USimprints: The Blog

Dressing up your Customized Tumbler: Easter Style

by Natalie on April 4, 2012 in Seasonal

Is it really April? Oh how fast a year seems to fly by. I feel like it was just Christmas, and we are already four months into the now semi-new year. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking forward to the next holiday because it gives me a reason to brainstorm crafty things to make up.

My Easter themed idea was to fill one of my favorite promotional acrylic tumblers with Easter candy. Simple, right? It’s not an overly creative idea, but I did like how it turned out. When I was a kid the Easter Bunny used to just throw handfuls of candy in my basket… no big deal, I would eat everything that day anyway. I do, however, think this is a great idea because it’s essentially a gift inside a gift! I also think these are great gifts for customers and colleagues for this time of year! You could also attach a tag around the straw for an added touch!

Check out more of our customized drinkware here.

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Milk + Cookies, Imprinted Milk Bottles

by Natalie on April 3, 2012 in For the Home, Promotional Products

Last week I was feeling inspired and in the mood to bake. I had this milk bottle sample laying on my desk, and decided to take it home with me as inspiration. I baked my favorite chocolate chip cookies, and decided to set up a little photo shoot.

I’ve seen a recent rise in the popularity of milk bottles on the internet (Pinterest, blogs, online shops) and around town. They are perfect for a party to serve milk + cookies or lemonade with a candy stripped straw and tied with a cute tag of some sort.

I was ecstatic when I found that we sold milk bottles on our site. I also think they are perfect for a cupcake shop, bakery, or sandwich shop. They have a nice imprint area that is ideal for making the bottles personalized to your liking.

1. Vibe Bottle, 2. Glass 1qt. Milk Bottle, 3. Vue Bottle

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A handful of great picks for Administrative Professionals!

Administrative Professionals Day

by Shari on March 30, 2012 in Events & Promotions

On April 25th we will celebrate Administrative Professionals Day. On many occasions I’ve been given some nice gifts from my bosses ranging from a Custom Chocolate Gift Box to a Personalized Tote Bag. Remembering how apprecitated I felt when received these gifts sparked my curiosity about the origin of this holiday. With a little research I discovered that the original holiday was created in 1952 and called National Secretary’s Day by Harry F. Klemfuss. His goal was to encourage more women to become secretaries…I’ll spare you from any women’s lib comments here

Nothing says secretary like a typewriter

The title has definitely changed and evolved over the years. You are not likely to find a quintessential secretary quite like Joan Holloway from Madmen in the office these days. A couple other things that have changed is that unlike Secretaries in the 1950′s, the role is no longer gender specific to women and the new term “Administrative Professionals” encompasses more positions than the original title of “Secretary”. One thing that remains the same is that is recognition is still important!

So if you’re reading this and thinking how can I show appreciation to my Administrative Professional Staff, we have an entire category of Promotional Products geared for this special day. I’ve also listed some of my favorite Admin Gifts!

A handful of great picks for Administrative Professionals!

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Spring Break 2012: Beach Style | Great Beach Giveaway Ideas

by Natalie on March 28, 2012 in Fun & Outdoor, Seasonal

Two weeks ago, we got to relive our school days and celebrate spring break at the beach with my brothers in high school and college. While we were there, I did some shopping and came across some neat promotional products I felt were worth sharing. Sometimes all it takes to love a product is to have the right imprint.

1. I love the short, stubby 12 oz. Tritan double wall tumbler. It also comes with an option lid and straw option. Also, it is available in 16 oz. It keeps your cold drinks cooler and your hot drinks hotter!

2. I am also a huge fan of these imprinted floating keychains.What a great way to keep your brand afloat! Floating keychains are great for the beach, pool, lake, pond (fishing), etc.

3. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again… the ceramic diner mug is still one of my all time favorite products. It looks amazing with a simple, crisp logo. It makes drinking your morning cup of coffee at the beach that much sweeter (assuming you take yours with cream + sugar.)

4. Lastly, a stainless steel travel mug is a must at the beach. Whether you are driving around, walking to the beach, or riding a bike you need something portable to put your favorite drink in while you are on the go.

All this talk about the beach makes me itching to go back!

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Get Inked, Temporary Tattoo Style!

by Shari on March 26, 2012 in Promotional Products

What can I say – there’s an ever growing obsession with tattoos! As much as I admire the brave souls that have adorned their bodies with wonderful works of art, I do not think that I will ever partake (needles freak me out)! I am however a HUGE fan of any temporary tattoo because they are loads of fun, pain free and removable!

There is so much to like about Custom Temporary Tattoos. They are very affordable and can be ordered in bulk for distribution, which makes them great for promotional purposes. They are also perfect for outdoor summer events and contests and an easy way to really make your logo stick! Whether you want to offer a free temporary tattoo with purchase or just hand them out to attract visitors to your booth, they are always popular!

Several months back our customer Givology had a fundraiser called the Temporary Tattoo Project in which they partnered with artist to design 5 custom tattoos that were sold at the event. This in turn raised money to provide education to children in Kenya. What a great way to have fun and promote a great cause!

