PROMOTION COMMOTION

Think Picnic!

I know! It's still Wintertime and parts of the country are still dealing with the consequences of Mother Nature!  That's actually what got me thinking about the Summertime!  And the warm weather and bright sunlight.

I am also working with a client for June promotional items, already.  AND, since it is that time of year when our suppliers send us their new catalogs, here is one favorite supplier with brandable items that you can find in fine gift retail outlets.  Picnic Time!

Click image for a larger view

Last year, we noticed a trend in gifting quality promotional items as our clientele realized that well thought out giving was worth every penny spent.  Promotional gifts lasted longer, they were 'keepers' and some were even re-ordered.  Working with a professional promotional consultant gives you an advantage as we see ALL the new items, are aware of ALL the sale products and have great relationships with premier suppliers.

We hope you all have a wonderful, prosperous 2011!  If you would like a consultation or have any queries, simply send us an email at salesATwebbmarDOTcom and we'll be happy to find the perfect gift or giveaway for you and your company.

Chocolate Inn ~ Where Promotion Meets Good Taste

We received these boxes of chocolate goodness to test and try out today from one of our favorite custom chocolate suppliers. They never cease to amaze me especially with their wonderful packaging ideas!

Why YES, I can definitely Smile Out Loud!  Especially when the BOX is made of milk chocolates and opens up to MORE candy [in this case mini computer shaped chocolates]

 

And more custom shaped confections like this:

To say THANK YOU for your business or GREAT JOB to your employees.  Chocolates definitely do the job of pleasing the heart.

Chocolates ~ and then some.  Nuts too!

Our supplier has the finest chocolate products available in the promotional product industry. They are eco-friendly too; 80% of each gift box is made from recycled materials!  All products are guaranteed fresh and only the finest quality Swiss Chocolates are used in all custom products.

These products are NOT available in retail but only through qualified promotional product distributors such as us.  You may contact us at salesATwebbmarDOTcom to discuss a WIDE VARIETY of ideas and options to satisfy the special and worthy palates of those you'd like to show your appreciation to.

Now on to test how delicious these are!  Need to test some too?  We'd love to share!

If You Love Cake, Prepare to be Tempted

Okay, in my quest for continuing education on the merits of that mildly overused 'social media' term - I kept my Facebook account open today and JUST when hunger pangs hit, my niece posted a picture of one of her to-die-for cakes.

The cake is called "In The Name of Love" and you'll understand why.  It apparently takes a whole hour and a half just to make the icing. 

Goodness only knows - chocolate is good for your heart in more ways than one!

Custom Designed Personalized CHOCOLATES!

The way to the decision maker's heart is through a BAR OF CHOCOLATE! Similarly, if you are trying to woo a client - and want something personal and unique - these custom designed belgian delights are from an A+ Rated supplier and simply one of the industry's BEST.

These look like their too cool to eat, but really - they are works of art and a sure fire way of getting noticed!

Whether you're planning to say Thank You (nice big piece of chocolate or a custom cookie) or you want to impress (small bits of chocolate delights), WEBBMAR Promotions is ready to recommend, design and wrap it all up for you!

Custom wrapper is available. 

Leave these in the middle of your conference table for afternoon picker-uppers.  Or perhaps by your office receptionist's area as you welcome or say goodbye to your very important clients. Make an impression and a SPLASH!

Milk or dark, these chocolates are all  OU-D certified Kosher Dairy.  The antioxidants assist the anti-aging process and are heart healthy!

We have all kinds of goodness wrapped in all sorts of custom packaging. Just ask us and rest assured we have the RIGHT yum for you!  Now how delicious is that!

The Best Promotional Products for 2008

2008 was a very green year.  Green in terms of promotional product inquiries, sales and interests.  We started this blog almost a year ago after we attended the PPAI tradeshow in January.  We knew then that environmentally appropriate gifts would be popular and we were pleasantly surprised at what soon unfolded.

When we began our blog, not much was said about BPA Free drinkware.  We saw it very early on, beginning with baby bottles (thanks to our little man, Nate!).  It soon made it's way into the promo industry and we picked up early.  As a result, these safe, Bisphenol-A free products were our hottest sellers!  Universities and corporations were quick to engage.  We have seen aluminum bottles come right on the heels of Camelbak bottles (first to be FREE).  Sigg bottles were once hot, and then surprisingly were replaced by similar looking bottles.  I was surprised that they stopped taking custom orders on their website. 

Webbmar Promotions continues to monitor quality manufacturers of safe drinkware.  Contact us at sales(at)webbmar(dot)com to discuss your imprinted promotions.

