Recently, team Quintain Marketing attended the ASI Show New York to preview some of the new products that have recently been released in the advertising specialty industry. One of our favorites was Home Team Handz, specialized gloves designed to take the sting out of clapping while also getting your claps heard. Put your logo on these and hand them out at the next company meeting or give them away to your fans at the next sporting event. Give us call at 866-788-3226 for pricing and lead times, and watch the video below to see Home Team Handz in action!

Our favorite new gizmo - the PowerShot

Happy Friday the 13th!

Every Friday, we present our staff’s top picks for the best links or articles of the week AND we’ll tell you why we think they’re so great. A word of warning – this isn’t always about marketing. It’s just great stuff from across the web that we think is worth sharing. Enjoy!

I’ve Got the Power!! (John): http://bit.ly/HTkS47

It’s not very often that a new promotional product gets me excited. Let’s face it – the industry as a whole takes its cues from the retail and consumer markets and therefore usually lags behind by 6-12 months. For the last 10+ years I have said, “Remember how hot X was?? Well now you can get it with your company’s logo on it” more than “You’re not going to see this in the stores… its really catching fire in the corporate markets first.” Well say hello to the PowerShot, a small device able to recharge your iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Smartphone or BlackBerry (do people still use BlackBerry?). Simply plug the PowerShot into a USB port to charge it, and – once charged – use it to charge your device with one of the three adapters provided. Give us a call if you want to buy these with YOUR logo!

Top 25 Yogi Berra Quotes (John): http://bit.ly/HNBYMV

In honor of baseball’s opening day! Our favorites include:

• “It’s like deja vu all over again.”
• “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”
• “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

This Is Why You Must Use Twitter (Kathleen): http://bit.ly/J4IIre

I read Mark Schaefer’s {Grow} blog regularly and love the way he gives very practical advice and simplifies often complex issues. Plus, I think he’s got a refreshing point of view. I really enjoyed this particular blog about Twitter. 99% of the people I meet think Twitter is a waste of time, but it has been nothing short of spectacular in my experience – and it sounds like Mark’s experience with Twitter is similar to mine. As usual, he’s done a nice job of summing up why Twitter matters (with lots of great real world examples!).

How to Complain Effectively (Kathleen): http://bit.ly/Jb7lpP

All too often, consumers are quick to complain when something goes wrong but fail to do so in a constructive manner. Communications pro Valeria Maltoni hit the nail on the head with this one when she asks “do you want the problem solved, or do you just feel like venting?” She goes on to provide specific suggestions that you can use to be effective in your complaint and – hopefully – get a solution! Amen, sister!

The Anatomy of a Great Blog Design (Kathleen): http://bit.ly/Jb87TG

I teach a class designed to help people create their own blog sites (hello ASI Show folks, this one’s for you!), but I can only cover so much in one hour. I thought this post did a great job of giving really practical, nuts and bolts type of advice that anyone can use to set up a great site. A must read for anyone with a blog or thinking about blogging!

Sponsor lunch at a golf tournament

There’s a reason pharmaceutical reps spent years delivering food to doctors’ offices. It’s the same reason that the mood in our office brightens on the days our office manager brings donuts, and why any meeting where cookies are served is generally packed with attendees.

People love to snack on the job. Whether it’s a catered lunch or a box of donut holes, there is something special about taking a break from the usual work routine to sample a tasty treat.

Why not put your brand on lunch (or donuts, or cookies)? One of our favorite products is this custom lunchbox. We’ve made these for a number of clients, all of whom are using them in different ways. One used it deliver sponsored lunches as part of a golf tournament fundraiser. Another is bringing a box full of cookies to every sales meeting. One very creative client is filling the box with other branded goodies (including T-shirts, coffee tumblers, etc.) and sending it as a thank you gift to their best customers.

How you use the box is up to you. Either way, you’ll deliver a strong message and leave a lasting impression any time you leave it behind filled with tasty snacks!

This festive holiday is right around the corner. Why not use some of our great ideas to help spread the fun for your customers, clients and staff?

Did you know?

