In honor of Halloween, I've found a very spooky promotion. In Italy the Pesaro Film Festival was held and at said festival, legendary Italian horror film maker, Dario Argento was honored. To communicate the festival to a younger target audience, an ambient promotion was created in which fake blood was splattered on walls of bathrooms in clubs. Written in the blood was a message that read. "Do You Like Dario?" Definitely creepy enough to garner attention for the festival. The promotion was covered by local radio and television stations.
Just a little Halloween treat for all of you out there. Enjoy!
Why It's Hot: If there's one thing everyone wishes they had, it's a perfect memory. That's why, when USB flash drives appeared years ago, they practically flew off the shelves of electronics stores. Gone were the days of needing to schlep home files and files. Gone were the days of needing to run to Staples or Office Max at 2:30 in the morning to print out power point presentations. USB flash drives allow digital files to be made portable. Instead of having to email yourself something, simply save it to the flash drive.
The rounded bamboo flash drive is this year's hot item. At 1GB, it's capable of holding a few thousand word documents, several hundred photos or even 150 MP3s. It's large enough to hold a significant amount of info, yet small enough to be priced within a budget. Additionally, it's made of bamboo. Bamboo products are in demand right now, because they're eco-friendly. A bamboo tree can grow up to 100 feet in just 60 days, as opposed to regular trees which take years to grow to fruition. So it's affordable, it's useful and it's eco-friendly which clearly make it the reason that it's this week's Corporate Gift of the Week.
Watch as Anthony explains even more benefits of these eco-friendly flash drives in the video below.
After yesterday's blog about pollution being closer than you think, I went in search of other interesting yet non eco-friendly promotions. I personally love this one. In the Prague, this promotion was designed to sell pasta. Posters were crumpled up to look like farfalle (bowtie) pasta and then hung on walls outside shops. The tagline reads: "Do You Know Whats For Lunch?"
Very funny and extremely creative, but the use of paper isn't the most eco-friendly choice in the world. Unless of course it's recycled paper. I've become quite the fan of recycled promotional products because of their sustainability, and recycled paper is just one of my favorite things.
A company by the name of Friends of the Earth over in Hong Kong created this ambient promotion. The idea of the ad is to drive home the point that pollution is much closer than you think, and the lids of drinking cups were designed to look the backs of cars and when inserted, the straw was to look like an exhaust pipe.
This sends a pretty strong message, but I have to argue that while vehicle emissions are the leading cause of pollution, creating excess litter is also harazdous to our environment. While the promotion makes a strong point that really is "driven" home, it might have been better to use recycled promotional products or other eco-friendly promotional items to generate awareness.
Personally, I'm not a fan of cigarettes, but I grew up around them because my mother is a smoker. I let friends smoke in my car and I just open the sunroof or window, but I feel that one of the best things that has ever been done in this country has been the ban of smoking in restaurants and bars. It seems like forever since I heard the words "Smoking or Non Smoking?" posed in a restaurant. And I'm thankful for that because nothing ruins a dish of capellini marinara like a big ol' gulp of smoke.
However, not all countries abide by this philosphy. Brazil, for instance, still allows smoking in restaurants and bars. Just like there were in the States, there are several groups trying to put the ban on cigarettes in public places.
ACT Brazil is one of those organizations. They created custom match boxes to promote the idea of outlawing smoking in bars and restaurants. While the boxes did provide matches, they were designed to reveal an image of a tiny little room. This enforced the message that was imprinted on the front of the package: "Any room is too small for cigarettes."
You can help send a message about quitting smoking during the Great Smokeout in November by handing out cigarette stress relievers. Better for individuals to squeeze one of those than to pick up an actual cigarette.
In Europe, it's all about football. And by football, I mean soccer. Unless of course you're Europen in which case, I mean football. Whatever you call it, the game is huge over there, and it's something that has never really caught on in the states. But I came across this promotion done by the Swedish company, that advertises that one can watch live broadcasts from anywhere by simply texting the word "football" to 72404 on their cell phone.
These text message opt-ins have been around for quite some time now, and are advertised everywhere, but this one is definitely unique. The company created promotional toilet seats and customised them with the flags of European teams. The seats were then imprinted with the words "Stadium Seat" thus proving the point that when you have the ability to watch the game on your cell phone, anywhere can be a stadium seat.
Now we've got some pretty interesting football giveaways, but I can't say that I've seen this one yet.
Why It's Hot Everyone knows that the quickest way to some one's heart is through their stomach and most everyone loves chocolate. This Death By Chocolate Gift Basket is perfect for valued clients and hard working executives this holiday season. The ribbon (available in 7 colors) can be imprinted with your company name and logo, giving it a more personal touch. It includes a delectable assortment of chocolate treats including:
C.C. Winkle Chocolate Popcorn with Cashews (6oz. bag)
Dutch Chocolate Sweet sticks (1.25oz)
Private Selection White Chocolate Mousse Cookies (6oz. Bag)
A well known ad agency, Young and Rubican, hosted a panel discussion in Barcelona about the role of ethics in advertising, and knowing how much is too much. In order to advertise it, they created promotional paper towels and promotional toilet paper that was used in the bathrooms at the convention center where the panel was being held.
