Tuesday, June 14, 2016

25 Things Most People Don't Know About Logoed Items

Who doesn't love getting free things with your logo on it?  A magnet for the fridge, an acrylic cup with straw, cell phone accessories....they are have one thing in common.  People love to get them.  

We love these products more when they have you logo written all over them.

In fact here are 25 reason why you should use them:


  1. Eight in 10 consumers own between one and 10 promotional products.
  2. Fifty-three percent of these people use a promotional product at least once a week.
  3. Six in 10 of them keep promotional products for up to two years.
  4. Only one in five people will trash an unwanted promotional product.
  5. Before receiving a promotional product, 55 percent of people had done business with the advertiser.  After receiving a promotional product, 85 percent of people did business with the advertiser.
  6. With nearly six thousand impressions, bags generate more impressions than any other promotional product in the U.S.
  7. Thirty-one percent of U.S. consumers own a promotional bag.
  8. At one-tenth of a cent, bags tie with writing instruments for the lowest cost per impression of any promotional product in the U.S.
  9. The first known promotional products – commemorative buttons – trace back to 1789 when George Washington was elected president.
  10. Fifty-three percent of the time, promotional products create a more favorable impression of the advertiser.
  11. Forty-eight percent of consumers would like to receive promotional products more often.
  12. Consumers hang on to promotional products for an average of 6.6 months.
  13. Sixty-nine percent of consumers would pick up a promotional product if they deemed it useful.
  14. Sixty-three percent of consumers pass along the promotional products they no longer wish to keep.
  15. Eighty-nine percent of consumers can recall the advertiser of a promotional product they’d received in the last two years.
  16. Ninety-one percent of consumers have at least one promotional product in their kitchen, 74 percent have at least one in their workspace, 55 percent have at least one in their bedroom.
  17. Seventy-seven percent of consumers say a promotional product’s usefulness is the number-one reason to keep it, with health and safety products, computer products and writing instruments ranked as the most useful.
  18. The top five buyers of promotional products are clients in education, finance, not-for-profit, healthcare, and construction.
  19. Wearables are the top product category, followed by writing instruments, bags, calendars and drinkware.
  20. The first promotional product tradeshow was held in 1914 – there were 32 exhibitors.
  21. Women are more likely to have bags, writing instruments and calendars, whereas men are more likely to own shirts and caps.
  22. Ownership of logoed outerwear is highest in the Midwest, with 15 percent of people owning an item.
  23. Logoed mugs in particular are more effective advertising than radio and television spots; 57 percent of people were able to recall the advertiser on a mug, versus 32 percent of radio and 28 percent of T.V.
  24. Adding a promotional product to the media mix increases the effectiveness of other media by up to 44 percent.
  25. Promotional products draw as many as 500 percent more referrals from satisfied customers than an appeal letter alone.

Want in on these results?  www.shopforpromo.com  

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Employee Appreciation Day: Why It’s Important to Recognize Staff Efforts



Consider this as a warning - Employee Appreciation Day is March 4th.

Wait - don't groan about yet another Hallmark-sponsored obligation!  While we do live in a culture that's over saturated with holidays - today, for instance, happen to be National Margarita Day  - employers  would be ill-advised to dismiss Employee Appreciation Day.  The concept behind the holiday is certainly far from meaningless (no offense to the frozen drink).  Recognizing the contributions of employees is a valuable action, not to mention mutually beneficial.

Late last year, a survey conducted by on career site Glassdoor revealed that employees who work for appreciative bosses are more likely to work harder and stay with their current companies longer.  Showing appreciation not only creates good vibes in the office, it actually makes a difference in employees' work habits and long-term career decisions.

Not surprisingly, the preferred method of conveying appreciation was monetary compensation.  So, by all mean, dole out bonuses on March 4th - but you may find a more lasting impact from the survey's second favorite token of appreciation.  That's right Tied: Food and Promotional Products.

Shop for Promo can provide you great gift cards, apparel, mugs, incentives and more.  Let us help you find what you need to help your employees feel appreciated.



Saturday, February 13, 2016

Boogie Down - We Love Our Hometown

Many of you may not know that Shop for Promo is located in the wonderful city of Mobile, AL.  We love our town.  It has it's own quaint charm and style.

One of our favorite times of the year is Mardi Gras.   Many people do not know this, but Mardi Gras originated here.  Although our friends in New Orleans made it famous, Mobile knows how to boogie



WATCH: Even this cop can't help but feel the rhythm of this Mardi Gras parade in Alabama and breakout some dance moves!
Posted by Good Morning America on Friday, February 12, 2016


Of course being from a town who likes to party...we have some great stuff!