USB Flash drives remained a much sought-after promotional gifts especially for our high tech clients. While prices fluctuated, our customers were always pleased at our resourcefulness as we were able to score attractive looking flash drives from some of our preferred suppliers.  Quality was never compromised.  We even turned one order around in three days!

 

As with the prior year and even more so this year, decorated, embroidered and imprinted T SHIRTS and APPAREL were always hot.  Since we work with  the best contract decorators all over the USA, you will rest assured that you'll get a competitive price for your apparel promotions.  Organic cotton is beginning to be accepted by progressive and truly earth conscious corporations. 

GREEN is still very much IN.  As a result, we encourage reusable gifts such as the tote bags below. We were quite successful with these promotions for small and medium sized companies.  The imprint area on these polypropylene grocery totes is so large and visible that it makes one of the BEST promotional gifts one can give.  Additionally, your recipients like the discounts they get when these bags are reused in grocery stores! 

As we move into 2009, we predict that these will remain popular as businesses and corporations look for high ROI product that will NEVER see the darkness of a desk drawer. BRAND NAME products will be big.   We continue to source the industry for only the BEST quality promotional gift products, high perceived value without breaking the bank.

You can always depend on us.

Brownies - Head Over Heels In Love with Delicious!

Okay, I confess.  Part of why I love this time of year is because I get to give some of these AMAZINGLY delicious brownies from Fairytale Brownies and available from Webbmar Promotions & Gifts.  You cannot ever go wrong with this.  Warm the holidays with rich chocolate brownies packed inside a festive red snowflake box with a three-strand red, white and silver bow. Includes 8 wintry Fairytale Brownies - 2 each of Chocolate Chip, Cream Cheese, Mint Chocolate and White Chocolate.

We also highly recommend their Sprite Dozen (pictured on the right). Treat them to a Christmas surprise with these premium handmade Fairytale Sprites. One of each 3” x 1.5” Sprite flavor is nestled in a red box with silver lining. This is the perfect gift to introduce them to our rich brownie varieties (this is the one we LOVE).

Brownies is the new CHOCOLATES.

Ideas:  Add an imprinted coffee mug and wrap it up!  All they'll need is a cozy fire. 

Awesome Custom Food Gifts - Made in the USA

Holidays are around the corner - and time to think of being unique.  Proudly made in America and with kosher dairy - and LOW MINIMUMS!  What a treat!

Single, individually wrapped custom decorated cookies will make a great treat for corporate holiday dinners. NOTE:  These are great for all kinds of parties, weddings, baby or bridal showers, etc.

Please contact us at sales(at)webbmar(dot)com for more information, to sample - and to discuss how we can add a special touch to your next corporate gift opportunity.

Nespresso Your Love - Splendor in the Cup

This combination NESPRESSO  and Aeroccino milk frother and steamer make enjoying your latte or espresso super pain free and oh-so-heavenly.

Pop in the capsule of your choice and that's it!  Pour in your milk (we like soy), press the button..and voila! The really quiet Aeroccino whips up, steams and froths your cream.  Together - you are in local heaven..where ever your desk is!!

Top off your indulgence with some Parisian macarons from Le Maison du Chocolat. Available in a variety of addicting sweetness perfect to match your rich cup of coffee.

Et vous ? Aimez-vous le café et macarons doux ?

 

New Product: QuikTop - Ingenious Great Timing Promotional Item

You may have seen this on television but now this is just in - and available for promotional imprinting and branding.  Extend the life of your drink!  Think about it, no waste and no more flat drinks. The can is completely recyclable and the top is completely reusable and brandable!  Great for outdoor events, corporate picnics. Even better - no bugs and bees when you're outdoors!

Thanks to an ingenious patented system, QuikTop® reseals your soda cans with a simple click, keeping every sip as refreshing as the first. You can preserve the taste and carry your can with you until the last drop.

100% hermetic - With QuikTop® the carbonation is preserved, keeping your drinks from becoming flat, your favorite drink is always refreshing! Keeps drinks Fresh & Fizzy. Seals in carbonation for days. Light and easy, safer, no-spill drinking. Leak proof & airtight, safe to go anywhere.

Practical: for picnics, hikes, bicycle rides, traveling, fishing, at the beach, boating, camping, in the car, on the bus, on a scooter, on horseback, or for happy hour, QuikTop® is for every occasion, quench your thirst for taste!

Other features!

• By sliding the cap under the tab, QuikTop® facilitates opening your can: ladies, no more broken nails!

