2013 sounds like one of those years movies from the ʼ70s, ʼ80s and ʼ90s called “the no-so-distant future,” where there are Running Man competitions, hover-board races that end on water, replicants posing as humans and overuse of liberal eugenics. The movies were not completely off-base. Our lives now barely resemble how we lived in 2005, let alone 1975, largely due to technology (not to mention, the popularity of reality TV is basically the same as Death Race 2000).
The hyper speed of the Internet, social media and the generation that grew up using them has forced every industry to adapt. It has eliminated the need for some products and opened the way for new inventions. It also has shown what holds up in a rapidly changing world. For every new creation, there is a product that has yet to be bested by a technological counterpart. In other words, for every Honey Boo Boo, there is an umbrella that has been around for 50 years and will be for at least 50 more.
We have a lot of great things going on around us, but a few things have stayed the same. Most importantly, branding still matters. So we collected some of the top branded products for 2013. Who knows what the list will be in 2113, but these are the products for today and for this year. Happy 2013 and good luck selling!
I Put a Spell on You
99CentPromos.com’s Jumbo Hex Bottle will not put a hex on your clients, but it will magically convince them to buy it with its BPA-free Tritan material and steel band. The 40 oz. bottle has a leak-proof, twist-and-seal top, and comes in green, blue, red or orange. The bottle is QCA-certified.
For more information, visit www.99centpromos.com.
On Thin Ice
Frozen chicken is great for icing wounds, but gets gross pretty quickly once it starts to thaw. Encourage your clients to try the Reusable Aqua Bead Gel Therapy Pack from Ariel Premium Supply Inc. instead. The freezer- and microwave-safe pack can be used as a hot or cold pack, measures 7-1⁄2x4-1⁄2x1⁄4" and comes in six colors. A 2-3⁄4x2" imprint area is available on the front only.
For more information, visit www.arielpremium.com.
Sara-toga Party
The Saratoga Tote from Bag Makers is perfect for carrying everything you need for a toga party: a sheet, plastic cups and a keg tap. The 80 gsm nonwoven polypropylene tote has 25" handles, a bottom panel, a front pocket, side pockets and an interior accessory loop. The 18x7x12" tote comes in natural only. A 7x6" imprint area is available. Your clients could also use it to carry groceries or other things that might be labeled “everyday essentials.” (Do you not wear togas to work? Weird.)
For more information, visit www.bagmakersinc.com.
To-do List for the New Year
Help end-users keep track of their New Year’s resolutions with the Better Books from Better Life Industries LLC. The 3-3⁄4x6", 36-page booklets have room for record keeping. The Track Your Passwords book is shown, but other topics are available. The USA-made book also has room for a 20-1⁄4x10-1⁄8" logo.
For more information, visit www.betterlifeline.com.
Bank On It
There is something about bank pens that makes you want to steal them. BIC Graphic’s Round Stic Pen is exactly the kind of pen bank-goers will want to have for themselves. The 15⁄32x5-29⁄32" pen features a 21⁄2x3⁄4" imprint area and comes in more than 400 color combinations. The options of medium point, fine point or BIC Easy-Glide System Ink also make it suited for a business gift (instead of, you know, a stolen one).
For more information, visit www.bicgraphic.com.
Networking-ready
The Jubilee Felt Media Holder Lanyard from Bullet is exactly what every distributor needs while walking trade show floors. The compact media pocket measures 1⁄2x3-3⁄8x5" and features a breakaway neck rope. It comes in gray, lime green, orange, red, royal blue or yellow and holds a 2-1⁄4x2-1⁄4" silkscreen on each side.
For more information, visit www.bulletline.com.
Safe and Secure
Proof of insurance cards are small and easily lost. Make sure all of your insurance company clients offer the Insurance Wallets from Carlson Craft Binder Division. The vinyl wallets have a clear front and come in 18 color options. A 5-1⁄4x3-3⁄4" imprint area is available.
For more information, visit www.presentationessentials.com.
Toast of the Town
If The Ed Sullivan Show were on today, chances are Ed would swap his suits for a sleek polo. Knowing his love of eponymy, he would probably pick Cutter & Buck’s Men’s CB DryTec Sullivan Embossed Polo. The 100 percent polyester jersey shirt is moisture-wicking and machine-washable. Features include a self-fabric collar inside back neck tape, three-button placket, embossed front panel and a silver C&B heat transfer on the back half moon. The shirt also has seaming details, open sleeves and side vents.
For more information, visit www.cutterbuck.com.
Good Investment
There are only a few things that never go out of style. Suits, black dresses and cardigans top that list. For that reason, end-buyers can invest in the V-neck Long Cardigan from Edwards Garment. The cotton/nylon sweater boasts two patch pockets, side vents at hem, a jersey stitch and matching buttons on the placket. Available colors are slate blue, white, navy, heather gray or black. Misses’ sizes run XS through 3XL.
For more information, visit www.edwardsgarment.com.
