Posted by: Robert Melvin

Brand your love. Love your brand. What does that really mean?

A brand in its purest form is a relationship with an emotional attachment. And that’s why we say, “Brand your love. Love your brand.” This is our mantra. It’s what we do and it’s what we tell everyone to do.

It begins with doing “the right thing” for your customers time after time, again and again. This could entail adding a requested feature to an existing product. Or it could result in extending the warranty of that product. It might mean that you publish a monthly e-newsletter, which includes information that helps your customers do their job better. It could be as simple as sending a handwritten thank you card or as subtle as widening the parking spaces in front of your office building.

If you’re successful at doing “the right thing” on a daily basis, you will gain respect from your customers. If you do this over and over again, that respect will eventually shape into trust. When your customers both respect and trust your company, there is a good possibility that this will turn into love. If you brand your love, there is a good chance that people will love your brand.

Brand your love. Love your brand.

Wallets carry everything we need whenever we leave the house; it keeps our money, credit/debit cards, ID, and anything else we may need for the outing. Being responsible for yet another item causes distractions in a time when we should be enjoying ourselves. We may appear to be enjoying the African Wildlife exhibit at the Natural Science museum, but we are actually 3 seconds away from making sure our wallet is where we assume it to be. Wouldn’t it feel nice to not have to worry about carrying that thing around in our back pocket or purse? Yes. Yes it would.  

Now comes the good part: there’s an easy solution. The Shoe Wallet opens up a new wallet-free world that decreases worry and increases enjoyment. This item contains a strap that is fed behind your shoe laces and is secured with a hook and loop. The Shoe Wallet is useful in any situation, whether you’re running the 5K, out at the zoo, or walking through the aisles of the grocery store. It’s a great gift to anyone, anywhere and for any occasion.

The Shoe Wallet comes with a side zipper pocket and a fold-over top pocket to provide additional storage space. This item is 3 7/8” w x 2 1/2” h x ¾” d with the screen print on the top measuring 1 ½” w x 3/8” h with maximum 1 color. It comes in black/blue or black/gray. The imprint color comes in gold, white, or silver and is as low as $1.98. Call Bullpen today for more information!

Want to add a little colorful splash to your workplace? Because as we all know, it can be a little bland at times. Now, I’m in no way suggesting a complete remodeling of the place with an obnoxious color palette splattered around, but I am going to provide you with small, but significant, solution. Reward your clients, co-workers, or just yourself for any occasion with the Stemz Flexi Flower Vase to brighten the environment with those exquisite flowers you’ve been wanting to purchase.

This is no glass vase that you have to cart from home, bring to the office, and maybe even accidentally break. This is a vase made of soft and flexible PVC material to replace that annoyingly heavy (and possibly pricey) glass vase. It arrives in flat form and as you add water for those beautiful flowers, the vase will begin to stand on its own. The form of this special vase makes it easy to store, as well as simplify shipping to that client(s) or co-worker(s) you wish to spoil with this clever accessory.

The Stemz Flexi Flower Vase is as low as $1.79 and comes in red, purple, neon pink, black, and green with a clear upper body; it also comes in solid blue. The size of the vase is 10 9/16” h x 5 11/16” w and the imprint area is 4”h x 3”w. The vase comes in a white envelope so that it’s ready to be mailed.

Bullpen has recognized that giving is on the rise as the U.S. economy struggles to rebound from 2009.  The start of Christmas and the gift-giving season is fast approaching.  We will be focusing our attention on gifts that have more sustenance – gifts that do, in fact, give back.

We are working tirelessly with our factories to develop ways for companies to give for charitable reasons, as well as promotional needs.  One initiative is the Hope and Green Grass collection of promotional products that display your logo.  10% of the revenue from Items purchased in this collection will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and American Forests, respectively.  Giving a gift that gives back creates such a wonderful culture within a company both internally with employees as well as external clients and stakeholders.  It shows a compassionate heart of a company that is not only looking out for its bottom line, but looking to help change the world in a small but important way.

To see the Hope and Green Grass collection, contact Bullpen today at 713.652.2030 or email us here.

You might be at the beach being buried underneath the warm sand or practicing your diving skills into the water, but one thing is certain: that cell phone of yours is buried deep in the beach bag to keep from getting damaged or destroyed. You’re having fun, but you can’t help but think that you’re phone isn’t protected enough. What can you do to ensure the protection of that precious little lifeline?

Worry no more because Bullpen Marketing is, once again, here to save the day and help you forget your troubles. The Waterproof Pouch is made specifically to keep your valuable items away from danger. Because of this tiny, but significant item, you will no longer find minuscule pieces of sand in the crevices of your phone or need to race to the phone store because the original was destroyed in a body of water. It is 100% waterproof and comes with an adjustable cord that is also child-friendly. Maybe you frequently have bad luck with water and technology, or maybe you’re taking that two weeks’ vacation to Maui, but either way your valuable items need to be protected and Bullpen Marketing is offering you the perfect way to go about that.

The Waterproof Pouch is made of PET plastic, is 6.5”H x 4.5”W x .4”D, and has an imprint area on the front in a clear panel that is 2.5”H x 2.5” W. This item can be as low as $3.68.

Need a new mouse for your desktop computer? Or maybe you want to try adding a mouse to your laptop instead of using the one provided. Get ready because Bullpen Marketing is offering this ultra thin mouse that will shake up the conventional desktop or laptop computer and add a little light to your regular working day. This mouse is different from every other mouse because it is so thin that it can fit in your pocket! Attached to this unique mouse is a retractable cord that comes with a USB stylized end so that you can hook it up to either your laptop or desktop. To make this mouse even more fun, the logo imprinted lights up whenever you’re using it! This Low Carb Light-Up Mouse can be a great gift to reward your coworkers with or even yourself. So don’t hesitate to call Bullpen Marketing about this remarkable piece of technology that can light up the workplace.

