I've noticed that my blog posts that feature FEATUREMatchBooks with special printed match stems seem to receive a lot of hits! I happened to stumble upon and repost this item from the blogger The Invisible Agent, who tastefully posted a nice collection of Lion Match Corp's 21 "Feature" #matchbooks that featured #printedmatchstems.
The Match Group is proud to announce that we now offer the a modern version of the "vintage" printed match feature option for you to promote your business! Feature match books are highly collectible and are a big hit on social media sites like Instagram and Pinterest!
We will be adding more info on our site.
In the meantime, here are some pics of 2 different style match books that we now offer that include optional special feature matches!
Contains either the standard width feature match stems or special die cut shaped matches that can also be custom printed!contains 2 rows of 5 Special printed wider feature matches
Joseph Martinez Oil Painting using the inside covers of match books as his canvas!
A fascinating re-purposing of Paper match books that are used by the artist Joseph Martinez to create original life like oil paintings as mini works of pocket fine art!
Check out the video montage of Joseph's fascinating work on Vimeo:
FEATURE MATCHES - Match Books with Colorful Images Printed Across Flattened Match Stems
ASSORTMENT OF VINTAGE "FEATURE" -MATCH BOOKS WITH CUSTOM PRINTED FLATTENED MATCH STEMS.
Branded Match Books serve as mementos from places that you've visited or vacationed at, make great keepsakes from cherished family events and obviously, are a convenient and reliable source of fire for lighting candles, fireplaces, barbecues, incense, igniting gas pilot lights, as well as an essential item for use when camping. To this day advertising matches remain as one of the most inexpensive and highest impact forms of advertising -serving as "Functional Business Cards" that are widely accepted by your customers for the uses mentioned above while at the same time serving to promote your business, product or service.
Over 60 years ago, match company salesman would pitch potential customers with the catchy phrase: "your match books act as 20 little salesmen" meaning that when each of the 20 individual matches (in a standard match book) was removed and struck by it's user, it served as an opportunity to reinforce your company's brand 20 times!
"You can't beat match books for good, inexpensive advertising," says John Williams, publicity manager of The American Matchcover Collecting Club. When traveling through the smallest towns, you should still be able to pick up matches from restaurants, hotels and businesses who still believe in the power of these economical "pocket billboards" to advertise their businesses.
Match cover collecting satisfies every collector's urge to organize, classify, categorize and display .
In this post I'll be featuring the highly collectible and unique FEATURE -match books with colorful images across flattened sticks. Lion Match Corporation was the first match manufacturer to design and produce the feature match book.
The first FEATURE match books were Giant Sized -about 4" tall!
1936 Giant Feature Match Book advertising a Buick sponsored NBC Radio Show1936 Giant Feature Match Book a Buick Sponsored NBC Boxing Radio ShowEarly GE Giant Feature Match BookEarly General Electric Giant Feature Match Book with Selling Tips
There were also other special options that were later introduced such as special die cut match cover shapes offered to enhance the image of the advertising product by making it stand out with a 2 Dimensional look outside in addition to the feature -printed match stems inside:
'57 Pontiac Special Die Cut Feature Match Book'57 Pontiac Match Book with Feature printed match stems depicting an illustration of their new V8 Engine
And an example of a Political Feature Match Book:
Wendell Wilkie Printed Stem Feature Match Book "What the People Want"
For the first time in 40 years, The Match Group is proud to announce that we have an exclusive arrangement to produce several styles of highly collectible and sought out vintage #featurematches -customized with your logo and ad copy to promote your business!
You can rely upon TheMatchGroupto keep the flame of match advertising lit! Call one of our match mavens at 800.605.7331 today to design your business' own branded advertising match books, match boxes or feature matchbooks!
A fun blog post from REFINERY 29 sharing some of the author's favorite match books from up and down Manhattan, as well as a few from the Hamptons and some other New York-related locales.
"...this is all about really unique specimens of miniature artwork you'd love to carry in your bag or keep on your mantel—whether you need a light or not. "I love simple, elegant design that feels relevant but timeless," says the author Emmett Shine. From an old-school Soviet print to a simple pair of peepers, Shine's favorite samples are all here,... along with the lowdown on what makes them so special.
...there are endlessly major match books all over the Big Apple, ....., so leave us a comment if you think we missed some badass 'books. Can't start a fire without a spark, right?"
Still a Timely Article Written a Few Years Ago on the Website RestaurantOwner.com
"...consider every little branded item as a mini billboard"
Here's an excerpt from the article:
...It seems that we use every square inch of space these days -- even on our clothing -- to advertise our services. However, people notice them and are usually pleased when they learn about a good service or product.
"Ad specialties" are items such as [matches, coasters, napkins, paper to go bags], pens, hats, or T-shirts with your restaurant's name, logo and sometimes address, phone number or Web site printed on them. No matter how small your restaurant, promo specialties are within your budget.
Every restaurant can use ad specialties, but before you order 500 baseball caps with your restaurant's name and logo on them, consider the pros and cons. Make sure you spend your money in the best possible way.
Applications
Ad specialties can range from matches to active wear, breath mints with your restaurant's logo printed on the wrapper to custom etched shot and wine glasses. Regardless of the item, the goals of ad specialty items are always the same:
First, you provide a useful gift to your customer to appreciate, enjoy, and, most importantly, identify with your business. While you can find ways to use these items to win over prospective customers, these items are most effective as tools to build repeat business from existing customers.
Second, promotional items help develop and cement a relationship, in the same way people give gifts to friends to strengthen their bonds. [Distribution of these] items also increase your share of "heart and mind" in the community, as your pens, mints, toothpicks, coasters and matches find their way into your customers' kitchens, offices, and classrooms, as [functional] reminders of (hopefully) their [enjoyable experience] at their favorite restaurants.
Third, your branded items will help reinforce your logo and [should] reflect your concept. While it seems like common sense, every ad specialty should prominently bear the business's name and logo....Consider every item a little billboard.
Place your order for your restaurant's functional business cards and table top promotional paper products such as coasters, napkins, toothpicks, branded sugar stick packets, breath mints, napkin bands, pens, as well as printed paper handle bags and at the same time get in on the ”Hot Match on Striker Action” by calling one of our "match makers" at 800.605.7331!
TOM & JERRY 
COMMERCE RESTAURANT
DAVE'S GRILL
MARITIME
COFFEE SHOP BAR 
RUSCHMEYERS
TINY'S 
THE MERMAID INN
BAR LUBITSCH 
THE DUTCH
JONES
