I’m full of pumpkin pie and glad to be working inside on this cold Kansas day. I’m not sure that I’m emotionally prepared for the holidays yet. Santa seems to have been busy the last few months filming dozens of commercials. I hope he’s had time to run the North Pole. I’ve been a good boy this year.

With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s time to turn our attention to business gifts. If you haven’t ordered your corporate holiday gifts yet, there’s still time. If you’re needing gifts for your employees, clients or prospects, we’ve got some great ideas for you. And all of these items can be decorated and shipped in less than five working days.

Recycled Cardboard Mousepads
Made from 100% recycled cardboard, this promotional gift is both eco-friendly and affordable. Features the universal recycling symbol debossed on the mousepad. Easy to mail or to include with other promotional materials. Can be debossed with your logo and company slogan. Order as few as 144 mousepads for $2.63 each plus setup charges and S&H. The USB mouse is not included, but we can do those too!

Bamboo Photo Frame
This Bamboo Photo Frame is as handsome as it is  useful. This will truly be an appreciated gift. Bamboo is an easily renewable resource, making this frame another eco-friendly holiday item. Laser etched with your logo, this frame will proudly display your brand and a 4″ x 6″ photo. Includes easel stand for vertical or horizontal display. Order as few as 60 frames for $10.60 each plus setup charges and S&H.

Garrity Lithium White LED Keychain Lite
This L.E.D. light is the brightest and whitest available. Built to provide more than 23 hours of continuous light and years of intermittent light. Features a push-button switch and two lithium button cell batteries included (refillable). Available in blue or white. A useful promotional gift. I use my keychain light all the time! Order as few as 48 keychains for $2.23 each plus setup charges and S&H.

Crossing Excursion Bottle Set
This multi-piece set includes: 34-oz. bottle; 83″ x 51″ safety blanket; flashlight (2 AA batteries included); sewing kit (consisting of red, black, and white thread, 2 white buttons, 1 safety pin, and 2 needles); blinking safety light to attach to a belt or purse strap with on/off switch (2 AA batteries included); multi-function whistle with integrated thermometer (Fahrenheit and Celsius readings), compass, and magnifying glass; and pocket knife consisting of 1 large blade, can opener, flat head screwdriver, bottle opener, awl, corkscrew, tweezers, and tooth pick. Whew! Order as few as 48 gift sets for $18.57 each plus setup charges and S&H.

Credit Card Size Bottle Opener
Not that we would ever advocate drinking a bottled beverage or two, but many people seem to like to partake in this activity. Especially around the holidays. And when they do, they’ll need a bottle opener with your logo on it. This stainless steel bottle opener fits in a wallet credit card slot. A high-quality and durable giveaway, this bottle opener can be laser etched with your brand. Order as few as 288 bottle openers for $2.77 each plus setup charges and S&H.

Essential Organic Cotton Carry-All Tote
Made from factory certified 100% organic cotton, this eco-friendly tote features a large main compartment, and durable and soft cotton cording handles attached to the bag with grommet accents. Organic cotton farming techniques maintain soil fertility and reduce toxic pesticides and insecticides that pollute our air and water. This tote is approximately 15″ x 13″ x 4″. Order as few as 48 organic cotton totes for $8.60 each plus setup charges and S&H.

This is just a start. Let us know a little about your corporate gift giving needs and we’d be happy to share some more ideas. Now is the time, whether you’re ready for the holidays or not!

If you don’t know by now that I’m a computer geek, then you don’t know me very well! I love technology. And I love promotional marketing. So you won’t be surprised when I tell you that I get excited about new tech-oriented promotional products.

Whether you save files to a USB drive, own a digital camera, listen to music on your MP3 player, or keep your coffee warm with a USB coffee warmer (that we can imprint with your logo), you’re likely utilizing USB devices all the time. As are your customers and your employees. We offer a wide variety of USB devices that make exceptional promotional gifts.

USB 2.0 has been the standard for several years. But now we have USB 3.0. What does that mean and why should you care? According to PCWorld, “The theoretical throughput improvement offered by USB 3.0 is dramatic — a theoretical 10X jump over existing USB 2.0 hardware. USB 2.0 maxed out at a theoretical 480Mbps, while USB 3.0 can theoretically handle up to 5Gbps.” You can read the full PCWorld article here.

Sound like gibberish? Sorry about that. I’m a geek. All you need to know is that USB 3.0 is fast. REALLY fast.

Few computers are available with USB 3.0 technology, and few devices are available that are USB 3.0, but it will quickly become the standard on all computers and devices. And today I spotted the first USB 3.0 memory drives available in our industry.

USB 3.0 devices should be backwards compatible, meaning that you can use them with computers that are USB 2.0. Like all new technology, expect to pay a little more for the newest and fastest. And if any of your employees and customers are as tech-geeky as I am, they will love you if you give them a new USB 3.0 drive.

For Immediate Release: Lawrence, KS, November 10, 2010 – Snap Promotions has released a list of their top ten tech-oriented promotional holiday gifts.

“These techie gifts are a great way to build brand loyalty with younger consumers,” explains Kristin Eldridge, president of Snap Promotions. “These gifts can be decorated with a company’s logo, and given to prospective customers and employees alike. They also make great thank you gifts for your best clients.”

Snap Promotions list of their most popular techie promotional gifts.

1. USB Drives
2. Digital Photo Frames
3. Custom Skins for Mobile Phones and MP3 Players
4. Laser Pointer Pens
5. Laptop Sleeves
6. Cordless Computer Mouse
7. Moblie Phone Holders and Cases
8. Weather Stations
9. MP3 Players and Ear Buds
10. Assorted USB Devices

While the promotional products industry has suffered like many other industries during the down economy, some product categories have continued to grow.

