Think Outside the Basic Promotional Items

Guest post by: Lee Eldridge
Become an Author

Free PDF Download
Think Outside the Basic Promotional Items - By Lee Eldridge

What products do you think of first when you think about promotional products? Pens? Tote bags? Coffee mugs? Key chains? These may be among the most common promotional giveaways, but sometimes they’re not the best suited for your promotional campaign. It's easy to do the same thing over and over. It's much hard to think outside the box. Having spent years in business and event promotion, I’ve found that a look around the edges will sometimes offer the best solutions.

Promotional Coasters

While they’re most commonly used within the restaurant and adult beverage industry, coasters can be highly effective tools for promoting causes and upcoming events. Organizations that promote designated driving such as MADD, or that promote personal safety such as a rape crisis center, can effectively use promotional coasters to spread their message and promote their organization. Local bars and restaurants may be willing to use, and even help pay for, the coasters. Looking for promotional partners to help cover the costs of promotional coasters is a great way to share the cost. And coasters are one of the most affordable items available. You can produce thousands of coasters for a small price.

Matchbooks

As more cities and states became havens for non-smokers in public places, matchbooks remain a cost-effective marketing tool even for non-smoking establishments. Matchbooks offer repeat exposure as the recipient will use the matchbook repeatedly. Like promotional coasters, restaurants and bars are often willing to provide your matchbooks to their customers for you. An excellent way to promote concerts, local artists, art galleries, bail bondsmen, taxi services and other upcoming events. And if you're willing to pay a little more, personalized matchboxes are excellent promotional giveaways. Matchboxes are available in several unique sizes and shapes.

Napkins

And while it’s important to promote an event to get the people there, don’t forget to continue to promote your business or organization at the event. Fundraisers often serve food and various snacks, and your guests will need napkins. Custom printed napkins will allow you to continue to brand your organization during the event. Sponsors may be willing to pay for the napkins if you include their logo and contact information on the napkins.

Drinkware

When you take the time to make sure that you're branding your businss and promotional message, don't forget the drinkware. While coffee mugs, stadium cups and water bottles remain some of our most popular promotional items, there are some less traditional items which are also excellent options for event and business promotion. Paper cups and foam cups may be needed for beverages, hot or cold. And sometimes you can go non-traditional and trendy at the same time. Double wall acrylic cups have become popular in the retail world for a couple years, but are still relatively new in the promotional products industry. These durable cups can be imprinted with your logo, and typically come with a screw on lid and straw.

Look for every opportunity to promote and reinforce your promotional message. And less-traditional promotional items might just do the trick. Whether you're co-branding your promotional products with marketing partners or going at it alone, custom imprinted promotional products are still a great way to promote your business or event.

Everyone Loves Free Stuff - Retail Marketing Tips

Getting The Most From Your Promotional Items

10 Reasons why to use Promotional Products

Everything About Promotional Products SIX VERY GOOD TIPS

Promotional Mugs – An Everyday Item

Tape Measures are your Best Friends for Advertising:

Choosing the Promotional Products Company That is Right for You -V2

Promotional products a means to cultivate school spirit

Promotional Products Industry History and Overview

Promotional Products - Mutually Advantageous Form of Marketing K2

Inspiring Local Success - June 2011

Comprehensive Online Printing Solutions for You

Exclusive ASI Survey On Promotional Products ROI Released

Upselling Again

Promotional Industry Misses the Boat

Five Ways Hispanic Business Owners Can Boost Sales with Promotional Products

Are Green Promotional Items Worth the Extra Effort?

Promotional Products Revealed to be Most Affordable Effective Way to Advertise

Using Promotions As a Marketing Tool

5 Tips on How to Choose Which Wholesale Promotional Products to Offer

Home > Marketing > Lee Eldridge > Think Outside the Basic Promotional Items > Google +

Free PDF Download
Think Outside the Basic Promotional Items - By Lee Eldridge

About the Author: Lee Eldridge

RSS for Lee's articles - Visit Lee's website
Lee Eldridge has many passions. Music. Sports. Marketing. And family. A graduate from the University of Kansas in 1986 with a degree in Business Administration, Eldridge spent several years on the road playing rock and roll across the Midwest. But as time went on, it became clear that Lee's true gifts were in marketing and business development. In 1993, Eldridge became business partners with Billy Pilgrim and co-owner of PilgrimPage, Inc., a small advertising agency in Lawrence, Kansas. In 2001, PilgrimPage launched an online promotional products company called Absorbent, Ink. During Eldridge's time with the company, Absorbent, Ink. was twice recognized by the Inc. 500 as one of the fastest growing companies in the country, and repeatedly recognized by Counselor magazine as one of the top ten fastest growing distributorships and best places to work within the industry. Eldridge is now the owner of Snap Promotions, a promotional marketing company located in Lawrence, Kansas. Still a part-time musician, Eldridge finds time to organize and reunite with his old bandmates and perform benefit concerts for Big Brothers Big Sisters each year. When not running Snap Promotions and playing music, Lee releases his creative energies with his writing for his Sports and Politics blog and well as his new blog Love Promos. Lee's business has recently launched a new company store: Customizable Promotional Items.

Click here to visit Lee's website.

More from Lee Eldridge
Defiticts and Debts Oh My
Dont Market In The Dark Any Longer
A Pro Business Approach will Put People to Work
Utiziling Social Media is Smart Business
Keeping Printability in Mind with Your Logo

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Think Outside the Basic Promotional Items

Related Articles

Related Forum Posts

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.


Name:
Email: