A Perfect Promo Product for Each State - Part One

Today, we're going to share some items that are perfect for airports, bus stations, train stations, souvenir shops, tourist attractions, and any other business even remotely connected to the travel industry. This article is the first in a five part series that offers a promotional product for each and every one of our 50 great states. We'll be writing this series featuring the states in the order in which they entered the union. That means that part one will cover the first 10 states to become part of the USA. These include, in order, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Virginia. 

Along with featuring a great promotional product to provide souvenirs for state fair visitors and attract potential visitors to your state, we'll also throw in a few fun facts along the way. With that said, let's get started!

Delaware - Entered the Union: December 7, 1787

Delaware has the honor and distinction of being the first state to become a state. It ratified the US Constitution and therefore entered the Union on December 7, 1787. It's the second smallest state in the country (after Rhode Island) and is the only state that doesn't have an airport offering commercial passenger service. Despite its small size, it is the official home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state, housing a whopping 67.8%. It has no sales tax and very friendly business laws, which is why more corporations register there than anywhere else in the USA. It has two main nicknames. The first one "The Blue Hen State", in honor of its state bird, the Delaware Blue Hen. For obvious reasons, it is also known as "The First State". 

It's in honor of the latter nickname that we suggest our #1 Shaped Soft Squeezable Key Tag as the official 4AllPromos product for Delaware. These custom #1 shaped keychains are formed in the shape of the number 1. Fun and affordable, they're soft, squeezable, and come in a variety of different colors. They have a minimum order quantity of 500, making them ideal for large scale giveaways. That's why they're a great fit for a truck stop, tourist center, state park, or anywhere people might stop and seek out a souvenir of their trip to the great state of Delaware.

2. Pennsylvania - Entered the Union: December 12, 1787

Pennsylvania was the second colony to achieve statehood, doing so on December 12, 1787. It was beaten out for the honor of being the first state by Delaware, missing the title by a mere 5 days. Its nickname is "The Keystone State", owing to its pivotal role in establishing the country. A keystone is the most important stone in an arch, as it holds all of the others in place. Many of the key events that led to the formation of the USA took place in Pennsylvania, so this nickname is well-earned. In fact, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, served as our national capital from 1790 through 1800.  The Gettysburg address, one of the most famous speeches in history, was delivered by Abraham Lincolon in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863. In addition the first true computer was invented in Pennsylvania in 1946.

As a fitting promotional product for Pennsylvania, we've chosen our Clear Acrylic USA Made Bell Shaped Ornament. This item can be used to pay homage to the Liberty Bell, which is located in Philadelphia. Since it's made in the USA, it also gives a nod to Pennsylvania's very important place in our nation's history. These ornaments are made from clear acrylic and are built with durability and longevity in mind. Each comes with a strong silver colored hanging cord and is fully customizable with your full color imprint. They're perfect for a gift shop, holiday supply store, garden center, or museum.

3. New Jersey - Entered the Union: December 18, 1787

Six days after Pennsylvania became a state, New Jersey entered the Union as our third state. Along with Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, it is part of the Mid-Atlantic state group. New Jersey's nicknames include "The Garden State", "The Clam State", and "The Gateway to the Revolution". Unlike most early states, whose boundaries have shifted around quite a bit, New Jersey's borders remain almost the same today as they were when the state was first established. New Jersey has the highest population density of any state, is home to 21 counties, features some of the best classic train car style diners in the country, and holds some of the most popular vacation destinations in the country. Atlantic City, Ocean City, and much of the Jersey Shore see some of the highest tourism traffic of any region in America.

The official 4AllPromos product of New Jersey is the Grow Your Own Wildflower Garden Kit. These promotional wildflower grow kits are a reference to the state's most prominent nickname, which, as we've already stated, is "The Garden State". Each kit is held inside of a recycled 6 count egg carton and contains three packs of seeds, starter soil, and blank wood plant identification stakes. Poppies, Dwarf Sunflowers, and Impatiens can all be grown using these kits, which are wrapped up in a fully customizable, full color belly band. Offer them in gift shops, at nurseries, state fairs & festivals, farmer's markets, state parks & more for a beautiful souvenir.

4. Georgia - Entered the Union: January 2, 1788

The good people of Georgia had much to celebrate with the New Year in 1788, as Georgia became the fourth state on January 2nd of that year. It's the largest state east of the Mississippi River and also has the most counties east of the Mississippi with 159. It was founded as a colony by James Oglethorpe, who wished for it to serve as a safe haven for English subjects who'd been sent to prison over debts, as well as other upstanding people who struggled financially. It has numerous nicknames, with "The Peach State", "The Goober State", and "The Empire State of the South" being among the 3 most famous. The first two refer to its abundance of peaches and peanuts. The third was earned in the pre-Civil War period, due to Georgia's large size and booming economy from the textile industry.

