With all of the Muppet buzz that has been going on lately, I decided to take a break from all of my holiday shopping this weekend to go see the new movie. It was a whole lot of fun and a great way to spend the weekend. After the movie, it was back to finishing up my holiday shopping. If you’re anything like me, it’s always tough finding the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list. That made me think, if I were shopping for the Muppets, what would I get for them? Hah

I would definitely give someone like Kermit the frog, a big assortment of “green” gifts. It may not be easy being green, but Absorbent, Ink’s fantastic selection of Eco-Friendly Products makes giving green gifts an easy task. One exceptional way to add a green touch to the Holidays is by giving Seed Infused Greeting Cards. These unique cards can be customized with your artwork and message. Once the cards have been enjoyed, plant the seeded portion and watch it grow into a variety of flowers, herbs or vegetables. Eco-Friendly Coffee Mugs, Recycled Cotton Totes and Seed Paper Desk Calendars are just a sample of the green gifts we have available.

You would think it might be tough finding the perfect gift for someone as demanding as Miss Piggy. Luckily Absorbent, Ink. has so many products available, there is something for even those on your list with the most discriminating taste. Take a look at our decadent Custom Gift Boxes and luscious Personalized Chocolates for a holiday gift ideas that will make mouths water. Pamper someone this season with Beauty Gift Sets, personalized Relaxation Products and fashionable Handbags. You can’t go wrong with any of these gift ideas.

If you’re shopping for someone more like Animal, we have you covered! Any of our customizable Music Accessories or Custom Printed Radios are perfect for the music lovers on your list. Also, don’t forget your furry friends! With Absorbent, Ink’s large selection of Promotional Pet Products, such as, custom Dog Bowls and Personalized Pet Accessories, you can find personalized gift for everyone in the family!

There is still time to get your personalized gifts ordered for the holidays. So start shopping Absorbent, Ink. today! The sooner you’re done shopping, the sooner you can take time out to go see a movie.

Let the shopping begin!

Abby Ink

Heading home for the Holidays? It’s that time of year again, filled with holidays, gift exchanges, delicious food and visiting with family. If you’re looking for fantastic gift ideas to give this Thanksgiving – or for any event this season, consider custom kitchen items from Absorbent, Ink.

Here are some of my favorite kitchen gift ideas that people will love to receive.

Cheese Sets are elegant and unique gift items that are perfect for any time of the year, and who doesn’t like cheese? Custom Cheese Sets can be laser engraved with a brand, message or name to really make them memorable. Want to make your gift even more special? Add personalized wine accessories into the mix!

If you want to give a highly useful gift that will get used repeatedly by your favorite home cook, Custom Cutting Boards are exactly what you need! Absorbent, Ink. has a great selection of cutting boards, including; bamboo cutting board sets, mini cutting boards and paddle cutting boards. Make your gift a prominent feature in the kitchen by giving personalized cutting boards this holiday season.

Every great chef will appreciate the gift of a handsome Imprinted Apron. No matter what size, color or material you’re looking for, Absorbent, Ink. has the perfect apron for you! Our great line of customized aprons, include; waist aprons, knee-length aprons, kids sized aprons, perfect-fit aprons and more. Add your artwork to any one of our high-quality aprons and you have the perfect gift for the aspiring chef.

Give the gift of Personalized Cutlery Sets and recipients can carve up their Thanksgiving turkey in style! Absorbent, Ink. has an impressive selection of stylish knife sets that will look sensational personalized with an imprint. Whether you’re looking for bamboo knife sets, stainless steel knife sets or even Victorinox knife sets, we have what you’re looking for.

Let Absorbent, Ink. be the place for all of your Holiday gift buying needs and shop our great catalog of Unique Corporate Gifts, today! We are here to help take the stress out of your holiday gift giving.

Halloween is almost here and the Holidays are on their way. It’s a great time to start thinking about Holiday gift ideas. What could be better than one of the most popular holiday gift ideas – edible food gifts?  Personalized food items offer an affordable way to reward hard working employees, build strong businesses relationships and to thank clients. The Holidays only come once a year, so it’s important to make a lasting impression.

Here is a taste of some of our most popular food gift ideas.

