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...sharing IDEAS - from the members of IdeaCafe!



What was the most interesting, enjoyable, or memorable way you have ever seen Promotional Merchandise being used?
Submited by
Lissette A.

I worked in Bank of America as a Drive-Thru Teller for 4 years.  There was this business customer who would always bring me a pen with his business logo and information on it.  He didnt really realize it, but for me it was such a great thing because my pens were always being taken by customers (by mistake of course), I think I would lose about 5 pens in a working day and so did my fellow co-workers. So one of my co-workers had asked the same customer if he had more pens to give out, He said SURE, I HAVE BOXES FULL OF THEM, THAT I NEVER GET TO GIVE OUT.  The next day this man brings us a whole box full of pens, and of course we were happy.  Those pens finished within 1 month due to our "Pen Stealing Customers"  which worked out just great for everybody!!  

Submited by
Alecia C.

Sometimes its not where you advertise, its how you advertise. Last year My town was ripped away by a tornado. The community was torn apart. We had no food, gas, electricty, and not one street was untouched. Nevertheless, there was a bar-b-que on wheels that set up at the courhouse and cooked for the entire county. This was a volunteer effort. Not only did the community get a free plate from kindness but they sampled the food. They now get so much business its unbelieveable. People want to know that who they do business with wants to give back. Its not just business, Its being a part of something bigger. 

Submited by
Mary Ellen H.

Recently I attended a Beer Festival where you could sample hundreds of different types of beer.  As you paid your entry fee, you were given a bracelet to wear as proof of payment.  This bracelet must be shown to each beer booth vendor in order to sample the beers.  The bracelet was advertising a DWI attorney.  While I don’t promote drinking and driving, I thought this type of advertisement was very clever. 

Submited by
Daniel K.

I was recently at the beach. I realized, I didn't have any shampoo. As I was walking towards the showering area, there were Treseme employees passing out free shampoo to try. I loved it and use it now!

Submited by
Chanel H.

I attended a back to school fair where local small buisnesses donated promotional pens,notebooks and pencils to those who could not afford them for their children.Not only were they advertising their company ,but they were also giving back to their community.

Submited by
Taryn D.

When I was engaged I went to a huge bridal show in my area where hundreds of vendors were competing for the attention of the brides in attendance. All of them were handing out various types of Promotional Merchandise...bags, flyers, can cozies, sticky note pads etc. The one that still sticks in my mind, however, were the enormous plastic rings one hotel handed out. Each bride got one of the faux diamond rings and as they were handed out, the representatives flicked a tiny switch on them that started them flashing with multicolored lights. When the bride looked down at the "diamond" she saw the emblem of the hotel flashing in the lights. It was brilliant!

Submited by
Christopher O.

I'm an avid golfer. The most memorable way I've seen Promotional Merchandise being used, which is cheap, much more affordable than logo golf balls, and something every golfer uses on every hole, is using golf tees with a business name and/or logo.  EVERY TIME A GOLFER TEES IT UP, HE/SHE will see the co. name and/or logo. A round of golf takes 5 hours to play, so that's 5 hours of advertising.

Submited by
Lydia M.

The most memorable way I have ever seen Promotional Merchandise being used was in an icecube.  It was in a plastic cup of water on a hot summer day and the name of the company & their website.  It was unforgettable.

Submited by
Kristiana W.

The most interesting, enjoyable, or memorable way I have ever seen Promotional Merchandise being used was a  logo in the sand from impressionable flip-flops. I live in Florida so the beach is a  frequent stop. Seeing a brand name across the sand over and over again not only made me stop and read it but it was also memorable.

Submited by
Daniel S.

The most enjoyable promotional merchandise used that I have had the pleasure of coming across was from this one company who handed out a smores kits. You can forget about attracting just one type of client, the customizable s’more kit allows you to appeal to people of all ages by advertising your company on everyone’s favorite snack. It even allows a creative slogan like “just s’more ways to show our appreciation”, the possibilities are endless plus it really shows the distance you are willing to go to show that each person matters to your business. Food is a way to many peoples' hearts and with a sweet snack you can bring a different appeal to you company. I believe this was a great promotional merchandise and something that wouldnt just get tossed away or lost with every other trinket.

Submited by
Frank V.

For me I think that one of the most interesting promotional items that I have seen is mouse sticky note pads. I am always needing paper to jot hings down when at my desk but my sticky pads always seem to get lost or removed. But when I have a mouse pad that is composed of sticky notes my mouse is always on it and its always there when I need it and people dont come and take your mouse pad. Plus the company whose promotion it is always has his information right there in front of you all the time. I think it's awesome.

Submited by
Dustin H.

We had a county fair here in Vermilion county Illinois. The fair is outside and we had a 50% chance of rain. When it started to rain a new local small business started handing out free umbrelas with their logo on it to everyone around. Soon, every where you looked you would see the logo. I thought that was a very interesting and a great idea because the business was not very well known.

Submited by
Billy G.

I went out, completely covered in cans, and walked around town to promote my energy drink.   It certainly got a lot of attention

Submited by
Diana A.

The absolute interesting and most enjoyable promotional item i have ever seen was the birth control promotion branded stir up covers in the OBGYN exam room.  They were by far the most "warming" and "protective" equiptment ever. 

Submited by
Clarence Y.

I was at a sporting Event. This company gave away a balloon to everyone in the arena. They wanted to show they were number 1 in their field so they put 1 dollar bill in every balloon but a select few. At half time they told everyone to bust their balloons at the same time. The ones that didn't have a 1 dollar bill won company promotional prize products, money, or trips. You can believe I will never forget that.

Submited by
Darlene B.

Don't remember company now, but was in Florida on beach and some suntan company went in one of those small type planes and dropped little sample lotions/oils that were tied to these little parachutes down to us! It was pretty cool seeing all these brite little parachutes floating from the sky down to everyone on the beach! I'll say one thing, "ALL the people loved it!"  

Submited by
Pamela W.

Participating in a night fier fly 10k for a hospital, many people had costumes that glowed representing glowing fier flies. Best one-a father and son advertised an electric company.  The father was the bulb and the son was the other extension of the bulb.  Cutest advertisement!!

Submited by
David D.

Welcome week at a local university was co-sponsored by red bull. A cute little chick would drive up in a mini cooper with a giant red bull can in place of the trunk. This can doubled as a cooler in which she would use to hand out cans to students. Upon the students return to their dorms the would find an old style letter attached to their doors stating that their winged warriors would rescue them at the strike of 2 am if they affixed something white to the outside of their dorm room door. The students would hear a knock at 2 am, and open their door to mini shots of red bull, and a few stickers. It was not only fun, but very memorable.

Submited by
Kelly T.

I was given a business card and it was three demensional. It could be folded in different ways and each way produced a new picture or information on the card. It was pretty cool and I held on to it to show off to everyone.

Submited by
Joseph W.

While walking through a shopping mall a man came from out of nowhere and handed me a folded $20 bill. "Here, I think you dropped this" he said. It looked and felt like a real $20 bill, so I looked at him and said thanks. It could have been mine, but I wasn't really sure. So I began to walk away and took a closer look at the "folded" $20 bill. I unfolded it and much to my surprise, inside was an ad for a store within the mall. I was upset, but also amused. Yes, I went by the store to check it out. I still have that fake $20 bill even though it was about 25 years ago.

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