Oct 26, 2016

Food as a Giveaway (Yum!)

Hi everyone, Ping here.

We here at The Icebox are busy bees (or shall I say, penguins?) these days. Around the office, we’re hard at work getting ready for the crazy/amazing holiday season. It stands to reason that during the season of giving gifts to family and friends, you shouldn’t leave out your employees, clients, and vendors--but how do you please everyone? Being the expert that I am, I’ve got lots of cool tips and secrets, and luckily for you I’m letting you in on one today. I know the perfect gift that will please any crowd regardless of age, creed, or personality.

It’s food.
Who can resist food? If you’re not already standing up in agreement with me, hear me out and check out some of my top reasons why food is key to a super cool giveaway.

Food is a year-round commodity.
Of course we’re all about the holidays right now at The Icebox, but food knows no season. Whether it’s a set of gourmet coffee in the fall, a bag of tangy jelly beans in the summer, or a sweet box of chocolates in the winter (my personal fave), there are plenty of great options to correlate with the current season or nearest holiday. Food offers an awesome way to get creative and present the recipient with something timely.

Food gift options are available in any price point.
Whether you’re looking to blow a small group of clients away with a high end gourmet treat, or shower 1,000 of your employees with a small token of thanks, there’s an edible option for any price point. With gifts as small as a single cookie or truffle up to large buckets of popcorn or snack towers, you’re sure to find a plethora of options that suit your needs and budget.

Food facilitates familiarity.
Say that five times fast! Did you know that The Icebox offers brand name food items? Imagine your brand being associated with household names like Godiva, Jelly Belly, Lindt, and more! When you couple your brand with brands your clients already know and love, it not only elevates their impression of your organization, it also helps breed trust and familiarity--and it’s delicious!

Food is highly customizable.
Do you need a bag of jelly beans specifically matched to your brand’s colors? Would you like a chocolate bar molded into the shape of your company mascot? How about mints in a custom designed full-color tin that correlates with your latest campaign? All of these things and so so much more are possible with food. Customize your recipient’s experience not only in the presentation and packaging of the gift, but also in the gift itself! With myriad options including nutty, chewy, crunchy, salty, gummy, and healthy, you’ll find a gift that is not only delicious but also expresses your message deliciously too!

I think we can all agree that food is a wonderful thing. When it comes to spreading your message, showing gratitude, or recognizing top performers, consider food for your next giveaway. I can assure you, your recipients will thank you.

To learn more about how you can create a custom branded food experience, contact one of our Creative Experts today!

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Oct 19, 2016

The Science of Holiday Gift Giving

Hi everyone, Ping here. I know it’s hard to believe, but here at The Icebox we are already thinking about the holidays! With Q4 well underway, now is the time to start procuring those year-end tokens of appreciation.

As I’ve travelled around helping people learn more about the world of swag, I’ve noticed that many people have some strong misconceptions about gifting in the corporate world. Some people believe it’s simply a waste of money to give holiday gifts, that most people in the business world are so focused on their jobs that gifts don’t really matter. But I recently ran across an article that makes a pretty compelling case for the importance of gift giving, in it the writer says:

“…Those packages you see lying under the Christmas tree aren’t just presents but symbolic markers… Yes, you heard me right: Symbols of both relationships and the self. That’s why we all remember the gifts we’ve been given—the good, the bad, and the genuinely ugly—because we understand them as revealing the nature of the connections we have with others. In his seminal article, “The Social Psychology of Gifts,” Barry Schwartz writes that “Gifts are one of the ways in which the pictures others have of us are transmitted.” Of course, the gift doesn’t just reveal the image the giver has of you; it exposes the character and the thinking of the giver as well.”

What does it all mean? Gifts truly are one of the ways we measure how important we are to others; it’s SCIENCE!

Here’s the crux of what I’m saying: giving a gift is a lot like planning a date. If you put in thought and effort to cater your date to the other person’s interests and personality, you’re going to have a fabulous night. But sloppily throw together some last-minute cookie cutter plans, and you’ll probably wind up with one sour dinner companion for the evening.

So if it truly is the thought that counts, what are some sure-fire ways to surprise and delight your favorite customers and clients this holiday season? As always, I’ve got some super cool recommendations.

Snack Boxes

If you’re looking to please a crowd with a variety of tastes, you can’t go wrong with our delicious three-tiered snack boxes. Choose from an assortment of sweet and savory treats to satisfy everyone in the office.




