Tag Archives: proforma green marketing

Notes from Ecofest Arlington

19 Sep

Ecofest Arlington

This weekend was the third Ecofest Arlington, hosted by the City of Arlington Texas, which the city promotes as a “free, family oriented event, [which] helps build a sense of community, stimulates environmental awareness, and promotes stewardship across North Texas”. Bascially it is just a lot of good fun, good music, and good food.

The two biggest draws at this year’s event where likely the class on building your own rain barrel and certainly the tree give away.

This year, instead of using plant containers or bags for the small trees, the city decided to use a reusable, dishwasher safe, and recyclable custom printed cup from Visstun.

The tagline for Visstun is “visually stunning cups” and they totally lived up to their reputation on this product. The cups were printed with a full color wrap which included the Ecofest logo, plus information on tree planting and welfare, and QR codes for more information on planting trees in North Texas. So instead of a simple plastic, throw away bag, each tree came with one of these great, yet practical, reusable souvenirs.

Take a look at the video.

.

If you are an ASI distributor looking for knock out cups talk to Joe Davis at Visstun. If you are interested in Hi-def Visstun Reusable Clear Plastic Cups to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Getting Ready For Fall at the Farmer’s Market

9 Sep

Recycled Cotton Market Bag

Fall is in the air. Well since I live in Dallas and it is still 90+ degrees this first week of September, let me say the idea of Fall is in the air. And Fall means fun at the farmer’s market.

I really do enjoy weekends at the market and every season brings a new selection to the stalls. Cauliflower, Butternut Squash, Fall Apples, Sweet Potatoes, and of course Pumpkins all come out around this time of year.

But look around at the shoppers. Even though I am at the farmer’s market I am surrounded by reusable bags bearing the names of the big food store chains of Dallas – Central Market, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Tom Thumb.

The thing about a farmer’s market is normally everyone brings their own bags. And since a printed shopping bag is really also a small moving “billboard” might I suggest if you are planning a marketing push this season that has anything to do with food or foodies, think about getting some printed bags to the farmers market for distribution to the crowds.

Like a tee shirt, most folks do not throw away bags. Indeed, again like a tee shirt, most shoppers have a favorite bag that they use over and over because a quality shopping tote is held on to for years.

Here is a hint. YOU WANT YOUR BRAND ON THAT BAG.

If not exactly free advertising, the average cost per impression of a shopping tote (i.e. the cost per view of your logo) is so very low, handing out a good bag that will last for years is a much, much better return on advertising dollars then print ads, TV ads, even billboards. The secret is to tie your brand to a good bag. No one uses a Yugo for a company limo. In the same respect skipping on your bag budget is not a good idea when you are using the bag itself as a vehicle to promote your brand.

Here are two videos on bags from Gemline that I think would work great for any promotional event targeting shoppers that would frequent a farmers market. The Gemline pre-printed Laminated 100% Recycled Shopper Set (adding your logo to a pre-printed bag is an easy way to get more bang for your marketing buck) and the very sturdy and understated Recycled Cotton Market Bag.

If you are ASI and wish to learn more about these Gemline products contact Andrea Catalano. If you are interested in bags to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

The videos.

.

More Color and Dokumental Ink with the Eco Kaleider

7 Sep

Shepenco is a fourth generation family owned business offering promotional pencils and pens from their location in Shelbyville, Tennessee since 1933. As more sustainable materials have become available for the creation of writing instruments, Shepenco has developed one of the largest line of eco-friendly writing products in the industry.

This new Italian design ECO KALEIDER™ offers a new colorful look in biodegradable pens. Step up to a Parker refill with Dokumental ink, for the best writing eco-friendly retractable ballpoint pen you will ever pick up.

What that means for your marketing project is more choice and more colors. Shepenco currently offers 14 sustainable material promotional pens and 10 sustainable material promotional pencils in their standard line.

Take for example the Italian designed Eco Kaleider that I was checking out at a Proforma convention in New Orleans. This biodegradable – plant based plastic – pen comes in four color mixes, none of which are boring black. So we have barrel and cap mixes of Blue/Red, Green/Orange, Purple/Yellow, Yellow/Orange.

And do they write? YES, they write. Why does everyone ask me that?These pens, all Shepenco pens, write excellently. Why would a seventy year old company bother to develop sustainable writing tools if they did not conform to the Shepenco core duty, i.e. a writing utensil that writes?

Indeed the Eco Kaleider can even be upgraded to Parker refills loaded with Dokumental ink, basically one of the best writing inks there is coming out of Germany and used in a whole lot of pens that cost a whole lot more than the Eco Kaleider.