• Cap, cup, coaster! You can use it as a cup to toast with friends or as a coaster to avoid those terrible condensation marks left behind on wooden furniture …drink smart!

• For serious drinkers, a little space designed for a straw is incorporated in the filter that prevents those naughty bees from flying in your drink.

• When your can is empty, pinch the tiny ears on QuikTop® with both hands, run it through running water and it is ready to be used over and over again.

• Also dishwasher safe.

This is a NEW product in the branding and promotional market.  Available from Webbmar by contacting us at sales(at)webbmar(dot)com.

Early Childhood Training - Mom Approved

We have now officially begun training our third generation!  Inspecting QUALITY  and STYLE and having an eye for what feels good, tastes good, smells good, looks good and sounds good starts very early.

I mean - really early!  Our future CEO is on the hunt for his birthday apparel.  Right now, he's a visual creature...but he'll get the hang of it. The imprint on the back of his shirt pretty much tells you what he thinks of his job!!   We'll give him a few years!

Oh and this CAMELBAK bottle here (below) - naturally, a safe BPA free bottle, of course! So easy to maneuver even an 11-month old can handle it! 

We discovered today that you can't fool a toddler (at least not this one!) They know where the REAL remote control is. They prefer to call daddy from a REAL cellphone.  They like their sippy cups but prefer Mom's .5L Camelbak water bottle which is just the right size to hold while sitting up in a car seat.

Nate's favorite sippy cup is a non-messy, spill-proof BPA free bottle - Classic Camelbak with a bite valve -  available for promotional imprinting from WEBBMAR. 

Simply contact sales(at)webbmar(dot)com and mention MAKEMINECAMELBAK and get a 10% discount OFF your order.

Minimum 144 pieces for discount. offer good for orders place on or before August 31, 2008

One for Money, Two for the Show

He's left the building - as some would say - but he's still a 'brand'. Their tagline "Rock and Roll Never Tasted So Good"

Cool packaging, the box is velvet to the touch.  So Elvis!  Not sure about the wine, this was newly delivered and I just wanted to take a picture because the 'signature' stood out and from a marketer's perspective, the 3 second rule worked. 

Made me look (See Me)!! I sang a song (Feel Me)!! Even made me check out the box (Touch Me)!!   Wait....that's The Who!

Meet and Greet - Our Favorite Foodie Gift

Chocolate covered sunflower seeds in a handy Meet and Greet tote container as small as a playing card! How addicting are these sweet things!  No need for imprinting, just insert your business card and you'll be certain to make someone smile and remember you!

We ourselves have used this for a local business expo and made a quick impression!  We've also used it as gifts / favors for a baby shower (pink and blue) and for a Christmas gift treat (the company chose red and green for the holiday cheer and inserted the employees bonus check!)  No limit to what you can use this for.

Only $2.60 for 50 pieces...this is an EXCELLENT way to say THANK YOU for your BUSINESS.

Click the link to continue reading and for two more packaging options.

 

 

An Inventive Picnic Treat - Reuseable Party Plates

What's so RIGHT about this picture?  Well, if you look closely, this reuseable food grade plastic party plate will hold all your picnic food, a canned beverage (or stemmed glass), your utensils (in two slots) and an oval hole for your thumb to enable easy handling.

That leaves your other hand free to socialize while you find a place to sit during your upcoming picnic!

Your logo can be imprinted underneath - and your event won't have tons of paper plates being thrown away! You can accompany this with a bpa-free sports water bottle (or food safe PETE plastic) promotion or anatural fiber tote bag - perfect for summer!

For corporate picnics, everyone can take this neat idea with them back home - and kids will just love it!

Available in red, blue, purple, green, smoke and clear.  Price ranges from $1.99 for 250 pieces and can ship in 5 days from art approval.  You'll be wanting this year after year. Choose up to 4 different colors and add some flair to your event this summer!  Include a BPA free sports water bottle for less than $2.00 and you just organized an eco-appropriate event.  (note: party plate photo courtesy of San Diego Realtor, Dara Chantarit, WINDERMERE  Exclusive Properties)

 

Cozy Indie Coffee Shops With a Hometown Feel

While a major coffee house seems to  hiccup a little bit, some neighborhood coffee shops seem to offer a differential  to loyal locals who are more than happy to support  and patronize the independent, hometown local cafe.  And that's good.  Aside from the unique ambience and atmosphere each offers, the coffee and the company is always fresh,.  Supporting these businesses is good for the economy. That's a community coming together. It's very American.  SEE CONTEST BELOW!!

