Over the year and a half, we’ve introduced a few brands with a strong heritage to 4imprint, including Igloo® and Carhartt®.

Recently, we’ve added another heritage brand to our line of business apparel: Eddie Bauer®, a name that is legend in outdoor gear. And, there’s a reason.

According to the company’s website, Eddie Bauer (the man, not the company) invented the first down jacket ever patented in the United States, the first down flight suit for World War II flight crews and outfitted the first Americans to summit Mount Everest.

That impressive list of ‘firsts’ translates into a level of quality and performance also appreciated today by those who enjoy the outdoors whether that be as part of their work or for fun and recreation.

If you’re looking for promotional apparel for outdoor employees or for end-of-year business gifts, the authentic Eddie Bauer fleece pullovers, vests and jackets are worth taking a look at.

- Suzanne

Iconic brands always seem to have a fascinating history behind them. Igloo is no exception. According to the company’s website, the once two-man shop that made metal water coolers for jobsite workers has evolved to become the top cooler manufacturer in the world. Igloo produced its first water cooler in 1947.

These replaced the previously used wooden drinking buckets used by construction workers and the like. Plastic coolers didn’t emerge on the scene until the 1960s. And they’ve come a long way since then.

Today you can find wheeled coolers, collapsible coolers, furniture-grade wood patio coolers and even coolers with speakers and an amp to boot. Function lies at the core of each, but style and convenience have become equally attractive features.

That’s why we’re so excited to add Igloo coolers to our promotional products line. Coolers like the Igloo Deluxe Collapsible Cooler are eye-catching, practical and convenient. These promotional coolers collapse to make storage easy.

The design even includes an attached bottle opener!

The blend of features and function makes this an ideal business gift or employee ‘thank you’ at a summer picnic, one you know will be used again and again.

-Suzanne

Make any business bag or backpack laptop-friendly with this 4imprint Exclusive laptop sleeve! The Tuckaway promotional laptop sleeve is a cushioned, zip-close neoprene case that adds a touch of impact resistance and scratch protection while you transport your technology in a favorite backpack or bag (or even on its own!).

But the Tuckaway is more than just a cover for your portable PC. Three special external pockets give this techy treat dedicated storage spots for a mouse and two USB flash drives, too! Everything you need for a coffee shop study session, trip to the library or an evening of take-home work fits neatly inside.

The black zip-close neoprene case holds laptops up to 10-3/4″ x 15″ and features contrast stitching for functional style — choose between blue, red and grey accents. Order as few as 25 of these dandy digital helpers for just $9.99 each! Quantity discounts are available, too, so you can outfit your team with customized tech protection for even less!

Where can you see yourself going with this one-of-a-kind tech accessory?

— Moriah

The market is always growing for promotional products, and that’s great news for you! It keeps the latest and greatest new products rolling out, and I have a few great ones to share today!

You can’t stop into an office, shop at the mall, or make a quick coffee run without seeing people glued to the latest Apple® technology. The iPhone® or iPad® can be used for chatting, web surfing, or apps, and these high-powered gadgets are now a major part of everyday life for thousands.

Looking to turn the heads of these Apple-holics? 4imprint now has two all-new promotional products that will whet their appetite for your brand.

The myPad iPad Case is a flexible plastic case that offers their iPad an extra layer of protection against scratches and gouges while showing off your logo on the textured back side. They come in a variety of bright colors to grab attention and enhance their personal style. Stock up for your next trade show — these will go quick!

The most recent iPhone 4 upgrade is a must-have for Apple loyalists. Keep their lifeline in mint condition with imprinted iPhone 4 cases. You’d be hard-pressed to find another promotional giveaway that will see more around-town exposure than these imprinted hard plastic cases! Silicone iPhone cases are also available for the iPhone 3.

Promotional iPad and iPhone cases can help you connect with early adopters and tech-savvy crowds with the added benefit of illustrating that your business or organization is eager to stay current on the latest trends!

For more promotional gadgets and tech helpers, see our expansive selection of technology giveaways that includes everything from imprinted USB drives to embroidered laptop computer bags and beyond!

It’s almost time to spring ahead an hour for Daylight Savings Time, and that means losing an hour of shut-eye! If you’re like me and have a hard time locating reality when the alarm clock goes off, even this little shift calls for a well-planned strategy: MORE COFFEE. And I bet I’m not the only one!

Consider this: According to annual industry reports, 150 million people in the US (that’s half the population!) enjoy hot, iced and specialty coffee drinks. What does this mean for you? Adding a jolt of joe to your promo could open new grounds for promotional success. Check out these unique giveaways that help you think “outside the mug”!

Great for java junkies! Reusable neoprene coffee wraps help keep their brew piping hot while reminding them of your organization or company. There’s less waste than using cardboard wraps, too!

No need to get the jitters when you have this coffee-cup shaped stress ball. And chances are, it won’t leave coffee rings on your desk, either!

