High Tech meets Happy Hour:
USB Bottle Openers from Swag Connection

The iClick Milwaukee Drive

Here's a brand-new swag idea that just crossed my desk today, and what a fun item for summer! These all metal, heavy-duty USB Bottle Openers are fully-functioning USB Drives with your choice of 2GB, 4GB or 8GB of memory capacity.

While this isn't a drive for the extremely price-conscious, it has a lot going for it. Bottle openers have always been a very popular addition to people's keyrings, and this is designed for that. As most people handle their keys several times each day, the keyring is a prime location for your brand.

Usefulness is another huge factor when it comes to swag that is kept versus swag that's passed along. This USB Bottle opener serves two functions, making it superior to ordinary flash drives that can only be used for data storage. Plus it's got that 'fun factor' that sets it apart from ordinary flashdrives.

Not so long ago it was a big deal to get a promotional USB drive, as they were relatively expensive and few companies could afford to give them away. That's no longer the case. Today you can't assume that people are going to keep, use (or even remember) your ordinary custom-logo flashdrives - they've become ubiquitous. Stepping up to a cool drive like these is what smart marketers are doing to keep their branding fresh, memorable and top-of-mind (not to mention top-of-bottle!)

While this is an obvious choice for beer or soda companies, they're also a great swag idea for:

FAMILY REUNIONS
GRAND OPENINGS (get it?)
WEDDINGS
COLLEGES
RESORTS & HOTELS
GOLF TOURNAMENTS
SOFTWARE COMPANIES
EVENT PLANNERS

The minimum order is 50 drives, with turnaround time of betwen 2-3 weeks.

USB Memory Prices change weekly, so please contact us for a current quote:
Toll-Free - 866-247-4320
Diane@Swagconnection.com 

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more new & unique swag ideas :)

When my husband's parents passed away we found boxes (and boxes) of promotional matchbooks and matchboxes down in their basement, a collection that spanned decades of travel and fine dining. It was fun to go through them and imagine the folks picking them up at swanky restaurants back in the 60's and 70's when everyone smoked and every establishment had custom matchbooks that doubled as free souvenirs.

The thing is, even people who don't smoke still love (and keep) personalized matchbooks. They're one of the least costly and most collected swag items on the planet. Unless they're used up, matchbooks and matchboxes are almost never thrown away. So today I thought I'd show you some of the cooler variations of personalized matches we offer at Swag Connection:

Pillow Matchboxes - Item #1038

Pillow Matchboxes are a hipper, more upscale presentation that's a perfect branding touch for high-end bars, restaurants and resorts. The striker is located on the back of the inner pouch sleeve.

Double Lipstick Matchboxes - Item 1011-D2L

Double Lipstick Matchboxes are uniquely shaped and hold extra-long matches that are perfect for lighting candles, campfires and barbeques. This distinctive shape stands out from the crowd.

Table Tent Matchboxes - Item 1002-D2L

If you want personalized matches that make a bold statement, table tent matches are the way to go! These extra-large boxes look great on tables and really show off your custom artwork.

Triangular Matchboxes - Item 1029

Triangular shaped personalized matchboxes are a cool alternative to ordinary matchbooks for about the same price.

Desk Matchboxes - Item 1009

These square-shaped matchboxes hold a whopping 75 matches & look like little pocket-sized works of art. This is a box of matches that will stick around to promote your brand for a long time!

Flip-Top Matchboxes - Item 1004

Not for everyone, but an edgy matchbox alternative for fearless branders... or tobacco companies!

Tube Matchboxes - Item 1006

These uniquely shaped match tubes are sure to strike up lots of conversations about your brand!

No matter which style you choose, Swag Connection has personalized matches to fit your unique brand image and look. We also offer traditional and budget-priced personalized matchbooks for businesses, as well as small-quantity wedding matchbooks for your special day.

If you're interested in striking up a conversation about branding your own customized matchboxes I'd love to hear from you! You can reach Swag Connection toll-free at 866-247-4320 (or) email me directly: diane@swagconnection.com.

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more swag ideas!

Here's a cool, brand-new swag idea just in time for your Spring marketing:

Clear, Clever Folding Flower Vases with Custom Branding:

Swag Connection Item PRM-PL-4101

There's nothing like fresh flowers to brighten up someone's day, which is why I love this new Folding Vase. Introduced to the promotional industry early in 2010, this product won top place in two categories at this year's ASI Orlando Tradeshow - "Best Bang for Your Buck" and "Most Likely to Build A Buzz".

