It pays to go green. It’s a simple truth the world is slowly accepting, and credit should be given where it’s due. Today’s landfills and refuse centers, the places where we send our trash, are not the same “dumps” our grandparents used. Trash is no longer necessarily left and forgotten. Modern waste management is going green. Like the American Indians before us, we are learning to use everything. Today’s waste can generate power, be rendered inert, or even atomized. That being said, there are still problems, dumps that shouldn’t exist in the first place. But at least there are strides being made, and technologies on the horizon to get us there faster.

Puente Hills Landfill

Puente Hills Landfill - Let’s start off with a big one, the one and only current largest landfill in the United States, the Puente Hills Landfill. In 2005 the Puente Hills Landfill, outside Los Angeles, CA, accepted almost four million tons of waste. The landfill gas created by this dump is utilized by the Puente Hills Gas-To-Energy Facility, which generates over 50 megawatts of Electricity that is then sold to Southern California Edison. This is enough electricity to power 70,000 homes. In 2006, construction was completed on phase two of this facility, providing an extra 7 megawatts of power. To maximize the project’s value, a direct line was built from the facility to the San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant, which treats up to 100 million gallons per day of waste water from the San Gabriel Valley. This displaces $3-4 million a year the water reclamation plant would have had to spend on retail electricity. Besides providing electricity, the landfill gas from Puente Hills is also reclaimed and converted into Liquefied Natural Gas for fuelling alternative fuel vehicles. This includes vehicles within Puente Hills’s own fleet. This gas is at lest a dollar a gallon cheaper to produce than gasoline and surpasses the quality of commercially available natural gas.

The Linde Group/Waste Management Natural Gas Facility

The Linde Group/Waste Management Natural Gas Facility – Not necessarily a dump, but being one of the “World’s Largest” in relation to trash, I felt it deserved mentioning here. In 2009 as part of a joint venture between The Linde Group and Waste Management Inc., the world’s largest plant for the conversion of landfill gas into environmentally friendly natural gas will open in Livermore, California. The facility is expected to produce approximately 50,000 liters of liquefied natural gas a day. Among many other uses, the gas will be utilized by Waste Management Inc. as fuel for their fleet of 300 trash and recycling collection vehicles in the state of California.

Bandeirantes Landfill Site

Bandeirantes Landfill Site – Located 18 miles from San Paolo, Brazil, the Bandeirantes Landfill is possibly the largest landfill in all of South America. What it definitely has is South America’s largest landfill gas recuperation plant. Gas from the landfill fuels 24 turbines generating 925 kilowatts each with a combined output of roughly 23 megawatts. This is enough electricity for approximately 23,000 homes. To date, the plant has been averaging 170,000 megawatts a year.

Fresh Kills Landfill

Fresh Kills Landfil – Located on the New York City borough of Staten Island, the Fresh Kills Landfill was the largest landfill in the world until it closed in March of 2001. The landfill would be temporarily reopened, however, a few months later to receive and process much of the debris from the destruction of the World Trade Center. The landfill opened in 1948 and became New York City’s primary landfill for the second half of the 20th century. At 4.6 square miles with a peak 25 meters higher than the Statue of Liberty, the Fresh Kills Landfill could easily be regarded as the largest man made structure in the world. Its volume exceeds both the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt. That’s a lot of trash. The site gets its name from the “Fresh Kills estuary”, which it sits along the banks of. Current plans for the retired largest landfill in the world call for it to be converted into reclaimed wetlands and a public park with recreational facilities. A September 11th memorial will also be built. Development of the park is expected to last approximately 30 years and be done in three phases. The Fresh Kills Park will be three times the size of Central Park. This sheer land area will allow for horseback riding, hiking trails, canoeing, and various other activities all within minutes of the heart of New York City.

The Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches

The Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches – Or as they’re sometimes collectively known, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Sounds like a dump, and it is by all accounts the world’s absolute largest landfill. Only problem is, it’s not a dump; it’s the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a clockwise spiral of currents that moves slowly in the Pacific Ocean. The Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches are two large, ever-accumulating masses of garbage floating on the oceans surface. The western patch floats between Japan and Hawaii, while the eastern patch floats between Hawaii and California. The eastern patch alone is estimated to be twice the size of Texas. How does it work? Imagine filling up your bathtub. Now imagine that island of foam that forms in the middle of the tub. Now imagine your tub is the ocean and that foam is garbage. The garbage patches are huge environmental disasters and capable of belching trash on beaches throughout the pacific. The number one culprit behind this mass of trash? (Besides us of course.) Plastic. Plastic can take decades, even centuries to degrade on land. In the ocean it can take even longer. Worse, the plastic breaks down into small plankton sized pieces called “nurdles”. In some areas of the ocean these nurdles can outweigh the actual plankton by six to one. And it still gets worse. Plastic absorbs toxins in the water. Ingesting the plastic alone is bad enough, but now they are effectively poison pills for the marine life. What can be done? Start cleaning it up, and stop letting plastic get into our oceans.

