Pens, Let us narrow the choices

When clients come to us looking for a pen, most of them are unaware as to how many different types of pens are actually available for purchase. Do they have a large imprint? Do they want a specific color or transparency? What type of budget are we working with? Do they prefer gel ink, or perhaps a certain color of ink? Which would they rather have, a twist action or a click pen?

There are many questions, and even more options than most clients know what to do with-- and that is where we step in. Our database has over 42,000 different pen options alone and we can help clients narrow down the choices so that they get exactly what they are looking for. Or, if you do not have a specific pen in mind, test out one of our favorites! We have certain companies that we like to work with and know will provide good quality products for our customers. Check them out and give us a call for pricing 605-361-7565.

Dart Pen
Featuring a white barrel perfectly fitted for your hand and eye-catching accent colors, this ballpoint pen with a medium point and plunger-action mechanism has black ink and measures 5 3/4" L x 7/16" D. Perfect for any company, project or event, this good value leaves a lasting impression and memorable reminder of your brand. Bonus --> it also comes in metallic, chrome, frosted and extra large AND is on special RIGHT NOW.

Storm Pen
Go with something new this year and order a pen with a unique grip. Featuring sleek styling with a colored barrel and black, comfortable, stylish grip section, this ballpoint pen has an accent clip, plunger-action mechanism and medium point with black or blue ink.

Auburn Pen
My personal favorite, this sleek-looking pen writes in high-quality Glide-Write (TM) ink. This stylish writing tool features a black metallic barrel with chrome ferrule & plunger, as well as matte metallic colored grips/accents. Its barrel comes in white, black, or colors, making it a great giveaway for businesses in any industry.

Viper Pen
Clients and prospects will love the look and feel of this plunger-action, metallic ballpoint pen in rich, dark colors. Available with black or blue ink and a medium point, its Parker-style cartridge makes for smooth writing. Black ink will be provided unless specified. Measuring 5 5/8" L x 3/8" D, it's perfect for any event.


Get in the Mood for Back to School

Where did summer go? Are those Christmas decorations I see? It's that time of year again (no, not Christmas) and stores are stocking up on pencils, notebooks and other back-to-school supplies that will gear children up for Fall.

With that in mind, why not send kids off to the classroom in happy moods? Check out these fun mood changing items. Handy for teachers and students, these colorful accessories are an ideal giveaway for banks, hospitals, schools, outdoor fundraisers and even tradeshows!

This quality wood pencil change colors by the heat of your hand. This cool item features Number 2 graphite lead and black ferrule and eraser.

Erase any bad moods at your tradeshow with this awesome giveaway! People will love taking home the Mood Eraser. This awesome product features a rectangular design and This changes color with the heat of your hand.

Available in a variety of fun color options, this reusable item changes color with cold liquid and is top shelf dishwasher safe. Who wouldn't want to pack a lunch bag with this?

It's a completely unique bracelet that changes color with the heat of your hand! Plus, there's plenty of opportunity to add on a personal message or your company logo for some brand exposure.

 

Call us today to find more mood changing items! 605-361-7565

A Blast from the Past

Our hottest selling summer item isn't necessary "new", but it has surely caught the attention of our clients! These retro-style sunglasses are a fun and colorful way to let your logo shine. 

Made of polycarbonate material, the sunglasses have UV400 lenses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. They come in multiple fun colors, unique patterns, and even different styles, making them a hit for all ages.

As an added bonus--this eye-catching promotional product offers a huge impact for a little budget.



Want to make an even bigger impression? How about creating custom lenses? We can print your logo directly on the lenses, while pinholes allow the wearer to see-through. We can print any design on the lenses, full-color.
Customization includes: the lenses (full lens or corner), the arms (pad printing or step-and-repeat) as well as the frames of the sunglasses (full wrap). Its a full-branding experience!

Promote your bright idea, safety or athletic event, and summer fairs in style and call us to find out how your logo can be the first thing anyone sees. 605-361-7565.
 

The Cooler, New and Improved

Flexible, freezable, and adjustable – three words you do not normally use to describe a cooler, and yet they masterfully sum up our favorite flexi-freeze cooler.

Constructed from 420 denier polyester, this re-freezable, collapsible cooler is lined with cubes of pure USA water, and features a 36" adjustable shoulder strap, front slip pocket and side mesh pockets.

