Happy Wednesday! Let's get right to it with our third and final recap of new for 2013 items from the ASI Show in Dallas.

If you're catching up--

Part 1 (apparel and drinkware) can be found here.

Part 2 (audio, desk and displays) can be found here.

Health & Home

In this section, I'll cover everything from kitchen gadgets to Swiss pocket tools. If you're looking for a good promotional item to be used in the home, or perhaps an item to promote a corporate health and wellness program, be sure to read on!



Man, food containers and lunch kits were everywhere. Most items boasted snap lock lids, reusable cutlery, separate containers for hot/cold or dry/wet and BPA-free plastic.


Silicone seemed to be the material of choice for most kitchen gadgets. I saw it used in everything from pint glasses to oven mitts to mini spatulas.

Speaking of those mini spatulas (Clic Stic pen held in photo for size reference), they're the perfect size for scraping every last ounce of peanut butter from the jar. Even more effective than a finger... not that I would know.

Mini units of WD-40 and Tide to Go are paired together in this Squeaky Clean Kit. Even if I didn't rely on these two products for 90% of the messes and annoyances in my house, I'd still be won over by that punny product name.


There's really not much new to discuss in magnets, but I did find these magnetic cork board and chalkboard items to be pretty fun!


Microfiber dust mitts, available in small and large sizes, are super handy for cleaning blinds, keyboards and other textured surfaces around the house. Toss them in the washing machine to clean and reuse.



I have a big pet peeve with coasters. I hate it, hate it, when a coaster doesn't absorb condensation. I have some glass and laminate coasters at my house that I love for their design, but they're completely nonfunctional. Either the glasses's condensation runs right off the coaster onto the table, or the coaster momentarily sticks to the glass when I pick it up and falls with a loud clatter. #firstworldproblems

Let's talk about these Mug Rugs. I kind of love them.

Mugs Rugs are super absorbent coasters nestled into wood or colored polypropylene shells. From a branding perspective, I love that the standard decoration is a full color dye sublimation, with no setup. They're easy to clean, durable and supplier-guaranteed to last forever.

These Jetsetter mini pocket tools from Victorinox, the makers of Swiss Army Knives, are TSA-approved for carry-on luggage. The basic model contains a pair of scissors, a bottle opener, Phillips head screwdriver, wire stripper, key ring, tweezers and a toothpick. For USB memory, upgrade to the Slim Flight model.


I was also really happy to see that Victorinox brought back their gift card program. Gift cards have a reputation for being impersonal and lame to present (I personally don't agree with that), and this customized snap case and branded card solve that problem.

Expandable hardside luggage with 360 degree spinner wheels is a great option for executive gifts. They're really lightweight and easy to navigate through crowded airports. Full coverage, full color decoration is available at high quantities.

Auto

These illuminated car chargers are really beautiful in person. If you're looking for a useful item that puts the focus on your logo, I definitely recommend this piece. The printing was really crisp and clear- just an attractive piece in general.



There are a ton of key lights out there, but I snapped a picture of this piece because I really liked how it felt in my hand. The little black roller ball acts a switch- push it forward and back to turn the light on and off. Again, it's nothing revolutionary, but with a key light, form and function are what's most important.

This magnetic emergency light would make a really great gift for a safety campaign. With 7 LED bulbs, it's extremely bright, and the super strong magnet at the base makes it perfect for roadside emergencies. Just stick it on the side of the car when you need light to change a tire.

Fun

An alternative title for this category could have been "Alcohol-related Promotions", but "Fun" allowed me to toss in eye black and lollipops too.

Novelty flasks. Available in ridiculously huge and uselessly tiny sizes.


These custom race car coolers attracted a lot of attention at the show. They would be such a hit with Nascar fans (obviously), universities... any group that tailgates, really.

They call this the Corkicle. I have no comments.

These lollipops are decorated in full color and are available in a bunch of stock shapes: heart, house, football, telephone, etc. For other picture treat ideas, check out this post.

Bored with rally towels and cowbells? Custom eye black is a fun item for schools, universities, sports teams and particularly spirited sales teams.

Here's a green item that's just plain fun. They're called Seed Bombs, and they're made of wildflower seeds and post-consumer recycled paper. They come packaged in either an organic cotton bag or cello bag with custom header.

That's all I've got for you! If you'd like more information or pricing on any of the items from our three recap posts, please email your sales rep at Sonic Promos or call the office at 301.869.7800.

Happy President's Day!

We're in the office today- feeling a wee bit jealous of schools and government employees- ready to kick off the week with another recap of the ASI Show in Dallas.

If you missed Part 1 on Friday, we covered apparel and drinkware. Go read that first, then join us below to learn about new items for 2013 in audio, desk and displays. Grab some coffee too- this post is a little lengthy.

