new and noteworthy products

Real Grassroots

The GreenWorld Project, Cohasset, MN, offers a menu of starter plants for use in premium campaigns or as event giveaways. The choices includes evergreen seedlings housed in clear, logo-stamped tubes, birdfeeder plants sporting customized messages, and 10-inch baby trees (pictured) shipped in burlap bags with announcement cards. Turnaround time is 21 days. Prices range from $2 per (for the tubed seedling) to $4 per (for the birdfeeder tree), depending on selection and volume. For more information, call 800-825-5122 or head to greenworldproject.com.

Baggage Claim

Plainfield, NJ -based Tumi recently introduced a full line of bags, suitcases, and carry-ons for use in both business-to-business and consumer promotions. Although the luggage itself can't be embroidered or logoed, Tumi will create customized luggage tags bearing corporate messaging. Minimum custom order quantity is five pieces. Prices generally range from $100 to $600 per item, depending on selection. Turnaround time is three weeks. For more information, call 800-669-3181 or e-mail pmitchell@tumi.com.

Sales Lift

A compressed air chamber gives users of the Oh!Go! pogo stick a bounce guaranteed to be two-feet higher than traditional pogos offer. The aluminum item, available through Lancaster, PA-based InSight, can be customized with logos on the shaft. It folds up to measure just 23 inches in length, and comes complete with a shoulder strap and the all-important air pump. Minimum order quantity is 1,000 pieces. Turnaround time is six weeks. Prices run around $35 per. For more information, call 717-892-2037.

Motor Mouths

Customized radio-controlled vehicles from Plano, TX-based Nikko America are more sophisticated than what you played with as a kid — options include digital proportional steering, actual front and rear suspensions, and rear differentials — and maybe more fun. Design your own from hundreds of stock molds (including the Hummer and boat pictured here), and add colors and decals. Prices range from $7 to $120 per. (You think digital proportional steering comes cheap?). Minimum quantity is 250 units on custom orders and turnaround is a month. For more information, call 972-422-0838 ext. 323, or log onto nikkousa.com.

Cake Walk

Altoona, PA-based Celebration in a Box delivers its eponymous product via overnight mail. Inside is a nine-inch-wide, pre-sliced cake (there are several varieties to choose from), a light-activated greeting card that plays a musical tune, paper plates and plastic utensils, party horns, and ribbons. A Styrofoam container keeps things fresh during shipment. Turnaround time is two days, and prices start at $48 per box (shipping included). For more information, call 800-884-CAKE or crash celebrationinabox.com.