| One of my favorite articles in a promotional | | | | computing obliterating the need for distributing |
| products industry journal is one that takes a look | | | | USB drives in the future. And where will all those |
| back at hot items from 10, 20, or even 50 years | | | | drives end up? Take a guess. Think about how |
| ago. Absolutely hilarious and oh so reflective of | | | | your customers are going to use them before |
| the values, styles, and habits of the day. Some | | | | you buy. If you distribute your brochure on one, |
| shining examples are all the imprinted smoking | | | | they'll review it, and then wonder what to do with |
| paraphernalia, toys that don't have a prayer of | | | | the drive. How many of these drives can you use |
| passing a child safety test, and all manner of | | | | and carry around? |
| gadgetry that could solve any antiquated desktop | | | | Promotional USB drives are great because they |
| dilemma (rotary phone dialers anyone?). Sadly, | | | | do eliminate the need for distribution of paper |
| and inevitably, they have become promotional | | | | which is an earth-friendly score. More eco-friendly |
| product dinosaurs, their plastic fossils to live on for | | | | USB drives made of recycled or sustainable |
| centuries in landfills--okay, that's fodder for | | | | materials are also now available. But even then, |
| another article on trends, but I digress. | | | | please use them judiciously and look for ways to |
| So I thought I would project myself 50 years into | | | | direct customers and prospects to your online |
| the future and take a look back at some of the | | | | resources before automatically resorting to a USB |
| future dinosaur products that you might want to | | | | drive. |
| reconsider buying today. Not only will you make | | | | * Magnets - Where would the promotional product |
| purchasing decisions that will have longer lasting | | | | world be without the ubiquitous fridge magnet? |
| impact, you'll help keep these short-lived items out | | | | This promotional product staple is already waning |
| of the waste stream. | | | | because we have less metallic surfaces on which |
| * Mousepads - Sure, they're still useful. But as | | | | to place them. Cubicles are made of fabric panels. |
| mobile computing continues to grow in market | | | | Desks and other furniture are made of composite |
| dominance, people are less and less tied to a | | | | materials. Plastic surfaces are everywhere. And |
| desktop computer, making mousepads obsolete. | | | | adhesive-backed alternatives can wreak havoc on |
| And how many mousepads can you use? One at | | | | some surfaces. So what will replace them? There |
| a time. So yours better be outrageously cool to | | | | are new static cling-type products that will adhere, |
| become that one. | | | | without adhesive or residue, to almost any |
| * Anything Tech - Technology marches forward | | | | surface including drywall and wood. Look for new |
| at a rapid pace, making today's 1-8 gigabyte | | | | entries in this area. |
| promotional USB drive incapable of handling the | | | | Those are just three items on their way to the |
| terabyte rich content of tomorrow. It wasn't too | | | | promotional product history books. |
| many years ago when imprinted CDs were one | | | | So what will still be around in 50 years? I don't |
| of the hottest items. Even funnier is to | | | | see T-shirts going away anytime soon, but even |
| remember promos that were designed around | | | | those will have their own evolution into more |
| 3.5" floppy disks. I see mobile apps and cloud | | | | eco-friendly and socially responsible options. |