Audio

Every time I attend a show, one of the first suppliers I visit is OrigAudio. These guys know quality audio products, and they always always have something superbly cool to demo. You might remember me gushing about the Cubicool speakers in last year's Orlando recap. This year, the spotlight was on their new portable vibration speaker, the Epishock.

OrigAudio has had great success with their other vibration speaker product, the Rock-It, but unlike the Rock-It, the Epishock produces excellent sound quality on any firm surface (the Rock-It works best on hollow surfaces) with ten times as much power.

Another difference between the two products is their decoration potential. The Epishock is decorated with full color digital printing, an improvement from the Rock-It's spot color screen print.

An added bonus is this adorable packaging. LOVE the retro lunchbox set.

Check out the Epishock in action:

Another theme in audio products at the show was Bluetooth compatibility. The stereo headphones in the picture above have control buttons for volume, play/pause, forward/reverse, accepting/rejecting mobile phone calls and redial. A built-in rechargeable battery gives you 10 hours of use when fully charged.

Desk


In desk items, I saw a lot of little cord keepers, designed to keep your work space neat and tidy. I like that there were models of varying size. If you have a detailed logo that doesn't print well at small dimensions, there are plenty of styles that afford a few square inches of imprint area.


In the category of padfolios and portfolios, I really dug this flip portfolio for iPad. The front cover contains a swivel window, giving you the option to face your tablet out (convenient for presentations) or in (for travel and protection).



3M came out with a few fun additions to their Post-it Note line this year. The folded piece above caught my eye for its imprint potential; it gives you four times the space of a normal sticky note pad to display your message and logo. The blue notes on the far right are specially marked with rounded corners because they have adhesive across the entire backside.


Also from 3M is this adorable pink Post-it Note compact. So fun for a female-targeted promotion.



I can't say I saw anything revolutionary in journal books, but there were plenty of beautiful pieces on display that reminded me just how far a die cut cover and custom insert page will get you.


Interesting cover textures and mini journals with die cut slots for a pen also caught my attention.

Power banks and charging devices are another item category that I saw at just about every booth. There is an item out there to suit every budget and every charge duration need.



Stylus pens are all over the place right now. Read more about the benefits of using a stylus here. My favorite stylus pen from the show was definitely this piece from Fisher. Yep, the makers of the infamous space pen have come out with a stylus pen that will write upside down, underwater, in freezing cold and zero gravity. I want one.




This post is getting a little lengthy- if I haven't already lost you, I'm sure I am about to- so I'm going to move through these last few finds quickly. The hard cover business card folio and gel phone wedge, seen above, would make great choices for an inexpensive trade show giveaway. And for all of you brand-crazed readers that really, really want to look at your alma mater or company's logo all the livelong day, a custom keyboard skin would be totally up your alley.

Displays

Moving on to trade show displays, the most interesting item I saw in Dallas was this geometric popup number.


Floor displays are notorious for being a pain in the neck to assemble, but this lightweight popup frame with interchangeable fabric banners is a cinch to set up. The frame weighs more than 50% less than other comparably sized floor models, and I love that the fabric panels are machine washable.


The same stretchy, dye-sublimated fabric is used in this pyramid tent and fitted table cover. I think they have a really sharp, clean look.

So, that sums up my favorite finds from Dallas in audio, desk and displays. Come back on Wednesday for our final post- Health & Home, Auto and Fun ← real catch-all category right there!

I spent last Thursday and Friday scoping out new product at the ASI Show in Dallas. You all seemed to enjoy our recap posts after the Orlando Show in 2012, so I made sure to snap plenty of pictures this time too.

I've got a lot to share with you, so I'll be splitting the info up across a few posts like last year. If you're not particularly interested in reading about everything from mini silicone spatulas to ladies' work apparel, I'm planning to split up the posts like so:

Friday-- Part 1: Drinkware and Apparel 

Monday-- Part 2: Desk, Audio and Displays

Wednesday-- Part 3: Health & Home, Auto and Fun

Please be sure to stop by the blog next week if you're looking for new ideas in any of those categories. Alright, let's get started!

Drinkware

If the number of suppliers carrying a particular piece is any indication of its future success, these double-walled party cups (available with or without a lid) are promising to be the next acrylic tumbler and straw a.k.a. the next big craze in drinkware. They have that stupid, silly, fun appeal- the same sort of appeal that made Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" one of the most popular country songs of 2011. Get 'em while they're hot.

Another drinkware piece rocking the country party vibe is this Mason Jar Tumbler. They come in a wide range of colors, not just orange. Don't you just want to fill it with sweet tea?


