeting to determine the direction of your brand.

2. Focus on what you provide that your competition does not. Think of both the product and service you sell, as well as what you provide as an individual representative that your client will not receive if they purchase from your competitor.

3. Pick a tagline that is catchy.  Take the information from above and create a tagline for yourself.  Make sure it is something memorable.  Run it by your friends, family and colleagues first and get opinions from people you trust, as once you pick a tagline, it is important that you stick to it.

4. Stay consistent.  Include your tagline in every touch to your customers.  Start every meeting with it, add it as your tagline in your email signature, and make sure to include it on every communication to your customers.

5. Incorporate Promotional Items.  To really ensure your brand lasts beyond face to face and electronic contact with your customers, purchase some promotional items printed with your name, contact information and tagline on it to hand out at meetings and tradeshows.  You can pick an item as simple as a pen, or as silly as off the wall as a bobble head.  Whichever direction you decide to go, make sure the promotional item reflects the brand image you are trying to achieve.

Building your own personal brand is a fun way to interact with your customers.  It will keep you and your message memorable, and help you build lasting relationships.

Find great promotional items at every price point to hand out to your clients at www.bestpromotions.com, or call them at 866-887-2378 and talk with a product expert that can help you bring your personal brand to life.

Tech Accessories - Every year some type of technology item rises to the top of the trend list.  This year, it isn't necessarily a tech item, rather accessories to existing technology pieces that have the promotional world in a spin.  Skins for smart phones, pen and stylus combos, fun ear buds, portable speakers, and anything iPad-related are the hottest items to put your logo on.  By putting your logo on a technology accessory, it shows you are a forward-thinking company and ensures that the product will get used over and over again.

 Reusable Tumblers - You've seen them in every retail outlet and coffee shop, those tumblers that look like a plastic cup with a straw you are used to receiving at your favorite fast food joint. They are really reusable, acrylic tumblers, come in multiple sizes, colors and styles, and are topping our list this year.  They are great for work, home or travel, have a great area to imprint your logo, and are eco-friendly!  Give them to employees or customers at your tradeshow, summer event, or just to say thank you.

Social Media Promoters - Social media continues to grow as a key marketing initiative for companies throughout the United States.  QR Codes are a top social media tactic and promotional products are a great way to disperse the codes throughout the public to get more people to your site.  You can print a QR code on anything from a stress block to a water bottle to a tote bag.  It is a great way to utilize the hottest marketing tactics with your traditional promotional vehicles. 

Awareness Bracelets and Thumb Rings - Awareness bracelets are certainly not the newest product on the block, but this year the anti-texting thumb rings have flooded the market, which has led to resurgence in the awareness bracelet trend.  These are an inexpensive and popular way to get your message out to the masses.  Adults and kids alike are seen every day sporting silicone bracelets and rings.  Make sure your message isn't left out.

Totally Unique Products - Look around at some of the hot, unique products in the retail market, and chances are, they will be showing up in the promotional industry before you know it. Right now the retro handheld phone that you can plug into your cell phone is generating a great amount of interest.  It is a perfect item for anyone who wants to generate some buzz.  Another unique promotional item this year is the portable grill/cooler.  This item is ideal for any outdoor promotion. 

The promotional product industry is evolving as fast as the retail industry, and trends continue to grow and change.  The great news is that there is always something new and unique to put your logo on and set you apart from your competition. 

Visit www.bestpromotions.com for new ideas for your next promotion.

1. Folding and Camp Chairs - Chairs are a summertime staple. From the baseball fields to the campfire to the beach, a folding chair is a portable billboard for your logo.  Consider planning an outdoor meeting, training session, presentation or teambuilding event.  Instead of renting chairs, use promotional chairs as your seats and each attendee can take them home when the event is over. 

2. Umbrellas - Another useful product for any audience is an umbrella.  With so much outdoor living in the summer, umbrellas are used over and over.  They are the perfect option for dual branding, as you can imprint different logos or messages on each panel of the umbrella.  If you organize fundraiser or event with sponsors, choose an umbrella and add sponsor logos to different panels along with the name of your event.

