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Be the Name on Everyone’s Lips

March 9th, 2010

In my day bag, in my car, the top right drawer of my desk at work, pockets of random sweaters and jackets.

These are all the places where you can find tubes of my lip balm. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m addicted or should seek professional help (in this matter anyways). I wouldn’t even consider my usage to be unusual or atypical. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to unchap chapped lips, right?

Males and females alike use lip balm every day, and most, several times a day. There’s just something inexplicably satisfying in picking up the tube, uncapping it and doing a few laps around the ‘ol kisser.

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Being Green—It’s in the bag!

March 3rd, 2010

Back in the days of unsettled wilderness, Native Americans hunted buffalo and other large game for survival. Every part of the animal was utilized one way or another. Whether for food, protection, or instruments—this was a highly efficient and effective strategy.

Let’s fast forward to present day. While we’re no longer hunting buffalo in the wild, we are always looking for the most efficient and effective ways to do anything—particularly in the ways we use and consume. This is becoming increasingly vital in a day and age where we are seeing the impact of our waste. The recent “Green” movement has inspired many creative ideas to help minimize or eliminate waste altogether (while being stylishly fabulous).

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And the Password is… [INVALID]

February 28th, 2010

Posted by: Robert Melvin

Once upon a time, the word Password was the brand name of a popular television game show from the 1960’s. Two teams, each composed of a celebrity guest and a contestant, competed in a game to guess words from one-word clues. One member of each team was given the “password” and tried to get his partner to say the word using a one-word clue. If he or she could not, the opposing team received a chance to try. The point value started at ten and decreased by one until the word was guessed. The first team to score twenty five points won the game and played the “Lightning Round,” where one player tried to convey five words to their partner in one minute (at $50 per word). Watch a clip of the game show below.

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Text for a Cause: Smart Marketing at Work for Nonprofits

January 26th, 2010

textAfter the Haiti earthquakes, people around the nation rallied behind a unified cause. The goal to raise enough funds for medical and relief efforts continues—one cell phone at a time.

Have you ever had a moment of realization where suddenly it hits you: “I’m living in the future!” This moment happened to me after I watched an episode of the Colbert Report where he had US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, on to discuss what viewers can do to help. Her answer— text ‘Haiti’ to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross. I found myself reaching for my cell phone thinking (a) I can afford $10 (b) this donation process seems relatively quick and painless and (c) I’m doing my part to help.

Thought (d) only occurred to me after I had received my confirmation text back a few seconds later.

(d) THIS IS BRILLIANT!

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See How We Roll (Up) In 2010!

January 19th, 2010

banner1Banner stands are a quick, clean and simple marketing tool to use at trade shows, conferences or even in a retail environment.  Inexpensive stands combine functionality with attractive design, creating high visibility displays that can be deployed in seconds. They offer an outstanding solution for distribution of display graphics to multiple locations. Banner stands are lightweight (most weighing under ten pounds) and are delivered in a practical nylon carry bag for easy transport and storage.  They come in a variety of flavors (1-sided, 2-sided, scrolling, with lights, without lights), costs, sizes  and materials.  For a unique display experience, use multiple banners showing a common theme.  Bullpen can not only help you find the banner that’s right for you, we can create a design that freezes your audience in their tracks.  Contact Bullpen today for all of your trade show needs.

banner2

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Snuggling Blankets to Keep Toasty Warm

January 15th, 2010

snuggie2I’m embarrassed to say that when I first bought my Snuggie at Costco, I thought it was a robe-blanket… and wore it like that for a few days.  Then I saw a lively conversation on a friend’s Facebook page about them and figured out that I was supposed to wear it like a hospital robe. With the weather in the teens this past week in Houston, I’m seldom without my snuggie close by and proudly looking like Dumbledore sans wand. After seeing the commercial on television, I saw additional usages of the snuggie although you’ll never see me wearing mine outside of the home.  Regardless of how they look (silly), they’re amazingly functional for keeping you warm without limiting your range of motion like a normal blanket.

While there are many parodies on the snuggie, it’s getting more and more popular.  Because my older son likes to sleep with mine, I’m considering getting another one.  (again, for home usage only)

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Most Popular Promo Product for 2009

January 6th, 2010

hand-sanitizers

The Advertising Specialty Institute announced that hand sanitizers now rival pens as one of the most popular logoed items that companies are giving away to clients and employees. Blame it on the flu!  Searches on ASI’s product database jumped 439% for the last year – only pens which are the most popular promo product of all time were higher.

Sales of all logoed sanitizing products surged in early spring, and then again in September, at the start of flu season. Sales of flu-related items, like facial tissues, have also increased.  H1N1 (swine flu) first was detected in the US in April 2009.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that when soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used to help prevent the spread of germs.

Sanitizing products aren’t just used as promotional giveaways. Increasingly, they are being used internally by HR departments to reduce absenteeism caused by illness. Bullpen has an extensive line of hand sanitizers. Contact us today to find the perfect one for your company!

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A Good Cross to Bear

December 29th, 2009

Recently a representative of Cross came to our office to teach us about their pens….errrr writing instruments (lesson 1!). Cross is a wonderful classic American brand and the perfect product for a company to use as an upscale gift for important clients, prospects or board members. Putting your brand next to the Cross brand sends a strong statement. Personalizing a Cross creates an item that the recipient will keep for a lifetime.

Cross pens are a staple of high school and college graduations—we all have gotten either the gold or silver set at some point in our lives.

cross1

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Style—Drink it Up!

December 1st, 2009

starbucks-webWhen we received a free sample from our manufacturer, I knew this item looked stylishly familiar.

And if you frequent Starbucks®, there’s a more than likely chance that you peruse the items on sale by the counter while waiting for your triple grande cappuccino mocha latte with 2% milk and a shot of espresso. If so, you may have run into this particular cup. It’s a clear 16 ounce, double wall acrylic tumbler with a straw, retailing for approximately $15.

Because it’s a double walled cup, it has insulating qualities to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold without your hand knowing the difference. Its twist off cap makes it easy to get refills of which ever drink tickles your fancy, and secure enough to take it on the go. Each cup comes with a matching colored straw to keep you sipping along.

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Light Desserts for the Holidays

November 24th, 2009

Posted by: Robert Melvin

strawberry0% Fat, 0% Sugar, 100% Calorie Free, 100% Cotton

Are you looking for holiday gifts that exude creativity and are light on your budget? If so, you might want to consider Towel Cakes. Choose from five delicious towels: Chocolate Heart, Strawberry Heart, Swiss Roll Chocolate, Swiss Roll Green Tea, and Strawberry Cheese Cake. Ingredients: each cake consists of two hand towels with your unique artwork and/or message imprinted on the package, 0% Fat, 0% Sugar, 100% Calorie Free, 100% Cotton.

Prices range from $5.50 — $7.75 and the minimum purchase quantity required is 50.

desserts

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