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

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

Looking for a cool calendar? 

Check out our new Seasons Across America Calendar.  One of my teammates, Michelle, and I took this 2012 promotional calendar from idea to reality, developing the concept (amazing landscapes), hand-selecting all of the photos and overseeing the production process.

We chose landscapes for this calendar because they are always a winner in promotional calendars.  They’re perennial favorites because everyone loves having a beautiful outdoor landscape to look at – no matter the industry or setting they work in.   

Knowing how popular landscapes are made selecting the photos to use a true labor of love. 

We spent hours poring over photos of some of the most beautiful spots in this country, ultimately selecting scenes from a variety of states, showcasing different seasons and highlighting different geographic features.

Michelle and I have our favorite photos – and I can’t wait to hear about yours.
-Suzanne

Meet Project Buddy.

Project Buddy is a 5 x 7 notebook that comes fully equipped for project work.

The idea for Project Buddy came from our best-selling Pocket Buddy – a promotional notebook with a re-sealable pouch at the back.  Like Pocket Buddy, it includes a great imprint space on the notebook’s cover.  But, Project Buddy also includes a re-sealable plastic pouch at the back with a pen, paper clips and sticky flags.  And, the three-pocket pouch has space for toting anything else that might be needed to see a project through to completion.

This is one of the most useful promotional items we’ve designed!  There are so many different ways you could use Project Buddy.

• Give Project Buddy to project teams during project kick-off meetings.
• Hand this promotional notebook out to college first-year students during orientation.
• Provide these promotional products to employee wellness groups to track nutrition and exercise.
• Include this giveaway with conference materials so attendees can easily track notes, business cards and other materials in one convenient location.

The potential uses are almost endless.  What other ideas do you have?

-Suzanne

Recently, I ordered something from Boden.
A British clothing retailer, Boden is very design-oriented and that shows up in every detail, including their packaging.  (Boden also operates here in the US.  Check out their site at www.Bodenusa.com.)

When I opened this recent order, I was surprised to find a little something extra.  Inside was a thank you gift, a notebook with a little note on the back that read:

“This is a small thank you for your order.  We hope it comes in handy.”

Now, the notebook itself was a nice touch.  But, the little explanation about why it was in my package was really nice!  From a marketing perspective, it immediately eliminated any potential confusion about whether the notebook was shipped with the wrong order.  I could immediately tell that it was meant for me, as a thank you.

If you’d like to ship a little thank you gift with your orders or include them as part of an in-store promotion, here’s a promotional notebook that would work well.

You can add a photo or artwork to the cover of the Full Color Memo Book along with your logo.  You could even add a little saying on the back of these handy promotional products, thanking your customers for their business.

Have you ever gotten a memorable thank you gift from a business?  If so, I’d love to hear about it.

-Suzanne

PS – If you’re looking for more “thank you” inspiration, take a look in our Thank You Store at http://www.4imprint.com/group/138/Thank-You-Gifts-for-Customers. We’ve pulled together some great products you can use to say ‘thank you’ to your customers.

Ever wondered how our promotional products get their names? It’s a simple process, really. Something about the product inspires one of my teammates. And, another product name is born.

Take one look at this pen and you’ll see why we named it the Midas.

With a sleek gold barrel and muted sunset accent colors – olive, aubergine, charcoal and turquoise – on the clip and tip, the look is rich.

Looking for a promotional pen that’s lively and fun? Once again, the name of the Miami Pen says it all.

Bold, bright colors on the plastic barrel contrast against black rubber and chrome-colored accents make this pen hot.

Then, there is the Muse.

As its name suggests, this pen’s translucent barrel and chrome-colored will inspire customers, volunteers, members or supporters to pick it up and take it along with them!

For a limited time, these promotional pens are available exclusively from 4imprint.

Have a favorite product name? I’d love to hear it.
-Suzanne

PS – Ever wondered how the Malmo Travel Mug got its name? Check out this post.

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!

The Oshkosh Community YMCA found a clever use for promotional products at its golf outing last summer.

This fund-raising event benefits the Y’s Strong Kids Campaign. The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign ensures that no person in the community will be denied Y services or memberships based on financial limitations. Scholarships are available—so that the Y is truly available and open for all.

Using a donation from 4imprint’s onebyone® program, the Y provided a promotional beach towel as a premium gift to thank each golfer for participating in its fund-raising event.

And, the Y decided to have a little fun with the items, by using the beach towels as props in the group shots.

Looks like everyone had a great time!

-Suzanne

PS – Visit the onebyone website to learn more about applying for a donation through the onebyone program.