Ever wished you can have a hover board from Back to the Future part II, well I am still waiting for that break through but until then I think I can settle for this. Rumor has it that Nike is releasing shoes "inspired by" those future kicks, that McFly wore in the movie. According to Gizmodo ~ "These limited edition Hyperdunks sport the same weird high section around the ankle that defines the originals as well as "2015" emblazoned on the tongue. They should come out at the end of the summer..." From the image shown below they look pretty good and we are only six years away from 2015 but still no hover boards or flying automobiles, but we do have mobile phones.

"Does any one have a bottle opener?" a girls asks from the corner of the room. "Sure thing! I'll go get it." says the party host. While she walks into the kitchen to get one you hear the guy sitting on the couch with a girl on each arm say, "Pass it over here," as he winks. So she passes it. He takes it and lines the cap up with the table and slams it down. Up pops the cap and there you have a nice fresh beer.

Well some of the time. But you can also end up with broken glass, a dented table, and an angry host.

Or perhaps you'd rather take on the lighter technique. Do you carry that around because you smoke? Or just to look tough when some one needs a bottle opened? Well either way. The lighter ends up busted and your still jsut wishing you had a bottle opener. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure some are gifted at opening things up with things that aren't supposed to open things up. But bottle openers we're created for one reason. So let them do their job.

This weekend my Motivators promotional bottle opener came in handy after my sister's boyfriend failed at opening a bottle off of every edge of every table in my house. Luckily, I came in from a drive right as he was about to try the lighter trick. I just tossed him my keys where the handy bottle opener was stationed and "Wha-La!"

So when in need- grab the real bottle opener. Or stick to twist offs.

 

In college it felt like ALL I did was read. Don't get me wrong I liked it and actually enjoyed most of the material. I would even go as far to say I LEARNED SOMETHING! However, once I left New Paltz and started working full time I had ZERO desire to read anything. My loving fiance on the other hand LOVES reading and wants me to get back into the swing of it. I finally caved and said ok to picking up Harry Potter---book 6. Yes I know it's not the most challenging novel but hey it's big and a good story to rekindle my reading. I've gotta say...I actually LIKE reading. I also have to say, I do not own a bookmark to my name. I believe I used an old receipt from flowers Bill got me last year. While that is cute it is not very practical. I figure if I am going to read I am going to do it right! I now own a very stylish Alicia Klein Bookmark that I can also put a picture in! Hopefully I will start getting a lot of use out of it. 

I am sure by now you know my friends Sarah's love of boybands !!  I too have a secret past... my love of early '80s heavy metal.  I am the youngest of 5 and 4 of them were brothers so growing up in the early '80s I was head bangin with the best of them, not the sissy hairband spandex wearing metal bands but the good stuff... Judas Priest, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, etc.. you know what I am talking about.  Recently I had an opportunity to relive my past with two of my older brothers, we got tickets to go see IRON MAIDEN.  So out came the old concert tees, that I have secretly and neatly stash at the bottom of my closet.  It looks like everyone else at the show had the same idea.  I think there was 20,000 people there and not one tee shirt of the same design or saying.  Everything from vintage concert tees, sport teams, beer companys, cool shirts that you only get on vacation as a souvenir.  There is nothing like a tee shirt to get your message across and be the most creative and that tee shirt will live on forever. Rock On !!

