The Promotional Idea Showcase - Winter 2002
- Updated
Quarterly
NEW
PRODUCTS
By Arn Bernstein
| For more information
on any of the products on this page, or ways they can be used to
achieve your marketing/communications objectives, contact or go to
the Internet site of the promotional products professional who
sponsors your Imprint subscription. |
 Lookin’
sharp ... If you need something different in an executive
gift, you might want to check these combos. One includes a
leather-faced (for the imprint) Neoprene golf-ball pouch with a
clip, two Maxfli brand golf balls and an “Esquire” model Swiss
Army knife (blade, nail file/cleaner, springless self-sharpening
scissors, toothpick, tweezers, key-ring loop). The other is the
same knife-wise, but features a leather/Neoprene cell-phone pouch
instead (large and small sizes available). In both cases, the
knives also fit conveniently on the item’s belt/bag clip. Comes gift-boxed. Ask for asi/96467 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 Sensory
bypass? ... Definitely, in at least one way. Maybe more.
Inside, these European-made, high-quality “Tucson” diaries,
journals and notebooks are fairly standard, except, perhaps, for
the perpetual calendar layout. Outside, however, is another story.
The covers feel and to an extent, even smell exactly like
ultra-grade leather. Remarkably, though, it’s a newly processed
form of vinyl. And when blind-stamped, the imprint has a
distinctive “branded” look and touch. The books are available
in several styles and sizes, and come in nine muted but
fashionable colors. Ask for asi/44305 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 Metal-free
... There are few things many of us use as often as a stapler
on a daily basis. But ever notice that it seems to need to be
refilled at the most inopportune times? In addition, some firms
require that all staples be removed prior to shredding or
recycling. This stapler solves both annoyances. Of ABS plastic,
the patented device actually “stitches” paper together, using
nothing but the paper itself. It works on up to four sheets of
standard memo paper and is small enough to sit unobtrusively on a
corner of a desk. It takes a clean, sharp imprint as well. Ask for asi/63549 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 Canned
convenience ... When it’s convenient right from a bottle,
those bottles with sports-type reclosable tops pretty much have
everything else beat hands down in terms of convenience and
neatness. The “Pop Top” is a sports cap designed to snap on to
the top of a standard soda (or, we’d guess, beer too) can,
converting it instantly into something that reportedly keeps
drinks fresher longer while preventing spills and keeping out dirt
and insects. It’s dishwasher safe and is available in red, white
and blue, any combo of the three, or custom colors. Ask about asi/68604 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 As
seen in stores ... Remember about a year ago when you first
saw paper towels in a tissue-type, pop-up dispenser box? If you
were like most people, you probably thought it was a great idea
… and wondered why it took someone this long to come up with it.
Now, you can use boxed paper towels promotionally. Each box
contains 200 top-quality multi-fold paper towels, ready to go. The
box itself offers imprinting on almost every available surface,
which is a lot. Highly visible and functional. Ask for asi/75840 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 Universal
sport ... At first, the concept of combining golf and
geography seems to make no sense. Then, when you remember that
many golfers dream about golfing at certain courses all over the
world, it makes perfect sense. This globe, aptly called
“Golfer’s Delight,” is an elegant melding of the two. The
12-inch globe is raised-relief antique style, fastened to the dark
wood base by a stand that’s fashioned to look like a driver
addressing a golf ball. Finally, the base also incorporates a
compartment for an atlas; in this case, the World Atlas of Golf,
which pictures and discusses the planet’s greatest courses. An
attached brass plate can be engraved with a name, logo or message.
Hard to get much better than this for the serious golf fanatic. Ask for asi/82050 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 Visitor
from the past ... If you were around then, it’s likely you
remember Rubik’s Cube; it was one of the biggest puzzle fads of
the ‘70s. The “White Magic Cube” evokes the same spirit.
It’s essentially similar in function as far as the puzzle
portion goes, but the white plastic offers a great background for
imprinting over an entire side with absolutely minimal loss of
copy or image between the cracks. One-color printing is included
in the price, but multicolor and process print is available if
desired. The unit also comes in black if preferred. Ask for asi/55525 – specify Winter Imprint |
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 Wearable
heat … While smoking-related accessories might not be as
popular as they once were, they’re not dead by a long, short or
medium shot. This is especially true where lighters are concerned.
Sure, many still use them to light cigarettes or cigars, but
they’re also fairly invaluable when it comes to lighting
candles, barbecue grills, fires (both inside and out), pilot
lights and so on. “The Rotunda Lighter Belt” is an unexpected
pairing of a 100% leather belt with an adjustable, refillable
butane lighter as the central portion of the buckle. The lighter
slides in and out in seconds and has a slide-over ignition switch
to prevent mishaps. In silver satin or gunmetal finishes.Ask about asi/88570 – specify Winter Imprint |
It’s
a festival ... When triangular models were introduced a few
years ago, most of us (that’s us in this industry) thought
promotional highlighter markers had gone about as far as they
possibly could. But again, the philosophy of “never assume”
blows it aside. These triangular highlighters feature nothing but
a transparent body. Why? To ensure the visibility of the foil
confetti placed inside for an added visual. The confetti is
available in solid or assorted colors in a number of shapes,
including hearts, apples, houses, Stars of David, graduation
mortarboards, phones, medical symbols and, of course, dollar
signs. The product features a large imprint area and comes with a
choice of seven ink colors. 
Exec-level
leisure … These desktop versions of table tennis, foosball
and air hockey are roughly half the size of a standard card table
– not too small to really enjoy, but not large enough to require
a separate area to play. The foosball features two 11-player teams
and manual 
scorekeepers; the table tennis, a net that rises automatically,
two paddles and two balls; and the hockey, paddles, pucks and a
manual scorekeeper. The hockey requires two “D” batteries, the
others none. All can be imprinted in several locations, and all
can be at home as well as the office. There’s also a tabletop
pinball machine available.