As I was packing up the kitchen this weekend I found a promotional mug that I have some attachment to; and I don’t know why. I used to sell for an old family owned specialty advertising distributorship that packed up all their promotional items and moved to a new building back in the early nineties. When I came across this special custom made mug, I immediately squandered it to my desk drawer. Through multiple moves, including a cross country, this piece has traveled around with me. I guess it is a little like the gnome on Travelocity for me.

Why do I like it? First, I have never seen anything like it. Even the green color is a bit unusual. The mug shape is a tall stein-like ceramic mug and the clincher is the top with a special metallic glaze that is sure to blow up any microwave! The piece is supposed to look like an oxygen tank. It is the Nutley Emergency Squad celebrating their 25^th anniversary back in 1978. Secondly, or maybe thirdly, the date that the emergency squad was founded is my birthday year! I see this item as a collectable in the promotional product world. Not because it is an item made in a series with numbered pieces but because it evokes a certain time and place and unusualness.

I have decided to share items that are special to you as well. Send me pics of your favorite imprinted, promotional product and the back story as to why you have kept it around. I’ll publish it in my blog and send you a special thank-you gift for participating in The Branding Ideas Guru Collectible Blog! Send story and pics to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

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In the NW in  the rain we still enjoy kayaking, hiking, biking and hot tubbing year round. In many parts of the country it is already summer and water activities are a daily ritual. The common theme here is where there is water from above or below, there is a need to know what time it is.

We are a time centric generation and it is what makes the world go round. So what to do when swimming or kayaking and you are wanting to be in the moment but still be prepared when the tides will change or the kids water volley team will invade?

Try the small, very unobtrusive custom imprinted aquatic watch . It is designed to offer your brand on a small imprinted label wrapped and secured around the bungy like band. The case itself comes in either black, blue or frost.

For under $5.00 this is a great promotional product geared for the waterbugs in your circle of business or events planned for summer or year round enjoyment.

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Proposition 65

If you happen to see add.15 for any product shipping into California it is because of the following law that is in effect that applies to certain promotional products. So, explaining the whole thing and providing more information then you would ever want to know, I believe, is better then ignorance. So, here you go in a pleasant Q & A easy to read format.

1. What is California Proposition 65?

Answer: Prop 65 is a law that went into effect in 1986 in California that prohibits the

distribution of products into the State of California where that product contains one or

more of approximately 750 commonly occurring substances determined by the State of

California to cause cancer or reproductive harm unless the company that distributes the

product into California places a properly worded warning on it.

2. What products does Prop 65 apply to?

Answer: All products distributed into the State of California. Prop 65 does not apply to

products that are not distributed into the State of California.

3. What chemicals are cited by the State of California as causing cancer or

reproductive harm?

Answer: The State of California maintains a list of those chemicals. From time to time

the list is changed to add chemicals and, less frequently, to delete chemicals. Currently

there are approximately 750 chemicals on that list. Additional chemicals, including

caffeine, have been proposed for addition to this list.

4. How much of a chemical needs to be present before a company must provide a

warning?

Answer: Prop 65 requires a warning if one of the following NRSL or NOEL thresholds is

met:

A. When a person is exposed to a chemical at more than the “No Significant

Risk Level” (NRSL). If a person is exposed to a chemical at the NRSL for 70 years that

person would have no more than a 1 in 1,000 chance of developing cancer as a result of

that exposure.

B. When a person is exposed to a chemical at more than 1/1,000 of the “No

Observable Effect Level” (NOEL). The NOEL is the level determined by the State of

California to pose no reproductive harm to humans or lab animals.

5. Has the State of California established a NRSL or NOEL threshold for all of the

chemicals they list?

Answer: No, only a fraction of the listed chemicals have NRSL or NOEL thresholds.

6. How are warnings given?

Answer: Warnings may be given in a variety of ways such as by labeling the product or

its package, placing a warning slip in the packaging for the product, or printing on the

packaging in some other fashion. The placement of the warning depends upon the nature

of the product and its packaging.

7. What must the warning state?

Answer: A proper warning must state in clear, reasonable and legible language that the

product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth

defects or other reproductive harm. Warnings that only state that the product contains a

chemical that “may” cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm have been found to

be insufficient.

8. Where can I get more information about Prop 65?

Answer: The State of California has a website at www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html and can be contacted at (916) 445-6900.

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Have you ever wondered what life would be like without promotional products? Last week I was in Ecuador and I found myself adorned with a custom promotional dry pac

So, why would Papallacta spend the money to imprint a drink stirrer? My guess is because it is a necessary item to stir your drink. As with so many promotional products, buying supplies that corporations use on a daily basis, think pens, notebooks, sticky notes etc., the same items imprinted with a company’s logo doesn’t cost a penny more and sometimes even less! So, it is a no brainer to buy supplies branded and get an additional marketing buzz, than serve them up blank. 

Not to worry I actually found an imprinted comb from Papallacta, almost as good as the drink stirrer, and I can attest when visiting the hot springs one does need a comb!

In answer to my question, life would be a lot less colorful without promotional products, maybe wetter too!

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Kids will soon be making business decisions. Their decisions will affect the way we run our business, the way we live our lives and the way the future will be shaped. Educating our kids will have long lasting effects into the next century.

Promotional products reach many youngsters through many venues. Whether it is an Earth Day  promotion or a Summer Reading Drive let’s be conscious about the message we send. A creative promotional product that ignites a child’s imagination such as a promotional frisbee that gets  kids moving and interacting are all good messages to reinforce.

I’ll always remember my son’s fascination the first time he witnessed a spinning gyroscope. When was the last time you saw amazement in a kid’s eye that just lit up the room? Promos for kids have the ability to do just that. So, next time you are buying a branded product to promote your next event think of the “twinkle factor” before inking the deal. We will all benefit.

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