A Campaign With Juice

A pickle-flavored lip balm promotion is so spot-on that the end buyer adds the product to its line.


In a world of one-off product campaigns and here-today-gone-tomorrow promotions, it’s a nice surprise when a product promotion becomes a regular order on which you can rely.

Last summer, Van Holten’s, a Waterloo, Wisconsin-based pickle manufacturer whose pickles in a pouch are sold around the nation, was approached about developing a dill pickle-flavored lip balm. The company jumped at the offer and began handing out Big Papa Dill Pickle Lip Balms at tradeshows to help make people aware of the company and its products.

The product was such a hit with Van Holten’s customers that it decided to add the lip balm to its product line and sell it in stores. “It kind of evokes the same feeling as our pickles-in-a-pouch,” says Steve Byrnes, president of Van Holten’s. “It’s fun, it’s quirky and we got the same reaction from the lip balm, so we thought it was the perfect extension.”

Does dill-pickle flavored lip balm sound strange to you? “That’s the appeal,” Byrnes says. “It gets a reaction. It’s a novelty. It’s fun, and people who really like pickles are using it. And it’s a really good lip balm.”


Tamma Underwood

YouTube=MC2

Research suggests the future success of viral videos can be deduced using an algorithm.

An Australian researcher has posited a theory that suggests the success or failure of viral web videos can be determined by an algorithm that has roots in Darwin’s theory of evolution, i.e., survival of the fittest.

The algorithm is designed specifically for commercially produced viral movies that are linked to brands, says Dr. Brent Coker of his branded viral movie predictor, or BVMP, in a news release.

Coker, an internet psychologist for the University of Melbourne, claims there are four elements viral videos need to possess in order to have a chance of success. They are: congruency, emotive strength, network-involvement ratio and paired meme synergy. 

Congruency is simply keeping everything aligned with a brand’s existing identity and values. 

Emotive strength relates to the idea that humans process copious amounts of information in a day and that good videos evoke stronger responses than this other information. Stronger responses are brought out through emotion.

Network-involvement concerns whether or not the majority of people in a targeted group find the video relevant. A video that can only be found on YouTube, for example, can have millions of views or none, depending on whether viewers are motivated to find it.

None of these elements work, however, unless accompanied by paired meme synergy, in which certain meme combinations that have proven successful are used. Memes include nostalgia, surprise, anticipation, voyeurism and others. 

Unfortunately, Coker is saving the explanation for the 14 total memes and their optimal combinations for his new book, set to come out later this year. Still, this provides a primer for designing viral campaigns until the book debuts. Or, draw inspiration now from these highly viewed YouTube videos from PPAI members.


Upload Date March 30, 2011 Views 3,107
Los Angeles-based supplier Magic Cubes (UPIC: magicube) lets distributor Bob Levitt, vice president of Tangerine Promotions, do the talking in this product testimonial. 
Watch it.



Upload Date April 7, 2011 Views 30,483
Business service provider Cintas Corporation (UPIC: CINTP001), based in Mason, Ohio, explains what it does through melodically blending the sounds its employees make on the job.
Watch it.



Upload Date June 9, 2011 Views 712
Dallas, Texas-based The Odee Co. (UPIC: ODEE0001) uses stop-motion animation and energetic music to show how fun it is to wear the company’s latest t-shirt design.
Watch it. 



Upload Date September 6, 2011 Views 1,009
Lafayette, Colorado-based business services provider ZOOMCatalog (UPIC: Zoom-cat) teams up with marketing guru and PPAI Expo 2012 speaker Jason Sadler of IWearYourShirt.com to explain why choosing the right promotional product is so important.Watch it.




Tamma Underwood 

A Welcome Kit - Case Study

“Welcome Kit” of Promotional Products Helps Smooth Employee Transition During Office Move and Promotes New Eco-friendly Campaign for Prominent Law Firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Challenge: How to leverage promotional products to help employees feel at home quickly during a time of transition while also introducing new eco-sensitive policies.

With more than 900 lawyers in 13 offices from Abu Dhabi to London, and from Beijing to both coasts of the U.S., Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is one of the largest law firms in the world.

When Akin Gump’s New York City branch outgrew its space and moved to a bigger, better, greener office building (one of the greenest skyscrapers thus far), the Akin Gump HR team had three things in mind. First, they wanted to successfully bring together their 390 employees, who had been physically divided in the old building. Second, they wanted to make everyone feel at home in the new space. And third, the team also wanted to unveil a cool, new “Go Even Greener” campaign inspired by their new office home. That’s when the Akin Gump HR team reached out to a promotional product company  for help in creating a “welcome kit” worthy of accomplishing this multi-faceted feat.

