May

1-31: National Back-To-School Month. Retailers can give out school-related products like pencils, erasers, pens, notebooks and book covers to pull in parents and kids. Schools can give out calendars or magnets featuring important dates in the school year. Don’t overlook links to transportation services and computer firms.

1-31: Children’s Vision and Learning Month. Eye-care professionals and vision centers can remind parents to have the kids’ eyes checked. Products like imprinted eyeglass cleaner, cleaning cloths, cases and repair kits can thank patients for their business.

1: World Wide Web’s 10th Anniversary. Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau first suggested the creation of the Web in 1990. Imprinted computer accessories are a logical choice for Web retailers, software companies and Internet providers. But Internet-related companies are choosing creative products like imprinted boxer shorts, music compilations or even bottles of Tabasco sauce.

5: National Mustard Day. Mustard connoisseurs love to spread, squirt or brush their favorite condiment on all types of edibles, especially sandwiches. Imprinted mustard dispensers and spreaders can act as souvenirs at events like festivals and parties. Don’t forget imprinted napkins and plates.

6: National Fresh Breath Day. Fresh breath projects a good personal and professional image. Coupled with National Smile Week (August 7-13), dentists, orthodontists, equipment manufacturers and makers of breath-freshening/whitening products can use imprinted dental floss, toothbrushes, tongue scrapers and cleaners. Breath mints are also available in imprintable cases.

8: Date To Create. Everyone’s creative in some way. Brainstorming sessions and idea contests are a great way to gather employee input on company policies and procedures. Imprinted bookmarks, magnets, picture frames, lapel pins and emblems among others, can remind people they participated.

10-13: National Blueberry Festival. Medical researchers say blueberries are one of the healthiest fruits you can eat. Communities can hold festivals and baking contests. In addition to ribbons or trophies, winners can receive imprinted kitchen utensils, baking supplies and other accessories.

13: Alfred Hitchcock:Birthday. Born 1899, the noted director’s career spanned seven decades. Theaters can hold Hitchcock retrospectives, while sales and rentals of his movies can be promoted with imprinted microwavable popcorn, candy, drinkware, sound devices (themes or screams). Also good for anything with a mystery theme.

14-20: National Resurrect Romance Week. Everybody knows Valentine’s Day, but why not a similar promo with far less commercialism? A great time for florists, jewelers, lingerie shops, card retailers, candy makers/sellers and more to emphasize putting more romance in our lives.

19: Penguin Awareness Day. You have to admit that penguins almost never fail to bring on a smile. Zoos are a natural, but almost any business can put aside all pretensions of seriousness for an hour or so to draw attention to our “naturally tuxedoed” avian friends. Penguin-shaped products would work well, but anything bearing a penguin image could work well, too.

26: Make Your Own Luck Day. A day for people to take positive action to improve their lives and create new opportunities. Job placement centers and learning institutions can send out direct mail to draw in new candidates and students, enclosing an imprinted product to get the recipient’s attention.