A few years ago a friend of mine went on a road trip around the US. At every hotel they collected shampoos, matches, soaps and pens with the hotel logos and names. The following year they decorated their Christmas Tree using only these items strung on ribbons. When asked by visitors about the decorations they were able to relate the adventures of their trip. The following year they did the same thing using coasters and drink accessories (umbrellas, etc.) from the pubs visited on the trip. This was the most imaginative way I have ever seen promotional items used.

My twin sister has a credit card shaped USB drive.  It stores in your wallet like a cresit card.  The USB port folds out from the card for use.  It looks like a credit card with the companies information, like the owner of the card.  I thought it was wonderful.  She loves it and uses it all the time.  She sells insurance and is always getting promotional items from different commpanies.

The most interesting wasy is the commercials they now show at the movie theatre. I live in Glasgow, KY and in the theatre here they show commercials for local businesses. I believe this is a great way to help a community that is made up of small businesses. I have never seen this done before. One day I hope our business will be one of those commercials. It is fun to see your neighbors on the big screen.

I would have to say the most interesting promotional merchandise that really caught my attention is the desk in a box. This item is an excellent way to advertise because indivuals will be able to put it to use, rather then disregarding it. The logo of the company is placed on the outside of the box, and minni items such as a stapler, sticky notes, penciel, and paper clips are placed inside. This item is great for travleing and is very useful to the ndividuals that it is handed out to.

I once participated in a promotional "game" sponsored by a candy company.  You had to purchase a candy bar, inside the wrapper was a clue, if you followed the clue it brought you to another place where you got a second candy bar with another clue and so forth.  It was kind of like a road race combined with a finally party where there was a cookout and kick-off for their new product.  Lot's of fun, unique and everyone got to participate and have fun.  The product was from a local company and they really got their message across and launched a very sucessful new line of product. Wish I thought of that!!

The sunglass holder for the visor in the car. Everyone needs one and its a great way to get your name out there!

My school was giving away a Mary Kay basket it was through a raffle for The Breast Cancer Association. I bought $50.00 worth of tickets. That is the most enjoyable, memorable and interesting way to promote a product or merchadise...through charities!

One of the most memorable ways I have seen promostional merchandise being used was through the use of a "cash grab" machine. The company filled the machine with dollar bills ranging from $1 to $100, as well as coupons for free lunches hosted free of charge by the company at the winner's office. Sure, the dollars were great, but the coupons were the great promotion. If the winner grabbed a coupon, the company would schedule to send it's best salespeople to the winner's office to host a free lunch and talk about the compnay. Not only did it provide a great experience for the winner's company, but it was an open invitation to hold an hour-long, in person sales pitch.

I remember years ago,when you purchased a home, several of the local companies would deliver a house warming basket filled with useful items(sponges and cleaning items) for your home imprinted with their  company names on the items even though the items may not have been a direct association of the company.

The company I work for has the best calendar ever.  It's the size of a wall poster and is a dri-write calendar with a monthly calendar on one side and a running calendar on the other.  Down each side of the calendar are pictures of the many different applications made using our products.  A dri-write pen with adhesive pad to stick to the calendar is also provided. The company has over 70 products on the market so it's hard for the client to be aware of all the different applications.  I have made many high dollar sales because of pictures on the calendar.  Clients ask for the calendars every year because they love them.  They are a great sales tool!

A medical company gave out promotional foam cowboy hats at the Florida State Fair. Everyone wanted the cute red hat because on a hot sunny day, it was perfect for providing the relief of a little shade and wicking away the sweat from the forehead! The hats were such a hit, they ran out almost as soon as they began to give them away. Eveyone kept asking where to find them and were looking for the company's booth. Unlike most or all other promotional merchandise I've recieved, I still have my hat because it's actually useful and it's so cute!

I remember I went to an event sponsored by a local Music store that put their logo onto snap bracelets and tiny whistles with different pitches.  They then asked everyone to create simple rhythms using either their bracelets or whistles.  Pretty soon, they had a whole make-shift drum circle going with a melody with about 50 people participating!  It sounded a lot better than you would think, people had a lot of fun and they sold quite a few instruments. 

One of the most interesting and enjoyable promotional mercahndise beign used were flashlight pens. The pens were twistable and neon in color. Once you twist the pen on it illuminates a bright beam so you are able to write in dim or complete darkness. The product was very catchy.

At a trade show, a company gave out large promo pens with a face on it complete with rubber hair. The pen had a suction cup 'foot'. When you 'stood' the pen on your desk and hit the pen on its 'head', the pen would start to laugh uncontrollably. The laughter was really funny. It was a great giveaway because we all had them on our desks when we got back to the office and they've remained there ever since.

At a professional convention, Jupiter Laboratories had a test tube filled with slime and a plastic alien in it.  This was way cooler than stress balls. Second coolest was Mobile Treatments Services, Inc. providing shot glasses with "give us a shot" on the back.

There was a car dealership in Berlin New jersey who had a money booth they did a commercial on tv to come on out purchase their car and get the chance to win any dollar amount that they caught in the money booth or a thousand dollar gas card for their new car. So they put all these fake bills and gas card slips int the booth and they turn it on. all the air blows everything in a tornado around them and they have to catch as much as they can before it stops! it was so funny 18 cars were sold that day and some of the customers were embarassed or scared to get in the booth so they made their sales person do it for them! They won lots of money and gas for their cars it was great! and the pictures were even better!

Emcees use flash drives on elastic bracelets to give to DJ's at clubs and parties.  They use a street team to approach the DJ and clamp the bracelet on his/her wrist while saying "Check out this hot new artist." The flash drive contains the new artist's music so that the DJ can easily plug it into the sound equipment to play. The bracelet also uses the artists' logo, and is stylish.

The best promotional merchandise I've seen utilized were fashionable t-shirts that people would actually like to wear. In my opinion and experiences, branded shirts are generally either unappealing or poor fitting.

I have seen a coffee mug stuffed with promotional merchandise; such as pen packs of coffe, tea, coco, cookies, etc.  everthing had the company name on it.  Everytime they went to drink out of the mug they saw the company information.

Clothing of course! Take the sun drop commercial for example. One thing people will never get tired of is clothing. No matter how new or old the product is being advertised. Plus its the first thing people look at when the see you is what you have on.