Posts Tagged ‘promotional stress balls’

Promote Your Farmer’s Market With Fruit And Vegetable Stress Toys

Monday, February 14th, 2011

The farmer’s market is one of the last cultural staples in modern times.

Today most people buy their produce at the supermarket, where it is rarely fresh and can be laden with pesticides and other chemicals. More and more people are starting to embrace the farmer’s market as not only a shopping experience but a social event, as well as one of the first steps to a healthy diet.

If you own or operate a farmer’s market you want as many people at your events as possible, and one of the best ways to ensure that people keep your event in mind is the promotional gift of stress toys in shapes of fruits and vegetables.

Promotional stress balls can be made to resemble virtually any object and there are many standard fruit and vegetable shapes that these fantastic promotional items come in.

With promotional stress toys you will be handing out an advertisement that will be kept and used for a relatively long time. When people get these squishy promotional products in their hands, they tend to hold on to them and not let go, making a long-lasting impression. Some examples:

Fruit Shaped Promotional Stress Toys

Banana- One of the most popular tropical fruits in the world, the banana is rich in potassium which is vital to the human body. It also has a nice-sized printing area.

Apple- “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was a phrase coined in Wales during the 19th century, and it holds true today. Apples are rich in antioxidants and the outer skin is a very beneficial fiber. A promotional stress ball in the the shape of an apple is a tasteful way to keep your brand in the mind of its recipient.

Orange- A juice staple or eaten raw by itself, oranges are rich in vitamin c and is one of the most fragrant of all fruits. A promotional stress reliever in the shape of an orange is likely to remind its user of the citrus smell.

Tomato- You will probably be aware that many people think the tomato as a vegetable, but the anti-oxidant rich tomato is technically a fruit. Like the apple and orange, the spherical shape lends itself to a good sized printing area which makes it an excellent choice for a promotional stress reliever.

Vegetable Shaped Promotional Stress Toys

Lettuce- The slicing of a head of lettuce is often used in visuals to imply freshness. Everyone needs to eat their leafy greens, and a promotional stress toy in this shape will always serve as a reminder of that.

Cauliflower- Whether is is boiled, fried or eaten raw, the versatile cauliflower is among the most nutritious and high-fiber vegetable available. Cauliflowers can be white, orange or purple, just as your cauliflower promotional stress toys can be.

Garlic- Garlic has been used as a healing agent for centuries, and for good reason- this aromatic vegetable packs one of the highest levels of antioxidants available in nature.

Bell Pepper- Like the cauliflower, bell peppers come in different colors- red, green, yellow and orange. Technically a fruit, it was mistakenly given the name ‘pepper’ by Christopher Columbus when he returned with it from the new world.

Stress toys have shown to be one of the best promotional items in recent years due to the fact that, unlike many promotional gifts, they are not throwaway items.

What this means for you is that when you hand someone a promotional stress ball they are not likely to toss it out like they would a cheap keychain or biro. Most people will hold on to their promotional stressballs for months if not years, where they will serve as a reminder of your farmer’s market event and keep them coming back.

To learn more about what options you have for promoting your farmers market, check out the massive range of stress product available at trade prices online.

5 Promotional Gifts That Will Get People To Your Trade Show Stand

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

People expect lots of promotional gifts at trade shows. After all, exhibitors are there to advertise, and promotional items are an effective way of keeping their brands in front of the public. However, with hundreds or thousands of exhibitors, you’ll need to capture people’s attention by using your imprinted items wisely.

One way to do this is to offer promotional items that people want and need. Customers will brush by stands that don’t offer anything interesting or useful. Here are some practical items that customers love and will continue to use.

1. Stress balls

Promotional stress balls are a perennial favorite. Customers are always drawn to original, interesting and even humorous shapes. They love to keep them on their desks at work. Some people use them for stress relief; others say playing with stress balls gets their creative juices flowing. Either way, people are always drawn to unique and industry-related stress balls.

