Grow Cups

Give your clients something they don’t see everyday with Grow Cups! Our custom Grow Cups feature a fun smiley face design complete with matching garden clogs. The grow cup is recyclable and comes with a nutrient rich soil wafer for a user-friendly planting kit. Choose from four seed varieties for a blooming, interactive promotional gift. These promotional plants are great for office gifts, trade-shows, earth friendly promotions and much more.

Come check out the entire set of Grow Cups at www.GallantGifts.com

Food gifts are commonly associated with the holiday season, beginning around Thanksgiving when we gather together to enjoy wonderful feasts and continuing through the New Year when we make the annual resolution not to spoil ourselves any longer.

Why are food gifts natural choices during this season? First, we allow ourselves to enjoy special treats we normally do not receive any other time of year. It is almost as if we have permission to indulge ourselves because it is a gift. Second, food is fun. In the spirit of spreading good cheer to others, a tower of treats or a canister of goodies can be shared with others in an office or at home. This allows recipients to not only feel great about receiving the gift but equally as good about sharing and giving.

If we feel so good about receiving, eating and sharing food during this traditionally short period of time, why isn’t it thought of all year-round? Why do we only think of sending food during this “grace period” when it is okay to eat something out of the ordinary because it is a gift? Is it the out-of-sight, out-of-mind theory?

Food gifts are a delight—no matter when they are received. They are special treats and can be shared with others, making the gifts become experiences rather than just products. For instance, sending a tin of cookies or a box of chocolates at a time other than the holiday season makes your thoughtfulness and appreciation stand out even more. Everyone loves to receive unexpected gifts. And, just like at holiday time, a food gift gives us permission to enjoy without guilt.

Come see our wide variety of custom food gifts at www.GallantGifts.com

This article is By Lauren Fox for PPB magazine

Challenge: When the holiday season rolled around last year, Michael Caputo, owner of Athol, Massachusetts-based distributor Caputo Business Services wanted a way to thank his top clients and wish them a merry Christmas. “We wanted our promotion to stand out among the year-end greetings our clients receive,” Caputo says. “It had to be something that was unusual but classy, simple and unique, while also having staying power and substance. I wanted to feel a sense of pride in presenting the item.”

Solution: Caputo tapped Tulsa, Oklahoma-based supplier SELCO to design 30 pocket watches that featured the company’s black-and-white logo on the watch cover and website on the watch face.

The pocket watches weren’t simply wrapped up and mailed out—the sales team made appointments and Caputo personally presented the watches on behalf of his company. “I made sure to tell the recipients that the watches were custom made by SELCO and that their watch was one of only 30. They were made to feel part of an exclusive group,” says Caputo.

Result: “The clients were predominately impressed with the exception of one client who had no idea what to do with a pocket watch,” Caputo says. “I carry mine daily and love it, and about half of my clients carry their watches daily. I’m not sure a wristwatch would have been as well-received because many clients wear brand-name watches.”

Written by Audrey Sellers at PPB Magazine

You look promotional wares all done the site and the most average and effective promotional particular you could hold for your money siphon system strategy are promotional pens. If you are attending a deal show, passing away promotional pens is some of the greatest commercializing decisions you could gain as they are some useful and easy to transport and have little space. You could purchase low-priced personalized pens and get your company cite or logo printed onto them, if you buy in a big quantity, you should be effective to find very average prices. Promotional pens as a commercializing strategy get been proved to be a worthy promotional program that all businesses should integrate into their commercializing strategy.

A promotional pen could be a fun and cheap or stylish and pricey. Promotional particulars are very easy to find on the nets and could be delivered quick, just case in ‘promotional products’ into a research engine and pick out a internet site that fits your requires. Choose the particulars you require, pay, and they will be sent immediately to your business address. It couldn’t be any simpler.

If it is a quality pen you require then there are many brand names you could choose from, Parker, Waterman or Quill are several of the brands. You could get the pens engraved with your company message or logo. A promotional particular like this will surely impress. Alternatively go for something more low-priced but still in metal, plain metal promotional pens could be just as efficient.

