I remember summers as a kid – being sent off to a three-week summer camp that was polluted with teenage hormones and an endless amount of water activities. That’s no mind, though. There’s no need to sit and reminisce about days of old and first kisses with braces intact. As an adult, I find summer is about traveling (just not to Mexico… not this year, anyway). The funny thing is, some people are expert travelers who could handle a three-layover international flight with their eyes closed, while others become completely unhinged trying to find long-term parking.

Regardless of which traveler category you fall under, be it “I-could-this-do-this-blindfolded” or “novice,” many products exist that ease the inevitable frustrations of traveling, especially luggage-finding. We’ve all been there: You get off the plane in hopes of being one of the first to arrive at baggage claim, grab your luggage and be on your merry way. After power-walking all the way to that infamous conveyor belt, you stand patiently with both eyes peeled for your belongings. “Oh, there it is! Wait, no. Wrong one. There it is! Oh, no. Wrong again. Oh that’s definitely it.” After the fifth time this happens, things get extremely irritating. Each new piece of black luggage blends into the last one and you realize that, were this a life-or-death situation wherein someone said you have to find your bag now or else, you would be in trouble.

Fortunately, there is a perfect solution. Absorbent, Ink. offers a special luggage tag that will help alleviate this particular airport pain. The Grip-It Luggage Identifier is a brightly colored, helpful accessory that travelers can wrap around the handle of almost any piece of luggage. These luggage identifiers are an ideal promotional product for transportation and travel companies. Travelers of all shapes and sizes will accept these helpful gifts and not only use them to their traveling advantage, but will also be continually reminded of your company’s efforts to accelerate the tiring process of spotting luggage on the belt.

The captain has turned off the “fasten seatbelt” sign. You may continue your voyage … with more ease.

Safe (and easy) travels,

Abby Ink

I know I’ve already written once about chocolate, but here I am again with more chocolate things to say. What do you want from me? I’m a woman!

As I was casually browsing the Internet this morning (as you can tell, I am a very focused worker), I had the random idea to search for what holidays July has to offer other than the obvious ones. Sounds right out of left field, doesn’t it? Well, my thought was that America is a country full of inventiveness, creativity, and under-the-radar holidays so I might as well check it out for this month.

Lo and behold, there sat the words that are every woman’s dream: “July 7 – Chocolate Day.” My eyes welled with happy tears and my heart skipped a beat. What? A day in which we can freely eat as much chocolate as we want and blame it on our keen holiday-observance skills? As if this wasn’t enough for my chocolate-loving heart, I read on only to discover that this is a joint holiday between chocolate and sundaes! What?! Was someone pranking me? I was sure of it. I actually went so far as to march around the office stopping in random cubicles and conducting impromptu interrogations, but to no avail.

So it’s true, people. It’s really true. Now is the time to order those Chocolate Bars with Business Cards, Villa Chocolate Bars, or Eros Chocolate Bars! Absorbent, Ink. offers an endless array of promotional products of the chocolate variety. It’s whatever your heart and your recipients’ hearts desire. Regardless, you can’t go wrong. It’s chocolate for Heaven’s sake!

I am now going to celebrate the holiday with my own personal stockpile of chocolate treats I keep hidden in my desk. Don’t judge.

A chocolatey day to you and yours,

Abby Ink

Last week, I made the absolute mistake of attending my friend’s father’s retirement party. I should have known better considering that, nowadays, most conversations among people beyond the age of 25 hardly ever go beyond the dreaded economy. And that is exactly what happened. I was treated to three unending hours of “economy” talk and how lucky my friend’s dad was to be able to retire.

But that led me to think that I am definitely not the only one tired of reading and listening to how bad the economy is. I know, from experience, that the people who discuss this are themselves sick of the topic. So why do it? Well, when there is an elephant in the room, you can’t stop talking about it. Likewise, when something as large as the economy starts affecting people’s lives, they can’t stop themselves from talking about it even if they don’t want to.