This item comes in the colors of red, black, or blue. It is as low as $16.99, is 3 3/8” h x 2” w x 3/8”, and has an imprint or engraved area of 3/8” h x 1” w.

Most people today have cell phones and those cell phones are expensive, delicate devices that allow you to connect with your professional and social world. Needless to say, they are an amazing technology that needs to be protected or else bad things could happen.

One main problem is finding a safe and accessible place to put your cell phone when in the car. We’ve all been there: You’re driving and your phone rings where you cannot reach it, such as at the bottom of your purse or bag, the panic begins. You are trying to drive with your left hand on the wheel while your right arm is digging and digging and digging in search of that ridiculous, annoying, yet needed little thing. When you finally find it, you are so flustered you drop it in the cup of water that is placed in your cup holder. Not good. Let Bullpen Marketing reduce that stress and provide you and your coworkers with a safe and accessible haven to place that cell phone on. This miracle worker is called the Dashboard Non-Slip Pad. Whether you prefer gray or black, simply place this non-slip pad on your dashboard, add your phone or any other valuable piece of technology that you cannot live without and enjoy the ride because that thing is going nowhere. Whether this is for yourself, coworkers, or clients, let Bullpen help you out because every call is an important call.

This item is 3 5/8” w x 5 7/8” h x 1/8” d and is as low as $1.49 including a 1 color imprint with 1 location.

Ever get frustrated keeping track of each individual charger for your computer, phone, iPod, portable speakers, etc.? Well that frustration has ended because there is a solution and it’s called the Bank Solar Charger. Instead of stuffing all 10 chargers in your backpack, briefcase, purse, or luggage, you only need one little pocket to hold this thin, eco-friendly charger.

Versatile. This is the word that I think of when I was first introduced to the Bank Solar Charger. Going on a vacation or a business trip? No need to bring all 10 different chargers you have- all you need is this easily portable solar charger that is capable of charging 6 brands of cell phones (including the iPhone) and MP3 or MP4 player. It also comes with a USB cable, provides standby time for 20 hours and it doesn’t need daylight to charge. Not only is this simple charger a great gift for you, but it is also a great gift for family, coworkers, and new employees! Stop stressing over the pile of chargers you have in the corner of your room- cut down and have one for all your technology needs. So, if you need a functional gift for clients or employees, the Bank Solar Charger is the gift to give!

Contact Bullpen Marketing today about this useful little device. This item is as low as $24.34 (minimum 24 pieces) if decorated with a 1-color logo.

Are you looking for the perfect way to say ‘Thank you’? Well, look no further because Bullpen Marketing is offering you a glass that expresses thoughtful gratitude for that fellow co-worker, employee or customer. Literally.

Not only is this crystal glass decorated in a style that is classy, but it also says ‘thank you’ in six different languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, French and German.  If you wish to permanently say ‘thank you,’ feel free to imprint your own message on the bottom of the glass so that every time that person picks it up they can remember how they were truly appreciated. Now that’s empathy right there people. If this is not the crystal object for you, remember that Bullpen Marketing has more options for you to choose from!

A set of four of this glass is as low as $39.25. Not too shabby at all, so call Bullpen Marketing today and order this special glass for that special person!

You may have noticed the change in the Bullpen logo this year. As much love and respect as we have for the game of baseball (hence the bullpen reference) it was time to move on to something different while accessing areas for improvement. For instance, the way the old logo was laid out made it unclear to some that the name was comprised of 2 words, not one word bunched together. The narrow, horizontal shape was also sometimes limiting when it came to smaller imprint areas. Also, we wanted to move away from baseball analogies, so the flaming baseball would no longer serve a purpose. And finally, it was just about that time to freshen the brand, launch a new website (coming soon!), and get a little bit more sophisticated. And besides, it gives us an opportunity to write a blog post on the topic—logos ARE our business! Speaking of blog post…

Logos are a key identifier of a brand. Customers know to look for it when shopping and need nothing more than to see the mark before the involuntary action of picking it up and placing it in their cart overpowers them. If you’re extremely lucky, you begin with a classic and timeless design such as Coca-Cola, which has been essentially the same since 1915. If you’re SOL, your logo has gone through more changes than Sally Field’s character in the movie Sybil and still remains not quite right. (Cough, cough…Pepsi)

Of course we’re not trying to suggest that changing your logo is a bad thing. It’s actually a natural and organic progression and development of a brand. Logos, from their very creation, go through life stages. Some grow up, some get let loose, some develop partnerships, and hell, some even die. Of course, no matter the change, it has to follow some sort of rhyme or reason. Don’t make your logo graduate college if it should still be playing in the jungle gym. (Way to ruin my childhood memories…Nickelodeon.)

Logo redesign is pretty similar to introducing a new girl- or boyfriend to your parents. The parents in this case would be your customers, and the significant other would be your logo. You wouldn’t skip several steps, elope in Vegas with Junior (a bum you found on a street corner, decided you liked the way he looked and gave him a try) and hope for the best when he meets mom and pop. That relationship would end faster than a high school boy’s first sexual encounter.  (Here’s looking at you… Tropicana.)

In short when it comes to redesigning your logo, sit down, relax, have a cold Pepsi. Then pick up the phone to call Bullpen. We know it’s not an easy process. Let us come up with a new design solution and lets your logo evolve together with your brand.