This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... Hats, polo shirts and cooler bags for Kraft Foods.
... and branded pouches containing a mobile charger, wall charger, car charger and universal cord for BSKB.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... Three different styles of shot glasses for BSKB.
... dog tags, barricade signs and clear plastic bags for the Race for Respect, benefitting down syndrome awareness. The inaugural event took place on March 30th, but you can still make donations through April 30th here.
... and basketball game sets for a March Madness event hosted by BGC.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
Late spring is when I find myself working on client projects that target college students. Job fairs, interviews, summer internship programs, and alumni events are all on the near horizon. Whether you're recruiting them, selling to them, or entertaining them, you need to know what college kids like. For all of our clients with college on the brain, here are my favorite items for 2014:
These clear, stretchy gloves will protect your smart phone in wet conditions without impeding screen and speaker function. They come stored in an aluminum tube keychain that can be branded in full color.
Phone straps and wallets are also popular this year. When you're out at night, strap your ID and debit card to your phone and leave the purse at home. I like this item as an alternative to phone skins because they fit all kinds of smart phones.
Digital reward cards aren't anything new, but they're a fantastic marketing tool, especially for college programs. If you have never used them before, digital reward cards are custom branded gift cards loaded with a reward of your choice: movie tickets, song downloads, ebook downloads, pizza, etc. To claim their reward, the user must visit your landing page and enter the unique code printed on the back of their card. If you require the user to enter their email address to claim a reward, you now have a way to contact and follow up with them post-event.
Power banks are a great option for offer boxes and new hire gifts. The Juicebox battery pack (top photo) will recharge an iPhone 5/5S 1.5 times off a single charge. If you want to provide connector cables too, the Squid companion (not shown) offers connectors for micro-USB and iPhone 4 & 5 devices. The black power bank shown above doubles as a flashlight- a perfect safety item for campus.
I don't want to promote taking fruit from the dining hall, but I'd be lying if I said I never grabbed an extra banana or apple at breakfast. Fruit is an easy snack to keep in your backpack for long days of back-to-back classes. These neoprene fruit buddies (available in pear, grape, orange, apple and banana) will keep fruit from bruising at the bottom of your bag. I also use my banana case to corral random purse items like ear buds, flash drives and charging cords.
Soft, comfortable T-shirts... they just keep getting better and better. I’m particularly fond of tri-blend tees from American Apparel, Next Level, Alternative Apparel and Bella + Canvas. Solid colors are classic, but prints- like the star Meegs Tank from Alternative Apparel- are popular right now too.
Cable organizers are a practical, inexpensive and compact giveaway. If your HR team will be traveling to several job fairs this season, they'll appreciate having fewer boxes to cart around.
Coozies are always a crowd-pleaser. You have to expect that other companies will be offering them too, so set yours apart with a print. The chevron and seersucker patterns above are my favorites. And, if you really want to upgrade your coozie, consider the Hooler Cooler. See how it works here.
Like coozies, bottle openers are another item that many companies will choose for their recruting materials. Make sure your bottle opener gets attention by choosing something especially functional or colorful. I like the magnetic bottle cap opener because it works for both twist-off and pry-off caps. Keep it stuck on your fridge or the side of your car while tailgating.
If you're specifically targeting fraternities, or perhaps sponsoring an alumni event- think horse races, derbies and galas- custom bowties would be a HIT.
Since I mentioned fraternities, it's only fair that I put forth an idea for sororities too. Isaac Mizrahi now has a line of wristlets and bags available for promotional printing. I love this little leatherette wristlet, available in navy, sunflower yellow, off-white, metallic gold, glossy black and glossy rose pink.
Rubik's Cubes and handheld puzzles are another good choice for job fairs. They're colorful, engaging, and a great traffic-builder. Not to stereotype here or anything, but several of my friends in engineering have commented that Rubik's Cubes are their favorite swag item.
How did I get off the topic of drinking? Let's go back there for a moment... but this time we'll focus on the good kind of drinking. You know, like water and hot beverages. Hydration and caffeination. Mason jar drinkware is hugely popular this year. You'll see stainless jars, acrylic jars, jars with handles and jars with straw lids. Any of them would be well-received at a college event. For upscale drinkware (think new hire gifts), I really like Contigo's line of water bottles and tumblers. They're designed well, easy to use, and they don't leak.
