Here are our 13 best drinkware suggestions many of which also appear on Wirecutter and in the New Yorker Magazine.

You might be thinking “isn’t it a bit early to be talking about holiday gifts?”

As the old saying goes, “sooner than you know, it’s later than you think.”

Labor Day is just around the corner and then it’s a sprint to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the holidays.

Earlier this year we published a 3 part series titled Anatomy of a Promotional Products Order.

The guide laid out a blueprint for designing and executing a successful promo or corporate apparel project. We outlined the timeline of a project and what information and tasks happened at each stage. We talked about art files, what kind are acceptable and what types won't work. We covered logo design and common pitfalls to avoid as well as the color systems used in the promo industry.

Here we've condensed it into 1 post.

Promo, like any industry, sport or hobby, has its own language. It's replete with acronyms and mysterious abbreviations. We tend to sling them around indiscriminately, often resulting in our clients responding with "huh?"

As a way to make amends and arm you with information to help you navigate promo lingo we offer this guide.

Our jumping off point will be the pricing grid with its columns of quantities and prices.

Let's get started.

Here are the top ten promo products from June. Bags, shirts and pens once again kept their top 3 positions. Mugs dropped from 6 to 7. Tumblers went down from 4 to 5. Caps went up from 5 to 4. Awards went down from 9 to 10. Bottles dropped from 7to 8. Towels jumped up from 8 to 6. And, awards replaced notebooks in the number 10 slot.

Every now and then when I'm researching products for a client something truly odd will pop up. This item was so off-the-wall not even close to what I was looking for that I was surprised to learn that I could even source it.

So much for the infallibility of AI searches!

Anyway, I thought I would share this with you first because it is so unusual and second, isn't it good to know that if you ever wanted this or something equally odd we can probably source it for you.

Anna Rahmanan of the Brooklyn Magazine wrote a great story titled "Inside The Viral Trader Joe's Mini-Tote Craze." In her story she chronicles how this tote bag, which Trader Joe's sells for $2.99, blew up on TikTok and was selling for $500 on eBay. Here's the link to Anna's story.

Sustainability is more than just a trend; it is a necessity for the survival of our planet and future generations. At its core, sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Our New Year greeting for 2023

Earth Day is April 22. Check out our latest sustainability lookbook which features key brands and products to help you recognize the day. See HALO’s sustainability initiative

February 9th is National Pizza Day

HALO's 366,000 square foot fulfillment center features a dedicated kitting space for our team to assemble your kits and prepare them for shipment.

Click "Follow this link to read the original "Pick" to see a video of 

our fulfillment center in action.

We can handle your project at any scale.

the Essentials Collection...

HALO's "Essential Collection represents values exclusively for our customers on top-selling promotional items. The best selling items at the best prices for all of 2021. 

• It's got a sleek and sophisticated design highlighted by a removable top and bottom.

• It has a built-in infuser so you can add your preferred fruit, tea, mint, and more.

• The removeable bottom makes for easy cleaning as well as convenient loading of ice.

• It has a double walled, insulated stainless steel construction which keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours.

• It has an ergonomic carry handle and will fit most cup holders.

• It's guaranteed to be leak and sweat proof.

• It’s available in 10 oz. and 18 oz. styles.

This probably never happens to you so you can skip this and go back to what you were doing. However, for the rest of us who bumble and stumble through our days; who misplace things; who end up ransacking our pocket books, jacket pockets, drawers and closet floors; those of us who get half way to the car, start patting our jacket pockets looking for those darn keys; those of us who are already late and are frantically upending everything on the counter or desk top looking for that elusive set of keys - Aha! Here is your salvation! Here's how it works: Attach the Bluetooth enabled tag to your key chain...download the app. When you've lost your keys simply open the app and press 'find.' Scout will start ringing. Follow the sound and the geographical features on the app to get your keys back. "Aha!" you say..."I haven't lost my keys, I've lost my phone! What now, Scout?" You can call your phone by pressing a button on Scout. Scout is battery operated with no standby feature which would use up a lot of battery. You can use Scout anytime, anywhere without having to worry about turning it off. This is a great event gift. It's a natural for a brand launch, a milestone celebration, an employee recognition event. You are not going to see "Scout" everywhere. Your brand will be very visible with this well-designed and very useful piece of technology.