• Cinco de Mayo is often confused with the Mexican Independence Day, which occurred on September 16, 1810, about 50 years earlier.
• Cinco de Mayo is one of more than 365 festivals celebrated by people of Mexican descent.
• The holiday was popularized in the U.S. in part by Chicano activists in the 1960s and 1970s, who identified with the Mexican Indian and mestizo (people of Mexican Indian and European descent) soldiers’ triumph over European conquest attempts.

If you’re planning on celebrating Cinco de Mayo, consider some of these fun giveaways for your promotion..

Soccer Kick Sack
Soccer – called “futbol” in Mexico – is wildly popular south of the border. These bean-filled vinyl sacks (miniature kick balls you keep from hitting the ground) test the agility of young and old alike! Designed to look like a soccer ball, it’s great for playing hackey sack, juggling or using as a stress reliever. Brand these with a Cinco de Mayo message and your logo, and you’ll be on the recipients’ minds every time they play with them.

Maracas
Make some noise and shake to celebrate! Maracas make a great giveaway for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. From office parties to Mexican bars and restaurants, to festivals and sportingn events, give your participants maracas and the atmosphere will be instantly enlivened.

Margarita-Flavored Lip Balm
Even if you’re not serving cocktails at your Cinco de Mayo event, your guests can still enjoy the flavor of a good margarita with this clever margarita-flavored lip balm. Put your logo on the wrapper with a clever message (“enjoy a little taste of Cinco de Mayo on us!”) and your brand will be front and center every time the recipient uses it.

Golf Hat
Great for special Cinco de Mayo events! Let your event guests where their Mexican pride with these five panel, cotton twill, Mexican flag golf hats. Your logo will be featured front and center, and the Mexican flag will remind the wearer what the event is all about.

Call us today for prices and lead times on these or other items for your Cinco de Mayo celebration!

If you are a small business like us, chances are you are always looking for ways to increase sales and brand exposure. Can you spare half a cent ($0.005)? This is the cost-per-impression of a promotional product in the U.S. compared to the higher expense of channels such as TV, national magazines and radio.

A study conducted in July and August of 2010 (Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study) focused on cost analysis of promotional products vs. other media. The results showed that for a modest investment, small companies can obtain the type of exposure normally reserved for large companies with significant advertising budgets.

Jeff Scult, CEO of Golden Goods reminds us, “The beauty of promotional products is that it’s active branding vs. passive branding. You’re actually interacting with the brand as opposed to reading a magazine or watching TV.”

Some interesting facts according to the study:

• 60% of people who receive promo products do better with the advertiser after
• 41 % of people have a more favorable opinion of the advertiser after receiving a promo product from them
• 83% of the people indicated they can identify the advertiser on a promotional item they own
• Women prefer writing instruments more than men do, while men favor shirts
• People ages 45-54 own the most promo products

The bottom line is, nobody likes to throw away a tangible product; 62% of Americans say they give products they won’t use to someone else….this “pass-along rate” allows your promotional products to continue to maintain their value (and YOUR message!) long after the initial give-away.

For ways to increase your company’s ROI through the use of Promotional Products, contact Quintain Marketing today!

Earth Day (April 22) is just around the corner – is your company participating in any eco-events this year? Do you need environmentally friendly giveaways? If you act fast, there is still time to order great promotional products for your employees, clients, tenants, or prospects!

Check out these 6 “green” promo products that everyone will use:

1. Foldable, BPA Free, 24oz bottle.

This nifty bottle folds flat when empty for easy travel and storage.

2. World’s first “100% Green Golf Ball! Green to the core environmentally friendly ball made of eco-friendly material. 100% recyclable and made from renewable material. Packaging also eco-friendly.

3.Sling tote bag. Folds into attached interior drawstring pouch for easy storage and travel.

4. Owl 51% Recycled Coaster Set: Case made from 51% post consumer recycled material (product label affirms claim). Six coasters made of recycled bound leather. Small Owl logo debossed on coasters.

