Fashion Benefits Gulf Oil Spill Animal Victims

Hadaki is known for its fun, original and affordable bags. There are totes, shoulder bags, messenger bags, weekend travel bags and many more types. Each size comes in a variety of popular colors and designs, and now the proceeds will help more than just the company.

Hadaki announced that 10 percent of all June sales will go directly to the Audubon Nature Institute’s Wildlife Rescue Program to help the animals affected by the recent devastating Gulf oil spill. There are countless numbers of animals in grave danger because of the spill, and the number continues to grow. Audubon is doing everything they can to help all the victims, and now you can help, too.

The Audubon Nature Institute is a Louisiana based not-for-profit organization composed of nine major museums and parks all dedicated to the education and survival of nature. Audubon is on the forefront of helping the victims of the Gulf oil spill, and many companies, like Hadaki, are developing partnerships with Audubon to help the animals. It’s a great way to help our community, and look great while doing it.

Do your part in helping the animals affected by the oil spill by buying one of Hadaki’s great bags!

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Still stuck on what to get dad for Father’s Day? I’ve got an idea for you.

Try a Grand Band money clip. They come in your choice of stainless steel or sterling silver, and there are eight different designs to choose from. Most plates can be engraved so you can make sure that your gift is personal, original and meaningful.

Whether Dad is a golfer, banker, teacher, doctor or anything else, he still needs something to hold his cash, credit or business cards together. The Grand Band is the perfect accessory to hold everything. Wallets can sometimes be bulky to carry around in your pocket all day long, so the Grand Band is a sleek new alternative to the wallet.

 

Montblanc Leather

Montblanc Leather is exquisite!  I am a leather snob and the quality of this leather is like none I have ever seen. Made from Southern German full grain calfskin and put through a unique mixed chrome vegetable tanning, semi-aniline dying process, these leather goods stand out above the rest!

The Montblanc line offers a variety of leather pieces including briefcases, backpacks, wallets, portfolios, messenger bags, wheeled luggage and of course pen cases!

I love leather!  My husband often gives me a hard time about my addiction to leather…..handbags,  furniture, coats, seats in my car, wallets, …whenever I have an excuse to buy leather, I do!!!

Did you know leather has a longer life on average, is stronger, more fire resistant, retains its shape, and breathes better than many other fabrics on the market! It’s classic look has stood the test of time and it continues to be conceived as a high-end, quality product that even the fashion industry has grown to love!

Montblanc leather products have a unique deep shine and a beautiful Jacquard lining. The quality craftsmanship and finishing materials used, contribute to the unsurpassed quality and the reputation Montblanc holds as a luxury goods manufacturer!

Take one look at these bags…..their distinction is evident!

Top Ten Corporate Gifts Under $100

The 2010 holiday season will soon be upon us and many companies are searching for the perfect gifts to thank their hardworking employees, while still keeping an eye on the all important bottom line. Executive Essentials is the perfect place for corporate gift orders, due to their volume discounts; monogramming, screen printing, and embroidery capabilities; practice of providing samples upon request; and wide selection of quality products for business personnel, with pricing to fit a 2010 budget.

Top companies that have already chosen Executive Essentials for their corporate gift giving include McDonalds, Phillip Morris, United Airlines, Motorola, Proctor & Gamble and more.

Top Ten Corporate Gifts under $100 include:

1. Bosca Nappa Leather Letter Pad Black
2. Cross Century II Ballpoint Pen Medalist
3. Tumi Meridian Slim Card Case Black
4. Bey Berk Small Globe On Base
5. Parker Sonnet Rollerball Pen Stainless Steel GT
6. Movado Crystal Sphere Clock
7. Kenneth Cole Briefcases – Leather What’s The Bag Idea Computer Messenger Bag
8. Bey Berk Bull Pen Holder
9. Andrew Philips Leather To-do Flip Pad Black
10. Johnston & Murphy Dividends Collection Passport Holder

Remember personalizing with monogramming and engraving can make all the difference! Contact Executive Essentials today!

Great Gift Idea A Unique Umbrella

Do rainy days and Mondays always get you down?…This no longer has to be the case, at least when it comes to rainy days! I have just the ticket to brighten up even the most dismal, cloudy and miserable day, a Salamander Graphix Art Umbrella or a fabulous Ed Hardy Umbrella!

Salamander Umbrellas are wonderfully designed, eye-popping umbrellas sure to cheer you up even on the darkest of days.  Salamander Graphix has taken these spectacular masterpieces and created fabulously inspirational umbrellas: Claude Monet’s exquisite Water Lilies or his famous Garden at Giverny;  Edgar Degas’ stunning ballerinas;  Vincent Van Gough’s mysterious Starry Night; and Gustav Caillebotte’s  classic Rainy Day.  There is also this bright dragon-fly umbrella I just love!

