Not your typical Top 25 promotional products list!  


Why?     We at PROMOrx are flying in the face of convention!




We have compiled a group of promotional giveaways and business gifts that one of our staff, clients or friends have tried and tested. We even recruited kids where appropriate to really put items to the test. (Like for this one: Flyers ) 


Additionally, with over 5000 factories to choose from, we only selected promo giveaways and gifts from factories that have proven themselves to us! Companies that stand by their product and imprinting! When it’s customized with your company logo, it done right with factories that ship on time or early! Know the PROMOrx staff has done the homework!

Curious what the “real” top selling promotional items from 2009 are? This list is from the Promotional Products Industry Association statistics:
1. Wearables
2. Writing Instruments
3. Bags
4. Calendars
5. Drinkware

You’ll find some of these items on the PROMOrx list. No calendars, yet…we’re still testing! 
 Click here to see the promotional items that made OUR cut:  Top 25

Green, eco friendly, biodegradable. Sustainable, earth friendly. Recycled. Recyclable. All these words tossed around. And yet I continue to be surprised at how many people really don’t get it. It’s easy to be confused. Why? That’s how the factories that produce these items want it to be!

if it was from this factory. They did. It was. They told her it WAS biodegradable. 

Confusing, huh? End of the story:they ordered from the other distributor who lied to them about the cup being biodegradable. PROMOrx lost a sale. But we sleep well at night! On eco friendly pillowcases!

Anybody else having a meltdown with all the heat and humidity? Here in coastal South Carolina, it’s so hot…
well, fill in your favorite:
it’s so hot you could fry eggs on the sidewalk.
It’s so hot you can make instant sun tea.
It’s so hot the best parking space is determined by shade not distance to the door.
It’s so hot, hot water is coming out of both faucets!
It’s so hot when you step out the door at 7:30AM, you’re sweating.

Enough…but feel free to add your favorite to the comments below!!

Here’s what I’ve found is a necessity in any hot climate…insulated reusable grocery tote bags! I know! Those reusable grocery tote bags are everywhere and they are definitely an earth friendly option! But the insulated bags are a must to get your groceries home without a complete melt down! If you want your company name out there, order these today!

The one on the link below is new! Love the material on the outside and it’s available in lots of cool colors…like lime green!!
Insulated Grocery Bags

Yes, killer bugs in your grocery bags! If you’re like the zillions of people walking around with these bags: Reusable Bags, here’s the rest of the story!


If you purchased your bag at a local grocery store, re-used a convention tote or received these eco friendly bags as a giveaway, STOP! WASH THEM NOW! Most of these bags are made from non-woven polypropylene, some are cotton and others are jute.


“Researchers tested a range of the carriers and found many were riddled with deadly bugs such as E.coli and salmonella that had been deposited by raw meat packaging.
Most shoppers were not aware the bags need regular washing at high temperatures to kill off germs, the experts said. And they warned the levels of bacteria found were high enough to “cause a wide range of serious health problems and even death”.


These reusable grocery bags are so popular! We have clients who have bought 1000′s emblazoned with their logos!You can’t walk into a grocery store without seeing them! At least not around here where Publix, Harris Teeter, Kroger and Fresh Market all have them! Because they are reusable, they are eco friendly or green! And that’s a huge trend now!


More info you need to know NOW:“The results showed the hotter the climate, the greater the risk of contamination by E.coli – a bacterium found in the intestines of animals and humans.” 


Additional information on killer bugs in your reusable bags from: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/07/01/killer-bugs-in-your-re-used-shopping-bags-115875-22373748/


There are at least 5 of these grocery tote bags in the trunk of my car right now!
(This one is my new favorite since we live in the South where staying cool is an art form :
Insulated Bag)


I’m off to round up those grocery totes and give ‘em a wash!

Testing a new promotional item that will be added to the www.PROMOrx.com website if it “passes”!
And if I don’t end up with a wreckless driving charge! Phase 2 of testing comes today! Stay tuned for details…and maybe film at 11!

Have you ever purchased a promotional product that just didn’t “cut it”? The PROMOrx staff is working diligently to test items and give you our honest opinions! We’ve even enlisted friends and neighbors as unbiased observers! And did we mention we are having fun?!?

I’m a  huge Star Trek Fan…love all the captains from Kirk to Picard.And of course, Mr. Spock! Star Trek fans will smile at the one word directive from the series:”ENGAGE“! 




Simple. Direct. But it will get you there.


And that’s how I find social media. Simple. Direct. And if you engage, it works.
Engaging is not just advertising your business. Ads are ok on occasion, but not as a steady stream!


Can social media bring in dollars to your business? It depends!
Are you willing to engage? 


