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Best Idea 2012: h2go-v volt

8 Jan

20 oz h2go double wall 18/8 stainless steel water bottle, vacuum insulated with threreaded lid

In the sustainable arena it is generally agreed that for reusable drinkware, stainless steel bottles are safer and easier to maintain than aluminum, plastic, or glass. So the question then becomes, which is the better stainless steel bottle to promote your brand or event?

For 2012 I am voting for the h2go-v volt from Express Line. This 20 oz. double wall 18/8 stainless steel water bottle is vacuum insulated and features a high impact threaded lid. This vacuum insulated bottle keeps cold drinks cold. It also makes for a slightly heavier bottle, which I see as a plus for a promotional item, as the h2go-v volt has a heft to it that conveys value, strength, and quality, all words that most businesses would like to associate with.

To top if off, the Express Line offers the h2go-v volt with an amazingly appealing chrome finish. The chrome finish makes any logo pop brightly and is a much better canvas to your logo than the standard stainless steel natural finished offer on most bottles. But you’re not limited to this wow/bang chrome, indeed the h2go-v volt comes in eight finishes, with bright colors like apple, orange, and fire engine red leading the pack.

Express Line will even add a carabiner to the bottle for $0.50.

The Express Line offers many, many, many stainless steel drinkware options. I think the h2go-v volt beats them all when judged for functionality, classic design, and flat out coolness. The h2go-v volt is really most appreciated in person, when comparing apples-to-apples with another bottle, so I suggest you get your hands on one before doing any bottle buying in 2012.

If you are an ASI distributor Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to at Express Line. If you are interested in the h2go-v volt to promote your own business or event, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information, pricing, and samples.

Videos from State Fair of Texas

20 Oct

State Fair of Texas, Sept 30 - Oct 23

We are in our final week here at the State Fair of Texas in the Texas Discovery Gardens. I wanted to post a few more of the videos we shot at the fair which cover some of the sustainable items discussed during our stay.

Eco2 Throw at State Fair of Texas. Made in the USA with 100% eco2cotton® yarn. Eco2cotton® yarn is made with second generation cotton that makes environmental sense. The unique manufacturing process uses no new dyes or harmful pollutants and ensures conservation of our precious natural resources – land, water and energy.

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BPA-Free Plastic, Glass, Stainless Steel. Which is the right material for your next marketing project?

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For more information on the Eco2 Throw and other eco options from ProTowels Etc. contact Aaron Gunderson. Drinkware shown was done by the Express Line, if you are an ASI distributor Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to there. If you are interested in the Eco2. Throw or reusable drinkware to promote your own business, product, or organization, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Stainless Steel Terra, Give Me Some Of That

17 Oct

Stainless Steel Terra

I have no idea what creativity bug is working over at The Express Line, but I want some of whatever it is they got. A stainless steel Terra mug, are you kidding me, this is brilliant.

The Terra mug is The Express Line version of the paper-cup-shaped-tumbler design double walled ceramic mug that took the industry by storm two years ago. It is basically a copy of the I Am Not a Paper Cup created by artist James Burgess in 2007. The design is now everywhere from Debco to Numo, all good options.

Ok ceramic breaks. So next thing to hit the market where designs like the Cup2Go from The Express Line, basically same idea as Terra, but this time double-walled, BPA-Free plastic, with a screw top lid. This design also spread like wildfire, and again there is a version of this idea from a bunch of folks including Bullet and Jetline

Of course ceramic breaks, but plastic, even PBA-Free plastic breaks down over time. Plastic off gases. Plastic is, well, plastic.

So what does not break and what is not plastic? Steel. Stainless Steel.

So in their third quarter 2011 catalog The Express Line is introducing the SS Terra in 12oz and 16oz, in black matte and stainless steel finish. The SS Terra is vacuum insulated to keep warm drinks warm and cool drinks cool.

I love this idea. And I really love this idea for campers. I am telling you, expect a retail design of SS Terra in an REI store near you soon. Campers can use this design for coffee, but it also will work for soups, it will work as a measuring tool in a cook kit, it will work as a storage container, it will work as a mixing container for energy powders or pancake batter. Since it is stainless steel it will stand up to the trial, plus it will be easy to wash and to take proper care of in camp.

Weekend warrior or long distance trekker, your coffee is ready.

If you are an ASI distributor Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to at Express Line. If you are interested in the SS Terra to promote your own business or event, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information, pricing, and samples.

Video: Paper Inserts for Spirit Tumblers

5 Sep

Example of full color Insert on 24 oz spirit tumbler

As Halloween and end of year holiday planning starts I wanted to revisit the paper insert idea for double wall acrylic tumblers developed by The Express Line that I wrote about in July.