I was reading a blog on Yahoo by Mike Krumboltz and the subject talked about celebrities who change their names to increase or better their chances for fame.  Many of the world's most famous and recognized "stars" have chosen to promote themselves by either a shortened version or different name other then their given birth name because they believe that a more catchier name would help broaden their appeal to the masses.  This is not new to many Hip-Hop fans as many of the artists, such as Jay Z, LL Cool J, and many others go by a name that we know was not given to them at birth.  But, it seems that it is not uncommon in other genres and areas of entertainment.  For example, legendary cowboy hero John Wayne's given name was Marion Morrison.  And, those who enjoy the music of Sting may be surprised to discover that his real name is Gordon Sumner.   U2 lead singer Bono's given name is Paul Hewson and Prince Rogers Nelson is better known as just Prince.  As I began to think on this subject I decided to look over the Motivators website to see if this same strategy is used for promotional products.   I came across a couple of items which this philosophy may have been taken into consideration when naming the product.  The first is called the Leeds Shizzle which immediately brings to mind for me Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr.!!! (LOL) Instantaneously, I found myself saying "Fo' Shizzle Dizzle"!!!  Then I came across another item called the Leeds Soar Kite because of course simply calling it a kite would not adequately describe its many wonderful attributes and traits!  You know, there is a Bible proverb which says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches..."  Well, it seems some are living by a rule of thumb which teaches that a good name brings riches.   

 

Jesse James…The American outlaw. The legendary figure of the Wild, Wild West. The duo who are celebrating their 2 year anniversary here at Motivators.

Starting off fresh last month at the office- I didn’t know what to expect. But after some input from these Motivator outlaws, I know that working here will equip me with a lot more then just a ton of promotional products.

Upon first arrival to this new land of computer filled cubicles, Jesse said, “I hoped my co-workers would be friendly…” But he’d have to keep on hoping, because just like in any old Country flick- these Motivator outlaws would be threatened by an enemy. “My fear was Sarah lee,” said James. And who could blame him? A blogger? Who even knows what that means?

So the saga began on that summer day in Hicksville. Jesse clutched on to his favorite promotional item, the muscle arm stress reliever. And James geared up with his top promotional pick, the custom baseball cap. They were ready for battle. Robbing stage-coaches and banks wouldn’t be necessary, but they weren’t going to make a quiet entrance. Would customers give them on-going head aches? Would their rivals insult their age? Would this brawl be the end for the once 10-12 employees at Motivators?

Absolutely not.

Unlike Jesse James’ sudden death by a coward- these outlaws we’re going to make it. “It’s like being with mom and pop. People here care about each other.” said James. But what about that rebel Sarah Lee? Well he was only kidding.

This wild, wild land of Motivators has even helped to build character in the once newbie outlaws. “We have experienced major changes in growth as well as many changes in the way we handle business internally. I have learned a lot about people and a lot about myself in the process.” said Jesse. This land has become more then just a job. James said, “Motivators fits into my life perfectly. Just like family.” And working at a desk makes Jesse’s lifestyle of meals every 2-3 hours easily accessible.

Two years is only a short time in the large scale of things, but these outlaws turned family have made the most of it. Jesse would say that it’s the ability to understand everyone’s duty here that really makes you excel at your own job. And James would agree, “The people here are the best to work with and the managers out shine themselves.” So now I’m ready to saddle up and enjoy this wild, wild Motivators land. It’s like riding away up into the sunset…”There is no other company like this.”-James

I should just give up and admit defeat, I am the raging pop tart of the office. When I was a kid (and last month), I loved the New Kids on the Block. Similarly, I found solice in the Backstreet Boys, who were nothing but a carbon copy of the New Kids.  The Jonas brothers are nothing but a carbon copy of Hanson, who you could say derived from the Patridge family or the Jackson 5. But boy bands will be boy bands, and they will never go away. So what does this foray into the world of pop music have to do with promotional products? Oh, everything.

Case in point, I received an email blast from the Backstreet Boys (we're just going to assume that me subscribing to a whiny pop band's email list is status quo and move on) and wouldn't you know it, they're haching their own promo items to their loyal devoted fans. Deemed the must have summer party pack, the set includes a promotional koozie, a promotional bottle opener, and a promotional shot glass. Well, they've realized that their once pre-pubescent fans have grown up and are all of legal drinking age. They failed to notice that the country has fallen on some hard times financially, because this must have summer set is retailing at 39.99. Umm, I don't think so. Maybe it's fact that I work at a promotional products company that offers extremely cheap promotional items that are excellent value for money. Maybe it's the fact that Nick Carter is not what he once was. Maybe it's the fact that if I'm going to spend $40 bucks on a supposed party pack, I'd expect a little more than 3 items. Regardless, the Backstreet Boys have got another thing coming if they think that part of my stimulus check is going to their over priced promotional items. And just for fun, let's break down this party pack and check out the real value.