Solution: Jumbo reusable shopping totes, microwaveable 15-ounce coffee mugs and branded LifeSavers candies.

The team’s choices for the kit certainly fit: jumbo reusable shopping tote bags, microwaveable coffee mugs and logoed rolls of LifeSavers candies. The hefty grocery totes, 100 percent recyclable and reusable, in the firm’s traditional blue, are both tear resistant and water repellant, encouraging years’ of use. The 15-ounce microwavable, dishwasher-safe mugs, also in Akin Gump blue, come with comfort-grip handles and rotating, locking signature lids that disassemble for easy cleaning.

Some assembly required. Anticipating the team’s need for help assembling the kits (and to minimize stress—things are busy enough just before a move!) the promotional product company also offered  fulfillment services. This way, the products from various vendors were delivered to the promotional products company warehouse, where their team put the kits together before shipping them to Akin Gump’s new office before the big day arrived.

Result: Less HR stress, happy employees despite a typically tumultuous time of transition—promotional success!

When the employees arrived at the new building on the first day, they were greeted with a breakfast and lunch event—and with their official Akin Gump Welcome Kits—complete with eco-friendly products. The HR team’s manager tells us the kits were a hit: he still sees employees using the bags and mugs everywhere—and when he does, he offers a comment of “Nice mug!” or “Nice bag!” Staff members report leaving the bags in their cars so they’re easily available for grocery shopping. And—a surprise to Akin Gump’s HR manager—employees loved the mugs most: they say that the lid stays cool even after microwaving so they can sip their coffee or soup without burning sensitive lips. Both products together make for a more eco-friendly Akin Gump, in the office and out. Most importantly, though, the promotional welcome kit helped employees quickly connect and settle into their new office home—another promotional success!

A Case Study:

Flavored Mints in Reusable, Private-Label Tins Garner Brand Awareness for Top Bridal Gown Source, JLM Couture

Challenge: Finding an Easy-to-Carry, Useful and Unique Promotional Product with Long Staying Power to Promote Brand Awareness to the Trade

Brand awareness (noun). A desirable condition 1) in which a target audience is readily cognizant of your firm’s promoted products and services and 2) you strive to create and maintain by leveraging promotional tactics and strategies. JLM Couture has achieved brand awareness: each year many thousands of brides, bridesmaids and flower girls eagerly dream of their walks down the aisle wearing bridal gowns, bridesmaid gowns, flower girl dresses, veils and other accessories from the company’s designer apparel lines, including Alvina Valenta, Jim Hjelm and Lazaro. To maintain that awareness, JLM Couture, which sells only to the trade, markets its bridal apparel to consumers through bridal magazines, trunk shows and catalogs, and presents its lines to retailers at the world’s top bridal tradeshows, such as the week-long Bridal Market Weeks held in Barcelona and New York. The reach provided by such shows is impressive: more than 1,500 retailers and media outlets from the U.S. and abroad attend the New York event; Barcelona boasts an attendance of more than 20,000.

It was with the upcoming U.S. Bridal week in mind that the JLM Couture team turned to a promotional product company in search of mints. Mints made good sense for their show room venue: they are 1) a unique promotional product not typically offered by other bridal show exhibitors; 2) small and compact, easy for retailer buyers to slip into pockets, purses and bags; 3) useful in the bridal week setting, where retailers and members of the press enjoy abundant opportunities for eating and up-close-and-personal speaking with peers, designers and clients; and 4) highly desirable to the week’s primarily female audience. But which mint? And which container would provide the right surface and color for branding? Which product would prove most effective overall in the US Bridal Week’s environment?

Solution: Starbucks®-Type Flavored Mints in a Branded, Reusable Tin

The JLM team had questions; the promotional product company had answers. They showed the team several promotional mints that could become their private-label stash, from which they selected the Starbucks®-type Mints in a durable tin. The tin was just what the team had hoped for, with a black color perfectly in tune with the deep, dark richness of the JLM logo and Website, and with a spacious lid with plenty of room for the JLM Couture imprint. Branding space was especially important to the team for this particular show as they had also recently launched the new JLMCouture.com website to establish JLM as the “go-to” location for all its represented brands; previously, each brand carried by JLM was marketed through its own website. Plus, recipients would be less likely to throw away the reusable tin, providing added reach and long-lasting promotional power—just what the team needed to help transfer brand awareness away from the individual brands and to JLM Couture.

