Try Personalization on Your Next Promotional Product Order To Increase Usage and ROI

Austin, TX: One of the biggest discussions I often have with my clients is about maximizing ROI on their promotional products.

We can spout industry statistics–like the average tote bag is seen over 1,000 times per month– to help get that point across.

We can discuss cost per impression of promotional products vs. other advertising media – and that is usually very effective.

But, if you want to ensure that a customer keeps and uses the promotional product that you have given to them– nothing beats individual personalization.

The ability to do variable data digital imprinting is a fast growing segment of the promotional products industry.

There are now hundreds of promotional products — from imprinted pens and phone skins to mugs and journal books — that can be personalized with the recipient’s name.

And nobody loves the sound or sight of their name more than that person.

Looking to increase usage of the promotional products that you give away–think about personalization.

Personalization on promotional products is simple to do.  Just get a list of clients or pre-registered attendees to an event- put into an Excel spreadsheet- and that’s it.

How effective is personalization?

Well, how many items with your name do you still keep around – and how many have you thrown away.

Case closed.

Consider personalized promotional products to keep your brand remembered – and to help maximize your ROI of your next marketing campaign.

It will be money well spent – and help you get more bang for your promotional dollar.
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree and BASI degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

Eco Marketing Solutions has a strong Code of Conduct as they carefully vet and qualify all their suppliers.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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The Future of Green Marketing

Austin, Texas: A group of my colleagues and other industry professionals were discussing the future of green marketing last week – and some were wondering if green marketing has peaked and is on the decline.

Is Green Marketing as a broad advertising niche on the decline?

I would say yes…and that is probably a good thing and an opportunity for smart marketers.

Any advertising message has to strike a chord with an audience and that target audience is always changing.

Green marketing is no different.

A green marketing message was never a broad Super Bowl ad type of message– much as a Quit Smoking campaign is not for everyone.

However, there is still a huge demographic that does still want to support green initiatives, buy recycled and organic products and live a greener lifestyle.

That is your target market – and with less clutter and less green washing, it is easier than ever to reach this desired audience–and at a reduced budget.

There is still an audience that is hungry for new products that do not contain chemical additives.

There is still an audience for cars that get better fuel mileage.

There is still an audience that prefers cradle-to-grave product life cycles.

There is still an audience that prefers re-use and recycling.

There is still an audience that clamors for education on how they can reduce their carbon footprint.

There is still an audience seeking energy efficiency in their appliances – at home, at work and at play.

And, with a reduced ad campaign from companies that are targeting this green audience, your green marketing message can now go further with the same ad and marketing spend.

Green marketing is not a mass audience message.

You, as a marketer, control the dialog.

Don’t let the media’s “Scandal of the Day” control the message.

Stay out front in promoting your green marketing message to the right target audience.

Keep it consistent.

Target your audience more succinctly – and let them into your tribe, as marketing genius Seth Godin refers to them.

Now is the time to engage more frequently with your green-friendly target audience.

Let this market grow and spread – and green marketing will take care of itself.

The companies that jumped on the green movement and treated it as a fad are gone – or soon will be.

Those companies that are truly green at its core – and promote a green message as part of their mission and character – will thrive.

Do you think green marketing is dead?

Only if you want it to be dead.

Keep your green marketing message consistent and true, and watch your followers continue to support you and help you to grow.

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree and BASI degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

Eco Marketing Solutions has a strong Code of Conduct as they carefully vet and qualify all their suppliers.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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There is More to the Value of a Promotional Product Than Its Initial Cost

Austin, TX  Are all promotional product distributors the same?

I was asked to submit a bid by a city a few months back for some promotional products.  I usually stay away from the bidding process, but since it was a six-figure bid and would not take more then twenty minutes to complete, I sent the completed form back anyway.

We were not the lowest bid.  Not even the fifth lowest bid.

Actually, our bid for imprinted promotional products came in somewhere in the Top 15% of all 36 bids they received.

Fast Forward to today.

The promotional product, which was intended for people of all ages, got recalled due to non-compliance with the CPSIA laws (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008).

That’s right. Because of non-compliance with existing laws, the product was deemed to be unsafe to children 12 years and younger– and this nightmare is costing the city — and this particular vendor – hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, litigation, product recalls, etc. — to say nothing about reputation as the scandal made the local news and social media landscape.

Now, answer the question: Are all promotional product distributors the same?

There are over 30,000 distributors of promotional products in the country.

Most are part-timers with little or no overhead working on price as their only point of distinction.

Very few vet their suppliers.

Very few have a corporate code of conduct.

