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Inspiring Ideas for Earth Day

17 Mar

Inspiring Ideas for Earth Day from Raining Rose.

Sustainable, natural and organic. Consider your Earth Day promos covered. 🌍 We have eco-friendly products with lasting power that won’t end up in the trash.

Idea #1: Connect with eco-conscious audiences. More people are reaching for products that can be recycled or made with sustainable materials – we have a product that achieves both! Clients can showcase their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint while promoting their name. We recommend: Sustainabalm (as low as $0.95)

Speak to the importance of organic ingredients. Ingredients that are certified to be good for you and the planet are becoming more and more important to clients and their brand values. Representing their brand with a high-quality, retail product made with 95% organic ingredients will leave a lasting impression.

We recommend: EOS Lip Balm (on sale for as low as $2.81)

How to use it: Reach your audience with a brand boosting mailer.

Target Markets: Eco-friendly beauty salons, organic nursery/garden centers, organic catering businesses.

If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.

Oasis Bottle-Inspired Pen

2 Mar
Plunger Action. PET Material. Available With Black Or Blue Ink.

Plunger Action. PET Material. Available With Black Or Blue Ink.

So let’s say a recycling company needs something to give away at a trade-show. They wanted to promote their stance on environmental awareness, while showing something relevant to their industry, i.e. what happened to all those blue water bottles people put in their blue bins each day.

Well, enter the Oasis Bottle-Inspired Pen, made of recycled plastic, the same PET that most of those bottles get turned into, showing a small example of the full circle of recycling. Bingo, this fits their message perfectly. Print with the text, “I used to be a water bottle” or “Same Desk, New Shape” or simply “I’m Recycled”  to cement the message with each give-away.

Aside from the PET body, the Oasis Bottle-Inspired Pen is a conventional click pen with action plunger. it is available with black or blue ink. The casing of the Oasis Bottle-Inspired Pen is a translucent blue, again, in keeping with the look and concept of made from water bottles. The imprint area is 1 ÂĽ” W x â…ś” H.

If you are interested in the Oasis Bottle-Inspired Pen to promote own business, or to get a sample, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.

The United States Playing Card Company

4 Feb

Do you play cards?

Have you ever really looked at a deck? For the marketing world, I like to think about a deck of cards as 52 little billboards taking your message into the world.

And who has ever tossed away a set of cards? I was in a rental cabin in Northern Virginia once, that deck was missing an Ace, two 4s, and the Queen of Diamonds, and it was still there, being used as best we could.
greenPlaying cards simply make a great long-term marketing investment.

So with all the options out there, why choose to go with The United States Playing Card Company (aside from the totally boss name). Let’s take a look at the list.

Their cards have been made in the USA since 1885. Their cards are made from sustainable forest papers. They use a starch based-laminate, that is gentler on water use and the environment. They use vegetable-based inks, also better for the environment.

knobcreekAnd of course there is the fact that you likely have been already playing with these cards your entire life, seeing how The United States Playing Card Company is the maker of such universally recognized brands as BEE®, BICYCLE®, KEM®, AVIATOR® and HOYLE®.

Here is the pitch for playing cards direct from their website,”playing cards offer 56 instant and creative impressions for your message. Each card can deliver a different communication point, visual or fact that is representative of your overall brand and objective.”

With the option of an individual custom impression on the front and back of each card, playing cards make great tools for training (got to learn beginning Japanese, put a phase on each card),  product education (Toyota, each suit can be a car class; Trucks, Luxury, SUVs, and Sedans, with each card a different car model), tourism (come see North Carolina, here are 52 suggested locations), really, if you get creative, the marketing uses are nearly endless.

So let’s get creative 🙂

If you are interested custom cards to promote your business or organization, contact Proforma Green Marketing or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing

And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable if possible.

Reusable Classic Party Tumbler

21 Jan
The Works exclusive reusable party tumbler inspires nostalgia for the weekend while proudly displaying your brand.

The Works exclusive reusable party tumbler inspires nostalgia for the weekend while proudly displaying your brand.

The plastic 16 oz. red tumbler is ubiquitous. Any tailgate party, any fraternity bash, any office sendoff, there they are, the red plastic cups, and after, there they go, right into the trashcan.

I guess The Works took that fact as a starting point to develop a reusable item that everyone already uses, The Works reusable 16 oz. Party Tumbler. This is a 16 oz.double wall insulated reusable BPA free acrylic tumbler that look just like the classic party cup.

The Works Party Tumbler also boasts the neat trick of a matted area on the base on which your party goers can write their name. The Works Party Tumbler comes with an easy to use thumb open lid, and works well for both hot or cold drinks.

