As mentioned earlier in the month, we made a trip out to the Javits Center for the ASI New York trade show. Besides getting a chance to see the renovations on the main building (which already show promising signs of new-age design and space management) it gave us a chance to see some new products available on the market. They are being added to our website on a daily basis but I'd like to point out some of my favorites and what makes them so great.

Telescopic Flashlight - 3 LED

As part of my spring cleaning ritual, I cleaned every part of my house over the weekend. I enjoy the idea of having a super-clean house but don't look forward to the bending and reaching involved in cleaning behind the couch, under the bed, etc. I blindly vacuum under the couch and bed sometimes only to run the risk of damaging my vacuum with small bits of metal like coins and nails/screws. (yes, there are more nails/screws than I'd like there to be) This product makes this task much easier to clean these items up,especially for those who have disabilities or injuries. This piece has a telescopic handle that is magnetic to pick up small metal items and works great in tight-quarters. To confirm that everything is picked up, use the flashlight - the 3 LED lights are great for emergency use too.

Rolly Guy Bottle Opener

Just as I start to relax with a bottle of soda, sparking water or beer, I find that I need a bottle opener. I get up to rummage through my drawers of miscellaneous kitchen junk to find it always at the bottom and dangerously close to knives and pizza cutters. So I brought home the Rolly Guy Bottle Opener and leave it out on the table. It wobbles around when poked, making it a fun conversation piece and its shape/design is meant to be left out. Your imprint can be located on the "guys chest" - guaranteed to be seen by anyone who sits down at the table. 

Travel Toothpick Dispenser

There are two unenjoyable things about going to the movies. The first is the prices but that can be overlooked with a great movie. The second is when popcorn gets caught in the back of the throat and in teeth. We spend the rest of the movie (and rest of the day) with fingers in our mouth and tonguing kernels in our teeth until it comes out. I never have toothpicks on me but I know the Travel Toothpick Dispenser is the perfect way to solve this problem. It includes room for 12 toothpicks and comes in a futuristic plastic case. I can see restaurants having this in the near future. (and hopefully, movie theatres too)

Zoom Energy Bar Pro

High-tech gadget giveaways are becoming huge and it makes sense. If given a gift basket or the Zoom Energy Bar Pro, I would get more use out of (and thus, pay closer attention to) the Zoom Energy Bar Pro. This portable electronics battery is really tiny, measuring less than 3" x 2" x 2" and with 8,400mAh capacity, can charge many electronics close to 100% and even have room leftover for other charges. It looks stellar in white and comes in super low minimums (starting at 6) for giving out to a select few. 

So why mention all of these products? These products and several others not mentioned were discovered by attending a trade show and being active.

It pays to pay attention at industry trade shows. 

No, this is not a joke.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, the Great Wall of Oakland and Walker Art Center held the very first OakCatVidFest, an Internet cat video festival in Oakland, California. According to HLN, the event, which benefited the East Bay SPCA, was the first of its kind for the area.

Considering cats have basically taken over the Internet in recent years, it's no surprise that the festival had a big turnout. All the classic cat videos you know and love were on display for seven hours (whoa!), including the one-and-only Grumpy Cat.

And apparently Japan is a gold mine for recording funny felines. Check out HLN's piece on OakCatVidFest to see some new favorites.

Sure, cats are a hoot. But more importantly, OakCatVidFest helped bring awareness to just how important fostering a feline really is.

"We are very excited to celebrate cats, bring awareness to the importance of fostering cats and kittens, and give all Bay Area cat lovers the opportunity to mingle with others who are passionate about felines," said East Bay SPCA President and CEO Allison Lindquist in a press release.

Sponsors for the event included FreshStep, Whole Food Markets and even the Animal planet, so you know there were some top-notch promotional products for pets on-hand!

For our industry, there is nothing better than the month of May. It isn't because of the lengthy Memorial Day Weekend or the exceptional weather. (although they also factor into it) Our big industry-wide trade show hits New York City and most of us get a chance to duck out of work to attend. See what Brandon had to say on it here.

Although not for another few days, I have spent my time (at work and at home) preparing for the 2 days of non-stop networking and marketing potentials. Here's just some of what I have done so far. Be sure to read carefully - it could come in handy for any trade shows you may have coming up.

