With the increasing demands and pace of daily life, the need for more getaways and personal pampering is on the rise. For health, wellness, spa, and personal care focused companies looking to promote and market their products and services, we know that pens and coffee mugs just won’t cut it. And for resort-themed events, like retreats and exclusive parties, finding spa and beauty promotional products can be down right challenging.
Luckily, Femme Promo has a wide selection of spa and beauty promotional merchandise with top products like custom imprinted cosmetic bags and candles. Here are some of our top sellers:
For more personal care related items, we feature custom imprinted mirror compacts, lip balms, chapstick, promotional manicure sets, lotions, and so much more!
Click here to visit our unique and stylish collection of Beauty & Spa related promotional products. For unique signature packaging, resort towels, robes, and custom spa sets, our Custom Made Creations program can offer unique solutions to fit almost any product or packaging needs.
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
February 24, 2010
Bags, totes, and cosmetic pouches are among the most popular and most customizable promotional products our there. Corporations hand them out, trade show booths are filled with them, and everyone is familiar with the gift with purchase cosmetic bags that companies like Clinique and Lancome offer. There are 2 ways to create a custom bag campaign. The first option is to choose from a pre-existing selection of cute, designer bags and totes. This is referred to as “stock bags” because we already have the bags readily available in stock, and we are able to easily imprint or embroider, within certain parameters, upon request.
The second option is to create your own bag from start to finish, with your choice of colors, fabrics, dimensions, and design. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for in the stock bags, this option gives you the ability to create the perfect bag from scratch! In the design process, you’re able to pick and choose the color that matches your brand perfectly, the dimensions that are the most functional, the material that ties it all together, and a number of other design details to make your bag exactly what you want.
Stock bags are slightly more cost effective, approximately $0.20-$1.50 cheaper per bag, depending on the bag. However, they are not necessarily faster to produce, as many people tend to believe. Because we produce custom bags domestically, they can be completed within 2-3 weeks! Creating a custom bag with your own signature design can be very rewarding and, of course, fun! It’s definitely worth paying a little extra to have the perfect bag.
Check out some of our custom bag projects below. Take notice of the variety – the sky is the limit! We can do allover imprints, make use of different fabric patterns, include unique details, and much much more!
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
February 10, 2010
Marketing to women is fun, creative, exciting, inspirational, and down-right complicated at times. No one lays it out better than Mary Lou Quinlan in her new book entitled “What She’s Not Telling You – Why Women Hide the Whole Truth and What Marketers Can Do About It”. For this book, Quinlan teamed up with a few colleagues from Just Ask a Woman to analyze the “Half Truths” and the “Whole Truths”. In other words, what women say they will do and admit to, compared to what they actually believe, do, and buy. The real bread and butter of this book is the valuable insight it gives to marketers on how to really reach women by understanding the motivation behind these half truths and whole truths.
The book explains that women tend to disclose half truths while hiding whole truths. Quinlan gives us a number of every day examples to illustrate: women say they “exercise” or “don’t smoke” or “only have a bite to eat”, when the whole truth is that they may “exercise only occasionally” or “don’t smoke when people are around” or ” only have a bite to eat until they get home“. Initially, I thought the book was going to come across accusatory – surely I don’t tell half truths! But it’s truly eye-opening. We’re all guilty of these half truths. It’s not lying; it’s simply revealing only a portion of the whole truth – the portion we want to admit to.
So, why do we shy away from the whole truth?? Quinlan’s book breaks it down into 5 key motivators that drive these “Half Truths”, and she sums them up with the acronym GAMES:
Good Intentions
Approval Seeking
Martyrdom
Ego Protection
Secret Keeping
The book breaks each of these down and thoroughly explains them. This information is invaluable to marketers so we can better focus on what women mean, rather than what they say. When we conduct focus groups, surveys, or any other kind of market research, it’s important that we can accurately analyze the results that we work so hard to gather. After all, when companies base brand strategies, advertising campaigns, and marketing dollars on these results, we want to make sure we have all of the pieces of the puzzle. Quinlan’s book gives us just that – more pieces to the puzzle. The reviews are in and they’re rave! If you’re still not sold, read the first chapter online and see if you’re hooked. Or check out Mary Lou Qinlan’s interview with CBS to hear the author’s thoughts on her book.
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
January 29, 2010
Fashion week is a chance for fashion designers to debut their latest collections and let everyone know what’s in and what’s out for the upcoming season. It’s an opportunity for celebrities and socialites to be seen, the media to photograph and write, and critics to analyze and…well…criticize. The largest shows are, of course, held in the fashion capitals of the world: Milan, London, New York and Paris. However, cities all across the United States and throughout the world host their own fashion weeks where designers get to display their latest masterpieces and buyers get a glimpse of the newest trends. But Fashion Week, no matter where it’s being held, is not just for designers and buyers. If you live in a city where a Fashion Week is taking place, don’t be shy! Check it out! At the very least, you’ll be impressed by the remarkable and inimitable designs, though you may find yourself wondering if you could ever possibly pull some of those outfits off. 