Chocolate, who doesn’t love chocolate? Chocolate Gifts are a popular gift idea any time of the year, but they’re especially popular around the Holiday season. Personalized chocolate is a deliciously upscale way to show appreciation and say thanks. Whether you’re looking for delectable Custom Chocolate Bars, Logo Chocolate Truffles or Chocolate Gift Towers, Absorbent, Ink. has the perfect chocolate infused indulgence for you.

If chocolate isn’t your number one choice, consider the ever popular gift tin. Personalized Gift Tins are classic corporate and holiday gift items that people just love to share! Popcorn Gift Tins are a well-loved choice, but Cookie Tins and Nut Tins will also put a huge smile on anyone’s face. Gift tins are available in a wide range of designs with a delectable variety of fillings, so order yours today!

Heat up your gift exchange this year with Gourmet Hot Beverages customized with your logo, artwork or message. These delicious gifts offer a great way for recipients to cozy up with your brand while enjoying the warmth of Custom Hot Chocolate, soothing teas or perky Personalized Coffees.

As you can see, there are endless possibilities when you promote with delicious custom food gifts. Why not start shopping for your holiday gifts and Business Promotional Items today and start the holidays off on the right foot.

Stay sweet,

Abby Ink

I woke up this morning and realized that it’s President’s Day today. The holiday began as a day to celebrate George Washington’s Birthday but it has become a day to honor all of the individuals who have served as President. It has also become a day known for its outrageous President’s Day sales and a day that many people have off of work. Whether you are working today or enjoying a nice long weekend – why not use this time to reflect on the leaders of the past and the role they have played to shape our nation.

Thinking of President’s Day makes me think of branding. It’s important to have a brand that reflects the professionalism and message you are looking to convey. Quality business printing adds strength to your branding that can make a huge statement.  Absorbent, Ink. has an excellent selection of Presentation Folders that are perfect for revitalizing your brand and for making a notable impression.

Pocket folders are one of the most popular business promotions out there. They are extremely versatile, perfect for a variety of budgets and are an effective way to establish your brand or promote an event. Business folders may not lead America to victory like some of our previous presidents, but they can lead you to advertising success! Why not make a memorable impression and customize your very own business folders from Absorbent, Ink. We have everything you need to help your business rise to the top and look great doing it!

Kind regards,

Abby Ink

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.

(more…)

Spring is right around the corner, which means students are just waiting to close their textbooks and hit the warm beaches or cool slopes. Spring Break is the time for students and their families to escape bleak winter weather or to relax at new and exciting locales. Businesses that can’t reach their consumers at these Spring Break hot spots can use promotional products to keep their brand image on consumers’ minds even while they travel! Imprinting your brand’s logo on these products can remind consumers of your brand during their Spring Break escape.

- A Travel Vanity Bag is a great item for women or men who need a handy and space-saving bag to hold all their toiletry items.

-Duffel Bags are useful promotional products that generate extra brand exposure. Not only will your clients be reminded of your brand, other people at airports and hotels who see the imprinted logo will be exposed to the brand, as well.

-An imprinted Travel Toothbrush is an item consumers use day and night and is a sure way to keep your brand on consumers’ minds.

You may claim that St. Patrick’s Day is your favorite holiday, but what do you really know about it?

Here are 5 questions to test your knowledge.

First question:

Leprechauns had nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day until which American movie producer created a friendly, cheerful leprechaun character?



Answer: Walt Disney. Irish folklore describes leprechauns as cranky souls known for their trickery and protectiveness over their treasure. The friendlier American version of the leprechaun quickly evolved into a St. Patrick’s Day and Irish symbol.

Second question:

Which city is home to a St. Patrick’s Day Parade that is the longest running civilian parade in the world?



Answer: Nope, it’s not Dublin. It’s New York City. The first parade started in 1762 and now draws more than 2 million spectators.

Third question:

In Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, Irish is the leading ancestral group. How many U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry?



Answer: 34.7 million-nearly 9 times the population of Ireland!

Fourth question:

What river is dyed green every year in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day?



Answer: The Chicago River. The city of Chicago uses 40 pounds of green vegetable dye to turn the river green for several hours.

