Archive | reuseable RSS feed for this section

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 Jarel Guerrero 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.

EMERGENCY SELF-CHARGING DYNAMO

6 Aug

EMERGENCY SELF-CHARGING DYNAMO

There is no getting around the fact that the last few months have seen some really terrible weather in the U.S.  Floods, fires, tornadoes, all have been issues in the first half of 2011.

Something that often proves invaluable in bad weather situations is a good radio, preferably with a shortwave (SW) band.

The Emergency Self-Charging Dynamo from Sweda is a good example of a small, portable, self-charging emergency radiothat at the right place, and at the right time, can go way beyond “just another promo item”.

The Emergency Self-Charging Dynamo from Sweda features a sleek metallic silver case and a matte black rubberized body. The radio also contains a three bulb LED flashlight. Both the radio and the flashlight run off an internal wind-up generator, so the Emergency Self-Charging Dynamo will never need batteries.

The imprint area of the Dynamo is 3/8″H x 2-1/4″W smack on the center front of the unit, total size of the unit is a very portable 3”H x 6”W x 2”.

If you are a credit union in Tornado Alley still handing out toasters, I suggested you think about switching to the Emergency Self-Charging Dynamo from Sweda. The Dynamo is also a good fit for storm awareness programs or organizations promoting weather awareness and educational programs.

If you are a distributor and want more information on the Emergency Self-Charging Dynamo from Sweda contact Lakisha Higgins, Sweda Strategic Accounts. If you would like to purchase this item for your own business please contact your local promotional items provider or email info@proformagreen.com for pricing and samples.

“Metalike” Union Made BPA-Free Tritan Bottles for the 4th

4 Jul

MXB34 - 36 oz. ShimmerZ Mountain Bottle

Garyline is now producing a line of what they are calling Metalike water bottles. These bottles are actually PBA-Free Tritan Copolyester, a very high grade of plastic from world-class resin manufacturer Eastman based in Tennessee.

As I have written before Tritan Copolyester is a type of plastic with several key characteristics including high degrees of clarity, toughness, heat resistance, and chemical resistance (no leaching to the liquid or vice versa). The Tritan Copolyester is the same high quality copolyester resin that is used by such retail brands as Nalgene and Camelback in their bottle lines.

So this new line of bottles from Garyline is giving you a really high quality, metal looking water bottle, that is less expensive, easier to clean, and much lighter than a stainless steel bottle.

With 16 styles to choose from the Garyline Metalike line have a style and price point for just about any target audience. With campaign season just around the corner Made In The USA water bottles will likely be in demand for campaign events and fundraisers.

Items like the MXB34 – 36 oz. ShimmerZ Mountain Bottle are a good representative of the complete line. This U.S. Made / Union Made 36 oz. Metallic Poly-Pure Mountain Bottle is molded with food-safe plastic, is dishwasher-safe, and of course BPA-free Co-polyester.

Colors available are Copper, Metallic Black, Metallic Blue, Metallic Lime Green, Metallic Red, and Silver. There is even a seasonal Metallic Pink that is currently on closeout.

What is not to love about this guy?

If you are a promotional items distributor looking for more information on Garyline items Stu Schoenfeld is your contact at Garyline. If you are interested in Garyline items to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Two Options for Roll-Up Totes

9 Apr

8 oz 100% Raw Cotton Canvas 100% Reusable, Washable

Continental Marketing Services now offers their eGreen Roll-up Tote in both raw cotton canvas and 85% recycled from plastic bottle PET. Though we wrote about the raw cotton canvas bag earlier, both bags are worth a second look.

The eGreen Roll-up Tote I is made from 8oz 100% raw cotton canvas. It is offered only as a non-dyed bag, so in a natural, parchment like hue, which will fade naturally over time.

Because this bag is not dyed it is easily washable, which is a nice trick for a grocery tote. Continental Marketing Services, operating as BAGS, also lists the bag as recyclable, which is a bit of a stretch.

Yes, cotton is recyclable, but I rather like to put cotton – all cotton – into the natural fiber camp, meaning it is a material that will naturally break down over time, something a polyester or nylon tote cannot do.

120G PET 85% Recycled from Plastic Bottle 100% Recyclable, Reusable, Hand Washable

The second option for this bag design is the eGreen Roll-up Tote II, which is made from 120gm 85% recycled PET (basically old water bottles). This bag is a number 5 recyclable and is hand washable. So soap and water in the sink yes, but the high heat of a washing machine is a no-no. This bag is currently only offered in black.

Both bags offer a stylish, modern design that is still practical for daily use. Both bags offer an 11″ x 9″ imprint area, with the raw cotton tote additionally offering an 8″ diameter embroidery area.

