EXECUTIVE TOYS

In the world of big business, executive toys can be anything from a stress busting squeeze ball at the starting point to a corporate jet at the top end. In the promotional world executive toys tend to range from squeeze balls to a model of a corporate jet rather than the real thing, but I'm pleased to say we have both the aforementioned promotional items covered in this article, and many more in between. So, sit back and be amused (and inspired) by some of the promotional products that are designed to amuse and entertain the circa 2008 executive.

Stress Busters
Many executive toys are desk top accessories that are designed for the harassed executive to fiddle with whilst they engaged in long phone conversations, gazing into space seeking inspiration or simply whiling away the time 'til the next cup of tea. But these stress busting squeeze balls from Promo2u are designed to soothe the savage beast that is today's hard-pressed executive.

Promo2u tells us, "Stress is an inescapable fact of our lives and can show itself regardless of one's age, gender, or lifestyle. It affects the ability to think rationally and prevents us from enjoying our natural disposition – to be happy."

Promo2u's antidote to stress is the good old squeeze ball combined with the art of aromatherapy. Packaged in a fully personalised, recyclable metal tin it's made of silky smooth dough enriched with grape seed oil and organic essential oils, to help relieve the increasing levels of stress that modern office warfare can bring.

The product is available in smaller quantities (below 1000 units subject to stock) from Promo2u's UK warehouse within 7 to 10 working days (larger quantities approx 4 – 6 weeks). There are two colours and aromas available: organic lavender (lavender colour dough) and organic grapefruit and geranium (orange dough). UK stock prices from £2.98 each vat.

Promo2u

Now For Something Fiddly
People are always asking Inspire Promotions for items that will sit and stay on people's desks and Inspire Promotions has the perfect answer with their Folding Cubes.

These have six outside faces and three double size inside faces, all available for full colour client branding. These cubes can be folded upon themselves over and over again and are ideal for fiddly fingers.

Inspire also offers a Calendar Cube that has 12 faces in total, one for each month.
Inspire Promotions

For those who like to fiddle and fidget with their desk items (as many creative types do) there is also this Spinning Metal Clock (pictured right) from Oldeani. A perfect marriage of the useful and the twiddleable! The clock spins on a gimble and has a photo frame on the reverse, which could be used for a logo and/or brand message. Oldeani supplies both trade and end users.
Oldeani

Desk Top Toys
Staying with executive toys with a photo frame, Solo, the leading supplier to the trade of quality silver-plated, sterling silver, leather gifts and accessories, offers this Puzzle Perpetual Calendar and Photo Frame Calendar.

The puzzle pieces move around so you can match the days, dates and month to suit the year, so this is one calendar that can stay on the desk year after year. Ideal for engraving with a corporate logo or message, this high quality product combines classic style and contemporary features. Size: 110mm x 95mm x 60mm.
Solo

Moving onto something a little more technical there's this Neon Internet Phone from P&MM Source-e. You can chat worldwide with this Internet telephone.

It complies with all Internet telephone software providers (ITSP) and comes with neon light, foldable backstand and hands-free mode.
P&MM

Sporty Toys

Some executive toys are designed for use outside the office. Bernard Wilkins of Arthur Price commented, "Over the last 18 months or so we have noticed an increase in sales for 'executive toys'. The demand seems to be not so much for a single use toy but for items with a practical function as well."

Did you know that you can burn more than 100 calories skipping for just 10 minutes? And with silver-plated handles to hold on to, skipping doesn't get much more luxurious than this (pic above).

This luxury skipping rope is carefully crafted to last. The silver handles measure 14cm long x 3cm diameter and this executive toy is presented in a gorgeous Arthur Price gift box.

If you think the skipping rope is a bit girly, I'd just like to remind you that boxers skip … a lot! But to balance things, how about this super Snooker Cue Chalk Holder, again from Arthur Price.
Arthur Price

A Tasty Toy
For the perfect, quirky and tasty executive toy, continental chocolate and confectionery supplier, House of Sarunds, has added the Foot of Milk Chocolate (200g bar) and Foot of Vanilla Fudge (225g) to their Creative Confectionery range.

Made from the finest Belgian Chocolate, both items can be packaged with tailored messages and logos, as well as personalised ribbon and stickers to create a truly memorable promotional gift that is completely unique.
House of Sarunds

Attention Grabbing Toys
From Event Merchandising comes this 'Robot Hand' with a grabbing feature.

Originally produced to a brief to create a product based on 'Grabbing more Londoners', for a direct marketing campaign for thelondonpaper.com, it could be just the thing for grabbing the attention of your target market too.
Event Merchandising

Quality is Key
Melanie Osborne at Special EFX, says, "Quality is a key issue where executive toys are concerned. It is essential that they are of a quality that permits continuous exposure and use. For them to fail would clearly reflect badly upon the branding company.

"Although high-tech innovation ensures that toys gain the immediate attention of executives, it is often the simple 'tried and trusted' toys that generate the most longstanding interest and use and that therefore have the most value as promotional initiatives.

It is the small things that can be relied upon to while away a few moments - the simple multi-function keyring or desk-game – without significant mental effort that generates most favour with executives."

Special EFX supplies a range of executive gifts from this lovely Blinky Mouse Keyring (pictured above) to this aeroplane paperweight, which give us the aeroplane element we mentioned at the beginning.
Special EFX

And keeping with the aeroplane theme, these planes were made by Co Prom Ltd and supplied to ariel photography company, Sealand, and to financial advisors Richardsons Capital LLP.

Made of lightweight material, they can fly round the office without causing damage.
Co Prom

Our October feature is on Christmas gifts. If you are a supplier, send me your information and pics, and if you are a buyer, prepare to be inspired.

Carole Bull
Editor

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