To celebrate Georgia and help any businesses in the state who wish to promote based on their state pride, we suggest our Peach Recycled Tire Coaster. Fun, eco-friendly, and a great way to advertise Georgia's delicious peaches, these peach shaped recycled tire coasters will be a very popular souvenir item. Truck stops, farm markets, produce wholesalers, and many other businesses can advertise with these items to both tourists and local customers. They're made from 100% post consumer recycled tires and are virtually indestructible. They're black in color, but can be imprinted with a one-color logo, with multiple color imprints being available for an upgrade fee on orders of 500 units or more. 

5. Connecticut - Entered the Union: January 9, 1788

Connecticut became a state on January 9, 1788, bringing the number of states in our country up to a fabulous five. It was the first New England state to enter the union, being followed later on by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. It's the third smallest state in the country and is home to ESPN, the first helicopter flight, the PEZ Museum, America's first steel mill, and, of course, the headquarters of 4AllPromos! It has quite a few nicknames, with "The Constitution State", "The Nutmeg State", "The Land of Steady Habit", and "The Provisions State". Though it's now known as a blue state for its progressive politics, it was once known as "The Blue Law State'' due to the strict and no-nonsense nature of its Puritan settlers. Yet another nickname is "The Brownstone State", since stone taken from its quarries form many of the brownstone buildings, bridges, and other structures found around the nation. 

The product we've chosen to represent Connecticut is our White Oak Pen. These discount custom printed ballpoint pens can be used to reference Connecticut's state tree, which is the White Oak. Legend states that the Royal Charter of 1662 was once hidden in the trunk of a White Oak tree. Signed by King Charles II of England, this document provided Connecticut with the right to self-govern. In 1687, King James II sought to seize it in order to return control of the colony back to England, which is why it was said to be stashed away in what came to be known as the Charter Oak Tree. This remains a symbol of Connecticut to this day. Historical societies and museums can honor the legend with these pens, which have white barrels and come in your choice of assorted accent colors. They operate via a simple click mechanism and come with refillable ink cartridges. Each is imprinted on the barrel and can also, for an upgrade fee, be imprinted on the clip.

6. Massachusetts - Entered the Union: February 6, 1788

Massachusetts gained statehood on February 6, 1788, following Connecticut in representing New England. It is home to New England's only professional sports teams in the "Big Four" leagues, with the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and Bruins all calling Massachusetts home. Like every state, it has its share of nicknames. Some of these include "The Bay State", "The Cod/Codfish State", "The Baked Bean State",  and "The Old Colony State". The navy bean is the official state bean, owing to its popularity in the world-famous Boston Baked Beans. The Mayflower landed in Massachusetts in 1620. It first pulled in at Cape Cod, but then sailed to nearby Plymouth. 

Along with Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky, Massachusetts is one of the four US states with commonwealth status. This term no longer bears any official meaning, but does remain an official part of the names of these states, such as in "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts". In addition to its famous colonial history, Massachusetts also saw the implementation of the first subway system in the USA, which took place in 1898. In deference to the state's rich nautical history, we've chosen our Engraved Pirate Ship Bank to represent Massachusetts. This beautiful kids' money bank has a low minimum order quantity of just 6 units. It is silver in color and boasts a matte non-tarnish finish. They're engraved with your logo and will look great sitting on a mantel, desk, or nightstand. With instant heirloom potential, these items can spread Massachusetts pride for generations to come. 

7. Maryland - Entered the Union: April 28, 1788

Maryland entered the Union as lucky number 7 on April 28, 1788. Its unique shape, extensive, jagged coastline, and impossible-to-forget state flag design all help it to stand out. Two of Maryland's nicknames are "The Old Line State" and "America in Miniature". Maryland has a little bit of everything, including beautiful coastline, rugged mountains, farm-dotted plains, and a mixture of urban, rural, and suburban living. This is where the "America in Miniature" name comes from. George Washington gave it the "Old Line State" moniker, which refers to the Maryland Line soldiers, who fought in great numbers during the Revolutionary War. Its very unique flag gets its design from the shield that was depicted in the Coat of Arms of the Calverts, the family that governed Maryland in its days as a colony.

