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

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.

Travelocity’s “Roaming Gnome” was stolen from its post at Northwestern University. The gnome was sitting at the school’s Transportation Center where it was taken by an unknown “gnomenapper.” No one has contacted school authorities for a ransom and no leads have been found on its possible location. We have some ideas to help the school find the inanimate spokesman.

Northwestern should purchase promotional products to aid in the hunt for the gnome. Perhaps baseball caps that read, “Bring the gnome home.” They could distribute bumper stickers with the campus police’s phone number or tip line. There are many possibilities including bracelets that raise awareness of gnomenapping and stress balls with a transportation theme.

Any of these products would help bring the gnome back to its rightful owners.