For as long as there has been something to sell -- enticements have been used to lure the buyer to purchase the product.
Signs on the stores, ads in the newspaper, and billboards posted on the wall have all been used to sell goods over time.
But it was in the late
nineteenth century that promotional items became popular,
as advertising premiums arrived on the market.
According to "Warman's Americana", that is the time period when mirrors, paperweights and trade cards started to appear.
Then it was shortly after the turn of the century when the advertising character started to develop as a trademark for a company.
Today advertising collectibles are stronger than ever. Many companies now produce items that are just for the collectors market, not
only to advertise their product -- although it certainly does both. Coca Cola and Harley Davidson are two companies that come to mind.
Both have a huge number of assorted items sporting their logos -- including dolls, toys, die cast, pottery and clothing.
One new category of advertising collectibles surfaced a few years ago when the Beanie Baby fad turned millions into collectors.
Dozens of companies jumped on the bandwagon and turned their character icons into bean bag plush! Cute, small and relatively
inexpensive, these collectibles are now in a category of their own.
There are several ways to purchase or find these premiums. Many items are licensed to third parties
and sold in the retail market, but I've always felt the true "advertising premium" is one
that is free -- a giveaway, ephemera, or used to advertise the products e.g. signs, etc.
Also included in my list for true premiums would be stuff that
is bought with a coupon,
UPCs or box tops from the product, or only available via direct purchase from the company.
These usually are highly sought after as many of the offers are not nationwide, but regional.
Of course with the advent of the Internet and eBay, collectors can easily find those
regional items.
If you like the advertising bean bags, take a little time and surf around a bit.
Find the company's official web site and check out the company store, where you'll probably find all
sorts of fun advertising goodies.
The bean bags shown here are all ones that I found by searching company sites.
Shown are:
Heinz bean bags are fun favorites with the Ketchup packet is wearing a "leather jacket" emblazoned on the back with
Leather of the Packet.
Everyone knows the Goodyear Blimp and one I had to have in my collection.
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