When was the last time you threw away a pen or calendar? If you're like most Americans, you don't dispose of either as long as they work. Office supplies and desk accessories such as pens and calendars have better retention rates than other types promotional products, says David Curbelo, president of Independent Resources Inc., a 25-year-old distributorship in Tampa, Fla. "People just don't throw them away," he says.
The office supply and desk accessories promotional product market grossed more than $4.6 billion in 2000, according to Promotional Products Association International. Businesses can promote themselves with imprinted writing instruments, business card holders, mouse pads, desk clocks, personal organizers, stress relievers, letter openers, calendars and more. Prime clients for these products include financial institutions, travel agencies, retailers, manufacturers, sales and customer service training firms, and nursing home and health care facilities.
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Independent Resources Inc., a
25-year-old distributorship in Tampa, Fla., provided a home health care
firm with 50,000 Big Kahuna pens, similar to the ones shown here.
Imprinted in black with the home health care provider's name and phone
number, the white pens featured jumbo barrels and cushioned rubber grips
to ease use by clients with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and
associated conditions.
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Promotional paper cubes
put businesses' messages literally at customers' fingertips. They can
feature company names, logos, phone numbers, web site addresses, slogans
and more.
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Staples of the Office
Distributors help end users achieve
name recognition
with
promotional office supplies and desk accessories.
When a home health care firm wanted to provide clients with easy access to its emergency phone number, it turned to Independent Resources. Because the home health care provider's clients often lost business cards left by nurses, the company was interested in using promotional products. Because the firm was funded by Medicare, promotional products had to adhere to strict guidelines--they had to be reasonably related to patient care, designed primarily to inform the public of the facility's services and useful in presenting a good public image.
Independent Resources provided the home health care provider with 50,000 Big Kahuna pens. Imprinted in black with the provider's name and phone number, the white pens featured jumbo barrels and cushioned rubber grips to ease use by clients with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and associated conditions. The pens were stored in Independent Resources 6,500-square-foot warehouse and requisitioned as needed to the health care provider's 23 locations. The client reordered three times.
--Kara S. Carpenter
Patriotic Stress Relievers, Hands-Free Cell Phone Headsets, Auto Visor CD Holders and Organizers, AM/FM Radios, Ergonomic Gel Mouse Pads
Prime Resources Corp., Bridgeport, Conn., introduces its 2002 product catalog. The catalog features more than 100 new products, including patriotic stress relievers, hands-free cell phone headsets, auto visor CD holders and organizers, AM/FM radios, ergonomic gel mouse pads, tape measures, travel alarm clocks, card lights, desk calculators, lighted ice scrapers, Rubik's cubes, luggage tag/sewing kit combinations, massagers, badge holders and more. The firm offers 3 to 5-day standard turnaround and 1-day rush service. For more information, call (800) 873-7746, (203) 331-9100 or (203) 330-0123 (fax). Visit www.primeworld.com.
Magnetic Memo Boards
Magna-Tel® Inc., Cape Girardeau, Mo., introduces its Process Color Memo Boards. Available in two stock designs (Noah's Notes and My Goal Chart) the 8 1/2 x 11-inch, dry-erase magnetic memo boards feature 1 x 6 7/8-inch custom imprint areas. Custom designs also are offered. For more information, call (800) 467-2537, (573) 334-3096 or (573) 335-1715 (fax). Visit www.magna-tel.com.
Racing Signage, Equipment and Supplies
The Olympic Line, Madison, Wis., introduces its 2002 catalog of promotional products for marathons, walkathons, cycling races, rodeos, skiing events and other sports competitions. Products include racing and cycling numbers, bibs, banners, signs, wrist bands, timing equipment, traffic cones and thermal blankets. The catalog also includes printed promotional items such as fliers, posters and entry forms. For more information or a free catalog, call Dana Simons at (800) 682-7746, ext. 25, or (888) 682-7746 (fax).
Magnetic Products, Plastic Products
Gill Studios Inc., Shawnee Mission, Kan. introduces its
Magnetic Products and Plastic Products brochures, designed for distributors to
use as promotional materials. The Magnetic Products brochure includes offset
printed maxi and business card magnets, square and die cut magnets, calendar
magnets, sports schedule magnets and other magnetic items. The Plastic Products
brochure features offset printed membership and calendar cards, bookmarks,
rulers (including a presidential ruler), self-exam cards and hangers. Brochures
can be personalized with distributor names and contact information. For
complimentary brochures, call (913) 888-4422, (800) 392-4455 (fax) or visit www.gill-line.com.