Pietarsaari

Pietarsaari – Beginning its commercial operation at the end of 2001, the world’s largest dry biomass cogeneration site is located in Pietarsaari on the west coast of Finland. Cogneration is the utilization of either a heat engine or power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and contained heat. Regular power plants vent their heat into the environment. Cogeneration plants reclaim that heat and use it for industrial and domestic heating purposes. This, of course, makes the facility exceptionally efficient. The plant in Pietarsaari utilizes biofuels such as bark, saw dust, and other wood products, along with 10% oil or coal to generate up to 240 megawatts of electrical power, 60 megawatts of district heating, and 100 megawatts of process steam.

APP Gasplasma Facility

APP Gasplasma Facility – Located in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, APP’s Gasplasma facility is the first of its kind in the world. What gasplasma does is combine in sequential order, gasification, plasma gas treatment, and syngas polishing followed by gas engine power generation. Full scale plants are estimated to be capable of treating 100,000 tons of waste a year. They would generate enough electricity for 100,000 homes, enough heat for 700 homes and divert 99% of all feedstock waste away from landfills. Byproducts include a high quality aggregate glass. Couple this with the fact that the plants would have a negative carbon footprint, and it really gets impressive. But there’s more. The average plant would be only 150meters long, 50 meters wide, and for the most part only 10 meters high. In other words, tiny. What gasplasma does to the trash is subject it to an inert gas that has been super-heated up to 25,000 degrees Fahrenheit by an electrical arc. Within this extreme temperature, most refuse is atomized. The process is done in a vacuum, allowing for a gaseous removal system. Any remaining solids are inert and easily removed. The exhaust gas is “syngas”, a gas mixture containing a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen that can be refined into various fuels.

Regardless of the technology, or size of our waste management centers, what is most intriguing, most inspiring, is the hope they bring. If even our dumps, the very symbols of waste, can go green, then perhaps everything else can too.

A few nights ago, I was at home shampooing my hair and it occurred to me (mid-lather) that promotional foam hats get a bad rap. Sure, maybe you’re into painting your face with your favorite sports team’s colors or wearing your favorite player’s jersey but nothing pitches pride like foam on the head. And I’m talking about promotional foam, my people!

Oh, no he didn’t just rock a custom printed hockey puck foam hat. Gather round folks because, “Yes he did.” And how! It’s crunch time and the score is tied and the bases are loaded (or whatever) and a weary player looks up into the crowd for a bit of inspiration to glean some spirit from his trusted fans. He sees you, the dude with the promotional hockey puck foam hat, and he is instantly invigorated, redeemed, and alight with spirit. He rushes the ice like a hungry sea wolf on a mission and lobs the puck into the net to win the final winning score. The crowd roars in ecstasy.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to rock the infamous promotional foam finger, why not rock it on your head? Sha-zaam! It’s not safe for anyone when you have two hands free at the game with your logo imprinted foam hat. What he said.

And finally, if you fancy yourself more of an all encompassing kind of person, by all means, wrap up that noggin of yours and show some spirit with the all over customized bear head foam hat. Leave the face paint at home with the kittens. Foam is not for the faint of heart but those with spirit in spades. I am here; hear me roar.

Get your promotional foam hat today at www.promopeddler.com. What he said.

If custom engraved belt buckles could talk, they probably say nothing since they are just way too cool to be bothered with things like casual conversation. These hand polished beauties with their flawless finish are short on words but long on making a statement.

It might be that this particular promotional belt buckle with elegant plating, brushed antique finish reminds me of the VW Van my parents drove me around in when I was a wee sprite, but I hold a particular fondness for custom belt buckles. I’m convinced the promotional zinc alloy belt buckle would be the perfect custom gift to signify dependability, going the distance and a classic ruggedness. 

However, if you want to impress people with you glitzy glamour with enough floss and ‘bling’ to force shade wearing in the presence of a custom belt buckle, then check out the custom imprinted LED belt buck, silver trimmed with a hot stone border. This promotional item might be a completely silly giveaway or it could turn heads and change minds by becoming the hottest thing this season. It’s all a matter of confidence and the bold swagger of the wearer.

If you’re as stoked as I am about picking out a super awesome belt buckle for your next corporate event, view all products we have in: belt buckles. It’s just too cool.

The wonderful world of promotional stress relievers and custom imprinted gifts can excite the senses and delight the intended recipient. The logo gift comes in all shapes and sizes, from the furry stuffed animal accessory, to the custom imprinted lollipop in your favorite flavor. Nearly any promotional product that you can dream up, more than likely, exists for the imprinting! And then there are those gifts that are cause for pause, and perhaps a bit of head-scratching wonderment.

 
And then there was the custom imprinted prostate shaped stress reliever. Admittedly, when I’m having one of those days where the fax machine is on the fritz, my clients are running late or the dog ate my homework, I reach for the nearest squeezie stress reliever. Who doesn’t? But I’m not entirely convinced my stress relieving inclination would find relief with a prostate. Call me crazy, and you wouldn’t be the first to do so.

