Promotional Coolers Carry Your Message All Year
When most people think of buying promotional coolers they think of them as a summer item. Truth is they are one of the most widely used promotional items throughout the winter because they are often taken with the end user on vacations. When they are not being used on vacations during the colder seasons they often end up by the pool, next to a beach chair or while camping. These are all ideal locations for someone to discuss the logo or message on the cooler and for people to ask more about where the item was purchased.
Gemline has long been one of the industry leaders in custom coolers. This month they have released a series of new products geared towards the budget minded shopper but also looking for a quality promotional cooler. Starting at the lower end of the cooler spectrum the Catalyst Lunch Cooler has all the benefits of other mainstream corporate coolers but comes in at a lower price and with more colors available. One of the real limitations in past years has been the fact that most coolers were available in black of blue. Gemline was one of the first to market with vibrant colors and has continued that this season. In addition they are one of the first to market kid friendly promotional products that are actually CPSIA certified with PDF certificate files available for download on their site. Like the earlier model the Laguna Lunch Cooler has the same certifications and is also made from people safe non-PVC lining. What I like about all of their coolers is the construction which usually involves heat welded seams which hopes to keep the cold in and more importantly melted ice on the inside so your car or house does not end up soaked.
Gemline has gotten particularly aggressive with the mid-year launch after contracting the number of products heading in 2010. It is possible we will see more items released as the year goes along. Unlike some of the other major manufacturers such as Leeds and Bullet Line which continue to suffer from inventory problems Gemline is poised to deliver products in a timely fashion as we cruise into July and August. When you are comparing coolers and especially coolers that may be given to children the fifty cents you may save on the bargain brand may backfire when your client realizes you saved a few cents and in turn sacrificed their safety. Giving customers a potentially dangerous cooler does not relay a message of caring about their business. When looking for your next promotional cooler give Gemline a good long look.
Proper Promotion Could Help Health Care Reform
I think what has been most interesting about the entire health care debate the past month is that almost nothing has been said of the actual benefits to the people. Sure there has been a lot of talk about the supposed benefits to the nation as costs for social programs is diminished but that means very little to the average person on the street struggling to survive. For certain those against the plan have been very vehement about what they believe are dire consequences of the potential legislation. Let's take a look at some of the details using existing examples as a guide.
Prior to that I would like to mention after having used a PolyPro Non-Woven Cooler Tote for the better part of three weeks I am pleasantly surprised by the durability. To be frank this is not the high end tote you would give a million dollar a year client but it is fine for conventions or corporate events. The rage in the last year has been polypro materials because they are inexpensive to manufacture and in almost all cases easy to recycle. Organizations are still finding recycled goods to be a bit too expensive as is the case with the Recycled PET Big Grocery Tote which although it features very slick lines and the green tag that everyone wants is still priced roughly double that of traditional polypro. That makes it a difficult sell still at this point in this particular economy. The only hope is that manufacturers do not bail on making recycled products and view the slack demand this past year as any indication of future demand. As soon as the economy bounces upward these products will come back in vogue.
Back to health care and the great debate of the 21st century. In one State where they have already mandated universal care there is one slight problem in relation to the supposed decrease in costs to consumers. Prices have continued to rise and are roughly three times what it cost just a few years ago. Using the connector site provided by the State a policy for a healthy twenty five year old man would run almost $600 a month with full coverage. That would equate to roughly 50% of the income level for the average person in some other parts of the country. It is very hard to believe this plan will make much of a difference to the average person paying for their own care. For those on the upper end of the spectrum it is possible costs will even increase and it has already been well discussed that associated taxes and costs will increase. These are all unfortunate consequences of insuring tens of millions without coverage at this point and in most cases without the means to pay for it themselves. Something clearly had to be done. Costs were spiraling out of control on all ends of the equation. The question that only historians will be able to answer was whether or not this was the correct approach.
Check out some of our earlier talks like Keeping the Message Cooler this summer for interesting information about new products.
What Plastic Resin Codes Mean
I hear this question asked all the time, what do plastic resin codes mean that I see on the bottom of a plastic bottle? Every single plastic bottle you see in your day to day life will have a resin code stamped on the bottom which will tell you whether or not a product can be recycled or not. A growing number of plastic promotional products will also have a resin code stamped on them if the manufacturer is paying attention to consumer demand. Keep in mind plastic is not like aluminum or glass that can be repeatedly recycled back into the same product. Plastic is down-cycled rather than recycled. A plastic water bottle probably will not be reused for that same purpose again but may instead be used to make a recycled tote bag.