This BPA-Free reusable drinkware design is showing up more and more both in the promotional market and also in retail stores.  And while Leeds and some other vendors are showing off holiday themed double-walled tumblers imprinted with candies and shipped with candy cane style straws, I think everyone needs to wake-up to the possibility of holiday inserts for the Spirit Tumbler from Express Line.

Think about it, with the ability of full color imprinting via the paper insert, the Spirit Tumbler from Express Line can become your holiday card, or at least exactly mimic it, with card cover art on outside and message printed on the inside of the tumbler. Stuff it with candies if you like, but this is a much more expressive holiday hello than a simple card. And as a reusable item of drinkware, it will stay with the recipient much, much longer than a simple paper card.

The Express Line recently put out a video on their insert program. It does not address my holiday idea, but does show off the concept much better than explaining it in words does, so I decided to post their video here.

As you can see the Spirit Tumbler from Express Line with full color paper insert could easily become a perfect canvas for your holiday messaging. Jack O’Lantern drinkware anyone?

If you are an ASI distributor Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to at Express Line. If you are interested in full color to promote your own business or event, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information, pricing, and samples.

BPA-Free Coffee Tumblers Big In 2011

25 Feb

Blue 16 oz cup2go, 11 colors currently available

The latest attack on the disposable coffee cup from the promotional products industry is a new group of BPA-free plastic tumblers designed to look like paper but provide a reusable and brandable alternative.

These new mugs look a lot like the same unbranded products the public has seen at Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and other retailers. The idea is getting a reusable tumbler to market that acts more like the classic paper coffee cup, a light drinkware item, that fits the hand, and the car holder, in the same way as a paper cup.

In this category of reusable, BPA-Free tumblers, different vendors are approaching the idea from different angles. Some are going with an explosion of color, some with pre-prints, and some with a retake on the classic paper layout with paper wrap.

The 16 oz and 20 0z cup2go from The Express Line is a double wall plastic tumbler with threaded lid, and these guys are all about color. The cup2go currently is available in 11 very vibrant colors, including early morning favorites like Apple, Pink, and Yellow.

The 16 oz cup2go is available with a 3-3/4 x 3 x 8-1/2 imprint area, while the imprint area on the 20 oz is 4 x 3 x 8-1/2. Both models are dishwasher and microwave safe.

DA8166 16oz. Mighty Plastic Calendar Mug

For a pre-print approach we turn to the Debco 16oz. Mighty Plastic Mug, now available as the pre-printed DA8166 16oz. Mighty Plastic Calendar Mug, with 3” W x 1” H vertically on side imprint.

(The Mighty Plastic Mug is actually available in a number of trims, all of which stand 7″ H x 3.75″, and mostly run a 6.5” W x 3” H imprint area, and come with a twist top lid.)

The DA8166 16oz. Mighty Plastic Calendar Mug come pre-printed with a four-color process imprint of the 2011/2012 calendar. The pre-print idea has done very well for bags, and I expected it to quickly catch on in drinkware as well.

The calendar idea will likely work well for HR and other corporate programs with a focus more on employees and the office environment, whereas I see the cup2go more about college campuses and resort towns.

The last idea is best shown by the DPT18 DUNCAN from Avaline.

The Duncan BPA-Free Tumbler

The DPT18 DUNCAN is featured in the Avaline 2011 catalog but it is not currently on the Avaline website, as Avaline has these mugs on back order. They will be available again soon. The first time I saw this configuration was actually from a client who had purchased a mug very similar to this design at a retail outlet.

Basically the DPT18 DUNCAN faithfully reproduces the paper coffee cup out of BPA-Free plastic in white, and then accents that cup with a bright silicon wrap to add color to the product.

Since the imprint is on the mug and not the band, your imprint rides a little low on the tumbler, but the overall impact, especially when the imprint is match to band color, is rather nice.

I like the look. The DPT18 DUNCAN is my choice for the farmer’s market, the corner coffee shop, and the PTA fundraiser.

If you’re looking for more information on these tumblers go to the source. The ASI contact for the The Express Line is Nicki Russo, talk to Jeremy Rich at Debco, and for Avaline information you want Jenn Olivencia.

If you are interested in these items to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

New 18oz. Slider Carnival Cup From Glass America

21 Feb
18 oz. Purple Slider Lid Carnival Mug Straw Out

18 oz. Purple Slider Lid Carnival Mug Straw Out

A new product is being added to the very popular Carnival Cup line from Glass America. The 18 oz. Slider Lid Carnival Cup is new for 2011 and brings two nice added features: it is larger, and it does not spill.

