Strut your stuff!

Trinkets, Do-Dads and Widgets...

Do your trinkets match your business?

Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t use the words ‘trinkets’.  I’m talking about the promotional items that your business or group hands out to help other people remember you. Come on - you know what I'm taking about.....do-dads and widgets.

Sure you have your name, logo and website printed on your widgets, but what is it about the item itself that stands out?  Is it something that will cause a person to remember you instantly without even looking at the printing?

Let me give you a couple of smart examples.

Take for instance our smart friend, Bob the Builder.  He passes out pens to potential clients. 

“Pens you say?  What does that have to do with construction?”

I’m so glad you asked!

Take a look at HIS pens!!

 
Now tell me these babies don’t stand out and match his profession!  People love them and they write very nicely!  The bonus?  He has paid for (several times over) the cost of his pens by the bookings he gained with calls from the peeps he gave the pens to!  Cool, huh?  (Oh yeah…Bob gets the T-Shirts for his employees through us too! Like I said…smart man)

Another smart client of ours is State Savings Bank.  Check out these mega-cool Piggy Banks.  Sure, theirs might be a bit more obvious, but it fits their business perfectly and the kids love them!  What a great way to encourage little people to start saving their quarters!

I'm telling you, we have something for every business, every group, every club and every body!!  Can’t think of anything?  Call me!  All of us here at Exceptional Specialty Products are great at coming up with ideas.  The are millions of ideas floating around in our heads!  Scary, huh? 

Give me a call….I’m Georgie (866-943-4377) and I’m excited to help you find just the right thing!

Follow us on Twitter @esp4all

ESP – We Know What You Want!

I Love a Good Challenge!

Recently Des Moines University had a great challenge that really uh…well…challenged them!   

 
It was called the “DMU 36-Day Fitness Challenge”.

The idea was to offer a variety of fitness activities designed to help participants diversify workouts and engage in regular physical activity.  

The goal of the program was to complete a combination of activities that may include any or all of the following; biking/swimming, walking/running or elliptical training/AMT, and strength training to prepare participants to complete an event of their choice in 36 days.

Running, cycling, swimming, walking…this tough bunch did it all.  What a great way to instill a healthy lifestyle and still have a little fun in the process! 

Exceptional Specialty Products was privileged to have a small part in the challenge by having the honour of being selected to make the shirts.  These good looking shirts are great, lightweight tees made with a wicking fabric to help keep you cool and dry.  A pretty important feature in this kind of heat! (Click on the pic)

We'd love to create some sharp looking shirts for you as well! Give Georgie a call at 866-943-4377 today!

Congratulations to all who competed in the challenge!!

Showing Off...

Sometimes you just want to show off.  And if you do something quite well, why not?

We want to show off a couple of things…one the cool T-Shirts we did for a client and two…our very cool client!

Brett DeBruyn aka The Puppet Guy needed some nice T-Shirts made.  So….WHERE did he turn to?  Well Exceptional Specialty Products of course!! 

He already had a beautiful full colour logo, so we took that and turned it into beautiful shirt art! 

Brett is a professional puppeteer.  Not only does he perform, but he also creates new characters, then he actually makes the puppets!  He does shows all over Iowa as well as children’s parties!  I even heard a rumor that he and his cast of colourful characters will be at the Iowa State Fair this year too!

If you’re interested in hiring Brett or just to find out more, check his website, Big Bear Puppets or keep up with what is going on with him on his Facebook page!  You can also follow him on Twitter – he is @PuppetGuy! 

And of course we want you to give us, ESP a call whenever you need T-Shirts or ANY thing with your logo on it!  You can reach us at 866-943-4377.  AND...we're also on Twitter @ESP4All or you can 'Like' us on Facebook!

ESP....We Know What You Want!  (and we like to brag sometimes too!)

Riding High!

 
You probably already heard about it… you might have even been there yourself!The High Trestle Trail Ride!

The much anticipated, highly talked about day finally got here.  With cold temps and rain leading up to the morning of the ride, it was pretty iffy on what the attendance would be and if the ride would even be tolerable.  To everyone’s delight and amazement, the day couldn’t have been any better for the ride (hosting aprox 5000 people) that started in Ankeny and went all the way to Woodward.  The star of the show of course was The High Trestle Bridge, hovering thirteen stories high and stretching half a mile long, making it one of the worlds largest of its kind! (Click on any photo to make it larger)

The architects who designed the bridge's artwork definitely deserve an award!  With 41 giant, rusty beams framing the pathway, you’re given the feeling of riding your bike through the ‘tunnel’ of a coal mine shaft.  After riding it myself, I can attest to that fact! It was very cool!

I didn’t realize this, but that area used to be known for its coal mines.  The towers that stand sentry at both entrances of the bridge are a commanding 42 feet tall.  You’ll see the dark, charcoal grey veins running through them to represent the coal that was once mined in that area.

