I run CMDesign, a graphic design business. Alot of my business comes from creating and marketing a company's brand—which includes promotional merchandise! McMinnville CrossFit IMUA—a work out facility, has flyers, t-shirts, hats etc. My favorite and best one so far, has been the car decals! You wouldn't really think anything much about a bumper sticker—except these things really draw peoples eye, especially when it isn't on the bumper! I have designed ones that cover the entire back window of an SUV, to the little 5 inch by 5 inch decal that is on a side window. I have even gone so far as to design per person to make sure it doesn't clash with the color of their car! Everyone drives around, and everyone I know reads bumper stickers and car decals.

The one that stand out to me is when the school kids come by and sell the candy bar for 1 dollar and you get 2 dollars off on a pizza,  this helps the kids school and you get to enjoy the candy and you save on money on lunch or dinner.  Its a win, win, win deal!!

The most interesting, enjoyable, or memorable way that I have ever seen Promotional Merchandise being used was during a yearly ritual that my church youth group attends.  The event took place at the 2011 Winter Jam in Columbia, S.C.  This event is one of the largest Christian concerts in the United States. During intermissions, the promoters drove the crowd wild by using a huge slingshot. It took three people to use it...but when they did...we went crazy. There were rolled T-shirts flying everywhere.  I had a blast!!!

At a golf driving range, each ball had a business advertisement on it.  So when you placed your ball for play, you saw that name each time.  Sticks in your head!

At a charity event last year, a photography studio took a number of pictures of each group and printed them off into a flip book to take home.  I still have the book and bring it out often to show others how cool and fun the flip book is.  What a great promotional idea with lasting appeal!  Since the pictures are of me and my husband together, we want to save it as a souvenir and show it off!!  Great marketing!

  a mini watering can from a local nursery with their logo and watering guidelines - I use it all the time, and people who see it ask where I got it as its cute!

The most enjoyable way I have seen was a hat, with the business logo on it, and it was able to light up.  The lights on the cap were bright enough you could use it to guide you out in the dark, but you were able to tell what it said.  They were given out as door prizes at their grand opening, and it was worth trying to win one of these hats.

This was wrote on an ink pen (you just stole this pen please call me when you need my product)

I love the T-shirt cannons that shoot promo T-shirts into crowds. Those are the funnest ways to get out promotional merchandise to people, especially in large crowds- like at auditoriums and parades!

As a woman, the most interesting promotional product package I've ever recieved was beauty kit from a court reporting firm.  It had personalized bath salts, lotion, emory boards, etc.  It was perfect because it was things I enjoy.  Had I have recieved a pen or coffee mug, I'm not sure the company would have stood out.

I WAS AT A FLEA MARKET ONE TIME & THIS OLD GUY IN HIS 50s WAS SELLING THE MAGIC WORM AND THAT MAN COULD WORK THAT WORM BETTER THEN ANYONE IN THE VIDEOS EVER COULD HE HAD CROWDS OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM. PEOPLE WERE PUSHING AND SHOVING JUST TO GET TO THE FRONT TO SEE. IT WAS CRAZY AND HE HAD TO SELL 1000s OF THEM, I KNOW I BOUGHT 3. HE JUMPED IT THRU A CD, LOCKED IT IN A CUP, MADE IT CRAWL OUT OF HIS POCKET. I MEAN HE WAS AWSOME WILL NEVER FORGET THAT OLD GUY.

I received a small calendar from a pet supply company that I use every single day. Each month has a coupon that is good for a free item or %off, and they have tons of free online offers for vets, day care, etc. Love/use every single day! loyal customer to this company!

The most memorable way i have seen Promotional Merchandise being used was when I first tried to start up my business i sold ice cream and sodas on a hot summer day to people and I made personal labels with my business name and phone number on them and put them on the wrappers. 

I would have to say that the most recent promotional means that reached my attention would have to be the new Doritos commercials on tv. It combines just the right amount of suspence when he is asked for the best part. Followed by just right amount of disgust when he licks his fingures and then finished with a commical phrase, Uummm cheese. Then in the second part of the commercial it's the same way. A man wipes his Doritos hands on his pants. The same kid from the previous skit runs up and steals his pants sniffs them and goes Doritos. Suspence, Disgust, Humor. It sticks with me and makes me consider Doritos from the strore. Even though I wouldn't otherwise think twice about Doritos.

The Susan G. Komen Marathons stand out in my mind.  The pink hats, tshirts, ribbons and other merchandise on the website with the pink ribbon bring to mind my friends and a relative who have lost their battle with breast cancer.  Everyone relates to pink ribbons and have been touched in some way.  I always get goose bumps when I see their paraphernalia.  It's an extremely emotional feeling of hope and happy tears mixed with the sad.  Either way, that ribbon brings home a point to everyone who sees it.

The most memorable way I have seen a company promote itself, was by providing free shirts that were worn by all competitors in the local Special Olympics in Jacksonville, FL. When providing free merchandise to an organization in need, a company guarantees a positive image is associated with their name.  The same company also provided free boxed lunches to all participants and volunteers, furthering the positive image to one of appreciation for the company.

I recently passed out over 120 koozies at a major artist' concert. Even though the headliner was a big star, he was looking out at a crowd of people all holding my koozies.  This was a big moment for me to realize the power of free promotional give away items to leverage exposure for my clients.

Personally, I enjoy it when businesses poke fun at themselves or make a joke about an aspect or services that could otherwise be perceived as negative. For instance, I saw a business card once for an outfit that built custom choppers. The card read, "Whiz Bang Engineering. Custom fabrication while you wait... and wait.... and wait."

The Oscar Meyer Hot Dog truck.They gave away a little truck and a hot dog!! The truck sure grabbed your eye instantly,and was used at all kinds of local functions. I saw this truck years ago and it still comes to mind immediately.

Rubber band bracelets, Like the live stronge braceletts.   I have given each one of my employees the opprtunity to each pick their favorite organization or cause and I have gotten bracelets made with the name of the cause and all proceeds goes to the organization.  This way you are able to get your name out while still paying it forward to a good cause. I fee this has been my most enjoyable and memorable piece of promotional material.