What I am trying to say is this “eco” pen, upgraded with Dokumental ink, likely writes better than any pen currently on your desk. So yes they write, if you’re still a skeptic ask for a sample, and get over it.

Here is a bit of video from the Shepenco booth at the Proforma Convention in New Orleans. If you are an ASI member with questions about Shepenco Joyce Allen is the contact to talk to. 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.

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.

Zorrel Offers Bamboo Charcoal Blended Polo

22 Aug

Z1353 Hastings

Zorrel has been making a big splash in the promotional apparel market for some time now, as the standard stock from Zorrel looks more like something from Nike or Under Armour than your normal promotional apparel. Plus Zorrel will decorate (screen print and embroidery) in factory, which saves both costs and time on getting orders to market.

Next to Ash City, Zorrel is quickly becoming the go-to source for my clients.

But Zorrel never offered sustainable material apparel, which kept Zorrel off this blog. Well that has changed with the introduction of the Z1353 Hastings.

The Hastings is a 70% virgin polyester, 30% bamboo, 5.6 oz/190 GSM polo. The Hastings is currently available in white, tomato (red), and blue. Limited colors, but it is still a very pretty polo that is built to last.

Bamboo gets the sustainable and “eco” nod because it is easier to work with and less water intensive to grow than cotton. Also poly fabrics that claim to be anti-microbial normally have had a chemical treatment applied to the textile or into the fiber itself. With bamboo, fabrics are naturally anti-microbial, requiring no harmful chemicals.

The Hastings is a new shirt for Zorrell, or if not, Zorrell does not themselves consider the Hastings as a sustainable material shirt, because when we talked to their representative in our area about a sustainable line from Zorrel, we were told flatly that “they don’t do that”. Well apparently now they do.

The Hastings polo runs to 4XL, so it goes one size more than sustainable polos from Ash City (but Ash City offers 12 sustainable material polos vs just this one from Zorrel). Normally to get to 4XL a client needs to go back down in quality to a basic organic cotton polo.

Bottom line I like this shirt and I am hoping the success of the Hastings in 2011 will mean more colors, and even more styles using the bamboo material in 2012.

If you are an ASI distributor and want more information on the Hastings, contact Sandy Gray. If you would like to purchase for your own business please contact your local promotional items provider or email info@proformagreen.com for pricing and samples.

Green Beer Journal

18 Jul

No it is not Saint Patrick’s Day in New York City. I just wanted to clarify that the Beer Journal, a new addition to JournalBooks‘ theme line, can be run in EcoNote materials as a special order. This is something I neglected to mention when we were shooting the video. (So much for unscripted videos.)

The EcoNotes line features a thick paperboard cover and quality pages that are both 100% recycled.  EcoNote journals are also available with JournalBooks’ EcoPort pen-holder with recycled barrel material pen, and 97% recycled binding wire.

So if the Beer Journal works for you, and you need or want to take that extra step to design this custom journal to better reflect your eco message, upgrading to more sustainable materials is an option.

If you are ASI and wish to learn more about JournalBooks and their complete line of eco-friendly notepads contact Joel Kaufmann at JournalBooks. If you are interested in the Beer Journal to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

Amazing Insert Printing for BPA-Free Drinkware

15 Jul

full color | full wrap | full of possibilities

Love the design of the Spirit Tumbler from The Express Line, or the Carnival Cup by Glass America, but really needing something beyond spot color imprinting?

Ok. You got it. The new Spirit Paper Insert program from The Express Line gives you more color, indeed all colors, with the ability to add any art to both the outside AND inside of their drinkware.

Once again The Express Line is introducing a game changer into the industry. Expect copy cats, this idea is simply to good to not copy, but as far as I can tell, The Express Line got there first.

Ok, what is the Spirit Paper Insert program? Here is the overview right from the Express Line website:

“The spirit paper inserts allow you to take the shape you know and love and explore a new range of color. With the 16 oz (#75041), the 20 oz (#75141), and the 24 oz (#75241) tumblers you are able to use the style and appeal of this item to spread the appeal of your design. All you need to do is submit the main artwork to size at 300dpi in CMYK, any text in vector format, and let us know which item you would like and we will take care of the rest. With the spirit tumbler paper inserts, there is a whole new world opened up to you and your customer.”

I love this idea. Are you a home builder? Show the outside and inside of your model home on your drinkware. Car Manufacturer? Show inside and outside of the latest model on the car show giveaway. Hotel? Show the the hotel on outside and photos of the master suites on inside, or the parkview on the outside maybe? Love this idea.