2. Travel Mugs

People can’t seem to get enough travel mugs. Anyone who has ever sloshed coffee on the front of their shirt or knocked a beverage over on their desk can tell you how important it is to have a spill-proof lid. A stack of attractive travel mugs will always draw customers to a trade show stand.

3. Mouse Pads

Just about everyone who works in an office setting uses a mouse pad every day. There is something about a nice, new mouse pad that people can’t resist.

4. Desktop Helpers

There is no shortage of promotional pens and pencils at trade shows. One way you can set yourself apart is to provide two useful desktop items: pencil sharpeners and pen holders. Most people don’t have pencil sharpeners on their desks, and they waste a lot of time walking back and forth to the community pencil sharpener. They also need something to organize their pens besides the desk drawer. Useful items that solve problems like these will always attract customers.

5. Tote Bags

People love large bags, and trade show stands that offer them always seem to attract a crowd. Consider how much material people collect at trade shows. Large bags provide an immediate solution by helping them tote it all around. Bags with flat bottoms are even more popular. Customers can set the bag down without having it sag or collapse on itself, and the handles stay within easy reach. Displays of large, colorful promotional bags will always attract attention and will get people to your trade show stand.
 
By Dan Toombs

Search Globally for the Best Prices on Promotional Stress Balls

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

It’s simple… If you want to find the best prices on promotional stress balls, you need to find companies that deal directly with the Far East manufacturers. That is unless you care to have a go dealing directly with the Chinese factories yourself. Most marketers will find it much easier and cost effective to find a company who can deal with the factories for them.

Don’t purchase from just any promotional gift supplier. Most promotional gifts suppliers will not specialise in stress toys and will order their stock from wholesalers. They then add on their margin before selling them on to you.

This is a very expensive chain of supply. One that, if you are not careful, could cost you an additional 50%. We are not talking small time savings here especially if you are looking at purchasing large quantities of stress relievers.

The good news is you are not limited to purchasing from a supplier in the country you do business. Search online for companies that claim to work closely with the manufacturers and then compare prices.

You should know that when having your stress balls manufactured and shipped from the source, you are looking at a four week lead-time. That said, you will be able to choose the colours your stress toys are manufactured in right down to exact Pantone matches.

Just because a promotional products supplier has a fancy stress balls website does not mean they deal directly with the manufacturer. They probably do but it never hurts to ask.

Can you see why it makes no difference where your supplier is? You could have a business in Turlock, California and purchase your stress relievers from a supplier in the North East of England and save a lot of money. If the English company has a good relationship with a top quality stress reliever manufacturer who is able to send the goods directly to you, then the savings will be there.

If you are exhibiting in a country other than your own and you want promotional stress balls, it is a good idea to look for a supplier in the county you are exhibiting. There is no point having the stress relievers sent from China to you, just to be packed up again, put on a plane and flown to some other destination.

Try to find an importer who will import the stress relievers for you and hold them for you until you arrive for your event.

By Dan Toombs

Promotional Stress Balls * Keeping the Price Down – Finding Trade Prices

Monday, January 17th, 2011

You may wonder why a 70mm round stress ball is less expensive than a tiger shaped stress toy. You might also wonder why a soccer ball is less expensive than a standard round ball. The answer is simple… Size and shape matters.

Generally speaking, the smaller the shape the less expensive it is. Promotional stress balls are not expensive to manufacture regardless of their size. The majority of the expense is in the shipping costs from where they are manufactured – China – to wherever you happen to need them.

Round and small shapes can all be packed into fewer boxes which brings the cost right down for shipping. This is especially true if you need your stress toys in four to six weeks as the stock will usually need to be transported by air.

If you allow 12 weeks, the stress balls can be brought in by sea and you will see great savings.

You can fit 500 round balls into a standard sized shipping box where you may only be able to fit 250 more bulky shapes into the same box.

Therefore, if you are trying to keep your expenses down, you need to look for smaller shapes that fit together easily. Animal shapes with large bulky legs do not fit together well and take up a lot more space. These shapes are better brought in by sea with a longer lead-time.