Personally, the idea of printed toilet paper freaks me out and printed paper towels are just so wasteful. But that's the point. Not the most eco-friendly promotional products you can find, but if people are going to be using them anyway, you may as send them a message, especially if it relates to your event.
Yet another inventive idea from Ikea. This time they're encouraging customers to go buy more stuff by putting promotional stickers on old furniture that people were throwing away. Imprinted with the words, "Change is Good" the stickers were placed on old couches, chairs, and other pieces of furniture laying out waiting for the garbage collection.
Firstly, this promotion wouldn't last very long assuming garbage men actually do their jobs. And secondly, "Change is Good"? Personally, I've seen Ikea do better, but then again maybe cheap promotional stickers are just another way of tightening the belt. Makes me wonder what the corporate gifts will look like this year...
Two things that definitely go together. The Marquee Room, an independent theater in Canada recently renovated and now houses a bar in the same building. To promote the new establishment, the buildings owners ordered promotional cups designed to look like beers. The cups were then used as the new popcorn cups and sold at the refreshment stand at the theatre.
It's a simple affordable promotion that works. And they could use the same sort of idea for corporate gifts by filling promotional beer steins with popcorn and giving them to loyal patrons.
In Italy, they've created a concept of an automated car park. Basically, you drive your car in, and that's it. A mechanical system parks the car for you. It's extremely beneficial in busy cities, but it is a new concept so people are going to be skeptical. I barely like people putting things anywhere near my car, I'm certainly not going to be comfortable with something parking it for me.
To put potential customers at ease, the company gave them something to squeeze. That's right: promotional stress balls! These car stress balls were hung from rear view mirrors with a message advertising the company. As much as I loathe anyone going anywhere near my car, I'm okay with these. But that's just because I love promotional stress balls.
Why It's Hot Everyone drinks coffee or tea, but with the recent economic down turn, people are looking to save money at every corner. This attractive tumbler will allow your customers, clients, and associates to quit that pesky Starbucks habit. In addition to being useful, this two tone tumbler is extremely attractive. The colored accent rim is available in black, blue or red to complement your company logo. It's easy to hold and best of all, it's affordable. This attractive trumbler is available for under $5.00, which is definitely a plus.
While it's been stated that UV rays aren't exactly the safest things in the world, there are some people who just love the sun. Nivea, well-known makers of skin care products, catered to these people, beach goers, by creating clear promotional beach umbrellas. In addition to the umbrellas, Nivea sunscreen products were distributed on the beaches. Because obviously if you're sitting under a promotional umbrella that's clear, your skin isn't really going to be protected from the sun.
In New Zealand, Mitsubishi wanted to advertise that their new model, the Mitsubish Pajero can handle anything tough that drivers could throw at it. So the best place to do that? On a ski lift.
The bars of the ski lift were re-designed to add an interesting advertisement. Take a look.
Apparently, the Pajero can even help if you ski down a mountain and lose your leg. While it's definitely an inventive attempt at advertising, I'm not entirely sure that it'll increase vehicle sales. Personally, I prefer all the swanky little promotional products I get sent from time to time from Volkwagen. I've gotten coasters, cards, and even keychains.
Over the weekend, in the midst of headlines like "Global Economic Turmoil" and "Stock Market Disaster" I came across a video about one jeweler's take on the iPod Shuffle. Heyerdahl jewelry created the iDiamond, after deciding that the MP3 player could really be a fashion accessory for the elite. Here's a fun thing...the ear buds alone cost $6,400. Then entire iDiamond? $45,000. In most places, that's a down payment on a house!
So what makes the iDiamond so special? Crafted out of 14K pink and white gold, the player boasts a total of 430 diamonds. Other than that, it's just a plain ol' iPod shuffle.
I'm all for stylish items, but even this is a little much. Thankfully, these won't be the hottest trend in corporate gifts this year. So far, there's only been one created. Gee, I wonder why?
I blogged on Wednesday about how Adidas created an ambient promotion of a mini soccer game for a magazine. Well, Adidas' desire to keep promoting the game didn't stop there. In fact, they created this version of a human foosball game which was played at Langham Place in Hong Kong. It's one way of promoting your brand and it looks like it would be an incredible amount of fun! So if anyone out there is planning on sending us some corporate gifts, I think this would be a fun one. Although, I never mind all the holiday food gifts that show up around here. I just feel like this would be a fun addition for the break room!
