Promotional Product Buying Guide

• Apparel – How and what to for
• Awards and Recognition
• Awareness Events
• Bags – Printed Buying Guide
• Drinkware – Buyer’s Guide
• Office Supplies
• Promote Healthy Living
• Promoting Wellness
• Technology – Giveaways Guide

From apparel to travel mugs, holiday gifts to employee recognition items, we are your one-stop promotional shop! We offer every possible promotional product from over 3000 suppliers. That’s why you can count on a top-quality product from us. Simply tell us about your upcoming promotion, and we’ll find the perfect promotional item to support it. We handle everything from research, purchasing, and imprinting, as well as distribution through our online fulfillment center. Or browse yourself through our online search tool at gsgpromo.com!

Buyer’s Guide to Drinkware

Drinkware is one of the most well-liked categories of promotional products because it is so useful, and people can find a need for them daily. Items like reusable water bottles and travel mugs have become increasingly popular as Americans work to reduce the waste of disposable plastic bottles and coffee cups. Buying drinkware with your logo is not only great for branding but also great for showing you care about the environment.

With so many options available, the toughest part of shopping for drinkware is narrowing them down, and as with any promotional product, keeping your target audience and the intended use of the product in mind will help you through this process.

Types of Drinkware

The first step is to establish your budget, and one thing to keep in mind is the shipping cost. Heavier items like water bottles and mugs are going to cost more to ship than lightweight items like can coolers and coasters. Once you have a budget in mind, you can start focusing on choosing a category of drinkware.

Water Bottles:

These items are good for an on-the-go. Options vary mostly by material (metal or plastic) and top. Sports tops are ideal for the active user. They can be held, opened, and closed single-handedly. Some water bottles are topped by lids and straws, also good for one-handed use, but they could leak. Screw-tops are great for travel because they are less likely to spill.

Glasses:

There are a variety of shapes and sizes when it comes to glassware. These items are ideal for restaurants and bars. Printing your company logo on water, wine, beer, champagne, and shot glasses improves your brand recognition. These items also make great favors for parties, weddings, and corporate events.

Mugs:

Mugs are most often ceramic, acrylic, and glass, and are also great for restaurant branding. Travel mugs are perfect for people on the go. For hot liquids, make sure to choose one that is insulated. Mugs make great giveaways and gifts, fill them with candy or pair them with a reusable straw.

Cups:

Plastic cups can be useful at outdoor events, at trade shows, and more. Choose from disposable or reusable plastic cups. Disposable cups are excellent for large quantities. You can reach a lot more people while spending less money per unit. Reusable cups leave a smaller footprint and used over a more extended time The budget and event will help you determine which of these two options works best.

Accessories:

Drinkware accessories are wide in variety. Many of these items make good holiday gifts for your high-end executives and prized customers.

• Can Coolers
• Coasters
• Corkscrews
• Decanters / Carafes
• Drink Trays
• Flasks
• Pourers
• Shakers
• Stirrers
• Wine Chillers
• Wine Globes
• Wine stoppers

Materials & Imprint Methods:

There are many imprint methods; some are better than others, depending on the imprint material.

• Metal: Screen Print / Silk Screen, or Digital Print
• Plastic: Screen Print / Silk Screen, Digital Print, or Pad Print
• Ceramic: Screen Print / Silk Screen, or Digital Print
• Glass: Screen Print / Silk Screen, or Laser Etch
• Screen Printing / Silk Screening is a stenciling process where the image is transferred onto the material using a silk-screen. Each color is applied separately.
• The Digital Printing process combines the four basic colors to create thousands of color options and applied similarly to the way ink is applied to paper.
• Pad Printing is much the same as a rubber stamp.
• Laser Etching engraves the image into the item using a powerful beam of light. Laser etching on glass gives a classy effect for a sophisticated message.

Back to glossary Technology Giveaways Guide

Choosing electronic giveaways shows your customers and clients that you can keep up with the changing times. It proves your company is innovative and understands the need for technology.

Targeting an Audience

When choosing a technology giveaway, pick items that would capture your target audience, taking into consideration the level of technology involved and the ease of use.