It is also important to buy directly from a company that deals directly with the Far East manufactures of the much loved promotional gifts. Doing so cuts out the middleman – promotional gifts supplier – and saves you up to 50% on your purchase.

Many promotional gift companies will tell you that you cannot print in full colour onto stress balls. This is not the case. Again, if you are trying to keep your prices down, buy direct and allow extra time for shipping. The manufacture and printing processes are not expensive. You can easily have a full colour promotional stress toy for about the same price as a stress ball printed in two colours.

So if you absolutely must have a large bulky shape such as a horse, rocket or passenger jet, think ahead and you will save a lot of money. Allow time for the stress relievers to be brought in my sea and you will be laughing when you see how much you save.

Remember that stock shapes, though convenient and quick to print and deliver, are usually not the best choice. If you purchase directly from an importer you can choose how the stress balls are printed and what colour they are manufactured in all for less than a boring stocked shape that everyone and their mother hands out at trade shows.

Promotional Stress Balls – Cutting Stress in the New Year

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Promotional Stress Chair

The promotional stress chair makes an excellent desktop gift.

It’s the New Year! Time to make those resolutions and hopefully stick to them long enough to make a difference.

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to attempt to cut stress. Stress isn’t healthy and you can help lower the stress levels of your employees and clients with fun, eye-catching promotional stress balls.

Regardless of your niche, there is almost definitely a stress ball shape that will represent your corporate identity in a way that will get you noticed.

Promotional stress toys, when manufactured to the highest standards, can be used for months if not years. Many people prefer to keep them on their office desktops to pick up as and when needed.

You may be thinking, ‘Come on Dan! Do stress balls really work to reduce stress?’

Fair question so I ask you to request a sample. Place it on your desk and before you know it you will be reaching for it. You will not be able to help yourself. Chances are you will do it subconsciously but you will. I bet you do it when you are stressed or concentrating.

This is the magic of stress relievers. They can sit happily on a person’s desktop for months promoting your business. They can be printed nice and large with your logo and contact details ready to grab when you customer is stressed or just wants to get your contact details to place an order.

One of the main reasons promotional stress relievers are purchased in the New Year is to offer stress relief to clients and employees while still building your brand.

They do this very well and should certainly be considered if that is what your are trying to do.

Promotional stress relievers can be manufactured in your company colours. Pantone matching is not only possible, it is asked for often and is a perfect way to compliment your corporate branding.

These fun stress relieving products can also be printed with excellent detail. They can even be printed in full colour. Logos with graduating tones can also be printed with exceptional quality.

So then. have I convinced you yet? Give stress balls a try and keep your promoted well into the new year with these low cost promotional products.

By Dan Toombs

Promotional Gifts – Stress Balls – 2 Frequently Asked Questions About Printed Stress Toys

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Promotional stress toys offer exceptional value for money. They offer a fun and eye-catching way to promote your business. Good quality stress relievers printed with your logo and details can promote your business or organisation for months if not years! Here I would like to share with you two of the most frequently asked questions about these excellent promotional tools.

Where are promotional stress balls manufactured?

Stress relievers are made in two countries – England and China. The Chinese manufacture most of the stress toys available on the market.

I have personally visited many of the factories that produce promotional stress toys. Some are really sad places while others seem to have happy employees and good working conditions.

If I do not feel comfortable with the way employees are being treated in a factory, I will not do business with them.

The quality of the stress relievers produced by different factories can vary greatly. It is therefore a very good idea to request samples when you order so that you can ensure you are using a supplier who deals with the best manufacturers.

There are very good quality stress balls manufactured in England which is the only Western country where stress relievers are manufactured.

The English stress toys are far superior to those manufactured in the Far East and this is reflected in their price. It is also more expensive to manufacture stress toys in England than it is in China so you really need to reach deep in your pockets to get the superior stress relievers.

How can I save money when purchasing promotional stress balls?

