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 :)

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

Custom Laptop Sleeves make great business gifts. The problem is not all laptops are the same size - they can range anywhere from 12" to 17", which is ia pretty wide range. How do you decide which size to order?

Swag Connection has the solution - check out our CUSTOM LAPTOP SLEEVE with UNIVERSAL FIT:

This clever design eliminates the guesswork, it fits any size laptop computer perfectly. Made of 600d polyester with a soft, plush interior, this custom laptop sleeve is one of my favorite swag ideas for a computer-related business gift for under $20. Simply place the computer inside, secure it with the Velcro strap and buckle the flap closure for snug and secure fit every time.

An outside zippered pocket holds small accessories and the carry handle makes it easy to grab and go. This custom laptop sleeve comes decorated with your logo, which can be screen printed or embroidered depending on the look you prefer.

Computer laptop sleeves are a super-popular promotional item right now, and they give your logo excellent exposure because they're mobile by nature and have a nice large imprint area. This custom laptop sleeve would be a great business gift for employees, valued clients or other stakeholders in your business or non-profit.

This is also an item that could be used for what we call a "sticky promotion" where you deliver or mail out the laptop sleeve to a targeted audience, along with an offer they can respond to for a chance to win a laptop computer. This could be a fun way to kick off a sales contest internally or create excitement around a technology-related new product launch.

The minimum order quantity for this custom laptop sleeve is 48 pieces. Price ranges between $12.83-$17.36 depending on order quantity. Here's a link where you can see more details and pricing on our supplier's website: Goodhope Bags Universal Computer Sleeve

INTERESTED IN THIS SWAG IDEA FOR YOUR COMPANY?

Contact me at Swag Connection - 866-247-4320 or email me: sales@swagconnection.com

I love to hear from people who find me through the blog and will be more than happy to help you with an order for this or any other swag items you're interested in finding.

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

Seriously. A rugged, full size computer keyboard you can put your logo on... and PUT THROUGH THE DISHWASHER:

The Seal Shield dishwasher-safe line of keyboards was originally developed for use in the medical industry as a way to help stop the spread of germs in hospital settings. This is not a gimmick - they're full size, full function computer keyboards that are 100% waterproof.

I recently discovered these "dishwasher keyboards" are now available with custom corporate logo decoration in the promotional products industry. This is a great swag idea!

If you have any inkling at all of how germy and nasty the average office keyboard is (hint: much worse than a public toilet seat), your company should JUMP at the chance to convert your employee workstations to custom logo Seal Shield keyboards from Swag Connection. Not only do they cost about the same as ordinary keyboards ($35-$59 depending on style & quantity), they're a tangible way your company can prove it cares about employee health and well-being.

As a promotional business gift or incentive, this is a swag idea that's simply brilliant. Talk about a branded promotional gift that people will use and keep for years and years with daily logo exposure. If your company sells any sort of high-tech software or computer systems, thanking your customers for a nice order with a custom Seal Shield keyboard or two is a no-brainer.

We currently offer 3 styles of name-brand Seal Shield dishwasher-safe keyboards through industry supplier Logomark, as well as the waterproof, dishwasher-safe Seal Shield mouse. They can be ordered with or without your company's custom logo imprint.

INTERESTED IN ORDERING DISHWASHER SAFE SEAL SHIELD KEYBOARDS WITH YOUR LOGO?

Simply contact us here at Swag Connection to get started. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have and get your project started!

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

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more great 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!

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!

It's the time of year when the new 2010 catalogs start arriving in the Swag Connection mailbox, and they're a great source for new swag ideas to share with my blog readers. As soon as I saw this Capri Computer Bag, I couldn't wait to tell you about it. Classy, feminine, affordable and airport-ready, this is my new favorite computer bag for the female executive:

Gemline #2604 Life In Motion Capri Computer Bag

This bag is the perfect size for travel - 16.25" x 12.5" - and it features eye-catching design as well as great functionality. It's made of easy to clean microfiber with simulated leather accents and features Gemline's "Viewpoint System" sleeve (shown in the photo below) with a detachable buckle for easy laptop security scanning.

This handy sleeve accomodates a laptop up to 14" and tucks easily into the main compartment:

Additionally, you'll find a zippered, padded compartment with a multi-function organizer to keep business accessories organized and protected. The 25" handles make it easy to carry this bag on your shoulder if needed, and the metal feet keep the bag stabilized when upright.

