Blue or black?

The question of ink color is one that draws lots of conversation.  Here in the U.S., many pens come with black ink as the default.  In other parts of the world (such as Europe), it’s actually the other way around and the default is blue.

I have good news for fans of blue ink!  Coming soon is the stylish new Athena Pen with blue ink.

This 4imprint exclusive comes in molded plastic and will be available in a refreshed palette of bright promotional colors.  The range of hues features black rubber and chrome-colored accents.  Each color looks great with blue ink, of course!

-Suzanne

If you’ve stepped foot in an office supply or stationery store sometime in the last few decades, you’ve undoubtedly seen the classic 4-color pen. 

While traveling last year in Hong Kong, I spotted an updated version of the 4-color pen.

Those updates inspired us to give our classic 4-color pen a makeover.

BEFORE

The Orbitor 4-Color Pen in its classic white and black color combination.

AFTER

The Fashion Orbitor 4-Color pen will be available soon in updated colors.  It’s the same, great functionality, but in a modern, new look.

-Suzanne

Check out these new promotional pens.  They all have a WOW! factor that’s not just the price.

A sneak peak product, the Citrus Twist (109136) is (as its name suggests) a twist pen in white with a range of bright, fresh accent colors.  The white barrel gives this pen a very modern feel.  Lively accent colors make this pen a showstopper. This pen will be available soon!

The Pasadena Pen (108617) comes in shiny, modern colors that make it stand out among other pens.  And, while it looks like metal, it’s actually made of plastic with a metallic spray finish.  That makes it a cost-effective alternative to more expensive metal pens.

The Endeavor Pen (108618) is a new take on a classic stick pen.  Bright colors are color-blocked on the body of the pen. Juxtaposing brights with the black grip makes this a pen people will reach for again and again.
 
You can buy 300 of these promotional pens for less than $220 (excluding delivery).  Now, that’s a real wow!

-Suzanne

I was strolling through TJ Maxx recently and a couple of products caught my attention.  The products themselves weren’t so different, but the packaging and design made these basics fun.

For example, this scrub brush (pictured below) works like any other.  What made it so eye-catching is the way the manufacturer added some whimsy to it, by adding a face to the brush head and turning basic packaging into what looks like a dress.

The other items that caught my attention were nature-themed kitchen widgets that included shark- and salamander-shaped bottle openers, flower-shaped scrub brushes and chick-shaped floating egg poachers.

They reminded me a bit of items like the Goofy Clipz Holder with Lip Balm and the Goofy Guy Pen that we sell.  These items are basics with a little fun and frivolity added to them.

Your customers will smile when they see them.  And, because they’re fun, they’re more likely to hang around for awhile.  Isn’t that the goal for all promotional products?

-Suzanne

Amazing what some updated colors can do for a tried-and-true product. Almost turns this promotional pen into a whole new product. Makes it a far more ‘attention grabbing’ giveaway.

Todd Madsen and his wife have recently launched a new business called ‘Deals to Meals‘ (we helped them with some promotional pens for some upcoming expos and shows they’re going to be involved in).

Talk about a perfect business for this economy.

Deals to Meals finds the lowest prices each week at the grocery store (they’re in Utah) and make a meal planner around the best sale prices. Customers can log in to their site each week and print off a grocery list and a weeks worth of meals and recipes.

Deals to Meals really taps into that ‘do more with less’, ‘have fun getting the most for your money’ vibe.

Very cool!

We recently did some pens for Alex at SpryPR – very creative people. How creative? How about a stop motion ‘thank you for the pens’ video!?

Check it out here: http://www.sprypr.com/4imprint

Thanks Alex – we love it…!

Just a quick update on the ‘Free Pens for Start-ups’ project.

This has really been a blast. We’ve done pens for new ventures in healthcare, photography, pest control, accounting, public relations – even a cool site that sells every kind of ‘ride on toy’ you can imagine!

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. Have a start-up story? Drop me a line at startup@4imprint.com and we’ll get you some pens to help spread the word!