When purchasing Chinese made promotional stress balls you should purchase from importers who deal directly with the Chinese manufacturers. Very few supplier specialise in stress products and purchase their stock through wholesalers.

This is a very expensive chain of supply.

I have been dealing directly with the leading manufacturers of stress relievers for many years. By cutting out the middleman you can expect to save up to 50% on your purchase.

You will need to allow at least four weeks for delivery but the advantages of purchasing your stress relievers from an importer are numerous.

In addition to saving money you can also have them manufactured to order in the colours of your choice. Ask for samples to ensure you are purchasing the best.

Often the stress balls are of good quality but the print is bad. Poorly printed stress toys can do your brand more harm than good.

By Dan Toombs

Promotional Stress Balls – 3 Things to Avoid – 3 Things to Do

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Promotional stress toys are consistently in the top ten best selling promotional gifts. They are fun, eye catching and have the added bonus of being available in many shapes to better promote your company. It is so easy to use promotional stress balls to draw attention to your brand.

What’s more, they are inexpensive and easy to give away and trade shows, conferences and through the post.

I have been supplying promotional logo printed stress relievers to customers for over 20 years. Here I would like to give you a few things to consider when making a purchase of logo printed stress relievers.

Avoid:

1.) Avoid purchasing stress relievers from one stop shop promotional gift companies. If a supplier doesn’t specialise in stress products you will not get the best value for your money.

Such suppliers will more often than not be ordering their stock through wholesalers and not importing themselves. This is a very expensive chain of supply.

2.) Avoid low quality stress relievers. There are a lot of really good quality stress relievers on the market but there is also a lot of poor quality products that should be avoided. Make sure you know what you are buying.

3.)Avoid rush buying! You will get the best value for your money if you order early. Doing so will save you a lot of money – up to 50%.

Do:

1.) Order samples. There is no other way to ensure you are purchasing stress toys that a good enough for your business than to order samples. Compare the products of several different suppliers.

2.) Insist on ordering from suppliers who deal directly with the Far East manufacturers. You have a choice. You can either purchase blindly from a one stop shop that will likely purchase their stress balls through a wholesaler – or – you can purchase from a supplier who can have your stress balls manufactured and sent to you directly from the factory. Order direct and save!

3.) Take advantage of made to order service. Your stress toys can be manufactured to order. They can be Pantone matched in the colours of your choice. You can have them printed with vibrant full colour logos and designs. If you are ordering over 1000 stress relievers you can even have them made in the shape of your choice.

Do you have a product you would like to promote? Why not have a stress ball manufactured in its likeness for a promotional gifts that is unique to your business!

High Quality Promotional Stress Balls Get Great Results

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

One of the best ways for a company to use their marketing budget is to invest in promotional products that potential customers will use every day. This means that your company name, website and phone number will be seen by your current and target customers as well as their work colleagues and friends every day.

Logo printed stress toys are a terrific promotional product because your customers will enjoy using and displaying a high quality stress ball for months if not years to come.

Stress relievers offer a low cost means of gaining people’s attention at trade shows and conferences, since people will be naturally attracted to your booth to pick one up. Stress toys also are light in weight, which makes them ideal for sending in the post to current and potential customers.

Promotional stress relievers can easily be sent along with additional promotional materials. A high quality stress toy is seen as an item that is both fun and eye-catching to your target customers. As a result, they are more likely to feel an affinity for your brand.

While companies offering goods or services for sale are among our customers, we also provide stress relievers at a low price to charitable organisations. A stress ball in a clever shape with the charitable organisation’s name and contact information can serve two purposes.

First, it will raise awareness of the charitable organisation’s cause, which is an important goal for most charitable organisations.

Second, a stress toy with the charitable organisation’s name and contact information, such as their website and logo can help to raise donations – also very important. The stress ball serves as a constant reminder of the charity and what they are trying to do.

Unfortunately, if you purchase stress relievers of poor quality, you may do more harm to your company’s reputation, than good. This is because potential customers will perceive a company that gives them something of poor quality to also provide inferior goods and services.

