Channel: Test Drive

Extreme Makeover Office Edition

Staff Writer

After one very raucous editorial meeting (including some very spicy Indian food) we’ve decided to jump on the reality bandwagon and have the first-ever Extreme Office Make Over in the June edition of the magazine. While we won’t be rebuilding an entire house while a deserving family enjoys a Disney vacation, we will be doing our best to put together an office that will put make everyone else in the building jealous.
After only one day, the response to requests for participation has been amazing. I want to thank the folks over at Leed’s, Prime Line, Journalbooks, SnugZ, Senator, Dart, PictureFrames.net, the

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Breaking News… Just In From Bejing…

Staff Writer

While normally we don’t take time out to highlight non-industry-related achievements, we felt in this case a few words must be said. One of the promotional products industry’s very own will be representing the good, old, U.S. of A. this summer at the Olympic Games in Bejing. This professional’s professional will hang up the cell phone and holster the Blackberry as he travels abroad to become one of America’s only two-sport threats—competing in both table tennis and synchronized swimming. While some have questioned his choice of sports, we at Promo Marketing pledge to give him full support (and possibly a place on the cover

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Every Vote Counts!

Staff Writer

Here in Philadelphia, things are really starting to heat up (and it’s only March). Even though the Republican nomination is sewn up, the Democratic primary is coming to town in full force. Bus stops preach the message of hope and campaign ads talk passionately about change. It’s a different feel for a state normally an afterthought in the doldrums of late primary season. It seems that every cubicle, street corner and marketplace is buzzing with the same question, “Who will win—Barack or Hillary?
The youth vote is cited for Obama. The blue-collar vote is assured for Clinton (or so the news outlets keep saying

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U-S-Beautiful

Staff Writer

I just finished putting together a technology showcase for the magazine, and it is truly amazing the wide array of products that have entered the marketplace in such a short time. USB drives seem to come in every shape and color, from credit-card size to ones tucked neatly inside a pen. It seems like only a couple of years ago they were priced well outside the promotional market (and most non-techies pocketbooks as well). Companies like Flash By Design are including widgets within the programming of the drives—creating sticky drives that automatically load programs or RSS feeds. Other companies like All-In-One Manufacturing are touting

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Supplier Candid Camera (or New Product Videos)

Staff Writer

Some people may have seen me strolling around the recent PPAI and ASI shows. I was the one with the video camera convincing unsuspecting marketing managers and sales reps to show off their companies latest products on film. Now that the editing is finished, we’ve begun posting the first of the videos. I hope that everyone will take a few minutes to check them out. You never know, the sights and sounds of the shows may just shake a few of those forgotten memories loose (whether you like them or not).

Check out all the new videos including Ball Pro, Visstun and Canyon

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The Politics of Promotions

Staff Writer

Well, it seems that “The New York Times” has finally caught up to me. In today’s paper they extolled the high demand for political campaign gear and the amount of revenue it can bring in for any given candidate. Even if a certain senator from for New York’s campaign won’t release the exact numbers, the article does mention Mr. Obama’s campaign sold $1.5 million in political gear on its Web site in the month of January alone. It’s an issue I first brought to light in the groundbreaking Promo Marketing magazine piece, “Hillarakaromnabee!,” and I for one am happy to see the

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Starbucks Closed, Man

Staff Writer

Millions of Americans are about to feel like the Griswalds in National Lampoon’s Family Vacation (Moose out front should have told you). Desperate for their next venti latte, they will (or, depending on when you read this, they have) approached the local java brewery only to find the doors locked and themselves coffee blocked. That’s right, Starbucks is having an unprecedented three-hour-universe-wide shut down in an attempt to re-energize the barista population (They do know they work all day with caffeine, right?). I can only imagine how the meeting will go. Hopped up managers extolling company pride, talking brightly about the

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Awards With Character

Staff Writer

I just had a nice conversation with Leo Kennedy from Awards With Character. I’m doing a product showcase for the magazine on sports teams and was looking for products a little more off-the-beaten-path than cups, seat cushions and caps (not that there is anything wrong with any of those items).
Leo’s company provides trophies and other products as incentives to schools for both sports teams and academic programs. The difference is, his trophies aren’t brassy figures or silver cups, they are small (adorable, some would say) bear figurines talking part in various sports. Girl soccer bear. Boy baseball bear. Hockey bear (there is a

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Trade Show Hangover

Staff Writer

It’s not a literal hangover, but I have to say three trade shows in five weeks really takes a toll on one. The latest and greatest trip was to Dallas, where I did not get to visit Dealy Plaza, but where I did get to meet a ton of people and add to our growing product video library. Keep an eye on the Web site for new videos from companies like Pro Towels (who all call me Chaz) and Snugz (starring national sales manager Sydra Newell). By the end of the third day both the camera and myself had enough. Ugh.<br

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Sex vs. Environment

Staff Writer

What is the world coming to? Have we finally reached the point where sex doesn’t sell (or at least doesn’t sell as well as it used to)?
On the one hand, there’s a history of product lines that have found success by partaking in what some might call morally-questionable advertising. Using campaigns based on little more than young women in little more than underwear (where did the actually clothes being advertised go). Not caring in the end if their ads are disparaged a bit on modest blogs such as my own because in reality the mere mention probably drives people (men)

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