Thoughtful Novelty Items

A gift need not be expensive to be appreciated. Show your customers that you’re thinking of them by giving a gift that is useful, makes their lives easier, or solves a problem for them in a unique and innovative way. I love these custom imprinted to-go cup facial tissues: perfect for stashing in a cup holder as you fight those winter sniffles!



High-End Treats

Here at The Icebox, we carry many gourmet cult favorites in the sweet treats department. Make an annual tradition of providing your customers with a scrumptious box of goodies, and they’ll be anxiously awaiting your gift every holiday season!



So now you have no excuse not to get started on your holiday gift giving list! Cater to the personalities and needs of your customers, and you’ll leave a positive impression that will stick with them long after the tinsel and lights come down. Holiday gift ordering season is now in full swing, so contact us now to get started!

Visit our website for more helpful tools for choosing the perfect gift. The holidays will be here before you know it!

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Oct 12, 2016

Keeping it Cool with Koozies

Hi everyone. It’s Ping here. It’s football season, and you know what that means: lots of tailgating. And no right-minded penguin attends one of those shindigs without a trusty koozie in hand. The koozie seems like such a simple invention: an insulated wrap tasked with keeping your beverages cool, but with new technology and trends on the rise, the koozie of today is an ever-evolving must-have accessory, far from the bulky boring can cuddlers of days past. While the Aussies are credited with the invention of the koozie in the 1970’s, it was Bonnie McGough of Caldwell, Idaho who filed a patent in 1981 for what we now know as the modern day koozie. The original design featured an elastic band at the top and goose down to help keep the beverage insulated. Luckily for the birds of the world, the whole feather thing didn’t really catch on, and designers near and far continued carrying on the mission of crafting the perfect koozie. Nowadays, there’s a beverage insulator for practically every beverage size and type that you can imagine. Collapsible Koozies Perfect for anyone on-the-go, these beverage insulators fold up and can easily be tucked away in a pocket or bag. Also great for camping! Beer Bottle Koozies Who says koozies are just for cans? Bottles need some love too! Whether you’re sipping on a cold beer, a frosty root beer, or a tongue-tingling soda, bottle koozies can help you stay chill even in the heat of the summer. Can Koozies It’s true; cans never stay cool as long as bottles do. So having a can koozie is very important if you’re into living the frosty life like me. Trust me, a warm drink is a major party foul around my neighborhood. The last few years have seen many advances in the koozie world, with tons of unique and unmistakable new products hitting the market, so if you’re looking for something that pushes beyond your normal everyday giveaway, we here at The Icebox have you covered. A few of my newest faves include: Growler Koozies The koozie has gone XXL with this niche item perfect for beer lovers and party goers alike. Perfect for keeping a beer growler or jug of punch nice and chilly for a full night of festivities. Wine Koozies If you’re looking to elevate the classiness factor, a wine koozie is the perfect choice. With just the right balance of refinement and practicality, this makes for an unforgettable giveaway item. Wine Glass Koozies Perhaps you don’t need to keep the whole bottle chilled, but even the crispest wine can taste heavy after basking in just a few minutes of summer sun. These fun wine glass wrappers are sure to be a crowd favorite amongst the wannabe sommeliers in your crowd. Burlap Koozies You don’t have to be a Pinterest fiend to know that burlap is a totally hot trend! This rustic, eco-chic fabric is the perfect non-traditional choice for a koozie material. Uniquely Shaped Koozies Speaking of non-traditional, this koozie turns the idea that all beverage insulators need be simple and round on its head! Crafting a koozie in a fun shape that underscores your brand’s message will leave a lasting impression with recipients. Stubby Strip Share the gift of cool brews with friends! This handy new gadget can keep a whole six pack insulated and ready to go. When not in use, it folds flat for easy packing and storage. Now why do koozies work so well as giveaway items, you ask? These versatile, highly useful items are true staples of American culture. They solve the problem of keeping drinks cold on a hot day and warm on a cool day. The branding and design of a koozie are what make a social statement; the koozie you carry at your next party can be just as much a statement accessory as your shoes or your watch. And koozies can be a great vehicle for communicating a message. Tuck a business card inside, and you’ve got a unique way to deliver your card in a way your prospect won’t forget. For a simple yet impactful way to get your message across with a giveaway item your prospects are sure to use again and again, look no further than my buddy, the koozie. We here at The Icebox can source the most unique and innovative koozies on the market. Don’t let lukewarm beverages be a part of your world, contact one of our Creative Experts to learn more about the many options we have available today.

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