Very few take advanced classes and seminars and webinars and achieve advanced recognition and degrees from their associations

Very few take the time to read and understand compliance issues.

Very few even know what the letters CPSIA stand for–let alone how it can affect YOUR business and reputation.

Very few blog about marketing issues and product safety.

Very few have liability coverage in case of situations like the one just mentioned.

Very few take the time to help select the right promotional products for your particular needs and target audience.

We do.

So, if we are 4 or 5 cents higher on a $2.99 water bottle – isn’t it worth it to ensure that it is lead-free?

Isn’t a few extra pennies per item worth it to ensure that the promotional product you order is not going to come back and cost you — in terms of reputation, quality of imprint, liability, etc.?

Penny wise-pound foolish is a phrase that resonates strongly with our company – and with our clients.

I have been selling promotional products since 1981  .. and I still have many of the same clients that I worked with 30-plus years ago .. because I look after THEIR best interests.

There are hundreds of imprinted water bottle factories, and about the same number of tote bag factories, I can choose from.

So can my competitors.

I stick with the ones that have strong codes of conduct and quality control standards and ones that comply with CPSIA and other regulations to avoid embarrassing and costly issues.

By saving a few cents, you force your promotional products distributor to walk that thin line of going with an inferior or less reputable factory over one that ensures the highest industry standards.

I would argue that you would be better off ordering 3% fewer items than paying 3% less for an item – if it means using a better factory that meets and exceeds of industry and governmental regulations.

Now, I ask you again: Are all promotional product distributors the same?

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree and BASI degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

Eco Marketing Solutions has a strong Code of Conduct as they carefully vet and qualify all their suppliers.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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Earth Day Marketing Shows an Uptick This Year

Austin, Texas:  Quit Talking About the end of Earth Day Marketing.

Earth Day is still going strong.

To paraphrase the song in Monty Python’s Spamalot -, Earth Day is Not Dead Yet!

Last year we were up about 10% over the previous year in Earth Day marketing and promotions–everything from imprinted recycled coloring books about the environment to recycled water bottles, recycled tote bags and live tree seedlings.

This year, I am happy to report that Earth Day marketing spending with our company is up nearly 22% from last year, reports Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, one of the largest and most established providers of recycled promotional products in the country.

We are noticing more participation from local businesses, organizations and schools that seem to be finally catching on that this is a singular event that can help promote or launch a green friendly product or service.

We are also noticing religious institutions of all denominations are getting involved in the environmental debate and discussions.

On top of this, I am seeing larger reorders from my existing clients that did not order enough for their crowds last year.

The media still cares about Earth Day — and it is every marketers job to keep it at the forefront–especially on Earth Day!

Volunteer to speak to local groups.

Call or write your local TV stations that are hungry to fill air time on Earth Day with local happenings and events.

Write articles and blogs.

But keep Earth Day vibrant and important.

There are 364 other days in the year that the media can worry about other issues: the economy, Middle East peace,  North Korea, the stock market, home prices, etc.

But there is one day that they are focused on the environment–Earth Day.

Don’t let it become obsolete.

Explain to your community why it is so important to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle– and what role your company is playing in any or all of these three tenets of environmentalism.

What are you doing to promote Earth Day?

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today!
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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EPA announces expert panel to review fracking study

Austin, Texas: After a few years of wrangling, it looks like the EPA has finally selected “experts” to review a highly anticipated report on fracking-one of the fastest growing  natural gas and oil extraction methods.

These 31 experts from universities, scientific labs and companies are expected to review the agency’s landmark hydraulic fracturing study and deliver its findings  in 2014, a mid-season election year.

Can this group possibly be objective?

Hard to say, because in addition to academics and scientists, the group also consists of industry executives– who will offer their own take on the science.

According to an article by Reuters, the team of 31 was pared down from an initial group of 144 candidates – and they sought to encourage feedback from a wide spectrum of voices.

My thoughts are that this study will be like so many other governmental studies–meaningless.

Studies like this are often for political cover and delay–so they can put off having a serious discussion on fracking and fracking regulations–and bury it in a report.

In the meantime, fracking is happening all over South Texas, South Dakota and in the Northeast—and it is basically regulated very minimally.

To waste two more years putting off serious regulations means that ground water will continue to be poisoned by the chemicals used in this procedure.

Panels+Reports+Endless Discussions = Certain Delay.

Delay is the end game for politicians who run for cover in the hopes of never having to legislate on important issues.

When will we finally vote for legislators that vote their consciences–rather than pandering to special interests and lobbyists?