One of the charming aspects of living in New England is winter. Usually it doesn't just snow here. It really snows. Then the temperature goes up and it rains. Then the temperature plummets and it all freezes. Your car is now encased in ice. What a joy. Since we're all in the same boat, here are some ideas for your customers or staff that will be appreciated and garner you goodwill. I've got 4 selections for you - 3 are ice scrapers with brushes. One is an ice scraper with a cushioned foam handle. This one is great for chipping away at the ice - it saves your hand. Here's what makes these gifts so attractive - they're affordable and useful. •You could easily use these for trade show gifts. •They would be a welcomed sales call "leave behind." •Insurance companies - what a thoughtful item. •Banks - a nice treat to have in your lobby for your customers. •Auto dealerships - a natural You can probably think of other ways to use them in your business. Give me a call and I'll help you pick the right one for your situation. And you'll get a jump on the weather and be handing them out at just the right time. New England - don't you just love it!

Stop for a second and think - when was the last time cookies showed up in your office? How long did they last? And, the person who brought them in was a hero. Now that we are officially in the holiday season, here are 3 ideas for making you a hero. The Medium Assorted Snack Tin, (Large and Extra Large tins are also available), can be filled with 16 Chocolate Chip cookies or an assortment of Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Double Chocolate Chip with Walnuts and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. This is a great way to say "Thank You." The Half Gallon Snack Tin contains 24 cookies and makes quite an impression. Just like the Medium Assorted Snack Tin you can select an assortment of Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Double Chocolate Chip with Walnuts, (yummy), and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, (double yummy). This one comes in an attractive tin with a handle that's sure to find a use after the cookies are gone. For an elegant shared consumption gift you can choose the Gourmet Cookie Temptation Gift Box. You can choose your box top and box bottom color and coordinate with a matching ribbon. 5 chocolate chunk, 5 oatmeal raisin, 5 white chocolate macadamia nut, and 5 double chocolate cookies make this a most welcomed and appreciated holiday gift. We have many other options for you so give us a call to discuss what's the best way to say "Thank You." The holidays are upon us so call right now and make sure you say "Thank You" to your best customers and most promising prospects.

Here's the problem with trying to buy gourmet food gifts for your clients or staff. • You wait until the last minute and find yourself frantically searching the aisles of Costco or BJs or Sam's Club. • Everything looks the same. • How fresh can this stuff be? Who knows how long it's been sitting on the shelf; let alone when was it originally packaged and shipped. • How are your recipients going to know this gift came from you? Your logo and name will not be on these gifts. • You're not at a big box store? You're on-line at Harry and David's - (Do you know that when they send out a gift it comes with all their promotional material - nothing about you). Here's a better idea; one that will solve your problem and allow you to customize your gift to your clients or staff. We have created our own web site focusing only on fresh, gourmet food gifts - for the corporate market. Here's the link to our site: Next Level Promotions corporate food gifts The holidays are a time to celebrate clients and staff who have played an integral role in your success this past year. Showing your appreciation is more than just giving a gift, it's about giving a gift that truly represents the quality of your company, its products and services. A generic gift off the shelves of a big box store doesn't reflect the quality of your brand. Give me a call - you have the luxury of time to get this right. We take care of everything for you. We can ship the gifts directly to your clients, add a custom card...whatever you need.

Do you know any architects, engineers, construction managers,event planners, facility managers, and tech types - people who are hard to buy for? Do you know people who tend to be or need to be precise, detail oriented, and perhaps highly technical? People who like excellent products? When it comes to finding an appropriate gift for recognition, promotion, a "job well done," or a holiday gift - they are a tough crowd to please. Here's an answer that will solve that problem and make you a hero. The AT Cross Tech 4. This is a multi-function pen that switches effortlessly between black, red and blue inks as well as a .07mm mechanical pencil. And ... when you switch to the pencil an eraser automatically pops up. This is the perfect writing instrument for precise people. Your recipients will be over the top delighted. The Tech4 comes in Formula Red. Lustrous Chrome and Performance Black. You have multiple options for decorating these pens. You can have deep cut/color filled engraving, a silk screened emblem with up to 3 colors or a die struck emblem with up to 2 colors. Each pen is presented in a gorgeous gift box - the box can be imprinted as well. Looking ahead, this will be a great holiday gift for those certain special clients, staff, or board members. Call us and we can go over colors and imprinting options with you. Cheers, Robert