I might however, reach out for a custom imprinted breast shaped squeezie. The mother archetype comes to mind as do the virtues she exudes: one of the nurturer, the healer and the Great Mother Earth. But, perhaps I am reading too much into the breast shaped stress reliever. 

Can promotional products cross the line from effective use of your marketing and branding dollars and creep, ever so easily into the cave of absurdity? While I strongly believe there is an ideal promotional product to fit every one of us, each a unique snowflake on the planet, perhaps some giveaways are better left to the imagination.

We’ve all heard of the white elephant gift exchange but that is so 1976.  Its high-time we create an off-shoot of the idea and inspire the next trend in gift exchanging. I officially declare November the month of the Swag Swap. Host your very own custom imprinted gifts exchange and celebrate the madness.

Encourage your guests to bring their pile o’ swag, wrapped up and unlabeled and let the party antics begin. Add your favorite chips, dips and hip bevies and you’ve got yourself a good time in the making.

“When you say, “swag,” I say, “swap.”

“Swag."

“Swap.”

“Swag.”

“Swap”

We’ve all got a promotional flower bikini top hidden in our closet. Well, now it’s time to put that flowery-goodness to good use. This aint your mother’s bikini top but it could be, if you invite her to your Swag Swap partay. Hay!

I know what you did last night! You got all beer-goggly with your corporate logo sunglasses and gave your number to the way-wrong girl. I know how you can solve your problem! Shed those custom printed beer glasses at the next Swag Swap and take your dating life back into your own hands. Can I get a witness?



Whether you are looking to giveaway a promotional item or purchase more logo imprinted customized gifts, there’s always more where that came from.

If you end up hosting your very own Swag Swap party, please send me the pics, and I will post them here on the blog. Aint no party like a Swag Swap party.

What would a Smokejumper or Hot-Coal Walker want to rock after a hot day of work? I got one answer: BoomCooler. It’s an entertainment system on wheels, adding some well needed cool to a day of remote wildfire extinguishing and some “never dawdling’ coal walking. Of note, the BoomCooler essentially packs a car stereo into an ice chest, rendering ineffective for storing beer, but extra effective for rocking out.

What does a Forensic Pathologist or an Alchemist have in common? By the time they go home to their sweetheart, they’ve had enough handling of raw flesh and trying to make something out of nothing for one day. They want easy breezy dinner making and nothing says easy like the  Sushezi Sushi Tube. Say that three times with a mouth full of rice.

Last but certainly not least, whether you’re buying a gift for a Tribal Chieftain, a Shaolin Monk, a Yacht Captain, or a Beard Model the solution is so obvious, it’s almost silly. The Critter Cruiser and Hamtrack is the ideal present for anyone with a furry little friend they want to strap inside a tiny car and launch around a mini racetrack. Honestly, it’s just good clean fun for the entire family!

And for more super sweet ideas, check out Promopeddler.com, an excellent resource for branding ideas, promotional marketing, and custom imprinted gadgets. Also, check out the Ask the Ideas Guru blog. She gives good idea!

Custom printed noisemakers run the gamut of awkwardly large to preciously petite but they all share one thing in common, they got spirit. How about you?

If you’re scratching your head in wonderment as to the appropriate time and place for a noisemaker, let me set the stage for you:

It’s your company’s annual luau. After feasting on some delicious poi and lomilomi salmon, you decide to show your appreciation for the banquet and burn off some calories, so you grab one of the promotional maraca wrist bracelets decorating the centerpiece of the table, head out to dance floor, and shake your groove thing. Noisemaker time is a good time!

It’s high school basketball game state finals; one of the players on the team is being scouted by the NBA and you’ve been to every single one of his games, including scratch matches and practices. There’s only one problem, you totally burned both your hands in a chemical fire at your fast food job the night before the big game. Thankfully, the school provides everyone with a custom imprinted hand clapper to show their school spirit. Clap on all you party people!

Your eldest daughter is super into Jamaican dancehall music. Your husband has an addiction to pricing hybrid cars spending every Saturday at the car lot, enjoying free garden burgers, natural soda, and always brings home useless swag like a promotional flashing air horn. You nor your husband knew that the air horn has been used as a popular sample in reggae music for the past 26 years. Your daughter gets signed by an independent record label for her innovative sampling of the air horn; her record contract includes the hybrid car of your husband’s dreams and everyone wins.

Never underestimate the power of a promotional product.

With California and Washington already slapping the hands of drivers seen talking or texting on there phones while driving, and more and more states across the U.S. joining the crusade for hands-free use of cell phone, expect the talking head phenomenon to take on new heights.

What was once considered a significant sign of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, is now merely a sign of the button-down-shirt-tool or over-glossed-Hills look-a-like completely oblivious to their surroundings sharing mindless details. Um, hello? Everyone knows those uninteresting quips regarding your personal affairs are better left for your Twitter updates not whilst in line at Starbucks waiting for your iced yousuckacinno.