The 25 mile trail connects five communities and four counties, with the bridge being the centerpiece.  It was eight years in the making and is the newest addition to the 670 mile Central Iowa Trail System, which has many claiming Iowa as the Trail Capitol of the World.

Exceptional Specialty Products was fortunate enough to be able to be the makers of 1500 souvenir bandanas provided by Polk County Conservation, BikeIowa, Kyle’s Bikes and Bike Country.

Not only are we honored to be chosen by them, but we are so excited about the newest addition added to Iowa’s already beautiful landscape and trail system!

 

The moral of this story:  Iowa IS very cool!  You GOTTA get on your bike and ride the trails!  And if you need bandanas or ANYTHING else...you simply MUST call us... Exceptional Specialty Products 866-943-4377!!

Gosh!  I can't wait to ride it at night!!

The Silent Soldiers

With all that has been in the news lately (whether you agree or disagree with it) it’s so easy to acknowledge and appreciate our men and women who are far from home, fighting for our country and taking a stand for freedom. 

We honor and have great respect for those fine men and women who sacrifice daily for us.

But what about the sacrifice of those who are left behind?  Every day, men and women here at home are holding down the home front while a spouse or loved one is away for months at a time in most cases.  They are raising and dealing with babies or children on their own.  Making house repairs, mowing lawns, making dinner, doing dishes, helping with homework, changing diapers…and….praying. 

Military spouses, past and present, are an extraordinary group of individuals. While their husbands or wives took an oath and signed on a dotted line when they joined the military, spouses were enlisted through the back door with the vows they took on their wedding day.  In choosing their mates, they inadvertently chose their way of life.

These are the silent soldiers - the ones who, for the most part go un-noticed and sometimes maybe a little unappreciated.

This coming Friday May 6^th is ‘Military Spouse Appreciation Day’.

We at Exceptional Specialty Products want to let our ‘at-home’ soldiers know just how much we appreciate them and the sacrifice they are giving.  It’s not easy being a lone solider.  Hopefully most have friends and family who are willing to help in times of need, but that still doesn’t replace the empty spot in the hearts of our military spouses when their loved one is gone.

Our country has set aside one day for much deserved recognition for these selfless, beautiful people, but how about we make it for more than just one day a year?  If you know a military spouse help give them a break every now and then.  Offer to take the kids one evening, mow their lawn, take a meal over or just be a compassionate listener.   Any kindness is appreciated – all year long!

Please don’t forget the kids!  Having mom or dad gone for such long periods of time is especially stressful on them as well.  They also deserve special treatment for the sacrifice they are making.  A little extra attention given to them always brings a smile that will melt your heart.  You’ll wonder who got the most pleasure from your kindness…them or you!

So, to all the military families at home and abroad…we love you and appreciate the sacrifices you make daily for us and our country.  It is you who help make us strong and the greatest nation on earth. 

We are so proud of you!

Eating Humble Pie

I am humbled.

As fierce as the name, “The Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies” sounds; it just wasn’t enough to win us the championship at the Dog-Eat-Dog Trivia Night sponsored by The Pet Project Midwest this past Thursday night.  Not only did we not win….we did not even come close to winning.  And here I thought we had the brightest of the bright Duckies on our team. 

 

Not so.

Being a first time team to compete in DED, we had our work cut out for us!  With twenty-eight teams of eight, there were a myriad of big-brained people there to compete with!  You can bet we will be studying diligently on our trivial, senseless facts for the next time.  Please note:  We scored very high in the ‘cartoon category’….that might tell you a little more about our mental state of mind.

The main thing is we had dog-gone great time!  We had a nice little meal, a couple of adult beverages, our ducky head gear, our ducky necklaces and our ducky light-up-power rings!  It was perfect!  I believe where we went wrong, was that we didn’t print some personalized lucky ducky T-Shirts – well that, and we couldn’t seem to answer any of the questions correctly.  Maybe we should hit the books next time? 

Put the next Dog-Eat-Dog event on your list as a must do! 

What a great way to help out a wonderful cause and have a ton of fun in the process!  I was pleased to find out that they raised $10,000 !  Way to go gang!  Visit their site often to see when and where all their events will be.  Please consider a donation of both your time and/or money.  It’s just the ducky thing to do!!  (You can soon see the winners and photos from the evening on their site too)

Hey, don’t forget, you can get your own cool team shirts from us!  Please give us, Exceptional Specialty Products, a call at 866-943-4377!  We’d love to help you with your crazy design!

Okay….gotta go study!! 

 

It's a Dog-Eat-Dog World

If you don’t like cute, cuddly animals and having fun for good causes, don’t read this.

Thursday night (April 14th) is Dog-Eat-Dog Trivia Night.  It’s a fund raiser for The Pet Project Mid-West.  Dog-Eat-Dog trivia nights are very popular and I’ve heard are an absolute hoot to go to.  I’ve not been to one before, but, being a lover of all things furry and feathered, I think it’s about time I showed up. 