Fifth question:

St. Patrick is credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland. According to Irish mythology, which reptile did Saint Patrick banish from Ireland?



Answer: If you said snakes then you are correct. However, Ireland was never actually inhabited by snakes. The “banishing of the snakes” is symbolic of Saint Patrick’s eradication of pagan theology from the island.

PS: Please feel free to email this quiz to friends or family!

We went all out this year to celebrate the holidays! Each department came up with a way to decorate their section, and had a blast doing so. We’ve created a short video for our customers and friends to see how we got in on the fun this year!

Dear Santa.

How are you? I know that you and the elves are busy, but we’ve had some
difficulties tracking down a Wii for our kids. If you or the elves are able
to track one down for me, I’d be much obliged. I’ll even leave you some
extra Oreos this year.

And by the way, our kids are concerned that you won’t be able to find the
tree this year as it’s not right next to the fireplace. Once you come down
the chimney take a left into the sun room. You can’t miss it.

But that’s for the kids. Here’s my wish list for Christmas.

1. Our industry is facing an interesting challenge. Lead. It seems to be
everywhere. Certainly it’s everywhere in the news. Please help our industry
develop some clear cut guidelines concerning lead. And please help our
government agencies to develop ONE standard test so that we can get
consistent information across the board. We will be asking our suppliers to
provide us with documentation concerning their products, imprinting
techniques and testing procedures.

2. We need more green. And I don’t mean money. Though that would be nice
too. Our customers are wanting more eco-friendly products. And luckily our
suppliers seem to be stepping up to this challenge, slowly but surely. But
it would be really nice if our industry could develop some standards for
what is considered “green”. And if our suppliers could more easily supply us
with information concerning recycled content and a product’s ability to be
recycled.

3. Globalization is here to stay. And I understand the many benefits
including better pricing for our products for our customers. But we still
have a number of customers who would prefer to “buy American”. Plus when we
face certain challenges within our industry (see number one above), other
countries do not always play by the same set of rules. We need our suppliers
to be more transparent with their products. We need to know when products
are imported. And we especially need to know when products are imprinted
outside of our country.

Thank you and safe travels this holiday season. And I was just kidding about
the Oreos. You know that I always leave you plenty of Oreos and a Diet Coke.

Sincerely,

Lee Eldridge
Absorbent, Ink.

Keep the winter blues at bay

The holiday season is an extremely difficult time for anyone. According to therapist Joe Kort, “After the holiday season is over, many people suffer from depression. The fast pace to get presents, visit with family, send out cards and get school and work business done keeps the depression at bay. However, returning to work and school, dealing with the family issues which surfaced over the holidays and facing the winter blues can be very depressing.”

When the after-holiday doldrums set in, what is a manager to do? How can you motivate your employees to keep up the good work that they did all year long? Here are a few great ideas for your company to keep productivity up and the post-holiday doldrums down:

1. Candy gifts
After the holidays, everyone begins to miss the treats they received just a few days ago. Candy gifts are a great motivator and comfort to a worker who needs a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day. It is a small token of your company’s appreciation and can convince the employee that you care, even after the holidays.

2. Hand sanitizers and soaps
The period during and directly after the holidays is prime cold and flu territory. Keep your employees healthy by giving them hand sanitizers and soaps. Your employees will appreciate the gesture and the disease prevention.

3. Relaxation products
From bath salts to massagers, relaxation products are a great way to help your employees get through those post-holiday blues unscathed. Not only are they ideal after the relatives leave town, but they are a treat after a long day at the office. Relaxation products will be a reminder that the company cares about their mental health.

4. Yo-yos
It may sound silly, but a yo-yo is a timeless and ageless gift that your employee will enjoy for a long time. It is a great tool while brainstorming because it keeps the employee’s hands busy and eases the pressure exuded by deadlines. Yo-yos are a great break time accessory and an easyway to boost morale.

5. Ceramic mugs
The smell of freshly brewed coffee is always a great pick-me-up, but when coupled with a brand new ceramic mug, the effect is doubled because it is also aesthetically pleasing.

Pep talks are great for motivating employees, but they only go so far. A small gift can be a fantastic way to motivate and cheer up your employees. Let your employees know that you are thinking of them, even after the holidays have ended.