3. Coolers - Coolers make a great gift in the summer and come in many different sizes at different price points.  Use a cooler as packaging for a new product.  Pack it with lunch and bring it to customers for your next meeting.  Fill it with other promotional items and use it as an incentive or raffle gift at your summer event.

4. Toys - If you are looking for something unique that your recipient can interact with, consider a toy or game for your summer promotional item.  Both kids and adults enjoy toys and they can be a different and fun way to deliver your message.  Use a fold up Frisbee as an invitation to an event, give outdoor game sets to employees after a summer cookout, send a desktop game out to customers after they place their first order with you.  There are a lot of fun promotional toys and games to choose from.  Find one you like and build a themed message around it to make it even more memorable.

5. Bags - Bags are always a good choice for a giveaway, but even more in the summer.  Backpacks, cinches and totes are sure to get use throughout the summer months with trips to the gym, pool or beach.  Find a bag that represents your business, fill it with samples or information about your company, and give it to prospects.  Or create a summer referral program and give referrers a bag with a coupon for their next purchase.

Take the time this summer to give your business the extra boost it needs with promotional items.  For great summer promotional items, visit www.bestpromotions.com.

Best Promotions has a great selection of promotional items for your next golf event.  Visit http://www.bestpromotions.com/products/browsecategory/118/ for ideas.

*PromoMarketing, March 2012

No matter what you have in  mind, you can easily meet all of your promotional marketing goals by focusing exclusively on summer-related items. Summer is a very special time of year, and any business will benefit from commemorating the season with the appropriate promotional products.

Here are 8 reasons to use promotional products and the summer promo items that will get the job done:

1. Create a unique and memorable image for your business: "We're fun!" isn't an image that's typically associated with the average business. No matter if you're in the business of accounting or industrial equipment you can still cultivate an identity of being fun people to be around and work with. One good choice is an outdoor game such as the Suction Catch Game.
2. Call to action: Sometimes you're looking for an immediate return on your investment. That's when your promotional product should include a call to action. In order to receive the item, for example, the client will be required to show up at your tradeshow booth or purchase a given number of items. Customers will definitely be willing to spend a bit extra to earn a free Luau Folding Beach Chair with its fun hibiscus flower print.
3. Supplementing another marketing effort: Perhaps you have a new radio ad or television spot. You can reinforce any other type of marketing through related promotional products. Got a hot summer sale going on? Advertise it by giving away Fold-Up Flying Disks, which are a new spin on the classic Frisbee.
4. Project an image of solid success and longevity: A promotional product with a high perceived value tells customers that you are the real deal. You can afford to be extra generous because you're a very successful business. The Aloe Up Mesh Gift Bag is an impressive and sophisticated promotional item that still fits in with the summer theme.
5. Promote your website: What's the use of spending time and money on a killer website if no one ever visits it? Emblazon a cool summer product with your website URL to start attracting visitors. A beach towel from the colorful Jewel Collection Colored Beach Towel collection will serve as a billboard advertisement for your website.
6. Show customer appreciation: You know the old adage - it's more cost effective to retain a customer than to acquire a new one. From time to time it's necessary to show your customers that you truly appreciate their business. A Promotional Kite will make them feel like the kids as they enjoy some high-flying fun.
7. Get an edge on your competition: Numerous studies have shown that consumers think more favorably of a company and are more likely to remember a company's name if they receive a free promotional item from that company. You can be one step ahead of your competitors by giving away an item like the top-quality Heavy Weight 14 Pound Promotional Beach Towel.
8. Promote yourself at an event: Summer is a prime time for fairs and festivals. If you're going to attract traffic to your booth, an eye-catching, valuable giveaway is a must. A Florida Flyer, for instance, is fun, colorful and very affordable.
   

As you can see, promotional products can serve just about any role that you can imagine when you're implementing a specific marketing campaign. Seasonal tie-ins are always an effective choice when it comes to promotional products. This summer, opt for "fun in the sun" giveaways when you order your next batch of promotional products.

In addition to retaining memories of the event, giving away tote bags also encourages word of mouth advertising. People who see the tote bag are likely to ask about the event, which opens up a dialogue about your business. A Reusable Big Grocery Tote is a fantastic canvas for your logo. If the bag is particularly stylish, like the Bali Tote, they might even ask if they can buy one!

