1

1

1

-1'

1

1

1

1

1

The mos tintereting way that I have ever seen Promotional Merchandiding used is with alot of free resources and not much money. It was for a business promotion and would seem child-like to many, but to me was resourceful and inexpensive and was the best idea anyone could have come up with. In fact the resourceful idea was even better than the idea of the team that spent alot of money!

October 2011 I took my son & some of his friends trick or treating. This was their first time going so they were all extremely excited. One particular house we went to turned out to be a home daycare. Very beautiful and eye catching on the outside. Once we rang the bell a very warm and welcoming woman answered the door. She smiled, the children said their big "Trick or Treat!!" and she handed them candy bags with her business name, location, and a very cute Halloween picture on the outside. Once we got home and the kids opened their bags there were crayons with her business name on the wrapper, pencils with the business name on them and a bunch of candy with a few having the business name on the wrappers, and of course, a business card and a magnet containing her business information. I was astonished. I am an in home childcare provider myself and I loved the creativity ( and the kids loved the candy & their other treats! I am looking forward to next year! 

Company Logo on women wearing a tube top and jumping on a trampoline at a trade show.

I have seen a few great ideas to get your promotional merchandise out there while the business gets their name out. One of my favoites was a business put an ad in the paper asking for plastic bags filled with canned goods for the local food panty. They would bring the bags to the business, then get a choice of tote bag or coffee tumbler. I loved this idea because it not only put the business in people's minds, but it helped the community as well.  Another was Balloons were stuffed with a business cards and on the back of some of the cards were promotional amounts off. You had to go around town to local grocery marts etc and find these balloons. Once you found the balloon, you popped it for the prize.

OMG! Last year we were at a Home Show, we had a both there in Orange County, there was this Company, two girls who were selling aromatic candles, they had this adorable tinny little candle in a form of a rose with a gold graving little note that said "Lite me and enjoy it!" and on the back was the name of the girl and her phone number, it was irresistable not to get it! I love Promotional items that can actually tell you "take me with you!!"

I observed a company giving out wristbands, tshirts and other promotional items to kids in a spelling contest. It gave the kids a sense of accomplishment and encouragement. It motivates them to focus on their vocabulary and development.

A CAN SHAPED 35 mm PROMOTIONAL CAMERA for a beverage company.

Custom Car wrapping was the most interesting, enjoyable, or memorable way that I ever seen Promotional Merchandise being used. The car wereadotcom just to name a few.  For companies that are looking for a unique campaign, the auto wrap offers a cost effective way of getting their brand name out there. Ccompany can’t afford to purchasing an entire fleet of cars for an advertising its to expensive. Instead of purchasing their own cars, they use individual private cars. In return companies get to advertisement their products and people are being compensated.

I received a calculator pen and paper set from a mortgage company and I needed something that size to accomplish my field interviewing.  The pen was about 3 inches long and slid down in the side pocket.  The paper was perforated so that I could staple notes to my cases and it contained a mesh pocket for paperclips (which I also used for my business cards).  It was the most practical promotional item I had ever received.  I will definitely duplicate this idea in my promotional materials.  How many times have we needed pen and paper to write something down?  Writing helps us remember and ideas literally just come up and writing them down helps you remember.

    I can recall this like it was yesterday.  I was leaving a retail store, one afternoon, and a 3 year old runs up to me and hands me a pin.  Puzzled I looked at the pin, at the time I didn't recognize the emblem.  Suddenly the child raised his hand, so I could hold it, then he led back to his mother and sister, who where selling GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.  That was the emblem on the pin, and with an intro as cute and unique, I proceeded to buy 5 boxes that instant.  

The most interesting promotion that I have seen a company do came from a small, independently owned hot sauce shop outside of St. Louis, MO. They had their business information printed on tortilla chips and went to festivals in St. Louis offering samples of their hot sauce and tortilla chips with their information printed on it.