Are you stumped on a travel gift? •Are you looking for a quality gift to add to a room drop? (Weddings, sales incentive trips, cruises, etc.) •Do you need a "wow" sales call leave-behind for your resort, casino, beachfront inn? •Are you a high end destination looking for a gift for your valued clients? Here's what this little gizmo does. It enables your cell phone camera to take wide angle, macro (close up), and "fish eye" pictures. See the picture to the right, the one in the middle? That's how the clip holds the lens in front of your cell phone camera. Just like that you can take a wide angle picture, a close up picture or one of those goofy "fish eye" pictures. This 3-In-1 Lens Kit comes with a convenient carry case that prominently displays your logo. The sturdy and well designed clip is user friendly and easily attaches to any smart phone and the wide angle, macro and fish eye lenses are easily interchangeable. The nice bonus is that any time your guest is using this they are bound to be asked "That is cool...where did you get it?" That's repeat advertising for you. These lenses are manufactured from aircraft grade anodized aluminum barrels and thick high quality glass for the lenses. Each lens is laser engraved with its type: wide angle, macro, fish eye. This gift will be retained and used repeatedly - giving your brand exposure to the people you want to reach. Here's an added benefit - selfie sticks are being banned at more and more venues (museums, sporting events) and with the wide angle lens you'll never need a selfie stick!. Call us now - this is a new item and you can get a head start on your competitors. Cheers, Robert

I know, I know - you think I'm nuts to be talking about ideas for the Fall. Summer has barely started (at least here in New England). And there haven't been that many really hot summery kind of days. But, with the Red Sox playing like they have so far, maybe fast forwarding to the Fall isn't such a bad idea. As I mentioned in the headline...sooner than you know, it's later than you think. So being a little prepared for Fall promotional products isn't so farfetched. Here's an affordable idea for keeping your name in front of your clients and prospects. Football schedule magnets will be in every cubicle, on every refrigerator, on every file cabinet. If there's a flat vertical metal surface someone's going to put up a magnet football schedule and it might as well be yours. Here are two ideas - we have more. Dial up an audible and give us a call. We can help you pick the right schedule for your marketing message and audience. You will score a touchdown with this promotional item! (Sorry, I couldn't resist - it was just too obvious) Cheers, Robert

Summer is upon us with its full menu of outdoor activities. All of these activities are wonderful opportunities for corporate branding and getting your name noticed. No activity says "Summer" quite like a picnic. Theoretically, picnics are perfectly delightful. Getting outdoors, usually in a pleasant setting, having the food and drink...ah! What an idyllic picture. If you've ever actually staged a picnic, you know first-hand how reality can rapidly depart from theory. Getting the food and drink prepared and lugging it to the picnic site. The picnic area is not quite the perfectly manicured greensward you had imagined. You're not crazy about spending the afternoon sitting on the ground. As the saying goes, be prepared! Here are 3 solutions to your picnic and other outdoor activities problems. You can brand these terrific products with your logo and give them to your grateful customers (and future customers). The collapsible cooler makes a lot of sense. At the end of the day just fold it up. No large cumbersome cooler to lug back to the car. This sturdy folding chair features two cup holders and a carrying bag. Both the chair and the bag can be imprinted with your logo. This chair is very useful for picnics, sporting events and outdoor concerts...multiple venues for your brand to be noticed. The 4-in-1 serves multiple roles - it's a picnic blanket, a tote bag, seat cushion and a weather protector. Think of all the seasonal events and activities these products can be used for. Picnics, the kid's sports games, outdoor concerts...you get the idea. Each of these items have a lot of real estate for your logo. Because they're so versatile your logo will be seen everywhere. Give us a call and we will help you choose the right item for your message and your budget. It's summer and a great time of year to get your logo out there and noticed. Cheers, Robert

I was quite amazed (and mystified) when I first saw this product. Here is a seemingly simple and straightforward double walled acrylic tumbler. There are no wires, no software, no bluetooth and yet it keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. How does it know? The answer, of course, is that it doesn't know and it doesn't care. The secret is in the double wall construction. This allows the tumbler to keep hot liquids hotter for longer and cold liquids colder for longer. Even better, the double wall construction makes it more comfortable to hold a hot drink and there is no sweating when it's a cold drink. What a great "welcome" gift for employees moving into new office space. Pair this with packages of hot chocolate or ice tea mix. These would be a nice addition to a room drop/pillow gift. Resorts can make these available as a guest amenity. Your guests can go home with a tangible souvenir. How about using them as a sales call "leave behind." Insert your sales sheet and brochure along with the packages of ice tea or coffee. However you use them, put it all in a nice gift bag and voila - a great little gift. Both can be imprinted in full color graphics and an open/close lid is available. These tumblers are made of crystal clear acrylic and are quite substantial in look and feel. Send us your logo and we'll do a virtual for you.

