It is about the time of the year when marketing managers and human resources professionals start looking for the promotional gifts they will give away to their clients and employees.  A lot of people have been fired over the last two years and there's a good chance contacts you had a year ago are long gone today.  You probably haven't had much contact with the new responsible party so you will only have one chance to get it right.

You've got to know your market and their price point this year.  That price point is low!  If they can't hire back staff they can't afford a twenty dollar bag.  Take a close look at something like a cheap promotional drawstring bag like the one offered by Empire.  It's got all the colors you may be interested in can be used for about any purpose by kids or by adults.  Some students will use it as a mini laundry bag, others use them as book bags and still others use them to hold their dirty clothes are a game.  You can also take a look at things like hand blown glass ornaments that are offered by dozens of distributors.  Keep in mind not everyone has a tree and be sensitive to their needs so they are not potentially offended.

It was just a year or two ago that aluminum bottles took the promotional products industry by storm.  Dozens of manufacturers immediately jumped to release products but many did not contain food liners.  Leeds and Bullet have continued to lead the category.

Released earlier this year and providing all of the benefits of stainless but with lighter weight and lower cost the HighTower Aluminum Bottle can be decorated in a variety of methods.  What is critical for any promo products provider is that the unit is also lined with a bronze colored coating that will resist cracking over the long term making it a wise alternative.  At the same time the Eclipse Aluminum Bottle has the same rugged construction that is both light weight and durable while also having an attached carabineer.  Custom carabineers are always popular but in this case Leeds has decided to include it without a charge.  That opens up a world of possibilities and will allow you or your end user client to attach this bottle to any bag or tote. 

There is one critical consideration when it comes to aluminum.  You absolutely have to make sure it has been lined with a food grade coating.  Otherwise it will oxidize just like aluminum you see on your fence or on your boat.  Oxidized aluminum is not a safe drinking medium and just like aluminum fuel tanks your custom aluminum water bottles must be lined for your safety.