But the lawman will get you if you’re not joining the ranks of the hands-free cell phone users. So turn on, tune in and hands-free out!

Check out these hot products:

The Jawbone: These have the highest sound quality of any headset on the market, are relatively affordable, and pretty stylish. They actually sense the vibration of your jaw and amplify the sound that goes along with those vibrations, so your callers hear your voice, rather than background noise.

The Iqua Sun Bluetooth: It’s the world's first solar-powered headset. You charge it once and then you never have to charge it again, because the sun and the lights in your home and office charge it for you.

Promopeddler’s  corporate logo Cobalt Bluetooth headset with high visibility and sound clarity. If you’re looking to give the gift of a hands-free device for the holidays, slap a logo on this baby. Nothing says I love you like a talking head.

Related links:

Wise Ways To Go Hands-Free For Cell Phones

Lapriss Gilbert, 31, was asked to leave the Social Security Administration office in Van Nuys because the shirt she was wearing stating "Lesbian.com" was thought to be offensive. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)

It’s all fun and games when you’re sporting your favorite custom corporate apparel around town until your tee shirt slogan gets you in trouble. Los Angeles based Daily Times recently reported a Van Nuys woman was forced to leave a federal building by a guard who objected to her “lesbian.com” tee-shirt.

Lori Haley, federal spokesperson for the office of Immigration and Custom Enforcement, said the guard was out of line.

"We believe that the actions of the contract security guard were inappropriate and unacceptable - we have notified his company, Paragon, of our position in the matter," Haley said.

Instances of sexual discrimination are rare in Federal buildings noted one attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. This is good news for those of us who love our promotional tees and support freedom of wearable speech.

So wear your promotional apparel loud and proud!

Source credit:
T-shirt gets Van Nuys woman kicked out of federal building

With advertisers claiming, “World’s First Bio-Degradable USB disk,” it’s difficult to know what’s truth from fiction.  The EPA published document called, “Sorting Out Green Advertising Claims,” helping consumers interpret the truth of words like, “environmentally safe,” “recycled,” “degradable,” and “ozone friendly.”  One that hangs me up all the time is biodegradable. EPA defines it as the following,

“Some products claim to be "degradable." "Biodegradable" materials, like food and leaves, break down and decompose into elements found in nature when they are exposed to air, moisture, and bacteria or other organisms. Either way, however, degradation of any material occurs very slowly in landfills, where most garbage is taken.”

 
So how do they make a biodegradable USB hub? The ATP EarthDrive™ (pictured above) is designed and built using the maximum amount of biodegradable materials (PLA), resulting in a fully recyclable product. PLA (Polylactic acid) is biodegradable polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn.

   -- Pictures courtesy of The ATP EarthDrive™.

 

When making earth friendly choices you should always do your research.  There are a number of places online to make an eco-conscious purchasing decision. For more, check out Green Purchasing Guides.

Gizmodo recently did a review of Mathlete’s Wake n’ Bacon which got me thinking about clever ways to wake up. With so many innovative alarm clocks on the market, from the Daybreak Sunrise alarm clock that creates a natural sunrise to wake the slumbering self with state of the art dawn stimulation to the Osim Nioi Alarm Clock that uses up to three different smells to rouse the sleeper, I thought what better way than to wake up and promote! Get people started off on the right side of the bed with your company in mind.

While the Promotional StayFit Alarm Clock which monitors body fat by weight percentage might not be the way to wake’em up happy, perhaps the Promotion Item Combination docking/charging station, mini stereo, AM.FM radio and alarm clock is the perfect giveaway for your next corporate tradeshow. The promotional item works with any iPod and MP3player making this item multi-functional and can be perfect for any room in the house, not just the bedroom. I think the awesome promotional item bell is ringing!!! 

For more product ideas, check out Corporate Logo Alarm Clocks.

Promo Marketing Magazine July 2008 issue announces their 2008 Excellence Award Winners. Taking the gold in electronics is Leeds with their logo imprinted Alibi. The Leeds Alibi 3-in-1 Web Cam, Speaker, and Microphone stands out as a timely and valuable executive gift, providing both entertaining and functional technology. The 3-in-1 gadget is a fabulous promotional giveaway for your next corporate event. The 3-in-1 device captures video and sound which can be played, stored and shared on any computer. USB cable, sound cable, and CD-ROM software included.

More and more, people are communicated via video chat and video conferencing.  Catch the new wave of technology with your very own logo imprinted Alibi.

Still need inspiration? Check out: 5 Great Reasons To Buy A Webcam

Promotional Marking Tips:

1)      Keep it simple

2)      Take a risk

3)      Have a consistent message

4)      Know your target audience

5)      Be inventive

 

Where there is a will, there is a way. And where there is cliché, there is more than likely the perfect way to promote your products and services with a promotional item. With that in mind, I thought I would have fun and pair up your overworked, overused and overplayed clichés with an ideal promotional product. Let the games begin….

