Are you ready for square beverage bottles? Turns out the square-sided sports bottle is so much more than eye-catching.

• Square bottles actually hold more liquid than round bottles of the same height and width.
• The square shape actually allows for a more efficient use of storage space. This is valuable for both shipping and storing.
• Square sports bottles are stackable, and they don’t roll.

According to the design and environmental blog Inhabit, designer Andrew Kim developed this biodegradable concept bottle to show the impact Coca-Cola® could have simply by changing the shape of its bottle design.

This design change is coming to promotional products as well. Here’s the first example: Our exclusive PolySure Squared-Up Sport Bottle. The 24-ounce promotional water bottle comes in vibrant colors, both translucent and opaque.

The trend towards square shapes in sports bottles is still pretty new. So, be square. Your promotional items will really stand out from your competitors.

-Suzanne

Tech giveaways can be tricky, if you have a limited budget.  There are lots of great tech options for business gifts and employee incentives.  But, finding a tech giveaway that is affordable enough to hand out in a larger quantity can be challenging.  (Screen sweeps are an obvious exception!)

But, every now and then, a really useful and inexpensive tech giveaway comes along.  The latest is an easy-to-use MP3 player or smartphone stand.  This one is called the iWrench.

If this is something that would appeal to your customers, prospects, employees or volunteers, check out the Ear Bud Buddy (coming soon to 4imprint).  Like the iWrench, these promotional products work as an easel for your MP3 player or smartphone.  The Ear Bud Buddy also conveniently holds the ear buds used with the device.

Your logo is imprinted along the edge of the Ear Bud Buddy, which means your organization will be top of mind every time someone pulls out their ear buds.

-Suzanne

It’s unusual to see a trend move in two directions at the same time.  Usually, things get really big (think big hair, bell bottoms, SUVs and McMansions) all at one time.  Or, they go the opposite direction and get really small (skinny jeans, compact cars and miniskirts).

Right now, headphones are breaking that conventional design wisdom.  Both oversized and nearly invisible headphones are hot right now.  I spotted these oversized headphones at American Eagle.

These mini-headphones from www.japantrendshop.com are a sharp contrast.  While the oversized headphones make a strong statement with their bright, look-at-me color, the mini-headphones are understated with just a bit of color.  But, the decorative design style on the end of the headphone, makes these stand out.  I’ve seen ladybugs, skulls-and-bones, and penguins.

And, though this trend started in retail, we’re seeing the same thing in promotional products.  The Silly Ears Headphones are a statement piece.

On the other end of that trend, mini-headphones, with the ability to subtly imprint a logo on the edge of the earbud.  The packaging for these mini-headphones also adds to the style.

Because headphones are so hot right now, the perceived value of this promotional product extends beyond the price.  With both high school and college students sporting both trends, either style of headphones makes a great giveaway.

-Suzanne

While it’s been warmer than usual this winter (at least for those of us here in Oshkosh), that doesn’t mean spring and summer aren’t already on our minds.

Are you feeling like you need a break from winter’s gray skies and colder temps?  That’s the perfect frame of mind to be in when you check out the Navigator Sunglasses.  (If you’re a child of the 70s or 80s, these sunglasses might remind you of Tom Cruise in the movie Risky Business®.)

These handy promotional products come in a wide variety of colors, with space to imprint your logo on the frame. Sunglasses like this are really big right now. They’re hot because they’re fun. Because they’re both stylish and useful, they make great giveaways for sports promotions and outdoor concerts and events.

And, even if you can’t use them right away, they’ll definitely take your mind off winter and get you thinking of sunny skies and warm-weather styles.

-Suzanne

A company from the Netherlands has developed a brilliant new product, the HotChocSpoon®.  Just as its name suggests, the HotChocSpoon is a wooden spoon with a blend of chocolate and flavors covering the spoon.

Each HotChocSpoon is just waiting for a cup of steaming, hot milk.