Today, Maryland is very famous for its largest city, which is Baltimore. The boardwalks in Baltimore as well as those in Ocean City are huge tourist destinations, drawing thousands daily in the spring and summer months. One of the most beloved and famous foods consumed on these boardwalks are Maryland crab cakes. Hence, we've picked our Moving Crab Claw Pen to represent the Old Line State. This amusing novelty pen makes a great souvenir item for any Maryland visitor or a way of showing state pride for a resident. Seafood markets and restaurants, supermarkets, commercial fisheries, aquariums, and more will find these to be the perfect giveaway items. Imprinted with your logo, these pens come in the shape of a crab claw which is able to open and close with the help of a built-in button switch.

8. South Carolina - Entered the Union: May 23, 1788

South Carolina became a part of the USA on May 23, 1788, joining as the 8th state. As Georgia's neighbor to the northeast, it was the second southern state to enter the Union. It's been nicknamed as "The Rice State" and "The Swamp State", though its official nickname is "The Palmetto State", after its state tree. The Sabal Palmetto is a key symbol of the state, even appearing on its flag. Despite North Carolina tending to get more accolades for its barbecue cuisine, the cooking genre actually has its roots in South Carolina. Charleston and Myrtle Beach are two of its most famous cities and are some of the most popular places for tourism on the East Coast. Hilton Head is one of its more famous islands, but another island, Morgan Island, has a large colony of Rhesus monkeys living in the wild. Though humans aren't allowed to travel there, cruise ships often pass by to give tourists a view of the monkey in action, albeit from a safe distance. 

While there were many products to consider for celebrating South Carolina, we ultimately chose to go with our 8 Piece Barbecue Set. These customized BBQ tool sets come in a 600 D polyester carrying case and hold a host of tools for getting the perfect barbecue started. Wooden handles and stainless steel form four skewers, a basting brush, a spatula, grilling fork, and tongs. Restaurants, supermarkets, home goods retailers, visitor centers, culinary schools, and more can offer these products as souvenir items or customized gifts. They'll also do quite well representing any South Carolina company at a trade show.

9. New Hampshire - Entered the Union: June 21, 1788

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire entered the Union as the 9th state. It was also the third New England state to become an official part of the country. Offering a mix of metropolitan living, country life, and beautiful wilderness, New Hampshire is a state that has a lot going for it. Some of its nicknames are "The White Mountain State", "The Granite State", "Mother of the River", and the Switzerland of America". The White Mountain and Switzerland nicknames come from the White Mountain chain, among which is Mt Washington, which has the highest peak in New England and the 6th most prominent isolated peak in North America. Its other nicknames refer to it being home to the source of the Connecticut River and its many granite quarries and formations. 

New Hampshire's motto of "Live Free or Die" can also be applied to its taxation, as it has neither state sales tax nor a state income tax. Alaska is the only other state that can make this claim. Every four years, New Hampshire is the state in which the first presidential primary election takes place. It's the most conservative state in New England, being considered a swing state despite only having 4 electoral votes. New Hampshire is one of the leading states when it comes to paper product. That's why we're choosing to represent it with our Pocket Eco-Note Keepers. These eco-friendly mini notebooks are made from recycled paper and come with a pen that is attached via an elastic loop. They're great for writing down notes while exploring wildlife and for use as mini journals or diaries to document the many fun experiences people are sure to have while vacationing in New Hampshire. 

10. Virginia - Entered the Union: June 25, 1788

Virginia rounds out the ten, as it entered the Union on June 25, 1788, as the tenth state. Virginia has many distinctions, with one of them being the fact that it is the birthplace of more presidents than any other state, with a total of 8. It is also the home of Jamestown, which was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the USA. Its most prominent nickname is "The Old Dominion", which stems from the fact that it held some of England's first overseas territories, as well as its loyalty to England during its Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually Virginia and not Georgia that is the country's leading grower of peanuts. It was originally a much larger territory, with Kentucky and West Virginia both splitting off from it as time went on. 

Since Virginia is also referred to as "The Mother of the Presidents", we found it fitting and proper to make our 12" Plastic Presidents Ruler our official Virginia promotional product. This ruler is a terrific trade show giveaway and is also a great promo product for a school or museum. Each ships 100% free of charge and is made from white plastic. In addition to its standard and metric measuring marks, the ruler also contains pictures of every president in chronological order, as well as displaying the years they spent in office. Your custom imprint is also included. 

This brings us to the end of the first installment in our series of state-themed promotional products. We hope you've had fun reading this and have learned a few new facts in addition to meeting an ideal promotional giveaway to honor your state. If your state wasn't included, don't worry. We're going to cover all 50 within this series. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out and contact us at your convenience.