Workforce for the Future
Odle Management Group

Leland Missionary Baptist Church held its 7th Annual Youth Tent Revival July 28-July 30, 2008.
Reverend Cecil A. Poe is the Pastor.  OMG was on hand for the entire event lending a helping hand.
The Community of Brightmoor attended the sessions held from 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.  Many of the
youth in attendance were introduced to Job Corps for the first time.  Sisters Lori and Constance
Darby were excited learn about the Single Parent Program available at the Flint Genesee Job Corps
Center.  They completed an intake application and are planning to move forward in the enrollment
process.  Two new additions to the OMG Job Corps family.  It was a successful event.

Simply put, Lisa Odle and her team give 16-24 year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds the skills they need to succeed.

The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company recruits young men and women for education, training and job placement, under a contract with the U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps program.

Some dropped out of high school.  Others lack job skills or independent living skills.

Odle Management Group helps fill the gaps, helping young adults become self-sufficient and succeed in the workforce.

“The ultimate goal is to place them in meaningful careers, so they become self-sufficient,” said Lisa Odle, President and Founder, Odle Management Group.

Odle spent most of her career working in the Job Corps program.  Working in both regional centers and the corporate office, she gained a sense for the importance of innovation in programming and recruitment.

Odle Management Group mixes traditional newspaper and radio ads with ads on MySpace, city buses, door-to-door information drops.  Outreach counselors connect with guidance counselors, immigration agents and others to broaden their referral network.  Community festivals and outreach fairs are important recruitment events.

Promotional products help raise awareness about the programs and boost enrollment.

At outreach events in metropolitan areas, the team hands out sun visors, umbrellas or CD cases to entice attendees to learn more about Job Corps.  When outreach admissions counselors make visits to guidance counselors, immigration agents and others who interact with 16-24 year-olds, they distribute goofy pens.  When students enroll in the program, backpacks emblazoned with the Odle Management Group logo help them keep their papers in order.

In 2004, the company had one Department of Labor contract and recruited 2800 young adults.  By 2007, the company had identified and trained nearly 9,000 young adults at Job Corps Centers in 5 states.

“We are consistently applying our best and promising practices,” Odle said.  “That has been a large part of our growth and development for the past three years.”

Nothing Less Than the Best
ADS Corporation

When working for the Office of Naval Research (ONR), ADS Corporation sticks by its tried and true motto: We hire the best, expect the best and strive to be the best.

And, it’s paid off. ADS Corporation has been providing support to ONR since 1996 and has quickly grown from an initial three-person company to now more than 20 employees. The company’s dedicated team provides financial and budget analysis, engineering, science and technology program management and special process studies to ONR on a regular basis.

“A lot of times customers don’t want us out of their sight because we provide such outstanding support!” said Traci Ince, vice president of sales and marketing for ADS Corporation.

Ince credits the company’s success to the impeccable standards set and upheld by President and CEO Garry Perkins. ADS Corporation employees believe that quality is everything, and anything less than perfect is unacceptable.

“Your deliverables in a services-type industry speak for themselves,” expressed Ince. “Everybody wants to do well and provide valuable input and deliverables to their customers. Our customers respect our employees and value their services.  ADS has many internal rewards programs in place so you want to succeed and thrive!”

One such reward program, titled “On the Spot Awards,” honors employees who go above and beyond their normal job description with an immediate $250 bonus and a certificate of appreciation. Other reward programs include an end-of-the-year profit sharing bonus, a wellness reimbursement program and a “new employee welcome kit” that is stocked full of promotional pens, coffee cups, lanyards and a logo’d polo shirt. Coming in 2009, ADS will instate flexible spending accounts as well.

Incentive reward programs at ADS Corporation have contributed to a heightened sense of employee worth, morale, increased production and overall customer satisfaction. And, not to mention, significant company growth as well.

“We now have a reputation for bringing in the right people to do the right job,” said Ince. “Competition is fierce and ADS has really had to shine and show our services are superior, and it’s paid off in repeat and new customers.”