Both bags have a body size of 20″ x 14″ x 3.5″. The eGreen Roll-up Tote II offers full color digital imprinting. Both bags ship un-folded so they arrive with crisp lines, ready to market your brand or message.

And of course both bags roll up to a pocket size tube with snap closure for easy storage and portability.

The size of these bags makes them a great grab-and-go shopper option. The 11″ x 9″ imprint area gives lots of room for your brand, logo, and marketing message.

If you are looking for more information on the eGreen line write to Cindy Audoung at Continental Marketing Services. 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.

Made in USA BPA-Free 24 oz. Aluminum Bottle

23 Mar

24oz US Aluminum Bottle - BPA FREE - Made in USA. Imprint done as full wrap around the bottle. Union Bug added to art.

I was at an ASI show in Dallas last week when I came across that rarest of all promotional items, the Made in USA 24 oz. Aluminum Bottle.

The bottles on display were from Huffermen Incorporated and it was explained to me that not only is the Huffermen USA 24 oz. Aluminum Bottle made in the USA, it is made at a Union plant and can be imprinted with a Union Bug.

This is a big deal.

Most aluminum bottles on offer in the US are made overseas. So that is a large carbon footprint, more energy, etc., to bring into the USA. Plus the Made in USA fact really applies to many audiences.

How US friendly is the USA 24 oz. Aluminum Bottle? Well the bottle actually qualifies for the MADE in USA CERTIFIED™ Seal. According to the Huffermen, “To establish qualification for the MADE in USA CERTIFIED™ Seal, or PRODUCT of USA CERTIFIED™ Seal, products must be fully audited by an independent team and certified as having all or virtually all of their core components manufactured or grown in the United States of America. Additionally, 100% of their assembly must be verified as conducted in the U.S. A.  (Also known as “substantial transformation” according to the Buy American Act).”

Again, this is a big deal.

So for organizations getting ready for marketing at 4th of July events, I would say your bottle is here. Same for marketing projects that target unions or state government or federal employees or US car brands or indeed any US manufacturer - really the ability to offer a USA, union-made bottle is a big deal. If promoting a US organization or manufacturer, you really should be doing so with a US made bottle. (And please don’t get me started on the uses for this bottle come 2012 election cycle.)

The Huffermen USA 24 oz. Aluminum Bottle comes in red, white, blue, and brushed aluminum. The bottles run 10.75” H x 2.5” diameter with a 3” W x 6.5” H per side or 7” W x 6.5” H for wrap imprint area. (Setup charges include 1 Side, 2 Sides or a Wrap Imprint, so I say go with the wrap folks). With a wrap you can pretty much print the entire bottle.

According to Huffermen, the BPA-Free lining of these bottles – unlike stainless steel, all aluminium bottles have a lining – is not only BPA-Free but of a similar manufacture to the lining in everyday aluminum soda and beer cans.

If you are a promotional items distributor looking for more information on the  Huffermen USA 24 oz. Aluminum Bottle, contact Melissa Hoffman.

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

Recycled Lanyard Offering Sublimation Imprint

14 Feb
LA34RHT 3/4" Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard

LA34RHT 3/4" Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard

Spring events are right around the corner and that means once again many event planners are starting that yearly search for the perfect event id lanyard. New to the field this year is the LA34RHT 3/4″ Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard from Innovation Line.

Innovation actually carries four recycled lanyards, all made from 100% recycled post consumer soda and water bottles, but it is the full color sublimation imprinting that got our notice on the LA34RHT 3/4″ Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard.

Why? Because it fits with the theme we have been running so far for 2011 — the theme of color, the idea that eco-friendly products no longer need to be just green or black.

Basically you get to print any color, any logo, and any art you need printed on this eco-friendly, used to be a water bottle lanyard. Once again a small thing that is a big thing.

Convention centers, resorts, event centers no longer need to choose between eco-friendly or color. If you’re doing a floral show for 20,000 participants you can go green with the participant lanyards and  still print photo quality images of the flowers directly on the lanyards. Summer music festivals, pro level golf events, regattas, etc., can all make this little change to going green without sacrificing any branding or design elements related to their events.

Again, small item, but big deal. It is small items like the LA34RHT 3/4″ Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard – items that do their job and are practical -  that best prove the point that going green in marketing collateral is simple. You just have to choose to do it.

As to the basics, the LA34RHT 3/4″ Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard is 18″ long x 3/4″ wide with total possible full color imprint space of 13″ x 1/2″. Domestic full color runs take as little as 10 days. Clip options include bulldog, swivel, split ring, and even a nice breakaway release. Runs start at as few as 1000 units.

If you are ASI and interested in recycled lanyards from Innovation Line contact Rachel Sakso. If you would like to use the LA34RHT 3/4″ Recycled Multi-Color Sublimation Lanyard to promote your own business or event contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information, pricing, and samples.

