Tervis Tumblers: A fundraising dynamo!

I'm a big fan of the Tervis Tumbler in general - that sucker won't break, holds hot and cold beverages, and doesn't leave the dreaded sweat stain on your furniture.  Plus, the added bonus of it being made right here in the USA, make it the ideal product for promotions.

What my clients have been using these for currently are as fundraising items, specifically because the tumblers will undoubtedly be used in the household - have you been to an SEC tailgate these days, Tervis Tumblers are ALL OVER the place!  Perfect to hold, um, sweet tea...

Anyway, Tervis has now partnered with us to offer special pricing to Whiteboard Promotions clients, so come on by and take a look at the 16 oz. Custom Tervis Tumbler with the Embroidered Patch for your next project.  I especially recommend this logo treatment as it won't rub off and has an upscale look.

16 oz. Custom Tervis Tumbler

Event Swag - the Good, the Bad, and The UGLY!

There is always that one person who goes to the trade shows and is not there to learn about new products or services - they are there for the free stuff.  You know who I'm talking, the person with the pull cart that shovels giveaways in at every booth like it's the buffet line at Denny's - that guy!

The challenge that event planners have is providing Swag that works not only for their brand, but provides something useful to the end user - yes even to the shovelers.  Some things have definitely lost their shelf life in the promo products world - mousepads, keychains, and yes to some extent - the USB drive.  Some items have been relegated to the "oh no they didn't" category such as the round stress ball or the clic pen - how many pens can one have!

However, there are some tried and true items that have stayed the course - drinkware, umbrellas (yes, I said it), and journals - and some new-school products such as mobile items and stylus pens that are great trade show giveaways.  Companies have also put out the low-priced items on the tables to satisfy the shovelers, but have used mid-priced items for qualifiers or prize options.

Here is a great article on some good and bad ideas to think of for your next event!

Read more

How NOT to have your Brand represented

So, Abercrombie & Fitch's CEO went public with its policies of hiring only good looking people, and not catering to a clientele that isn't "cool".  I understand the need for a company to focus on its perceived target audience, and to exploit a niche in the marketplace.  However, broadcasting that mantra is definitely a no-no, and causes backlash such as this:

Not the image that a retail brand wants, and yes sometimes publicity is not good - see Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian for what it's done for their image...