These coolers come in either a 6-can or a 12-can size, and have plenty of room to showcase your logo for any event. Stick them in a freezer, fold them up for more room and never worry about space or ice cubes again!

Want to see more? Call Ad-Star Sales to ask us about our other favorite products. (605) 361-7565

 

 

Motivate Employees, the Healthy Way

Employee wellness programs have skyrocketed, leaving open the opportunity for employers to support participation with unique promotional products. So if you are one of the many that are searching for a way to motivate or encourage your employees to get up and keep healthy, check out the ideas below!



Protein Shaker Blender Bottle

This effective, unique BPA-free 26 oz. shaker bottle is perfect for mixing up your protein powder, mixed drink, eggs, sauces, dressings, batter and more! Inside the bottle is a stainless steel wire whisk ball that mixes the contents into a smooth blend every time. You can mix, pour and store all in this handy container!



Dumbbell Stress Reliever

Personalized dumbbell stress relievers are great for squeezing, tossing, and displaying, so be sure to have yours custom imprinted with your company's brand for a promotional item that is sure to, well, work out! Great for advertising everything from gymnasiums to sports equipment.


Food Portion Plate

This durable Food Grade Polypropylene plate has three compartments to help with portion control - the large half is recommended for fruits and vegetables, and two smaller quarters for grains/starches and meats/proteins. It reinforces balanced eating and a healthy diet. Ideal for weight conscious clientele & employee wellness programs.

To find other wellness program ideas, call us at 605-361-7565 or visit our website.

Laser Etching, trending now!

Subtle yet stylish, laser technology is an apparel technique that is becoming wildly more popular. As customers seek out unique, upscale methods of showing their logo, laser technology provides a precise, clean and classy solution.

Laser etching in particular is a process that uses laser technology to engrave or burn away a portion of fabric. It can be used on a variety of fabric types, including denim, ultra suede, polyester, and fleece. Although it is only recommended for mid-shade colors, laser etching can achieve smaller detailing than other methods. It does not require a hoop, and therefore logos can be placed in virtually any location (even over seams and zippers).

As an added bonus, its retail ready. The goal with any apparel purchase is for people to actually wear the item—and with laser etching, they will. It’s the unique, attractive alternative to screen printing and embroidery; and will stand out to your customers and employees.

The tone-on tone look can also be combined with other techniques to create a distinguishable effect. Often, customers will use laser etching with embroidery or laser applique to make their logo “pop”.

For more information on how to make your logo attract the attention of your customers, call Ad-Star at 605-361-7565 or visit our website for other ideas.



JPEG, PNG, GIF...what's the diff?

Choosing the right file format to save your images is very important. There are three main image formats that are in constant use on the net - jpg, gif, and png. When choosing the format of your image you should always be conscious of the images size and quality. In an upcoming blog we'll explore the differences between these formats and vector images.

GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
GIF files can be saved with a maximum of 256 colors. This makes it a poor format for photographic images, but it's ideal for small navigation icons or illustrations where accuracy is required. The format is loss-less which means it does not get blurry or messy. GIF's can be animated which is another reason they've became so successful. They can also be interlaced, which is a way of saving a graphic so it will load progressively. First a blurry low detailed version is loaded, and then layers of details are added. GIF's are a good format for most images you will use on a website. Experimenting with the different formats is the key to figuring out which works best for you.

  

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group
The 16 bit jpeg format (usually written without the E) was designed with photographs in mind and is capable of displaying a million colors at once. JPG's can be interlaced, but they lack many of the other special abilities of GIF's, like animation and transparency. Simple graphics with large blocks of color should not be saved as JPG's because the edges get smudgy. This is the best format for pictures. Thus the most widely used artwork when imprinting promotional products. An acceptable image is 300 x 300 DPI. An example of a promotional product where you would use a JPG would be this lip balm.

PNG- Portable Network Graphics
PNG is a format created specifically for the web. One version of the format, PNG-8, is similar to the GIF format. It can be saved with a maximum of 256 colors and supports 1-bit transparency. PNG is in no way a replacement format for JPG because it is a loss-less compression format. This means that filesizes can be rather big against a comparable JPG. It may take a good number of years to find widespread usage, but as it stands at the moment using PNG-8 in place of static GIF's will lower the filesizes of your images.