Come summertime and there is a flurry of libraries attempting to inculcate a love of reading among school children by starting summer reading programs. These reading programs are a commendable effort by public libraries to get school children to get into the habit of reading in their free time.

Libraries choose the summer to start reading programs for a couple of reasons. For one thing, students who need extra help or personal attention are able to receive it. Another advantage of summer reading programs is that they are not held in school buildings. This helps the children to perceive the reading as fun instead of academic or boring. Summer reading programs also allow the teachers to experiment a little regarding the various ways they can make reading more interesting for children.

According to a study conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, students who are recreational readers academically out-perform those who aren’t. The study also states that voluntary reading helps students become better spellers, readers and writers. Therefore, getting more students to join these programs will only be beneficial for their future.

If you are interested in increasing the attendance at your reading program but aren’t sure where to start, then imprinted promotional products are a good idea. Handing out Brass Slide Bookmarks, imprinted with your logo, to school children will not only ensure that they remember you, it’ll also see to it that they give the program more than a passing thought. For students who have almost made up their mind to join but need a final push, these Photo Bookmarks will make the program more personal (and, therefore, more real) for them.

Rewards for achievements make any program more fun. As students advance through the program, give them fun items like journals and jotters. If the members of your program are middle and high school children, you could encourage them to write out whatever they like about the books they read in the journals. They could also conduct some research and make a list of books they are interested in reading.

And don’t forget about the parents! Parents are critical to a strong reading program. Children won’t learn to enjoy books if their parents don’t encourage this. Try giving parents an imprinted gift like an unusual desk clock to remind them to make time for reading.

Summer reading programs are an excellent way to introduce children to the magical world of books in a relaxed and informal manner. It’s the best gift you can give the kids of your town.

Without needing to research too far, it can be assumed what some of the top-selling promotional products are across the world: pens, shirts, coffee mugs, water bottles. They are great products, in and of themselves, useful and often-used. But sometimes it seems everyone has promotional pens to give away!

This is why it is key to set your promotional product giveaways apart from the rest. It does not necessarily have to be by giving away an “out there” or completely random item. Instead, think about the way you present the free gift to your recipients. If you’ve got a selection of custom-imprinted pens, don’t just throw three of them in a bag; show your recipients all the pens you have available and allow them to choose which ones they would like. By doing something as simple as this, you are making the entire giveaway that much more personal in the most subtle, unsuspecting way possible. You are indirectly encouraging your clients to show a tiny piece of their personalities to you while also making it known that you put a little more thought into these promotional handouts.

The same idea goes for promotional items such as T-shirts. Most companies tend to give away promotional shirts in a couple of generically large sizes, keeping the idea in mind that it’s easier to receive something that’s too large than too small. However, offering a variety of shirts in sizes to accommodate all of your recipients is an easy way to impress them with your consideration. By being able to supply your clients with their favorite T-shirt size, it will not be just another promotional T-shirt that’s four sizes too big and sits in their sock drawer, buried at the bottom. They may actually wear it.

All of these “outside the box” ideas can be tweaked to suit your promotional product needs. It’s just about putting a spin on the everyday, same-old, same-old promotional products so your efforts as a company stand out and shine.

Watching the space shuttle lift off to a new mission at the International Space Center or the Hubble Space Telescope reminds us all of one of the more inspiring American dreams. It seems logical that an organization that builds the space shuttle would sell souvenirs that are American-made as well. Somewhat surprisingly, many of the souvenirs you can find on a NASA tour are not made in the U.S.A.

Manufacturing products in the United States provides a lot of people job opportunities that they might not otherwise have. And there is some inherent value in simply being able to state that your product is American-made, as that’s one of the top things consumers are seeking.

If you look, you’ll find there are still some products that are manufactured in America, and other companies are following this practice by marketing new products or entire product lines that are solely made in America. The importance of “Made in the U.S.A.” has also hit the promotional products industry and many companies have now started marketing those products. So with the Fourth of July reminding us all of our patriotism, keep your eyes open for the latest “Made in the U.S.A.” products.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the top reason people leave a job is because they do not feel appreciated. Many companies give “Employee of the Month” awards, but is that enough positive recognition to make employees satisfied in their place of employment?

The “Employee of the Month” award is an old standby. While it recognizes individuals, it often makes some other employees feel overlooked, mainly because there are no specific standards to meet. At worst, it’s nothing more than a “manager’s pet” popularity contest. Yet studies show that it is critical to recognize employees for their good work. There’s a direct link between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction, and between customer satisfaction and improved financial performance, studies say. So what kind of recognition will satisfy employees?

More often than not, a simple “good job” or “congratulations” from a peer or supervisor can go a long way. A written thank you or compliment is even better, especially when it’s from upper level workers and it’s genuine and heartfelt. Often tangible rewards lead to a higher level of satisfaction. It’s best to set up a program for recognition that clearly constitutes what is rewardable behavior within the company. For instance, set standards for achievement, then have a rewards ceremony with certificates or employee gifts. Or start a sales competition and offer a bonus or a prize. Rewarding positive behavior is a great way to encourage positive attitudes in the workplace as well as decent or superior efforts in doing their jobs.

Positive reinforcement must start at the top, though it shouldn’t stop there. CEOs and supervisors alike should begin the chain of recognition. Over time, the company as a whole will develop a firm understanding that each employee should participate in recognizing accomplishments and hard work in the workplace.

In a recent Maritz Poll, only 10 percent of 1,000 full-time employees surveyed strongly agree that they are completely satisfied with their company’s employee recognition efforts. What would employees of your company say?

How many times have you heard that the job market is suffering? It’s probably been mentioned in any conversation about the horrible economy, which seems to come up every other second. However, according to a survey by Monster, the online job board, the job market may not be as bad as you have been led to believe.

According to the survey of more than 820 large employers and 6,000 soon-to-be college graduates, 72 percent of employers plan to hire college graduates this year, compared to 64 percent last year. And college graduates are feeling confident about their prospects: 82 percent expect to receive at least one job offer by the time they graduate.

So, as an employer, what can you do to make sure that you are at the top of the job pool in terms of recruiting worthy employees?

Start with a plan. Know what you are looking for in a potential employee and what kind of benefits come with the opportunity to work at your company. Benefits do not necessarily mean medical and dental, although those aren’t bad; it can also mean nearby attractions such as lakes or ski resorts, or a discount to a local gym or spa. Capitalize on what you have to offer so that a potential employee will see it as well.

Next, you should bring something new to the table. After setting up an interview, you should be ready to show the interviewee why your company will be unlike any other place where they have interviewed or applied. A good way to do this is to bring a promotional product as an interview gift, such as a custom-printed desk caddy or flash drive. Interviewees will be impressed at your thoughtfulness. And the right products will go a long way in branding your company in their minds as a smart and fun place to work.

Try these two simple tips while showing your enthusiasm for what you do, and those recent college grads should have no problem seeing why your company should be their top choice.