Result: Mints Please Tradeshow Goers; JLM Expands Use of Mints to Additional Venues in the U.S. and Europe

The JLM Couture team reports that retailers and members of the press who stopped by their showroom during the event helped themselves to handfuls of mint tins, guaranteeing that they’d see the JLM name each time they reached for a mint and reminding recipients that JLM-represented designers are now available through the new JLM Website. The mints proved so successful that the team added them to gift bags given to bridal, beauty and fashion editors at top bridal publications during the fashion show that week, and also introduced them into the marketing mix for European events as well, changing flavors as needed to suit the variability of cultural tastes. For instance, the team selected fruity instead of minty flavored mints for their United Kingdom market, as people in the UK tend to favor fruity over spicy. To toast another successful promotion we raise our mints and say, “Bon appétit!”

Is Your Management Causing Employee Issues and Slow Business Growth?

Could your management team be creating unnecessary employee issues that are leading to:

• Low employee engagement
• Low employee morale
• Poor productivity
• Poor customer service
• The need for voluminous policy and procedure manuals to ensure that the manager follows the rules, and
• High turnover

While not so comfortable to ask, and even more challenging to be accountable for, here are seven key questions to help you determine if your management is causing the above common concerns:

1. Does every member of your management team know (internalize) the company's Mission/Purpose and Vision (ideal future state)?

2. Can every member of your management team describe the company Values, (that is, the key ways in which you go about your work, such as excellence in customer service, innovation, teamwork, respect...)? And, can every member of the management team give some examples of how the company values are demonstrated on a day-to-day basis?

3. Do you have a succession plan – that is, an approach for and/or development of high potential/successor candidates?

4. Do new people promoted to or hired for a management position clearly demonstrate the company values?

5. Do you have an effective way to transition new managers into their positions (or do you just assume the transition will happen)?

6. And, do you remove poor and ineffective managers quickly?

If you said 'NO' to any of the questions above then you likely have employee issues as a result of your management problems.

When Addressing Employee Issues, Ensure You Have Sound Management First

How can you improve your business when you have employee issues and conflicts getting in your way of running an effective, productive and efficient organization? First, change your approach and take a macro view.

That is, understand that often, employee issues are symptoms of inconsistent or failing management.Your strongest assets and your key resources are your employees. (Yes, even stronger than your brand. Brand creates awareness and a promise. But it's the employees that deliver on that promise.) And, while painful to acknowledge, it is the most talented employees that leave first.

If you want to improve your business, you must start with your managers.

These are the people who are the direct link to your front line employees.

These managers include:

• Department managers
• Assistant managers
• Shift supervisors
• Store managers
• Team leaders

Yet unfortunately, the role and impact of the direct supervisors are often overlooked when senior management or business owners contemplate improvement questions such as:

• How can we improve morale?
• What's a good compensation system?
• How can we recruit and retain better employees?
• How do we improve our customer service?

Simply stated, as long as you do not deal with supervisor/manager competency and impact, you cannot effectively deal with any of the questions raised above. It's like trying to come up with a model to explain how our solar system works using the earth as the center of the system. It just won't work, no matter how hard you try. Replace the earth with the sun and it works beautifully. Money spent to improve the effects of management is wasted unless it's spent to address poor management first.

Five Required Steps to Identifying and Addressing the Issue of Poor Management

1) First, get senior executives to function as an aligned team and to promote (by demonstration not lip service) the stated values of the business. Remember, employees watch their leadership team for cues on how to behave and how to manage. They look to managers to see what's acceptable and what is not!

2) Carefully select employees for management positions. This means you need to have a succession plan that incorporates a management development plan for high potential candidates.

3) Support the transition from employee to manager. Not all newly promoted managers will be ready for their new role. In fact, in many organizations, it's possible that most aren't yet ready for prime time but are needed there. (A good coach or mentor can be very valuable in these situations.)

4) Define the standard of performance required of all your managers. Provide needed support to help your managers understand your standards and meet them. If they don't (or won't) after suitable support and development, replace them. Understand that "what you permit you promote."

Tolerating poor managers and poor manager behavior is the same as condoning it. And that is the way employees will perceive it.

5) Then, insure your managers/supervisors are responsible for performance management and instilling employee accountability using these four fundamentals with their employees:

1. Clarifying expectations of their role individually and within context to the larger organization
2. Providing adequate training and development for them to do their job (identify and address skills, knowledge and resource gaps)
3. Provide consistent feedback on their performance, expressly positive/ recognition based, and of course, addressing concerns or deficiencies (in which case you start over at A, though focusing on the concern/issue and what is needed/expected...)
4. And, be consistent with upholding consequences. Similar to tolerating poor managers, unwilling or persistent underperforming employees will quickly compromise your overall results.

