September 2008 Archives

As the green movement continues to grow, it is important as both employees and consumers we do our part in preserving our environment. The Environment Defense Fund (EDF) recommends the following steps for companies interested in making smart choices when purchasing paper:

1. Choose unbleached alternatives for folders and envelopes
2. Look for paper containing pulp made from agricultural residues such as wheat or rice straw
3. Think twice before using colored papers
4. Skip envelopes with covered windows
5. Look for envelopes and address labels that use water-based adhesives

Companies looking to promote their sustainability initiatives can do so using a number of eco-friendly promotional products. These promotional items are a great way to share your company culture and vision with both existing clients and potential customers.

Several studies have shown that American companies stand to lose in the long run by employing a work force that is overworked.  Compared to European countries, Americans take an average of roughly two weeks less vacation and this is believed to have an adverse effect on the health of these workers.  While Americans understand the benefits of relaxation and taking time off from work, more often than not vacation days are left on the table as employees feel trapped obligated to their company. 

With the reduced vacation time, American stress levels are substantially higher than their European counterparts.  Companies would be well advised to address this situation by either mandating increased vacation time, or offering alternative stress relievers in the form of exercise facilities or even simple stress balls.   

In order to attract conferences and trade shows, many cities are reaching for new ideas in hopes of boosting tourism.  In the past cities have used simple promotional items such as mugs, bags, and t-shirts to emphasize all their city had to offer.  Today, these products have become much more innovative as competition for tourism has grown substantially.  With people doing less traveling, the importance of an attention grabbing promotional product has been paramount to helping small businesses remain afloat. 

While organic cottons have been the rave as of late, hemp is growing in popularity as it's both durable and easy to grow. Also, hemp today is processed differently to give it a softer feel, something that has been a knock on hemp in the past. Hemp is great for imprinting and embroidery and can serve to be a great way to grow your brand. Its durability also makes hemp great for bags, which often times have large imprint areas for your corporate logo.

An eco-friendly approach to apparel, Bamboo shirts, like our Port Authority Bamboo Pique Sport Shirt are soft and have several characteristics every employee or potential client would love. The shirts possess the antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties of performance apparel and are even UV-resistant. While the current offerings are limited, watch out for this segment to continue to grow as more and more consumers clamor for eco-friendly products.

Visit Leaderpromos.com for a large selection of eco-friendly products including a variety of fashionable, environmentally friendly apparel.

While performance apparel has been the hot item for the last several years, the apparel industry has a new entrant that has many of the same characteristics the performance sector offers and then some.  The Vitamin C shirt which comes in a variety of styles has embedded vitamins in its fibers and works with the moisture on the body to transfer these vitamins to the skin.  A

The Vitamin C shirt is a great way to promote healthy living and also serves as a quality polo to be embroidered with your company logo, at a reasonable price. 

With tons of restaurants in every city, restaurant owners have felt increased pressure to not only differentiate their menu, but have sought other ways to drive traffic through their stores.  One way is to create a unique atmosphere by outfitting your staff in the newest trends in promotional apparel.  In fact, some restaurants have been so successful in designing employee uniforms that restaurant goers have demanded the uniforms be sold in the store. 

The Ohio State University Buckeyes travel to Los Angeles tomorrow to take on the top seeded University of Southern California Trojans.  It's the first meeting since 1990 between the schools, the Trojans of USC having won the last five games. 

With Heisman hopeful Chris "Beanie" Wells questionable for the game, many predict a blowout win for USC which would deliver a crushing blow to both the reputation of Ohio State and the Big Ten.  However, supporters in Columbus are confident their beloved team will show up strong and represent the great State of Ohio and this football-crazed city.

On a side note, this game highlights the scale of college sports and the many branding opportunities available for companies, both large and small.  Many companies are taking notice.  Frito Lay for example is hosting a contest seeking the best tailgate party in the country.  They have tapped Eddie George, a Buckeye great and Heisman trophy winner, to be their celebrity judge.  Tailgates are the perfect setting to provide your employees with logoed apparel and promotional items such as seat cushions, plastic footballs, and gazebos.

