Happy April Fool’s Day! The day for jokesters! Nothing adds a creative boost to your day (or your marketing efforts) quite like making the decision NOT to take yourself too seriously. In the middle of a challenging work day, humor can be just the shot in the arm you need to refresh your thinking and shift your ideas outside that boring old box. Good-natured gags among co-workers can be great icebreakers and team-builders, allowing folks to let their guards down and get to know one another. Indeed, humor is a powerful tool. It’s one we sometimes forget in creating well-designed work.
I’m sold on the power of humor to get my own creative juices flowing. But, I’m in a serious quandry. The fact is; I only know two jokes. What’s more, the two jokes I do know were ones found on the wrappers of Laffy Taffy and Dubble Bubble Gum. I keep them pinned to the corkboard above my computer right below my “expert” patch. They give me a chuckle every now and then. You can see them in the images attached and chuckle yourself! Sadly, I miss the square form of the old standard Laffy Taffy and the waxy wrappers that could be lovingly “unwrapped.” It saddens me that Dubble Bubble’s jokes have been replaced by an admonition to write for nutritional information. The lost impact of humor — and sugar. Oh well.
Joke deprivation and artificial flavor aside, have you considered using the power of humor and fun to attract attention to your marketing message? Just as a good joke can add a welcomed jolt to our thinking, humor can offer ingenuity and a burst of the unexpected to well-designed marketing efforts. I challenged Miss Jen to find us some humor-inducing promotional products for today’s celebration of tom-foolery. And, boy, did she come through! Never underestimate the power of offering your customers and prospects a chance to play. Let’s face it. They’ll take you up on it EVERY TIME. Your message delivered with one of these opportunities for fun may be just the promotional punchline you need to get your message taken seriously.
1. Magic 8-Ball Keyring
Give your customers and prospects a blast from the past with a keyring version of the awesome Magic 8-Ball fortune teller!
1.5″ diameter keyring includes a 1-color imprint on 1 location
Minimum quantity: 150 keyrings
Price: $2.42 each
Set-up: $30
Special expires: 4/30/10
2. Coin Trick
Do your customers believe in magic? See the coin disappear and then reappear in this classic coin trick!
Size: 2.5 x 1/25″ Pricing includes a 1-color imprint on 1 location
Minimum quantity: 150
Price: $1.25 each
Set-up: $30
Special expires: 4/30/10
3. Baseball Squeezie Top Pen
Just in time for baseball season! Customers can execute their own “squeeze” play with this item.
Size: 6.5″ long. Pricing includes a 1-color imprint on 1 location
Minimum quantity: 150
Price: $1.25 each
Set-up: $30
Special expires: 4/30/10
4. Bendy Pink Flamingo Pen
Obviously a Dux personal favorite! Your promotions get an extra strut with this rare bird!
Size: 6.5″ long. Pricing includes a 1-color imprint on 1 location
Minimum quantity: 150
Price: $1.50 each
Set-up: $30
Special expires: 4/30/10
5. Folding Coaster Puzzle
Tease your clients’ brains with this one. Fold your message and see who can sort it back out!
Size: 3 x 3″. Pricing includes a 1-color imprint on 1 location
Minimum quantity: 150
Price: $2.09 each
Set-up: $30
Special expires: 4/30/10
GUESS WHAT? In celebration of April Fool’s Day, I have some t-shirts to give away to the best (family-friendly) jokes posted to our Facebook Page before then end of the week! I’m counting on you to add some new ones to my collection. Give it your best shot! The Dux thank you and our clients thank you for boosting my creativity with laughter!