I've come across some local cafes who are owned by bright, community-oriented and hardworking business folks who oftentimes open their places of business to others around them to promote local artists and musicians.   Plus more. Like charity causes.

PADDY'S COFFEE HOUSE on Old Alvarado in Union City is open during finals week for study groups to come together and stay past midnight.  The owner, Paddy Iyer, stays to make sure the kids are safe. He is quick to offer up his place for meet ups and and events.  In good weather, he is likely to host outdoor movie entertainment. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is quick to introduce people to each other, offering the initial connection. Wireless internet is free at Paddy's.

ZOCALO'S owner, Tim Holmes, hosts pajama parties, music, art and a JavaGym at his coffee house, a town meeting place in the heart of downtown San Leandro. There's a comfy couch and place for kids to play.  The place is full of loyal clients, especially on the weekends. The coffee is excellent and fresh roasted and the place is always buzzing with people. Wifi is free.

In San Mateo, BACIO CAFE hosts comedy hour, acoustic music, poetry and more.  We have not visited them yet b ut have heard rave reviews. We will post an update shortly as we will be giving them a visit. Stay tuned!

CAFE ZEN on Boscell Road in Fremont's Pacific Commons Mall offers fresh roasted coffee and milk teas (to die for) as well as a variety of the most visually scrumptious desserts.  It also offers wi-fi..  My favorite is their soy matcha green tea latte. 

Do you have a favorite coffee house in your town?

If you do, feel free to share the information here so we can highlight the place and promote their business. Send us pictures of the coffee house and tell us why you think the place is special.

Your entry will put you in a drawing to WIN a THERMOS Thermax Backpack bottle which will keep your beverage hot for over 8 hours and cold for 12.  We will give this out end of June.

Visit Paddys, Zocalos, Bacio Cafe or Cafe Zen if you're in their area. Grab some coffee and make a friend. Patronize your local independent coffee houses.  They have much more than coffee to offer.  They're the heart of our communities and places to come together.

For Dads & Grads - Best Brownies Ever!

I featured these brownies around the holidays and we have a couple of occasions coming up that may call for it's purchase.  These are available through us (if you need it customized and have a volume  order) or you can go directly to their site HERE and order online.

I can vouch and tell you that a way to a woman's heart is through her sweet tooth..and a way to a man's is through his yum tummy. Either way, brownies will make an excellent graduation treat for the graduate celebrating his / her achievement. Diet can start when the brownies are gone.

Dad's get a special treat too.  It's REALLY GOOD!

When It's Hot, We Eat at Jot's

Ugh..it was ugly hot here in the bay area today.  It was forecasted to be a really hot week so when my daughter needed to borrow a car - I didn't hesitate to lend them mine.  I stayed inside a cool house; worked inside a cool room; waited for my husband to arrive from a hot job.  Then we went for a leisurely lunch at Englander Pub owned by our friend Jot Mangat, one of our downtown business association's most hardworking business owner.  I drowned myself on my ice tea, and lunch. They have a great menu here and full size servings.  Patterned after British pubs, thats what you feel like when you come in. The tv show all the games that are on - soccer fans pack the place when there are games. They're a noisy bunch, but fun! When a local teams doing good, you'll see a lot of folks watching with their fellow afficionados, rooting for their team.  It's a fun ambience you get.  We have our favorite table and our friendly servers already know what we want to drink.  On a hot day like this having my ice cold tea ready is a perk! Thanks, Diana!

Every Wednesdays now until the end of September, Wednesday from 4-8pm, the front area and the street right across is closed for FARMERS MARKET.  On Thursday nights, they have evening music.

Jot does a GREAT job keeping his area bustling with business for regular people who come to eat. He also hosts several Chamber events and functions as well as some networking groups such as Le Tip and BNI.  Check out the short video and see what kind of close knit city we are prviledged to be a parto of.

Food Promotions - Taylor & Grant is Tops

Taylor & Grant is one of the leading providers of candy, breath mints, chocolates and executive food gifts in the promotional industry.  And they should be because they offer solutions for all kinds of gifting situations and are the one of the most imaginative in packaging.  If you've attended a trade show and received gift packaged mints, chances are, they are from our preferred supplier.

Featured here are mints in cell phone-like tin containers with full color domed decals.  Excellent tradeshow gift

For promotions that target the sense of TASTE, SIGHT and SMELL - this creative package of chocolates in a clear, see through container will accomplish that goal. This might be a great gifting suite promotion or a welcome treat for out of town conference attendees. 

Don't forget gum packets too! Your themed event or message can be imprinted in the packaging - a lot of advertising space! 

