It’s possible selling stress reducers and office toys can cause distributors unnecessary anxiety of their own. Promo Marketing spoke to some of the industry’s top suppliers to learn more about stress reducing products so you can decide which are best for your business.
Value of Relieving Stress
Everyone experiences stress at some point during their lives, which means stress reducers and office toys are helpful promotional products that will also generate a lot of logo exposure. Rick French, PCNA Mid Atlantic sales manager, for Bullet in Hialeah, Florida, explained how working with your hands helps your brain relieve stress. “Stress relievers and office toys are good promotional products because they deliver repeat brand impressions with the added bonus of really relieving stress,” said French. “Researchers have shown that a large part of our brains are dedicated to processing information that comes in from the numerous nerve endings in our hands. So when the hands are busy, the brain releases a lot of stressful’intellectual’ activities.”
Because stress relievers and office toys are so versatile, their designs are often silly and fun. Jeff Lee, president/CEO, for STOPNGO-Line in Industry, California, added that these promotional products are a way to make people smile. “Stress reducers are a great way to brighten up the mood in any setting. Not only are they there for your squeezing pleasure, but are also there to bring some fun and joy,” Lee said. He added, “Some of the shapes and sizes are just downright goofy and fun. When paired with a brand or logo, it definitely gets a great message through.”
Aaron Bradley, sales and marketing director for Chicago-based American Greenwood, explained that office toys and stress reducers are valuable as promotional products because people enjoy having them. “Most people I know like to keep them around the office, so they get great exposure,” he said. “If someone has a hand massager, it’s something they can take out when they need a break.”
What to Look For
Don’t get intimated by the thousands of stress reducers and office toys available. Lee stressed that they work for almost every scenario. “A good stress reducer is one that is fun, bright [and] colorful, and relates to the product or service that your company offers,” he said. “Sometimes you can go wacky as well and have some fun in picking a shape/size. There’s no right or wrong stress reliever.”
Bradley has another angle — the most important thing is that the product is useful. “To give out something goofy that has no useful purpose can be a waste of money sometimes,” he said.
French added that it’s important the product does its job, however, by providing a mini escape for the user. “A good stress reducer or toy is one that can create a physical or mental distraction over and over again.”
Trendy Items
If buyers are looking for a classic stress reliever, Lee said STOPNGO’s Ball Stress Reliever is a popular choice. “By far the most popular stress reducer is still our traditional and colorful stress ball,” he explained. “The price point is hard to beat and it comes in an assortment of colors.” Lee explained that Stress Cubes are also trendy because customers choose to decorate different sides with different tag lines.
Bullet’s Round Stress Reliever is also popular, according to French. “With a variety of popular colors and a large imprint area, this item compliments any brand,” he said.
American Greenwood’s hand massager, a stress reliever that both end-users and distributors like, has an added health benefit. “Our hand exerciser massager gets a lot of usage. It’s a great item that you can squeeze to build strength in your hand and reduce stress,” Bradley said. “It has a unique shape and really serves a purpose. That’s why I think it’s so successful.”
Being Different
Though stress relievers and office toys are often used to distract people when they need a mid-day break, they can be used in a lot of ways.French explained a time where Bullet’s stress relievers were used for a large group event. “A company in Michigan wanted to do a team- building effort that included a paintball outing. However, there were over 4,000 employees and the cost to facilitate the outing was tremendous,” French said. “As a budget-friendly alternative, this company opted to host a series of ‘Stress Ball Wars’ in an onsite warehouse. Employees each received two Round Stress Relievers and were released to the warehouse in groups of 40. This event was so popular with employees that it continues every April in recognition of Stress Awareness Month,” he continued.
STOPNGO’s stress relievers were also used in a creative and fun way. “We’ve seen our stress balls used in action in a giant ball pit,” Lee said. “[The client] built a giant pit and filled it with thousands of stress balls. Kids and adults all had fun with it, and in the end people were able to take the balls home with them. It served double-duty at their event.”
Bradley finished with the reminder that a well thought-out use of a stress reducer or office toy as a promotional product will keep reminding end-users of the business on a daily basis. “I had a client that was selling our hand exerciser/massager to a gym for a giveaway. They handed them out to new applicants. They would take them back to the office and use them,” Bradley said. “A lot of the time, they would sign people up and they would end up canceling their membership after a few months because they wouldn’t go. This giveaway worked out great because it reminded them if they want to get in better shape, then they need to get to the gym regularly.”
