I have been meaning to blog about this case study for a while now, but my blogging juices have been flowing for the past couple of weeks and unfortunately, it has been continuously pushed aside.

With that being said, I had a customer come to me a while back, looking for a creative giveaway to promote his Sundance nominated documentary. The film is called Shut up Little Man!, and of course, I assured him he was in the right hands and we began to brainstorm.

The self-proclaimed "audio misadventure," the Shut Up Little Man recordings "feature the real-life comical rants, hateful harangues, drunken soliloquies, and audible fistfights of Raymond and Peter – two booze-swilling homicidal roommates in a low-rent district of San Francisco". So, keeping the roots of the film in mind, and after going back and forth with samples of everyday promo items, our conversation took a turn for the best!

What about a sound bit? We could use the famous phrase and documentary title "Shut up Little Man!" that makes the story of two alcoholic roommates hilariously funny! And so we did. We created a keychain with a pre-recorded sound bit of every viewer's favorite phrase. Just click the button on the bottom left hand corner, and relive the belly laugher like it was the first time!

Some play with fire, we play with sound!

Take a look at the promotional key chain:

Check out the movie trailer and let me know what you think!

With "Occupy Wall Street" finishing out its second week, I've been thinking long and hard about the money (and sometimes lack thereof) that I have. There are many expenses that I have and many opportunities to handle the left over cash. Do I save it? Do I invest it? Do I live lavishly? Can I do all three?

If I'm asking these questions at the young age of 23, I can only imagine how business owners and families are handling everything? Yes, there's more money to go around but there's also more expenses, more dependence and even more risk.

We understand at Motivators. Of course you want to give out fancy, ritzy promotional umbrellas to everyone who walks by or even gawks at your tradeshow tent. The true reality is that not every company can do something like that. Luckily, Motivators has an entire section of custom imprinted promotional products that are < $1. All of these items are less than $1 at every quantity and have everything from promotional keychains to promotional stress relievers. I update these items on a weekly basis so you're guaranteed to find a handful of things you'll like every week. 
If your budget is extremely tight, we even have a page of promotional products that has items at less than $0.39! And these aren't items that you'd find at the bottom of the barrel. Custom imprinted snacks and promotional pens are just some of the items you'll find on there.

Save green while making green with Motivators. 

As I had written on the Motivators' Awareness Month blog, August was National Adventure Month. I unfortunately discovered this on August 30. But I'm not ready to say goodbye to August just yet.

In honor of National Adventure Month, I will be traveling with a handful of friends to see Incubus play in four different cities over the course of two weekends. 

Starting tomorrow, I will be seeing Incubus at the Nikon/Jones Beach Theater on Long Island followed by a trip to Holmdel, NJ to see the band perform at PNC Bank Arts Center. The following weekend is still being tinkered out (tickets have not been purchased yet) but we're either heading up to Massachusetts to see the band on Friday and then back down to Camden, NJ for Saturday or just doing the Camden show followed by a show in Columbia, MD. In total, the trips can take upward to 24 hours to complete - making it quite the adventure. But seeing as Incubus is my friends' favorite band and the band that played at the first concert I attended back in 2004, the driving will be well worth it. Young The Giant, who performed the MTV VMAs last weekend, will be opening on all of the dates of the tour. 

And of course, my friends and I are hoping to collect memorabilia to commemorate each trip. Incubus' merchandise will probably include products like promotional t-shirts, promotional tote bags and promotional keychains. And by picking up something different each night, we're sure to have a great visual reminder of how great each night. I hope they have custom imprinted t-shirts with tour dates on them or promotional products unique to each date of the tour!

              
While I feel secure in your presence, it is in my nature to envy. Do you let others grasp your promotional keychains in their hands? Is there a baby plantable ornament growing in some other girls lawn? Oh, you see, it is this that I fear.

With regret, promotional products, today I must leave. Like you, I am needed other places. But please do not stray, for I will return. And on that day, that heaven's heaven of days, we will unite in the glory of all the galaxies.

I am so grateful for the custom fleece jacket you last gave me. It will keep me warm while I am in Maine. In return, I hope this letter has warmed your heart.

You really will never know the extent of my love, for devotion like this cannot be explained, it is inconceivable. But know, just like your promotional flashlights light my way in the darkness, I too will be that glimmer in the night for you.