1. Take Notes
Our ASI show gives us a chance to see new and trending product. I examine hundreds of products every time I go and choose the best ones to add to our website later on. Although we are often supplied a notebook and pen during the sign-in process, I find them to be too bulky to make quick notes. Instead, I use something similar to the Leeds Recycled Paper Jotter. This product is less than 3" x 3" and fits easily in my back pocket. In a matter of seconds, I can take out the pad, jot notes and put it back without any struggle.

2. Consider Using A Pen/Stylus
Complimenting piece of advice #1, I am bringing with me a miniature stylus/pen combo. Since getting it, I found that I can leave it concealed in my pocket and create notes very quickly - whether on a pad or on your tablet/smartphone. This also allows quick and easy switches between the old and new forms of note-taking.

3. Clean Yourself Up
Although it doesn't show now (I have a heavy 5 O'Clock Shadow going on) looking presentable at trade shows is a must. I will be ironing/washing my uniform beforehand and bringing mints/gum. As always, I will be doing my daily morning-time routine. (shower, brush teeth, etc.) Without all this, you'll be notorious for all the wrong reasons.

4. Read Your E-Mail
Since last week, I've noticed my Inbox at work filling up with requests to visit certain booths. Some promise for new products and opportunities to network while others create incentives (contests, giveaways, etc.) to bring you in. No matter what, research these companies/individuals. It gives you a chance to learn about what is being offered by the business/organization and can even help in creating a game-plan ahead of time.

5. Rest
Ignore the famous idiom "There's No Rest For The Weary" and take a few minute rest. Doing too much can cause you to crash and become far less resilient the next day or even during the latter end of that same day. A quick rest can allow you to organize some of your notes/business cards and even an opportunity to chew the fat with other potential clients/customers informally.

6. Keep Business Cards Safe
I had a problem last year where I didn't have a proper place for business cards. As a result, there were business cards that became so lost or unkept, that they showed up months after the trade show ended. This year, I will be removing my credit cards/business cards/discount cards from my wallet. This gives me ample business card space in something I am sure to check sooner than the bottom of a bag or the inside of a notebook. 

Preparation is key for a successful trade show run. Be sure to plan ahead, use the above advice and always think on your feet. Feel free to post your advice in our comments section.

Want to mingle with more than 45,000 Internet professionals? Here's your chance: Internet Week New York will take place May 20 - 27, 2013 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

According to Beta Beat, Internet Week is "a celebration of the city’s thriving Internet industry and community." Indeed, the web drives conversation on all things pop culture. And what better place to celebrate Internet business and digital culture than New York, where some of the most exciting tech and web innovation is happening?

This year's lineup looks incredible. Speakers will include big names like Randi Zuckerberg, Joan Rivers and BuzzFeed CEO and founder Jonah Peretti. For a full list of speakers, click here.

There will also be hundreds educational sessions, panel discussions and conferences on a variety of topics, ranging from social media marketing to the Internet's impact on comedy.

Want a pass? Tickets start at just $135 a piece, which includes a $25 marketing incentive from UBER. But prices will increase after May 19, so get yours today.

The Nassau Coliseum will play host to The Greater New York Pet Expo this year on Saturday, May 4th. The event is free, indoors and air-conditioned. And best of all, it is pet-friendly! That's right - your pets are welcome to attend.

In addition to being fun-filled and educational, a major highlight of the expo is the adoption portion of the event. Hosted by Banfield Pet Hospital, there will be over 200 pets up for adoption. It's the perfect opportunity to add a furry member to your family. And with over 100 local exhibitors, there will be plenty to see and learn.

This is one event pet lovers don't want to miss!

Tired of impersonal e-mails that not only clutter e-mail accounts but can cause harm to your computer? You may not be the only one.

Despite a small decrease in letters transferred by snail mail each year, there is a small cult-following of people who prefer paper-cuts and stamps over passwords and attachment sizes. These letters tend to not only be more personal but give the recipient a more secure and binding document than an e-mail or text message.

For those who check their mailboxes outside more than their mailboxes inside, consider attending the National Stationary Show taking place at New York's famed Jacob Javits Center. It's going to be filled with national and international vendors who enjoy and work with paper tableware, custom calendars, greeting cards, invitations and much more.  

