Advertising Specialty

Advertising has been around a lot longer than most people think. The general assumption is that billboards and newspaper ads first arrived in the 19th century and really took off in the 20th century in urban centers like New York and London. In fact, political and commercial ads have been discovered among the ruins at Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius around 79 A.D.

The development of the printing press greatly aided in the development of advertising as a way for companies to get their message out to consumers. Ads first began to appear in 17th century English newspapers, and the first ad company was formed in the United States in 1843. Back then, an ad company just negotiated rates from newspapers, and didn't worry about the quality of the ad content. Things sure have changed.

From the Newspaper Advertisement to the Popup Ad

From these humble beginnings, witness the modern world of advertising, marketing, and public relations--a well-oiled triumvirate of corporate know-how and efficiency. One of the big advertising firms, Ogilvy and Mather, earned more than one billion dollars in sales in 2001, during the height of the Internet boom. Plus, it has two spinoff companies, one focusing on relationship marketing services and the other on healthcare advertising.

It doesn't do any good to look away when you see an ad; advertisers are just too savvy and too slick. No matter where you go or what you do, whether it's taking a walk or seeing a movie, chances are you just processed a few advertisements or product placements along the way. The best part is that you are probably totally unaware of how your mind absorbs the barrage of advertisements during the course of your day.

Now we are in the age of relatively affordable promotional campaigns for companies large and small. Giving away tchotchkes is a great example of promotional advertising. Begun decades earlier but propelled to its ubiquitous state by the Dot-Com era, tchotchkes are knickknacks, like a memento or trinket, which are imprinted with a company's name and given as gifts to customers or employees. Giving them is de rigueur for the technology field, and one can hardly go to a company party without leaving with a few silly, but loveable, tchotchkes in tow.

Creative Options for Promotional Advertising

Companies in all business sectors have taken to giving away advertising specialties. There really isn't any formula, and marketing professionals can be totally creative in this regard. In fact, some imprinting companies offer their clients the use of a design center through their web site. This means companies can have the degree of control they desire over the look and feel of their promotional products.

Imprinting companies aren't hard to find. They themselves advertise, and can be found in the phone book or online. There is a multitude of companies that offer imprinting services on the web. Usually they ask for a minimum order, such as 250 items or a $500 order. From there, orders can become cheaper and cheaper per item depending on the total number of items purchased.

There really isn't any end to the choices available. Common items include coffee mugs and those anodized carabinder keyholders that resemble rock-climbing clips. Then there's the healthcare field. Pharmaceutical companies have become notorious for bombarding physicians with notepads and fancy pens embossed with the name of their new cholesterol or erectile dysfunction drug. Truthfully, no stone goes uncovered in the world of advertising specialties.