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Top Trade Show Tips for Exhibitors and Attendees


Trade shows are essential in business. Whether you are attending or exhibiting, there are a few trade show tips that can help you navigate and make them more successful. You don’t want your trade show investment to be a flop, so let’s take a look at some of the top do’s before your next event rolls around.

Tips for attending a trade show:

  • Determine why you are attending. To meet new suppliers, educate yourself on a new topic, see the latest and greatest? Once you determine the reason you’re going, how you walk the show will point back to your mission.
  • Prepare for the show and know the answers to the following questions: What are the things you need? What are things you want?
  • Attend presentations. I know it is easy to blow these off, but educating yourself on your industry and competition is key.
  • Bring plenty of business cards. You may hand them out to the exhibitors or meet a future employee walking the show.
  • Strike up conversations. You never know who you are speaking with.
  • Set appointments with the exhibitors you really want to meet with. They may not be available if you just walk by.

 Tips for exhibiting at a trade show:

  • Get a feel of why your audience is attending. (I’ve listed the top reasons below.)
  • Have an exciting, professional booth. Let Shop for Promos help you.
  • Look professional in custom polo shirts or logo button-down shirts.Or Just say no to the Polo and let us style you.
  • Just as I advised above, set up appointments with your top prospects and customers. Make sure to have an extra-special incentive for them at the booth. (Here are our top 50)
  • Cost-effective giveaways are a must to get the casual contact to stop by. Some of our top items include: mints and gum, tote bags and drawstring bags, lip balm, car chargers, sticky notes (great for tagging your catalog!), and pens.
  • Collect data and contacts
  • Strike up conversations with everyone. Trade shows are all about face-to-face contact.
  • Follow up. You can do everything right, but not follow up on the conversations, and you have a tradeshow fail.
In a survey conducted by Skyline Exhibits and EXPO Magazine, attendees were asked why they attend trade shows, conventions, and conferences. Below are their responses.
  • See new products: 92%
  • Keep up to date on industry trends/issues: 78%
  • See many companies at one time: 75%
  • See existing suppliers: 67%
  • See specific companies or products: 67%
  • Network with colleagues and/or vendors: 65%
  • Create and/or strengthen industry relationships: 60%
  • See products in-person that were reviewed online: 57%
  • Get technical information or specifications: 52%
  • Attend seminars/workshops: 41%
  • Place orders: 25%
  • Source partners: 25%
  • Present at educational sessions: 16%
  • Because our competition attends: 14%
  • Recruit employees: 3%
We are here to talk trade shows with you. Are you unsure what promotional giveaways to choose? How many you’ll need? When to hand them out?

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

We Love this Commercial from Kia and we think you will too.




It's Super Bowl week, which means the internet will be filled with sneak peeks of commercials like this one from Kia.  The message while trying to sell you a mid-sized sedan is a great one.  Is your brand a boring beige sock?

If so, let www.shopforpromo.com help give you some pizzazz!

Monday, January 25, 2016

Turn off Be Like Posts

Over the weekend our news feeds began to be flooded with the "Be Like Bill". Some of our staff loved them and quickly created their own.  Others looked for an answer to rid themselves of the pesky stick people.




If you've had enough of messages like this you can get rid of Bill - scroll down to find out how

The #BelikeBill meme is taking over social media and using an annoyingly self-righteous stick figure to tell us how to behave online.
Appearing in several different guises, the cartoon has won thousands of followers and been republished all over the internet.
Although Bill has been around since last year, he has surged in popularity in the last few weeks as people have begun sharing his picture.
Many people have started adding different captions and drawings of the character in order to single out irritations on social networks, and the internet in general.
But now, we've all had enough.

Bye bye Bill #KillBill

Many people will use an app to create their own Bill cartoons - right before they share it and start clogging up your news feed.
On Facebook, there will be a small, drop-down arrow on the right of the post. Click it, and you'll see the option "Hide all from".
This will hide any posts made using that particular app from appearing on your timeline.
You can also use this method to hide other Facebook features, like On This Day , from taking over your feed.

You don't have to be like www.ShopforPromo.com , we are so you don't have to be.  But we've got your back in this and promotional products.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Fashion vs The Promotional Polo





OK ladies, we've all seen it or have had to wear it...the dreaded polo.  I don't know about you but on the weekends and in the office it is not what I choose to wear to look my best.  

So why do so many people still choose to wear it on the trade show floor?  It really has been one of your only options (Button-up is your other option).

Luckily over the last 15 year the promotional products industry has started making better fitting embroidered polos.  However, I don't know about you, but I am ready for the next generation in logoed apparel.

Shop for Promo.com can bring it to you.   We will find you some of the top retail trends at promotional prices.   All we need is your quantity, sizes and style type and we will have you looking like the best dressed.  After all it's ok to say NO to the Polo.