Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Schwag

1. What's the most practically useful article of schwag* you've ever received?

Could be the scissors Beast got at a trade show. They're sort of perpetually sharp shears with big padded handles for the hand. They have never let me down over the 8+ years we've had them, cutting everything from paper to credit cards to plants to chicken. Yes, they go in the dishwasher too!

2. What's the most useless schwag you've ever received?

Hmmm... I have a LOT of lanyards. Since I basically NEVER wear a lanyard--except at conferences, etc., when required--they just sit and collect dust. Till I toss them or give them to someone who does use them.

3. What schwag do you receive on a regular basis, and how do you feel about it?

Does free fines at work count as schwag? I use that with virtually every item I check out.

4. What's something that could reasonably be great schwag material but for some reason isn't?

Probably those fines, eh? :-) We do give out coupons for "library money" where I work, which can be used for fines among other things.

5. What the schwag that's physically closest to you right now?

Hmm, I hadn't thought of this, but Beast got a surround-sound DVD-player a few years ago for (something)--credit card or airline points, work anniversary...--and if that counts as schwag, the remote is about 3 feet from me.

* From Wikipedia: Promotional merchandise, promotional items, promotional products, promotional gifts, or advertising gifts, sometimes nicknamed swag or schwag, are articles of merchandise (often branded with a logo) used in marketing and communication programs. They are given away to promote a company, corporate image, brand, or event. These items are usually imprinted with a company’s name, logo or slogan, and given away at trade shows, conferences, and as part of guerrilla marketing campaigns.