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.

Biodegradable Made In USA Mugs

6 Jul

Eco Ad Natural Plastic Commuter

This 4th of July week it is nice to remember that the good folks at QuickPoint are continuing their mission of providing earth friendly creations made with bio-polymers from renewable U.S. grown resources such as soy proteins or starch from potatoes, corn, wheat, tapioca or beets.

EcoAd™ line of promotional mugs from QuickPoint are reinforced with less than 5% synthetic polymers making them 100% biodegradable per ASTM standards.

The corn plastic and other materials used in their creation cannot be distinguished from petrochemical products, except of course at the end life, when EcoAd™ items biodegrade in the city composting facilities – and there are more and more of these programs as cities like San Francisco are putting in place mandatory composting rules.

Indeed an item like the EcoAd™ Natural Plastic Commuter from QuickPoint seems a great, dare I say natural, fit for any commuter city or company working on implementing a composting program. Custom printed with information about the program and contacts for more resources, this simple mug could serve as a daily reminder to compost waste, instead of sending that organic mater to the landfill.

And each EcoAd™ product is engraved with the EcoAd™  logo on the bottom of the mug, and comes with an additional removable EcoAd™ decal. Color options are five, including July 4th red, white, and blue, with the Corn Mug Commuter having a gloss finish whereas the EcoAd™ Natural Plastic Commuter has a subtler satin matte finish.

If you are a promotional items distributor looking for more information on QuickPoint items contact Duane Mayer.  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.

FDA Issues New Sunscreen Guidelines

16 Jun

Reprinted from Counselor®PromoGram® Volume 825 / June 16, 2011

1.9 oz. DivaZ Shimmer SPF 30 Sunscreen w/ Carabineer Clip from Snugz

Aiming to reduce the risk of skin cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced new rules for sunscreen testing and labeling, changing guidelines that have been in place for the last 33 years. The agency’s updated regulations will specify whether a sunscreen is a broad spectrum product – meaning it provides protection against both UVB and UVA radiation. “These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families,” said Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Set to take effect next summer, the new rules will also ban sunscreen manufacturers from claiming their products are waterproof or sweatproof. Instead, companies will be able list the amount of time in which their product is resistant to water, based on test results. In addition, only sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher will be permitted to claim they reduce the risk of cancer and the onset of skin aging.

“The risks to sun exposure are real and education and clarified label requirements are not a bad thing,” said Brandon Mackay, president of SnugZ USA (asi/88060), which supplies sunscreen products in the ad specialty market. “I don’t think this will have a negative impact on the industry, but I do encourage our buyers and consumers to ask the right questions of their supplier partners and be sure to only use those with the highest standards and testing validation to support their claims.”

Annually in the U.S., more than 68,000 people receive a diagnosis of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Between 1985 and 2008, the incidence of melanomas grew by about 2.6% each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly 9,000 men and women died from melanoma in 2010.

Bamboo Lanyardz with Cell Phone Holder

14 Jun

Bamboo Lanyardz with Cell Phone Holder

Looking for a little cellphone bling that conveys your company’s sustainability message? The new Bamboo Lanyardz with Phone Caddie from CrazyCordz is here to help you out.

Basically what you have in the  Bamboo Lanyardz is your standard flat woven bamboo lanyard at 3/4″ wide and 36″ in length (optional to 44″) with a screen printed imprint. The cellphone caddie can be added to any run for an additional $0.60 per unit. Also there is an option for a  iPod holder as well – which I think is great idea for the campus crowd.

The Bamboo Lanyardz can also be tagged with a stock 100% eco label as show in the photo (I would rather this have been a stock 100% bamboo or sustainable materials label, but maybe that will come next year), and imprinting on the caddie pocket itself is possible.

For a sustainable lanyard the  Bamboo Lanyardz comes in a number of color options, including Black, Natural White, Pearl PMS 468, Leaf PMS 575, and Fudge PMS 499.

Ok a cellphone caddie might not be the coolest cellphone add-on , but they are amazingly useful for folks that need to keep their cell phone handy while keeping their hands free. I think the Bamboo Lanyardz with Phone Caddie is a great idea for participant kits at seminars. I think it is a great tradeshow giveaway – maybe teamed with a sustainable material jotter - letting folks have ready access to their cells while they walk the convention floor, and all the while publishing your brand.

If you are ASI and wish to learn more about Bamboo Lanyardz contact Karen Slabotsky at CrazyCordz. 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.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.