This is the time of year when many companies get involved with CSA's (Community Service Activities). From now, throughout the Summer, and into the Fall, businesses and professional organizations will be out there cleaning up parks, building playgrounds and doing other community projects. Maybe your company or organization is planning such an event. You're thinking about T-shirts or caps. Both are good ideas. But how about finishing off their outfits with work gloves? Nobody ever thinks of that but gloves would be so appreciated! Here's four styles to get you started..there are more. So give us a call and we'll lend you a hand in getting your crew outfitted.

It's dark, both hands are busy trying to fix something and you're holding the flashlight in your mouth. And it's not going all that well. Sound familiar? This mini lantern/ flashlight does the trick. It can be hung just about anywhere. It can be set for continuous light or strobe and used as just a flashlight. Put your company name or logo on something very useful for both home and car. Another light item that is very clever is this bright flashing LED light that you can clip onto just about anything. Do you need something that's useful and not too expensive? Something that will be valuable to a broad range of audiences? This is great for kids, joggers,dog walkers, students...you get the idea. These would be ideal for college recruitment fairs...these will be a bigger hit than the standard pens everyone else is handing out! Both of these items will shine a light on your brand! (pun intended!)) Give me a call today and we can have these out to you "in a flash." Cheers,

Whew! We made it through a record setting winter as far as snow totals. We're almost done with taxes. The baseball season is underway..Go Sox! What's just over the horizon? The month of May! Along with the promise of warmer weather and all sorts of outdoor activities, May has a lot going for it. Here's a preview: May is National BBQ Month May is National Bike Month May is National Salad Month May 3-9 is National Pet Week May 11-15 is National Bike To Work Week What's in it for you? These are 5 tailor made opportunities for you to have people thinking about you. Be noticed and be remembered. All of these are celebrations of outdoor and fun activities. What better way to get noticed than to have your logo associated with fun and the outdoors. In upcoming "Pick-Of-The-Week" posts I'll be highlighting products you can use to celebrate May and get your name noticed and remembered. In the meantime, here are some ideas to whet your appetite!

That's the opening sentence of the 1830 novel Paul Clifford by English novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton. It's often ridiculed as being the poster child for bad,melodramatic prose. There's nothing melodramatic about calling this umbrella a lifesaver. It has a full 1" band of reflective material on all panels. On any dark and stormy night this will surely stand out. It has a generous 42" arc and the canopy is vented so it won't be blown inside out. The frame is windproof with a sturdy metal shaft. It folds down to 15" so you're not dragging around some huge contraption. And...it's auto open! What is more annoying than fumbling around trying to open an umbrella in the pouring rain? For not a lot of money this is a gift that will be appreciated, retained and used. Isn't that just what you want from your promotional products? The snow has stopped (we hope!) but next up are the Spring rains. See your logo showing up all over town on this practical item! Send us your logo and we'll do a free virtual of your design. It might be a dark and stormy night but you and your customers will be safe and dry under your Lifesaver Reflective Umbrella!

Private label...the finishing touch in branding your corporate apparel Unless you work for a large apparel supplier like Hanes or Gildan, why would you want their label on your corporate apparel when you can have labels with your own company name? You probably wouldn't, but until now you had little choice. Thanks to our partnership with Vantage Apparel we are able to offer you the finishing touch on your corporate apparel. Vantage offers three techniques for private labeling your shirts, polo's and T-shirts: Heat Transfer - this technique uses heat and pressure to apply your custom designed label to over 32 styles. A heat transfer is well suited for all performance fabrics such as polo's and golf shirts. Woven Labels - Custom woven labels are sewn into the garment They allow you complete freedom to create the finishing touch on over 750 styles. Tagless T's - There's nothing quite so annoying as slipping into a comfortable T-shirt and having the label chaff your neck. To complete that feeling of comfort , private label your T's with a tagless printed label. With these techniques your corporate apparel will now be 100% yours. They dramatically increase the perceived value of your apparel. You can see the entire Vantage line of corporate apparel right on our website. Call us when you start planning your next corporate apparel campaign. We can help you select the right piece and the right label to make your shirts, polo's and T's look like they're right out of an exclusive retail shop. Cheers, Robert