Until we do, we will keep getting reports…and fracking will continue to go on without increased regulations and oversight.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today!
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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Spring Promotion Ideas For Your Customers

Austin, Texas: Spring is here..and now is the time for green marketers to promote the outdoors.

People have been indoors long enough and are looking to plant trees and flowers and to spruce up their yards.

Tying your spring promotion to flowers, trees and plants can be the ideal way to promote your environmentally friendly marketing message.

Here are some of the most popular Spring promotional items:

1) Flower Seed Packets: Flower, tree and vegetable seed packets imprinted with your name and logo are one of the least expensive ways to promote the environment. They are lightweight, cost well under a dollar per packet and have a large imprint area for your logo, and your environmental message.

2) Live Tree Seedlings: Giving a live tree seedling is a gift that will last for generations and cost under $2 each.  These tree seedlings can grow to 100-150 feet tall and convert harmful pollutants in the air into pure oxygen–while increasing the value of any home.

3) Garden Kits: Whether you give away flower, herb  or vegetable  seed garden kits, these low cost promotions can keep your logo on your client’s desktop or window–where it will be viewed many times per day–giving you massive exposure at a very nominal cost.

4) Recycled Flying Discs: Encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy parks with 9-inch recycled flying discs.  People will reuse these over and over again– helping to keep your message front and center.

5) Doggie Poo Bag Dispensers: As your customers get outdoors more in the Spring, they will be bringing Fido and Fifi outdoors with them. Encourage them to clean up after their dogs with these reusable and re-fillable Doggie poo bag dispensers.

6) Recycled Water Bottles: People will finally be lacing up their sneakers to get outdoors more – and a recycled water bottle will keep your customers hydrated while promoting your brand for many months.

Be sure your Spring promotional items are environmentally-friendly–meaning recycled or reusable to help keep your message pertinent and branding consistent.

Help your customers enjoy Spring.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today!
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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Is Your Organization Still Participating in Earth Day Events?

Austin, Texas: Earth Day has been considered a great marketing event over the past 8-10 years, as more and more consumers have become interested in environmental causes and have become more attuned to corporate social responsibility.

But will Earth Day 2013 even matter?

Do people still care about Earth Day — and should marketers still get involved with this annual event?

Like many great movements of social change, such as Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights, attention to the cause greatly diminishes once the goal has been met. We no longer need to get on the soapbox and argue for a woman’s right to vote in this country–so the point is moot and the law is on the books.

However with Earth Day, these same facts do not hold up.

Although the EPA has been more aggressive in implementing legislation against greenhouse gases, enforcement is lax and counter-lawsuits are chipping away at these laws effectiveness.

Many people are still unsure about Climate Change and many still believe that Global Warming is a hoax.

So, there is still a great deal of work that needs to be done on the education side of the environmental movement.

This is why Earth Day still matters.

Earth Day should be about education – teaching and discussing how carbon emissions harm the atmosphere and talking about ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Earth Day is also a great time to preach the 3R’s: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

Earth Day is a one-day annual event where corporations, schools, cities and other civic organizations can all come together for a common cause– a greener planet today.

There may be some disagreement about causes of climate change–but there is no disagreement into the fact that we can all make a difference.

Earth Day really does still matter if you still have the hope of a cleaner tomorrow.

Don’t let your school or city fail to commemorate this important date.

Celebrate and cherish Earth Day this April 22nd – and every April 22nd.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today!
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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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To Practice Corporate Social responsibility, First You Need to Define It

Defining Corporate Social Responsibility

Austin, Texas: I hear the term CSR and “corporate social responsibility” tossed around a great deal by the media as well as many large clients.

Some organizations truly pracvtice this goal– as they carefully vet their entire supply chain for standard work wages, energy-efficient shipping methods and production, and an eye toward a cleaner planet.

Others like to use the term as a buzzword, much like “managing by walking around”, “brainstorming”, “incent”, “downsizing” and other words that tend to camouflage the real definition.

A recent article in GreenBiz.com discusses the meaning of corporate social responsibility.

They chose their three favorite definitions for that term:

The first is contained in the Brundtland Commission’s report “Our Common Future,” from the first Rio Earth Summit in 1992, which defined “sustainable development” as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

I like that definition because it is simple, to the point and paints a vivid picture of a world that replenishes and nurtures what it uses for eternity.

A second definition is provided by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index: “Corporate sustainability is a business approach that creates long-term shareholder value by embracing opportunities and managing risks deriving from economic, environmental and social developments.“

This definition tends to focus more on the corporate side of CSR – but does not truly get to the heart of a reduction in the use of natural resources.  It focuses too heavily on managing the risks from these developments. And, judging from prior experience, with the focus on short-term gains vs. long-term vision, poses a scary and cavalier attitude toward true corporate social responsibility.

