PROMOrx Blog

We're LIVE!!

2008-07-01T00:55:00.005-04:00

We have been working for months to get the new PROMOrx logo integrated on our website!

And the day has arrived! The new website is live!! New color scheme. Tons of new items on the site and more to come! We are still a work in progress but we think the new look is so hot, it's cool!

More about our new logo in a future blog entry. But for now, a couple of interesting tidbits!

From what I've been reading, we're not the only company launching a new logo. Have you seen the Wall Street Journal article on Walmart's new look? Here's the link: New Logo

And we have company in our quest to go "green". Check out another WSJ article: Green Convention

Be sure to visit PROMOrx often ...new items added daily. And Monica and I promise to get better about writing about our favorite products! That's all today from Vickie!

Carbon Footprint?

2008-06-07T20:20:00.028-04:00

Hey there, and happy June to you! It's a new month, and Vickie has reminded me that it is time to highlight my product of the month. We have so many cool promotional products here at Promo Rx that it is difficult to know where to even begin!

As I was discussing "going green" the other day with my daughter, we began talking about her carbon footprint. We pulled up Wikipedia for the definition of carbon footprint, and for those of you who need more clarification as I did, here is the link. Click Here

The idea that each one of us, individually, has an impact on our environment is indeed a call to action. We all have a choice to either help reduce our carbon footprint and help in the fight against climate change, or not. If you are like me, and you want to help out, here is an article with ten ways to be eco-friendly and save yourself some money. 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

We here at Promo Rx want to help out as well, and we have been working hard to find recycled and recyclable products. One of our most popular eco-friendly logoed promotionals is the Organic Cotton Twill Cap. These are great event giveaway, and you can tell people that your company or event is going green! Click Here If you like the Caps, you will love the Corn Mug! This hot promotional is U.S. made of 100% corn plastic, and has a great price point! Click Here

Take the time to reduce your carbon imprint by choosing "green" promotional items for your next event. Check out our Eco-Friendly section here at Promo Rx, and if you need some help, call Vickie or Monica, and we will help you find the perfect promotionals! Click Here

Another Concern for Mom

2008-05-15T16:05:00.036-04:00

Hey there, it's Monica again! Vickie, the Marketing Doctor herself, and I have agreed to highlight our favorite items each month on the Promo Rx Website. Granted, Vickie's writing skills are more advanced than mine, so this is a bit intimidating for me. I am not really sure what happened after I had a child, but my vocabulary seems to have digressed to the use of words only seen on such shows as Barney, Teletubbies, and Sponge Bob. However, if you crank up any High School Musical song, I know most all of the words, and even have some of the dance moves down. Pretty scary!

While my writing skills may be limited, I have the same concerns as most mothers. One concern that has received a great deal of media attention lately is regarding anti-bacterial products containing triclosan. While we all want to keep our children as healthy as possible, this particular ingredient may not be good for our children's long term health. An article that really highlights the effectiveness of anti-bacterial products, as well as issues with triclosan: Are Anti-Bacterial Soaps Worth it?

I realize that we have all faced situations where we wish that we had been better equipped. For instance, how many times have you been in a public restroom with your children and there is no soap anywhere? Wow! I immediately start digging deep in my purse, hoping that there is something that can act as a cleaning agent. For those of you concerned about certain anti-bacterial agents, there are safe and compact products that are children friendly. One of these products from the Promo Rx website are our Soap Leaves. Kids are fascinated by these! They will wash there hands all day long! Click Here Another great item is our Sani-Pen® with 62% alcohol. Click Here Looking for a larger size? Our larger size Sani-Pen® gets up to 200 sprays! Click Here

Until next time...

What's the Big Deal about Summer Anyway?

2008-05-06T12:04:00.037-04:00

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

Now's the time for marketing!

2008-04-25T01:36:00.002-04:00

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.html

The 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!

A trip down memory lane....

2008-04-05T15:05:00.005-04:00

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 Story

For more info on ordering your customized walk down memory lane,
Click Here

And my trip down memory lane? Well, I'm now obsessed with trying to remember what color my Grandfather's Quikoin was!

Promotional Products in the News...

2008-03-12T11:19:00.004-04:00

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!

Kermit....and Going Green!

2008-02-23T23:42:00.000-05:00

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!

Top January Promo Items

2008-01-24T17:06:00.000-05:00

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!