I, for one am not a big fan of football and this weekend coming up is just a regular weekend as far as I'm concerned. I certainly am aware of all the festivities and parties coming up and ofcourse I will not decline an invite to celebrate anything with my friends (yes, even if it is football). And even though my freinds are just having a small gathering, alot of people like to go all out for these superbowl games with promotional items such as logo beer glasses, football squeezies, and custom can coolers. Can't wait to see the new commercials!

This past Thursday January 26th, Ken, Laura, Samantha and myself attended the SAAGNY winter showcase 2012.  The plethora of trade show items were amazing.  Any promotional product you could think of was there.  Any item you may want imprinted they had on display.  It really makes you think about how many of these items you come in contact with every single day.  We all had a great time walking the show and are looking forward to selling many of these item to our customers!

With a steady rise in e-commerce, there's almost always a sale. Whether it's during the holiday season or shortly after, June or September, there's always an opportunity for savings if you search for it.

Motivators is introducing free shipping for hundreds of Leed's items on the website. Motivators already has low prices and has the occasional promotional code for extra savings but this sale is a great way to pick up any last-minute gifts and is our way of thanking you for a successful year. So whether you want a custom imprinted watch or a promotional mouse pad, Leed's has the finest around.

Everywhere you go, you see promotional products in some form. I believe it is the most effective marketing tool out there. Rather than traditional commericals and flyers, promotional products have the power to capture customers. For instance, I had to ordered some parts for my car. When I recieved the package there was a customized can cooler along side the parts. I thought it was a genius idea and who doesn't like getting free things? The Infiniti logo and website was very clear on both sides of the can cooler. It gives me something to remember them by. So the next time you are looking for some promotional products, come check out our huge selection of custom water bottles, and promotional gifts.

Every year, I go to a Green Bay Packer game with my husband.  We meet up with great friends to tailgate, and are immediately surrounded by promotional products made in the USA.  There is not a place you can look without seeing logoed gifts along with some pretty unique characters.  There are toddlers with tatoos, Grandma's with sparkly wigs, Dads in a cheese hats, Mom's in gold feather boas, and everyone with a smile.  The tailgating is taken to an new level and the friendly people of Wisconsin are always happy to share their bounty! So, although I am living in the land of the Giants and the Jets, Go PACKERS!!

Living with a border collie is not always the easiest, but it is always interesting. Brodie, my three-year-old border collie mix, has all kinds of issues from anxiety to fear of strangers to stubbornness, which I'm pretty sure he gets from me (and yes, I realize that statement sounds crazy), but one of my favorite things about him is his ability and eagerness to learn new things. He knew the word and hand signal for sit at just nine weeks old, and I had him cleaning up his toys by five months.

The latest in Brodie's bag of tricks is getting beverages out of the fridge. It's been a work-in-progress, and while most things he picks up in just a few tries, this he's been having some trouble with this. I think it's the feel of the can or bottle in his mouth and the idea of taking it from the fridge that he's struggling with. My plan to get him to overcome this issue starts with using custom can coolers so that he gets a sense of consistency with what he can and can't take as well as the feel of it on his teeth.

So for anyone interested, here is how I've been teaching my dog to get a beverage for me...

Step 1: Open the Refrigerator

Tie a rope to the refrigerator handle. I first tried this with a cloth napkin, but it didn't take. The object should really be something that your dog associates with tug-of-war. For Brodie, it was a rope because we only play tug-of-war with rope toys.

Get him interested in the rope (or whatever is tied to the handle) by waving it around and letting him know it's ok to pull. Have treats at the ready without letting him see them (otherwise he'll be more interest in the treats than the toy). Don't say anything yet, just get him tugging on the rope. You can even tug back like it's a game. Once he pulls hard enough to open the fridge, treat and praise. Then try doing it again with some kind of hand signal. I like to sweep my right arm to from left to right. When he does it a few times with the hand signal, then add the word "open" or "open the fridge."

Step 2: Taking the Beverage

You can use a bottle of water or a can of soda (or whatever you choose). I don't recommend using glass bottles to start with because they are heavier and may be awkward for your dog to hold in his mouth. For this you're going to have to get to know your dog and what works for him. Some dogs will jump at the chance to grab something out of the forbidden fridge; others may be baffled by your request. Either way, you must first teach your dog the "get it" command, otherwise he won't understand what you're asking of him. Once he already knows "get it," you can tell him to "get" something. "Get your toy." "Get the stick." "Get your leash." It all depends on how far you want to go with this. For this trick, however, you just want to tell him to get whatever beverage you are training him to get.

If you're dog is anything like Brodie and has trouble grasping the concept of taking something out of the fridge, you're going to have to take small steps. For my over-analytical pup, I have to be careful to be very consistent. Border collies can often be too smart for their own good. For example, Brodie knows hand signals, but if I tilt my hand just a little from the way I normally give the signal he thinks it's an entirely new command... Too freaking smart. Anyway, that is why I suggest using custom can coolers over the water bottle or can. To start though, I used a cylinder-shaped toy and put the promotional can holder over it. I had him take it from my hands at first, using the "take it" command. Then I had him pick it up off the floor with "get it." Then I started incorporating "get the can." Once he got the idea, I then put it inside the fridge on the bottom shelf (and moved everything else out of the way so he could easily grab it. I pointed and said, "get the can." Success!!

The next step is to switch the toy for an actual can. At this point though, it shouldn't matter what is inside the custom can cooler because your dog will be used to its feel. The only thing you might need to worry about is the difference in weight. Brodie had a bit of a problem with that at first. He'd pick it up and then immediately drop it. You might have to work on it for a little while to get your dog to take it, hold it in his mouth and carry it over to you. That's what we're up to right now. Brodie wants to play with his prize once he releases it from its frigid prison. I also haven't gotten him to learn distance so I can ask him to get the can from across the room. Problematic.

Step 3: Close the Refrigerator

Oddly enough, we kind of skipped step two at first and went right to step three: closing the fridge. I don't recommend this - it will just confuse your dog. They need a process and an order that is consistent. After your dog learns to retrieve the beverage and bring it over to you, teach him this final step. If you forget about this step, it defeats the purpose because you'll have to get up to close the fridge anyway. It's helpful if your fridge door closes on its own, but your dog may need to give it a nudge.

I've seen some videos in which the dog uses him paws to close the door. I prefer Brodie use his mouth. I don't want all my magnets and papers falling off, so I taught him to pull the rope in the direction that closes the door using the same concept as opening the door from step one. I find it to be effective, but you'll have to find what works for you and your dog.

Always remember to reward your dog for doing what you ask. For each step, small bites of treats and lots of praise should follow immediately after he completes his task. Also work in short sessions so your dog doesn't get frustrated. Stop the lesson right before he loses interest - about five to 10 minutes depending on your dog's attention span and age. End on a positive note, meaning even if your dog isn't getting it, ask him to do something you know he does get so that he doesn't get discouraged next time around. And don't forget the custom can coolers to tie the whole thing together and give your dog the consistency he needs to learn the trick!