The Party Tumbler has a large imprint area, with a possible full wrap of imprint size of 3″ W x 6.75″ Wrap.

From a marketing perspective what we have in The Works Party Tumbler is an instant souvenir of that tailgating party, that company pool part, that 25th anniversary football game between the big school rivals.

Available in red, blue, black, and yellow, this reusable 16 oz. party tumbler is likely to become as popular as its disposable relative.

If you are ASI contact  Customer Services at The Works to learn more. If you are interested in The Works reusable 16 oz. Party Tumbler for your marketing needs, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

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Vantage Offers Name Drop Graphics On Earth Day Apparel

11 Mar


Looking to get the most design for your money on Earth Day shirts this year? Well once again Vantage Apparel is offering their Name Drop Graphics program for Earth Day apparel items. And new for 2010 Vantage is offering not only screen-printed designs but also Digital Print, Embroidery, Laser etching and Laser Applique.

Vantage Apparel is one of the leaders in the industry for eco-friendly apparel, with a special focus on organic cotton t-shirts, sustainable fleece, and eco printing. With the introduction of these new imprinting methods the program has been expanded beyond just t-shirts, to jackets, fleece, bags, caps, pretty much any item the Vantage Apparel offers.

Why use the Name Drop Graphics program? A lot of organizations want to make a big splash around Earth Day but may not have a budget for a big time design when it comes to organic cotton t-shirts and other apparel items.  The Name Drop Graphics program makes getting a great design at a great price simple. In a move I can only say is very ecopreneurial, Vantage is teaming up with distributors like Proforma to offer 22 Earth Day designs ready for the addition of your organization name or company logo. Just pick your design, your color, and your apparel item, and you are done.

Runs start at as few as 12 units via digital printing methods and domestic runs can go as high as 10,000 units. Organic cotton and other eco-friendly materials are available as well as traditional fabrics. The plan is very practical in terms of matching the needs and budgets of all participants by finding the right mix of apparel options.

Schools, clubs, city departments, charities, businesses, etc., for any and all this is a great way for an Ecopreneurist to make a big splash without having to fill the entire swimming pool out of their own pocket.

If you are interested in viewing all the Earth Day pre-graphics in the Name Drop Graphics program you can download the .pdf here. For more information on Vantage visit their website.

Please note that Name Drop Graphics program for Earth Day is not mentioned on the Vantage website, so if you want more information on the program, including pricing, please email info@proformagreen.com. Or if you are in the promotional items business you can contact Julia Macdonald at Vantage.

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Recycling Bin Tote Set From Norwood

9 Feb

Once again Norwood takes a basic idea and makes it a whole lot better. Laminated woven polypropylene bags are not new to the industry. Nor are pre-printed totes. However Norwood took these two basic ideas, added a bit of Velcro, and presto, a brand new product idea is launched that is going to get your brand noticed in a hurry.

To be honest it took me a moment to get this concept. Really this is just a set of three bags, right?

Wrong. What the Recycling Bin Tote Set really accomplishes is a portable recycling station and a very smart promotional idea for any Ecopreneurist targeting office workers, parks, college dorms, any area where people collect in small groups.

Think about it, what does a dorm or office really need to kick start a recycling program? First step is a place to put the materials to be recycled. The three bags in the Recycling Bin Tote Set come pre-printed with the text PAPER (green tote), METAL (orange tote), PLASTIC (blue tote). Easy to understand.

Then – here is the genius – they attach to each other with Velcro on the top outer edge of each tote. And presto you have an instant recycle station, branded with your logo, for any indoor or outdoor space. The PAPER, METAL, PLASTIC text is even in multiple languages for that whole act local, think global ideal, and each tote is pre-printed with a symbol of the recyclable for that bag.

Each tote is a huge 11-3/8″w x 16-1/4″h x 11-1/4″d in size, with a 8″w x 6-1/2″h imprint area on the orange center tote only. Each set can also connect to another set since the Velcro runs the outside of the totes as well, so setting up multiple sets as needed is possible. And of course the fact they connect makes the totes freestanding as well.

Say you are an eco lodge that does picnics on your property, but away from the main building. Set up the picnic and then set out the Recycling Bin Tote Set. So you collect all the recyclables from the picnic, unlatch the Velcro, pick up the individual totes for easy carriage to your main recycling center. Done.

Repeat this idea at the college dorm-room, office meeting room, home, etc. Genius.

At EQP of $10.89 per set, wherever the Recycling Bin Tote Set is setup, there stands your logo as well, telling the crowds who is providing this great on-the-fly service (and yes they also make very nice shopping totes).