College & High School Students may need some sort of electronic device for class. Some schools require but do not provide calculators. Also, students often use flash drives (or memory sticks) to transport work from computer to computer. These devices allow students the flexibility to work from home, the library, or study hall. Teachers and Educators also benefit from flash drives when working on lesson plans outside of school. Flashdrives may be preloaded with your customer supplied file.

Laser pointers are another welcomed option for teachers. Some laser pointers double as a pen and can be magnetic, adding another layer of functionality.

Cell phone accessories like screen cleaners, cases, holders, and charging adaptors are an excellent choice. These items are perfect for expanding your brand awareness.

Buying Custom Phone Chargers and Power Banks

Phone chargers and power banks are one of the hottest new trends. Mobile charging devices ensure that you’ll never get caught without a charge. However, they’re not all created equal. Consider the following to determine the right promotional phone charger for your brand and your customers.

Capacity

Just like how portable gadgets come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, portable battery packs come in an assortment of capacities as well.

A small charging stick might come with 2,000 mAh (milliamp hours) of juice, but there are also heavyweight mobile chargers that can pack over 20,000 mAh of battery power.

Here are some questions you should answer when it comes to picking the right charger size for you:

• Which devices do you plan to use with the battery pack?
• How many different devices do you plan to use with it simultaneously?
• For how long will you be away from a wall charger?
• How many times will you need to use the same portable battery before the need to recharge?

At the very least, you want to get a portable charger that can charge your target device fully in one go. To do that, you will need to know the energy capacity of the device you are charging. An iPhone X, for example, is powered by a 2,716 mAh battery while a Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 3,000 mAh battery.

Once you know the device’s capacity, check out whatever portable battery you are looking into and see its mAh capacity. A small 3,000 mAh charger, for example, would be more than enough to charge most smartphones fully.

If you’re looking to charge larger devices like tablets or laptops, you’ll need a charger with way more juice. The iPad Pro, for example, has a huge 10,307 mAh battery, and the older iPad 3 clocks in at more than 11,000 mAh.

For example, let’s say you have an iPhone X and an iPad Pro that are both completely dead. To charge both of them to full capacity simultaneously, you’d need a 13,000 mAh portable charger that supports two USB ports. If you plan to be away all day and will need them recharged more than once, you’d need to factor that in, too.

Even if you don’t own a large device, you may have multiple smaller gadgets like a personal phone, work phone, and an MP3 player. In that case, getting a USB battery pack with a larger capacity and more than two USB ports might be helpful.

Size and Weight

Generally, if the charger has a smaller battery (the mAh number is smaller) and only has one or two USB ports, it will be significantly smaller in physical size than one that is triple the capacity and has four USB ports.

ome of the large portable batteries that support USB and regular plugs (like laptops); are big and heavy. The larger size makes it harder to hold in your hand or put in your pocket.

Charging Time

When it comes to charging time, charging your battery pack and charging your device with a battery pack are two separate things.

For example, it’s usually fine if it takes a while to charge your battery pack from a wall outlet because you can keep it plugged in all night, but it’s probably not OK if your battery back takes forever to charge your phone, tablet, etc.

Solar-based chargers, for example, might be amazing to have when camping for a long time, but most of them usually take quite a while to charge devices and run out of power pretty quickly.

Fast chargers aren’t just great for charging up a phone in a snap; they’re also good at charging devices with larger batteries like tablets or laptops.

Back to glossary Printed Bags Buying Guide

There is a large variety of bags that you can choose from for gifts and giveaways. Narrowing down your options starts with taking a step back and looking at your choice from the recipient’s point of view. Who is going to receive your promotional bag? How will it be used?

Choosing the Right Type of Bag

Different bags serve different purposes. The key to an excellent promotional product is usefulness. If the item is one the recipient can use frequently, it is most likely to be seen by others and will be more effective as a branding tool. Here are some types of bags and which audiences might benefit from each:

Backpacks

Traditional shoulder backpacks are ideal for students. Backpacks offer convenient storage and transportation of books and supplies. They are durable and will last for years to come. Backpacks are great for travel, as they can be worn instead of carried. They are handy for short trips, like hiking or camping. Consider all audiences. I

Tote Bags

Promotional tote bags are useful for just about anyone who wants to find a good use for them. From groceries to clothing, tote bags can be convenient to carry.

