Stumbling Upon Promotional Products in the World #2
This is the second in a series of blog entries about finding promotional products in day-to-day life. Enjoy!
- Found: Antique store in Colorado
- Item: Slippers
- Promoted Brand: American Airlines
This was a find on a side trip while your A-Z Swagman was on the way to PPAI Expo in January of 2019. I was visiting my mother and step-father in the middle-of-nowhere Colorado with a little extra time and a convenient antique store. These slippers caught my eye partially because of a short period working for American Eagle (regional version of AA). Never having enjoyed a long flight in business or first class, your Swagman has not had the pleasure of receiving comfortable slippers like these, so when I was able to feel the softness . . . let’s just say I may be using some miles for an upgrade on next year’s trip to Expo!
Trying to figure out when these slippers were created has turned out to be more difficult than expected. I found several entries on Ebay which referred to these and similar slippers for PanAm as Vintage, but only one mentioned a date of the 50’s or 60’s. As I don’t know how knowledgeable the seller is, I cannot state that as accurate.
I did find one reference to the early history of Amenity Kits (https://www.loungebuddy.com/blog/amenity-kits-world-introduction/) This seems to at least partially corroborate these items being popular in the 1950’s. One thing we know even today, airlines will brand EVERYTHING!! You’ll see their logo on seats, cups, sugar packets, pillows, bags . . . it doesn’t end! This is a fully-immersed brand experience.
When your A-Z Swagman looked for slippers like these for your modern brands, I’m sorry to say I came up empty! These custom knit, vintage slippers are a thing of the past. There are of course, other slipper styles available.
And then you can always get the modern equivalent: socks. Socks are very popular with all sorts of brands that want to associate with comfort and/or casualness. Socks are available with woven designs, sublimated designs (email your Swagman and I'll explain the technical problem with that name), tall socks, short socks, socks with gripping soles . . . the sky's the limit!!
A-Z Office Resource can help you with branded socks to spread your marketing message! Contact your local A-Z Rep, or email swag@azorinc.com to start the conversation!!
Any products found were obtained legally and photos are of the actual item. Current available items mentioned are subject to availability and prices or specials mentioned in the entry may not be current. Opinions and assumptions of the products shown are exactly that -- educated opinions and assumptions based on years of experience in the graphics and marketing industry, as well as some light online research. Any errors are regrettable and will be corrected as necessary. No offense is intended by any conclusions drawn by your A-Z Swagman. Any feedback from the marketing firms that produced these promotional products will be incorporated into a follow-up blog entry!