Vantage...a very retail look for your corporate apparel I am very excited to let you know that we are now carrying the complete line of Vantage Apparel. For almost 40 years Vantage has brought to corporate apparel the most modern and fashionable apparel. Their look is very retail, very stylish. In addition they have some of the most innovative decorating techniques. Their line for 2015 incorporate more than three dozen new styles incorporating sought after performance features and trendy patterns. Here are just four items that are new for 2015. In addition to their retail looking fashions, Vantage has some of the most eye catching decorating methods I've ever seen. Not all methods are available for every product but here are some examples: It's time to start thinking about your corporate apparel needs for the Spring and Summer. Golf outings are coming, you'll need apparel for your staff at tradeshows and conferences. Give us a call and we'll help you select the right apparel and the right decorating technique. Cheers, Robert

Here's a great idea for your Spring trade shows, conferences and feel good giveaways... Here is Boston's standing in the "snow bowl" as of Wednesday, February 25th: •Total snow accumulation is now 101.8". •The all time record is 107.6" (from 1995-1996.) •We are now 5.8" from tying the record! If we have to suffer through this evil winter we should at least get a record out of it. Do you feel like you're in the movie "Groundhog Day?"...it snows, you shovel...it snows, you shovel...it snows, you shovel. Eventually it will stop snowing and being freezing cold. Here's an idea that will get everyone thinking of warmer weather and better times. These "Grow-Your-Own" herb garden kits can be started now indoors. There's nothing quite like growing plants to make your recipients think of Spring and these will make them think of you. When they use their herbs in cooking they'll appreciate you even more. Each kit comes with a 6 count recycled egg carton, seeds, growing medium and plant sticks to write on. The package comes with a "belly band" wrap that you can fully customize. Standard designs are also available. These kits are ideal for trade shows and conferences and your snow deranged employees. Resorts and hotels: you can send your guests home with one of these kits and they'll remember you long after they've gone home. Kits are available for Mexican, Italian and Cocktail herbs. So, put down your snow shovel and ice scrapper..give us a call and get ready for better weather. In the meantime, one good 6" snow will put us in the record books! Cheers, Robert

So, here's where we Bostonians stand as of Monday, February 16th: This is the snowiest February ever with 42.3" And that's with 12 days to go. 30 day total...74.7" 20 day total...73.9" So far this year...92.5" 1995-1996 holds the record,so far, with 107.6". We're only 15" away! Anyone taking bets on whether or not we'll break that record? Oh, and did I mention that it's been a bit chilly? And it's not just in New England. The mid-Atlantic and Southern states have their own snow, sleet and freezing rain. Here are our wind chill temps from Monday night... But take heart - Red Sox pitchers and catchers report on February 20th and the full squad reports on February 24th. These baseball stress relievers will, of course, relieve the stress of all this horrible, nasty snow and cold. They'll also remind folks of the coming Spring and the warmth of baseball season. So, pull yourself out of your winter funk...get on the phone to us...order some of these and start passing out the promise of Spring and baseball season! Cheers, Robert

February is Heart Health Month. Here are ten ideas for you to use to promote heart health with your staff or to show your clients that you care. AdBands Resistor Strip Anatomical Heart Stress Reliever Heart Shaped Stress Reliever Heart Rate/Pulse Rate Watch Healthy Heart Slide Guide Heart Shape Pen Easy Set BMI Pedometer Stride Pal Step Meter Heart Magnet Clip Healthy Heart Bookmark Here's some heart health information from the CDC. My favorite is the AdBands Resistor Strip because you can do some of the exercises at work. The band comes with a PDF of 10 exercises. You can modify the PDF to personalize it to your company. All of these items can be imprinted with your logo, of course. Call us now, there is time to get these to you well before the end of the month. Cheers...to your healthy heart. Robert

On one side of my office I have a wall charger for my cell phone. Next to my desk sits my PC tower with its USB ports. I'm using one of them to charge my mp3 player. You'd think that someone with access to all these hi tech gizmos could do better than that. What's the saying about the shoe maker's kids...? If I had one of these I could charge my mp3 player and my phone at the same time and same place. That would make my life easier. We get a lot of requests for a useful tech accessory that won't break the bank. Something that would be good for a targeted client gift. Usually these types chargers are between $8 to $13. This one is normally priced at $12.99 for 100. For the month of February they are ON SALE for $5.23 each, minimum order is 100 pieces. This is a quality product from an "A+" rated supplier. If you are thinking of adding a tech accessory to your wish list then this is the product and February is the time. Call me now and let's get this started for you. Cheers, Robert