“There are so many wonderful options for gifts,” says Eldridge. “They’re definitely among our best sellers this time of year.”

A great way to get a prospect’s attention? Custom chocolate gifts. Few gifts will deliver the impact of chocolate. It excites the senses like nothing else. You’ll be the talk of the office when you drop off these tasty treats. And there are so many options available that you can certainly create the perfect gift for your next promotion.

My favorite is the Two Pound Executive Gift Bar. It’s a lot of chocolate, and can be custom molded with your logo and promotional message. Available in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or as a two toned (milk and dark) chocolate bar.

Another one of my favorites are the premium truffles in a beautiful gift box. Or the chocolate covered cookies. Or the chocolate covered nuts. Or the chocolate bars with custom wrappers. Yum.

Click here to view just a few of our available options. You’ll be glad you did. And so will your customers!

My favorite candy? Yep. You guessed it. They’re M&Ms. I just love them. Plain. With peanuts. All the cool colors. Anytime. Anywhere.

And I was even more excited when I found out that we could now sell M&Ms custom imprinted with your logo. Tons of colors to choose from so that you can pick the perfect assortment of colors for your next promotion. And custom packaging is available as well. Your next promotional campaign is sure to be a hit when you include customized M&Ms with your company’s logo.

Click here to view our M&Ms catalog with all the juicy details! (Approximately 8MB PDF but it’s worth the wait.)

Do you know the history of the candy? This is from Wikipedia: Forrest Mars, Sr. founder of the Mars Company, got the idea for the confection in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War  when he saw soldiers eating chocolate pellets with a hard shell of tempered chocolate surrounding the inside, preventing the candies from melting. Mars received a patent for his own process on March 3, 1941. Production began in 1941 in a factory located in New Jersey. One M was for Forrest E. Mars Sr., and one for William F. R. Murrie, President of Hershey’s Chocolate. Murrie had 20 percent interest in the product. The arrangement allowed the candies to be made with Hershey chocolate which had control of the rationed chocolate. When operations were started, the hard-coated chocolates were made in five colors: red, yellow, brown, green, and violet. They were served in a cardboard tube (similar to Smarties). The practicality of the candies during World War II caused an increase in production. During the War the candies were exclusively sold to the military. In 1948, the cardboard packaging was replaced by the black cellophane packaging. In the same year Mars bought out Murrie’s 20 percent stake. (Read more here.)

Can you believe the holidays are right around the corner? We have many great ideas about holiday gifts for your customers and employees. One of our favorites? Maple Ridge Farms. We’ve worked with them for years, and they’ve never let us down.

Some of my personal favorites include the gourmet brownies and cookies gift baskets, and the gift boxes with nuts and chocolates. Maple Ridge Farms offers an incredible variety of edible treats and presentation choices ranging from wooden gift boxes to towers. And not only do they have tasty treats, they have ham, cheese and assorted gift tubs.

Follow this link to their online catalog for tons of great ideas, then just give us a ring and let us know what you need!

With the first bit of snow falling this week in northeast Kansas, it reminds me that it’s that time of year. Yep. Time to let your customers, staff, suppliers and potential clients know how much you care. And while you’re at it, make sure you reinforce your brand in the process!

Here are just a few great ideas to get your wheels turning.

USB Drives
Available in dozens of styles, USB Drives are popular and useful gifts. These drives can also be preloaded with your catalog or company information.

Puzzle Globe
This extraordinary 72-pice Puzzle Globe features a high-polish globe with matte silver world map. Use the matte silver magnetic base to remove the puzzle pieces from the globe.

Office Dirt
One of the most unique personalized gifts available – Office Dirt. Your clients will love the gift of life.

Activo Insulated Totes
Made by Picnic Time, these insulated totes feature multiple pockets and an expanded main storage area. Features water resistant lining and is available in several colors.

18 oz. Stainless Steel Mug with Car Warmer
Millions of Americans drink coffee. So make sure they’re drinking coffee out of mug with your logo printed on it. Features a car adapter and a temperature indicator on the handle.

Equinox Wine Sack
An insulated, single bottle wine duffel with adjustable should strap. Includes stainless steel corkscrew. Made by Picnic Time.

Bamboo Photo Frame
Utilizing bamboo saves trees and improves the atmosphere. Show that you care about the environment and your staff with these Bamboo Photo Frames. Holds a standard 4” x 6” photo.

Grill Master Traditional BBQ Set
Many of us grill year round. And these are the ultimate set of tools for any Grill Master.

Deluxe Grocery Shopper
This is a durable and reusable shopping bag. Ideal for quick trips to the grocery store. These non-woven bags are eco-friendly and uber-popular.

Cotton Cinchpack
Made from 100% cotton, this cinchpack is a great value. A useful gift for people on the go.

24 oz. h2go Stainless Steel Bottle
Stainless Steel and Aluminum Water Bottles have been among our most popular promotional items this year. Tons of styles and colors available, but the h2go Balance Bottle is definitely one of our favorites.

Cutter & Buck American Classic Wine Set
Set includes stainless steel wine pourer, drip ring and wine opener in a 1-piece flap-over carrying case. Cutter & Buck branding on case and opener. Includes a 2-piece Cutter & Buck presentation box.

Bell Ornament Set
Help your customers ring in the holidays with the Bell Ornament Set. This fine holiday gift features six bells.