Promotional pens are a very good give away since they are a valuable, practical and inexpensive. Pens are very cheap to purchase particularly when purchasing many at some time and lots more than cost-effective than other promotional particulars easy, they will only have up a low part of your commercializing budget and the comeback from them will be worthwhile all penny.

Any experienced commercializing section who recognizes what they are causing will be fully alert of the ability promotional particulars get in raising brand consciousness.

Many People carry a pen about with them, they are invariably took at several point during the day, even for a person who sits and work in front of a computing machine a whole day will at several time still need a pen. Every time your potential customer needs to use a pen they will look your company logo, this will act as a constant trigger to their memory and is great visibility for your ware.

On that point are a broad range of stylish pens to choose from. Really average types of pens are desk pens that could be place together as a set with other promotional wares accepting desk clocks, memo pads, wall calendars, and other desk accessories. Trendy options are metallic pens, ink pens and ballpoint pens which could be fun and get original designs. Colour gel pens, classy styles, trendy colors, unique designs, pencils and highlighters, there is something to suit all occasion and all types of customers. Amongst the fun and quirky pens could be seen a pen and stressball in some, write away and squeeze away stress spell you work.

Highlighters are always a great giveaway for trade shows or the teaching market, well, just most any other manufacture expecting for a light-hearted gift and would appreciate an particular like this. Quirky pens are always a hit at fundraising shows or events. Squiggle pens combine a translucent barrel with an art deco chrome clip and soft rubber grip to produce a novel new search that’s certain to get your company-logo discovered. You could always choose to get your pens imprinted by laser for that additional special reach.

Calendars and planners are another average seller and could be seen in a variety of styles. You could purchase anything from a planner that has a gold tone laser engraved plate on the front cover to a traditional business style weekly planner. These types of gifts will guarantee your advertising message or company logo remains on your customers’ wall all over the year, well worthwhile the money passed. Zero other advertising particular delivers a return-on-investment like a custom imprinted wall calendar.

A cute thought is a calendar wallet business card, with a calendar on some side and your business inside informations printed on the other. These types of business cards get a practical use as well and are ideal gifts for policy agents, real estate businesses and banks.

Promotional gifts are an ideal method of expressing your gives thanks to existing or potential customers and will help in raising knowingness of your company figure whilst improving a client’s opinion of your party.

Even though school is out and summer upon us, there still doesn’t seem to be any shortage of occasions to celebrate. But, who has time to keep the kids occupied in addition to searching for the perfect gift. One sure way to get an appropriate gift in a flash but still look like you put forth a lot of thought and effort is to incorporate your personal photos into the item. Pieces such as photo jewelry or photo dog tags are simple things yet they become something very special and personal. You’ll be amazed at how many choices can be found online as well as at many of your local stores.

We all go through those times of the year when one special occasion quickly follows another and every time you turn around, you have a pile of presents for which you suddenly need to shop. But all your gift giving worries are over, because now you can get all the one-of-a-kind mementos in one place. Simply provide some special pictures, chose the item you wish to create, and before you know it, a custom-made retirement gifts will be yours to bestow upon the recipient. You can even sit down at your computer with your child and create masterpieces for the entire family. Even places like grocery stores, drug stores and office supply and copy centers offer these items.

Important events such as a graduation, wedding or first communion can be commemorated with products as keepsake boxes for storing all of life’s little treasures and memories. Get holiday gifts for all your loved ones without having to run around all over town. Grandparents can never have enough pictures of the grandchildren, so they would simply love to receive gifts for mom that they can use every day that have pictures of their favorite people on them. There are so many items that can be personalized with your own pictures-magnets, key chains, plates, mouse pads and coasters, just to name a few.