HotChocSpoons come in a wide variety of flavors, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate and more. Some flavors come with marshmallow or nuts.  Some HotChocSpoons include a dissolvable capsule filled with rum, amaretto or another liqueur that turns a classic cocoa into a winter warmer.

HotChocSpoons aren’t yet available as promotional products.  Do you think this would be the ultimate giveaway for a chocolate lover?

-Suzanne

When you think mylar balloons, do you think birthdays, anniversaries and sweetheart holidays?

The iconic bag brand, MulberryTM, took a different approach.  The store took a twist on the classic balloon bouquet and turned a basic gold mylar bag balloon into an attention-getting display.

Each balloon was imprinted with the outline of a classic bag design. Several dozen of the imprinted balloons were displayed en masse, creating a simple, yet eye-catching window.

This concept would be striking in not only retail stores, but also at trade shows, job fairs, community events, open houses and more.

Simply choose a balloon shape related to your event or industry.  We offer a wide array of promotional mylar balloons, including round, square, heart, tennis ball, football, golf ball, soccer ball, baseball and volleyball.

Round and square balloons are offered in a variety of colors.

Consider imprinting more than logo on these colorful promotional products.  Showcase a product or service you provide on the balloon and add your logo as a complement.  It’s an easy yet striking way to make a mark!

-Suzanne

While traveling, this packaging caught my eye.  The design for over-the-counter medicine (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, bandages, etc.) is a signature style for the brand help®.

Both the packaging style and design are eye-catching.  The text – I have a headache. I have a blister. I’ve cut myself. – is unusually customer-focused.  And, complementing it all is a bright, colorful shape demonstrating what’s inside.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the way the company sets itself apart, encouraging consumers to take less™.  That package design supports that message.

This packaging would stand out on its own.  But, it is particularly noteworthy because they are so different from competing products.

They’re also a great example of how a bright colors, imprinted on a white shape can be really cool.  And, that’s an idea you could apply to promotional products.

-Suzanne

PS – Here’s a blog post about the packaging design: http://mocoloco.com/archives/026188.php

You’ve seen coffee sleeves. 

But, what about coffee sweaters?

I spotted this new twist on the classic coffee sleeve on a recent stop at Caribou Coffee. 

In addition to the cozy critters above, there were versions that looked like a Nordic ski sweater and an Ugg® boot.

In fact, this new take on coffee sleeves seems to be popping up everywhere.  American Eagle Outfitters’® gives theirs an outdoorsy look and feel.

And, closer to home, a coffee shop is putting an eco-friendly spin on this idea, turning recycled coffee bags into promotional products.

While the standard cardboard sleeves protect your hands, coffee sweaters and coats have a bonus benefit.  They help keep your favorite hot beverage warm as well.

Do you think something like that would fit right in with our promotional coffee sleeves or promotional can coolers? 
-Suzanne

Perhaps you’ve seen the Rockhopper Backpack.

But, did you know where it got its name?

This 4imprint exclusive backpack is based on your participation in our first-ever Facebook promotional products name game.

We had a blast with this project—it was so fun to involve our customers in this way and the office was buzzing with excitement as the votes came pouring in. On behalf of the team, thank you for your input. We hope you love this backpack as much as we do!

For our new customers out there, be sure to ‘Like’ 4imprint on Facebook to participate in future contests like this and others and to share your input—we always love to hear from you.

-Suzanne

If you have a banner at your organization, chances are it’s a workhorse.  Banners turn up almost everywhere: trade shows, charitable events, parade floats, training seminars and many other places.

So, we had some fun turning a standard promotional product into something different: an oversized birthday greeting.

The entire 4imprint team came together to celebrate Kevin’s birthday with a surprise.  We took a Value Indoor Banner (#111557) and added photos of everyone on the team, with signatures and personalized birthday wishes on the reverse.  It was a great way to get everyone involved.  And, we didn’t need to have everyone present for one giant team photo.

This is an idea you could borrow for a family reunion, class reunion, holiday party, launch of a new corporate program or any other personal or professional celebration.

You’ll have as much fun planning it as you will using it at your event.  Maybe even more.

-Suzanne