Face the music - Clever phrases are home runs on or off the field and easily lend themselves to the marketer’s tool-kit. A logo MP3 player almost seems too obvious, but isn’t that half the fun of a cliché’s double entendre? Then again, I’m just playing it by ear.

Ladder of success – Make climbing the corporate ladder a bit of mind-bender with a logo imprinted ladder, a game that challenges the user to get the rung off the ladder.

Money Matters – In light of the current economy client, money matters and saving your pennies for a rainy day seems the way of the warrior. Now more than ever, it’s important to nurture your current customer base. Why not give them a reminder of how to weather the storm and give the gift of a customized piggy bank. Penny for your thoughts?

Make a killing – Be the toast of the town and the last man standing at your next BBQ by making a clean sweep with a promotional battery operated BBQ grill brush. It’s just too good to be true.

More than meets the eye – Rest assured, there’s more than meets the eye to the aromatherapy custom printed silk eye pillow. Produced with flax seeds and lavender buds, this delightful promotional item offers relaxation and is guaranteed to ensure some peaceful zzz’s.

Beat a dead horse – When ideas get old and stale and you’ve lost your way it’s best not to beat a dead horse but you can take your stress out on a logo imprinted squeezy in the shape of a horse.

Skin of my teeth – Sometimes we avoid scuffles with the law by the skin of our teeth. Avoid trouble all together with your very own state of the art, imprinted alcohol detector. Actually, the correct wording of this cliché is: “I am escaped by the skin of my teeth.”  This cliché comes from the Book of Job in the Old Testament (Chapter 19 Verse 20). Who knew? Now you do.

Hit the nail on the head – Get your next sales campaign off with a bang by encouraging your team to ‘hit the nail on the head’ of their sales quota with a customized ballpoint pen in a hammer design.

I always come across super cool stuff that I think would rock as a promotional product, so I’ve decided to dedicate this blog to a few items I’ve found and thought, “This would rule as a promotional product!”

The Eggling – Crack n’ Grow would be an ideal promotional item for any and all branding themes related to growth. Each little pure white porcelain egg is filled with a growing medium and seeds. Crack the egg with a spoon, just like the edible kind, and water and place in the warm and light and watch your efforts bloom! If the egg is too delicate for your sensibilities, try one of our custom printed logo planters producing 5 magic beans. Wishes do come true….

Form and function unite with Il Buddino, your very own single-dose pudding mold in the shape of Buddha. No blasphemy here folks, where chocolate pudding is concerned there is only your divine right to yummy! A great way to market your next “Got Zen?” campaign, the Il Buddino would make an excellent promotional giveaway for all your peace loving friends.

If you’re looking to create a little word of mouth buzz, why not add a little irony to your marketing step. How great would the Ugly Bag be as a promotional giveaway at a salon/spa opening? Not only would this be an incredible talk point at any party but you’d have your Halloween costume in the bag, literally.

Summer rings in the season for outdoor activities; with picnics to water skiing or lounging poolside to hiking, it’s never been more hip to be green.  There’s no surprise that golf courses across the country are taking a leadership role in environmental stewardship. Tim Smight for USA Today recently reported on 10 great places to go for the green , several of which make great efforts to preserve and protect wildlife and vegetation, engage in innovative water-use reduction methods, protect the unique and historic features of the surrounding area, and participate in vigorous recycling programs. From The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs to the Mauna Lani Resort on the Big Island in Hawaii to the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., these pioneers embody a strong commitment to protect the environment and inspire us to partake in our own eco-friendly initiatives on the green.

Our top picks for customized golf products will help ensure you’re one of the green guys. Start the game off right with biodegradable imprinted four white tees, ball marker and loop pik divot tool in a clever matchbook set. And before you get Schwetty Balls, make good on the green with the eco-friendly custom imprinted two golf balls and wooden tees in a clear tube container with black cap. And finally, for those who like to keep score, try the custom imprinted eco-recycled natural cardboard jotter with 100 sheet of recycled paper.

With the influx of so-called green products in the marketplace, it’s best to educate yourself. If making more eco-friendly choices matters to you, there are several online resources. ConsumerReports.org sponsors Greener Choices, offering helpful information on everything from choosing the most energy-efficient air conditioner to how to recycle your old electronics, as well as Eco-Labels, a guide dedicated  to informed shopping that that lets you search by label to find products that are earth smart, vegan or a wide variety of other categories.

Keepin' it green!

For more genius ideas, check out the Top Picks for Promotional Golf Products by the Ideas Guru ....

When was the last time you thought to yourself, “Self – you know what you’re missing, a logo turkey leg hat.”  I know for most there calls a time to swagger around in such a smart cap; it could be holiday season or you’re at a furry convention and trying to make the wolves hungry.  Aint no bones about it, slap your logo on this tasty cap of fun and you’ll be the main entrée at any event.