So, I figured I might as well join the bandwagon and give you my two-cents worth. One of the best – and most economical – ways to promote your business today is to make use of promotional items that are different, topical and stand out from the rest. If you have been giving pens and calenders to your customers, it is time to change! Try something like mini fans (recipients will definitely appreciate those in this weather!) with your brand name on the fans or even on the fan blades. Or how about imprinted gumball machines for your V.I.P. customers? These will definitely let people know that you have a fun side too! Another promotional item that is fun, and cute to boot, is a stuffed animal. Customers of all ages will definitely love a cuddly teddy bear or stuffed moose.

And when people are talking about these great promotional products that you just gave them, they won’t be talking about the economy. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and dazzle everyone with your innovative gifts!

Yours,

Abby Ink

When the first Harry Potter book came out in 1997, I was instantly hooked. A kid’s book, you say? I have seen nine-year-olds, 16-year-olds and 53-year-olds reading Harry Potter and we all love it just the same. I have read every book (at least twice by now), so you can guess that when the movies came out, I was ecstatic! I was also a part of every midnight book release and movie premiere whether I was at the front of the line or crowded somewhere in the middle.

The last midnight premiere I attended was in July 2007, when the fifth installment of the film was released, and boy, did that turn into an interesting event! It was a warm summer night and as I approached the movie theater, I saw that the line was already backed up into the entire parking lot, making its way to the entrance of a local Hooters restaurant (how appropriate and magical). All of my friends were being less than fun this particular weekend, so I ventured to the movie alone with a shimmer in my eye and a pep in my step (and a lightning scar on my forehead that only I knew existed).

When I reached the line I was surrounded by wannabe witches and wizards of all shapes and sizes. It was intimidating, but I stood my ground. Just because I was alone in this Muggle-polluted situation didn’t mean I had to feel insecure about it. But the line became more and more crowded and the space around me was becoming smaller and smaller. Suddenly, I was experiencing an extreme case of claustrophobia. I was gripping my movie ticket so hard it had become sweaty and crumpled. I closed my eyes and thought about wands, incantations, butterbeer and the Great Hall’s famous feasts, but none of it helped.

Finally, they began to let the hordes of people into the various theaters showing the premiere that evening. My stress levels did not get any better. As if standing in the line surrounded by kids hadn’t been hectic enough, I was now literally fighting and thrashing my way to a seat. You would think finding one seat for yourself on a solo date to the movies would be easy. Hardly. You see, during midnight premieres of movies (especially movies with younger followings), children tend to travel in large groups and save 13 seats or so. After tripping over four people, spilling a bucket of popcorn and almost falling down the stairs entirely, I was able to find a lone seat in the nosebleed section. I was content at last!

There is no need to go into the details of my actual viewing experience or discuss the confusing and crowded walk out to the car – all of these things can be left to your imagination. But I will say that after this entire situation was all said and done, I realized something. These midnight movie premieres, although exciting and fun, can cause a lot of anxiety. Instead of using my ticket stub as a stress reliever, I thought, it would’ve been nice to have something else to squeeze in my hand.

Then it hit me. EUREKA! Companies wanting to promote their names and also appeal to what will be one of the biggest movie outings this summer would be wise and ahead of the game to order Wizard Stress Balls as a fun, interactive product to hand to their clients during this “Harry Potter” summer season. These little stress balls are shaped like a wizard who looks like a mix between Merlin and Dumbledore himself! They are the perfect promotional product for a movie event such as this. With the newest installment hitting theaters this July (like a month away!), waving your company’s wand and imprinting these Wizard Stress Balls with the company name would reach your Harry Potter-addicted customers in an understanding and very outside-the-box type of way. Whether your clients hand the product off to their children or keep it for themselves to remain calm during the premiere, these Wizard Stress Balls will work magic to make any stress disappear.

Remember… “It is our choices … that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities,” Dumbledore says. Choose this promotional product, and your stressed-out-from-attending-a-movie-premiere clients (and their children!) will thank you for the rest of their Muggle lives.

Wands up!