Service excellence, cost-effective performance and innovation start with engaged employees. And employees leave their organizations most often because of a bad boss and a poor working relationship. If you believe that your employees are not engaged to the extent you want them to be, don't start with employee remediation efforts. Start first with the leaders and the managers. If employees don't have a good boss and working experience with them, save your money; as nothing else will work, at least for very long. It may be the most difficult place to start, but it will be the most effective for long-term ROI.

By Sara LaForest & Tony Kubica

7 Steps to Resolve Personality Conflicts in the Workplace

Personality conflicts are the most commonly reported problems in the workplace. Too often these conflicts go unresolved because people concentrate on the personalities rather than focusing on the issues. When they escalate they create a TOXIC work environment. In any relationship, both people influence the other's behavior. In personality conflicts both parties bear some responsibility for where "things are at."

Conflicts can rip teams apart, destroy moral and their quality of life.

We can't control or change the personality of the other person but we certainly can control our own emotions and change the way we react to the other person. Use these 7 steps to help de-escalate or resolve conflict:

1. Avoid discussing the issue with other colleagues. Many people who are involved in personality conflicts recruit allies among their co-workers.

This can create polarization among co-workers and it escalates the situation. While you are passionately upset about this, others are not and most often co-workers are uncomfortable and sometimes frightened over the situation. This behavior is disruptive to the organization and makes it more difficult to fix the situation. FOCUS on what you can do to make things better!

2. Never respond immediately to the person who is irking you. They know how to push your buttons and they have done so over a period of time. By not responding immediately you give yourself some time to think through your response and this pause may cause the other person to think that you are backing down and they will begin to de-escalate.

3. Look in the mirror! How are you contributing to this situation? What role are you playing in the escalation of things? The key is to focus on what you can do differently! What can you do to make things better? If you can figure out your role in the dynamic you'll learn something important about yourself and you will be able to de-escalate the conflict.

4. Reframe the situation. For instance, the individual you are dealing with is screaming and yelling and wanting to be right! Instead of becoming annoyed and irritated at their unprofessional behavior, picture them as a child wearing a diaper and throwing a temper tantrum. This allows you to take a step back and not engage.

5. Focus on the other persons strengths. Remind yourself of the contributions that the other person brings to your company or your team.

When things are going badly, we have a tendency to focus on what doesn't work and all of the negatives. Focusing on the positive helps us to at least get back to a neutral space and look at things a little more objectively.

6. Use cooperative communication such as "I've noticed that we seem to have differences. I have some ideas about how we might be able to work together more effectively and I would like to hear your thoughts." Invite them to be a part of the solution and really listen to their ideas. If you are unable to communicate either because you are too angry or the other person is, then walk away gracefully rather than standing your ground and allowing things to escalate.

7. Document all interactions in a neutral manner. It is important to keep track of the confrontations. If you are not able to de-escalate the conflict early on, take the issue to your immediate supervisor or someone in your HR department and have a neutral party mediate the situation.

Conflicts should never be swept under the rug. If you are the supervisor or manager and have employees that are involved in a personality conflict, coach them to resolve their own situation and if that doesn't work step in! You have a responsibility to the other employees to get control of this situation.

by Carol Fredrickson

What Really Motivates Employees

Each week I travel the country speaking to groups of leaders at meeting and conferences. No matter where I go I’m asked the same question time and again by leaders ranging from frontline managers to CEOs , “How can I motivate my employees?” I’ve heard this question repeated thousands of times. However, what the person asking usually means is “How can I manipulate my employees to do what I want them to do?”

Managers and companies from every walk of life waste billions of dollars on manipulation disguised as incentives in an attempt to change employee behavior. Sometimes they get short-term results, but manipulation never works over the long haul. Because motivating people is such a mystery for leaders a $30 billion industry has been built around helping companies motivate their people. There is certainly nothing wrong with providing valuable incentives to employees who do a good job, but what these programs don’t do is teach leaders how to tap into what really motivates employees.

Take Steve, a regional account executive for a huge business services company. In a management shake-up his company hired a new vice president of sales. The new VP came in full of ideas. One of those ideas was to build a national incentive program. In doing so, he took the local budgets away from his sales managers and insisted that any recognition be in compliance and under auspices of the corporate office and the national sales incentive program. He established a process, rules for recognizing the salespeople, hired a staff to administer the program, and proudly announced the new and improved program to his field sales team of over 1,000 people.