100 Calories burned per a mile of walking by a 150-lb. person

150 Minutes of walking per week that can reduce one's risk of diabetes by 58%

500 Number of miles I would walk (plus 500 more) to be the man who walked 1000 miles to fall down at your door

With an increasing demand for fitness products, leaderpromos.com has a wide selection of promotional items that would be welcomed in today's fitness-crazed world. Whether it is used for employee motivation or client appreciation, leaderpromos.com has functional health and fitness promotional items at reasonable prices, including today's must-have promotional item, the pedometer, to track steps, distance walked, and calories burned.

Visit leaderpromos.com for all your health and fitness promotional item needs!

30 Minutes per day adults should be physically active to remain healthy

2200 Average number of steps in a mile

3500 Number of calories needed to burn to expend one pound of body fat

10,000 Recommended number of steps to take in a day to be healthy

Increasing demand for fitness products has been followed by a desire for fitness apparel with moisture management features.  Leaderpromos.com has a wide selection of apparel including many of the athletic apparel industry's brand names.  Match your custom apparel with a pedometer or heart rate watch and you will be well on your way to achieving a healthy lifestyle. 

Visit leaderpromos.com for all your health and fitness promotional item needs!

Both suppliers and distributors are embracing the challenge of providing every body shape a unique offering and today men and women in the plus-sized market are finding more options available to them.  In the past, bigger women had available to them only extra large golf shirts and t-shirts.  Today, suppliers are finding ways to extend their offering to 2XL and at times up to 4XL.  They're also offering these sizes in a variety of shirts, including performance apparel.  While providing these sizes has implications on inventory management and was viewed as bad business practice, many suppliers are finding that the demand for these sizes is such it is actually boosting sales. 

The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, crafted by Rep. Deborah Pryce, R - Upper Arlington, Ohio, was signed by President Bush into law on July 30, 2008.  The legislation is the first step in many to help grow awareness and funding for pediatric cancer.  The aim is to fund research to gain more information about why children develop cancer. 

The law calls for spending of $150 million over five years, money that will be used to expand pediatric-cancer research and a national childhood-cancer database. 

If your company is looking to support this initiative or any other worthy cause, promotional products are a great way to find a relevant promotional item that provides ample opportunity to customize the product with both the cause and your corporate logo.  Visit leaderpromos.com where there excellent support staff is happy to help develop a great promotional item to fit your needs.

One of the best ways to market your company is to get consumers to recommend your products or services to friends.  The greatest thing about word-of-mouth marketing is consumers are more likely to listen to advice and recommendations from friends than a person trying to sell them something.  While this form of marketing is difficult to generate, the reward is worth the trouble. 

One way to accomplish this is by sponsoring events either at local businesses or residences where the host is sent a promotional package ahead of time and permitted to invite an organization or group of friends to an evening party.  Here they will receive lots of great promotional items such as logoed ad specialties, custom t-shirts, and water bottles.  The great part about this event is people love to get free stuff and will be talking about the great promotional items with their friends.

A slow economy typically causes many to rethink and even reduce their ad spending, however the smart companies are finding ways to spend the same but make their dollar go a little farther.  Logoed products are a great way to keep your advertising consistent and send the desired message you want to get across.  Furthermore, there are tons of promotional products at reasonable prices, products where your company logo won't be seen once and then discarded. 

Advertising specialty products provide companies the chance to get creative and think outside the box.  Those companies that come up with wild, but relevant ideas can often times find their logoed products in a client's office year after year. 

Leaderpromos.com specializes in helping clients design a promotional product that fits their marketing and advertising needs.  With a website that features over 15,000 promotional items and an experienced staff that is excited to find a solution for every challenge, leaderpomos.com looks forward to helping create a unique promotional product that is sure to serve as a memorable corporate gift or trade show giveaway. 

Event marketing is a great way to reach consumers and drive sales through personal interaction. Generally purchase intent is believed to rise significantly among consumers who attend events like trade shows and brand-sponsored walkathons or 5Ks. These events are perfect opportunities to promote your company with relevant giveaways. Items such as eco-friendly bags, frisbees, and pedometers make great giveaways at these events and attendees will leave remembering your company and their efforts.

Leaderpromos.com has a wide selection of promotional products that make perfect giveaways for companies looking to create brand awareness while sponsoring an event. Companies can co-sponsor these events with a non-profit and the two can use the event to raise money for a cause and also promote their companies in a positive manner.