7 Custom Stress Relievers That Aren’t the Same Old Stress Ball

There is nothing necessarily wrong with a traditional round stress ball.

But there is also nothing particularly memorable about receiving the 14th one with a different company logo printed on it.

The same goes for foam footballs, basketballs and baseballs. They have their place, but if your goal is to get people talking about your business, why not give them something a little more interesting?

That's where custom stress relievers get fun.

Stress relievers can be shaped like characters, cupcakes, ice cream cones, coffee cups and all sorts of unexpected objects. That gives a small business an opportunity to choose a promotional product that actually connects to its brand, customers or marketing message.

And because these are the types of items people tend to leave sitting on desks, counters and workstations, your logo has an opportunity to stick around after the promotion is over.

Here are seven fun custom stress relievers that are anything but ordinary.

1. Smilin' Mood Stress Dude

This little guy already has more personality than most promotional products.

The Smilin' Mood Stress Dude is a character-shaped stress reliever with a smiling face, hair and thumbs-up hands. Even better, the material changes color from the heat of your hand when squeezed. The product is approximately 3 inches tall and has a minimum quantity of 100.

That color-changing feature gives businesses an easy marketing hook.

A counseling practice, insurance agency, CPA firm or financial planner could hand these out with a message like "Don't Stress. We've Got This."

Imagine a CPA giving them to clients during tax season. A mortgage company could use them during the home-buying process. An insurance agent could hand them out at community events. A dentist could give them to nervous patients.

You could even turn the character into a recurring part of your marketing. Give your Stress Dude a name, feature him in social posts, and hand out the physical version to customers.

That's considerably more memorable than, "Here's another blue foam ball with our phone number."

2. MopTopper Stress Ball

Here's where a stress reliever can become a conversation starter.

The MopTopper Stress Ball combines the familiar squeeze of a stress reliever with a much more attention-grabbing character design. Instead of looking like generic desk clutter, it has personality.

That makes it especially fun for businesses where employees and customers spend time at desks.

A local IT company could run a "Computer Problems Making You Pull Your Hair Out?" campaign. Give customers a MopTopper and pair it with a card featuring your support number.

Hair salons could have even more fun with the obvious hair connection. Hand one out after appointments with a referral offer. Staffing agencies could use them at job fairs with a message such as "Pulling Your Hair Out Looking for the Right Employee?"

They're also great for trade show booths. Put a pile on the table and you've already created something people want to pick up and inspect.

That's exactly what you want from a promotional giveaway.

3. Super Heroine Stress Reliever

Not every hero wears a cape.

Actually, this one does.

The Super Heroine Stress Reliever gives businesses an opportunity to build an entire appreciation campaign around the people who keep their organization running.

Think about a veterinary clinic celebrating its vet techs. A medical practice could recognize nurses and administrative staff. A school could celebrate teachers. A real estate brokerage could recognize its support team. A small business could surprise employees during Employee Appreciation Day.

Instead of simply printing the company logo, build the campaign around a message:

"Our Team Is Full of Superheroes."

Or give them to customers:

"Thanks for Being One of Our Super Customers."

This is also an interesting option for women-owned businesses and organizations hosting women's networking events, leadership conferences or recognition programs.

The product becomes more than a giveaway because the shape itself reinforces the message.

That is one of the biggest advantages of choosing unusual custom stress relievers.

4. Beer Mug Stress Reliever

Here's one that practically begs for a fun marketing campaign.

The Beer Mug Stress Reliever, complete with a frothy foam top and mug handle, is a natural fit for breweries, bars, restaurants, liquor stores, beverage distributors and companies sponsoring happy hours or networking events.

A local brewery could hand them out during a new beer release with a message like "Don't Stress. Have a Cold One."

Restaurants could give them away during Oktoberfest promotions, while real estate agents, insurance agencies and other small businesses could use them when sponsoring local beer festivals or brewery events.

They would also make a memorable giveaway for golf tournaments, company picnics and customer appreciation events where adult beverages are part of the festivities.

Instead of another promotional item that has nothing to do with the event, the beer mug shape gives you an immediate connection between the giveaway, the occasion and your brand.

5. Cupcake Stress Reliever

This one practically writes the marketing campaign for you.

The Cupcake Stress Reliever is a fun fit for bakeries, restaurants, cafés, event planners, wedding vendors and any business that wants to associate its brand with celebrations.

A local bakery could hand one out with large catering or birthday orders.

Print your logo on the stress reliever and attach a small card:

"Life Is What You Bake It."

Or:

"Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backwards."

That second one might earn permanent desk space all by itself.

Wedding planners could put them into bridal show giveaway bags. Insurance agencies could hand them out around customer birthdays. Banks and credit unions could use them for anniversary celebrations. An apartment community could distribute them during resident appreciation events.