These clever little bud vases are made of soft, flexible PVC plastic. They fold flat for easy storage and form a vase when filled with water. They stand about 10-1/2" tall with a 5" bottom diameter when filled, and come with your choice of Black, Blue, Green, Red or yellow trim.

These folding vases are an ideal swag idea for:
Nursing or Retirement Homes
Florists & Nurseries
Real Estate  or Insurance Agents
Hospitals & Clinics
Cruise Lines
Restaurants
Hotels, Spas & Resorts
Special Event Table Decoration

These would also be a fun swag idea for tradeshows- set up a few of these folding vases on the table at your booth, then add water & flowers to demonstrate how they work. They'll add a festive springtime look to your display and make your booth seem more inviting to attendees.

These Flexi-Vases come packaged in a self-mailer envelope and would also be a great swag idea for direct mail campaigns. Priced at under $2/ea with a minimum order of 200 pieces, this is a unique and memorable way to promote your brand in a classy way.

INTERESTED IN FOLDING FLOWER VASES WITH YOUR CUSTOM LOGO?

This is just one of the thousands of swag ideas you'll find at Swag Connection.
Click here to view this item in more detail on our website or request a quote.

Feel free to email me (sales@swagconnection.com) or give me a call toll-free (866-247-4320) if you have questions or would like to talk about ordering this item with your custom logo. I love to hear from my blog readers!

Thanks for reading - and if you know other people who are always looking for interesting swag ideas for their marketing, please tell them about my blog.

Diane Nudelman

According to data provided by the Humane Society of the US, there are over 77.5 million dogs owned in the USA, with 39% of all households owning at least one dog. As a dog lover myself, I was tickled to come across this fun, dog-themed swag idea - Doggie Water Bottles. If the way to a pet owner's heart is through their dog, these are sure to make them fall in love with your brand.

Custom Logo Metal Water Bottles... For Dogs!

ETS Express "K-9" Collection Doggie Water Bottles

At first glance this looks like any ordinary stainless steel promo water bottle, but it has a very special feature specially designed for our furry friends... a roller-ball dispenser lid!

Awww, isn't he cute??

This is a great solution for packing water along for dogs on walks or during travel. Unlike collapsible pet bowls, it's a self-contained, spillproof unit that fits easily in a backpack or ice chest. It's important for pets to stay hydrated during hot summer months, and this makes it so easy for pet owners to always have fresh water at hand in an easy-to-drink-from container.

Those who read my blog know I'm always saying you need to think outside the box when searching for swag ideas because the most popular items have been "done to death" and don't get people excited. That's becoming the case with metal water bottles for humans - by now, nearly everyone has at least one. This is a great way to jump on the metal bottle craze, but with a cool twist. Even if you give these to non-dog owners, chances are they'll pass one of these along to a pet-owning friend or relative. 

These K-9 Collection Dog Water Bottles range in price between $8-$10/ea with a low minimum order of just 36 pieces. For even more branding fun, let us combine your logo with cool dog-themed wraparound graphics for a custom designed look!

INTERESTED IN K-9 DOG WATER BOTTLES WITH YOUR LOGO?

Swag Connection offers this item on our swagconnection.com website, just click the link for more details and pricing, or to request a quote with your custom logo.

Feel free to call us toll free at 866-247-4320 or email me directly: diane@swagconnection.com. I love to hear from our blog readers, many of whom become clients!

Have a great day & keep coming back for more swag ideas!

Spring is just around the corner and everyone is getting back on their bikes.

Promote your brand this spring in a truly unique (and useful) way with these custom-logo Bicycle Tire Levers from Swag Connection:

As you can see, your logo or message really jumps out on this item! An essential item for every cyclist, these are an inexpensive swag idea that's really quite unique. I don't know about where you live, but here in Portland Oregon it seems EVERYONE is a bike commuter these days (including me when it's not raining TOO hard). Bicycle-themed swag is still fairly uncommon outside of bike-themed events, so this is one of those swag ideas I'm always looking for that hasn't been "done to death".

These are a no-brainer if your target audience is bicyclists or if you're in a bicycle-related industry, but I'd also say this item could be used to creatively market outside that small niche. For example, these would be a great way for HR to promote a "Bike To Work Day" to employees in a large company. Financial planners or business consultants could also tie in the idea of "leverage" with this item to promote their services.

This is also a swag item that could be used for a 'guessing game' promotion at tradeshows... basically you hand them out and have people guess what they're supposed to be used for. It's a fun way to get people engaged in conversation in a non-intimidating way, and the best guesses could be posted on your website for all to see!

