Tasteful Advertising
Looking to rack up some serious grocery bills with your biggest clients? Check out these great edible promotions, complete with tips and ideas for use from the suppliers who sell them. (That's like getting cooking tips straight from the chef, if the chef was also telling you how to get rich or how he's going to start charging you for all those "samples" you keep ordering.)
Fortune Cookies—A La Carte
What Makes Them Great: "Besides the low price point, the flexibility is enormous. The custom message inside can be changed to cover different aspects of a promotion, the wrapper can be printed to make a more complete presentation, the cookies are available chocolate-dipped for a higher-end piece and the cookies can be packed in carry-out containers or other packaging to create a complete custom package. Because the message is hidden, the cookies can be used in contests with one or more winning messages. Additionally, several messages can be combined in a package of cookies to cover many advertising points for the client." — Mike Shulkin, president of A La Carte
For more information, visit www.alacarteline.com.
The Advertising Mint/Candy/Gum Box—Admints & Zagabor
What Makes It Great: "This is an exclusive item from Admints & Zagabor, and offers five full sides of advertising. Clients can design five sides of the box with magazine-quality four-color process artwork. Each box lasts an average of one week and gets viewed an average of 20 times. At a cost of only $0.192 net, this works out to be less than $0.01 per impression. This product is so functional that it can be used for any type of advertisement. It's great for trade shows, salesperson leave-behinds, new product introduction, driving traffic to a website or physical location. We can also put coupons and scratch-off options on the box as well."— Glen Hersh, vice president of sales for Admints & Zagabor
For more information, visit www.admints.com.
Hot Sauce—Hot Sauce Harry's
What Makes It Great: "The American palate is rapidly craving bolder and spicier flavors. Hot sauce can be used on just about anything to add heat and enhance flavor. Distributors are looking for promotional items that have staying power with the recipient. A bottle of hot sauce with a client's logo is right there every time they open the fridge. The client will literally have your name on the tip of their tongue. Our distributors routinely report that their clients get calls just to get more hot sauce, which is the perfect opportunity. Our 3 oz. hot sauce is the perfect trade show giveaway to drive traffic and is airport-friendly."— Lauren Smith, vice president of sales for Hot Sauce Harry's
For more information, visit www.hotsauceharrys.com.
Energy Drinks—BamBams LLC
What Makes Them Great: "[They're] a fantastic giveaway for any type of event to keep people awake and entertained. The customized artwork wraps nicely around the can or bottle, and has great effect so that people still keep the bottle even after the drink is finished. It is a domestic item and, therefore, has a fast turnaround time. It can be ordered sugar-free as well. Energy drinks are simply very popular for any type of occasion. Whether it is for a good cause or used as a giveaway item or any type of event, people will always crave energy drinks, just like coffee. A good way to use it would be, for example, for an outdoor event. It serves cold as a nice refreshing drink and gets the message across as anyone [who] holds the drink will see the print on it." — Katharina Pieper, marketing manager for BamBams LLC
For more information, visit www.bambams.com.
Nouveau Gift Box with Nine Belgian Chocolate Vanilla Ganache Truffles—Astor Chocolate
What Makes It Great: "This item combines our innovative new process of using a four-color process edible imprint directly on our delicious Truffles, [which have a rich decadent taste and soft creamy centers]. Each recipe is created by our in-house French Master Chocolatier, who combines Belgian chocolate and fresh ingredients to enhance the richness of the chocolate. Great chocolate creates an extremely positive sensory perception and personal experience for your customer. Giving quality chocolate with a custom edible imprint will create a fond recollection every time you speak to your client. It can be used as a 'Thank You' gift during the holiday season or as a party favor at your next company event." — Yngrid Bravo, marketing manager for Astor Chocolate Corporate Sales Division.
For more information, visit www.astorline.com.
Chocolate-Covered Peanuts—SnugZ USA
What Makes Them Great: "I love the combination of a sweet treat and a healthy snack. We have an assortment of styles available from a small 2x3" bag to more gift-style containers. With chocolate-covered peanuts, clients can show their customers and employees they care about them. But these sweet treats also help provide energy to keep people engaged. Because of the positive result of this snack, this is a useful treat at training seminars and all-day, off-site meetings. When companies are providing their employees with a large amount of training information, an afternoon snack is a great way to recognize their time and help provide them with energy to learn at their best." — Sydra Newell, vice president of sales for SnugZ USA
For more information, visit www.snugzusa.com.
Fresh Lobster Rolls Gift Pack—Lobster Gram
What Makes It Great: "This is one of our easiest treats. All you need do is toast the rolls before you go to the beach (or other picnic area) and add your favorite bottle of wine. Fresh Lobster Rolls are a delicious and special treat that are great for meetings, incentives and, as always, a thank you. This could be used simply to impress your clients as they decide on what gifts they are choosing for the holiday season." — Sam Radom, administrative manager of special markets for Lobster Gram
For more information, visit www.livelob.com.
Belgian Milk Chocolate Covered Oreo Gift Boxes—Mid-Nite Snax
What Makes Them Great: "Besides tasting delicious, our Chocolate-Covered Oreos are my favorite because there's so many different options to personalize them for your needs. Besides the customization on the packaging that holds the Oreos, we offer sprinkles and foil wrappers in an assortment of colors, enabling you to decorate the Oreos to match your corporate colors or theme. They're enrobed right here in our FDA-approved factory and made fresh for each order. Because we offer corporate color foil wrappers and sprinkles, plus the ability to imprint directly on the foil wrappers, this item is great for promoting brand recognition with your corporate colors. In the sample shown, this company was able to personalize this item in three ways—first with the four-color process sleeve that goes around the box, then with the foil wrappers to match their corporate colors, and last with their logo printed on the foil wrapper." — Margaret Dengler, marketing director for Mid-Nite Snax
For more information, visit www.midnitesnax.com.