| If you think election promotional items are a recent | | | | Such items are easy and faster to produce en |
| invention, you would be surprised to know that as | | | | masse, especially with Branders' virtual tool that |
| far back as the 1800s, presidential nominees used | | | | allows one to see how a logo or an artwork looks on |
| 8-foot-tall burning torches in their political rallies. Some | | | | the promotional item of one's choice. Promotional |
| political wannabes even went as far as adding their | | | | wearables are great giveaways because they can be |
| names to juice cans! Even cigarette packs, nylon | | | | used even after the campaign period. Depending on |
| stockings, women's brushes, sewing boxes, and | | | | the budget, one can also include other clothing |
| parasols were not spared as campaign giveaways. | | | | giveaways such as jackets, vests, windbreakers, |
| One particular campaign giveaway that has seen the | | | | scarves, and bandannas. |
| test of time is the button, used today across a | | | | Scarves are especially fashionable and will be a hit |
| range of industries. Some of the well-preserved | | | | with female supporters. We're starting to wonder |
| election promotional items recently featured at the | | | | whether Governor Palin has any of these. (We think |
| Museum of the City of New York, used to | | | | a promotional Palin scarf makes a good fashion |
| commemorate Washington's inauguration in 1789, | | | | statement even after the elections, and we'd be |
| read "Long live the president." | | | | very glad to get our hands on them.) |
| Thankfully, the mudslinging in recent electoral | | | | For budget-friendly election promotional items, there |
| campaigns weren't as dirty as those back then. A | | | | are custom buttons, recent models of which come |
| case in point is the porcelain-and-cloth McKinley doll, | | | | with LEDs that light up to get attention. Other |
| which, turned upside down, resembled an | | | | inexpensive giveaways that help boost campaigns |
| Africa-American baby. It alluded to accusations that | | | | and build visibility are bumper stickers, decals, |
| McKinley fathered a black child out of wedlock. | | | | bookmarks, and lapel pins. Being lightweight, these |
| Today, the trend leans more toward practical election | | | | marketing materials can be sent by mail to one's |
| promotional items that can be used over and over, | | | | supporters across the country. |
| among them personalized T-shirts and sports caps. | | | | |