 We interrupt this program to bring you some bling. Hey! 

 
Step yo' game up with our Promotional Pimp - Grillz that givse your mouth max bling appeal; whether you’re  flossin' at that phat party, spittin' game at that special someone, or just looking to have some gangsta fun, put some bling in yo'  life. Get promotional and get iced out.

 
And we’re back.

If you want to promote on a grass roots level, start from the desk up and become your office’s favorite  go-to wizard with your very own Promotional Pride desktop candy dispenser filled with your choice of yummy custom printed candy or snacks .  Forget wit and charm, hook ‘em by the sweet tooth and they will keep coming back to your desk for more sweets treats. Mmm, now that’s good for everyone involved!

Art. It can be beautiful, vile; heck, it can practically be anything. But no matter what it is, it all has one morbid thing in common. When the artist dies, the art goes up in value. The same goes for swag. An item given out at a convention one day, could become a collector’s item the next if its company goes out of business. And you’d be surprised how often the swag outlasts the company.

HD-DVD – Good god. Where do you start? The whole point, the whole big selling point of HD-DVD that made it superior to Blu-ray was you could have a movie in both DVD and HD-DVD format on the same disk. Don’t have an HD-DVD player yet? No problem! Go ahead and buy the movies now. They’ll work in your current DVD player, and when you do finally get your long awaited HD-DVD player, you’ll already have a home library ready to go! Did the studio’s do this? Nope! The number one ace they had up their sleeve and they didn’t play it. In fact, even though HD-DVD was cheaper to produce, they still sold it at the same price as Blu-Ray (and still without the backwards compatible DVD content). HD-DVD was supposed to be the technology that was easier to transition to. It had the best, self explanatory name, potential backwards compatibility, the ability to be cheaper, and they used... NONE OF IT (okay, maybe the name). HD-DVD deserved to lose the format war, and sadly not because of the people who designed it, but because of the people licensed it. As with DIVX in the late 90’s (the disc format, not the codec), HD-DVD titles and players can now be found at rock bottom prices everywhere.

Perpetual Entertainment – In the game industry there are few genres that can match the sheer mass of content necessary for a full-blown massively multiplayer online role playing game (mmorpg). Perpetual Entertainment for years had been developing “Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising”. The game’s reception was astounding, winning several “Best of Show” awards at E3 in 2006. That same year, the game also entered its closed beta phase, indicating that it was nearing completion and release. Then in late 2007, without warning, Perpetual ceased all development on “Rome Rising” claiming their desire to focus on the Star Trek MMO that they were developing as well. Then, only weeks later, they announced they were ceasing development on that project too. This might not have been as shocking if it weren’t for the fact that “Rome Rising” was all but finished, ready to enter a market where players would gladly pay $15 a month to play it. Today, “Rome Rising” t-shirts can still be found along with countless pre-order boxes still sitting on the shelves at your local Best Buy.

Pets.com – Remember the super-bowl ad? That should tell you just how much money this company was willing to spend on advertising. And what was at the center of this immense marketing campaign? A sock puppet. Besides its spot during the super-bowl, the Pets.com sock puppet was even a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Unfortunately, Pets.com was destined to fail. Far too much money was ear-marked from the start for marketing. The hype was built. The company was made public. The stock spiked. The original investors then sold out, and in doing so effectively killed the company. Pets.com never had a chance. It was a exercise in using hype to predictably affect the stock market. Clever, but a shame that a fledgling company that could have been big was killed in the process. Replicas of Pets.com’s cute, little sock puppet can still be found for sale to this day.

 
Kozmo.com – The ability to have anything delivered in under an hour with no delivery fee. Well, maybe not ANYTHING, but Kozmo.com did offer the ability to order batteries, a movie, dinner, and beer all with one call. The problem unfortunately was that Kozmo.com had it wrong. The founders, Joseph Park and Yong Kang believed that the money they saved by not needing store-fronts would more than offset the cost of delivery. This was not the case, however, as the company would shutter in only three years. That was in 2001, and to this day one can still find Kozmo.com courier bags for sale. If you can get your hands on one, they’re actually quite nice (and large).

Netscape – It’s never polite to gloat. Funny? Yes. Wise? Maybe not. But when your competition is Microsoft, it’s definitely not wise. And this is exactly what Netscape did. A veritable “Har-Har!” in Bill Gates face when Netscape’s IPO took off . Only thing was, Microsoft wasn’t even racing them... yet. At the time of Netscape’s release, Microsoft was completely buried in development of Windows 95, a huge leap in their golden goose of an operating system. When Windows 95 was finished though, Microsoft climbed out of the mud to find Netscape still laughing at them. Netscape’s market-share would be completely crushed soon after. In March of 2008, with only a 1% marketshare left, Netscape’s current owner, AOL, ceased all official support thereby sounding the final death knell for Netscape. T-Shirts, iron-on patches, and all sorts of Netscape swag are still easy to find.