Last but not least, these would be great swag for bike shops to give out for test rides or with the purchase of a new bike. This is just one of our bicycle-themed swag ideas - give me a call or send me an email if you're interested in finding out about other bike swag ideas.

INTERESTED IN ORDERING THESE CUSTOMIZED WITH YOUR LOGO?

Give me a call at 866-247-4320 and I'll be more than happy to help you out! I love hearing from my blog readers :)

Thanks for reading & please tell others about my blog. Keep coming back for more unique swag ideas!

Diane Nudelman "The Swag Queen"

Now you can promote your brand with one of America's most trusted products...

Introducing the WD-40 Pen with Your Custom Label
(available March 31, 2010)

If you're searching for new giveaway swag ideas this one should be at the top of your list. These handy WD-40 Pens have hundreds of uses and are sure to be a big hit at your next tradeshow or marketing event.

WD-40 stops sqeaks, loosens rusted parts, protects against corrosion and removes grease, gum, crayon and dirt from surfaces safely and easily with a low-odor formulation. The precision dispensing tip ensures no-mess application and makes this a handy item for glovebox, toolkit, desk drawer or backpack.

These authentic, name-brand WD-40 pens are brand new to the promotional market - in fact they're not even available until the end of this month... but as a Swag Connection blog reader I wanted you to be the very first to know about them.

Minimum order quantity with custom label is 250 pieces. The WD-40 Pen is priced between $1.99-$2.58/each depending on quantity ordered.

INTERESTED IN WD-40 PENS WITH YOUR CUSTOM LABEL?

Swag Connection is happy to help - just contact us for a quote, sample or more information on this product from our Natural Trends catalog:

Phone: 503-281-6420 (In Oregon )  866-247-4320 (Toll-Free)

Email: sales@swagconnection.com

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more swag ideas!

Here are 3 great new recycled swag items I absolutely love for 2010:

First off, check out this recycled notecard wheel:

Ecoswag Item ALX-1341

This is definitely one of those items you really need to see in person to fully appreciate. While fan-type jotter notepads like this are nothing new, this one is cooler than the rest. It's made of recycled material, with a sturdy, smooth cover that looks great with a black logo imprint as shown. The first page has a 3-year calendar, followed by 76 pages in 4 color-coded sections. The pages are thicker than a regular notepad, in fact they're more like index cards. Each card is lined and perforated along the left-hand side to tear out neatly. You can't see it in the photo, but there's an attached orange elastic privacy band that keeps the jotter neatly closed when not in use.

This particular item currently only comes with the citrus-orange cover, but it really looks sharp and has a hip & modern vibe. Priced at under $4.00 this is a great swag idea to leave behind after sales calls or to give as a gift to clients or prospects.

Next, here's a similar item for keeping cards or photos:

Ecoswag Item ALX-1350

This is a smaller sized "wheel" with a recycled paperboard cover that contains 10 durable vinyl sleeves. It's perfect for keeping business cards, credit cards or even wallet-size photos! It can be hard to find swag ideas that will appeal to such a wide range of people, but this one works equally well for senior citizens, soccer moms or business people. You can barely see it, but this one also has an elastic band to keep it neatly closed when not in use.

Priced at $3 or less, this is one of my favorite "giveaway-priced" swag ideas for spring events and trade shows. This one does come in a choice of colors - Royal Blue, Black, Chocolate Brown or Orange.

Last but Not Least... a Recycled Password Keeper

Ecoswag Item #ALX-1342

For those who have too many logins and passwords to keep track of, this recycled Password Pad is a swag idea whose time has come. It's arranged in alphabetical order with sections for recording account names, password hints and passwords. Made of recycled material with a metal spiral binding & elastic privacy strap, this is a fantastic swag idea for creatively marketing your high tech company at events and conferences.

This item comes in Black, Brown or Royal Blue as shown. Also in the $3.00 and under price range, this is a unique and useful promotional item that many people have not yet seen.

INTERESTED IN THESE RECYCLED SWAG IDEAS FOR YOUR COMPANY?

Clicking the links below the photos will take you to these items on our ecoswag.com website where you'll find details and pricing. You can request a quote from the website, or simply call or email us for more information or to order a sample. (Ecoswag.com is a web division of Swag Connection).

Feel free to call us at 866-247-4320 (toll-free) or email us: sales@swagconnection.com

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more great swag ideas for your creative marketing!