Here's the deal. It is now almost the end of January. Do you know where your New Year's resolutions are? It is common knowledge that gym memberships and attendance peak in January and then plummet in February. As a matter of fact, one very popular work out place in Manhattan has capacity for 300 people but has sold 6,000 memberships. That's how predictable the fall off in attendance is. So, what to do about this? How do you motivate staff or encourage associates to keep on the right fitness path? We all know that if we write down our goals and monitor our progress, we are more likely to achieve them. The Fitbit Flex Tracker does that for your fitness activities. This slim and stylish device is with you all the time. During the day it tracks your steps, the distance you've covered. and the calories burned. At night it tracks your sleep quality and wakes you silently in the morning. Just check out the lights to see how you stack up against your personal goals. You've probably seen these as they've been advertised everywhere. We have them and they can be branded with your logo. Each Fitbit comes with both a large and small band. Both can have your logo if you'd like. Call us now before sloth sets in and all hope for fitness in 2015 is lost! Cheers, Robert

February 14th is Valentine's Day 2015! Here are some tasty and enticing ways to show appreciation to staff and good customers (and soon to be good customers). All these options - and more - can be decorated with your logo. Call us now so you'll be in time for the big day on the 14th.

Your selfie, my selfie, everyone's selfie... David Ortiz is 6'4". He is, it's safe to say, a rather tall person. His arms are a lot longer than mine and probably yours as well. So when David takes a selfie he can get a fairly good distance. This selfie of David with the President doesn't look like they're both squished up right in front of the camera. I don't know about you, but whenever I've taken a selfie it looks like the camera was Scotch taped to my nose! It gets even worse when you're trying a group selfie. The angle's all wrong, it's out of focus, too much sky or too much ground, and... Oh no, you left out Robert Well, here's the solution to the selfie problem! The "Bluetooth Selfie Stick." You may have seen these around as they are now one of the hottest tech items. These would be ideal for a Sales Achievement reward meeting, a Partner's retreat or a Board retreat. How great would this be at an Alumni Reunion? Or any kind of reunion or company outing. How about if your company is being recognized at an awards ceremony? Here's the pricing: 100 300 500 $19 $17.78 $17.72 The setup is $43.75/color and there is a $0.44/stick charge to imprint a 2nd color. Free Setup on the first color...a $43.75 savings. This is one of the coolest items we've featured. It is brand new to the promotional products industry. So, if you want to know what's the latest, hottest promo item...here it is.! These are being introduced to the promotional products industry this week at the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. Call us up and order yours now. You can have them in just 2 weeks.

What makes for a great giveaway for a trade show or conference? It should be useful to the recipient. Why? Because something that's useful will be retained. That's what you want from your promotional item. It should be easy to transport to the conference or use in a mailing. Large bulky stuff is hard and expensive to drag around...both for you and for the recipient. It should be relatively inexpensive. These are giveaways designed to get your name in front of clients and future clients. No need to spend a ton of money here. Here's a nifty product that meets all the criteria. This is a 2-in-1 microfiber cloth on one side with a textured scrub surface on the back. There are 2 sizes: a 4" x 8" rectangle and a 5" x 5" square. There's also a 5" x 7" "Smart Stash" that folds into its own pouch and has a strap and carabineer clip. The beauty of these cloths is that you can print in full color on the microfiber side. You can create any design you'd like and print it on the whole front side! Here's the pricing: 5" x 5" square...500 at $1.15 each 4" x 8" rectangle...500 at $1.29 each smart stash...250 at $2.49 each $60 setup for full color imprint on the front (microfiber)" side. This item solves your problem of finding a useful and inexpensive item to use as a giveaway. Call us now and get you cloths started.

This is the time of year when I find myself opening doors with my elbow. Or pulling down my jacket or sweater sleeve to cover my hand and then opening the door. I'm like a surgeon washing my hands in a public restroom. I use my elbows to operate the faucets. Thank goodness most paper towel dispensers are motion activated. I sound like a real germaphobe..at least I'm not as bad as Howard Hughes. I just don't like getting a cold and being out of action. Large gatherings are particularly tricky. It's a little socially awkward to introduce yourself, shake hands and then go for the hand sanitizer. This is especially so with conferences, educational or training sessions and sales meetings. You can be a hero if you're planning or hosting one of these events. Combine this sanitizer-pen with a notebook or pad of paper and they'll be singin' your praises. This would also be great for your sales team. They can write the order and germ proof their hands! Later, away from their customer. Cold and flu season is upon us. It will last until April. Are you planning or hosting a conference or meeting in the next five months? Call us and you'll get all sorts of accolades for being such a thoughtful host.

