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.

So, how do you take advantage of an item as popular and as frequently used as lip balm? Simple—put your brand on it! Bullpen offers custom label lip balm in a variety of sizes and flavors. From delicious Asian Pear and Green Tea to the more common Cherry and Peppermint flavors, the variety is endless. There are also moisture rich balms, SPF 15, 30 and Z-Cote (zinc oxide) lip balms for protection. Prices can be as little as $0.75 each and Bullpen would be more than happy to help with the custom art design (included in the price).

Contact Bullpen Marketing today and be the name on everyone’s lips. Call 713.652.2030 or email info@bullpenmarketing.com with questions or for a custom quote.

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).

Here’s where we introduce a brand new product: the Ship-N-Tote. This crafty patent-pending shipping gizmo not only eliminates the need and waste of shipping packing, it doubles as a great reusable gift for your recipient.

This eco-friendly mailer comes complete with a self-adhesive mailing strip and tough clear vinyl for protection during mailing. When the recipient receives the package, they cut the top of the package to retrieve the contents and then they can turn it inside out to transform it into a versatile, reusable tote bag. This is a great way to give your clients (or friends, business partners, donors) an unexpected gift, promote an eco-friendly way of doing business, and put your brand where people can see it—inside and out! Totes/mailers come in 2 sizes: a large 17” x 14” nylon tote and a smaller 13” x 16” poly non-woven drawstring tote.

We here at Bullpen Marketing are committed to living and conducting business in a socially responsible way. That’s why we’re always boasting about our eco-friendly products. To read our Green Promise, click here. For information about this or any other green promo product contact us at 713.652.2030 or email info@bullpenmarketing.com

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.

During those years, Password had little meaning in everyday life and no one dreamed that the word would ever become such an important part of our daily life. The word is now ubiquitous and it could spoil your day if you forget it or even worse — if someone steals it.

Like many people, I pay all of my bills online. I was recently forced to change several of my passwords for newer and improved web security requirements. Like most people, I wanted my passwords to be as secure as possible. And that eventually created a problem for me because it’s not safe to use the same password for every web site. Long story short, I began forgetting my passwords and experienced several web lockouts.

And then I found a new friend called, “Password Manager.”

My little friend stores more than 50 passwords to various web sites. You simply plug into a USB port. For security, he requires me to input a password to access the username/password information held within. Better yet, when I visit a web site, he automatically inputs my login information for me. And the Password is… [COOL]

Price range $29.95 (while inventory is available)

After 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!

Marketing at its finest. I became very aware that I was living in the future where technology, philanthropy and laziness all met in a comfortable, easily attainable place—the palm of my hand. This method of fundraising seemed like a perfect solution for non-profits trying to reach the seemingly impossible-to-reach youth demographic.

So why would people text-to-donate?

It’s quick: Since texting has become something people do on a daily basis (for the young and less young alike), sending a message is not only easy and second nature—it’s fast. This is essential when trying to capture the attention of an ADD-diagnosed generation.
It’s undemanding: Most people carry their cells phones on them at all times (come on, admit it—you’re one of them). So taking out your cell phone to donate isn’t a hassle. It’s not something you go out of your way to do. It doesn’t require logging on or writing a checking or even speaking to a live person. You can do it from your couch, in front of the television while flipping between the game and the news. (The ADD-diagnosed generation is also the self-proclaimed lazy generation.)
It’s inexpensive: Most text-to-donate causes are either for $5 or $10. This is an amount that seems doable even for people on a tight budget, but yet enough to give the donor a sense of “Yeah, I did something. I helped.” And as most people in charge of non-profit fundraising know, it’s the small individual donations, not the large donor gifts, that help reach that goal marker.

So, why should you use text-to-donate marketing in your fundraising?

It works: MSNBC has reported that mobile giving to help Haiti exceeded $30 million. Of course we bare in mind that this is a national campaign with news coverage on a daily basis. Unless live underneath a rock, you have heard of it. Not all nonprofits have the same advertising resources and coverage. But text donation also lends itself to some pretty inexpensive marketing—social networking. Get on Facebook and let the word spread. There are even widgets that let you donate on Facebook by typing in your phone number and hitting the submit button.
It’s targeted: You reach a younger target base as well as those technophiles who just generally prefer the company of their Blackberry to human interaction. And really, in this day and age—who doesn’t have a cell phone?
But its not for everyone. Collecting donations via texts isn’t to a point where it’s can be used by all nonprofits (yet!). There’s usually a gross revenue minimum, as well as other mandatory and preferred standards. There are application, processing and monthly fees involved. And of course, the money only gets to your nonprofit if the bill gets paid to the cell phone provider.

Is it worth some research?
You decide. Here are a few online mobile donation companies that offer that service: Give By Cell, Mobile Commons and mGive.

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)

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and the promotional apparel market is releasing their own version – the “Snuggle Me” blanket which comes with an embroidered logo.  What a cool way to show off your school name and colors.  Or, introduce nap time at your office and put your corporate logo on the your “Snuggle Me”. Regardless, this is one of those items that will be great for schools as well as corporate safety programs.  Contact Bullpen today to find out more about your creating your own custom “Snuggle Me” blankets.

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!

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.

You immediately can feel the difference in writing when you have a Cross in your hand. It’s heavier, purposeful, and the mechanics are no nonsense; it writes like a dream. There are many flavors and colors of Cross but my favorite in the line is called the Tech 3. Available in five styles (silver was my fav), it’s a clever multi-tasker with three choices in ONE – black ball-point to red ball-point to mechanical pencil all available with a smooth twist.

Many a U.S. President have chosen Cross as their pen for signing documents. President Obama only uses the Cross Townsend black lacquer rolling ball pen which feature the presidential coat of arms along with his signature. The White House doesn’t get them for free (I asked)—they have to buy them like everyone else.

I had no idea that the A.T. Cross company was founded over 160 years ago in 1846 in Providence, RI. I did know every Cross writing instrument has a lifetime warranty—any pens returned for service is repaired or replaced at no charge.

The Cross brand isn’t limited to pens and pencils; beautiful leather items, watches and even cufflinks are available. What I like about Cross the best is the presentation—they go overboard in making sure that the packaging matches the quality of the merchandise— first class. Pens can be logoed and personalized; packaging can be very customized. Let us show the world of Cross to you—Bullpen can set up private appointments with our Cross representative.

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.

Aside from the clear cup, we also offer nine different juicy colors: from apple to tangerine. Click on the image below to zoom in on all the colors available. And no retail pricing here. The minimum to order is 36 at $6.99 each (which comes with a one color imprint). And speaking of cool cups, check out this cup which Starbucks® also carries in its online store. Oh, and don’t forget the green factor involved in these reusable drink vessels—stylish and eco-conscious to boot! A great gift for employees and clients.

0% 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.