This bag is available from Swag Connection with your custom-embroidered logo in quantities of 12 or more. Priced at a little over $50, this would be a great incentive or reward for the high-performing women on your company's team.

INTERESTED IN THIS BAG WITH YOUR COMPANY LOGO?
Simply give us a call or start with an email for more details or an itemized price quote from Swag Connection:

By Phone: 866-247-4320 (toll-free)
By Email: Sales@Swagconnection.com

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more great Swag Ideas in 2010!!

Looking for a tasteful, customized holiday business gift that's appropriate for EVERYONE?

We now offer CUSTOM-ETCHED BOTTLES
of premium Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar:

Custom Labeled Olive Oil

If you're the person in charge of deciding on your company's holiday gifts, you know how hard it can be to find something that's appropriate for everyone on your list. Wine is a popular gift, but problematic because some people don't drink for personal or religious reasons. Plus it can be a real hassle to ship due to state liquor laws. Since people's taste in wine varys greatly, even a very expensive bottle may not be appreciated by everyone who receives it.

Nuts, popcorn, candies and gift baskets of food are other popular choices, but they can be a problem for diabetics, folks on sodium-restricted diets (or those who are simply watching their weight). Also, the sheer popularity of food gifts makes it likely yours will be one of several your recipients will get this holiday season, which makes it hard to stand out from the crowd.

That's why I really like this new swag idea I came across recently - CUSTOM ETCHED bottles of premium Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for the holidays. These quality, all-purpose condiments come with your choice of a custom-printed label as shown above, or a deep-etched bottle like this:

Custom Etched Balsamic Vinegar

Both olive oil and balsamic vinegar are natural, healthful, all-purpose gifts that are different enough to stand out from the crowd. The custom-etched bottles have a high-end look and feel, as well as plenty of room for your logo or artwork. Olive oil and vinegar are also consumed over time compared to snack-type gifts, which keeps your logo around long after the holiday season is over.

These custom etched bottles are from Etching Wines and Spirits, and sold exclusively through promotional products companies like Swag Connection. The minimum order quantity is a low 12 bottles, with prices in the $30-$40 range. To see a PDF with more information and pricing, click here.

For an extra-special touch, laser-branded wooden gift crates are a beautiful way to package your gift and make a lasting impression:

Custom Label Bottle in Matching Gift Crate

These custom-etched bottles could also be delivered in a reusable wine tote, like this inexpensive one from Ecoswag.com.

While this is a great swag idea for the holidays, it's also good for other times of year as well. These would be nice gifts to reward clients, donors or employees in nearly any type of business!

INTERESTED IN CUSTOM-ETCHED OIL & VINEGAR FOR YOUR COMPANY?

Simply contact us with questions or to get started on your project:
Sales@SwagConnection.com
Toll Free: 866-247-4320

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

Here's a cool and useful swag idea for promotional campaigns targeted to a female audience:

Logo-Customized Purse Pal Handbag Hooks

My client & winemaking friend Kelley Styring of Insight Farm was one of the first to explore the connections between brands, women and what women carry in ther handbags. The results of her study were really quite fascinating - and are well presented in this article on CNN titled: The Power of the Purse. Did you know that 95% of women aged 18-64 carry a purse every day? Getting your brand connected with a woman's purse is one way to gain favorable daily exposure for your brand or cause.

Now there are lots of things you could give out that go into a purse - tins of breath mints, pens, lip balms, hand sanitizers and compact mirrors are popular swag choices - but they're also commonplace items most women already own, so they may not make much of an impression.

That's why I really like this Purse Pal handbag hook - it's a classy purse item that not many women currently own. It perches on the edge of a table or counter at restaurants and lounges and keeps a woman's purse in easy reach. The clever design rolls up as shown here when it's not in use, and the velvet gift bag is a nice touch that also keeps it from getting scratched up in the purse.

One of the other things I like about this as a marketing swag idea is that it has the potential to become a conversation piece when women get together socially. I know if I whipped one of these out to hang my bag when meeting the gals for cocktails it would certainly be noticed & commented on. Giving a smart little gadget like this is a great way to enhance your brand's image for a female audience.

INTERESTED IN PURSE PALS WITH YOUR CUSTOM LOGO?