Pop Party
We are trying to start something in the office called dance break. It is when you turn on some loud music and dance out your frustration. We have yet to agree on a song. (We’re torn between Demi and Britney. They both really proved themselves on the X Factor, so it is a difficult decision.) Once we pick a song, we’ll whip out Coby Electronics Corp.’s Bluetooth Speaker System. The portable Bluetooth-enabled device has a rechargeable Lithion Ion battery, which means we can listen to both Demi and Britney if we really want to.
For more information, visit www.cobyusa.com.
Need to Vent
The FV48 Umbrella from George R. Chaby Inc. features a 48" arc, auto open, manual close and a matching color sleeve with shoulder strap. The vented golf umbrella measures 17" when closed and features an 8.5x6" imprint area.
For more information, visit www.chabyumbrellas.com.
Not Meshing Around
Kids’ backpacks get gross pretty quickly. They’re thrown onto school bus floors, grass patches outside and in who-knows-how-germ-filled lockers. The GRID Technology Backpacks from Greater China Industries feature the GRID mesh system so their parents can wash and dry the backpacks easily and not worry about any permanent stench.
For more information, visit www.greaterchina-usa.com.
Visions of Sugar Plums
We’re no epicureans. We eat pretty much anything if it is free, but some people actually make use of their taste buds. For those deliciousity connoisseurs, suggest the Destination Gourmet Gift Box from Gifted Expressions. The gift box includes cinnamon apple crisps, jambalaya snack mix, chocolate wafer crisps, J&M key lime cookies, East Shore dipping pretzels, Robert Rothschild raspberry honey dipping mustard, caramel corn nuggets, citrus fruit candy and mixed citrus tea sachets.
For more information, visit www.giftedexpressions.com.
Time Traveler’s Tool
Controlling time and weather may be out of our grasp (for the moment), but at least we can keep track of it with Logomark’s Weather & Time Keeper. The 3-7⁄8x4-5⁄8x1-1⁄2" device has a digital time display, moon phase, hygrometer to measure humidity, thermometer and a date and day of the week display.
For more information, visit www.logomark.com.
Nothing’s Fresher Than Ice
Fresh breath is a necessity at any meeting. Imagine how much your sales could be improved if you gave out the Ice Drop Icymint Breath Strips with Custom Label from Leashables by OraLabs Inc. at every meeting? The 1.20x1.92" container holds a four-color label.
For more information, visit www.leashables.com.
Beer, Better, Yeast
A bottle of the best beer in the world is meaningless if you cannot open it. Tell your clients to use the HD Beverage Opener from Openers Plus. The chrome-plated bottle opener with keyring holds an epoxy dome and a heavy-duty split ring. End-buyers can give it even more meaning with a 2x0.375" logo.
For more information, visit www.openersplus.com.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Summer baseball games are fun, but you never know when a sudden rainstorm will hit. Make sure your sports-loving clients give out Otto International Inc.’s Superior Garment Washed Cotton Twill Sandwich Visor with Striped Closure Six Panel Low Profile Pro Style, so their employees and end-users will be covered in stormy weather. The unstructured cap has a soft crown and an adjustable hook-and-loop closure with a contrasting color stripe. A 4.5x2.25" embroidery area is available.
For more information, visit www.ottocap.com.
I Saw the Sign
MOCAP’s 3⁄16" Thick White All-weather Plastic Signs are available in thousands of stock shapes, all printed with four-color process. The imprint area measures 18x24".
For more information, visit www.anchorlineproducts.com.
Make Pavlov Proud
Pizza, the word alone makes most salivate and crave a trip to Dominoes. (We’re all Pavlov’s dogs.) Royal Crest Promotions offers the GIANT 5 ft. Toy-filled Pizza Slice to stir up drool-worthy promotions in the retail market. The ballot box holds an imprintable decal sticker.
For more information, visit www.gorcp.com.
Concealed Cash
The Digi-Camo ID Clip from Waldor Products works well for military-focused promotions or outdoorsmen programs. The 4-1⁄2x3-1⁄4" wallet features a plastic clip, ID window, zip pocket, an exterior card pocket and a 2-1⁄2x1-1⁄4" imprint area.
For more information, visit www.waldorproducts.com.
Life of the Party
Great for events or bars, HOWW Manufacturing’s New Ice Bucket comes in eight dome color lighting options. The USA-made bucket measures 10.5x9" and holds a 5x4" imprint.
For more information, visit www.howw.com.
Take a Deep Breath
There is a lot to say about Superex’s Motor Trend Home Air Compressor, so we will try to make it as brief as possible (and challenge ourselves not to take a breath when we do it). It provides 15 Liters/minute of air flow and can inflate a tire in less than 4.25 minutes. It features a built-in carry handle, on/off switch, pressure gauge, 6' power cord, 26.7" air hose with quick-lock connector, two adaptors for inflating tires, bikes, pool rafts, sports balls and more. It comes in red, measures 7x8.126x3.15" and holds a 2.75x0.625" vertical imprint or a 1.25x2.75" horizontal imprint. (OK, we did it. Thank goodness, because the only thing this does not inflate is humans.)
For more information, visit www.superex.com.
- People:
- Colleen McKenna