Now when your child is invited to yet another friend’s birthday party, you can be confident that the from you will not be duplicated by anyone else. Just imagine how thrilled they will be when they open up a t-shirt or sweatshirt with a picture of themselves and your child printed on it. The end of the school year can be a real challenge when it comes to finding a meaningful personalized gifts for that favorite teacher. Items such as picture calendars, coffee mugs and tote bags are sure to be used and appreciated all year long.

If you want to give something special but you just don’t have the right picture or you are uncertain of which product to select, then simply purchase a gift certificate that the recipient can use to make something on their own. Gifts as these will certainly be cherished for a very long time. Unique and thoughtful presents from the important people in our lives make us truly treasure all the wonderful moments.

How to Best Give Personalized Gifts

Excellence – Truer Words Were Never Spoken

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.

Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.

An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.

As you grow, your associates will change.

Some of your friends will not want you to go on.

They will want you to stay where they are.

Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl.

Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.

Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider this:

Never receive counsel from unproductive people.

Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.

Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.

You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.

Don’t follow anyone who’s not going anywhere.

With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.

Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.

Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.

If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.

“A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.”

The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate – for the good and the bad.

Note: Be not mistaken.

This is applicable to family as well as friends.

Yes…do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what.

Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

“In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us.

In Adversity We Know Our Friends.”

“Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them.”

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”…………………..Colin Powell

Where will the next great Marketing gimmick come from? The Terrible Towel has without a doubt been in every stadium in the NFL. Where else has it been? Try the top of Mt. Everest, Iraq, presidential inaugurations and the Olympics. This simple Marketing tool has become an icon in the sports world. It was a simple idea taken to the next level. Where will the next idea come from? Will it be you?

Read the full article about the Terrible Towels here

By the time you read this, I hope the market will be stabilizing, housing starts will be up, consumer confidence will start kicking in, your next big sale will be on the horizon and our industry will be clawing its way back from the muddy depths of the recession. Ah, that’s the optimist in me.

In reality, I know the economy has a way to go. The worst of it is the growing unemployment stats and our industry isn’t immune. In the past few months the downsizing dragon has been rearing its ugly head as lack of business has forced some companies to close factories and eliminate long-held positions. What can you do to protect your job? A natural tendency now is for people to lay low and try to blend in to avoid the ax. Wrong, says author Robin Fisher Roffer. Instead, she recommends you learn to be you—only better in 2009. Here are a few of Roffer’s suggestions from her book The Fearless Fish Out of Water: How to Succeed When You’re the Only One Like You:

1. Let go of your fears. While your first instinct might be to hide in your office and bury yourself in paperwork, don’t give in. Be visible. Speak up. Let your creative spark loose. Don’t let your fears keep you from achieving something great for your company. “Remember, being authentic as an employee isn’t about self-expression for its own sake; it’s about bringing all your unique gifts to the table in order to benefit your company,” says Roffer. “You have to put yourself out there completely and fearlessly in order to keep your organization alive and growing.”

2. Uncork your marketable personality traits. If you are a creative person or a good problem solver, strengthen those traits and let them work for you. If you come to work each day and just do your job the way you were trained but don’t look for better ways of doing things or ways to save your company money, you are doing the company and yourself a disservice. “Stifling these personality traits at work will only harm you in the long run,” she says. “Sure, to your higher-ups you might be known as the guy who does a good enough job and stays out of the drama, but think about how pleased your boss would be if you came to him with a money-saving idea right about now.”

3. Push your boundaries this year. Have you cloaked your personality to try to fit into the mold at your workplace? Have you tried to become what higher-ups expect? It’s time to be true to yourself. Rather than hide your attributes just to fit in, look for ways to make those attributes work for you. “If you’re convinced you’d accomplish more by taking an active role with customers rather than toiling behind the scenes, for example, approach your boss with the idea,” she says. “It may seem scary to make such a bold move in tenuous times, but leaders will appreciate any innovation that will get business moving right now.”