Steve was a consistent top performer for the company, so it wasn’t a surprise when he sold more than anyone else on his team the quarter after the program was announced. “About a month after the end of the quarter, UPS dropped a box off on my front porch. Inside was a plaque with my name on it, a catalogue, and a form letter congratulating me on my achievement that explained what I could order from the catalogue.” Steve shook his head in disgust as he told me his story. “It meant nothing to me. I threw the plaque back in the box and handed the catalogue to my wife. No one, not even my manager, called to say anything about the award. At least before the program, we would all go out to dinner at the end of the quarter and my sales manager would toast all the top performers.”

He went on to tell me about the other plaques he’d been awarded that were still gathering dust in his closet. “This was truly the dumbest recognition program in the history of sales. It did not motivate me in the least. But what really pissed me off was when I found out that they were deducting taxes from my paycheck for the value of the prizes in the catalog they sent me. I finally went to my manager to ask that they not send me anymore catalogues. I was making plenty of money, and all I really wanted was a pat on the back in front of the other salespeople on my team.” Steve eventually was recruited away and said he is very happy at his new company.

If you are shaking your head, believe me—this is not the worst story I’ve heard. Unfortunately, far too many leaders have no idea what actually motivates people. They wrongly assume that there is a complex motivation formula, and the gurus and companies in the employee-incentive trade encourage this false notion.

What Really Motivates People

The reality is that motivating people is extremely simple. Psychologists and social scientists have proven time and again that the most powerful motivators of people are achievement and the recognition of that achievement. It is important to note that these two elements cannot be separated. Achievement in the absence of recognition is rarely rewarding, and recognition in absence of achievement is empty.

However, when people are given the opportunity to achieve (win) and those achievements are recognized by leaders, amazing things happen. People who are being consistently recognized for their achievements report higher job satisfaction and perform at higher levels than those who are not. In virtually any organization, leaders who consistently find ways to recognize the achievement of their employees through positive emotional experiences deliver superior results.

Recognition, to be effective, must be directed at achievement, big and small. Most leaders find it easy to recognize the big achievements. However, where the top leaders excel is in consistently recognizing the many small achievements required for big things to happen.

One of the easiest ways to motivate people for small achievements is to catch them doing something right and recognize them for it. The secret is paying attention. Recognizing small, everyday achievements is difficult for leaders who are under pressure to produce results because they are often so focused on delivering on plans, tasks, or fixing a problem that it is easy to forget to take time to pat people on the back.

One leader who is highly regarded by her team admitted to me that although she knew it was important to consistently recognize small achievements she found it difficult to remember to give those pats on the back. So she devised a simple trick. Each morning she put a handful of chocolates in her pocket. Each time she recognized an employee for doing something right, she ate a chocolate. “It worked for me because I love chocolate and I rewarded myself for doing the right thing for my people.”

Another manager we interviewed explained that with the unrelenting demands of his workday, which often included back-to-back meetings, it was often impossible to recognize achievements in real time. “I found that on many days I would be working late after all my people had gone home. One night after a particularly hard week where my team had gone above and beyond, I wrote personalized thank-yous on sticky pads and stuck them on everyone’s computer screens. The reaction the next morning was amazing. People were coming into my office to thank me! It meant so much to them. After that I made it a regular part of my day to recognize outstanding performance with after-hours sticky notes.”

When it comes to motivation, thoughtful recognition of achievement in real time will take you to the next level as a leader. Certainly big experiences, like national sales meetings, president’s clubs, special recognition dinners, contests, trips, and so on are appropriate opportunities to recognize and appreciate employees for big achievements. However, in most cases small gestures carry far more meaning than big ones.

By Jeb Blount, Author of People Follow You: The Real Secret to What Matters Most in Leadership

What the Apparel Trends Right Now?

With the new year finally here, you want to make sure you stay on top of the trends but still get the quality and service you deserve. Read on for the biggest trends in the Apparel Industry today and find out how we can help.

Your Need: You want a retail look.
Our Solution: API now offers Under Armour to help meet those needs. In addition, we do still offer all the brand names that you have grown to know and love like American and Alternative Apparel, Colorado Timberline, Next Level, Cutter & Buck and more!

Your Need: Achieving the "less is more" look.
Our Solution: With a growing catalog of thread colors and ink supply in house for our embroidery, digital, and screen printing facility, we have no trouble achieving that tone on tone look and feel you really want.

Your Need: A new logo that appeals to as many people as possible.
Our Solution: Our Marketing & Creative Department has artists working to make you look good. We see the trends and we use them for you. We feel good when you look good.

Your Need: Lots of colors on just a few t-shirts.
Our Solution: Don't fret. Our digital printer is in house and state of the art. If you want it, we'll get it done.

