Happy Valentine's Day, all!

Hopefully you're reading this before 10:00 AM and aren't yet burnt out on all things chocolate and sugary, because we've got a sweet post for you today.

Edibles is a huge category within promotional products, encompassing everything from restaurant dinner mints and personalized M&M's to holiday snack towers and cheese boards. The whole goal of promotional marketing is to put your logo on an item that people will take, keep, use and like, so candies and food items, which we all enjoy, are very popular choices.

With most promotional food items, your logo is placed on the packaging or an accompanying item. I mean, you can't exactly brand a nut (or can you?), so you brand a sticky note holder or crystal bowl instead. Mints, gum, nuts- generally the imprint goes on something else.

With cookies, brownies and certain other treats, however, you can get away with a direct imprint on the edible itself. Surface area isn't a limiting factor and edible inks keep the piece safe for consumption.

A current favorite in our office are these chocolate dipped picture treats with sprinkle border. We're partial to the Oreo, but there are also graham crackers, Nilla wafers, brownies, marshmallows, sugar cookies, crispy rice treats and fortune cookies.

Am I making your teeth hurt? Relax, here's an apple.

The edible inks allow for full color artwork, and there are more than 45 sprinkle varieties available to accent your design. If you go the fortune cookie route, you can even customize the paper fortune inside.

Next time you're in the market for an edible promotion, keep these creative picture treats in mind. They're almost too pretty to eat.

Tuesdays are typically reserved for a weekly roundup of client projects, but we're mixing things up today and giving the spotlight to a very special piece for the JCCGW.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington celebrates its centennial anniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion, we helped them create a mug with a fun twist.

When empty, the mug displays black with a white logo near the lip. Fill it up with a hot beverage to reveal a charming photo from the Center's early days.

On the backside, you'll find the centennial logo.

Thank you, JCCGW, for the opportunity to collaborate on such a fun piece. Congratulations on 100 years of service! We wish you hundreds more.

It might seem early to start thinking about corporate holiday gifts, but as any responsible shopper will tell you, now is the prime time to buy.

Why order early?

To Avoid Rush Charges. Waiting until the last minute to purchase client gifts could easily double your budget if rush production and/or expedited shipping are required to meet the in-hands date.

To Enjoy Greater Creativity. Some people get their best ideas under a tight deadline. We are not those people. A short turnaround time limits the number of products we can consider for your project. Give us time to find the perfect product for your project, not just the one that can ship in two days.

To Experiment with Design. More time to plan means more time to tweak and play with the artwork. Allow us to proof out a few options and explore less common decoration methods. Creative design is what makes a good product great.

To Outsource Fulfillment. We offer a wide range of packaging and decorating services to make sure your gifts are presented professionally and creatively. We can also take care of picking, packing and shipping your gifts to separate locations.

To Jump on Special Pricing. This is the time of year when we offer the best prices for holiday gifts. Edibles, holiday cards and calendars in particular are less expensive when ordered before the end of October.

To Lessen Stress. The last two months of the year are incredibly busy for just about everyone. Check this task off your list before it gets buried beneath other to-dos. You'll thank yourself come December!

This week at Sonic Promos, we're working on...



... nubby, long-sleeve thermals with a distressed vintage print on the front chest and upper sleeve for the Washington Kastles. If you're a fan of the team, you can find their merchandise for sale here.



... monogrammed, wrapped, ribbon-ed, packed and mailed Patagonia messenger bags for CB Richard Ellis' holiday gifts. Learn more about our full range of fulfillment services here.



... and Hydros filtering water bottles for Abbott Pharmaceuticals.

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every Tuesday to see some of the work that's going on in our office.

This week at Sonic Promos...

We're in the holiday spirit! Well, considering a lot of our clients' holiday gifts require significant advance planning and production time, we've been in the holiday spirit since late September. But that's beside the point.

Wondering if that should be "besides the point"? I was too. Here's your answer.

For every gift idea that was chosen, at least five were not. That's a lot of ideas left on the table! Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Branded Gift Cards for Phone/MP3 Player/Laptop Skins

Custom skins are a really neat product, but it's not easy to do them as a gift for multiple individuals. It's nearly impossible to decide on one design that's going to suit everyone's unique taste, and you also don't know what kind of laptop or phone they use. A branded gift card is the perfect solution. Your branding goes on the card, and the recipient can redeem it for the skin of their choice.


2. A Customized Coffee Table Book

A good book has always been my go-to gift idea. More specifically, I like giving colorful coffee table books or cook books with beautiful photos- the kind that you would never buy for yourself but still enjoy having. Nowadays, there are customization options available that make books a good choice for branded, corporate gifts too. Choose a title that relates to your business or that would interest your client base, and decorate it with a custom belly band, book jacket, front cover imprint or insert page. I suggest a coffee table book, because it's something that the entire office can enjoy. Their clients will enjoy it too if it finds a home in the office's lobby or reception area.




3. Edible Gifts with a Leave-Behind

Food towers, chocolates and gourmet snacks are always a popular choice for corporate gifts. As employees sample the goods and ride their sugar high, your company's name will undoubtedly be the subject of positive chatter. The only downside to edible gifts? They get eaten! It's a good idea to include a branded piece- something more permanent than a card. We suggest an engraved cutting board, decorated drinkware or a small set of kitchen knives that will be be seen and used long after the last chocolate-covered almond is consumed.



Is your company still trying to decide on an end-of-year gift? Give us a call at 301.869.7800. We've got lots of creative ideas. Better yet, we have ideas that can be produced, packed and delivered before offices start to empty for the holidays!

"This Week at Sonic Promos" is a regular feature on our blog.
Read all past posts here.
Check in every week to see some of the work that's going on in our office.