Sunglasses were popular in 2013, and they're still a hit in 2014. If you want a lot of them- a few thousand maybe- consider overseas production and design a really neat custom pair.
This post is getting a little long (if you're still with me, I really appreciate it!), so let's just wrap up these last three products in one paragraph. Portable speakers, Moleskine notebooks and custom headphones would all make excellent new hire gifts. They're the perfect items to accompany a student's transition from college to career.
That's all from me for now! Contact your rep at Sonic for additional items, and happy hunting!
| Tweet |
Sonic Promos proudly announces the most significant breakthrough in the promotional marketing world since the invention of the silk screen. For the first time ever, clients will finally have the ability to get things when they really need them – yesterday.
“Not a week goes by that we don’t field calls from marketing teams who have waited beyond the last minute to order their custom printed products,” explained Seth Weiner, Sonic Promos President. “Up until now, a three hour RUSH production and overnight delivery was considered about the best anyone could do.”
For the folks on the front lines – those with trade shows opening in minutes, award ceremonies just hours away, or the big race packet pickup that began at 6 a.m. - the ability to get custom decorated items the day before they remember they’re needed has a significant impact.
Seth goes on to explain, “We generally encourage people to allow 10-14 days for ordering customized goods, since almost anything can be done in that timeline. With this new PastTrack technology, if a client needed their pens at last night’s meeting, we can make it happen. No more needing to bolt out of the conference room in a panic – now, those absent minded organizers can just wait until after the event is over to place an order – that’s what I call total stress elimination!”
Amazingly, the PastTrack service has no impact on the price of the custom items. However, Weiner cautions potential users to keep the minimum shipping charge of $10,000.00 in mind when placing orders.
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... lip balm, hand sanitizer, screen cleaning cloths and tablet holders for a Forrester sales conference.
... and grocery totes and puzzle cubes for Glickman Design Build.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
SXSW 2014 kicked off last Friday, and it's pretty much all anyone will talk about in Austin until the festival ends on March 16th. Interactive concluded yesterday, just as Music began, so the blazers and messenger bags crowding city streets have been traded out for concert tees and guitar cases.
(source)
We were fortunate enough to work with several companies/organizations showing at SXSW this year, and we'd like to share some of those projects on the blog today.
Seth worked with LogMeIn to create light-up, motion-activated wristbands and Next Level T-shirts, promoting the join.me group meeting app.
Jamie assisted .CO with a number of items for their parties and networking events at SXSW, including stadium cups, napkins, decals, umbrellas, journals, T-shirts and watches.
Jamie also worked on T-shirts and mint tins for Stagg and the Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
Want more? Check out these other Sonic blog posts:
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... Bluetooth suction speakers for .Co.
... color-changing cups, coozies and pens for Kaztronix recruiting materials.
... and wine bottle totes for CS Wines' Rhone Wave Tour.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
Raise your hand if you're sick of snow! Yep. Us too. Thankfully, being stuck indoors with nowhere to go is good for getting work done. Here's what we're working on this week at Sonic Promos...
... Motion-activated light-up wristbands for Southern Management's Annual Banquet.
... Alternative Apparel tanks and tees for TPG Capital employees riding in the NYC Cycle for Survival.
... and "Schustermints" for the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... decals, flavored lip balm and sunglasses for the Adams County Prevention Partnership. The I'm Going Places campaign aims to engage teens in their community, helping them avoid peer pressure to drink and do drugs. You can learn more about this initiative here.
... journals, lanyards and table throws for ELX to use at an event.
... and bottled water for CBRE to distribute at a retail services expo.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
I don't have too much to add to Jamie's review of drinkware decoration techniques, but I did notice one clear trend in drinkware while walking around the ASI Show in Dallas. Stainless steel appears to be the new double-walled acrylic.
I saw the mason jar's stainless cousin...
... as well as the stainless version of the infamous party cup.
And while we're on the topic of the red party cup, if you just can't get enough, consider this foam party cup coozie or this ceramic party cup mug.
Catching up on our 2014 industry show recaps? Be sure to read:
| Tweet |
Tech accessories are a popular choice with many of our clients, especially for college fairs, conferences and trade shows. Here are some of my favorite tech-related products from the Dallas ASI Show in February.