Enron – If there’s one company’s name that is synonymous with fraud it’s Enron. It began in the early 1990’s when the UnitedStates government deregulated the sale of electricity. This allowed companies like Enron to explode with growth. Enron would be voted “America’s Most Innovative Company” six times in a row by Fortune Magazine. It would all hit the fan, however, when in 2001 it was revealed that the majority of Enron’s revenue was due to special purpose entities, which allowed many of Enron’s debts and losses to not be reported. Enron would file for bankruptcy, executives would go to jail, and one of the largest accounting firms in the world, Arthur Andersen, would almost be completely dissolved. Enron golf shirts can still be bought today, but the ultimate piece of Enron swag is definitely the large crooked E’s found outside their buildings; one of which sold recently for $40,000.

Webvan – “The Super Market that Delivers!” Good idea. Vons and other markets do it today. So why did it take Webvan over $800,000,000 to get the idea off the ground? The amount of money they had was ludicrous, and because of that they felt no need to be careful with it. Overextending itself, Webvan would collapse in just a few short years. Webvan did leave, however, of the most curious swag items of all, grocery bags. Webvan paper grocery bags can still be found to this day, and for those who keep these types of bags around (we all know someone who does), they’re not only useful, but an item of curiosity.

 
The swag of failed companies represent promotional items turned relics; they stand as a testament to what can go wrong even with the most powerful and well funded of companies. Some people keep these items of swag as a laugh, others as a conversation piece. But the wisest of those collectors keep them as a reminder, a warning to not make the same mistakes and create their own example of the swag outlasting the company.

 

Calling all tee-shirt slogan wizards, here’s your chance to put your talents to the test and Create a Green-T. Purex has gone all green and sponsored a, “create a t-shirt with an eco-friendly slogan and win prizes,” contest. Yup, that’s what I wrote. Trick out your earth friendly tee with their online toolbox and you might win a smart fortwo Mercedes Benz or $1000. At the very least, each contestant will receive some free soap. Suds-tastic!

And then there was a signal….Who needs couture when you’ve got the power of wi-fi  detection?  This stylish Wi-Fi Detector Shirt by ThinkGeek displays the strength of the surrounding wi-fi signal with glowing bars on the front of the shirt. I’d say that’s a tee with some moxie!

Some pillow fights are better left indoors while others are taken to the streets. The third annual 2008 San Francisco Pillowfight brought out hundreds of pillow-swinging warriors to battle it out in Justin Herman Plaza on Feb 14th. To be sure, there was no feather left unturned.

 
Turn Your Teeth Into Money Recipe

You will need:
1 freshly pulled baby tooth
1 tooth fairy pillow
1 big pillow
Bed

 
Directions:
Insert tooth inside tooth fairy pillow. Place tooth fairy pillow under your big pillow. Sleep in bed.

Wake up. Open up tooth fairy pillow. Find money in place of tooth.

Now our pillows are moonlighting as major brand ambassadors. After a hard day of making decisions at the office, who doesn’t need to sleep on breakfast options?  

When you’ve had enough fighting, advertising or changing teeth into money with your pillows, it may be time to invest in custom printed monkey transformer pillow. The three in one pillow transforms from pillow to animal with a simple pull of a tab. Now that’s some monkey business I can get down with!

In a climate where bein’ green has far exceeded the melancholic expression of a frog but rather embraces an environmentally conscious presence in the world, our paper cluttered offices are sure to be a thing of the past.  And for those seeking to clear their desks of clutter, there is the Magnetic Dry Erase Board complete with magnetic accessories:  stapler, stapler remover, paperclip dispenser, pen holder and storage for your non-magnetic items.  Just say, “No more,” to paper and move your desktop accessories to the wall. Imprint you company name on a good cause today.

Calling all trees, it’s safe to be green, we think.

Let’s face it, even the most conservative of us have to admit, “Sex sells.” Heck, it sells so well that even the saying, “Sex sells” has become cliché. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that a good majority of slogans, whether intentional or not, would go well slapped on the side of a prophylactic (or condom as the rest of us say).

Electronics – If there was an industry that already seems to have condom swag in mind it’s definitely electronics. Whether it be something almost romantic like General Electric’s, “We bring good thing’s to life”, or something downright blatant like Nokia’s, “Connecting People” you’ve got an industry practically screaming to have their slogans slapped on a rubber. Some, like Sony, obviously play to ones ego with, “like no other”, but the one that really takes the cake is Onida’s, “Neighbor’s Envy, Owner’s Pride.” Other electronics companies seem to have an exhibitionist slant to their slogans such as Ericsson’s, “Make Yourself Heard” or THX’s, “The Audience is Listening.” The pure zen award would definitely go to JVC for their fully and simply encompassing, “The Perfect Experience”.

Batteries – Battery slogans, if known for anything, are infamous for ridiculous double-entendres they use. Sure there’s  “The   one that lasts” from Duracell, and the one even your Grandma knows, “It keeps going and going and going...”, but if there’s one... just one that deserves the “oh my god” award, it’s Energizer Max with, “Do you have the bunny inside?” ...oh my god.