Tote bags with a sturdy plastic bottom, gusseted sides for expansion, reinforced stitching, and strong handles make great reusable grocery bags that tell your audience you care about the environment. Slim tote bags are great for files and papers, making them ideal for teachers and other professionals.

Golf Bags

You don’t have to have a target demographic of hard-core golfers to hand out promotional golf bags, but these are particular promos that will appeal to a limited audience. You can find everything from inexpensive bags for golf balls, tees, and accessories to wheeled and stand-up bags for clubs. Choose a quality golf bag that will portray your brand as classy and sophisticated.

Computer Bags & Cases

Computer bags and cases come in all different shapes and sizes. But the goal remains the same. Multifunctional briefcases, the point of these bags is to protect precious pieces of technology. The biggest factors to consider when choosing computer bags are age and profession.

Students, teens, and young adults may prefer a simple sleeve-type bag to protect an iPad or laptop when it’s not in use at home. At the same time, a group of professionals might benefit more from a pocketed and multifunctional bag that can safely transport these items frequently to and from the office or business meetings.

Coolers & Lunch Bags

Reusable lunch bags and coolers are better for our planet than paper or plastic bags that get thrown away; by distributing these eco-friendly items, you send the message to your audience that you want to help them go green.

Lunch bags are great for students and working professionals. You can target your audience further by zoning in on health-conscious individuals that are more likely to bring their lunch every day. Coolers are perfect for sports fanatics who love tailgating or frequent beach-goers. Small cooler totes can even be ideal for keeping frozen grocery-store goods cold on the ride home.

Duffel Bags

Duffels make great overnight and gym bags. They zip shut, they’re light, and they can hold a lot. If your target audience consists of frequent gym-goers, promotional duffel bags are perfect for you. Choose one that rolls or has a shoulder strap to give your recipients more carrying options.

Great for travel, duffel bags can double as carry-on luggage. They’re also good for short trips overnight or in the car or bus. Sports enthusiasts can benefit from promotional for sporting equipment that may otherwise be bulky or awkward to transport. They make ideal gym bags because they are roomy, flexible, and easy to clean.

Choosing the Right Material

The material of the bag you choose will be a contributing factor to the cost. Look at your budget and, again, your audience to determine the best material for your promotional bags. Decide what an essential feature of the material should be, its durability, ease of cleaning, appearance, etc. Knowing these answers will help you determine which option to choose.

Nylon

Nylon is a water-resistant synthetic material, making these bags ideal for rainy or humid climates. They are also relatively durable and easy to clean. This material can often be very lustrous, which would make it stand out from other bags. Because nylon is heat-set, it is highly resilient and resistant to insects, fungi, mold, mildew, and even many chemicals.

Canvas

Promotional bags made from canvas are incredibly durable. This material is known for being heavy-duty and robust. These bags are ideal for rough environments, canvas dries quickly, but only certain kinds are waterproof or water-resistant.

Cotton

Cotton is a natural fiber, which appeals to an eco-friendly demographic. Cotton is not as sturdy as synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, but it is known for being soft and breathable. It is one of the most ancient fibers used for textiles and makes an excellent choice for items like t-shirts and bags.

Non-Woven / Polypropylene

The term “non-woven” refers to a form of plastic (polypropylene) that is not woven like fabric but gives the appearance of fabric material. It’s one large sheet of plastic measured in weight, or grams per square meter (GSM). Higher GSM will mean higher density, which in turn means a more durable material. For example, a tote that measures 100 GSM is stronger than one that measures 80 GSM. Non-woven bags are used as reusable grocery bags because of their durability, affordability, and easy cleaning. Many polypropylene bags are also eco-friendly.

Leather

Leather is one of the more sophisticated-looking materials for a promotional bag. It appeals to professionals who want a sophisticated look. More expensive than other materials, leather sends the message that your company is classy and chic. It’s also very durable and will hold up well throughout the years. Made from animal hide and skin, it may not be the best choice for certain audiences. Consider your target demographic carefully when deciding to buy leather. If you choose leather bags as gifts or giveaways, you might also want to include leather protectors and cleaners with your logo on them as well.

Choosing the Right Imprint Style

The type of imprint style or method will depend on the material you choose. Here are a few options for printing.

