One of the first advertising and promotional items used in the United States was the campaign button. George Washington's campaign used a promotional button to help him get elected and as we all know, it did the job. The reason for the promotional button's longevity is its effectiveness. The versatility of the promotional button, as well as the affordability of it makes it a great give-away item. Promotional buttons have come a long way since Washington's day; they are used to advertise as well as to express an opinion, sell a product or prove a point. Promotional buttons can be customized with an image as well as a message, so in this world of brand awareness promotional buttons are enjoying a surge in popularity.

In this age of trade shows and conventions, the promotional badge has become a major player. Marketing and advertising companies use badges to promote new products and sell established brands. Promotional badges are Eco-Friendly and tell stories in simple words that everyone can understand. The promotional button and the badge are collectible. They are an important part of history, because they have the ability to express the thoughts and emotions of different decades in a compact form, which is direct and to the point.

The world is getting smaller thanks to the Internet and the global economy. Promotional buttons and badges have always had the ability to bring people together. Now more than ever before, the button and the badge can promote international peace and prosperity. Instead of accenting our worldly differences perhaps we should promote our connection with each other. Exchanging buttons and badges that creatively send the message of unity within diversity to each other we change our experiences. There are so many different ways to express friendship using a button or a badge. Washington did it over 200 years ago, we can too.