If you are an ASI distributor D’Anna Zimmer is the contact to talk to at Norwood about this great idea. If you are interested in the Recycling Bin Tote Set to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.

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No Dye = Natural Fade

27 Sep

Brian Base, the creator of RideSearch.com, was at the Green Dallas event held this last weekend here in Dallas, Texas. Proforma Green runs the t-shirts for RideSearch.com and both RideSearch.com and Proforma Green had been asked to participate in the event by the City of Dallas.

Well Brian was wearing a shirt we ran for him for the 2008 Plano Green Living Expo back in April (another event we both attended as vendors) and I noticed something.

The RideSearch.com shirts are natural cotton shirts. This means they have no dye in them, they are the color of untreated, undyed cotton.

What I noticed was that these shirts fade, although I am not sure fade is the correct word. As I mentioned the natural shirt, whether organic or regular cotton, are called natural because they have no dye in the shirts. So really there is no color (dye) to fade from the shirt, it is just the natural wear of the cotton.

And it seems that over time these shirts go from a sand tan color to more of a lighter parchment color.

I never really thought of it before but because the shirts have no dye in them they just act like what they are, natural cotton, and the “fading” is a result of their nature.

This caught me totally off guard, I simply was not aware of this fact. Now I am thinking it might be something to make a point out of, for example printing on these shirts under the client’s artwork or logo something like “This shirt is 100% organic non-dyed cotton which will naturally fade over time”.

This could be done small in 12 or 14 point type. The idea is to use this fact as a bona fides of the shirt’s natural nature to which they act accordingly.

The fading of course does not have any bearing on the art printed on the shirts, that holds up perfectly well. Also the material itself – the cotton – holds up as well as their dyed counterparts. Natural cotton shirts are also softer than normal shirts because they have not gone through an industrial dyeing process.

As a second choice we do offer dyed organic shirts like the Anvil Adult 5.0 oz. 100% Organic Cotton Short-Sleeve T-Shirt which comes in BLACK, CHARCOAL, CHOCOLATE, CITY GREEN, NAVY, RED, RIVER BLUE, WHITE and YELLOW HAZE for clients that want to avoid the natural fading.

As for RideSearch.com Brian did not seem to mind at all. He loves the shirts and seems to get a big kick giving them away at events. He always has a fist full of shirts when he walks through the crowds.

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What If Clients Expect a Card? Can You Do It Green? – Recycled Holiday Cards

18 Sep

This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of ProformaGreen, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy. John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

It is September and in the promotional products industry that means it is time to start talking about holiday cards.

Most companies find holiday cards a great way to show appreciation to their best clients or to send a special thank you to their employees.

Most Ecopreneurists will likely say skip the card, save a tree and send email instead. The problem is that a lot of clients expect cards.

So what to do? Continue reading →

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Panda Stands – For Eco Friendly Bamboo Banners

2 Sep

panda standThis is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of ProformaGreen, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy. John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

OK, the name is a little cheesy but these signs are a great idea for businesses that need eco-friendly signage which still shows a professional edge.

Primarily constructed of bamboo, the Panda Stand is an environmentally friendly retractable banner stand for the exhibit, display and graphics markets. The unit is made from 90% renewable resources (bamboo casing and pole) and designed to maximize visual impact.

The Panda Stand’s eco-friendly style helps to emphasize your message while contributing to a greener planet for us all. In fact I would say the stand itself contributes to your message.

The manufacturer – Megagraphix – is working on using a 100% recycled solution for the banner itself as well as printing the unit using 100% vegetable based dyes.

This sturdy and premium portable display unit offers the same high performance attributes as other retractable displays. Its precision-engineered retraction system makes it easy and quick to set up virtually anywhere – simply unwind the graphic stored in the bamboo base and insert the support pole. Continue reading →

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A Shortage Of Green Products – John's Convention Report: Day 2

14 Aug

This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of ProformaGreen, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy. John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

I now understand that my attempt at blogging from our convention was a little bit of a pipe dream. There were simply so many green products and conversations going on that I was nearly overwhelmed.

Two big take-aways:

1) The industry is certain that green is going to stick this time around. A few vendors placed green (by their use of the word at the time) at 8-12% of the business and with a growth to 20% in the next few years seeming very likely. Ash City is looking for 50% by 2010.

2) This is the interesting point for Ecopreneurs: suppliers are having trouble keeping up with demand in the marketplace, even at the low levels of current business. Problems are at every level of the supply chain, so if you have a green idea, GET IT OUT THERE. Continue reading →

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