The Carnival Cup from Glass America (or similar Spirit Tumbler from The Express Line) are styled after standard fountain drink cups, but made from BPA-free double walled acrylic. This design of a reusable tumbler that looks like a cup remains one of the best-selling reusable drinkware products on the market.

But the design has a flaw.

Even though they featured a screw-top lid that is nearly 100% watertight, there is a hole in the top of that lid where the straw is placed. If you drop the tumbler, there is a good chance of the product leaking via this hole.

18 oz. Hot Pink Slider Lid Carnival Cup

18 oz. Hot Pink Slider Lid Carnival Cup Straw In

If you look at the new 18 oz. Slider Lid Carnival Cup you see a passover trigger has been added to the cup. When not in use the straw is tucked safety into this trigger. (Honestly, the only other place I have seen a similar setup is in my little girl’s Dora The Explorer sippy cup.) So no more spills.

Other than the new top, and larger size, the 18 oz. Slider Lid Carnival Cup is the same basic unit as the 16 oz. Carnival Cup.

The larger imprint area is 4in x 2.5in on both the back and front of the tumbler.  Colors are Aqua Blue, Clear, Hot Pink, Orange, and Purple.

The wider top and larger capacity on the 18 oz. Slider Lid Carnival Cup make them a great beverage holder for soft drinks and ice tea, because the big top works well for adding ice.

These items, like their predecessors, are a great idea for companies starting reduce and reuse programs at the office, as the design is all about replacing standard cups with like looking reusable tumblers.

Those in the beverage industry and food services should also consider the Carnival Cup design for giveaways. This is the type of item that travels with the recipient from work to home to play, always keeping your brand in front of your client.

If you are an ASI distributor Helen Henderson is the contact to talk to at Glass America, which also goes by the name Modern Glass. Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to at express line.

If you are not in the promotional items business and interested in either item to promote your own business or organization, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Video: Total Branding Solution

3 Nov

Trying to knock it out the park the holiday season with a reusable drinkware promotion? Go total branding with express line. Drinkware, packaging, insert, one design ties it all together.

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If you are an ASI distributor Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to at express line about their total branding solutions as seen in this video. If you are interested in the Total Branding Solution for your business, event, or holiday giving, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

K and R Jute Wine Tote

23 Oct

Jute Wine Tote

Even though it is not yet Halloween, it is certainly time for businesses and groups to start planning for their end of the year gift giving.

The jute NATURAL ECO-FRIENDLY WINE BAG tote from K & R Precision Corporation is a great tool for use in planning a gift program for any organization or business looking for a natural angle.

Jute is a renewable, naturally biodegradable vegetable fiber that has been used as a woven material for centuries. In the promotional products industry the material is primarily used for bags and totes, of which the NATURAL ECO-FRIENDLY WINE BAG is a perfect example.

The NATURAL ECO-FRIENDLY WINE BAG is 4.5”w x 17”h x 4.25”d with an imprint area of 2.25” x 8”. The two-tone construction is a nice touch, as are the bamboo ring style handles. The bag is designed to hold a standard 750ml bottle.

If you are giving wine, especially from a vineyard with an eco-friendly or organic pedigree, the jute NATURAL ECO-FRIENDLY WINE BAG might be a better choice than your standard bag. Wine bags work well because you can stage the value of the gift without lessening the presentation, i.e. the big client gets the $140 bottle, the lesser client the $50 bottle, etc., but the packaging and presentation remains the same.

Wine totes are also an idea to consider because their natural tall and lean shape makes a great gift bag for many items that are not wine, from sleeves of bakes fresh cookies, to holiday candy, to BBQ sauce, to fishing lures. Really, everything gets a perceived value boost when given in an imprinted wine tote. (And yes, unexpected items like fishing lures do work very well as the juxtaposition of the item and carrier gives your gift a quirkiness that helps people remember the giver and the brand, and isn’t that the point in the first place?)

If you are a promotional items distributor looking for more information on the NATURAL ECO-FRIENDLY WINE BAG contact Melanie Langille at K & R Precision Corporation. If you are interested in wine totes to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Debco Leads the Way in Drinkware

14 Oct

DA8029 8 OZ. MINI MUG EQP $6.00

In a hint of what we might be seeing more of in the 4th quarter of 2010, or more likely 1st quarter of 2011, Debco Solutions has updated their website with three new designs of  the very popular double-walled porcelain mug made to look like a paper cup.

This design swept through the industry when first introduced in 2009, and these new styles might have the same impact in 2011.

