The History Of It!
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Although commemorative badges were used in the election campaign of George Washington in 1789, it was not until the late 1800s that the concept of promotional products was used to their full effect as they are today.

The man responsible for this was Jasper Freemont Meek of Coshocton, Ohio. In 1886, as a way to utilise his Newspaper's printing machine and workforce whilst they lay idle during weekly editions he approached a friend of his, Mr. Cantwell of Cantwell Shoes, about an idea to increase customer turnover, name recognition and sales figures.

The idea was to place the phrase "Buy Cantwell's Shoes" on burlap book bags, which he thought of after seeing a schoolboy dropping his books in the Main Street mud. Giving them away free to children meant that eventually the bags were seen all over town.

Mr. Meek and Mr. Cantwell both gained from the benefits as a result.
Indeed, Jasper Meek followed the Cantwell Shoes campaign with other products including horse blankets, marble bags, cobb pipes, fly swatters and wooden rules all imprinted with the messages of local merchants.

He was very successful...!

In just over a year, Mr. Meek went on sell his newspaper enterprise and devote his time on a promotional product specific company, called Tuscarora Advertising Co.

::: Did you know..? :::
Promotional product marketing fits into any budget, compliments other media, can be directed to to selected audiences and remains to repeat the advertising message, without added cost, each time the advertising vehicle is used!

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