In the office today we decided to “get inked”. We all had a good time picking out our favorite custom tattoos. The butterfly tattoo (seen on the left) was very detailed with color and tight registration. The heart tattoo ( in the middle) had some white in the design which made the other colors really pop. My favorite was the glitter flower tattoo (on the right) that sparkled in the sunlight. One of the greatest things about Temporary Tattoos is that they are fully customizable which gives you more freedom with your design or artwork.

We have hundreds of stock tattoos available. You should also check out our Promotional Tattoo Gel Pens! The sparkly gel ink color matches the barrel and the pens are certified non-toxic and washable too!

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get your coffee fix.

by Natalie on March 22, 2012 in For the Love of Caffeine, Promotional Products

I don’t know about you, but my day revolves around coffee. I am not a Coke or any kind of soda in general drinker, but I do need my coffee every day. For instance, today I have yet to run to the local Starbucks and get my Iced Nonfat Latte and boy am I dragging!

When you go to a coffee shop, though, it is surprisingly not just about the coffee. It is also about the experience. In college I loved to study at Starbucks (it was a much greater alternative to the library.) People love to meet at Starbucks to talk business, school, life or anything else in general. Don’t believe me? Look around next time you are in your local coffee shop. People like to browse the drinks, sweets or snacks, and the merchandise. Coffee shops are relatively good about setting trends for the latest and greatest drinkware must-have.

Let’s look at the acrylic tumbler. Starbucks made this widely popular a few years back when they designed it to look like a reusable version of their iced beverage cups. Today they come in a wide variety of colors, textures, sizes and shapes.

You know when entering a coffee shop you are going to cross paths with a ceramic mug. I love a short and wide cup over a taller mug. I am, however, a huge fan of the retro diner mug. It has been around for years, and never seems to go out of style. We have also seen a huge rise in the ceramic or plastic mug with the silicone lid. It looks like your average to-go cup, but it is reusable!

Coffee shops also have a variety of other products. It wouldn’t be a coffee shop if they didn’t sell bags of the coffee itself! Another must product is the coffee sleeve. The last thing you want is to burn your hands while grabbing your to-go cup. Companies have also began to manufacture a number of reusable sleeves to throw in your purse or car (we have several on our site!) I have noticed that a few of my favorite hole in the wall coffee shops have shown a lot of burlap! I, for one, love burlap and these little bags are to die for!

REMEMBER…Custom acrylic tumblers and ceramic mugs are not just for coffee shops. They are perfect gifts, party favors, company giveaways, and more!

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spring has sprung.

by Natalie on March 21, 2012 in Seasonal

Well… it is official people. Spring has arrived, and seems to be in full force. Here in Nashville we are having summer like weather in March… what?? We’ve had multiple days in the 80s which is so unusual for this time of year, but believe me I am not complaining (though I probably will be in a couple of months.) I am so ready for spring and all the season has to offer.

Here is a list of what Spring time means to me…

Pretty flowers, Laying out at the beach with all of my favorite beach products at arm’s reach (tote bag, towel, magazine, water bottle, sunscreen, frisbee, lip balm, iPod, sunglasses, book, etc.), popsicles and other fun sweet treats, bicycle rides with my favorite pup, all of the season’s finest fruits and veggies, and a grassy park with a pretty purple wall to set up a picnic.

Oh how the time flies! I know I will blink my eyes, and we will be in full fledge summer time! Happy Spring Folks!

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Camp Time, Fun Time!

by Shari on March 16, 2012 in Fun & Outdoor, Promotional Products

Growing up there was always one thing I looked forward to and that was going to Summer Camp! As a kid there was nothing better than a week of adventure, meeting new friends and of course, cute boys! I love looking through my old camp t-shirts that I acquired over the years. Mom and Dad were good about always sending us to camp with some money for buying a camp t-shirt and group picture on the last day.

The times sure have changed! A couple of summers ago I had the privilege of going to Crooked Creek Ranch in Colorado as a Young Life camp counselor. Just a few of hours after arriving I saw kids running around wearing Camp logo’ed sweatshirts and t-shirts and drinking from Camp logo’ed water bottles. Promotional Camp Products were already being purchased by the kids on the first day, I was amazed!

Early the next morning I stopped in at the camp coffee shop to get a little caffeine before starting day. While I was in there, I couldn’t help but check out the cool looking camp logo’ed mugs and tumblers for sale. It was then that I realized this was definitely different from the camp I went to as a kid. Mom and Dad gave me cash for a t-shirt and picture and these kids had probably already spend 80 bucks on merch their first day.

A few of my favorite Camp Promo Products from USimprints!

Later on that day I had some time to kill, so I decided to check out the gift shop. To be honest calling it a gift shop is kind of an understatement. The “gift shop” was about the size of an average store in the mall. Aside from a huge crowd of kids in there, it was full of Camp logo’ed apparel – including jackets, long sleeve t-shirts, hoodies, and even shorts. I browsed through the rest of the store and found sweatshirt blankets, journal books, tote bags and so much more! I was in there for a while, but luckily managed to walk out with just two t-shirts, a sweatband, one water bottle and a keepsake picture frame. I rushed back to my cabin to put on my new camp t-shirt – I was one of the cool kids now!

