Recently, Action Plus’ team of Product Experts navigated the trade show floor at the annual PPAI Expo in Las Vegas.  We were searching for the newest, most unique promotional products to hit the market.  Even the constant clamor of slot machines couldn’t keep us away from sifting through hundreds of new items to bring the best of them to you.  We found pens that really stand out – literally.  When squeezed, these oh-so-adorable pens feature a smiling face with eyes that pop out!  Or what about the Eye Grow?  Display your company’s logo on the pot of this sprouting wonder!  From techy items to zainy desk products, the selections are endless!

While not everyone could make it to Vegas, (Eric even had his Elvis suit ready to go!), the best of Vegas surely made it back to Action Plus!  With all these new products, we’re sure to find the right fit for you.  Ask us about all of the new “eye-popping” items for 2012!

Eat breakfast – Relaxation begins before you even step into the office.  Start the day off with breakfast.  Aside from being nutritious, eating breakfast forces you to slow down in the morning.  Eat, pace yourself, and you’ll get into work without rush-hour anxiety in your system.

Meditate – Countless researchers in fancy white lab coats have shown how meditation relaxes both your mind and body.  Luckily, you don’t have to be dressed in a leotard and sitting at a yoga studio to reap the benefits of meditation.  Try mini-meditations.  Short little deep breathing exercises that take you temporarily out of your work angst.  Also do some stretching at your desk.

Eliminate clutter – A cluttered desk distracts, creates visual pollution, and adds to your existing stress level.  Each item on your desk, however small, is something you have to think about when you look at it.  Don’t make excuses, clear your desk (and virtual desktop) now.  Tomorrow, it’ll feel good to come to a clean desk.

Play music – Of course, listening to music also helps you to relax.  Pick something you know will put you at ease.  As much as I like postmodern electronic noise, cheesy ABBA songs work like a charm.

Take your full lunch hour – Make lunch sacred.  This means not munching at your desk.  Take your lunch outside and don’t end your lunch hour early.

Play – If you have a hard time napping in the middle day, use the rest of your lunch hour to play.  Take a walk, sketch, write in your journal, twirl, play hopscotch.  Anything pleasurable as long as it’s not working and not in front of the computer.

Laugh – Comic relief is a well known technique for relieving dramatic tension in movies, plays, and novels.  It’s also handy during those high-anxiety moments at work.  When you’re taking yourself too seriously, make yourself smile and say, “ha ha ha!” with your hands on your hips.  Really, do it.

It’s the perfect time to take advantage of appreciation marketing.  Increase your market share by giving when others are not.  Lately, many businesses are making the huge mistake of cutting back on holiday gifts.  This gives you the opportunity to standout when no one else is.  Even if you have to give lower cost items, you want to create customer loyalty moving into 2012.

Customer appreciation = customer involvement, so keep yourself fresh in their minds.  Along with your gift, you can include a hand-written thank you note, and perhaps a small satisfaction survey printed on a neat postcard with postage included.  Customers can then respond anonymously in the interest of getting honest feedback.  This is a great time to find out how your customers really feel about your services and products.

So go ahead and say thank you, show that you care with a customized holiday business gift.  Be the early bird;  send your gifts early, maybe even before Thanksgiving to make a stronger impression.  It is smart to act fast while the holiday season is approaching for three reasons:

First, if you wait, you may not find what you want and you may loose the opportunity or funding for corporate giving.

Second, the more time you have the more you can customize and personalize your promotions to make a strong and unique impression.

And third, be the first to catch your clients’ attention.

When you take care of your customers it always comes back to you.  Also the cost per impression is very low when you compare promotional products to traditional advertising.  Promotional products create a substantial return on investment.  If you are not sure what to give this year, call us for great ideas that will fit into your budget!

U.S. manufacturing processes are usually much healthier for the environment than many other countries.  Purchasing American made products can help keep the global environment a little bit cleaner – a benefit for us and for generations to come.  Also, many foreign countries have low standards that allow unsafe working conditions, allow child labor, and do not guarantee a minimum wage.  When we make the decision to purchase American goods, we are helping the growth of more domestic jobs and can be sure that we are encouraging fair working practices.

So the next time you give us a call, don’t hesitate to ask us about products that are made in the U.S.A. or that are eco-friendly!  We will be happy to help you find products that match your requests.

A great strategy is to combine smaller items and make them into a goodie pack, such as sunglasses clips and microfiber cloths.  Spend a little time making the pack look nice and take the time to personally give it to your top customers.  Personal follow up is always a good thing.  It keeps you fresh in the minds of customers and they get to know you on a personal level.  It is especially important for smaller companies who deal with mostly local clients.

Other summer items to consider are blow-up beach balls, sand bucket/shovel kits, visors, SPF lip balm, koozies, and beach towels!  Summer is a great time to promote because customers are out and about, and their activities lead to more sales.  So go ahead and market yourself this summer with tangible items that customers will keep, reuse, and appreciate.

Spring is here, and now is a great time to start thinking about outdoor promotional items!  Get ready for festivals, shows, tournaments, and outdoor fundraisers.  Umbrellas come in all shapes and sizes and are a perfect solution for outdoor exposure to the elements.  Golf umbrellas provide shelter from the sun with vents to stand up to any windy day on the course.  Rain umbrellas come in the regular stick shape, with retractable frames, or in bubble shapes for better wind and rain protection.  Some umbrellas swivel at an angle, and there are even umbrellas for your furry friends.

When choosing your umbrella, be sure to consider all your options.  Choose a color that compliments your logo and has a comfortable handle.  Look at styles with different shapes and features.  They can range from classic to designer with custom art on the underside of the canopy.  There are so many options to work with when it comes to umbrellas.  The best part of it is that people keep them for years and they provide a large imprint area for your logo.  For large events, consider patio or beach type umbrellas to go over your booth.  Imagine an outdoor cafe or resort pool with no colorful umbrellas.  They really do make a large difference in both functional and aesthetic appeal.

Although we still use CMYK for some images, new processes like digital imaging and digital transfers have made it much less costly to produce brilliant full color images.

From lip balm to bags to coffee cups to stainless steel drinkware, we can show you options that will dazzle your prospects and clients.

For the past 19 years, most of our promotional products have been 1 or 2 color designs.  Now, you can offer your logo on a full color backdrop or use all the colors in your logo instead of just the 1 color version.  This will offer you a creative advantage over your competition.

Increasing awareness is the first step towards disease prevention.  A simple clock or stress reliever with a reminder phrase, “It’s time to be healthy” or “It’s time to quit smoking,” can help turn people’s bad habits into good ones (printed health care items can also promote causes or events such as American Heart Month, which is February).  A heart-shaped stress reliever would be a great item to encourage healthy heart habits.  Heart disease, including strokes and heart attacks, are our nation’s number 1 killer.  Spreading awareness and prevention are the best tactics against heart disease.

Other everyday items to consider are pedometers, sports bottles, locker/hand towels, reflective gear, and a pen/notebook combo to chart progress!

Marketing products are very powerful in their reach and their message.  Some of the advantages of promo products are:

• High Perceived & Tangible Value
• Repeated Exposure
• Making a Positive Impression

Your marketing products campaign should include the selection of a useful item, designed to attract maximum attention, with good quality and a sufficient budget.  Always try to give your marketing products to the right people to increase your conversion rates while lowering your future marketing budget.