Promotional tote bags are touted as one of the best promo items for continuous exposure. A recent study backs up this claim. According to research performed by the Advertising Specialties Institute (ASI), on average, a promotional bag delivers 1,038 impressions per month.

Another study states that promotional bags are the most frequently used of all promotional items. They are said to be used around 9 times per month, which roughly equates to once every 3 days. To ensure that your promotional summer tote bag is used on a regular basis, choose something like the long-lasting Heavy Cotton Canvas Boat Tote.

An eye-catching design is key to maximizing the advertising power of a promotional tote bag. In addition to thinking about your logo design, also consider the design of the tote bag itself. Choose something that will really stand out from the crowd, such as the backpack-style Drawstring Tote Bag.

Your business will also want to choose promotional items that are cost-effective. Any marketing campaign should offer you a high return on your investment to be worth your time and money. Promotional tote bags come in a wide range of prices. You can easily find one that's priced right for mass summer event giveaways, such as the budget-friendly Non-Woven Promotional Tote.  

All tote bags, regardless of their cost to you, have a high perceived value. When someone receives a tote bag, they'll be thinking in terms of what they'd have to pay for it if they went to the store and bought it themselves. Especially with a tote bag such as the high-quality Non-Woven Custom Tote you'll come out on top in the cost analysis.

When planning your next summer event, be it a company picnic or a booth at a huge outdoor festival, don't forget the tote bags. Promotional tote bags are the cost-effective, high impact promo item that will seal the deal on a successful summer event.

1. Top Selling Camp Chair: Host a company picnic complete with top-quality chairs featuring your logo. Then surprise your employees by giving them each one of these heavy-duty collapsible camping chairs.
2. Java Desk Mug and USB Mug Warmer Set: The classic stainless steel travel mug has gone high-tech! Your employees can use the power from their computer to keep their java hot all morning long.
3. Modesto Picnic Carrier Set: Any client will be impressed by this sophisticated picnic set that comes with all the accessories you need for a tasty meal out in the sun. 
4. Budget Beater 60: Show you care by sheltering your employees and customers from the storm with a promotional umbrella.
5. Day-Timer Bristol Pocket Planner: Give someone the gift of organization with a planner featuring handy extras such as an address directory, monthly planning pages and expense forms.
6. Day-Timer Kingston Pocket Planner: This planner is perfect for the person who is always on the go. It's made from a flexible UltraHyde material so it can be rolled up and tucked into a purse or briefcase.
7. Oakland Coffee Mug: This travel mug has a fun and modern look to perk up a morning commute.
8. Laser Pointer USB Flash Drive - 1GB: This pocket-sized flash drive makes it easy to carry important documents and sales presentations. 
9. Durahyde Zippered Jr. Padfolio: A smart, handsome padfolio is a great gift for both clients and employees.
10. Laguana Travel Mug: In stainless steel with black trim, this travel mug has a look with universal appeal.
    

• Umbrellas stand out from other promotional items because they're less common in the world of giveaways.
• Logos printed on umbrellas are quite large, which means your company's name can be spotted from far away.
• They're practical and useful, so they'll find their way into your customers' everyday life. A product like the Budget Beater 48 Inch Arc Stick Umbrella, for example, conveniently closes down to only 33 inches. It will easily fit in a briefcase.
• Umbrellas aren't trendy items. They never go out of style, so you can order in bulk and always keep these great gifts on hand.
• They have a high perceived value.
  

• Promotional tote bags get carried around all over town. Countless people will see your company's name and logo.
• Tote bags are a classic tradeshow giveaway that absolutely everyone loves. Handing out promotional tote bags is a sure-fire way to have the convention goers lined up at your booth.
• Use them to get in on the eco-friendly trend of "bring your own grocery bags." To really show your company's concern for the environment, choose a "green" promotional item such as the 100% Post Consumer Recycled Deluxe Tote Bag.
• Tote bags will be used for years to come, which makes them a top return on your marketing dollar.
• Promotional tote bags are a blank canvas for your logo, offering high visibility.
• Like umbrellas, tote bags are useful, which is an important quality to look for in any promotional product.
  

