What's the Plan?

Planning ahead is part of the job description at a magazine. We plan the stories we will write, who will travel to industry events, when the magazine will go to the printer and then out to you, when we will take a long weekend so that it does not interfere with production. We are always planning at least a month or two ahead of time. Promotional products distributors also have to plan far in advance, selling programs three or four months (or even a year) ahead of an event or giveaway. Paper calendars and planners are a must for all of us heavy planners. Technology is wonderful, but nothing will ever surpass the feeling of literally crossing something off of your calendar.

The good thing about technology is that it allows everyone to be in constant communication, which means that planning-heavy workers have even more to plan. Good thing, too, since you have a lot of calendars and planners to sell. Here are 14 ideas to help you get started.

don't stop plannin'
The Appointment Weekly Organizer from JournalBooks/Timeplanner Calendars has 25 cover options, which puts it on par with Journey's Don't Stop Believin' (the Glee version is our favorite). The 7x10" organizer has black wire binding and includes room for a one-color foil or deboss imprint. For more information, visit www.journalbooks.com.

this calendar is a corona-do
What does every poorly lit, middle-of-the-office, no-access-to-outdoor-light cubicle need? A beautiful landscape calendar. Deerfield Calendars & Greeting Cards offers the Coronado Collection of Calendars, which come in four stock themes: Patriotic Landmarks, America the Beautiful, Inspirations and Destinations. The calendars can be stitched or spiral-bound. An 8.5x1.5" imprint area is available. For more information, visit www.adgpromo.com.

personal planner
The Personal Journals from PCA Calendars, Planners & Notebooks come in blue, red, green or yellow. The journals measure 5x8.375" and feature an elastic band closure. A 2x2" area for a hot stamp or debossed imprint is available. For more information, visit www.pcacal.com.

time lord
The Time Manager from Drummond Printing/Drum-Line is closely related to Time Lords of "Doctor Who" fame. How do we know? We don't, but we don't question The Doctor. The planner comes in 15 color options, includes a 14-month calendar and features two pockets in the back for documents or business cards. Your client can choose one of three sizes: 5x8", 7x10" or 8.25x10.625". For more information, visit www.drum-line.com.

the thirteenth month
General Diaries Corporation offers the Executive Weekly Planner for those high-level workers who need to plan a year in advance. The 13-month planner has months January through January, as well as a six-day schedule and room for a 5x3" hot stamp. The 8x10" planner is available in black, burgundy, navy, green, red, royal, yellow and orange. For more information, visit www.generaldiaries.com.

year 2000
Navitor's 2000 Plus Date Stamp is one less than "a space odyssey" and one more than a "party like it's." Neither of those things is relevant, but we wanted to show you we know movies and songs about dates. The self-inking daters can withstand thousands of stamps before needing re-inking. For more information, visit www.navitor.com.

stick to the date
Sure, users may have calendars on their phones, walls and desktops, but what about their refrigerators? (After all, there's no more memorable surface than the front of the box where cold pizza and leftover cake come from.) Halls & Company's Calendar Magnets are available in a number of shapes and sizes, including the 4.5x2.5" shown here. They're also dry-erase compatible, in case end-users need to take notes on anything from appointments to where to get the best pizza. (We're kidding, of course. As if anyone writes anything on fridges that isn't about pizza.) For more information, visit www.idline.com.

desk date
Starline Inc.'s House 2 Calendar comes in sizes L or XL. Material and backing options are 20mil or 30mil flexible magnetic material or StickEz so the calendar can stick to most flat surfaces. For more information, visit www.starline.com.

these are the dates of our lives
Like the drama on "Days of Our Lives," Logomark's Perpetual Calendar is never-ending. The lightweight aluminum calendar has a sliding mechanism to change the date. The 4x3.5x0.125" calendar folds flat, making it great for direct-mail campaigns. A 2.5x0.75" print or Color Splash imprint is available on the bottom center. For more information, visit www.logomark.com.

chalk it up
Chalk causes mixed emotions: It is the summertime favorite artistic medium of every child, but also the school-year favorite for writing math problems on the board. Make sure kids know that chalk is awesome by encouraging your education market clients to write inspirational things like "Recess" or "Snack Time" on the Chalkboard Calendar from Norwood. For more information, visit www.norwoodbic.com.

so metal
If your planner promotion needs some edge, try adding metal like the Softouch Sewn Diary With Metal Corners from Royal Industries. The diary measures 17x11" open and 8.75x11" closed, and includes two-page weekly spreads, as well as pages for important phone numbers. A 4x5" area for imprint is available. For more information, visit www.royalindustries.com.

map with the plan
What happens when you are lost in rural Iowa with no cell reception? Well, you pull out Payne Publishers Inc.'s 2015 Weekly Pocket Planner, of course, because it has 16 pages of U.S. maps to help you find your destination. The planner measures 3.5x6.5" and comes in 20 cover color options. For more information, visit www.paynepub.com.

fruitful sales
Waldor Products' Technocolor Monthly Pocket Planner comes in four fruity colors: blueberry, grape, lime and orange. Your client can choose one or get an assortment. The 3.75x5.75" planner holds a 2.5x2.5" logo and includes 32 pages, 13 months and a year-at-a-glance calendar. For more information, visit www.waldorproducts.com.

easel street
Sometimes a flat calendar promotion falls flat. Add some height to your current dated product promotions and you'll be on Easy Street. Barton Nelson's 5-5⁄8x4-5⁄8" Easel Desk Calendar is wire-bound and includes a four-color imprint on the front and back. Your clients can choose between stock themes for each month on the 12-month calendar or provide their own photographs. For more information, visit www.bebco.com.