OrigAudio recently launched a few power bank models, and much like every other product by OrigAudio, they're fantastic. The 3600mAh lithium ion battery Juicebox will recharge an iPhone 5/5S 1.5 times off a single charge. I love the full color decoration (OrigAudio offers full color printing on nearly every item in their product lineup) and the adorable juice box packaging. There's even a straw on the back. Does it get any cuter? Include the Squid accessory to provide your customers with micro-USB, iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 connectors.
Styluses are still a very hot item, and the two unique products above stood out from the rest. The crayon shape would be perfect for an education-themed event, and the full color Stylus Swipe is a great option for multi-color logos or logos with fine detail (the imprint area on styluses is normally quite small).
Much like styluses, cell phone stands are available in every shape, material and price point. When you've seen 200 varieties, it's easy to let your eyes glaze over, but I did a double take for this full color acrylic stand. Quality construction, sharp and vivid printing... it has all the right qualities for a good promotional desk piece.
These macaron-shaped cases were everywhere! They're the perfect size to hold ear buds, coins, mobile chargers and school supplies.
Finally, for an inexpensive tech promo, I really like these silicone cable wraps. Use them to bundle power cords when traveling or to corral loose cords under your desk. Like a plastic zip tie, they're very secure, but thankfully much easier to undo.
Catching up on our 2014 industry show recaps? Be sure to read:
| Tweet |
Jamie gave you a look into the Las Vegas PPAI Expo last month, and today I'll share some of my favorite items from the Dallas ASI Show last week. So as not to dump too many photos on you at once, today's post focuses on the Health & Wellness category. I'll share additional items in the coming weeks!
These neoprene Fruit Buddies (available in banana, orange, apple, pear and grape shapes) are designed to protect fruit from bruising. I can't tell you how many times I've thrown a banana into my purse or backpack and forgotten it's in there until I'm reminded by the smell of ripe banana explosion... not fun. Whether you use them to store fruit or even non-food items like school supplies or travel tech accessories, the design encourages making healthy snack and lunch choices.
Laser-engraved bamboo cutting boards are now available in stock state shapes. Even the District of Columbia is available! I love this piece as a unique executive gift.
My coworkers are sick of me talking about this item by now, but I can't stop raving about these custom granola bars. Each box is packed with two Ganola brand snacks, and they come in unique flavors like Green Tea & Blueberries and Cinnamon Coffee Bean. I love granola in all forms and flavors, so what really impressed me about the Ganola bars was the packaging. A set up charge of $48 gets you full color printing on the box AND a custom die-cut window.
Another item that caught my eye was this convertible duffel cooler. These coolers are available in 12-can and 24-can sizes, and you can easily remove the cooler lining to create a small duffel bag.
This trunk cooler organizer is a great piece for tailgating and trips to the grocery store. Similar to the convertible coolers above, the center cooler unit has a removable liner for easier cleaning. The side compartments are large enough to fit two grocery totes, and they collapse and clip against the cooler unit when not in use.
That's all for now! I'll be back to share more items soon.
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... compressed T-shirts for the 2014 Pinot Posse Tour.
... bags, lanyards, chargers and pens for the REALITY program of the Schusterman Foundation.
... and car magnets, travel toothbrushes, mint tins and pens for Hebrew Union College.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
I just returned from a short trip to Las Vegas where I attended the PPAI Expo, our industry's top show of the year. Over 1,500 suppliers attended to display their new items for 2014. My wallet is empty, my stomach is full (I was told that calories consumed in Vegas, stay in Vegas) and my desk is crowded with samples and notes about new products for 2014. Here is a quick rundown of the best things I saw in Vegas, excluding sights on the Strip:
Custom Acrylic Awards
I might rank this as the top new thing I saw out there. Are you tired of the same old awards and trophies? For a very reasonable price, we can completely customize each award down to the exact shape of your logo. The awards are colorful and unique and give a great impression when presented and displayed. We will be sending out information on this soon, as it is brand new and very exciting.
Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth speakers are huge right now. They come in various sizes/shapes/colors. Interesting product features include: suction cups for wall attachment, city skylines to promote an event or your headquarters, and enhanced audio power in a smaller speaker.
Retail-Inspired Clothing
The end-user is progressively becoming more and more fashionable. There are times when the basic T-shirt works for a low-cost giveaway, but if you really want your brand to be seen outside of the house or gym, you may want to upgrade to a true retail look and feel. These shirts can be custom dyed to a specific PMS color, and they have a great soft-hand imprint that looks like you picked it up at the mall.