• Promotional pens are very affordable, so you can hand out them generously.
• No one turns down a free pen because everyone needs them.
• Pens have universal appeal. They're not specific to a gender or age group.
• They lend themselves to all sorts of creative uses, and they'll fit in with any marketing campaign theme.
• Including a promotional pen along with a gift is an easy way to go the extra mile. For example, they're perfect for pairing with notepads, padfolios and desk sets. When including a promotional pen with a gift, upgrade to something a bit more special, such as the comfortable Cougar Rubber Grip pen.
  

The hottest logo gift items for 2008 are all about getting active and getting outdoors. Fitness is becoming a way of life, and as you know, the best promotional products fit the recipient's lifestyle. This is the year to promote well-being while promoting your company! Here are four of the must-have logo gift items for every company this holiday season.

Giving fitness-focused logo items doesn't mean you have to buy elliptical machines for all of your employees. Just start with the basics - one of the hottest logo gift items is still the traditional tote bag. Traditional, however, doesn't mean ordinary. Today's promotional tote bags are as stylish and high-quality as anything you'd find in a top department store. For example, the tropical-themed Bali Tote has a designer look with its rope detailing and seashell pattern.

If your recipient is more rugged outdoors than haute couture, check out something like the Eco 51%Post Consumer Recycled Sling Bag. Sling-style bags are perfect for bike riding, rollerblading and hiking. Opting for a bag made from recycled materials means you hit two hot trends in one - fitness and eco-consciousness.

Thirty minutes on the treadmill will leave you with quite a thirst. Do the environmentally-friendly thing with reusable sports bottles in lieu of throwaway plastic water bottles. A brightly colored logo sports bottle is the perfect add-on to any fitness-themed gift. Just like the sling bag, a sports bottle lets you simultaneously promote an active and earth-friendly lifestyle.

Logo sports bottles come in many varieties, so shop around until you find one that stands out from the bunch. For instance, a 20 oz. Polycarbonate Sports Bottle with Flip-Up Straw is convenient for those on the go with its transport loop. It also features measurements on both sides for those who want to mix up a protein shake.

We've taken care of the body, now what about the mind? There's nothing like some fast-pumping music to get you in workout mode. Portable MP3 players are still one of the top gifts on everyone's wishlist. You can be the one to make that wish come true, and you can do it with class and style by giving them the Onyx MP3 Player 1GB. The Onyx comes complete with earbuds and an armband to fit your fitness theme perfectly.

1. Caffeine buzz: Is any object in the teacher lounge more cherished than the coffee maker? Make the teacher's lounge, and the coffee, even nicer with brand new mugs. Outfit the lounge with a set of C-Handle 11 Oz. Ceramic Mugs. There's room to include your school's logo as well as a welcoming message. To make the surprise even better, provide bags of gourmet coffees and lay out a feast of muffins and pastries.
2. Hot or cold, it's ready to go: They've got their coffee in the break room, but they need coffee in the classroom, too! Travel mugs are a convenient way to bring along your beverage, whether driving in your car or grading papers after class. Something like the 16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug makes a handsome teacher gift with its modern, high-end look. You can make the mug even more special by attaching a note to the handle and putting a big bow on top. It can also be filled with candy or small school supplies.
3. A convenient carryall: You'd think they were about to go on an overseas trip with as much stuff as teachers have to carry around. Teachers are always in need of a sturdy tote bag to stay organized. The Extra Large Zippered Tote is a stylish bag featuring a large front color panel that's perfect for customizing. The Extra Large Zippered Tote is a fantastic gift all on its own, but you can make it even better by stashing some goodies inside. How about tucking in some notebooks, folders, and pens?
4. A place for everything, and everything in its place: Staying organized is how teachers stay sane. Tote bags with plenty of pockets, compartments, and dividers are a lifesaver. You can help keep your teachers extra-organized with an Eclipse Travel Tote. They'll love the special pockets that hold individual pens and pencils. Side mesh pockets are a convenient place to store a cell phone, PDA, or calculator. All those handy little pockets are just begging to be filled with some personalized school supplies before you give out these teacher gifts.
   

The first day of school is almost here, so it's time to get moving on your welcome back teacher gifts. A thoughtful gift paired with creative presentation is the winning combination.