Screen Printing

Screen printing is a common type of imprint method that works best on cotton and canvas promotional bags. The screen-printing process transfers an image to the printed surface with ink that passes through a silk-screen. Screens are made for each color, and they are applied separately.

Embroidery

Embroidery is best for nylon promotional bags because the image is stitched into the fabric through high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machines. First the artwork is “digitized,” and then it is sewn in using a specific type of stitch, color, and design. Embroidery could be used on cotton bags if they were thick enough, but non-woven materials cannot be embroidered.

Heat Transfer

An increasingly popular imprint style is the heat transfer method. It works on virtually any material with full color. Heat transfer involves a digitally printed sheet that applied to the bag. Your imprint image is first reverse-screened onto a paper-like substrate and applied to the bag’s surface with heat and pressure. This method is ideal for bold, colorful logos that have crisp lines.

Debossing

If you choose a leather promotional bag, debossing is the best imprint method. Debossing leaves an impression of your artwork on the bag’s surface, which you can see and feel. It does not involve any color, instead leaving a permanent tone-on-tone imprint.

Back to glossary How to Shop for Apparel

Did you know that apparel is the most popular category of promotional products? When you put your logo apparel, it’s on display for the world to see. The level of exposure your brand will gain is virtually unmatched. It gives you the ability to turn your recipients into walking advertisements for your brand.

What material should I choose?

Fleece appeals to all demographics but is especially useful in cooler climates. A lot of people like fleece because it’s soft and comfortable.

Eco-friendly apparel is incredible for the environmentally-conscious. There are several options here in all different types of eco-friendly apparel available. Most eco-friendly apparel is made from recycled cotton, organic cotton, or bamboo.

There are also a variety of performance fabrics available. If your client requests high-performance apparel, there are several options. You can choose from various wicking fabrics as well as antipill or antimicrobial materials. You may also find items with additives like Teflon to repel stains or a special finish that makes the item water-resistant.

What Imprint Style Should I Choose?

Most logo apparel is priced “blank,” meaning without the imprint. The imprint design will determine the final cost. The most popular imprint styles are screen printing (also known as silk-screening) and embroidery.

For each apparel item, there is a set-up and a run charge. The set-up charge for embroidery will always include an extra charge for digitizing. The run charge is determined by stitch count, not the number of colors. Stitch count depends on the size and detail of the logo and will usually include about 5,000-10,000 stitches. So if your logo needs to be very large or has a lot of detail, embroidery may not be the way to go; however, if your logo is simple with many colors, it could be the better choice.

The Screen printing method is commonly used for one to eight colors, but the set-up charge will increase as you add additional colors. If you have a large logo with few colors, screen printing will probably be your most cost-effective option.

What Size Should I Buy?

When you’re buying apparel for your customers and potential customers, buy a range of sizes because you have no way of knowing everyone’s exact size. The range will also depend on the type of clothing you choose.

Branding Ideas

Because there are so many options, apparel selection can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Corporate apparel is ideal if your goal is to create a harmonious look and feel among your staff while at business meetings or events like trade shows.

Logoed apparel is often used for uniforms for sports teams and schools as well. While sports teams often need activewear for their uniforms, don’t overlook warm-up sweats. Put your team’s mascot on sweat pants and sweatshirts so that your sports team is always in uniform when away at a game. School uniforms should follow a more professional look similar to corporate apparel.

Back to glossary Office Supplies Why Buy Office Supplies with Your Logo?

From paper products to desktop accessories, corporate offices, home offices, and even the average household can benefit from office supplies; everyone has a need. You can even have a care package of pens and notepads in the conference room waiting for clients to use throughout their business meeting.

If your company has multiple branches, promotional office supplies offer a uniting element to each location. It brings a sense of harmony to all of your locations, connecting them, and reminding everyone that no matter which location they are at, your company’s mission and vision remain the same.

Business-to-business (B2B) companies can also send promotional office supplies to their customers’ corporate offices. Because every office needs things like sticky notes, staplers, etc., your gifts will be well-received and serve as a constant reminder of your company’s generosity.

Home Office Giveaways

For a target audience that spends a good chunk of time in a home office, these giveaways are ideal. Lawyers, teachers, accountants, and journalists are just a few examples of professionals who often bring work home as well as writers, freelancers, and anyone who works from home regularly.