I just started a "Diane's Top Picks" section on SwagConnection.com and added this item, so click the link to view product details and pricing online. This gift item comes from IMC-Miracles which is one of my favorite business gift lines here at Swag Connection. Anything you see on their website can be purchased through my company.

As always, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email if you are interested in any of the swag ideas I feature on my blog. I love hearing from my blog readers and many of them have become clients over the years.

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

Thanks for reading & keep coming back for more cool & unusual swag ideas - Ciao!

Here's a swag item that recently caught my eye - The Essential Accordion Jotter:

OK, I know what you're thinking... she's showing me just another one of those fancy Journal Books, which are nice, but certainly nothing new.

Wrong! Open it up and you'll see this is new, different & quite useful:

If you're looking for a fresh alternative to custom journals and notebooks, this Essential Accordion Jotter is a great choice. It's in the same price range, and it's an item that many people haven't seen before. Now don't get me wrong, I love journals and notebooks as business giveaway items. The problem with them is they're such a popular swag item that most people already have one (or more) already.

This accordion jotter is a nice size for taking notes (3.5" x 5.5") and comes with a refillable/removable jotter pad as shown. The 3 accordion pockets are great for all sorts of uses - keeping coupons, receipts, business cards or notes to self. There's an elastic pen loop built in to the middle (hard to see in the photo) and these can be ordered with the optional Modern Pen as shown. Extra refills are also available.

The cover is turned leatherette on a rigid paperboard backing, which combined with the flat elastic band closure gives this jotter a high-end, modern appeal. These are priced between $4-$6 depending on quantity, with a minimum order of 100 pieces with custom logo decoration.

IDEAS FOR USING THIS SWAG ITEM TO PROMOTE YOUR COMPANY OR CAUSE:

Accounting Firms: Perfect client gift for business owners who need to keep receipts & mileage logs

Banks: Great gift for new accounts, perfect size for keeping deposit receipts

Event Marketing: Slip a coupon, brochure or business card into the accordion pockets before the event for extra promotional power

Hospitals: This would be a great gift for new mothers - fill the accordion pockets with coupons for special offers for new moms gathered from local marketing partners.

Non-Profits: A nice gift for donors or volunteers that's classy & useful but not too spendy

Interested in The Essential Accordion Jotter with YOUR Custom Logo?

Here's a link to this item on our Supplier's website where you can see more details & pricing:

Click Here for Info

To Order - just give Swag Connection a call or send me an email to get started:

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

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

This Week's New Favorite Thing... The Convertible "Montezuma" Backpack from District Threads

The very first thing I must say is that the picture does not do it justice. This swag item is MUCH cooler in real life. I recently got a sample to try out (one advantage of being the Swag Queen) and it's the best laptop-compatible backpack I've ever owned.

Brand new for Spring 2009, this backpack's most innovative feature is that it easily converts from a backpack to a messenger bag so you can carry it whichever way is most comfortable for you. It's a nice size for travel with a padded, separate compartment specially designed for carrying a laptop computer up to 17" size. The roomy main compartment is also padded, as are the backpack straps and shoulder strap so it's super-comfy to carry, even when loaded with stuff. The bottom panel is rubberized to protect the contents from moisture. Even the hand-carry handle at the top of the bag is padded... you can tell the designers of this laptop backpack have put a lot of thought into every detail.

I especially love the multitude of organizing pockets that are built in to this pack. They're nicely sized and well-placed for easy access while keeping contents secure. It comes in basic black, or in the coffee-brown and black combo shown above (my fave). Your custom logo decoration can be added to the center front pocket with embroidery or screenprinting. My recommendation would be embroidery... it looks classier and will last longer, especially with heavy use.

The price? Around $40 each with logo embroidery, and a low minimum order quantity of a dozen packs.

These custom logo computer backpacks are a great swag idea for your company's Sales Team and Executives who travel with laptops for business. They'd be a nice addition to an employee rewards program or incentive prize to use in sales contests. Colleges could sell these in their bookstores or use them as an gift when recruiting new students or athletes to their programs. Computer retailers may want to consider these as an item to sell with a new laptop computer. I can also see these as a nice gift to express appreciation for non-profit donors, volunteers and Board members.

INTERESTED IN THE MONTEZUMA CONVERTIBLE BACKPACK AS A SWAG IDEA FOR YOUR LOGO?

You can see more specs and detailed information about this item by clicking here to view on our supplier's website. To order, contact us at Swag Connection:

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

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more great swag ideas!