 

Promotional Black Ceramic Shot Glass: $1.59

Promotional Black Koozie: $0.62

Promotional Bottle Opener: $1.71

The fact that the Backstreet Boys need to make money off of promotional items since they can't make it off music anymore: PRICELESS.

I couldn't resist that Mastercard analogy. Anyway, total cost= $3.92. We'll round that up to 4 and you are looking at a 900% mark up. Yeah, it's expensive to drive a Hummer nowadays isn't Nick Carter? Yeah. yeah, it is.

Ok, so it's no big surprise to my friends and family that i'm a big Kanye West Fan!  And I was highley disappionted when I was unable to get to his  "Glow - In - The - Dark" Tour at Madison Square Garden earlier this year. (The concert Sold Out, and I refused to pay the scalper Nazi's $200+ for a ticket that only cost $50.) Then I had heard he was taking his show to this year's Bonnaroo Festival. For those of you that don't know, Bonnaroo is a mostly rock oriented/hippie concert out in TN. Apparently During the show Kanye had an estimated start time of some where around 2:45am, and ended up going on at 4:45. Fans began to chant "Kanye Sucks" and pelted the stage with Promotional Glow Sticks as well as beer bottles. Needless to say, it wasn't the most fantastic performance, and he has been facing much harsh criticizm for it lately. On his blog at kanyewestuniversity.com, he decided to take a bite back, and was quoted in saying  

"... this Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I've ever had in my life. This is the most offended I've ever been... this is the maddest I ever will be."

He goes on to discuss how Pearl Jam was had gone on an hour late, and how the heads of the festival couldn't decide if his grandious stage would even fit, and how they tried to put him on during the day. (how does a glow in the dark concert work during the day light...duh!!) I applaude him for standing up for himself, and think they should just leave Kanye alone, and maybe next time throw something softer like promotional glow in the dark stressballs. Also on a happy ending, he has reschedule 2 more shows at the last leg of the tour at MSG, and I GOT TICKETS!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!

 

Air-head, "Oh my God. Did i really just say that?" moments and throbbing head aches after late nights out have made all of us wish for a new brain. Luckily, Mari Pettersson of New Zealand is offering each of us her own, fresh brain.

The free-lance writer hand-fashioned these business cards to mini meat trays and covered them with Glad plastic wrap. She addressed each one to a different creative director in the area and recieved great feedback. Her "Fresh Brain" idea was innovative and the business card found inside of the packaging  was the perfect promotional product.

 

Though we don't sell any meat trays equip with fresh brains around here (that I know of), we do have some great custom imprinted business card cases to brilliantly display, freshly-printed  business cards. You can stay traditional with a custom pocket sized business card holder or be a little creative with the promotional "Magic Wallet" business card holder. Either way it pays to display your business card in style. Remember you definetly need brains to promote your company...but not literally. So keep it in your head.

                                 

Of course he does, they all do.  Promotional products are often bought last minute right before the event starts. I'd say upwards of 70% of my calls are rush orders needed within 1 week.  Luckily we offer a large selection of promotions on our rush service. Monday I get a call from a customer, he tells me he is looking for a quality pen under $1.00 which he needs in his hands this Friday in Washington State.  First thing I immediately think of is the Bic Clic Stic. It fit his criteria perfectly.  This item is excellently priced under $1.00, available on the rush service and it’s a Bic item so the quality is obviously there. It has a huge selection of barrel and trim colors so I knew he could definitely find a color he liked. It offers a very fast rush service and can ship 1 business day after proof approval.  Turns out he liked the item; he loved that he could have them in time for his event.  He said he had called 2 other companies but they were not able to help him out.  I told him I was happy to assist and feel free to contact me directly for any assistance with any future promotion.