Chilly office?...Frumpy fashion? We have a thermostat here in the office that always says 74. It lies! I know it's not broken because sometimes it will go up a bit or down a bit...but it seems to prefer 74 degrees. We prefer it warmer than the freezing temperature in here most mornings, so we jack it up. We're lucky because we have a showroom with fleece jackets and vests, sweaters and sweatshirts. But if your office looks more like these pictures, we can help. We can outfit your staff so they are warm and stylish. We also have many items that will work very well for your staff indoors at a convention, tradeshow or conference. If you have staff out in the field we have quite a few pieces designed for extreme weather. Give us a call now...it's only going to get colder!

The disappearing convention tote or What the experts do that you should know... January 2nd and the convention, conference, and tradeshow season begins. Every January the promotional products industry holds its largest trade show, "The Expo." It covers 2 floors of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. There are about 1500 - 1800 exhibitors, all showing their latest promo products...all with samples, giveaways and catalogs. In the corridors just outside the exhibit floors are racks and racks of tradeshow bags for attendees, supplied by 3 or 4 of the bag companies. They're prominently decorated with their names and booth number. They feature their best full color graphics. They are LARGE! Large is good! Why? Well they know that as attendees go around picking up catalogs, literature and samples the small bags will fill up quickly. What happens then? Those small bags go right into the large bags. If yours is the big bag it will be your logo that's seen throughout the entire convention, tradeshow, conference. Want the big bag? Pick either of these recommendations. Both are: Sturdy, made from 100GMS nonwoven polypropylene. Plenty of capacity, both are 16" x 14" x 6" The "Ultimate" has 2 biz card holders & utility pocket on both ends The "Burst" has side pockets Both have adjustable shoulder straps. Don't be the company with a small tote that can't hold enough and disappears into one of these. Order before the end of January and we'll waive the setup charges.

Flu season is upon us. Although it is hard to predict when the flu will be most active, the CDC says that it can start as early as October and last as late as May. The usual peak season for the flu is December through February. The single most effective way to protect yourself from the flu is to get a flu shot. They're pretty easy to come by. Outlets such as Walmart, CVS and Walgreen all provide the shots. Certainly you can get a flu shot at your doctor's office. The CDC recommends that we all get our shots but especially recommends them for folks at higher risk: · Children under 2 · Adults 65 and older · Pregnant women · Certain medical conditions, ...Asthma ...Heart Disease ...Diabetes There are some common sense steps you can take on an everyday basis to protect yourself. The easiest step is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If you don't have access to soap and water use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers are an effective and appreciated promotional product. They work well as a trade show giveaway, at job fairs, at recruitment sessions. They're small and lightweight so you could use them in a mail campaign. The most important thing to look for is an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Look for an alcohol content of at least 60% The CDC recommends sanitizers with an alcohol content of between 60% to 95%. After that you'll have all sorts of choices on size, colors, etc. Just make sure you get an alcohol based sanitizer with a content of between 60% to 95%

Giving corporate holiday food gifts can be challenging. If you need food gifts that are either Gluten Free or Kosher you've probably had a hard time searching. We can help you. We have a wide selection of food gifts that satisfy both dietary needs. We carry many options for Gluten Free and Kosher food gifts. The 4 highlighted here are just a few of our many choices. If you click on the image below you'll come to our Pinterest boards for both Gluten Free and Kosher food gifts. "Certified Kosher" certificates are available for all of our Kosher food gifts. If you order now you'll have these in time for the holidays.

When you think of Thanksgiving is this what you picture... Does Halloween conjure images like this,,, Or,is this a bit closer to what your Thanksgiving is actually like... I really can't offer too much in the way of reconciling these images other than to say...Go bake some cookies! Why cookie cutters? They are fun, creative and memorable, Your brand will be shared with family and friends , Cookie cutters are household keepsakes that will be used for a lifetime, These cookie cutters are made in the US..in Vermont!, 418 stock shapes available, Create your own custom shape. You won't have to part with much dough to give your clients and future clients a fun and memorable gift. Bake this into your future by calling us now. Cheers, Robert