The DA8029 8 OZ. MINI MUG (5” H x 3.5” Diameter) is a smaller version of the original, starting out of the gate in four colors, white, black, royal blue, and lime green. To that Debco encourages you to mix and match silicone lids; on offer are black, brown, lime green, red, royal blue, and white. The imprint area on the 8 oz mini is 2.25” W x 1.5” H (side), and registration will not allow for touching colors in the imprint. Currently EQP on the mini is $6, but their availability is yet to be announced.

The thing I really like about the mini is it seems a perfect size substitute for hotel bathroom plastic water and coffee cups. Yes the expense is greater, but for those hotels using conservation efforts as part of their branding I think the idea of a reusable cup works great. Print it with a message about the hotel’s eco-friendly policies, hotel’s logo, website, etc., and you have a great little promotional piece.

The standard 11oz mug (6” H x 3.5” Diameter) has been renamed the DA4297 11 OZ. MEDI MUG and is now also available with a vinyl sleeve. Color options on mugs and silicone lids are the same as the mini, with color sleeves available in the same color choices as silicone lids. Note that because the lids are silicone and the sleeves are vinyl Debco warns on their website that “colors of lid and sleeve are not an exact match”.

DA7296 11 OZ. MEDI MUG, $7.25 w/sleeve

Imprint size on the DA7296 11 OZ. MEDI MUG has increased to 6.5” W x 3” H. Holiday pricing is $6.75 per unit with a minimum run of 50 units. The DA7296 11 OZ. MEDIs are in stock and ready to ship for the holidays. (Indeed Debco sold out of them last year around November, they are that popular as holiday gifts.)

Last in the line up is the DA8713 16 OZ. MIGHTY MUG, which mimics all mug, lid, and sleeve options of the DA7296 11 OZ. MEDI MUG. The imprint area is even the same at 6.5” W x 3” H. The 16 OZ. MIGHTY MUG is a full inch taller than the MEDI MUG, standing 7” high with a 3.5” diameter.

Debco is expecting stock in mid October – so any day now – and is accepting orders on the MIGHTY MUG. Pricing for the holidays is $7.75 with one color imprint. Minimum run is only 50 units.

I suspect continuing variations on what is commonly referred to as the “not a paper cup” design will start showing up from other manufacturers as well, but for now Debco seems to have a jump on the competition.

All Debco mugs have a matte finish, not the glossy finish found on most of these style units from other manufacturers, like Numo and Glass America. All Debco styles are dishwasher safe and microwavable (mug only) which is standard to the industry.

If you are a promotional items distributor looking for more information contact Jeremy Rich at Debco. If you are interested in these items to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Carnival Cup Hit at Arlington EcoFest

19 Sep

Carnival Cup by Glass America

Just back from the City of Arlington EcoFest, where Proforma Green Marketing had a booth focused on educating the public about eco-friendly marketing solutions for business and organizations. What item in our booth seemed to elicit the most interest? The clear winner was the Carnival Cup from Glass America.

The Carnival Cup has the advantage of sharing its design with similar style tumblers seen in retail stores like Wal-Mart and Starbucks, so there is already a level of familiarity existing with the audience (which is a desirable attribute for a promo item).

Like those retail tumblers the Carnival Cup is a reusable, BPA free, double wall acrylic tumbler, with screw top lid, bundled with a matching acrylic straw. With single color imprint, a 20 oz. Carnival Cup runs $3.99 at 144 units. Imprint area is a large 4in x 2.5in, and multiple color imprints are possible. Glass America sells the same unit at 16oz for $3.49, again at 144 units.

Another reason the Carnival Cup might have collected so many questions from the audience is that the City of Arlington was selling the similarly designed 16oz spirit tumbler from the express line (the company that does not believe in capital  letters), so there were really a lot of these units floating around the event.

The spirit tumbler is available in 16oz, 24oz, and the brand new 20 oz tall. All sizes are available in 10 colors – Glass America offers only black, green, red and clear, while the express line has hipper options like aqua and tangerine - and like the Carnival Cup come with a matching straw.

Aqua 16oz spirit tumbler

Either of these units are great ideas for companies starting reduce, reuse programs, as the main claim to eco fame of this design is their re-usability. The wide tops and matching straws make them an easy beverage holder for soft drinks and ice tea.

Of course anyone in the beverage industry or food services might also want to consider the Carnival Cup design for giveaways. At EcoFest we saw their popularity with the audience and this is the type of item that travels with the recipient from work to home to play, always keeping your brand in front of your client.

If you are an ASI distributor Helen Henderson is the contact to talk to at Glass America, which also goes by the name Modern Glass. Nicki Russo is the contact to talk to at express line.

If you are not in the promotional items business and interested in either item to promote your own business or organization, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

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