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







... Reusable bags in all colors, shapes and sizes for several local clients. Earlier this month, Montgomery County's 5-cent bag fee went into effect. The tax is similar to the District's 5-cent fee for food and alcohol establishments, but it is even more comprehensive in that it covers nearly all retail businesses. If you live in Montgomery County, be sure to stash some tote bags in your car or purse for everyday purchases! And, if you're a local business interested in creating your own promotional tote, please contact the office at 301-869-7800 for a presentation of popular pieces.

"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.

If you're just catching up with us, please be sure to read Best of Orlando: Part 1 for a summary of apparel items new for 2012.

Wearables is just a small category within promotional products; there is still so much more to share! Read on to learn about our favorite finds in technology...



Julianne spotted this handy speaker for your iPhone. It worked exceptionally well!



These little night lights aren't as long-lasting as true compact fluorescent light bulbs, but they do come equipped with an energy saving sensor. Plus, they're just so gosh darn cute!



At Sonic, we have long been fans of OrigAudio's Rock-It portable vibration speakers and their collapsible, eco-friendly craft paper speaker sets. This year's product line additions did not disappoint! The above photo shows off their new Cubicool speaker. This little 3x3x3 cube will work with ANY audio product that has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack (think laptop, iPod, cell phone), and two hours of charge will get you up to twelve hours of battery life. Use just one speaker, or connect them together to increase the volume. The sound quality is phenomenal; my jaw literally dropped.



The best part? You've got four imprint opportunities with a digital imprint on each panel. I really love how Disney and Absolut played with design to create a full set.

Another great piece for a full color imprint is this grip stand. It might look small, but it has powerful strength.

Use it to prop up your iPad for movie viewing, or place it on your desk when you want your cell phone close at hand. If you notice the grip power diminishing, just rinse it under water to restore its strength.



Now, I wouldn't normally catalog a mirror under the "technology" category, but I had to make an exception for this unique piece. Created with dark bars, restaurants and nightclubs in mind, this mirror illuminates your logo and makes it impossible to ignore.



Some businesses have used this piece to advertise promotions and vendor partners by placing a live screen in the bottom corner. Pretty cool!

Well, that sums up another round of our favorite items from the ASI Orlando show. Stay tuned for more!

If you have to travel somewhere for a work conference, Florida is not a bad place. No siree.

Earlier this week, Seth, Julianne, Mallory and I had the pleasure of traveling to Orlando to meet with vendors and distributor partners and to attend the ASI trade show. We saw thousands of great items new for 2012, and over the course of the next few days, I will recap some of our favorites on the blog. 

If you want to hear about the real highlights, like Seth and Julianne's harrowing tale of survival on the Amtrak train or our recap of Harry Potter World, give us a call!

There is so much to share, and I'll do my best to keep it somewhat organized. Today, I'll focus on our favorite finds in apparel. 



Eco-friendly apparel has been around for years, but we spotted one line that has really taken it to a new level. This East Coast vendor combines recycled cotton with various recycled materials to create fashionable and wearable clothing with minimal environmental impact. Ever wonder what happens to all those X-rays that hospitals and dentist offices print? They get trashed... OR they get woven into your new favorite tee.



Americans throw away an astounding 2 million plastic bottles every 10 minutes. Every one of these recycled tees uses recycled polyester from approximately 8.5 PET bottles. They're available in three colors: beer bottle brown, soda bottle green and water cooler blue. An added bonus? These tees dry in HALF the time of a normal T-shirt.



We were also very impressed with their line of hoodies, composed of recycled cotton and textile scraps from factory floors. They're incredibly soft to boot.



Another apparel trend that caught our eye (for obvious reasons), was American Apparel's line of neon tanks, tees and raglans. I expect to see several neon-clad kickball teams on the Mall this spring. They would also be great for school spirit wear and retro graphic design.



Custom boxer shorts and pajama bottoms are traditionally big sellers for schools, universities and youth organizations. I love how this vendor has used flannel material to line sweatshirt hoods and for reverse or laser cut appliqué on the front chest. You can do this with several kinds of material; there were samples on display using seersucker and polka dot cotton as well.



I thought this example of screen printing with puff ink was worth sharing. To achieve this effect, the printer mixes an additive into the ink that puffs up when cured in a belt oven. The end result is a print that feels raised against your fingers. 



And finally, if you're looking for great tech polo, this piece uses a unique blend of yarns that provides a cooling sensation by pulling heat away from the skin. This particular manufacturer also carries a line of garments for cold weather. Each piece is rated on a temperature scale, much like you would see when shopping for a sleeping bag for camping. The rating system even distinguishes between light to moderate activity levels, so you know which garments are needed for running in -10 degree weather versus walking in 40 degree weather.

That sums up our highlights in apparel! Be sure to check back for more of our favorites in the coming days.

A few weeks ago, I met with a client to discuss upcoming projects and the company's event schedule for 2012. Not surprisingly, our conversation quickly sidetracked to more personal topics: Kindles, time at the beach, holiday plans and family.

Honestly, I love it when this happens in a meeting. I always learn something useful.

My client has a young child with autistic tendencies, and at one point we found ourselves discussing teaching techniques used in school to help children focus. Apparently, fidget toys and stress balls that get hands and fingers moving provide a calming influence to children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Toys are especially helpful in the classroom, as they help kids focus and absorb the lesson, without distracting other students. 



My client's son has had great success with this method. During our meeting, she politely asked that I keep her in mind should my desk become overcrowded with promotional toys and gadgets.

Of course my mind went to Sonic's trove of George Washington head stress balls. Although we had managed to find creative ways to "use" them, I felt their purpose would be better served in the little hands of history class students. A quick phone call and shipment later, and the squeeze toys had found a new home with a local special needs school.

Don't worry, we only sent the undecorated toys. Something tells me Pinhead Washington would do more harm than good.

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



... T-shirts for the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation to be worn during the Martin Luther King Day of Service in Washington DC. Congress designated the MLK Day of Service in 1994, transforming the national holiday into a day of community service. On this day, Serve DC and the Office of the Secretary organize and match volunteers to more than 1,300 service projects spread throughout DC's eight wards.



... New York Times Best Seller stickers for KaBOOM! to be placed on CEO's copies of KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play.



... and assorted apparel as part of Christ Fellowship's rebranding launch. Balloons, tumblers, wristbands, padfolios and pens were also created to celebrate the launch.

"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.