It’s really everywhere – websites, mass media, stores, TV commercials – a wide variety of health products, things that make us feel better, lose weight, and look better. Americans don’t just want to have fun – they want to feel good and look good doing it.
And just about anything you see, from soaps and bath crystals to thermometers and bandages to dental floss – can be a part of your clients’ promotional campaigns.
And, further, more people are getting into better physical shape, joining gyms, walking, riding, playing games such as tennis and golf. Performance wear and water bottles all indeed fall into this category as well.
“Fitness is not just an activity, it’s a lifestyle,” emphasizes Margit Fawbush of BIC Graphic. “Just as athletic wear became more stylish and adapted to street wear, wellness gadgets such as massagers and humidifiers are becoming part of common daily rituals. It started with adult coloring books to facilitate relaxation and has blossomed into an entirely new category of health/wellness products in the promotional products industry.”
Kippie Helzel of CPS/Keystone Line observes that with so much national dialogue focusing on health care, the costs of medical care and the need for preventive measures, anything related to or facilitates health and wellness now have extra importance. Additionally, for typical consumers, wellness is perceived as and achieved by the fundamental building blocks of exercise and diet.
“We are so lucky that our industry offers so many options, great options in all price points, to help promote a healthy lifestyle, from exercise specific items, to personal food containers and the like,” she says. “Many of these promotional items are the types of things somebody may not buy for themselves, so that makes it even more valuable to receive a great promo item that will be so valued!”
Fawbush adds that some additional areas for wellness “gadgets” could be used as incentives. Rather than a gift card, give a portable massager to your salesperson of the month. “Imagine a resort spa selling branded portable humidifiers, such as HoMedics® Portable Ultrasonic Humidifier, after a moisturizing facial?” she suggests. “Or giving them to VIP guests? Wellness coaches, spas, trainers, gyms, salons, resorts and travel are all perfect industries for relaxation and wellness products.”
Paul Christensen of Natural Trends suggests sunscreens, natural insect repellent and lip balm are perfect for the upcoming spring and summer seasons, for numerous clients. Think any business located in a park or by water (ocean, lake), companies that have employee picnics and other outings, charitable foundations that host outdoor fundraising events such as runs, and of course any retailer that caters to outdoor sports. Natural Trends offers SPF 30 sunscreen lotion, lotion packets, and stick. The supplier also offers All Terrain’s Herbal Armor® natural insect repellent in spray and wipes, as well as Medical-grade petroleum-free SPF 15 lip balm and beeswax and coconut oil SPF 15 lip balm, both in a variety of exotic and popular flavors.
OraLabs also provides lip balms, hand sanitizers, breath fresheners and suncare products. A fun and “wow factor” promotional item, however, is its Leashables line, which not only helps keep end-users healthy, but provides the ultimate convenience, as the product is attached by a clip. Explains the website, “Our line of promotional hand sanitizers provides them with a relevant and convenient promo to help them spread the word, not the germs. Lip Balm on a leash is a versatile promotional product that can be given year round. Custom lip balm, branded specifically to your clients are always in style. All of our products can be branded with custom labels, pad printing, and/or custom leashes to match your client's corporate logo and information.
Makana Line offers several types of hand sanitizers, which are highly appreciated by school systems, healthcare environments such as doctors’ offices, and even retailers that use shopping carts; for the latter, these may be given away when someone opens up a reward card program. Makana Line’s colorful and bright sanitizers come in house shape (think of Realtors, banks that give mortgages, real estate attorneys, home inspection companies and construction), rectangle shape, pocket sprayer and twist and lock pocket sprayer.
Helzel reminds that the medical community encourages people to continuously consume water throughout the day, especially if one is engaging in regular exercise. “CPS has carried water bottles for 25 years, and the company, she says, has seen unwavering growth in popularity and demand. Its line has expanded to include almost 25 different bottles, and keeping value in mind, she points out, “We have always looked to over good and varied choices under $1 list, under $1.50, $2 and so on. Our most expensive bottles are just around $3, so we remain committed to offering choice and selection in the lower price niches.” Because of this, Helzel adds, distributors have many choices to offer their customers in their desired price range; the questions are what color, translucent or solid, what lid option best meets your client’s needs and interests. “A branded reusable water bottle has a long life and potential daily use, giving the branding impact of the logo a long and active life of high visibility,” she says.
And with more and more people taking medications, Cindy Bleisner of Apothecary Products points to her company’s Ezy Dose line to help enhance convenience. “Ezy Dose® is the leader in easy-to-use promotional medication management products,” she says. “Many of our push-button pill planners are endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation for our ease-of-use design. From pill cutters, pill crushers and a full line of easy-fill products, to calibrated medicine spoons, portable pill containers and droppers, Ezy Dose products make living healthier simply easier.”
Ezy Dose® pill planners include daily, weekly, multi-dose organizers among other medication management products. Various features from easy-fill to discreet travel containers mean all of our planners can make remembering to take medication so much easier. Ezy Dose® liquid dosing aids make dispensing medication easy. Choose from calibrated droppers to graduated medicine cups for exact liquid dosing.
With the wide variety of health and hygiene care products, most of which are highly budget friendly, you can help your clients help their customers and staff to take care of themselves and their loved ones.
CASE STUDIES
Kippie Helzel of CPS/Keystone Line: “Water bottles remain at the core of our extensive product line. We have seen so many great programs and uses of our bottles; this year we did a large order where two brands came together, a bank and a local hospital, to co-brand their commitment to drinking water and to recognize the participants of a 5K Run. Another great order we did was related to a company health wellness competition; different colored translucent bottles were distributed by department, creating color coded teams. The goal was to drink 32 oz. of water a day at work, so our 32 oz. Premium Water bottle was the perfect choice.”