Leaderpromos' Blog

USB drive prices set to rise

2010-02-16T17:15:30Z

USB prices may take an upward swing after the close of Chinese New Year. Many of the factories that produce the memory chips in flash drives have been on break during the national holiday and workers aren't set to return until the end of February.

Rumor has it the factories plan to raise prices after the New Year to slow demand for the popular storage devices in an attempt at buying time to catch-up on back-logged production.

Our advice? If you're thinking about promotional USBs, consider ordering now.

Leaderpromos again named top diversity business!

2010-02-02T22:38:19Z

We're proud to be selected again as one of the top 500 diversity-owned businesses in the U.S. and one of the top 500 women-owned businesses in the U.S. by supplier diversity site, DiversityBusiness.com.

Plus, we're ranked seventh among the top 50 women-owned businesses in Ohio, and 14th out of the top 50 diversity-owned businesses in Ohio.

For more information about the rankings, see DiversityBusiness.com.

Choosing eco-friendly promotional products: Five quick tips

2010-01-29T18:49:04Z

Select items that eliminate waste. Eight out of ten disposable plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. end up in landfills. Products like stainless water bottles and nonwoven shopping totes can be used again and again, potentially eliminating tons of garbage.
Make sure your products can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. Many eco items now carry tags with recycling instructions.
Go organic! Organic cotton is great for bags and apparel. Best of all, it's made without harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
Try corn plastics. Daily, 10% of U.S. oil consumption goes to plastic production. Corn plastic is made from a renewable resource, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and takes 65% less energy to produce than conventional plastics.
Tap into the simplicity trend. Functional products that save money will be kept and used, keeping your clients engaged with your brand.

A handy tool for trade show exhibitors

2009-10-29T15:40:23Z

Does your company exhibit at trade shows? A handy tool on mcmag.com, the site of Meetings & Conventions Magazine, can help you quickly determine your ROI. Their online calculator takes in to account such factors as salesperson salaries, display booth costs, travel expenses and number of leads generated to come up with your average cost per lead and cost to close for the show.

Help 'em know when to go with a flu kit

2009-10-15T16:45:31Z

You've seen the news; you've heard the sneezes and coughs. Cold and flu season has begun. And the threat of H1N1 could make this year worse than ever.

What do you do if you have an employee, student or volunteer that's not feeling well? Give them our cold and flu kit!

Our handy kit contains just enough to check them out and get them home or to the doctor: a single-use NexTemp disposable thermometer, a pocket pack of tissues, two Halls cough drops and two antimicrobial hand wipes, all packaged in an eco-friendly biodegradable clear plastic pouch with a zip closure.

The kits are made in the USA and can be had with your one-color imprint for as little as $1.31 each. Don't wait until you need them, order now and be prepared.

Say "Thanks" with a Thanksgiving Gift

2009-10-15T16:39:52Z

Are you planning to send a little something to thank your best customers? Don't wait until December. Get the jump on your competition this holiday season by thanking them with a card or gift at Thanksgiving!

Not only will you beat the year-end flood of holiday cards and gifts, but the unmistakable message of thanks is sure to be appreciated. It also gives you a great reason to touch base with your clientele before the start of the busy holiday season.

See our online selection of holiday gift ideas for some instant inspiration, or call your Leaderpromos.com sales rep at 1-877-677-9988 for some great ideas.

This water bottle's a double-header!

2009-10-15T15:14:14Z

Our new 16 oz. Duo insulated tumbler/water bottle goes from hot to cold with ease, thanks to its double-wall stainless steel construction that helps hold liquid temperatures longer and reduce condensation.

Befitting its double personality, this versatile bottle also comes complete with two different spill-proof lids and a handy carabiner.

Best of all, it's completely free of Bisphenol A (BPA).

What are the odds?

2009-10-15T14:34:51Z

Have you ever wondered what the odds are that a person may have to visit an emergency room due to a drinking straw accident? Or what the odds are that a person with an income of over $100,000 will shop at Wal-Mart in a given year? Thanks to a new site, Book of Odds, you can finally find out.

The site also lets visitors find, well, odd comparisons based on odds. For example, in the United States, the odds a man who has ever been married or is living with someone has cheated during the relationship are 1 in 4.76 -- the exact same odds that that an adult in the United States never uses swear words in conversation.

Be warned, the odds are good that you'll enjoy spending a lot of time sifting through all the data!

It's Not Too Early to Think About the Holidays (Really!)