If you're in the business of creative marketing you may already be familiar with Brandelopes, which were used by (and feaatured on) the Ellen Degeneres Show during her 12 Days of Giveaways over the holiday season.

For those who haven't heard of them yet, a Brandelope is really just a customized version of a FedEx or Priority Mail envelope. Printed on both sides with full-color graphics, Brandelopes are a great way to create visual excitement for your direct mailings & increase your open/response rate. However, it's not the traditional Brandelope that I'm excited about today - it's their new product - the TABELOPE - which is a Brandelope with one very important feature... a tab that turns it into a file folder:

While this is pretty much identical to the Brandelope, it's the tab feature that I think is genius. Hardly anyone would hang on to a Brandelope after opening it up, but a Tabelope has the extra functionality of a file folder that makes it much more likely to be kept, possibly even for years after it's opened. This is especially true if it's used to deliver information or documents that need to be kept or referred to over time, such as tax returns or insurance policies. Since it's printed with your contact information, a Tabelope is a great way to keep that info literally at your recipient's fingertips in their file drawer.

With the entire front of the 9 x 11-3/4" sized Tabelope available for your custom graphics and message, this is a great vehicle for delivering your brand image with eye-popping full color impact. Priced at around $2/each (with a low minimum order of 200 pieces) this is creative direct marketing that even small companies with a modest budget can afford.

Here's how the tab feature works:

This is a GREAT swag idea for:
Tax Preparers
Insurance Agents
Realtors
Finance Companies
Mortgage Brokers
HR Departments
Appraisers
Property Managers
Banks & Credit Unions
Attorneys
Senior Living Communities

INTERESTED IN BRANDELOPES OR TABELOPES FOR YOUR COMPANY OR NON-PROFIT?

We'd be more than happy to send you a sample of either the Brandelope or the Tabelope at your request. We can also quote your custom Brandelope or Tabelope project and help you with artwork development if needed.

Phone: 866-247-4320 (Toll Free)                 Email: Sales@Swagconnection.com

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more swag ideas for your creative marketing!

I'm back in the office after attending the promotional product industry's biggest tradeshow last week (the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas). With over 2,000 catalog lines on display on the show floor, it was a great place to pick up new swag ideas to share with you for the year ahead. Here's one of my new favorite things:

Flexible Silicone Calculators

Bullet Line Item #SM3122

First of all, you need to know this is one of those swag items that is MUCH cooler in real life than it looks in the picture here. Much of this calculator's appeal is tactile, and I honestly didn't think it was all that cool when I first looked at it... until I picked it up and started playing with it!

The body of this silicone calculator is flat, and the number and function keys are raised to give it a 3-D effect. It's floppy and flexible, similar to those roll-up silicone computer keyboards you may have seen (but at a much lower price point). I ordered a sample so I could try it out  & I'm hooked - it works perfectly and it's so much cooler looking and more fun to use than my old traditional calculator. It's a great example of how the promotional product industry continues to innovate by putting a fresh new twist on items that have been around forever.

Here's the thing with promotional swag - and this especially applies to traditional swag ideas in the lower price ranges - you have to assume that most people already have a similar item at their home or office. Therefore, the name of the game is to give people something that's somehow better and more appealing so it will replace the item they already own... and become their new favorite. Once I got this silicone calculator, my old one (which I've used for years and works just fine) went straight to the back of the desk drawer. This is exactly what you want to happen, and I think this is one of those items that has a high probability of landing (and staying) on the desktop to give your logo daily exposure. Priced at under $4, with a minimum order of 150 pieces, this is a fun swag idea that can be handed out at events or easily mailed out.

Although similar silicone calculators can be found elsewhere, we source ours from the Bullet Line catalog. Their pricing is better AND they custom-imprint your order in 24 hours at no extra charge. Since they also offer shipping anywhere in the US in 3 days at ground rates, you can order these on Monday and have them in your hands by Friday... without paying expensive rush charges or expedited shipping costs. So if you tend to wait til the last minute to order your trade show swag, this (or anything from Bullet Line) is an excellent choice!

INTERESTED IN THIS SILICONE CALCULATOR WITH YOUR CUSTOM LOGO?

Feel free to check out this item on the Bullet Line website, where you'll find more details and pricing. When you're ready to order, just contact us here at Swag Connection:

Phone: 866-247-4320
Email: Sales@swagconnection.com

We love to hear from our blog readers, many of whom turn into clients. Please also feel free to post comments if you like this swag idea and want to share your thoughts on how it could be used in a creative marketing campaign.