Your Need: Creative placement of your logo.
Our Solution: Our award winning digitizer, graphic artists, and production staff will figure it out and deliver your amazing finished product. Want the sleeve done? No problem. Back of the neck? Done. Or how about your own tags? We'll get them in there for you.

Your Need: Freedom. You want to create your own t-shirts, logo's and designs and you don't even want to call to do it.
Our Solution: The all new custom designer on our site. Make whatever you want. And if you hit a snag or decide you have a question, we are always here to help.

A Very Happy New Year

May this year bring you all your dreams come true, happiness, and prosperity!

10 Places You Should Celebrate New Year’s At Least Once

A New Year.  New possibilities.  New commitments.  New resolutions.  Celebrations and customs may vary around the world, but in most places, New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest party days of the year.  For many, simply spending the night with close friends and family is the best way to celebrate.  While it’s certainly a great way to ring in the New Year, there are many people who like to turn it up a notch.

The following 10 places are by no means the best (as best oflists are all subjective anyway) places to watch the clock strike midnight, but this list does give any traveler and adventure seeker a starting point for celebrating this holiday in a unique and different way, providing great places on five of the seven continents to celebrate.

1. Sydney, Australia

The first and the largest major city to ring in the New Year, the Aussies know how to do it right.  There’s something for everyone in Sydney, from families to backpackers to retirees to everyone in between.  The fireworks display on theSydney Harbour is the main highlight for anyone celebrating here, and the fact that it’s summertime in Sydney gives it a different feel for those in the northern hemisphere.  The setting of the city, with the Harbour and Opera House, creates a wonderful backdrop.  If massive crowds aren’t your thing, look into getting a spot on a boat and enjoy the festivities from a unique vantage point, the water.

Sydney Harbour is the place to be if you find yourself down under for the New Year’s celebration.  The massive fireworks display is one of the main reasons people from all over the world come to Sydney to celebrate, so be sure to check out the vantage point map.  The more popular viewing places fill up early, so planning ahead and arriving as early as afternoon is essential.  There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the area hosting their own parties; check those out if you aren’t interested in battling the one million plus people that will be in and around the Harbour area.

>> Look for hostels in Sydney 
>> Read about things to do in Sydney

2. Tokyo, Japan

If you plan on celebrating the new year in Tokyo, know that  you’ll be celebrating for a while.  In Tokyo, the New Year’s celebration can last up to a week, with festivities beginning on December 29 and lasting until January 4.  One negative aspect visitors should be aware of is much of the city shuts down (most restaurants and a bars will remain open), but if it’s an authentic, local experience you’re looking for, you’ll find it in Tokyo.  Fireworks, dancing, and singing are the norm, as well as the traditional eating of Toshikoshi Soba (New Year’s Eve noodle), whose long noodle symbolizes a long and healthy life, and listening to Juya No Kane (the Watch-Night Bell), which rings 108 times at temples all over the Japan, symbolizing a prosperous New Year.

The Tokyo Tower is the most popular place in the city with the largest gathering of crowds.  But the cool thing about ringing in the New Year in Tokyo is that you don’t have to go to the most popular of places to have a unique and memorable experience.  Because of the Japanese tradition of ringing the Watch-Night Bell, as long as you’re near a temple, you’ll be close to a celebration.  In addition to the New Year’s Eve festivities, another major highlight of spending your holiday in Tokyo is that the gates to the Imperial Palace open to the public on January 1, one of only two days in the entire year this happens.

>> Find airfare to Japan 
>> Plan your budget trip to Japan

3. Koh Phangan, Thailand

If you’re into partying and dancing, there aren’t many places better to welcome a New Year than Koh Phangan.  Known for its full moon parties and festive year-round atmosphere, Koh Phangan amps it up a notch for New Year’s Eve.  Over 50,000 people descend on this Thai island for several days of debauchery, and if you’re young (or young at heart) and concerned with finding one of the biggest and wildest parties on Earth, this is your place.  Celebrating with so many like-minded people should be reason enough to come, but the fact that attire is swimming suits and flip-flops, and down time can be spent lounging under palm trees on beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, should put Koh Phangan over the edge.

Haad Rin is the center for the party, so if you have your heart set on staying here, plan and book in advance.  If you don’t care about staying at party central, then you’ll have no problem staying at another beach.  Planning transportation is another important part.  Many Thais are on holiday during this time, so trains, buses, and planes book up early.  Once on the island, you won’t have a problem finding where the party is.