                                                                                Yours forever and ever,
                                                                                                              Jenn

P.S. I will return on Monday my Motivators. Enjoy the rest of your week.  :)

I am a huge fan of multi-function items. Give me a custom bottle opener keychain and I'm happy. Give me some promotional multi-function pocket knives and I'll be entertained for months. Of course if something isn't made to be "multi-function," chances are I'll find an alternative use for it. Like the amazing hands free driving promotional cell phone holder I blogged about. Or that bobby pin I used to break into your room last night - woops, just kidding.
                                      
It's pretty easy to win me over with any multi-function items because I truly do find them fascinating. That's why I may just have fallen in love today. As I stood outside Joanns door I glanced down the hallway and there he was -  standing tall and looking rugged like a real man should. His beard was dark and his eyes were- well I didn’t actually see his eyes because I was immediately drawn to his outstretched arm.

Held tightly in his grip was a classy wooden cane. "What is he doing with his cane up in the air?" I thought to myself while spying with amusement. As I looked more closely I realized he was poking at the emergency lights. "He must be a safety surveyor or a repair man!" I thought as my eyes widen and I smiled.
                                 
That's when he caught me staring at him creepily. (Or did he?) With the cane still pressed up against the emergency lights, he looked at me dumbfounded and I tried saving myself by quickly turning away and minding my own business. I'm not sure if it worked, but when I turned back around, he was walking away with a heavy left step and that same wooden can in his right hand.

That, my dear blog readers, is a man that knows the importance of a multi-purpose item.

Custom keychains will help personalize your set of keys, but when you're in a dark and desolate parking lot at night, that keychain does nothing for you. However if you were to invest in multi function promotional key lights, you'd be out of harms way in no time.From my brief encounter with this man I would assume he uses his cane daily. The fact that he's turned his trust cane into a tool essential for his job is amazing. With an injured leg, he wouldn't want to risk climbing a ladder up to the emergency light. But with his can lifted above his head, the test button was within reach. I’m sure he’s realized many of the perks of having a cane; like turning the television off from the couch and poking annoying people as they walk by.
                                             
I encourage you all to find the multi-purposes in all items and to promote multi-function promotional products  to all of your friends. Who knows, they may even save your life. Do you have any super cool multi-function items? Please do tell. Oh, and if you know who that man was please share. It’s possible he was some ones husband just poking away at our safety lights.

Wave the banners and raise the flags, for today is a glorious day! All throughout Suffolk County people are coming together for a one-of-a-kind garage sale.

Have you been looking for a new set of pearl earrings? Interested in acquiring the Playstation 360? Well, join the other enthusiasts at the Smithtown fourth precinct station until 5 p.m. tonight or perhaps schedule in this celebration for Friday evening. Jewelry and electronics will be in high demand and availability at this year’s event, so get ready for some great finds!

Now wait a moment, perhaps I didn't specify- this event is not open to the public. It's being held exclusively for the mugged, the robbed and the burglarized. If you're lucky enough to fall under any of the categories (and live in Suffolk County) then come, come! I’ll provide the live entertainment!
                                   
Dazzling promotional handcuff keychains will be hanging everywhere, custom police car stress balls will be bouncing around and you might just find your great grandmother’s treasured locket – right next to your neighbor’s sweet flat screen.

After arresting a few down-and-out criminals, jewelry, electronics and more have been retrieved and the Suffolk County police department hopes to bring the belongings back to their rightful owners. Detectives got down and dirty to figure out that these possessions were stolen from homes in Lake Ronkonkoma, Lake Grove, Farmingville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Commack, Kings Park, Hauppauge and Dix Hills between May and August. So, if you're residence was burglarized, the police invite you to make an appointment today or Friday to view the property and make your claims.

As residents of Suffolk County come out to claim their stolen goods, it's the perfect time to promote a community watch program. Any of our promotional products will do a great job spreading the word that crime rates will go down if the community sticks together, watches out for each other, and reports any suspicious activities.
                                    
See something out of the ordinary? Give the cops a call.
Not so sure if that hairy man should be on your neighbor's roof? Create a special crime hotline and give it a ring. Our national safety month giveaways not only offer imprint space for your crime stoppers number but also provide the essential safety information regarding fires and first aid.

A community safety watch in my neighborhood wouldn’t be beneficial to me because I'd constantly be swarmed by police with breaking-and-entering charges. I've grown very skilled at climbing in windows- but maybe it's about time I get a new house key.

Earlier this summer, I blogged about Japan's latest technology; a computerized face scanner, that approve or disapproved of smiles in order to increase customer satisfaction at major train stations. Now, they've widen the spectrum of computerized gadgets and birthed, Riba - its short for Robot for Interactive Body Assistance. What a babe.  

        
This innovative robot can recognize faces and respond to voice commands. Its current main function is to move patients (weighing up to 134 lbs) from hospital beds to wheel chairs in the comfort of its foam padded arms. Nurses and aids have to move patients, which sometimes proves to be a daunting task. With some patients’ weight more than the nurses themselves, injuries for both are possible. Because Japan has the world's most rapidly growing elderly population, they are preparing for the high demands of elder care that will be needed in the coming years.
                                 
