It’s no secret that typing and texting are popular. But handwriting is still a big part of our daily routine; people still write on Post-its, sign their names and fill out forms every day. No matter what technology becomes mainstream, people will always want, need and use pens.

And imprinted pens? They’re as popular as ever. Open up your desk drawer and count how many you have personally; chances are, you have at least two or three. And, it’s highly likely that you could name the businesses on your personalized pens without even looking. That means that custom pens make a big impact on people, and it’s the reason why you need to distribute promotional pens to your customers, prospects, event attendees and employees.   

There’s even better news here: Now, there are more choices for promotional pens than ever before. No longer are you relegated to one bland style; instead, you have tons of pen varieties and designs at your disposal. Here are a few of the most popular types of imprinted pens:

Ballpoint pens - These are the time-tested standard bearer in pens – personalized pens and otherwise! Ballpoint pens can be bought affordably in bulk and distributed anywhere as an unforgettable calling card.

Gel pens - People love brightly colored gel pens; the smooth flow of the ink is practically addictive. That alone is a great reason to make gel pens your go-to marketing tool the next time to plan to order custom pens for your business.

Rollerball pens – Speaking of free-flowing ink, rollerball pens have that as well. People love rollerball pens because they can make nearly any handwriting look like neat, precise penmanship. If you aren’t sure which kind of promotional pens people will use, trust us: You can’t go wrong with rollerball pens.

Magnetic pens - These are super fun. Everyone loves a little gadget for the desk, and a magnetic pen can be that gadget. These pens fit snugly into a magnetic stand that’s  impossible to resist playing with throughout the day. What better way to keep your business on the minds of clients?

Imprinted pens have always been, and will always be a great marketing tool. Simple, affordable and compact, personalized pens are so handy that the people you give them to will use them forever – and think of you when they do. You can’t go wrong with custom pens!

Drinkware is a popular item to personalize and distribute for promotional purposes. Why? Because people consume drinks. A lot. In fact, people tend to drink from the same cup for days, weeks or months at a time. They rinse the cup out at work every day, then put it back on the shelf and re-use it for as long as they can. As a result, the same people can see your brand name on the cups they use every day for years – that is, if they are using your imprinted mugs and tumblers.

For that reason, personalized mugs and tumblers are one of the best promotional product investments you can make. While we don’t have the numbers on ROI, there’s a good chance they are substantial – and if more mugs were distributed, the numbers would be even greater.  

Yes, there are plenty of great promotional products out there (that’s why we sell them, too!). But no matter what is imprinted on the side, promotional mugs and tumblers are far more likely to become a staple in someone’s routine than a t-shirt (not that there’s anything wrong with promotional t-shirts!). A great personalized t-shirt is likely to be worn, but it will only be worn sporadically.

On the flip side, someone that uses your custom mugs and tumblers for his work beverage is going to see the name of your brand every time he reaches for a drink, all day long – again, for years. That’s really why promotional mugs and tumblers are among the most common sense (dare we say “no brainer,” even) promotional products you can distribute. National brands have been known to issue imprinted mugs and tumblers to employees and loyal customers, because they understand this.

Of course, you don’t want to distribute just any personalized mugs and tumblers to your audience. You want mugs and tumblers that are made from high quality materials that won’t crack the moment they fall on the floor. That means choosing a design with, for example, fusion acrylic on top and stainless steel on the bottom; these are the highest quality materials for hot beverage mugs. For cold beverage tumblers, there is the sleek design of an acrylic mug with test tube liner. Durable materials like these will ensure that the item lasts for years.

When using their custom mugs and tumblers, the people in your audience will see the brand name imprinted on the side every day for years to come. Do you want it to be the name of your brand on their imprinted mugs and tumblers – or someone else’s? Think about it.

Our clients know: People will always have uses for tote bags. Just when they think there are no more uses for the imprinted tote bags they’ve accumulated over the years, people who have them come up with fun functions for the custom tote bags in their closets. Here are a few of the most common:

As a Shopping Bag

Reusable shopping bags are quickly replacing traditional store bags. Eventually, our teenage baggers may stop asking if we want “paper or plastic” – and then what will we do? We’ll use our personalized tote bags, that’s what. Imprinted tote bags from events are eco-friendly alternatives to the big plastic ball of bags in the laundry room cupboard (does anyone really take them back to the store for recycling?). Shoppers are always grateful when they find promotional tote bags stashed in the car – and they’ll be glad to say goodbye to the big plastic ball.

As a Gym Bag

People who already budget for a gym membership in a recession need to cut costs somewhere, and many will start with the $100 gym bag. These days, no one thinks it’s cool to brag about how much you spent – but the one who gets everything for free is the one we admire. Chances are, many of your event attendees are ready for some new imprinted tote bags that can be converted to gym bags they can use.

As a Craft Bag

Custom tote bags for the gym are expensive, but their cost is dwarfed by the cost of the craft bag. Crafty types know that a tricked-out scrapbooking organizer or sewing caddy could run $100 or more. And usually, it doesn’t even have enough space to hold all the junk that’s needed. What doesn’t fit can go into personalized tote bags. Crafters love organizing them by making one for fabric, one for tools, one for paper…you get the picture. Hobbies are expensive enough, and people need more money for the hobby itself – not the bag the supplies go in. 

As a Supermom Stash Bag

From a child’s perspective, the making of a supermom is not in her ability to juggle work and family, but in her ability to bring along every conceivable item the child may want when the family goes somewhere. If a mom has toys, snacks and Band-Aids to lug around but her kids are too old for a diaper bag, she can haul that stuff in one of her most stylish promotional tote bags. If she has lots of imprinted tote bags at home, she can use them to make each child their own bag o’ junk. This is how supermoms are made.     

There are oh-so-many ways that those who attend your event can use their promotional tote bags. With a little creativity, they can turn the item you gave them into a tool that makes life simpler for years to come – and with your organization’s name printed on the bag, they will think of you every time they do it.