I have 2 personal stories of success with social media.(2nd story next post!) 
Twitter has been my favorite. Working on Facebook and Linked In is on my “to do list”!
Here’s my twitter story: new to the area, I started looking for local people to follow. I thought I could learn about cool places and local businesses, too. I started following a local business I knew was a sponsor for the local PGA golf tournament. One day, I came up with a great idea for them to use as a promotional giveaway at the golf tournament. New to the area, I didn’t know who to call. 


But there was that twitter account: I messaged and asked who I needed to speak to about my great idea for tournament giveaways! In a couple days, there it was: name and phone number. I called and left a message, stating I received their name from twitter. Next day, call was returned. Next day, I was sitting in the local office learning more about their business and determining if my promotional item was a good fit. It was. 2 immediate orders.More on the way! Twitter success!


Will tweeting working for your business? I believe that having a complete plan including social media, promotional products and possibly other marketing tools depending on your business does work! 


Be consistent. Try new things. Monitor what you are doing. 
MAKE IT SO!

Someone told me that there are over 750,000 items available in the promotional products industry that can be imprinted or embroidered with your company’s logo.
(Who the heck had time to count?!?)


Anyway, we get calls week in and week out from clients asking us “What’s hot”, “What’s in”. My new answer: it doesn’t matter!


What’s in and what’s hot:
1. may not work for your budget
2. may not work for your logo
3. may not work for your target market


If you want cheap giveaways, that’s one thing. But if you want a marketing
program that will drive leads and sales: stop and think!Not about what’s hot,
but about what will drive leads and sales for your business!


Next post? Some cool new products!

I’m a pretty savvy web shopper… For years, I have purchased for personal use and for the businesses. My favorite thing? When it shows up at the door, on time and is better than I expected!

But how do you make that happen when ordering promotional products that are imprinted with your company logo, phone, website, etc.?? Actually, several of these thoughts below are true for any business you are dealing with! Expect professionalism!

Just some thoughts:
1. If there are words spelled incorrectly all over the website you are considering buying from, BEWARE! An occasional typo is one thing. But when words and typos are scattered all through a website, this should be a HUGE STOP SIGN! You are trusting this company to get the info printed on your promotional giveaways or corporate gifts. You want it correct, right? If they can’t get their website correct, what makes you think your promo pens, notepads, etc. will be treated any differently?

2. For me, the same STOP rule applies when there are errors in grammar all over a website. I want my orders, professional or personal, handled with attention to detail. Isn’t this critical when you are talking your company’s imprint and contact information?

3. VeriSign seals. Did you know there are companies that simply put the graphic on their website and are NOT VeriSign approved? Here’s how you know the difference: when you click on an authentic VeriSign seal, information about the website pops up. If it doesn’t, it’s most likely being abused. You can Click Here for info straight from the VeriSign site.

3 more things to consider when buying on the web in my next post! I’m on a roll now!

So, have you already said thank you to your customers/clients? What did you do? A Holiday Card? A Gift card? A gift basket? All certainly acceptable. But how do you get to “WOW”?

First, acknowledge that some clients won’t recognize a “WOW”! Do something you feel GREAT about. Budgets have been cut in some cases…but presentation counts! And can set you apart from the crowd! Presentation…let’s assume your clients aren’t local so you can’t deliver in person. The gifts will have to be delivered UPS or FedEx. Along with a lot of others from your customer’s other suppliers. How do you make yours memorable?

Food gifts are very popular this year. Food=Comfort I laughingly told a customer, a burp after devouring the food, but that’s it. No long lasting feelings of goodwill.

And yet I do recommend food gifts. Here’s the twist I recommend: send them to arrive the week of January 5. (I also recommend that some of our clients send to arrive prior to Thanksgiving! It worked!) Bet you will have very little competition. Unlike anything you send the month of December!Instant presentation. Instant “you stand out from the crowd”! Say “Happy New Year” instead of “Merry Christmas” or the politically correct “Happy Holidays”!

Another thought: get a food gift with a “stay behind”. Candy jars you can go back and refill year round. Very popular this year: sets with snacks + a practical desktop gift. Here are some examples:
Biz Card Holder
Glass Coasters
Post-it Note Holder

Need other ideas? Check with a PROMOrx specialist!

Day in and day out, we get calls asking about “Green” “eco friendly” “recycled” “recyclable” “Earth Friendly” or “Environmentally Friendly” promotional products. When I ask if they know the difference, most of the time, the answer is “I don’t care, just want something cheap”.

Recycled vs recyclable is the most mis-understood. Recyclable basically means you can…recycle it that is. It it most likely not a recycled item. A promotional product can be both recycled and recyclable. Here’s a great article with more info: Recyclable doesn’t mean anything!

Don’t get GREENWASHED! Do your homework. Know the difference! Ask me! I’m the green queen!