>> Find cheap flights to Thailand 
>> Discover the best beaches in Thailand

4. Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh has perhaps one of the most unique and longstanding New Year’s traditions, even having their own name for their celebration, Hogmanay.  A fireworks display and torchlight procession through Edinburgh are just a few of the traditions still celebrated today, taking after pagan celebrations hundreds of years earlier.  Many Scots still adhere to “first footing,” a tradition in which the first person to enter your house in the New Year should be male and dark (this tradition started in Viking times when a blonde visitor usually meant trouble).  The guest is also expected to bring a few presents, usually whiskey and shortbread.

The Hogmanay celebrations last three to four nights, with the torch procession kicking off the celebrations on December 30.  Upwards of 100,000 people join the street parties on December 30 and 31, keeping the celebration going with fireworks, live music and entertainment, and plenty of eating and drinking.  January 1 sees several activities, including concerts and other cultural events.  Anyone can take part in any of these celebrations, with the torch procession beginning on High Street in the Old Town and ending at the Edinburgh meeting ground of Calton Hill. Be sure to come back on New Year’s Eve itself and take part in the street party running the length of Princes Street.  A massive fireworks display above the Edinburgh Castle rings in the New Year at midnight.

>> Book hostels in Edinburgh 
>> Find cheap airfare to Edinburgh

5. Paris, France

Because you’d be celebrating New Year’s in one of the world’s greatest cities! Dancing and clubbing, eating and drinking, or simply enjoying a quiet evening with friends, Paris offers it all for New Year’s.  Several street parties, at the Champs-Elysees and Montmarte, are the places to go if large groups of people and large fireworks display tickles your fancy.  If you’re in Paris for the food, then options abound to satisfy your taste buds.  If entertainment is what you’re looking for, then you’ll have no problem finding plenty of cabarets.  Or perhaps a more low-key dinner cruise is your cup of tea?  Finally, Paris is filled with plenty of bars and clubs to drink and dance the night away and celebrate the coming of a new year.

Champs-Elysees is ground zero for the Parisian street party, with large crowds and an impressive midnight fireworks display around the Eiffel Tower.  If this is what your heart is set on, make your plans ahead of time and arrive early.  For a similar experience that is not quite as hard-core, consider heading to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral plaza in Montmarte for a more laid back street party.  If it’s a clear night, you’ll have no problem seeing the Paris skyline and midnight fireworks display.  Thousands upon thousands of restaurants, bars, cabarets, and clubs dot the City of Lights, and most all offer a New Year’s party of some sort, so be sure to check around and find the perfect celebration for you.

>> Read about New Year’s Eve in Paris 
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6. Barcelona, Spain

If you’ve ever been to Barcelona, you’d know it has an energy and style unlike any other, and its New Year’s celebrations dip into that uniqueness that is Barcelona.  If dancing and partying until the first sunrise of the New Year sounds like it’s right up your alley, then you may want to celebrate with some of the greatest partiers in the world.  The Spanish culture of late meals and even later nights out don’t change just because it’s New Year’s Eve.  Unlike most other cultures around the world, the party in Barcelona doesn’t even begin until close to midnight, with the traditional eating of the twelve grapes during the twelve chimes of midnight.  It’s typically family time when the clock strikes twelve, then it’s off to the clubs to celebrate in style until the sun comes up on the New Year.

Unlike many other major cities, there isn’t one major area of congregation in Barcelona to celebrate New Year’s.  Because of the tradition of getting together with family for a meal around the stroke of midnight, people seem to scatter all over the city.  If you’re traveling in Barcelona and don’t know a local family, you’ll probably be heading to a restaurant for a celebratory meal and drinks.  Make plans and reservations in advance, as restaurants fill up early.  Many will offer special New Year’s parties and set menus, with a higher price than usual, so be prepared.  After dinner is when most of the city, especially the young folk, will hit up the clubs and bars for dancing and celebrating.  Expect the celebration to continue all night long, until the early hours of the next morning, so don’t skip your siesta that afternoon.

>> Find cheap flights to Barcelona 
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7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Like Barcelona, Rio is known as one of the party capitals of the world, so you know what you’re getting into if celebrating the New Year in Brazil.  Like Sydney, you’ll find yourself in the middle of summer here in Rio, so beach parties, bikinis, and swim suits could be the norm for the night, depending on your preferred party location.  While other cities on this list offer a myriad of entertainment options, if you’re going to Rio, you’re going to dance and party with some of the best in the business – Brazilians.  These people know how to spend a night out, so attending the city’s second biggest annual party (after Carnivale) will have you boogying the night away on the beach.