2010 Crooked Creek Camp photos and some of the greatest gals I've ever known!

Needless to say that almost all kids either go to summer camp every year, or they have been at least once. Promotional Camp Products are a great way for kids to remember the fun they had at camp or as Young Life promises the kids that atttend their camps “The best week of your life, or your money back”.

If you are looking for a wide selection of camp products at budget prices, you should definitely check out our Promotional Products for Camp category. Also if you need products in a hurry, just ask – we have tons of products that are offered with a Free Rush Service!

As an added bonus, now through August 1st mention our promo code CAMP2012 we’ll give you $25 off any order of $200 or more!

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2012 Earth Day Tips & Product Promotion!

by Shari on March 14, 2012 in Events & Promotions, Promotional Products

With Earth Day right around the corner, we’ll soon be kicking off our month long Eco Products Promotion to show a little love for this wonderful planet! The primary basis for Earth Day is to create awareness and appreciation of the environment. What better way to spread awareness then with Imprinted Eco-Friendly items?

So in Honor of Mother Earth and this special day, we listed a few helpful tips and fantastic looking products to help be a little more green in the work place!

1. Use a Recycled Coffee Mug and Reusable Water Bottle instead of paper cups and disposable plastic bottles. We’re all guilty of grabbing the occasional plastic bottle of water at the store and using the disposable coffee cups in the office. Instead, what if we used a reusable water bottle or poured our coffee in one of the great looking mugs below? Estimated amount of trash saved – a whole lot!

Love the shapes of these Eco-Mugs!

2. Bring your lunch from home in an insulated Eco Friendly Lunch Bag. It’s so easy to make a quick run for a fast food lunch. Have you ever thought about the amount of trash in just one to-go lunch? What if you packed some fresh fruit, a sandwich (in a reusable container) and perhaps a handful of nuts? The trash would be far less, not too mention what a healthy lunch!

Just a few of our Eco-Lunch bag options!

3. Wear a Pedometer and walk whenever possible. It saves on car pollution, plus it’s great exercise and you get to enjoy the fresh outdoor air. Today was a sunny Spring day in Tennessee with a nice 78 degree temperature outside. What a great day it would have been to clip on my pedometer and take a nice walk to the local bookstore down the road. I always feel victorious when I wear a pedometer and can physically see the amount of steps I take add up throughout the day.

Great options for counting steps!

From Eco-Drinkware to Pedometers there are hundreds of Eco Friendly Products on USimprints.com to choose from that will help promote both Earth Day and Eco-Responsibility. The above tips are just a few easy ideas to keep in mind to reduce waste while being a little healthier!

So click on over now and start shopping ideas to make your next promotion more Eco-Friendly!

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Tidy Up Traveling with these 3 Products

by Shari on March 6, 2012 in Promotional Products

This past weekend I took a somewhat impromptu get-away to the Great Smokey Mountains! Before I left the office for the weekend, I grabbed a few new products thinking that it would be a great opportunity to personally test them out.

The first one is The Hang Around. This is a new product that will be featured in our 2012 Idea Book Catalog (which comes out later this month). When I first saw The Hang Around, I honestly thought what good is a bag that only has one handle? I then realized that the one handle had a snap on it and you could attach it to multiple things.

I don’t know what the backseat of your car looks like, but I have a five year old son who feels the need to bring a toy with him anytime we leave the house. As you can see from the picture, my car tends to be a mess! What a great solution The Hang Around is! My son was able to put all of his belongings inside of it which kept the back seat clean. The Hang Around will be hanging out in my car from now on!

Mom's with Messy Mini-Vans, this product is for you!

The second product I packed for the trip was the Fold Away Duffel. The genius thing about this product is that it folds flat into an 8″ x 8″ square, fitting very easily into any suitcase. I don’t know if you’re a fanatic like me, but I cannot have the clean and dirty clothes packed together in the same bag. The Fold Away Duffel proved to be a fresh solution to my dirty laundry.

No more dirty underwear packed with clean clothes!

The third product is one of my personal favorites – The Fanny Pack. Contrary to popular belief, it has made a come-back over the past couple of years. I mean really, it was only a matter of time before people remembered Disneyland and the 80′s and thought “hey, whatever happened to the fanny pack – remember how practical and cool it was”? Okay, nobody ever said it was “cool”, but it was great for holding all of your stuff and freeing up your hands for eating corn-dogs and drinking beer at the same time!

This past weekend while I was living large as a tourist in Gatlinburg, TN – I sported the Retro Hipster Fanny Pack stowed away my belongings keeping my hands free for whatever and never looked back!

Wow, I can't believe how much stuff it holds!

And finally, in case you were concerned about the “cool factor” of wearing the hipster fanny pack, I took it upon myself to personally model how great it looks on a live body!