Video Game Consoles – The consistently randy company award definitely goes to Nintendo, who for over twenty years have been playing the double-entendre game starting with, “Now You’re Playing with Power”, followed by “Get N or Get Out”, then “Wii would like to play”. There tour-de-force, however, is the Nintendo DS with, “Touching is good.” Even Microsoft tried to copy their lead with, “Jump in” for the Xbox 360.

Finance – The modest girl secretly wearing a thong award goes to our boys in finance. These guys can be, well,  just plain  raunchy. “The difference is measurable” from Mellon Financial requires no explanation. They also come across as very eager to explore. Natwest’s, “Another way”, American Express’s “Do more”, and “Dare to Dream”, from the Bank of Baroda all come across as more than willing to hear your thoughts, because, well... If you tell them, they just might do it. The one who takes the cake in that regard though is definitely ANZ New Zealand’s, “The better we know you, the more we can do!” Generally speaking though, all financial institutions are at least eager to please, whether it be Deutshe Bank’s, “A Passion to Perform”, “First, for you”, from the Royal Bank of Canada, or Goldman Sachs straight forward, “Our Clients always come first”. Word replacement is the other favored modus-operandi of our financial friends. Union Bank of India’s, “Good people to bank with” , TD Canada Trust’s “Banking can be this comfortable”, and “Enjoy better banking” from RBS all beg the question, “Are they really talking about banking?” My personal favorite however is Captial, simply because at first glance it seems as if it wouldn’t work on a rubber, but hey, “What’s in your wallet?”

 
Fashion – For fashion it’s almost too easy. Heck some of these slogans really were made to be put on condoms. But a few just have to be mentioned, or this list wouldn’t be worth the desktop space it was written on. Slogans like Timex’s “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking”, or Nike’s “Just do it” scream for a rubber campaign. How could anyone deny Playtex Bras’s, “It lifts and separates”?

Food – Food and sex have gone hand in hand since the time of cavemen, which makes this another industry where it’s almost too easy. Could the marketer’s of Campbell’s soup really have been that innocent when they came up with, “M’m M’m Good!” Even the tamer ones like Eggo Waffles’s, “Leggo my Eggo!” or Smuckers’s “With a name like Smuckers... it has to be good”, beg a double-entendre. But the one that takes the cake in the food industry is without a doubt Pringles with, “Once you pop, the fun don’t stop!”

No matter how innocent or as far from the bedroom the industry in question may seem, the universal truth still remains, “Sex Sells”. And while this may currently be a list of slogans that SHOULD be on condoms, it’s not hard to believe this will someday be a list of slogans that ARE on condoms.To get your company slogan imprinted on a promotional condom today, check out our online resource for top promotional products. 

Happy Fun Disclaimer: Suffice to say, this article is a comedic parody and none of the images are of real products .  All slogans are trademarks of their respective companies.  Please don't sue us; we're good people.

According to the online bible of facts, April Fool’s Day, while not an official holiday, is celebrated in several countries. The origins of the custom are a matter of debate but they are surely connected to festivals and customs held in early spring. Kompai! Cheers! Salud! It’s time to get your practical joke on.

Recently, a friend of mine told me about an office prank involving the IT team and a promotional talking cow shaped stress reliever. The night before April Fools’ Day, the code-crew were working late and ended up a bit punchy. They locked up all the office computers with the following screen saver:

Prankly my dear, this is just eye candy:

I recently started a grass-board of my very own here at the office to harvest my own home grown; that’s wheat grass ya’all.

Class in now in session: excellent use of white space.

“You light up my life/ You give me hope/ To carry on” or, maybe you’re just a super cool gadget. Check out the i-Buddy, a physical representation of your MSN buddy; the next time someone sends you a message, i-Buddy will detect the emoticons in the message and light them up accordingly. Oh, i-Buddy, you’re kind of creepy and awesome all at the same time. (Debbie Boone would be happy.)

For some, what goes on in the computer stays in the computer. But what about the stuff that goes around the computer? I recently came across the USB Neon Sign, some rather groovy, retro desk flair. The USB Neon Sign is available in a Smiley, @ and Bar. It’s available at Gadgest.dk for about $20 USD.

Maybe the gift of light is the best way to celebrate all things that go bright. For your next corporate giveaway, consider a custom printed clip-on magnetic booklight with laser pointer and your friends will thank you. Outfit your favorite book with this brilliant booklight or distract your cat for hours with laser pointer-chasing. It’s win-win for everyone.

Can I get a light?

Have you ever come home from a big event with gads of free swag and not know what to do with it all? Well, the internet infamous, iJustine of TastyBlogSnack, came up with a few clever ideas with her recently received booty from SXSW.

And really, is there anything better than a swag bath? Well, maybe if the swag was Cartier but who’s being picky?!