Thanks for reading and keep coming back for more new swag ideas for 2010!

I actually didn't used to be a plastic bottle myself, although I am a bottle blonde if that makes any difference.

What I'm excited about today is opening my 2010 catalog from Numo Manufacturing and discovering that we can now offer our customers some cool neoprene swag items that are made with 85% post-consumer recycled content, like this mobile accessory pouch that's perfect for Blackberries & iPhones:

Numo Mfg. Item #557

This is the larger of two sizes offered, and sells for $2-$3 with a 1-color custom imprint (minimum 100). The size & price make this a perfect eco-friendly giveaway for tradeshows and other events - and it would also be very easy to mail. The material is sort of like that of a scuba wetsuit, and it's made out of recycled plastic bottles. If you're searching for swag ideas that appeal to the young & hip, this is a good choice.

This second item is the NEW Eco-Coolie... which is basically the same Eco-Coolie I blogged on a year or so ago, but it's gone from 10% recycled content all the way up to 85%... so I thought it merited another mention:

Numo Mfg. Item #100ECO

It's pretty much exactly what it looks like - a beer koozie - but made mostly from post-consumer recycled bottles (this is also 85% recycled content). Even though they've been around forever, koozies are a promotional product that refuses to die... and they're getting a new following among the younger generation because of their "retro" vibe. They're useful, inexpensive ($.89 & up) and have a humongous imprint area for your logo or message. My favorite way to use them is at events (like as a hole sponsor at a golf event) and hand out cold beverages in a custom logo eco-coolie. Everyone appreciates a cold drink at an event, and the coolie keeps their hands dry and their drink cold. Best of all, it's a walking billboard for your logo!

INTERESTED IN THESE ITEMS WITH YOUR CUSTOM LOGO?

Feel free to follow the links above to the Numo Manufacturing website to check out pricing, colors, etc. on these recycled neoprene items (there's also a recycled bottle jersey on their site) before you decide. If you decide this is what you're looking for, Swag Connection will be happy to help you with your order. We'll answer all of your questions, help you with your artwork layout and keep you informed thoughout the order process. You can read what our customers say about us on our Testimonial Page.

Just give us a call (866-247-4320) or email us: sales@swagconnection.com. We'd love to hear from you and help you with some cool swag for YOUR logo!

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more great swag ideas...

Today I came across a very good article on BusinessWeek.com titled "Don't Neglect Internal Branding" by Steve McKee, which is a great reminder that delivering a great brand experience begins with communicating what your brand stands for INSIDE the organization. The best brands are built on a company culture that involves everyone in the brand experience - not just the marketing department. But building that culture and keeping everyone in the loop can be a challenge, especially with large or geographically diverse organizations.

Howard Schultz of Starbucks made headlines recently by closing all of their locations for a company-wide meeting that focused on helping every employee to understand and deliver the Starbucks Brand Experience. One-time "big events" like that are great for rallying the troops, but what about a week, a month or a year from now? Internal branding has to be more than just a one-time event. It also needs to involve on-going communication of the company's values, culture and brand promise to its employees and stakeholders.

What better medium for that on-going Internal Branding is there than swag? Emails get deleted, company memos get filed away, meetings are soon forgotten... but that coffee mug with the company's mission statement is a daily, visible reminder of what your company brand stands for. Lapel pins, mouse pads, sticky notes, calendars and pens are all great, inexpensive swag ideas for carrying internal branding messages throughout your organization in a highly visible way.

Simply distributing swag items internally to remind employees of the key points of your brand promise is one way to keep everyone on board. To kick it up a notch, consider creating contests where those who are delivering the brand promise receive a special, exclusive gift of swag. A distinctive company-logo jacket, duffel bag, padfolio or travel mug would all be great rewards for this sort of internal branding initiative.

One last point I want to make about swag and internal branding, and that is the importance of employee morale - especially in trying times like these. If your company isn't rewarding people with raises or bonuses this year, giving appropriate and useful gifts is one way to show your appreciation.

LOOKING FOR SWAG IDEAS FOR YOUR INTERNAL BRANDING?

Swag Connection is here to help you. Here are two ways to get good swag ideas - browse our catalog library or use our searchable product database on SwagConnection.com. Better yet, contact us and tell us about your needs and budget - we'll come up with great ideas that work for you.

Phone: 866-247-4320          Email: Sales@Swagconnection.com

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave comments - we love to hear from our blog readers!