Here’s a list of the most well known fashion week events being held throughout the United States and world for 2010:
Feb. 11-18: New York, NY - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York
Feb. 15-21: Washington, D.C. - DC Fashion Week
Feb. 15-21: Oslo, Norway - Oslo Fashion Week
Feb. 15-21: Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Fashion Week
Feb. 18-23: Madrid, Spain - Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week
Feb. 19-25: London, England - London Fashion Week
Feb. 24-26: Buenos Aires, Argentina - Buenos Aires Fashion Week
Mar. 14-19: Aspen, CO - Aspen Fashion Week
Mar. 16-20: Charleston, SC - Charleston Fashion Week
Mar. 17-24: Los Angeles, CA - Fashion Week Los Angeles
Mar. 18-21: Miami, FL - Miaim Fashion Week
Jun. 24-27: Paris, France - Paris Fashion Week – Men’s Fashion
Jul. 5-8: Hong Kong - Hong Kong Fashion Week S/S
Jul. 13-18: Atlanta, GA - Atlanta International Fashion Week
Jul. 15-19: Miami, FL - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim Miami
Aug. 9-13: Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Fashion Week
Aug. 14-21: Austin, TX - Austin Fashion Week
Oct. 8-11: Columbus, OH - Columbus Fashion Week
With all of these upcoming Fashion Weeks, you can be sure of one thing, stylish Fashion Week Giveaways! Companies give away everything from trips to dresses to gift bags filled with unique, signature products. Here are a few fabulous giveaway ideas:
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
January 28, 2010
The holiday season has come and gone and we’ve jumped into a new year whether we were ready to say good-bye to 2009 or not. The dust has barely settled from the ball dropping in Times Square, but we’re already flying through January, which means one thing – Valentines Day is just around the corner! If you used up all of your creative gift ideas at Christmas, do not worry, we have so many Valentines-themed items to choose from. Whether you are putting together a sweet company event, memorable gift with purchase, designing a signature private label item, or planning a promotional give away, we have a plethora of stylish and innovative private label merchandise for Valentine’s Day. Not that we don’t all love another box of chocolates, but why not make an impression this year and go with something fresh and original? 
Hearts, the language of Amore:
Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day like the perfect heart-shaped item, for example, promotional stress relievers, key chains, mirror compacts, and more. We have an entire section on our website dedicated to unique heart-shaped items where you can design a stylish imprint or company logo.
Red and Pink and Red All Over:
Customers often come to us with a particular color in mind. Our job is to find the perfect item for their event, gift, give away, etc. in that exact color. As you can imagine, Valentine’s Day is no exception, and red and pink are in high demand! Our site allows you to search by individual color, so tracking down the perfect pink promotional item is just a click away. Here are a few of our favorite promotional products in red and pink:
Outside the Box:
Or, if you want to step a little further outside of the box, there are many fun ideas available with jewels, animal prints, and funky designs.
So, if you are looking for the perfect item for a Valentine’s Day inspired corporate gift, marketing event, gift with purchase, promotional give away, or private label piece, go with something fresh and original this year. Be unique and innovative and steer clear of the typical Valentine’s Day items that everyone has seen before. Be bold and thoughtful – find an item that will make a statement and be truly treasured.
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
January 19, 2010
There’s nothing better than getting exactly what you want…well, maybe except for coming up with a brilliant idea and then getting exactly what you want. When you have a particular item in mind, you probably have it down to the exact color, material, shape, and size. As you begin Googling, you start realizing what a daunting task it is hunting for your vision, yet anything less than perfect is just plain disappointing. This especially rings true when you’re searching for a particular item that matches your company’s brand message and style guide. Companies spend countless hours fine-tuning their brand with the perfect strategy and design language, and the same scrutiny is required when designing private label merchandise. What good is a private label handbag if the color is “off” when it sits beside the rest of the collection, the style doesn’t appeal to the target audience, or the material is lacking in quality? Nine times out of ten, you might be able to find a bag that is close to what you’re looking for, but it may be mission impossible to find one that fits all of your criteria. Don’t settle, there are options out there that so many are surprised to find out about and yes, they are affordable!
When you create a custom signature product that represents your brand, you are making a bold statement, and you need an item that your company will stand behind. The strength of a signature piece is the full alignment with your brand and brand strategy. Signature pieces are used for many purposes, including reselling, gift with purchase, promotional give away, events marketing (e.g., themed events), corporate gifts, and many more. For each purpose, the signature piece exudes quality, meaning, you didn’t opt for the more affordable standard, stock bag. You are a visionary, creating a signature, one-of-a-kind creation. (Go you!)