Why It's Hot: Today's executive is busy and needs to stay connected at all times. And as always the answer lies in technology. Blackberries and PDAs allow instantaneous access to email, chat and a myriad of other features. Most tech friendly employees and execs boast a cell phone, a PDA or a blackberry, and an iPod for entertainment purposes. This Metropolitan charging station allows space for up to three technology items to be charged on your desktop. The wires are hidden away, these invaluable items are always at arms reach and they're neatly displayed in an attractive desktop accessory. For an added bonus, it even features an analog clock, which is as aesthetically pleasing as it is useful. It's one of several corporate gifts that Motivators has to offer and it's sure to appreciated by all recipients.
I'm always on the lookout for fun promos, and this is definitely one of them. This miniature football game (that's European football, kids) was created out of paper and inserted with Touch Magazine in Hong Kong. The game, created by Adidas, inclued 2 paper goals, 2 paper jerseys and a small football that could be flicked into the goal.
Is this the most creative thing I've ever seen? No, but it's a fun way of advertising the brand and the sport. It also reminds me of one of my favorite corporate gifts, the Leeds Gridiron Football Flip Game.
Snickers wanted a promotion that would truly draw attention to adrenaline filled sports like BMX and skateboarding at their Snickers Urbania event in Mexico. So the answer came in the form of temporary tattoos.
Custom tattoos were designed to look like cuts, scratches, bruises and other injuries which are often displayed by players of these extreme sports. Over 5,000 tattoos were distributed and applied to event attendees.
It just goes to show how much it helps when you truly know your audience. Clearly these people aren't the type who would benefit from luxurious corporate gifts, but hey, whatever works.
Environmental awareness, which has slightly been put on the back burner due to the state of the economy, is a key aspect in the upcoming 2008 election. This ambient promotion was created in Germany to make a statement about the impact that people can have on the environment by making a small change. If each individual household switches to using just 1 energy efficient light bulb, an entire carbon fired power plant can be shut down.
It's like the amount of plastic grocery bags that can be saved if each and every person used a reusable grocery tote. The environment should be a main concern of everyone, not just politicians who are striving for your vote. So consider making an environmentally sound choice when you start shopping for those corporate gifts and be sure to visit our Eco-friendly corporate gifts.
Is That a Maserati or Are You Just Happy to See Me?
Here we go again with the "Stop Touching My Car" game. This ambient ad was posted on Ads of World. The concept: the Maserati is the ultimate dream car but it's extremely expensive. The dealer wanted to convey the fact that purchasing a pre-owned Maserati was much more cost-effective. These custom leaflets were put on the drivers side rear view mirrors of cars. They've been designed to look like a Maserati is right behind you and the same line that appears on all rear view mirrors:
Caution: Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear.
Excellent use of the phrase that's already going to be there, but it comes down to the fact that I still don't want anyone touching my car. Although I wouldn't mind getting a Maserati. That'd be one my list of dream corporate gifts!
Why It's Hot: Anything that helps people save money right now is definitely hot. With the holidays quickly approaching, everyone is sure to be travelling. Because of a variety of factors, including fuel costs, airlines now charge extra if your checked bag is over 50lbs. Currently, the most expensive carrier is United Airlines, who will hit customers with a whopping $125 fee for checked bags that weight between 51 and 99lbs. Not every carrier is as expensive as United, but why take the risk of incurring additional charges? Giving customers and clients this promotional Departure Luggage Scale will allow them to easily weigh their luggage at home before going to the airport. They'll be able to tell if they need to leave home that extra pair of shoes or if they need to switch some items to their carry-on bag. These luggage scales can even be considered when choosing your corporate gifts. They'll be greatly appreciated by the travelling executives.
It's hard to believe that October has come so quickly. However, the leaves are sure to turn soon enough and the fact that we're only 30 days away from Halloween means two things. First, if you haven't started thinking about your corporate gifts you probably should do that as it'll be November before you know it. And secondly, it's the very first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is probably one of the most publicized awareness events of the year. There's a variety of well-known charities that participate. The Susan G Komen Foundation has a number of events, including their 3 day 60 mile walk-a-thon known as the Race for a Cure.
The American Cancer Society also hosts a walk-a-thon. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is held annually in locations across the country, and Motivators will be participating in the local event on October 19th. In fact I'm proud to announce that we've raised over a thousand dollars so far and we're not done yet! Our custom t-shirts have been sent to production, I've got a huge box of promotional drawstring backpacks that we'll be handing out at the event and eventually, I'm going to get myself to the gym. It is only a 5 mile walk, but I'd like to make sure I'm not huffing and puffing at the 2.5 mile marker!
In fact, I've got a soft spot for Making Strides since they sent me a sturdy pink promotional luggage tag as a gift for being a team captain.
In addition to our participation in that event, one of my favorite things about Motivators is that we give back as a company. Anytime an order is placed for one of our breast cancer awareness products, we donate 10% of the proceeds to the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. We believe that if our customers are spending the money to raise awareness, it's only fitting that we make a contribution in their name to the fight for a cure.
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