Pint glasses- in unique materials like bamboo and silicone- were another common trend at the show. The silicone cups are really versatile. They're virtually unbreakable, and they withstand extreme temperatures (you can even use the shot glass size as a baking cup/liner/mold).

How sweet is this mug with heart-shaped inner taper?


If you're in the market for a nice water bottle, I was really impressed with the Contingo AutoSpout Addison bottle. The one touch push button spout is strangely satisfying (and addicting) to press.

This accordion water bottle is inexpensive and fun for a charity race or school promotion... maybe even for a yoga studio... stretchy!

Apparel

We just covered major trends in corporate apparel on the blog last week, so I'll try to move quickly through what I saw in Dallas. I realize that some of you may not find wholesale clothing as interesting as I do!






Apparel suppliers seem to be paying particular attention to ladies this year; many of them have launched new lines geared specifically to women. I was very happy to see feminine details like ruffles, flattering necklines and unique buttons in these new additions. They're a lot more special than traditional ladies styles, in which a fitted torso and narrow shoulders really seem to be the only elements differentiating them from their male companions. Whether or not you're a lady, you should certainly keep their preferences in mind when purchasing apparel for staff or a large group.





Other trends of note: bright colors, especially jewel tones, and interesting prints and textures (heather, houndstooth and acid wash, for example).

That's all for now! I'll cover desk items, audio gear, and displays on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Happy Wednesday, readers! Before we get too deep into the New Year, let's talk a bit about current trends in corporate apparel. What's hot right now?

Hansel. So hot right now. Hansel.

Sorry, I couldn't resist! Please don't click away. I'll stay on topic for the rest of the post. I promise.

Performance Materials:

In polo shirts, polyester and blended materials are still very popular. These performance materials are extremely comfortable to wear and easy to care for. Look for pieces that wick sweat and absorb moisture, resist snags and stains, manage body odor, body map for temperature control, and protect from sun exposure.



This isn't a style column, so I'm not going to say that cotton pique polo shirts are out- I don't think they'll ever be out; pique polo shirts are a classic and traditional look- but if you're looking to dress your employees in a sharp piece that they'll wear in and outside of the office, we recommend a performance polo.



In outerwear, microfleece jackets are popular as always, but bonded knit and soft shell jackets are particular trendy. As with polyester performance polo shirts, the main appeal of bonded fleece and soft shell is comfort and durability. They're extremely warm, breathable, and water-resistant or water-proof in some cases. They also tend to be less bulky than fleece with a more stream-lined cut, so the fit is very flattering.

Heather Colors:

I'm sure you've seen a lot of the heather trend in retail stores right now. It's just as prevalent in corporate apparel. T-shirts, outerwear, fitness apparel... it's everywhere.



Retail Design Details:

Think about your favorite wardrobe pieces. I bet there are little design details that you love about all of them. Things like thumbholes on your winter running gear or interesting buttons at the placket. Maybe it's a conveniently placed pocket, or a zipper guard that keeps your chin and neck comfortable. If you appreciate the small details in your own clothing, look for these particulars in apparel for your staff too. Your goal is to equip them with something that they'll actually enjoy wearing!


Unique Decoration Techniques and Placement:

We've talked about alternative decoration methods on the blog before. Techniques like laser-etching, deboss, and heat seal transfers were very popular in 2012 as alternatives to traditional embroidery and screen-printing, and the same is true for 2013. Ask your promotional rep about these options, as the best decoration method for your project will depend on the artwork and the garment's material.

For a really current look, think about decoration placement in addition to the technique. The shoulder, side panel and sleeve are easy to decorate and create a unique look.

What are your thoughts on these trends?

Take a look at this image.

Which grey column would you say is darker? The one on the right or left?

Ah, trick question. They're actually the same color. But I'm sure you all saw that coming...

Even when I see it laid out plainly like this, I still have trouble convincing myself of the truth. Our eyes are so tricky!

Here's another example of the same illusion:


(source)

These illusions illustrate just how inaccurately we perceive color. Whether we view something as light or dark really depends on the context; background and surrounding colors greatly influence our perception.

Our eyes struggle with all sorts of colors, not just shades of grey. Take a look at the images below. If you didn't know better, wouldn't you say that the small blocks of light purple were the same color in each scenario? Same with the oranges?



Our imperfect color perception is yet another reason why careful proofing is so important. We might like how a color looks in one context, and hate how it looks in another. In the display of pens above, the grey works nicely on the black, white and blue pens. There is good contrast, and the imprint really pops. On the red and lime green pens, however, the grey imprint almost shakes before your eyes. It's a bit distracting and unpleasant to look at.

Don't ever settle for a black and white proof, and pay careful attention to how your selected imprint color looks against the actual item color.