Abby Ink

Plastic: The very word makes me think of huge piles of garbage that do not decompose and are eyesores. If you haven’t already guessed, I am a fervent champion of eco-friendly products. I have made it my personal mission to find products that can permanently replace non-biodegradable materials and that is how I came across corn plastic.

Corn plastic, basically, is plastic produced from corn. Since it’s made from plants, it is biodegradable, which makes it a nice alternative to normal plastic. Absorbent, Ink. practically has a corn plastic category – just search our site for “corn plastic” and see what pops up! Many of the products are both affordable and practical, and they ensure that your business’s name is in front of your customers’ eyes 24/7.

We have the traditional coffee mugs and soup mugs in corn plastic, and don’t forget about pens, like the Corn Plastic Husker Pens. Got clients who golf? We have Corn Plastic Golf Tees. And for something that’s a little bit different, check out the Corn Thermometer.

Too much talk about corn. I think I’m getting hungry!

Abby Ink

Due to recent friend-turbulence, a messy break-up and the stress that came along with finals and the closing of another semester, I have acquired a new best friend. This friend is the best kind of friend – a friend that won’t ever let you down, is very good at listening, can cheer you up in an instant, and if it gets too feisty you can simply engulf it.

“What on earth could make for this good of friend and how can I get one,” you ask yourself? Well, let me tell you. My new best friend is … chocolate! And luckily for the world, my best friend can be easily shared and distributed, and can also be an extra (delicious) way to spread the joy of your company to the world.

Whether you try chocolate CDs and golf balls or chocolate-covered pretzels and chocolate-filled cookie tins, Absorbent, Ink. can provide a new best friend for anybody who is having a rough day, a long week, or who just needs some comforting and cheering up.

As I readied myself for summer, I started thinking about all of the fun activities that come along with it. Immediately I thought of relaxing by the pool and of course not having to attend class… but my summer-associations-day-dreaming game also made me think of America’s favorite pastime: Baseball!

Going to baseball games with my friends and family has long been one of my favorite things to do during the summer, but games also make perfect company outings. In turn, games can be a great way to not only reward your employees with some free gear but to also promote your company to thousands united by a common interest!

Absorbent, Ink. (aka baseball central) offers perfect products to have a successful outing while promoting your company. This includes items that are perfect for during the game (namely caps, visors, and stadium seats) but also items perfect for before the game, when food is cooked, drinks are drank, games are played, and personal bonds are strengthened: Tailgating!

For some good ol’ barbecue, we offer aprons, barbecue sets and tools and paper plates/cups. For some good ol’ drinking, try sports balls, flying discs and extremely comfortable folding chairs.

Don’t miss an opportunity to take the day off or to get together with co-workers on the weekend. Look super-stylish during the game and get equipped for some serious tailgating while relaxing and enjoying a great day at the ballpark!

If you happen to be in a few select cities you may find a random wallet on the ground from Burger King. Inside, there’s a note from The King to keep the wallet, cash ranging from a $1 bill to $100 bill, a gift card to Burger King, a “driver’s license” featuring The King, and a map of Burger King restaurants in the area in which the wallet was dropped.  If you are one of the lucky ones, snap a picture of you and the wallet and send it to us!

“New Linea with Blue&Me Nav. Without it, you’re lost.”  Fiat used auto sun shades to announce their new Blue&Me Nav.

We pulled some data from last year’s holiday sales and came up with a list to get your wheels turning on corporate gifts!

10. Watches -
Even though a lot of people use their cell phones to check the time, watches are still a popular gift.  Our casual watches are popular because they are mostly unisex. We also have Callaway, Fossil, and Swiss Army.

9. Gift Tins -
I love cinnamon popcorn!  We have gift tins that come with cookies, nuts, or popcorn.

8. Picture Frames -
People enjoy putting a picture of their loved ones on their desk. What’s even better is putting multiple pictures of loved ones.  We have digital picture frames!

7. Wine Gifts -
Bottle stoppers to wine carriers, wine gifts are a hot item this season and last.

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