Stress balls are the kind of promotional products you see at all manner of events. Product launches? People give out stress balls. Corporate get-togethers? There's always a stress toy or ten. However, if I were to ask you who invented the modern stress ball, you might be hard-pressed to name them. That's why we've decided to investigate the interesting history of the stress toy and what exactly prompted their invention!

1. Learn about the original stress ball.
2. Customised stress balls for your brand.
3. Amplify marketing efforts with stress balls.

The Original Promotional Stress Busting Product

Unlike a lot of the products we customise here at Cubic Promote, the promotional stress ball doesn't have a very long history. The first proper stress ball was invented in 1988 by a frustrated television writer named Alex Carswell. The story goes that Carswell was so frustrated by a phone call, he hurled a marker at a framed photograph of his mother. He had a big mess to clean up when the frame broke, but at the moment he felt a great release of stress.

This experience prompted Carswell to create a soft stress toy that could be thrown to help relieve stress. A bit different from the stress balls we know today, right? The price tag was pretty different too! Carswell's original design made a smashing noise and included a speaker and microchip which meant each ball was worth some $40 Australian. This was definitely a very different kind of stress ball to the ones we know and love today.

The first soft, squishy, no-bells-and-whistles stress toys started appearing on the commercial market in the early 90's. It seems manufacturers took the core idea of Carswell's ball and simplified it to be smaller, make no noise, and to be made from a malleable polyurethane material. This material adjustment was important as it meant these "true" stress balls could be pressed harshly to relieve tension and then released before regaining their original state.

Unlike the first stress toy, the kind we see these days is cheap to produce, simple to use, and very easy to customise with your unique logo branding. It is the combination of these factors that makes them such a continued success for promotional campaigns at home and abroad. No matter what kind of office you work in, you'll know at least one colleague who regularly uses their stress ball to keep calm and de-stress. So if you're thinking about producing products for a new marketing merchandise campaign, consider the humble promotional stress ball as a great budget option your recipients will love using.

Stress Balls as Marketing Merchandise

In the world of promotional products, stress balls have emerged as a budget-friendly option prized for their versatile appeal. Here are some valuable insights into how promotional stress balls can amplify your marketing efforts:

• Effective Brand Awareness: Promotional stress balls offer a tangible and functional way to showcase your brand logo and message. Every time a recipient squeezes the stress ball, your brand gains visibility, reinforcing the connection between your business and stress relief.
• Maximum Exposure at Events: Stress balls are a popular giveaway at various events, such as trade shows, conferences, and corporate gatherings. The compact size and engaging nature of these stress-relieving toys make them highly portable, ensuring that your brand reaches a wider audience as recipients use them in various settings.
• Employee and Client Appreciation: Stress balls can be utilised as tokens of appreciation for employees and clients, fostering a sense of well-being and showing that you care about their mental health. Customising stress balls with your brand logo creates a lasting impression and strengthens relationships.
• Versatile for Any Industry: Stress balls have universal appeal and can be customised to match any industry or target audience. From healthcare to technology, finance to education, stress balls can align with your brand's niche and cater to the specific needs of your target market.

Takeaway

The invention of stress balls by Alex Carswell revolutionised stress relief, introducing a portable and practical tool for relaxation. Over time, stress balls have become an essential promotional item, combining affordability, customization options, and effective brand exposure. By incorporating stress balls into your marketing merchandise, you can tap into a versatile and widely appreciated promotional tool that will leave a lasting impression on your recipients. Consider the humble yet impactful stress ball to enhance your marketing campaigns and provide recipients with a unique and practical stress-relieving experience.

Details first spotted here: https://woollymag.com/comfort/history-stress-balls.html