So what’s the hesitation? Why not create a signature piece? The usual culprits are price, time limitations, and finding a reliable source. Most of our customers are surprised to find out that many of our items don’t take 12+ weeks, but can actually be produced in 2 to 4 weeks. Another big surprise is that we custom produce original products within the U.S. for many items, so you don’t have to wait for the cargo to dock at the ports and for customs to clear your merchandise. Of course, we go overseas when we have to, especially for large quantity orders, but both our options (domestic and overseas production) have produced some of the most innovative, original pieces for well known brands such as: American Express, Disney, Time Warner, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc. Our price and quality must be exceptional to please these leading brands. And to minimize risk for you, we have check points along the process, such as creating mock-ups, prototypes, and sending you samples and swatches so you can see, touch, and feel your way through the process of getting exactly what you want.
The bottom line is this: our customers are frequently surprised at how easily and effortlessly creating a signature piece is, and that it’s not significantly more expensive than opting for a standard, stock piece. If you are looking to achieve an exact look, create high perceived value, and/or make a bold statement in a very specific way, consider custom manufacturing a private label bag, key chain, notebook, jewelry piece, or houseware item. Contact us for a quote or to get answers on how easily it can be done.
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
December 17, 2009
We’re excited to share with you our first debut in a national women’s fashion publication – Glamour magazine! During the month of October, national Breast Cancer Awareness month, our client, Pandora Jewelry, launched their highly successful awareness campaign, co-branded with well-known Susan G. Komen. From concept to completion, we presented, mocked-up, produced a prototype, and completely delivered a large scale campaign nation-wide, which produced one of the best promotional campaigns for Pandora Jewelry. The added buzz was a bonus. These delightful reversible neoprene totes were so successful that over a month before the promotion even launched, the bags were sold out and our client had to order more. The second shipment sold out just as quickly, but customers continually called in trying to find other ways to get them.
Check out the awareness ad in Glamour magazine this past October, 2009:
One of our final mock-up’s before prototyping:
Fine construction, durable materials, fashion-forward concept and design… we are proud of the quality work that our clients can count on time and again! 
Posted by Sidney, Manager
November 30, 2009
In our company, we spend all day analyzing the age old question, “What do women want”. So my interest was peaked when I read that Marie Claire and Unity Marketing teamed up to analyze the 21st century woman – what engages her, entices her to shop, and wins her loyalty – published by Global Cosmetics Industry (GCI) Magazine.
It’s no secret that we are more independent and empowered than ever before. In this increasing wave of personal power, strength, and a new definition of “femininity,” marketers are challenged more than ever before to figure out what the modern woman wants and why she shops the way she does.
GCI explains that today’s female consumer has 5 top priorities:
• Emotional Health and Family: A whopping 88% of women rated this as their top priority, while 61% admitted that their greatest challenge is finding time to unwind, relax, and take a load off.
Here are a few of our favs to help you relax after a long day.
• Career and Finances: Number two is bigger than ever before – we are motivated and we are highly ambitious. (Thank you, Hillary and Oprah!) Constantly striving to achieve financial independence, career satisfaction, and freedom when we retire.
Keep your cash and cards safe.
• Society and Politics: 80% of women give back, either financially or with a time commitment, to charities in their communities. As though we didn’t have enough commitments, we are driven to make the world a better place and we resonate with brands that are aligned with these values.
Environmentally friendly products are not only socially responsible but also bring good karma.
• Health and Wellness: Sadly, nearly 50% of women will sacrifice sleep to make time for everything that needs to get done in the day, which is why we need products and services that will make health and wellness flexible and easily accessible amidst the chaos of our busy lives.
It’s more fun to go to the gym when you have a cute tote to haul around.
• Fashion and Beauty: A constant in our lives, no matter what decade or century. Nothing excites us more than a beautiful print, a stylish accessory, or a unique design.
Our specialty! And there are so many to choose from!
The results of this study are probably not surprising to you, but so often we still see companies and organizations in such a hurry that they lose out on this great opportunity to reach women effectively. After all, if this is a new marketing challenge for many companies, you have the opportunity to get ahead of the game by finding truly innovative promotional products that tug at the heart, are fashionable and fun, and promote health, beauty, and emotional well-being.
So, what do women want? Thanks to GCI and Marie Claire, we have a much better idea! Now it’s our job, as marketers, to be thoughtful and conscious when selecting the right products to allure women. We know your time is valuable, you’ve got a presentation in the morning, soccer practice at 3, a million emails in your inbox to go through, and a fundraiser to plan. That’s why we’ve compiled our Director’s Picks, which are the top 100 picks for the 21st century woman, to save you precious time. Marketing to 21st century women is fun – just think about the feeling you got the last time you received that amazing, thoughtful gift, or when you found that print you just couldn’t take your eyes off of. That’s what marketing to the 21st century woman is all about.