Fashionable Covers for Phones and Tablets
When a standard tablet case just won’t do, this supplier has a premium option. Their items are made of high-end leather-like material. The cases are retail-inspired and stand out from the crowd with vivid colors and sharp imprints. In addition to cases, they make matching pens and journals which pair nicely for a memorable gift.
Custom Apps for Events
We’re going mobile! We now have the ability to create apps customized to enhance your event, conference or trade show presence. Through these apps, you can deliver information about your event to your attendees and give them useful information about the surrounding area: restaurants, shopping, night life, etc. There is also space for banner ads on each page, so you could split the cost for the app among your sponsors, or have someone else foot the bill entirely.
Vintage Golf Trophies
Maybe it's just the golfer in me, but I found these trophies to be pretty cool. So many times, I see the same old crystal plaques or trophies at a golf tournament. These trophies are based off real trophies that you might see at a PGA Tour event. If you want your golf tournament to stand out, displaying a set of these trophies on a table would definitely make a big statement.
Full-Color Imprints
This may not seem like the coolest thing in the world, but it’s definitely new and a little exciting if you have a logo with multiple colors. In the old days, you might have had to use a heat seal, which sometimes rubbed off easily and generally felt too rubbery for my taste. Additionally, there was often white backing around the logo. Now, we can do a full-color imprint right on the item with no backing. This elevates the game of full-color printing.
Imprinting on Drinkware Lids
Over the past few years, we’ve seen all types of imprinting on drinkware. This is the first time I have seen someone with the ability to print on the top of a cup or tumbler. It’s a great way to set your gift apart from every other cup out there. A great conversation starter too, as no one will have seen it before.
Laser Decoration on Mugs
I’m not a huge fan of basic ceramic coffee mugs, but this decoration technique adds a nice twist. They take a colored mug and laser etch your logo to show up in white. It gives the piece a different look, and makes it stand out just a bit from typical ceramic mugs.
Initialed Executive and Golf Gifts
If you ever need to give personalized gifts to executives, perhaps at a golf tournament or event, this company has a great way to do it. They started focused on golf events, so many of their items are golf-related, but they've recently branched out into more traditional items as well. Each item comes with two medallions: one with the logo, and one with the recipient's initials.
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... umbrella gifts for Zalco Realty staff.
... American Apparel Track Tees for the Austin Aces tennis team, to promote the 2014 inaugural season.
... and T-shirts for a convention attended by BBYO North Florida.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... travel chargers and bamboo pens for the Schusterman Foundation.
... i-Wallets for Columbia Books and Association Trends.
... and bottle openers and wine sets for Cantor Fitzgerald, to be used at a trade show.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
I'm sure you've heard that donated apparel from the United States often finds its way to markets in developing countries. NPR recently published a story on the topic, and their article featured a few photos of used T-shirts in a Kenyan market.
One of the shirts in the article (pictured above) appeared to be a party favor for Jennifer's Bat Mitzvah, held November 20, 1993. According to a name on the inside, the shirt once belonged to Rachel Williams.
NPR decided to put out a call to the Internet, hoping to find the original owner and close the loop on the shirt's life cycle.
Within a few days, a string of contacts and friends connected Rachel Williams and Jennifer Slaim with NPR. Here is a shot of Jennifer with an extra shirt from her event.
We live in such a small world!
All photos sourced from this NPR article.
| Tweet |
Tomorrow starts a brand new year. To close out 2013, we'd like to share our 13 most popular blog posts from the past twelve months. Hopefully you'll find some inspiration for projects to come. Enjoy, and thank you for another great year!
1) Custom Treats
2) Can It Be Just a Little Bit Better?
3) Gift Packages for New Parents
4) The Tab Bracelet
5) LogMeIn Trade Show Materials
6) Summer Drinkware
7) And the SWAGger of a College Kid
8) This Week at Sonic Promos 4.23.13
9) Dollar Store
10) US Congress Handbook Fall Mailer
11) .CO at SXSW 2013
12) Spin Around and Hop Backwards Three Times Before You Take a Bite
13) Best of Dallas: Part 2
| Tweet |
| Tweet |
This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...
... filtered Bobble bottles and eco-friendly bamboo pens for the Schusterman Foundation.
... and lanyards, water bottles and antimicrobial sport towels for Sport & Health.
"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.
| Tweet |