100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler

10 Feb

100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler

I think the new 100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler from Gemline is a slam dunk for any marketing program aimed at promoting healthy eating or healthy food choices.

Why? This is a high style tote that happens to be 100% recycled material, and in the minds of most audiences healthy and eco-friendly go hand-in-hand.

Water Motif Pre-Print On Side Gusset Green and Blue Bags.

The 100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler allows the marketer to position their heathy eating message/brand on a platform that is also ‘healthy’ for the environment. Win-win.

The 100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler is an adult size lunch bag at 8″L x 9″H x 6″W. Too often in our industry folks see a lunch style tote and stop thinking about adults. I think that is a mistake, a lot of adults bring their lunch to work, and bringing lunch to work carries both an economic and healthy choice message that should work well in our current economic climate.

Imprint area is front pocket only at 5″W x 3″H, and as the name suggests the cooler is made from a laminated100% recycled PET fabric. Bags run BLACK, BLUE, GREEN, and RED. As a bonus the 100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler comes with a pre-printed gusset in either a water bottle or checker motif. The handles of these bags are printed with the text MADE FROM WATER BOTTLES.

Like all Gemline bags the 100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler is in compliance with the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), and can be tracked to its point of production.

Check the video for a great overview look at these bags. (They mention school events, but that is a bit of a knee-jerk reaction when talking about this shape of bag, I would much rather see this bag representing an organic frozen apple juice or other healthy food line.)

If you are ASI and wish to learn more about Gemline products contact Andrea Catalano. If you are interested in the 100% Recycled Impulse Lunch Cooler to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

ReTread PDA Holder Stand

18 Nov

FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder

Americanna Line is once again expanding their ReTread™ line of promotional items made from recycled tires.

The new FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder is one of the new items available before the holidays that I think would make a great little stocking stuffer.

Like all items in the Retread line the FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder is 100% recyclable material and can be imprinted in five colors, White, Green (PMS360), Blue (PMS660), Orange (PMS166), and Metallic Gold. The FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder can be imprinted with a 100% recycled message or you can add a little stick to the back of each item for a small additional cost.

The folding PDA holder is not a new product for our industry, we have seen them in rubber and leather in the past, but being offered in eco materials is new. This is a great, simple, inexpensive, and mailable promotional item that is also useful. Not a mix you see very often.

Creating an eco-friendly smart phone app? This is a great giveaway. Working on a program in a green technology field like clean energy? Most engineers have fancy phones and again this is a great giveaway. Going after the college kids? Well they all have smart phones it seems, and even if your just the local pizza joint, the FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder is affordable and will keep your name on their desk throughout the school year, so again, a great giveaway.

The FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder has a large 3.75″ x 6.75″ imprint area and can include printed instructions on the holder itself on how to fold together into a stand. Like all ReTread items the FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder is Made in the USA.

If you are an ASI member Michelle Stiles is the contact to talk to at Americanna. If you are interested in the FLAT TIRE™ PDA Holder to promote your own business 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.

.

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.

Wooden Gift Boxes From Maple Ridge

27 Oct

Wooden Collector Box with Pecan Turtles

Each year thousands of gift baskets are sold in our industry as clients send customers holiday treats.

In most instances those goodies come in very pretty packaging that is simply trash once the food itself is consumed.

Maple Ridge Farms, established in 1979, is a leader in the gift basket industry, and this year they are introducing a reusable packaging idea that I think is rather smart and might save on some of that wasted packaging.

The Maple Ridge Farms Wooden Collector’s Box will now be available for shipment with a simple set of index tabs. The tabs allow the life of the box to be prolonged for use as a desk top filing box, and more to the point the index tabs, used or not, send the message that this is a sturdy, reusable, multipurpose box — don’t toss it away.

The Maple Ridge Farms Wooden Collector’s Box measures 8″ x 4″ x 3″ and can be imprinted on both of the sides and the top of the sliding lid. Foods offered are English Toffee, Chocolate Almonds, Deluxe Mixed Nuts, Pecan Turtles, White Chocolate Pretzels, and Peppermint Bark.

A reusable box not only extends the life of the gift, but more importantly extends the time your brand is in front of your client, which is of course the main goal of promotional items, getting your name in front of your clients and keeping it there. Whether the box becomes an office paper clip holder or recipe or coupon holder for the home, your brand will be front and center throughout the year. This is not a trick you can do with a bag of gift popcorn.

The gift boxes are made in the USA, but they are made from Tilia, also known as Basswood. We would like to see Maple Ridge Farms do the same idea in a more sustainable material, perhaps bamboo or even recycled or post-consumer paper. Still, it is a nice first move.

If you are a promotional items distributor looking for more information on Maple Ridge Farms products contact Laura Syring. If you are interested in holiday gift boxes to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.