It's pretty well known that bears spend the Summer and Fall loading up on food before Winter sets in. What you might not know is that bears are not true hibernators. They just go into a deep sleep. Their metabolism, heart rate and respiration are not substantially lower than when awake. We're kind of like bears. (well at least I'm kind of like a bear.) We seem to be pulled toward foods that put on that extra layer for winter protection. Instead of that summer salad I'm more inclined to go for a pasta dish. Instead of no dessert or sorbet I'll go for the triple chocolate lava fudge cake, (withwhipped cream of course!) One way to look at these treats is that they're not really an indulgence but rather a survival necessity! Without them how are we expected to survive until Spring? Our favorite source for to-die-for gourmet gifts is Gifted Expressions. Having now spent two full afternoons taste testing their offerings I can attest to their deliciousness (if that's a word). All of their gifts are fresh and elegantly packaged. They have the ability to include your logo'd item (like a travel mug) into some of their gift baskets. And, of course, they offer imprinted ribbon. So, don't be like this poor fellow sitting there waiting for your treats...call us and we'll get your winter survival gifts ordered and sent off to your clients and future clients.

Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away." Let me explain because I know a lot of you are thinking "he's got way too much time on his hands if he's writing about nursery rhymes." I got an email from one of my suppliers with this great gift idea for Halloween; the "Along Came A Spider" assorted candy treats. That got me to thinking; who was Miss Muffet? What exactly is a tuffet? What are curds and whey? What's with a spider? The most prevalent explanation, though there are others with one involving Mary Queen of Scots, is that the rhyme was written by Dr. Thomas Muffet, who was an English doctor and entomologist. (1553-1604). Miss Muffet was his stepdaughterPatience Muffet. Apparently, one of the Doctor's spiders got loose and scared her while she was eating her breakfast. OK, but what are "curds and whey" Basically it's cottage cheese. If you have the time check out the link, pretty interesting. And lastly,what's a tuffet? It's a low seat, like a stool. The other definition is that it's a clump or tuft of grass. So maybe our Miss Muffet was sitting outside eating her cottage cheese. Makes sense that she'd run into a spider if she were outdoors. This is all probably much more than you ever wanted to know about Little Miss Muffet, and perhaps we'll never know the real story. But. if you want to see some great ideas for Halloween gifts visit our Halloween Pinterest board.

That sounds like something Yogi Berra might say. My favorite Yogi quotes are: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." "A nickle ain't worth a dime anymore." "It gets late early out there." "It's like deja vu all over again." "The future ain't what it used to be." The point of my Yogi-ism is to remind you that time is marching right along. In my "Pick" for August 15th, "It's a Rocket Sled Ride" I posted links to downloadable calendars to help you plan the next 4 months. I also had a link to a nifty tool that lets you calculate the time between any two dates. Today, I go one better! Here's a link to a Christmas countdown clock You could set this as your wallpaper and really drive yourself nuts! The point is, if you're going to be sending holiday cards and/or holiday food gifts, now is the time to start planning. Christmas hasn't been moved, it's still December 25th. (it's a Thursday) Thanksgiving is still the last Thursday in November. (it's the 27th) And January 1st is still the first day of the New Year. (it's also a Thursday) Don't let the holidays catch you by surprise...start planning now by giving us a call. Cheers, Robert

October is national breast cancer awareness month. Do you know the history of the pink ribbon (and why it's pink and not some other color? Hint...it didn't start out pink). Throughout October the NFL will feature players with pink accessories like their shoes and gloves. Major League Baseball chose Mother's Day to promote awareness of efforts to fund research and treatment. Many companies elect to promote awareness and participation by distributing pink items to their staff. We have an extensive selection of October Breast Cancer Awareness items on our Pinterest boards. To the right you'll find a few suggestions to get you started. We will make a donation of 10% of your purchase of any "pink" item. Donations will go to the Susan G. Komen fund. Give us a call and in no time you'll be in the Pink! Cheers, Robert

I don't want you to get the wrong impression. I can see how you might with my following of last week's "Pick," (about craft beers), with this week's about wine accessories. I can assure you it's pure coincidence. A few years ago we hosted a big family Thanksgiving. One of the relatives, (to remain unnamed), was being especially argumentative. My wife's cousin Susan was taking it all in with a serene smile. My wife asked "how can you remain so pleasant?" Susan lifted her wine glass, as if toasting, and replied..."that's what wine is for!" So, as we get closer to Thanksgiving and the holidays, you can consider gifts to help your clients achieve the same serene state as Susan. Here are eight wine tool sets that will be gratefully received and eagerly deployed in the familial combat known as the holidays. Each image is a clickable link to a larger image and price details. Relax, have a glass of wine and then call us to talk about getting these gifts to your clients. Cheers, Robert