However, they are not yet sending out promotional keychains and custom robot stress relievers imprinted with, "Buy your very own Riba!"  The state run Riken research center continues to make improvements on Riba and is currently working on weight bearing options. Three years ago when Riba's younger brother, Ri-Man was released, he could only carry up to 40 pounds. The center is proud of their improvements and will be distributing Riba to hospitals throughout Japan over the next five years.
From the looks of her, you'd think Riba was the love child of a custom teddy bear stress ball and Wall-e.

"Grab a plate!" one of the many smiley women said while gesturing towards the yard sale food table. Pot-lucks are such a wonderful concept.
        
The tie-dye wearing 70 year-olds scooped there food out of the ceramic bowls with spoons and swayed along with the honky-tonk musicians playing. I grabbed a dish and filled it was some vegan chilli. Anti-war protesters sure are good at vegetarian cooking. As I cradled the bowl in front of me I looked at all of the other plate ware scattered throughout the room. "They should get some promotional kitchen items," I thought. Clearly these hippie, anti-war, vegetarians would opt for eco-friendly promotional kitchen and home accessories. As would I.

A couple hours into the cozy concert I whispered to my brother, "I almost feel like I belong here." He laughed at me, "You thought there were only hippies and pot-lucks in Maine, didn't you?!" I couldn't exactly disagree. If I ever end up meeting with these fun loving people again, I'll definitely suggest getting some custom imprinted apparel for their peace-keeping organization. Strictly tie-dye of course.

After a drum circle featuring some awesome custom maracas (I'm not joking,) I headed to the next odd environment, "The Cup." It wouldn't have been so odd if it was eight years ago and I had black painted nails. However, it was just as odd for all of the people I was surrounded with. It was basically a reunion of local musicians that started out at the cup 10+ years ago- which made for some good tunes and witty jokes. Most of the singer/songwriters brought cool band merchandise with them including traditional custom printed magnetic bumper stickers and an assortment of my favorite promotional bottle opener keychains.

While at the cup, an Adam Lambert wanna-be dropped a fry into my friends hot-chocolate and took it out trying to be discreet. Fail. Also, a guy walked in with a briefcase. I was taught to never trust a man with a custom briefcase. (haha) He was quick to leave, but seriously, what 20 year old needs a briefcase at midnight in Wantagh? Either way, I couldn't have asked for a more eclectic weekend. I even got to hang with my crazy Nanna on Saturday morning. Oh what a treat.
                           

I wrote these sentences three days ago. "Depending on when my next trip is, I may have to grab my promotional keychains and bring my own wheels. I need at least a month to recover from that one [bus trip from New York to Maine]." I wrote liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiies.

Yesterday, I once again found myself being tossed around from one bus to another surrounded by probable escaped convicts and eager R. Kelly fans. (Those are basically interchangeable.) A close friend, Tanya told me about a graduate school fair coming to New York and I was interested in looking into some future learning options. And so we were off on another adventure. Heading towards the city in a car at 4 p.m. didn't sound appealing to Tanya, so we decided to master the New York City Transit System. Getting there was like out of a dream. Except the odd woman with no eyebrows on the subway that told us we talked so loud that she couldn’t' hear herself think. Eeek. We whispered our way off the subway and made our way to the Idealist grad school fair where I knew I'd be running into a ton of promotional giveaways. 
            
I headed to the booths pertaining to any type of creative writing, marketing or public relations. The promotional products of choice for most schools were traditional promotional pens. There were classy executive pens and my personal favorite fun, colorful custom imprinted click pens. After filling out "Information Request" forms with the imprinted pens, the representatives would kindly say, "It's yours!"

Once I had visited all of the communications schools, I wandered to any booth with promotional products. A graduate program for childhood studies had some fun custom stress balls. I grabbed a cool promotional crocodile clip and Tanya banked on some promotional keychains. After we had collected mounds of informative books, promotional pens and a new found excitement for grad school we were ready to head home.

On the way out of the convention center I saw Tanya juggling all of her belongings. "Follow me!" I said. I led the way to the CUNY booth where they had previously offered me some funky promotional tote bags. I've got to say, CUNY lucked out being the only school to bring along custom tote bags. They definitely received the most exposure as recipients from all 5 boroughs, Long Island, and Jersey headed home.

I'll make this millionth edition of, "Jenn and her awful experiences on transportation devices," short. Busy streets. Stinky Subway. Not as stinky 7 train. Korean food everywhere. Wrong bus. Wrong Bus. Wrong Bus. Right bus. Dark alley. Empty parking lot. Destination. So it wasn't as bad as the Grey Hound- and I had the company of a good friend with good jokes. That always makes things better.