Unlike the dreaded supply closet at work, you know the one, where random boxes of cords and adapters and old computer equipment boxes co-mingle with disorganized office supply "spots", the marketing closet is kept behind lock and key. This is the gold mine of company swag. The place where new hires can go crazy and clients get the best of the best. The marketing closet should be as (or almost as) important as the IT closet. Sure, computers keep things running and servers keep things safe and, well, stored, and blah blah blah. But it's the marketing closet that holds all of the company's branded items.

Those jackets, mugs, tshirts, water bottles, cooling towels, memory sticks, BEATS headphones - everything - are valuable pieces of marketing material that you've probably spent a good amount of time and money on. When looking for promotional marketing materials, the joy of opening the box eases some of the stress of the purchase - do I do a one- or two-color imprint, should I get 500 or 1,000, is this the coolest new whatchamjig on the market? After all that searching and deciding is complete, the box arrives, almost to the fanfare of one. But once your team knows the marketing closet has new stuff - your new best friends arrive.

What happens, though, when the marketing closet is unlocked, the door is slowly opened, and you find only a few things remain with an all important conference coming up? Most likely your local promotional item company can help you fulfill a rush order. However, giving the purchase some time allows you to get more for your buck and, more importantly, better quality for your branded items.

Have you taken an inventory of your marketing closet yet? Do you even HAVE a marketing closet? If no to either of those - please do. Those fresh, innovative and fun items need a home - and what better place to be than in the loving arms of your marketing team.

John Wilkinson