Dublin Core
Title
Promotional Items
Subject
Business
Description
Name recognition is a key to a business’ success. Small novelties were a cost effective way for businesses to get their name into customers' homes. Some items related to the business directly - like a water cup from a spring water business. Others were meant to be silly - like the pencil holder from The Big Shoe Store. The goal for each item was to build positive name recognition for a business.
Assembled here are:
Bethesda Spring, collapsible cup
Bell View Cleaner, perpetual calendar
Biebel’s True Value Hardware, paint stir stick
Big Shoe, pencil holder
Creighton Barrows Warehouse Furniture, yardstick
Dale Chevrolet, yardstick
Home Supply & Building Materials Inc, yardstick
J.K. Randle & Son Furniture & Undertaking, yardstick
Mamayek Ace Hardware, yardstick
Randall’s Furniture, ashtray
Spring City Laundry, thermometer
Items like the ashtray reflect when they were created. Though smoking was once a common and even promoted habit, anti-smoking campaigns shifted public perception by the late 20th century. Yardsticks and paint stir sticks can still be found at many hardware and furniture stores, as both practical and promotional items for customers.
In the 21st century trends, for promotional items have shifted towards pens, keychains, bottle openers, koozies, small thumb drives, and pop-sockets for smartphones.
Donor:
Adopt an Artifact Sponsor: Citizens Bank
Assembled here are:
Bethesda Spring, collapsible cup
Bell View Cleaner, perpetual calendar
Biebel’s True Value Hardware, paint stir stick
Big Shoe, pencil holder
Creighton Barrows Warehouse Furniture, yardstick
Dale Chevrolet, yardstick
Home Supply & Building Materials Inc, yardstick
J.K. Randle & Son Furniture & Undertaking, yardstick
Mamayek Ace Hardware, yardstick
Randall’s Furniture, ashtray
Spring City Laundry, thermometer
Items like the ashtray reflect when they were created. Though smoking was once a common and even promoted habit, anti-smoking campaigns shifted public perception by the late 20th century. Yardsticks and paint stir sticks can still be found at many hardware and furniture stores, as both practical and promotional items for customers.
In the 21st century trends, for promotional items have shifted towards pens, keychains, bottle openers, koozies, small thumb drives, and pop-sockets for smartphones.
Donor:
Adopt an Artifact Sponsor: Citizens Bank
Publisher
Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum
Date
20th Century
Rights
Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum