Welcome To PromoRx Blog
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Hi, I am Monica, the newest staff member here at Promo Rx. In addition to a new staff member here at Promo Rx, we have also added a new section to our website, entitled, "For the Kids." One of my favorite promotional items in this section is the Mood Sports Bottle.
Click Here I wish we had these when we were children! How much more excited would you have been about drinking water if your mom had put it in this color changing bottle? Speaking of excitement, I showed the Mood Changing Sports bottle to my daughter, and she thought it was the "coolest thing ever," asking how she could get one for her and all of her friends!
Browsing the "For the Kids" section on our Promo Rx website, also reminds me that summer is quickly approaching. I don't know about you, but most of my fond summer memories stem from my childhood. I become very nostalgic every year at this time, often reflecting about the summer vacations when I hung out with my friends, went swimming, attended picnics, participated in sporting events, and ate an overabundance of ice cream!
Recently I stumbled upon this article entitled the “Lazy Days of Summer,” and I was struck by its message regarding spending quality time with our children without adult agendas as the primary focus:
The Lazy Days of Summer After reading this short article, I could easily see how parents could forget how important summer vacation really is for children. When you think about your summers as a child, what do you remember most?
I have a feeling that my child will look back each year as summer approaches the same way I do, and it is my hope that she too has many fond memories, memories to last a lifetime.
Check out our new section, For the Kids, here at Promo Rx and make your summer event one to remember for years to come!
Click Here
by: PromoRx
Friday, April 25, 2008
We've decided NOT to participate in a recession or economic slowdown...we don't care what the media is saying! Looks like we have some company based on info this week from ASI!
From ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute):
"A new survey of distributor firms reports that industry sales increased 3.4% in the first quarter of 2008 compared with sales from the first quarter of 2007. The percentage translates to an increase of $136 million compared with last year's numbers." There are lots of companies like yours buying promotional giveaways and imprinted marketing handouts! Why? Promotional marketing works! Just talked to one of our clients who is a realtor...he is celebrating his best 1st quarter in 3 years! He's convinced tools he ordered from Promo Rx during 4th quarter paid off. (Personalized Calendars, imprinted lip balm and sunscreen as well as more expensive closing gifts) I'm sure his attitude and determination sealed a lot of deals!
This short article is from Penn State's School of Business...from 2005. This report talks about marketing during a recession. So if you're one of those who believes we are in a slowdown, this will be some food for thought! Here's the link:
http://www.smeal.psu.edu/news/latest-news/mar05/leverage.htmlThe Promo Rx crew is working on some new marketing tactics of our own, including a new logo to be unveiled in the next month...be sure and check back!
by: PromoRx
Saturday, April 5, 2008
What takes you back down memory lane?
For me this week, it was looking for samples for a new customer..
the Quikoin coin purse.
When I pulled out the red coin purse (although NOT the color our
new client wanted to see!), I was suddenly standing in line at
the drugstore with my Grandfather. He opened his Quikoin coin purse
to pay for my "treat", a freshly squeezed "orange-ade".
I've read that the sense of smell is one of our strongest...it
sure took me back! And it emphasizes why this coin purse is a nostalgic
hit with baby boomers! (Younger customers are also discovering the coin purses...for storing guitar picks, earrings, etc.!)
Some research turned up this interesting article about the manufacturer:
Quikoin,The Rest of the StoryFor more info on ordering your customized walk down memory lane,
Click HereAnd my trip down memory lane? Well, I'm now obsessed with trying to remember what color my Grandfather's Quikoin was!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
One of my girlfriends emailed me that she had made it in!
To Oprah's online webinar for her bookclub.
OK, so I wasn't totally excited about that, but she was!
After the webinar, she emailed me again. She asked if Promo Rx did post-it flags. It turns out that Post-it Flags are a sponsor of Oprah's online discussion for her latest book club selection.
Sounds like a good "marriage"...the post-it flags come in handy when reading books, working with files or your datebook!
The company that does all the post-it products has 1 division that sells "blanks" or "not imprinted" items. They also sell to places like Office Depot and Staples. Their other division is the one Promo Rx works with that customizes or imprints our customer's logos and company information on post-it notes, flags and even post-it flag pens.
Click here to see flag pens! So thanks to my friend for passing this on! And now YOU know what's hot in promo products this week!
by: PromoRx
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Kermit the Frog's mantra used to be "it's not easy being green". Does he still sing that? As one who never liked the color green, but always loved Kermit, the word "green" as well as the color, seems to constantly be in my vocabulary. (and here I am blogging about green!)
Going Green...it's everywhere you look! Other buzzwords: "eco friendly" "recycled" "can be recycled" "earth friendly" "green" "environmentally friendly". But how do you define "green"?
Your definition may simply be "can be recycled". Others look for items such as organic cotton that is produced without the use of pesticides. So, we try to provide items that fall in several "green" categories.
There are plenty of items to choose from...a definite change from 18 months ago!One of the top selling promotional items, pens, offer several choices. There are pens made from biodegradable corn plastic and even pens with natural paper barrels. Other promotional products made from corn plastic include: letter openers, rulers, golf tees and mugs.
There are tote bags made from 51% recycled material and others from 100% organic cotton. There is also an organic cotton t-shirt that is imprinted with environmentally friendly inks!
Lots of plastic items, like stadium cups and sport bottles are now available made from an environmentally friendly plastic that takes as little as 9 months to biodegrade! This doesn't affect the life of the products...just makes it easier on "Mother Earth".
How can you make an "environmentally friendly" promotional giveaway work for your company? We find that first, you need to make room on the item, telling the receiver it's "green". Many of the items will have this feature built in. For example, we have a writing pad made from 100% post-consumer recycled material. The manufacturers tag is already on the padfolio.
Find "green events" in your local community. Earth Day (April 22, 2008) will offer many partnership opportunities. Schools, health food stores and farmers markets are a few to get you started.
Selecting "earth friendly" giveaways will show your "true colors" as a company that cares! Conde Naste March 2008 Portfolio lists 11 Green Companies including GE, DuPont, Starbucks and Whole Foods. If the big guys are going green...in one way or another, the trend will trickle down to small and mid-size businesses!
Visit our
Eco Friendly Products New products added every week!
by: PromoRx
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What's hot? Depends on who you ask!
But our opinionated Promo Rx MD (Marketing Doctor!) will always share opinions and insights!
Some of our top January Promos:
1.
USB Drives: But the new "standard" is 1 GB. Bigger is better at least when it comes to memory size. And USB Memory Sticks with no caps: either retractable or swivels.
2.
Lipbalm: a great year round promo. Perfect for tradeshow handouts. Tons of flavors and packaging options. If your logo has lots of colors, great news in 2008: lots of full color process printing available at very reasonable prices.
3.
Fun. Smiley faces on pens, highlighters and stress balls are fun, clever promotions that have been a big 2008 trend. Games like Sudoku, Tic tac toe and Texas Hold 'em continue to be popular.
4.
Health: grab a sport bottle, pedometer, or any of the other healthy lifestyle products available with your company's imprint.
6.
iPod or MP3 accessories.
7.
Mints, chocolates and jelly beans are strong contenders for tradeshows. Newest mint tins look like cellphones or MP3 players: very clever!
Both available with full color imprints.
Your Personal MD* Marketing Doctor will be be back soon with more tips, trends and thought provoking tidbits!
by: PromoRx
Convention/Meeting