Like many things in Rio de Janeiro, it begins and ends on Copacabana beach.  Party central is located up and down this famous beach, with all different genres of music and plenty of activities to keep you up and dancing all night long.  This year’s New Year’s celebration will feature the usual massive fireworks display (11 barges with 1200 fireworks) in addition to four different stages set up along Copacabana beach, each featuring different music.  This decade is an important one for Brazil as they will be the center of the world by hosting both the World Cup (2014) and the Olympics (2016), and they will be celebrating their national pride by dubbing this the “Golden Decade.”  Rio will surely be a fantastic, rowdy, fun, and unique city to ring in 2011.

>> Find adventure tours in Brazil 
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8. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

A unique celebration completely different from any other on this list has Canadian revelers celebrating amidst the gorgeous scenery of the famous Niagara Falls.  So much goes on at Queen Victoria Park that it makes this one of the busiest nights of the year at Niagara.  Live music, two rounds of fireworks (at 9pm if you want to bring little ones and the obligatory midnight display), and 30,000 of your closest friends will ring in the New Year in style.  And the best part of this whole party?  It’s absolutely free.

The festivities kick off at 8pm at Queen Victoria Park with the aforementioned live music.  This year’s lineup features rock legend Styx.  If freezing outside in Canada isn’t on your list of ways to celebrate the New Year, keep in mind that there are plenty of options in the area.  Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort offer entertainment for those in the mood for a more adult atmosphere, and families not wanting to brave the crowds at Queen Victoria Park might have a better time at Clifton Hill, an amusement park of sorts offering plenty of activities for everyone.  The Niagara Skywheel, a Dinosaur Park, and glow in the dark mini-golf are just a smattering of activities on offer at Clifton Hill.  Come celebrate in a way that may not be typical of New Year’s Eve celebrations but is sure to be memorable.

>> Find cheap hotels in Niagara Falls 
>> Read about more free things to do and see in the US

9. Las Vegas, NV, USA

An entire book can be written about the entertainment options that await you in the world’s biggest and best adult playground, Las Vegas.  And while it’s true that Vegas is a great place to celebrate just about anything and is raucous and fun year-round, New Year’s Eve does offer a different and interesting way to see this crazy city.  The strip is closed down to vehicular traffic, with a midnight fireworks display shot off from the roofs of seven different hotels and casinos.  In addition to the street party, obviously the clubs and casinos will all be offering plenty of parties and activities to whet your Vegas appetite.

All the clubs and bars in town will have special plans for the night, and there are countless shows and concerts being put on all over the city (including the biggest one this year-Jay Z and Coldplay at the brand new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas casino and resort).  But the biggest party in Vegas on New Year’s Eve is on the streets itself.  The strip is closed down to traffic, and partiers are encouraged to take to the streets to celebrate.  Beer stands and port-o-potties are all over, so enjoy wandering around with drink in hand (casinos will also pour your drink in a to-go cup).  One thing to keep in mind if you do plan on partying in the streets is that casinos close their doors to anyone who is not a guest, and once the fireworks end shortly after midnight, it can be a mad rush to get in the doors of the nearest bar or club.  Like with anything New Year’s Eve related in a busy city, plan ahead and be organized.

>> Search for cheap tickets to Las Vegas 
>> Plan your New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas

10. New York City, NY, USA

No list of places to celebrate New Year’s Eve would be complete without mentioning a trip to New York City.  One of the largest celebrations in the world has seen the giant ball drop over historic Times Square for over 100 years.  More than 1 million people attend the free event, with millions more watching on TV from all over the world, as 1 ton of confetti will be dropped over the city at the stroke of midnight.  If the giant crowds and hype aren’t your idea of the best way to celebrate, it’s a good thing you’re in the city that never sleeps.  Offering perhaps the most varied restaurant and bar options on the planet, you’re sure to celebrate in any style you want if visiting the Big Apple.

Most people who bother coming to New York City for New Year’s Eve are coming to celebrate in one place, Times Square.  With this major event come crowds – large ones – so planning is essential to get the most enjoyment possible out of this historic celebration.  It’s necessary to get there in the afternoon to stake out a good spot.  After that, it’s all about waiting in your “spot” for the ball to drop.  No backpacks or alcohol are allowed, so if boozing it up is on your itinerary for the evening, you may want to start checking out restaurant, bar, and hotel options.  If you’re staying and celebrating in Manhattan, there are several restaurants and hotels in the area that allow a glimpse of the famous ball dropping on the New Year.  New York City truly does have entertainment for everyone on the final day of the year, so take the opportunity to be part of a celebration like no other.

New Year’s Eve is a special night for people all over the world.  This day means something different for everyone, and parties and celebrations reflect those differences.  Each city and country has their own way of doing things, so if you have a chance to take part in a celebration unique to what you’re used to, take advantage and embrace it.

By Adam Seper