So I gathered seven of my craziest (and hopefully smartest) ‘Exceptional Specialty Products’ co-workers & friends, came up with the fearsome team name of “Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies” (don’t ask), and are now ready to tackle the toughest of questions!

For those of you who do not know The Pet Project and what they do, allow me to explain.  As you know, times are tough.  Gas prices are soaring, utilities and food are all so expensive, it’s difficult enough just to keep our human family fed, let alone our furry family.

Some families are in the position of having to make a choice…keep the kids or the pets.  (It’s against the law to get rid of the kids) so, sadly, many times Fido has to go.  This is not a good thing.  No one wants to give up their beloved pet.  That’s where The Pet Project and their amazing Pet Pantry comes in!  They help feed families’ pets until they can get back on their feet.    

They are able to do this with your generous donations of money, kitty litter, dog, cat and bird food.  They’ll even accept some of your time if you’d like to volunteer for them from time to time! 

Another great tool the Pet Project has, is a missing pet alert system.  If you find, or if you have lost a pet, go immediately to Iowa Pet Alert and report it.  The message will instantly go out via several different social media venues, texts and emails. Many pets have been reunited via Iowa Pet Alert!

We at ESP just love The Pet Pantry.  Not only because they’re clients of ours, but because they’re doing good things in our community – they truly care for families and their pets and have a deep desire to keep them together.

So…just for kicks and giggles…grab a friend or two and head to Dog-Eat-Dog Thursday night (April 14th).  Food, friends and silly fun, all going to a most wonderful cause!  If you can’t go, please visit their site and find out other ways you can help!

Now where did I put my duck hat…?

 

Mom and Pop

March 29^th was National Mom and Pop Business Owner’s Day.  I was thinking about it…  what beautiful little jewels we have tucked here and there all around our city!  Mom and pop businesses have been around forever.  They are the backbone of our society.  Most big businesses started out small…very likely they started out as a ‘mom and pop’ business too.

What I love best about them?  I love the good feeling I get when I walk in the door.  I’m always greeted with a warm smile and a big ‘hello’!  And….they are always willing to go the extra mile to meet your needs - I know I'm going to be treated right.  Sometimes they’re a little more expensive than the huge box stores, but the personal service and quality I receive far out weigh a little extra cost. 

The other thing I love….they’re local.  It’s so important to shop local and keep our communities thriving.  Not just during the Downtown Farmer's Market, but all year and all types of local businesses!  No matter how you look at it, it’s a win/win situation all the way around! When we have such wonderful businesses, outdoor markets and restaurants right here in our own city, why would we ever want to go anywhere else?

So next time you’re in the market for some t-shirts, logoed apparel or any kind of promotional product, please consider giving us, Exceptional Specialty Products (ESP for short) a call at 866-943-4377.  We’re located in Urbandale – part of the Golden Circle of Des Moines, Iowa….and WE EVEN have a ‘Mom and Pop’ here!  (we avoid calling them ‘mom and pop’ though…just seems too weird – even for us)

ESP…We Know What You Want!

 

Popular?

What is POPULAR may not necessarily be what is true.  However, sometimes what is popular is true enough.  Because we believe it is true, it is true to that degree.  Lots of agreement sure changes how something is viewed.

 

According to Dictionary.com – Popular:  regarded with favor, approval or affection by people in general:

 

A few popular ideas...which may not be 100% true as is often thought or believed...

Water drains backwards in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Earth's rotation.

A penny dropped from the top of a tall building could kill a pedestrian.

Lightning never strikes the same place twice.

You get less wet by running, rather than walking in the rain.

 

And in the end, like I said, it doesn't necessarily matter what is actually true.  It matters more what people think about it.

So, after saying all that, one thing I know for sure is true…Exceptional Specialty Products is here to serve all your promotional needs, whether it’s embroidered apparel, T-Shirts for your team, pens, koozies, water bottles and anything else you can think of!  We’re here to help you Strut Your Stuff!

Call today - 866-943-4377 and ask for Kelli.

 

ESP…We Know What You Want!

 

 

The Facts of Life...

There aren’t many guarantees in life, but here are a few…

Fact:  While standing at the kitchen sink cleaning chicken for your dinner, with chicken goo all over your hands, you will get an itch on your face, head or other private body part…it’s guaranteed.

 

Fact:  While getting ready to go some place nice, if you dress your child first and leave them to play ‘quietly by themselves’ while you ready yourself.  It’s guaranteed that they will find mud, chocolate or the cat’s litter box to play in.

 

Fact:  If you wash your car today, it will rain tomorrow….even if there is no rain in the forecast for a week!

 

 

Fact:  While looking for an important document in a large stack of papers, the paper you are looking for will be at the very bottom of the pile. 

 

Fact:  If your sweet little doggy has a little accident on the carpet, it’s just a given that you will step in it if you’re only wearing socks.

 

Fact:  Purchasing your T-Shirts, embroidered apparel and any other logoed items from Exceptional Specialty Products will cause smiles and happiness.  Call Kelli today at 866-943-4377.

ESP…We Know What You Want!