The article then cites  their “favorite definition, which I think captures the spirit of both of these reference points — covering the breadth of CSR without overstating the role of business vis-à-vis other societal actors. I cite again Cramer and Karabell in “Sustainable Excellence”:

“A sustainable business is one that delivers value for investors, customers, and employees; improves the living standards of its employees and the communities it touches; makes wise use of natural resources; and treats people fairly.”

I think this definition is by far the best– because it incorporates business goals of growth and value with the treatment of people in the supply chain and the judicious use of natural resources.

Natural resources cannot all be replenished.  But they can be re-used, recycled and products can be designed to minimize their waste.

Let’s hope that the next time a CEO goes on televison and talks about corporate social responsibility, he means this third definition.

Anything less is doble-speak to mean the complete opposite of its true definition.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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How Transparent Are Your Green Marketing Claims?

How Transparent Are Your Green Marketing Claims?

Austin, Texas: I just came back from a week long trade show and was disappointed in the number of green claims being made by manufacturers and potential vendors.

After I reminded them of the new Green Guides, many of them either laughed it off, ignored it, or mumbled some sort of remark like, “that doesn’t hold for us”, or “that’s only for California” or some other asinine and smarmy comments.

There were some heated conversations when I refused to back down and told them to read up on the rules — before claiming that the products they want me to sell are “biodegradable” – when they do not conform to those old rules any longer.

Yes, the new Green Guides hold just as true in Texas  or Montana as it does for California and every other state.

A green business needs to be transparent in their claims.

All of their claims. Not just the ones that are convenient.

Explain how your product or service helps the environment, or reduces energy consumption or is made of a high percentage of recycled material — then back those claims up.

If you can’t back them up, state that too.

People will give you credit for working toward getting greener than to make unsubstantiated claims.

I will be spending much of this year reviewing the claims from my factories – and eliminating many of my suppliers – as well as re-writing and re-evaluating their claims.

I would suggest that you do the same to your own product line.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today!

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation.

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Support Businesses That Offer Refillable Coffee Mugs and Water Bottles

Austin, Texas: As I had mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, Concord, Massachusetts became the first city in the US to ban small bottled water containers in an effort to reduce waste and encourage the use of reusable water bottles.

Today it was noted that Starbucks will begin to offer a reusable plastic coffee tumbler for $1 as a way of reducing its use of single use coffee cups.

In fact, they are planning to offer a discount of up to a dime to customers that bring in their cup to help remind and reward their usage.

Offering imprinted tumblers and imprinted sports bottles makes economic sense – both from a fiscal point of view–as well as from an environmental view.

A 2012 ASI industry study shows that 87% of recipients of an imprinted promotional item (like a tumbler, mug or water bottle) recall the advertiser on the drinkware.

And 47% have a more favorable view of the advertising company after receiving the item.

The study also shows that the average imprinted tumbler or bottle are kept for 7.1 months–giving your brand and message great visibility for a very low cost.

On the environmental side, it has been reported that North Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour — that’s 60 million plastic bottles per day–21.9 billion bottles per year!

And that is to say nothing of Styrofoam and paper mugs and cups.

Can you imagine the impact we would have if every restaurant, snack shop, coffee shop, donut  stand, etc. sold or gave away refillable and reusable bottles and tumblers to replace these single use containers?!

Let’s start to make an impact.

If you are a consumer, bring your refillable and reusable cup (with any brand or logo on it) to your favorite eatery and tell them to fill up.  And while there, ask them why they do not offer refillable cups of their own.

If you are a business or restaurateur–what are you waiting for?

Order imprinted coffee tumblers, coffee mugs or water bottles today.  (We can help you with that – if you don’t already have a trusted source of environmentally-friendly promotional items–FYI.)

Get started right away.

No more single use containers.

Tell your friends.

Tell your favorite shop owners.

No more tossing out 21.9 billion bottles a year.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today!

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Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, has over 28 years of experience in running and implementing green marketing campaigns and is a leader in the recycled promotional products industry, including offering one of the largest selections of recycled and reusable water bottles and imprinted coffee mugs, reusable and organic tote bags, recycled pens and pencils in the country. In addition to being a noted writer on issues of social and safety compliance, Robert Piller recently completed his CAS degree — one of the highest honors in the promotional products industry for his years of continuous education and certification. His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

Ask us Your Green Marketing Questions Anytime at  Facebook.com/ecomarketingsolutions- and join the conversation. Tweet