While the stress toy was free, your goods and services are not.

As a result, your target customer may be disinterested in pursuing a further relationship with your company. The disappointed customer could even mention their disgust with the poor quality of the stress ball your company gave him to his friends or work colleagues.

Want to avoid disappointment?Always ask for samples to ensure you are ordering high quality promotional stress balls.

A True Story About Custom Made Promotional Horse Stress Balls

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

I was just doing a clean up of our sample room and came across a stress ball horse that I remembered quite well. The company that ordered the promotional horse stress balls was a horse betting magazine and their colours were purple and pink. Can you guess what colour the horse stress toys were?

We went back and forth for a few weeks in the design as there were a lot of people in their marketing department with different opinions. Two of their designers wanted purple horses with pink spots. The marketing manager wanted the reverse. This is what they ordered first and things went smoothly for a while.

We manufactured one horse for them as a pre-production sample in pink and printed purple spots. In additional to this we added their logo and the end result looked fantastic! I could hardly wait to send the PDF visual which I did promptly but then – no reply.

A week went by and I was not able to contact anyone nor did they phone. Finally, I spoke to the marketing manager after hours. I think I caught her by surprise.

‘Uh…’ she stuttered, ‘I have a bit of a problem. We showed the visual to our directors and they don’t like them. They want them to be purple with solid pink hooves. Also we have changed our logo.’

She fell silent waiting for my reply.

‘That’s absolutely no problem at all!’ I replied. ‘That is why we do the visuals in the first place!’

I could hear the relief in your tone.

In the end, they received 10000 purple horse shaped stress toys exactly as they wanted them. I received an email from my customer a few weeks after they received them raving about how well they were going down. “They are so eye-catching!’ She said.

Personally I feel that made-to-order promotional stress balls work best. Anyone can order stock shapes. They look good but with a little imagination, you can incorporate your company colours and print in numerous locations. We can make the stress relievers into promotional tools that are truly your own.

I recommend requesting samples. I am proud of the jobs we have done for customers as I am sure other stress ball suppliers are. Ask for special shaped samples or those with different Pantone matched colours. Request samples that show off the best print so you know you are getting the best.

By Dan Toombs

Promotional Stress Toys Can Be Made to Order

Monday, December 13th, 2010

I was contacted the other day by a client looking for ideas to draw more attention to their exhibition stand. The customer exhibits several times every year but wanted to do something different this time. As I knew they were launching a new product, I recommended custom made promotional stress balls.

We were already in the process of printing a couple thousand pens with pictures of their products and mouse mats to match. So the addition of promotional stress toys would really make the stand look great.

Promotional stress toys are available in hundreds of standard shapes. These are usually all you need for a fun promotion. They can be manufactured to order in the colours of your choice and can even be printed in full colour.

But sometimes it is necessary to have your own shapes manufactured. Made to order shapes are only slightly more expensive than standard shapes if you purchase directly from the importer.

Promotional stress balls are often called stress toys, stress relievers, stress busters and stress shapes. Whatever you call them, it is important to check the quality of the products and compare prices! Suppliers that import themselves are in the position to save you a lot of money. Often up to 50%.

Such suppliers will also know better how to discuss your requirements with the Far East manufacturers.

You should expect to see a PDF sample of any special shapes. If time allows, you could even ask to see an actual sample to hold and squeeze before the whole order is manufactured.

This does add to the lead-time. Generally speaking, a quantity of made to order stress balls should take about four weeks from sign off to produce. If you want to see an actual sample you should add about three weeks to this time.

Luckily my client had nine weeks before their event so we were able to ask for actual samples of the new stress toys to be flown to the UK to check. They looked great and were top quality just like expected.

Do you have a product you would like to have made into a stress toy? I can assure you that these low cost promotional gifts are a great way to get your message into your customers’ hands.

So what are you waiting for? Request those samples and prices and get that next big event on the road before your competitors beat you to it.

By Dan Toombs

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