From May 19 (Sunday) to May 22 (Wednesday) be sure to grab your tote bag and fill it with the finest paper products. Registering is very easy (especially if you have a LinkedIN account) and there is even a "Newbie's Guide" to the National Stationary Show.

It's impossible to make it to every trade show (there's literally one going on somewhere in the world every day), so your best bet is to attend the biggest and best. And now, thanks to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), you can easily find the top trade shows for your industry!

Yesterday, TSNN officially released the 2012 Top 250 Trade Shows in the U.S. Let's take a look at the top five trade shows:

1. International CES

The Las Vegas, Nevada event had more than 3,000 exhibitors and 100,000+ attendees. Whoa! The trade show supports the $209 billion consumer electronics industry.

2. International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS)

This trade show takes place in Chicago, Illinois and saw almost as many attendees as CES in 2012. It's the biggest manufacturing technology show in the Western Hemisphere, and is a whopping six days long.

3. The January Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Retailers from every U.S. state and more than 80 countries around the world come together for the January Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. Products featured include everything from home furnishings to fashion. The event is held in Atlanta, Georgia.

4. Pack Expo International

The packaging and processing industry is huge, so it's no surprise the Pack Expo International made TSNN's list of top 2012 trade shows. The show, which took place last October in Chicago, Illinois, had nearly 2,000 exhibitors in 2012.

5. The July Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Wow -- two Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Markets made the top five! That's pretty impressive.

Hit up these events and you're likely to go home with some truly great trade show giveaways.

For a look at TSNN's full list, click here.

If you're a promotional products professional and you're located on the East Coast, you've got to attend the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)'s massive industry trade show.

The ASI Show is scheduled for May 8 - 9, 2013 at the Javits Center in New York City. It's a top meeting place for suppliers and distributors. 

The schedule for ASI's New York tradeshow features education programs, Counselor magazine's "HOT Party" and, of course, exhibits and trade show giveaways from some of the industry's top suppliers.

For more information on ASI New York, visit the event page here.

As I mentioned briefly in passing over one month ago, this year's PPAI Expo East trade show is hitting the most beautiful adult playground on the eastern seaboard - Atlantic City.

Why mention the PPAI Expo East again? Simple: they sent me a reminder. It wasn't in the form of a letter, e-mail or pop-up ad. The organization did what it does best - used a promotional product - to advertise its event.

It is hard to keep up with the amount of trade shows and events with PPAI sponsorship or PPAI underwriting. The PPAI Expo East slipped my mind and the mind of many of our employees. We received this mailer which would normally have been tossed aside to be seen later or possibly lost in with other files and papers. What piqued my curiosity was not what was written on the outside but what was found on the inside.

The pamphlet opened to reveal a great travel accessory. In addition to being similar to Motivators' full-color luggage tag (which I recognized almost instantly) I loved that all the information on the pamphlet was summed up on the luggage tag (which is good because I accidently ripped part of the mailer opening it); the name of the event, the dates and website - all in stunning digital color. If that doesn't get your attention, nothing will.

The bottom of the luggage tag also features space advertising one of the many sponsors for the PPAI Expo East. If you've always been in the market for advertising this way but turned off by some product/mailing prices (trust me, it isn't as much as you think and is worth the extra money) you'll find that getting another sponsor will off-set the cost significantly. 

Start brainstorming with your marketing department and bring your ideas to our sales team - the experts in mailers and promotional products.

Over the last few years I have tried to visit a different part of the United States. I find that the United States is full of wonderous places to visit that aren't major cities. I love every town I have visited but one of my favorites was visiting Memphis, TN. 

I didn't get to see Graceland, visit the Stax Museum or walk down Beale Street. My trip to Memphis was a tad rushed and only happened because I was close-by for Bonnaroo. (if you could call 4 hours close-by) I did get a chance to go fishing in Memphis and although I have fished in various parts of the world, I found few unsurpass the Memphis region. 

Interested? Take a trip down to Memphis this summer. Interested but inexperienced? Take a trip down to Memphis this summer but visit the Mid-South Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza first. This expo brings hundreds of vendors supplying the best in advice and products under one roof. So whether you fish or you are anxiously awaiting a chance to dust off your hunter's license, you'll find something to do at the Mid-South Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza. 

The expo takes place from August 9th-August 11th. Visit the Mid-South Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza today for $1 off an already low admission. And be sure to print out your business connections on our custom imprinted fishing lures.