The degree to which a plastic can be recycled is determined by both the properties of the plastic itself and by the market for the recycled plastic. Some plastics just do not hold up to repeated reuse and have a limited value. Others can be recycled but there is not much of a market for them so they are less popular. Rather than leaving this determination up to somebody at a landfill or recycling center the industry developed the resin codes that you will see in the triangle stamped on your product.
Starting with the most prominent, the "1" PETE stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET/PETE for short. It is one of the most widely used polymers in the world today and one that you will see in a majority of your plastic water bottles. The bottle of SmartWater I am drinking from Glaceau is a perfect example as is just about any other water bottle from Poland Spring, Aquafina and all the other brands. Although PET cannot be reused to make future water bottles it is used and sought after in the making of fleece apparel, luggage, carpet, tote bags and other fibers. In short if it has a "1" on the bottom make sure you recycle it as it will be reused.
The "2" is HDPE or High Density Polyethylene is the second most commonly used plastic in water bottles. It is significantly stiffer than PET and is therefore used in tougher containers such as laundry detergents, milk bottles such as Lactaid and other bottles requiring strength such as oil containers. HDPE is highly recycled and can be turned back into plastic lumber that you will use on your deck, pens, benches, doghouses, floor tile and even your mailbox post. A trip through any home store will show dozens of mailboxes most of which are made from recycled HDPE. If your plastic product has a 2 stamped on the bottom make sure you put it in the recycling bin as it will be reused.
Resin code 3 stands for PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride. The white pipes under your sink are made from PVC and it has the extraordinary property of resisting both fire and water. You will see it used to make raincoats, shower curtains, water pipes and other rugged products. It is very rarely used now in water bottles. You will see it used in coolers although due to the nature of the material you will not often see it used for potable water or food products. PVC is easily recycled into products such as garden hoses, gutters, decking and other lumber products. Although you will rarely see it outside of interior piping it should be recycled if you do find it. Most people do not realize the discarded and short/extra pieces of pipe from a home renovation are easily recycled. Cut them in small pieces with a hand saw and bring them to your local recycling center.
Resin Code 4 or LDPE is something you come in contact with almost every day but have no idea it actually exists. LDPE is transparent and flexible and is most often used in bread packaging, frozen food bags, your container of mustard or ketchup, dry cleaning bags and in some cases carpeting. LDPE is recycled frequently into landscaping ties that replace traditional oil soaked wood ties, plastic shipping envelopes, garbage bags and other similar items. Most people do not realize plastic bread bags can be recycled. Check with your local facility or better yet stuff the bread bags along with the frozen food bags inside "4" items like mustard bottles.
Type 5 or PP is most often being used now in dishwasher safe products. It has an extreme resistance to heat and also resists chemicals. Because of the resistance to heat it is also often seen in the medical field where heat is needed to sterilize equipment. PolyPropylene has become incredibly popular in the promotional products industry and is often referred to simply as PolyPro. You will see it used in totes and padfolios most often. Around your home you will see it used for indoor outdoor carpeting since it cannot absorb water. Your local miniature golf course will likely have a green putting rug made of this material. PolyPropylene is often the end product of PET products being recycled and likewise can be recycled into less rugged items such as brushes, ice scrapers, tooth brushes and even flashlights. Every recycling center will take "5" products.
"6" or PS for Polystyrene is used in television casings, computer monitors, toys, the interior plastic molded parts of your car and of course regular foam insulation and packaging commonly referred to as styrofoam (not to be confused with the branded product from Dow Chemical). The foam packaging you see in anything you receive in the mail will be made of Polystyrene and is recyclable. Plastic utensils, yogurt containers and most of your medicine bottles are made from PS and all should be recycled. Plastic peanuts are made from polystyrene and are usually directly recycled. Don't throw the out bring them to your local recycling center or visit the Polystyrene Packaging Council for more information.
Resin Code 7 is reserved for all other plastic products and is not often seen especially in our daily lives.
The plastic water bottle you drank from and recycled a year ago may now be the keyboard you are typing on or the tote bag you use to carry your laptop in each day. The oil container you recycled a few years ago may be your hairbrush and the plastic milk jug you recycled may now be part of your landscaping. Essentially all plastics can be recycled and despite the economic downturn hurting the market for recycled products the innovations continue. The more we recycle, and the more we purchase recycled products the better they will become. A few years ago the promotional products made from recycled materials were plainly hideous. Now many are as attractive as the first generation products. Over time the prices should continue to drop as demand increases and technological improvements are made to the recycling process. The results of years of recycling are now being witnessed as products come to the market. In fact the items discussed in Retail Brands Crossing Over to Corporate Channels and Green Promos in Time for Earth Day are made from previously recycled plastics. Other items discussed in Safety Goes Mainstream in Ad Specialties are 100% recyclable. All of the items discussed in previous entries have resin codes attached.