Serve up piping hot espresso the way it’s meant to be: in 4-ounce logo’d  espresso mugs.  Your logo stands out on the matte finish, and modern café styling will remind them of a relaxing visit to their favorite coffee shop!

The specialty coffee market isn’t just for the hipster down the street anymore. Try something new with your promotional products to connect with your target audience and generate more than just a caffeine buzz!

Today’s post is actually by one of our associates, John Van Den Brandt. John asked if he could use my blog space to talk a bit about a project he’s pretty passionate about!

-klt

I’m John Van Den Brandt. By day, I’m a Senior National Account Manager at 4imprint. Any other time, I’m a wildlife photographer, spending long hours in the field waiting to capture that  one perfect,  heart-stopping moment of wildlife action.

When a typical employer learns of your passion for anything outside your job, the likely response is ‘Fine, just don’t let it interfere with your work’. But 4imprint is not a typical  employer. Here, the thinking was ‘How can we utilize John’s talent to the benefit of our  customers?’ That’s how the 4imprint Exclusive Wildlife Calendar was born. (Can you begin to  see why 4imprint just made the list of America’s Best Places to Work for the third straight  year?)

The calendar’s been a hit – in addition to the wildlife images, customers seem to like the brief “stories” that I write about how I captured each month’s image. In fact, at the beginning of each month I often receive e mails from customers throughout the country complimenting me on that month’s image, asking questions or encouraging my work. One customer said that we’ve saved him a lot of money on story books because his child will only go to sleep if he can first page through our calendar and name all the wildlife. He won’t accept any substitute!

I hope you won’t accept any substitute either. If you’re looking for a unique calendar that uses real wildlife images (not game farm models), a gift that will keep your logo front and center all year long, check out our wildlife calendar. The 2011 edition is our fifth and I believe our best ever.

Thanks to 4imprint for supporting my dream and thanks to you, our customers for making it come true.

Click here to view all the images in the 2011 calendar.

We just launched a new line of USB Flash Drives called ‘Palmero’ that our merchandising team designed from the ground up.

Couple of things that I think are pretty nifty about this custom USB drive as a promotional item.  It’s got a nice ‘retail’ look about it so it will have high perceived value for the recipient, it comes in great colors, the side thumb mechanism means no caps to lose and (best of all) the shape means it’s got a huge imprint area for your logo compared to most USB drives. And, it’s an exclusive which means you won’t see it everywhere – your logo will really stand out.

Custom imprinted flash drives are one of the hottest promotional items going. Great way to leave your presentation with a client, they’re a great student giveaway (USB drives are practically a student requirement these days!), a valued ‘thank you’ gift and they pass the ‘the best promotional products are those that get used again and again’ test with flying colors!

And now from the ‘wish we had this promotional product in the US’ department….

Our UK team sells this cool imprinted tin filled with little bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk (translation to US-English = really nice milk chocolate!)

Who wouldn’t love receiving that?

P.S. – There are some cool little boxes with chocolate eggs on Ireland site aren’t bad either…!

Business gift giving season is fast approaching, and as usual we’ve got a great range of products (and our annual Business Gifts catalog) that allow you to find the perfect way to say ‘thanks’ to important customers, donors, volunteers, suppliers or other ‘VIP’s’.

If you’re looking for unique gift that you can really feel good about giving, we’re excited to be offering a couple of products produced by Women Helping Other Women (WHOW).  WHOW is a nonprofit organization that helps women who find themselves in difficult situations. They offer training, education and employment to women who have had to seek refuge in a domestic violence center or other shelter. The founder and board members work without compensation and the proceeds from the work they do go to scholarships.

WHOW uses original recipes, bakery skills and  kitchen creativity to create more than just award-winning (and super-delicious) products – they create self esteem, emotional and physical health and opportunities for women looking to start a new life.

WHOW’s specialty is fruitcake – and not the ‘I’m-not-sure-what’s-in-this-thing-called-fruitcake’ stuff you see around the holidays.  Their cakes are one-of-a-kind, all-natural, tasty goodness. We’re offering a couple of different versions – one is a 1lb Cake and Coffee combo in a gold box with your logo , and the other is a ‘triple pack’  of three different 1lb cakes in tin with your logo.

So, if you’re considering a ‘gourmet gift’, I hope you’ll consider a WHOW product.  In a way, you’d be giving two gifts at once!

For some, giving a bottle of wine is an appropriate (and appreciated) business gift - especially if the recipient is a wine enthusiast.  By adding just a couple of small touches you can take that gift to the next level by adding fun packaging and items like imprinted wine openers, wine charms or logo’d wine stoppers (you can find lots of accessories here). The wine openers also make a nice giveaway at food and wine shows, weddings and other celebrations or if you’re just looking for a nice items to give to a wine drinker.

Kristin’s video below demos a value-priced opener (the Sonoma Wine Opener), and I’ve added a picture of one of the types of packaging that works well.  Cheers!

Bottle Boxes Make a Bottle of Wine a Logo'd Gift