2009-10-12T17:21:18Z

Yes, it's only October 12, but the holidays will be here before you know it. And while it seems a little early to start thinking about your promotional gift needs, it's not. Here's why:

Because factories have drastically cut production in response to the recession, we expect to see shortages of some of our most popular items, especially as the holidays get closer.
We can often get much better pricing with longer lead times, especially on large quantity orders.
It's one less thing to worry about during a very hectic time of year. Ordering early can also help you avoid unnecessary rush charges.
Concerned about storing your gifts? Not a problem. We can warehouse your order and deliver it at a time you choose.

Convinced? We've gathered some great gift ideas in our Holiday Gift Center. And as always, if you don't see exactly what you need, call us and we'll find it for you.

Leaderpromos.com Again Named to List of Top Ohio Businesses

2009-09-24T20:18:47Z

Leaderpromos.com was recently ranked as the No. 10 woman-owned business in Ohio and the No. 21 diversity-owned business in Ohio on the Div100.

Now in its 9th year, the Div100 is a listing of the top 100 Ohio business by DiversityBusiness.com, the nation's leading multicultural B2B Internet portal.

And the Most Valuable Brand Goes to...

2009-09-21T17:43:43Z

OK, so maybe it's not got the star power of last night's Primetime Emmy Awards, but Interbrand's new list of the world's best brands shines some light on what is--and isn't--working in the recession-ravaged global economy.

According the list, Coca-Cola is again the world's top brand, with a calculated brand value of more than $68.73 billion, followed by IBM with a value of $60.21 billion.

Interbrand cited both companies' commitment to innovation as one of the primary reasons for their continued success -- the beverage giant launched some 700 new products in 2008, while Big Blue received 4,000 U.S. patents during last year alone.

Not all companies faired quite so well. In fact, this year marked the first time in its 10-year history that the combined value of all 100 brands on the list fell. Not surprisingly, auto makers and financial firms took the biggest hit, with Merrill Lynch and AIG falling off the list completely for 2009.

Rounding out the top ten are:
3. Microsoft
4. GE
5. Nokia
6. McDonald's
7. Google
8. Toyota
9. Intel
10. Disney

Eco-Friendly Fabrics Point the Way

2009-09-17T21:04:31Z

Is your company going green? There's never been a better time to consider eco-friendly alternatives to traditional promotional products.

Take a standby of the advertising specialties industry, the traditional baseball hat. We're proud to offer hats in a range of alternative fabrics, from organic cotton to recycled polyester and even bamboo fiber.

Let's examine what makes each material special:

Organic Cotton: Grown without the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, organic cotton has the same look and feel of regular cotton, without the environmental impact.

Recycled Polyester:With yarns made from post-consumer waster, this fabric is strong, saves energy and reduces the amount of waste in landfills.

Bamboo: A sustainable and renewable resource, bamboo fibers are naturally antimicrobial and help whisk moisture away from the skin. Bamboo is also one of the fastest growing plants on earth and thrives without the use of harsh pesticides.

Meet the Real Mad Men

2009-09-11T20:28:35Z

I'm a big fan of the AMC drama "Mad Men," the show that chronicles the (surprisingly turbulent) lives of hard-drinking Madison Avenue ad execs in the mid-1960s.

For me, one of the best parts of the show is seeing the creative process evolve at the show's fictional agency, Sterling Cooper, as the characters react to the changing American cultural and political landscape of the time.

Now a new documentary by director Doug Pray explores the work that evolved from the "creative revolution" in advertising dramatized in "Mad Men."

"Art & Copy" features rare interviews with ad icons like original Mad Man George Lois, the creative force behind the seminal "I want my MTV" campaign, and examines some of the best advertising of the past 40 years, including Lee Clow's classic "1984" TV spot for the Apple Macintosh and Nike's "Just do it" slogan.

The film is currently being screened in select cities. For more information, see www.artandcopyfilm.org.

Wal-Mart CEO: Expect a Late Christmas

2009-09-11T14:25:49Z

Speaking yesterday at the 16th Goldman Sachs Annual Global Retailing Conference, Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke predicted consumers will hold off their holiday spending as long as possible, researching potential purchases and comparison shopping to find the best prices, reports Media Post.

"People are putting a tremendous emphasis on shopping smarter -- I'm amazed at how many more people know the price of what they buy, right down to the penny," said Duke. "I don't believe this will change as the economy gets better. The deferral of purchases will be with us for a long, long time."

But with store inventories trimmed to the bone, late shoppers may come up empty-handed.

Think Pink! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-09-02T16:17:50Z

Is your company or organization planning an event or fund-raiser to help fight breast cancer? From awareness bracelets to fitness items and apparel, we've got a great selection of pink promotional items that will show your commitment to the search for a cure.

And if you haven't considered supporting this great cause, please visit www.nbcam.org for more information on breast cancer and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.