Promotional items are great—if people actually keep them. Unfortunately for many companies, promotional pens are filling our landfills faster than you can imagine. Why? Well, people hate clutter, for the most part, so items that are useful are quickly tossed or given away. When a promotional product is in question, the trashcan is the most likely place for it. You can stop this by finding the perfect promotional items for your potential customers. Here are some great ideas for items that rarely see the dumpster:

?Mugs and cups: These promotional items are extremely useful, especially for young adults just entering college or renting their first apartment. Even if the person to whom you give the promotion mugs or cups can’t use them, they are more likely to give the item to someone who can, sell the item at a yard sale, or even allow their child to use the item for play. People are less likely to throw larger items away, even if the larger promotional item in question is still relatively inexpensive. Keep in mind that the percentage of mugs and cups kept rises as you choose more expensive versions, like glasses instead of plastic cups or ceramic mugs instead of plastic mugs.

?T-shirts and other clothing: Although clothing as promotional items can get a bit pricey, if you have the money in your budget, this is a solid investment. Even if your t-shirts aren’t what most would consider high fashion, people will still avoid throwing them away. They’ll wear them to bed or around the house if nothing else, or donate them to charity. Again, any promotional item that stays out of the trash is a promotional item that is doing its job well.

?Toys: Anything a person can take hoe to his or her child is a plus, especially when the person receiving the promotional item was on a business trip. Make sure that you have toy items that won’t break or be easily lost, and you should find that these promotional items are often more successful than anything else you offer. Some great ideas that fall into this category include Frisbees and yo-yos.

?Office Supplies: If the promotional items you are buying are for long-time clients or employees, rather than to give out to attract new customers, consider going a step farther and purchasing some really nice items. Office supplies often make the most sense. Desk clocks, mouse mats, and letter openers are both useful and display your company name or logo generously.

?Bags: Totes or ever plastic promotional bags are great promotional items, especially for events like trade shows or fairs. Most people don’t like to carry a lot of stuff around, and few stands actually offer bags to help with this problem. If you have a bag, you’ll be the star of the day!

The bottom line is that your promotional items should always be useful. Promotional items are not expensive singly, but when you buy a few thousand, the cost can really add up. Make the most of your money! Find promotional items that people won’t want to toss at the next garbage can.

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