Food is one of the most appreciated gifts and when packaged attractively maximizes the return on your ad dollars.

Especially when it is from one of the best suppliers in the industry!

Contact sales(at)webbmar.com to evaluate your next promotional program or for more creative solutions.

For more custom gifts and ideas please visit us at WEBBMAR - your one stop Ad Specialty site where QUALITY and Customer Service is first and foremost. 

Michelin Hotel & Restaurant Guide - The PERFECT Gift

A new supplier to the promotional / ad specialty industry (did I miss them in previous shows?) - the THE MICHELIN GUIDE has been called by USA TODAY as the ''gastronomic bible for international travelers''. I have the San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country Guide and  just went through it.  If I may say so, I am really motivated to check out these restaurants that are so close by!  The Michelin hotel and restaurant reviewers have done a fantastic job. The guide reflects a variety of culinary establishments and hotel scenes, all rated by Michelin (yes, the Michelin Man is on the front cover!). The reviews were done anonymously so you can't get any more real than that!   Culinary establishments were rated and classified accoring to decor, ambience, table settings and quality of service.  They're rated from Good to Exceptional; Modest to Luxurious; and price ranges for all budgets. Maps of San Francisco and the surrounding cities are on the front (street map) and back cover (city map) Both fold out, you won't need another map.   

These guides are available now for corporate branding and imprinting in the front cover. It makes a PERFECT gift for out of town guests. If you're hosting out of town or international visitors, hand them a guide to your city as a WELCOME gift when they check into their hotel room, or when they visit you at headquarters. The guide cover can also be customized with your own story. This guide should be a corporate staple. It is absolutely the most useful gift you can give to an out of town or foreign guest.  It has just the right amount of information a traveler can digest in a short amount of time -- and information that will entice them to return.

For more information, please contact sales(at)webbmar.com or visit WEBBMAR PROMO.

REAL Coffee Lovers Will Dig This!

Get serious about your coffee, however way you choose to have it!  I found a really cool solution for all you java kahveh junkies out there who feel the need to save your dollars and give up your second cup of coffee.  I've been testing this new product just released by Thermos into the promotional and special markets industry - and have used it for coffee and water.  This holds about two cups of coffee (so will probably hold a Venti). I went to a trade show at 8am yesterday and took a full bottle with me and had it in my backpack. When I left the show at at 230pm (with a cookie in hand) - the contents were still HOT.

So..forget about buying all those tumblers you see or buy because of the decoration or brand. Your hot beverage will cool off in less than an hour.  Now you can enjoy your coffee down to the last drop!!  Every ounce of your US penny's worth!  You still get your daily kick and caffeine (or if you're like me, unleaded please). 

This is Thermos' leakproof backpack bottle with a push button flip top lid.  It's easy to clean, stainless steel double wall vacuum insulated. (Sound like nothing will get through!) No unnecessary cup to throw away, no coffee cup holder, no splash stick.

Starbuck's Management, you really need to get more stuff like this into your stores!  I vote this for MyStarbucks!

This is available in these two colors - charcoal and espresso. We can customize this and imprint your logo or they're available blank too. 

For the more rough and tumble adventurous folks - we have recommended another Thermos item previously.  The  16oz. travel tumbler with carabiner (on the right featured here) has received rave reviews from our product testers.  Simply twist the top a little bit and sip your coffee...no two parts to handle.  And get this...if you have your hands full...just tighten and twist the top and hook the bottle onto your belt loop or purse and off you go!!

There you have it. Two extreme ways to enjoy every ounce of your favorite beverage.

For purchase information, pricing, imprinting - just check out shopping site at WEBBMAR or contact us at Webbmar PROMO.

Yumm! Cookies!

FOOD!  The ultimate I LOVE IT gift - especially when they're delicious and unique.  Good Fortune Cookies makes cookies that are much sought after by celebrities and Fortune 500 firms.

Whether you're planning a huge event, a bridal or baby shower - or a smaller event and need cookie favors, create your own custom selection - with custom features and messages with this fine supplier.  They have been featured in InStyle Magazine, Elle, Shop Etc. and The Food Network.

Good Fortune is a manufacturer of Gigantic Fortune Cookies - you can customize a message as long as 10 sentences.  They are a Hollywood favorite and it's no wonder - because they're good!

Your message and cookie IS your card!

These make awesome treats and favors for all sorts of fun, themed parties and your cookies can be decorated in many ways, colors, flavors.  Weddings easily come into mind - new baby, teacher appreciation, Mother's Day.

Event planners can contact Webbmar PROMO to customize these delicious desserts!