4. Go to the top with good ideas. If you have some ideas that can save or make the company money, don’t keep them bottled up. Your boss doesn’t have all the ideas and neither does the company president or owner. Good ideas come from people at all levels. Ask for some time with higher-ups to share those ideas. “Read the company website,” suggests Roffer. “Listen carefully to team pep talks from higher-ups. If you can manage it, introduce yourself at company events and ask at the appropriate juncture in your conversation, ‘What’s keeping you up at night?’ The answer should reveal the challenge they need to meet or the special project they want to put into motion. You could be the person to support their efforts.”

5. Learn to communicate in a common language. Yes, you’ve got some great ideas but stop, take a breath and figure out what’s important to the person to whom you are selling those ideas. “While there isn’t exactly a wrong way to be at the office, there is a wrong way to express your ideas,” notes Roffer. “Sometimes an idea that seems perfectly clear to you might not be so obvious to those around you. A successful fearless fish will stand in the shoes of the person she is pitching and explain with visual words and concrete examples how the idea will benefit the business.”

6. Identify your fearless advocate (and become one). It’s easier to feel confident when someone you admire is cheering you on. If you don’t have that cheerleader or advocate now, find someone in your office with whom you can connect. Perhaps you can even establish a mentoring type of relationship that will benefit you both. “Once you’ve found an advocate, you should start advocating for someone as well,” says Roffer. “Be a leader to the newly arriving fish out of water at your office. Compassionate leadership benefits everyone. Learning from younger or less experienced people spurs evolution and creates staying power for the senior members of the team. For the fish out of water, an added benefit is that by generously sharing your own expertise, you become involved and integral.”

Four Ways To Keep Your Customer Service Top-Notch And Indispensible

Flexible Workforce
In the face of staff cuts, cross-train employees so they can fill a variety of roles.

Spoil Your Staff
Uncertainty about their jobs can shatter employee morale, so offer work schedule flexibility and other rewards to compensate.

Invest In Low-Cost Technology
Consider purchasing small pieces of new equipment that make your workers’ lives easier.

Play Favorites
Keep your best customers happy with fast service, extra attention and flexible rules.

An enterprising early-American offers inspiration and a review of basic economic principles.

In 1806, Fred Tudor departed Boston and arrived in the Caribbean port of Martinique with a shipload of ice harvested from his dad’s pond in the dead of winter. Despite naysayers, Tudor made the ice last by insulating it with sawdust and hay.

The first day of Tudor’s arrival was a smashing success with people paying high prices for the ice. But the next day brought about a problem. All the ice had been unloaded but, in an act of misguided kindness, the boys at the dock had washed off the insulation. This created a puddle of water and lots of screaming people offering to pay any price for the ice they now missed. Thus, Tudor’s ice idea was a failure.

Tudor returned to Boston, poorer but wiser. Yet he had learned two key parts of marketing—the importance of adequate storage and the profitability of high demand in the face of scarce supplies. He set about raising new capital and bought the rights to harvest ice from several local ponds. Travel got risky as the War of 1812 broke out and he put his plans on hold. After the war, however, Tudor sent a ship to Havana—not with ice but with thick cedar planking and sawdust—and built an icehouse to keep the ice fresh. Then he had ice delivered to test whether the icehouse worked. It did.

Next, Tudor asked for a 10-year exclusive contract to be the sole ice supplier in Cuba and Martinique. No one thought it was a big deal since folks were not used to having ice in those locales. Then he started giving the ice away, especially to bartenders, along with exotic frosty drink recipes. The free ice created a demand, so Tudor began charging higher and higher prices. (Remember, he held exclusive rights.)

This ingenious marketing concept was later adopted by King Gillette and is commonly called the razor or razorblade theory. It works because the company practically gives the razor away and once customers need new blades they find only your blades fit that razor.
Tudor returned to New England, bought up the ice rights of hundreds of ponds and commissioned the manufacture of huge ice saws to cut ice blocks from the ponds. He compounded the strategy throughout the South; it’s been said he invented the mint julep just to sell more ice. For 80 years, Tudor and his heirs were the “Ice Kings” of America, all from a product nature supplies for free. And he became a multimillionaire in the process.