You could also use the cupcake as part of a referral promotion. Give customers one with a card offering a discount or bonus when they refer a friend.

The shape makes the promotion feel intentional instead of looking like you picked a random promotional product out of a catalog.

6. Ice Cream Cone Stress Reliever

Few things say summer quite like an ice cream cone.

The Ice Cream Cone Stress Reliever gives small businesses a natural promotional product for summer campaigns, festivals, tourism promotions and community events.

Ice cream shops are the obvious choice, but they're far from the only one.

A real estate agent could sponsor an ice cream truck at a neighborhood event and give these away with a "Here's the Scoop on the Local Real Estate Market" card.

That's a promotional campaign people might actually remember.

Hotels, resorts and tourism businesses could use them during summer vacation season. HVAC contractors could create a "Stay Cool This Summer" promotion. Pool companies could distribute them at home shows. Pediatric dental offices could use them for summer giveaways.

They could even work for a local bank:

"Here's the Scoop on Better Savings."

The key is matching the product with a message.

Once you start thinking that way, a simple stress reliever becomes part of a complete marketing campaign rather than just another item with your logo on it.

7. To Go Coffee Cup Stress Reliever

Now we're speaking the language of offices everywhere.

The To Go Coffee Cup Stress Reliever is shaped like a miniature takeaway coffee cup. It's made from polyurethane and measures approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter by 3 3/4 inches tall.

This one has tremendous potential because coffee is already part of so many people's daily routines.

Coffee shops could obviously use them as loyalty rewards or promotional giveaways. But think beyond cafés.

A local insurance agency could create:

"Relax. We've Got You Covered."

A CPA firm could use:

"Tax Season Got You Stressed?"

A business consultant might go with:

"Let's Talk Business Over Coffee."

Real estate agents could include them in closing gifts. Coworking spaces could hand them to new members. HR departments could put them in employee welcome kits. Banks could use them at morning networking events.

Here's another fun idea for a small business: partner with a local coffee shop.

Buy 250 or 500 custom coffee cup stress relievers and have the coffee shop give them to the first customers one morning. Include your branding and a special offer.

Now you're combining a promotional product with another local business, coffee and a surprise giveaway.

That's a lot more interesting than mailing another postcard.

The Best Custom Stress Relievers Have a Reason Behind the Shape

This is the part I think businesses often miss.

Don't choose a weird-shaped stress reliever simply because it's weird.

Choose one because you can do something with the shape.

A cupcake can become a customer birthday campaign.

An ice cream cone can become a summer promotion.

A coffee cup can become a morning networking giveaway.

A superhero can become an employee appreciation campaign.

A mole can become a skin cancer awareness promotion.

A crazy-haired character can reinforce a "Don't Pull Your Hair Out" message.

When the shape, message and audience all work together, the promotional product makes sense.

That's much more powerful than taking a generic round stress ball, adding your logo and hoping someone keeps it.

Featured Products

Smilin' Mood Stress Dude

Item # 506171

$4.40 - $5.39Min Qty: 100

MopTopper™ Stress Ball

Item # 518694

$3.19 - $3.82Min Qty: 100

Super Heroine Stress Reliever

Item # 521496

$3.27 - $3.92Min Qty: 100

Super Hero Stress Reliever

Item # 521495

$3.27 - $3.92Min Qty: 100

Cupcake Stress Reliever

Item # 517167 30A

$2.60 - $3.12Min Qty: 100

Ice Cream Cone Stress Reliever

Item # 517143 32B

$2.54 - $3.04Min Qty: 100

To Go Coffee Cup Stress Reliever

Item # 517141 90A

$2.87 - $3.44Min Qty: 100

Beer Mug Stress Reliever

Item # 517168 10A

$3.05 - $3.66Min Qty: 100

Don't Be Afraid to Have Some Fun With Your Promotional Products

Promotional products don't always have to be serious.

In fact, sometimes a little personality is exactly what gets your brand noticed.

Perfect Imprints offers more than 130 styles of custom stress relievers and stress balls, ranging from traditional shapes to some pretty unusual options.

The goal isn't necessarily to find the cheapest thing you can squeeze your logo onto.

Find the item that creates the best connection between your business and the person receiving it.

If you're a bakery, give them a cupcake.

If you're an HVAC contractor, help them "stay cool."

If you're a CPA, give them something to squeeze during tax season.

And if you're still considering the plain round stress ball?

We can probably find you something more fun.

Browse the custom stress relievers from Perfect Imprints, or contact Patrick at Perfect Imprints, and he'll help you find a stress reliever that actually fits your business and your next promotion.