Posted by Melissa, Marketing Associate
November 9, 2009
Customers always ask us for new product ideas that are innovative and will set their brand apart from the competition; after all, that’s what we do best. One of our most popular product lines that we always recommend is our neoprene line, especially our promotional BUILT NY and BYO items. Colorful, bright, and with delightful fabric pattern options, your logo will surely shine and the recipient will definitely not be tossing these to the side.
Neoprene is one of the most innovative materials right now, especially for bags, pouches, wine totes, and laptop sleeves. You’ve heard of it in the past, especially if you’re into surfing. It’s the same durable and protective material that keeps a surfer’s body warm while he’s out surfing – that’s right, it’s the material of his wetsuit! What makes neoprene so innovative is that it’s thick, washable, protective, and feels soft to the touch. It’s perfect for food and beverages because it holds temperatures for several hours, so your beer stays cold and your soups stay warm.
BUILT NY has a patent on their signature wine tote, so if you see a knock off elsewhere, I believe that’s patent infringement. They’ve also got a strong brand behind them, the designs are cool and funky, the stitching is perfect, and the material is always reliable – all the attributes that make promotional BUILT NY items an absolutely fall-in-love-with gift item! Seriously, it’s no wonder why BUILT has received rave reviews from Fortune Magazine, Oprah’s O Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, New York Post, Parenting Magazine, Woman’s World, American Baby, Bon Appetit, Real Simple, and so much more.
By the way, if you love the BUILT line but find that it’s not quite in your budget, the BYO line may be your answer. The items are very similar to the BUILT line, minus the BUILT signature logo. Also, the BYO line is made with a slightly thinner material, so wine totes, for example, would stay cold for 2-3 hours, rather than 4 hours. No recipient really notices the thickness of the material, since the design, material, and construction are all still excellent. You’re pretty much missing the BUILT brand.
Contact us for BUILT NY corporate gift ideas. We can even do (FREE) virtual mock-ups so you can see your logo on any promotional BUILT NY product or custom imprinted BYO tote or bag. And if you already started surfing our website, no, you’re not seeing things! Many items only require a 12 or 24 piece minimum order.
BTW, our newest promo BUILT NY item that’s sure to win over busy students, travelers, or professionals is the Cargo Travel Organizer. It keeps credit cards and ID’s zipped up and protects PDAs, iPods, and cell phones. It’s also a perfect fit for a travel mouse, chargers, cords, adapters, usb flash drives, etc. Notice the ergo design for hands to comfortably grab and go. Yep, BUILT NY thinks of everything!
Posted by Sidney, Manager
October 27, 2009
Welcome to the Femme Promo Blog! Our goal is to provide you with the most fashionable and innovative ideas all in one place, so you don’t have to dig through hundreds of websites to figure out what modern, stylish women are using in their daily lives and what products get them excited. We also hope to shed some light on your most common questions about custom manufacturing and the process of custom imprinting on our cool products. Please come back often as we frequently search the marketplace for new trends and designs, so you can expect new product features several times a month.
Last month, Dr. Oz launched his new, highly anticipated show, The Dr. Oz Show. During the first week of airing, Dr. Oz featured a segment about the germs that women carry around with them, right in their handbags! It was gross. Dr. Oz tested women’s handbags, especially our “favorite purses” which we use daily. The results were alarming – dangerous bacteria and fungus (ones that cause asthma, infections, and more) were found. The solution Dr. Oz offered was simple: use purse hangers (also known as purse hooks or handbag hangers)! If you’ve seen purse hangers before, you know how cool these little accessories are and how much attention they get from other women. Purse hangers are a couple of inches in size and quite slim. They fit easily into your pocket and definitely in a clutch or handbag, so you can carry them everywhere. Purse hangers are designed with a hook that swivels out to hang handbags underneath the table, keeping purses clean and safe from dangerous bacteria. (Our custom purse hangers hold bags up to 15-20 lbs. Most large purses only weigh around 3 to 5 lbs.)
Illustration of Custom Logo Purse Hanger
Highly popular in Europe, these purse hangers have yet to reach such popularity in the U.S., making it a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to brand a logo and give away. Outside of the excited and positive feedback you’ll get from the recipient of these little stylish gifts, the fact that they are just starting to become popular means that most women don’t have them yet. Your gifts will be perceived as unique and highly innovative.
Other benefits: keeps light colored bags from getting dirty (especially on the bottom), allows users to always have a place to put their purse (ex: for those restaurants where the only place to put your purse is your lap), keeps bags within sight away from thieves (not just gross germs), and due to daily use, your logo would get great exposure to recipients wherever she goes. Hands down, our top selling item this year.
Watch Dr. Oz’s video by clicking here.
Posted by Sidney, Manager
October 2, 2009