Take this opportunity to build brand loyalty by helping your customers and clients complete their home offices. Hand these items out at trade shows or to show customer appreciation. You can even mail them or distribute them as a holiday or thank you gift.

Everyday Items

Promotional office supplies are not just for offices. We all leave little notes reminding ourselves or loved ones not to forget to take lunch or to pick up an item from the store. Stick them on the door or the fridge, or anywhere they’re sure to be seen, and you have yourself a surefire reminder. Non-adhesive pads and cubes are also helpful for jotting down notes, taking phone messages for other household members, and even writing out grocery lists.

More Promotional Office Supplies Ideas

• Calculators
• Desk Caddies
• Labels
• Letter Openers
• Liquid Paper
• Mouse Pads
• Notebooks
• Paperweights
• Pens, Pencils & Highlighters
• Staplers
• Sticky Notes &Sticky Note Holders
• Tape & Tape Dispensers

Brand Big: Buying Pens with Your Logo

Pens are key branding tools that are traditionally used as office giveaways and at trade shows. Because they are so useful and cost-effective, pens are top-rated promotional products. According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), writing instruments such as pens, pencils, highlighters, and markers are the most commonly owned promotional products. They are so popular that 54% of respondents reported having had them. While just about anyone could use a free pen, here are a few factors to consider when shopping for this type of giveaway:

Color

Think about your audience when deciding on the color of both the ink and the pen itself. Certain industries prefer black ink, while others might prefer blue. You might also want to use red ink for teachers, writers, or proofreaders who may need to use the pens to make corrections, edits, or notes that will stand out. The color of the outside of the pen is also important. You can choose the colors of your brand or choose based on the connotation of the color. For example, green often promotes an eco-friendly image.

Ink

Ink type is often a personal preference, so go with whatever type will suit your pen’s overall message. For example, fountain pens are fancier than ballpoint pens, so if you are trying to appeal to a sophisticated audience, choose fountain over ballpoint. Also, fountain pens are refillable, so your promotion will last a lot longer than traditional pens. On the other hand, ballpoint pens are the least expensive to produce, which means they can help keep costs down and appeal to a wider demographic. Gel and rollerball pens are extremely popular among all age groups as well.

Style

Promotional pens come in all different closing styles. Retractable (or click) pens are often popular because there is no cap, and they can be clicked open and closed quickly. Twist pens also don’t have a top, and are less likely to open on their own.

It all depends on how your audience will be using your promotional pens. Some people might appreciate the quick and easy style of a click pen while others might want the security of a capped or twist pen so that it is less likely to damage the inside of a pocket or purse.

Material

The material of your pen will play a critical role in determining the cost. Plastic is the least expensive, followed by metal and wood. Plastic pens are ideal for everyday use, while metal and wood pens may be seen as a novelty. If your target audience is environmentally aware, you may want to opt for a pen made from recycled composites or other eco-friendly materials.

Imprint

Imprint styles vary by material. The most common options are as follows:

Screen Printing / Silk-Screening – This method involves transferring an image to the printed surface with ink that passes through a stenciled silk-screen. Screens are created for each color and are applied separately. Screen printing (also known as silk-screening) works best on plastic or metal pens.

Laser Engraving – A controlled, intense beam of light is used in the laser engraving process to leave a permanent mark for your logo or message. Laser engraving is best to use on either metal or wood pens.

Pad Printing – Pad printing covers a recessed surface of your design with ink and then presses a pad against the recesses directly onto the product. This method is commonly used on plastic promotional pens.

Back to glossary Awards & Recognition Why Give Corporate Awards & Employee Recognition Gifts?

Formal recognition of a job well done helps to reinforce the actions and behaviors you most want to see people repeat. Moreover, employees whose efforts are recognized in some way are more likely to remain happy, content, and, most importantly, motivated. People like to feel appreciated, and corporate awards and employee recognition gifts are a perfect way to show gratitude for others’ hard work.

Need further evidence that corporate awards are good promotional tools? According to the Advertising Specialty Institute’s 2010 Impressions Study, individuals receiving recognition awards display them about two-thirds of the time, and many keep them because they are enjoyable to own. Most importantly, 65% of those receiving a corporate award had an improved perception of the company that gave them the award.