5. Chipboard Cover Notebook. 100 sheets of lined paper. Made of 88% post-consumer recycled fiber.

6. Earth Day Skate Board With the title, “everyday earth day skateboard skateboard”, this particular skateboard is just a small sampling of the many brilliant skateboard designs created with all natural products.

Annapolis, Maryland March 1, 2011 —

Quintain Marketing has appointed Shawn Wise of Annapolis, Maryland as Sales Manager. In this capacity, Shawn will be responsible for developing new business for Quintain Marketing’s social marketing, marketing services, and branded products service lines in the Washington DC, Annapolis, Baltimore and Eastern Shore (Maryland) markets.

Prior to joining Quintain Marketing, Shawn was an award-winning Sales Associate with Reliable Churchill LLC, located in Baltimore Maryland. Through Maryland’s largest and most competitive wine and spirits distributor, she was responsible for maintaining accurate account databases for over 150 restaurants throughout Maryland, in addition to identifying sales opportunities and developing “concept-selling” tools for on-going educational brand training for the hospitality industry.

“Shawn’s proven sales leadership and her ability to identify opportunities to help our clients’ businesses grow through targeted marketing make her a great addition to our team,” explained Quintain Marketing President John Booth. “Her considerable experience in the food service and hospitality industries will substantially strengthen our ability to service those verticals.”

About Quintain Marketing
Quintain Marketing is a marketing consultancy located in Annapolis, MD and providing end-to-end marketing solutions that build our clients’ brand equity and help them achieve their overall business objectives. More information is available at www.quintainmarketing.com.

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Achoooooo!  Are you struggling through the winter cold season? Our guess is that your clients probably are too. Let them “C” how much you care with this custom roll of Vitamin C tablets.  Each tablet contains 150mg of Vitamin C, the essential nutrient that promotes growth, prevents high blood pressure, and most importantly, serves as a defense mechanism against infections like the common cold.

For more information on how to pitch your company with Vitamin C, e-mail kerry@quintainmarketing.com!

Annapolis, Maryland January 15, 2011 —

Quintain Marketing announced today the appointment of Kerry Petz as Director of Operations. Kerry will manage the firm’s professional staff and directly oversee implementation of client projects on behalf of the firm’s senior management team.

With a BA in psychology and more than 10 years experience in production and project management, Kerry has a proven ability to manage complex projects, motivate staff, and coordinate the work of multiple vendors and subcontractors. Prior to joining Quintain Marketing, Kerry was the Director of Suite Operations for R&R Catering’s contract with the Washington Redskins and an Account Executive with Hargrove Incorporated, one of the nation’s preeminent event management firms.

“Kerry has an impressive background in project management,” commented Quintain Marketing President John Booth. “Given her experience organizing logistics and production management for Inaugural Balls, directing special events at the Baltimore Aquarium and managing catering operations for more than 250 corporate suites at Redskins Field, I’m extremely confident that Kerry ability to multitask while not losing sight of the details will raise the bar on the level of service we deliver to our clients.”

About Quintain Marketing
Quintain Marketing is a marketing consultancy located in Annapolis, MD and providing end-to-end marketing solutions that build our clients’ brand equity and help them achieve their overall business objectives. More information is available at www.quintainmarketing.com.

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Almost everyone with a brand to promote winds up ordering branded pens sooner or later. Because pens are so ubiquitous, it can be hard to find something unique that will really make your brand stand out from the crowded field of branded writing instruments. That’s why we love the new Cube Pen.

With 3 cubes holding a total of 12 imprintable panels, these pens offer a large advertising space for your message or brand identity. Whether they lie flat on a desk, or in a pen cup, your logo will always be visible. On top of that, the 3 cubes are really fun to twist!

The Cube Pen starts at $1.75 (price is dependent upon quantity), and pricing includes a four color process on all 12 pen panels. There are so many great ways you could use this pen to promote your brand:

• Design it like a puzzle, so a message is revealed when the correct cubes are lined up!
• Feature up to twelve different products on the panels.
• Include the logos of all the sponsors for your special event.

Contact us today for a quote on the Cube Pen and we’ll help you figure out a clever way to use it in your next promotional campaign!