For all of your business' advertising match book and match box need go to: GetMatches.com
We now are proud to announce that we've reintroduced Feature Matches (match books containing specially printed match stems). Call us at 800.605.7331 to discuss producing your collectible match books!
A great article on the joy of collecting matches when traveling!
"...I've recently begun picking up matchbooks whenever I go somewhere interesting. They're the ideal memento. Easy to pack, utilitarian and free of charge. And even though they don't cost you a thing, they still possess a certain exclusive cool factor. After all, the only way you can get a matchbook is to actually step inside that hotel, bar or restaurant."
The author went on to write: "The more obscure the better too. A roadside diner in California's wine country, the London cocktail lounge tucked away in a hidden courtyard, an old school power lunch spot in Washington, DC and one of the best taco joints in all of Texas. They're each so uniquely telling, it's no wonder they've become optimal Instagram fodder" For example, Instagram pages that feature ONLY advertising matches that are artfully posted by a gentleman named Charlie @matchbookdiaries have over 15,000 avid followers!
Cory expressed the unique feelings that he experiences when he views his match collection:"...The memories of those nights and who I spent them with come flooding back as soon as I see the colorful, graphic cover on the front of the matchbook or box".
The article closes with an astute perspective from a collector of matches (called a "Phillumenist") about the businesses that continue to distribute their logo matches despite the country's ban on smoking by "...establishments still committed to offering them, know the value of making them interesting and eye-catching. The kind of swag you want to keep around long after your visit."
We at TheMatchGroup couldn't agree more!
Please take the time to visit www.GetMatches.com and check out our interactive tools to upload your logo and create your own match book and match box art layout designs!
TheMatchGroup was founded to provide the most efficient & responsive customer service, while offering the LOWEST Factory-Direct Prices and the Quickest Delivery Time in the industry. We produce the highest quality matches and promotional tabletop paper products at low factory direct costs. We offer the fastest order turnaround on the most popular domestically produced match books and boxes – from “proof to product” in a blazing 15 days!
With over 30 years in the industry, company founder Joe Danon's passion and devotion to the historic importance, whimsy and efficacy of match advertising is unrivaled. His devoted and loyal clientele have long benefited from his “Love of Light,” graphic design expertise and unparalleled product knowledge.
Student Hippies facing off against the National Guard
Just like any printed matter, match book advertising qualifies as a form of free speech in America. Therefore, making the circumstances under which the wording of a matchbook advertisement might be deemed to be an element of a crime very narrow under the First Amendment.
Nevertheless, there have been cases where matchbook advertising/propaganda has been known to test the limits of the law. For example, during the politically charged antiwar era of the late 1960's/early '70's matchbooks printed with the message "EOW" were distributed at Bloomfield State College in West Virginia. These letters stood as the acronym for "End of Week". The secret message behind these letters was passed along by the students encouraging them to burn the campus if the demands of certain student groups were not met by the end of the week.[1]
During this tumultuous period in our country's history; when our country was experiencing rampant (and deadly) college student protests against the Vietnam War and a series of riots fueled by rage in response to the news of the assassination of M.L.K. that resulted in the destruction of many major cities, match advertising was also used by "The Man" as a means to "counter" the "counterculture". "The Man" in this case was a Dallas Police Officer who decided to design and distribute his own matchbooks as propaganda to advertise his support for his fellow patrolmen with apparent success. So as the story goes, during the late '60's and early '70's members of the angry Hippie counterculture referred to Law Enforcement Officers as "Pigs." This Dallas Policeman, decided to take the sting out of the counterculture's disrespectful use of the word "Pig" by acknowledging it and to repurpose it in his own personal public relations campaign by distributing matchbooks along his beat that he had printed with the message "Leonard Edge: Pig and Proud!".[2]
The use of match book advertising by Law Enforcement didn't end after the '70's. Since then, local Police Departments and the FBI have used printed advertising matches as a method to aid in the capture of wanted fugitives, to advertise local D.A.R.E. anti-drug programs, as well as local "Cop Shot" Tips Hotline reward programs. Furthermore, back in 1995 -6 years PRIOR to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon which lead to our engagement in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the CIA and the local authorities in Pakistan had successfully distributed wanted posters along and MATCHBOOKS as a medium for advertising a $2 Million reward for the capture of wanted international terrorists such as Mir Amal Kansi who was wanted in the brutal attack outside CIA headquarters in 1993 in which two people were killed and three other people were permanently injured.[3]
To order your business' own groovy advertising matches check out TheMatchGroup
Man or call a member of our very hip and cool sales staff at 800.605.7331. who would love to turn your business' clients on to the experience of your custom branded match advertising!
[1] James v. West Virginia Bd. Of Regents, 322 F.Supp. 217 (S.D. W.Va., 1971), aff'd 448 F.2d 785 (4th Cir. 1971).
[2] Minor v. State, 469 S.W.2d 579 (Tex. Crim. App. 1971); Minor v. State, 476 S.W.2d 694 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972).
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
