It’s in the Bag

LET THE DOMINOES fall. Gas prices are pushing up everything from FedEx and transportation costs to product development and customer service. Companies have begun taking a hard look at even the most constant elements of their budgets to squeeze a little more juice out of the dollar. In a slowing economy, one where promotional products are often seen as perks, there is always the urge to take the road more traveled when it comes to providing items for company meetings and events. Buffet-style eating and bare-bones provisions are held up as the quick fix to saving a few dollars without hurting performance or image, but when it comes to marketing extras, the question is always more of a catch-22.