Examples of Corporate Awards & Gifts Crystal Corporate Awards

Perhaps we’re most familiar with recognition awards made from optical crystal, one of the finest crystals available. Optical crystal is clarified to a 100% optically-clear state with no lead content, resulting in a clear glass that shines brightly under any light source. It’s important to note that each piece will slightly vary due to the hand-cut craftsmanship of optical crystal. Exact size, weight, and shape cannot be guaranteed. All crystal products must be handled carefully to prevent surface scratches. Crystal products are also available with metallic or aluminum accents.

Aluminum Employee Awards & Metal Recognition Gifts

Crystal products are also available with metallic or aluminum accents.

There are several gifts made of wood, bamboo, and metal. A Bamboo award is ideal to at an environmentally-minded company banquet. And, wood plaques are excellent for employee-of-the-month recognition ceremonies or an outstanding sales year.

How to Buy Corporate Awards & Gifts

Keep in mind:

• Item Color: What color do you want your award to be?
• Eco-Friendliness: Are you tying this recognition gift to an eco-conscious program at your office?
• Quantity: How many awards do you need?
• Imprint Method: How will the awards be decorated?
• Production Time: How soon do you need the awards?
• Shape: In what shape do you want your awards?

Item Color

A lot of corporate awards are made from crystal, so most of them are clear. That said, there are corporate awards in other colors; please ask your representative for help.

Quantity

Awards are one of the few promotional items that you can order one at a time. That said, while most of our corporate awards have a small minimum order, a few require a considerable amount. Make sure to double-check the item description when ordering to see how many you’ll need to order.

Imprint Method

Most corporate awards imprint via laser etching. Yet some awards use other techniques, be sure to consult the item description to determine how your item will be decorated.

Another consideration to make when buying employee recognition gifts is what shape you wish to use for the award.

• Obelisk: Perfect for any monumental achievement.
• Star: Ideal for those salespeople who have reached new heights.
• Globe: Great for international-facing employees.
• Block: Superb for showing appreciation to rock-solid performers.

The key to ensuring a quick turnaround for your order is having your artwork in vector format.

Back to glossary Awareness Events

Organizing or participating in an awareness event is a great way to get involved with your community, get behind an important cause, and show the world that your company or organization cares.

Whether you’re organizing a cancer walk or planning a toy drive, you’ll need help getting the word out there. One way to help increase awareness is to distribute awareness items printed with your company’s name and logo.

Which awareness product is right for you?

Ideally, you want to find a giveaway that speaks for itself. Remember to choose a product that will make sense for your campaign, and one that has sufficient space for imprinting your name and logo. Recipients will hold onto these handouts for quite some time, ensuring that your message will not get lost. It’s essential to customize your awareness item’s color and style to match that of your company or organization. Your giveaway represents you and your business, so its look should be consistent with your brand identity.

Here are some ideas for popular causes:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)

• Breast cancer awareness bracelets
• Pink ribbon stress balls
• Pink and white beach balls
• Pink ribbon magnets
• Pink water bottles (great for breast cancer walks)
• Any pink promotional item can be personalized for your event

Earth Day (April 22)

• Seed packets
• Recycled water bottles
• Garden sets
• Recycled tote bags
• Biodegradable drinkware
• Flower pots

Red Ribbon Week (October)

• Red awareness ribbon key chain
• Lollipops
• “Drug Free is the Way for Me” book
• Ribbon magnet
• Red ribbon reflector lights

Back to glossary Promote Healthy Living

Whether you’re in the healthcare industry, raising awareness about a specific health-related event, or just looking out for your target audience’s best interests, the goal is the same: promoting healthy living. The best way to get your message across is with items that your patients or customers can see, hold, and remind them day in and day out about what you have to say.

Who Could Use Promotional Healthcare Items?

Promoting healthy living is not exclusive to the healthcare industry. While those in the industry may use these handouts as the most relevant items for branding, they also appeal across a wide variety of audiences. Buying healthcare items with your logo is great for branding:

• Camps
• Clinics
• Family & Specialty Doctors’ Offices or Health Groups
• Health Awareness Organizations
• Hospitals
• Medical Supply Companies
• Nursing Homes
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Private Practices
• Psychiatric Centers
• Rehabilitation Facilities
• Schools
• …and more

How Could My Organization Promote Healthy Living?

At the Office: If you are promoting a doctor’s office, private practice, or health group that deals directly with patients, you can hand your products out at patient visits. Educational materials like health guide wheels are helpful to keep at the front of the office for patients to read through as they wait and take home with them after the appointment. Items to help encourage a healthy lifestyle will also come in handy. Choose notebooks to help them track eating and exercise habits or reusable water bottles to remind them to stay hydrated even on the go.

Out and About: Health awareness events such as breast cancer walks are an excellent opportunity to get your brand out there and promote healthy living. For outdoor events, items like sunscreen and bandages can come in handy the day of and long after. Other events might be better suited for personal health giveaways like antibacterial items as well as bath and body products.

Visiting Hours: Medical facilities such as hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, psychiatric centers, etc. can hand out promotional healthcare items not only to patients but also to their visitors. Visiting friends and families will appreciate the gift and your sentiment. Choose items that can help lift their spirits like medical stress balls. You can also send patients home with care packages, including branded pillboxes, first aid kits, and educational materials.

With the Family: Schools and camps that cater to young children can promote themselves by handing out items to parents or sending kids home with health and safety kits. Products like personal thermometers, medicine spoons, bandages, and first aid kits are items that any family can appreciate. Antibacterial items and sunscreen may also come in handy.

What Items Should I Choose?

Look for items that fit your target audience’s needs. Take age into consideration, as well as the intended use. When it comes to promoting healthy living, you can be vague or very targeted in your approach to choosing giveaways. Just remember the most important factor in selecting any promotional product is usefulness.

Back to glossary Promoting Wellness Where and Who?

Promoting wellness is something that can be done anywhere. Businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities are the perfect places to start. If you want to get your company or organization name out there, you could even sponsor a wellness program or host your own. Everyone from employees and staff to students to patients and their families can benefit from your wellness promotions.

Why?

Wellness programs and events in the workplace lead to fewer sick days, more productivity, and a reduction in long-term healthcare costs. So why not give your staff the tools they need to get and stay well?

When you promote wellness at work, you not only help participants improve their health but help also boost morale and employee loyalty. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle is a great way to bring people together and even do wonders for your brand’s image.

How?

There are tons of ways you can promote wellness in the workplace. Incentive your staff by rewarding participation in wellness activities. Some ideas include giving staff extra time to go for a walk during lunch or a points program for using their 15-minute breaks to do the stairs instead of smoking, etc. You can organize a group fitness class at your place of business after work hours, making exercise convenient for participants, or promote preventative care by bringing flu vaccination options to the workplace.

Create Programs to educate your staff. Provide educational materials and hold group meetings to help raise their awareness of common health issues. You can target your wellness programs to make them more manageable. Focus on specific aspects of wellness. Fitness and heart health, diet and nutrition, mental health and stress management, and even smoking cessation are just a few program ideas to get you started. Recruit speakers that can lead sessions and keep employees well-informed.

Participate in Events that have to do with health and wellness. For example, organize a team to participate in a breast cancer awareness walk or a relay for life event. By incorporating promotional products, your participation in the event will not only spread the word about wellness to your staff but also others. Choose giveaways that are relevant to the cause for the most impact.

Encourage Competition between employees. Competition is a great way to get people involved. Have strict rules or keep it on the honor system. Either way, a little friendly competition is a fabulous motivator. You could create teams and give each member a pedometer to clock how many miles they walk collectively or provide prizes for whoever can abstain from smoking the longest or lose the most weight in a given time. Find out what would be most beneficial to your employees and turn it into a competition.

What?

Not sure what to use to encourage participation among your staff? There are many ways you can do it. Giveaways that they can use long after your wellness initiative are effective at helping recipients remember the healthy habits they learned. For example, antibacterial items can be used daily and will help remind them of your program or event. Other products like stress relievers, pedometers, and active-wear are also excellent choices.

Beyond wellness giveaways, you can offer monetary and non-monetary rewards for participants to promote wellness in the workplace. For example, if an employee is successful in quitting smoking, you could provide an extra day of paid time off for the year. What you use to promote wellness in your workplace is entirely up to you, but remember that doing so not only benefits your employees and increases their productivity but also ultimately helps your bottom line.