For the less traditional souls out there, the Ed Hardy umbrellas are sure to please. Taking the very popular Ed Hardy artwork and splashing it all over these well made, UV protected, nickel finish umbrellas is sure to be a huge hit. As Ed Hardy designs are popping up all over town!

Could you imagine the scene on a city street during a downpour if everyone had a Salamander Graphix or Ed Hardy Umbrella?  What a sight that would be!  The sea of colors would be astounding!

Now available in folding umbrellas too, these umbrellas are perfect for the busy individual on the go, as they can be stored in a briefcase, laptop case, backpack and more!!

Now that we have the rainy days covered, what are we going to do about Mondays?

2010 Holiday Sales Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us, check out the great deals and unbelievable pricing at Executive Essentials this holiday season: sales, sales and more sales; coupons; clearance items; free monogramming; and many free gifts with purchase!!

Hundreds of gifts at unbeatable prices including:

• Amazing closeouts on Kenneth Cole Briefcases
• Clearance Waterford, Jaguar, Ducati Pens and many other fine pens!
• Coupons on Visconti, Dupont, Michael Perchin and David Oscarson Pens
• Deals on The North Face, Jansport, and Ivar Backpacks
• Stocking stuffers starting at $15.00
• Johnston-Murphy Briefcases – Free Gifts with Purchase

Fine Pens! Laptop Totes and Briefcases! Leather Duffels! Agendas, Writing Pads, Wallets, Desk Accessories and more…..all on sale at Executive Essentials! Executive Essentials the holiday gift center for all your favorite professionals.

Happy Holidays from Executive Essentials!

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Women and Men

Bellagio Laptop Sleeve

Ah…..falling in love, there is no feeling like it! Racing heart, sweaty palms, the sensation that you are just going to burst at the seams with excitement.  You cannot get enough of him or her, all day, every day. They occupy your every thought and boy does it feel great!!!

Come on you remember, don’t you?  It has not been that long since you’ve experienced the high?…..Even if you are deeply committed and truly love the one you’re with; whether you have been together one year or fifty, it is time to recapture that giddy feeling, reignite that flame and fall in love all over, with that special person in your life!

Lodis Leather Crossbody Clutch

Valentine’s Day is approaching fast and what better time to start the ball rolling! Come on life is too short, let’s give it all we got!!!  You cynics out there who say Valentine Day is a Hallmark holiday, so what, who cares; why not take advantage of it anyways, take the opportunity to get back that gosh darn fantastic feeling when you first fell in love!Below are some great Valentine gifts she will just love and they won’t be gone in a week: the Andrew Philips Leather Heart Shaped Paperweights; luxurious red and pink pens from Faber-Castell, Waterford, Aurora, Cross, Waterman & more; exquisite red and pink leather wallets, agendas, totes and briefcases from Lodis, Knomo, McKlein and Clark & Mayfield;  or even a fun red or pink umbrella from Shed Rain and Knirps Umbrellas.

Aurora Ipsilon Ballpoint Pen

For that special guy in your life this Valentine’s Day:  Piel Leather Golf Accessories;  Bey Berk Bull & Bear Bookends;  Clava Leather Wine Carriers; extraordinary fountain, rollerball and ballpoint pens from Montblanc, Namiki, Cross or Waterman; or top quality leather briefcases, messenger bags, wallets, portfolios and more.

Falling in love….ooooh what a feeling! Happy Valentine’s Day from Executive Essentials!

College Graduation Gift Ideas : For Him, For Her.

If you’re looking for gift ideas for your soon to be graduated college student then let me be the first to tell you that you have come to the right place. Over the last few weeks, Executive Essentials has gathered some of our favorite pens and talked a little about the unique qualities they contain. We know from years of experience that pens make the best graduation gifts, not only for college graduates but high school graduates as well.  And we will present more pens targeted towards specific majors over the next few weeks. But today I wanted to stray a little outside the pen-box and talk about some unique graduation gifts that Executive Essentials carries.

For those who are new to the world of Executive Essentials (EE), you may not know that we are more than just pen store in Mount Prospect, Illinois. EE carries all sorts of gifts and products that make life enjoyable, easier and stylish. In fact, we have many varieties of luggage, desktop accessories, laptop and tote bags, briefcases, wallets, and purses. An entire selection of fine goods made for the fast paced world of business. With that in mind, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at some of the non-pen products that freshly graduated students might find useful and fun in their new jobs.

Graduation Gifts For Men:

Acme Blueprint Business Card Case

Acme is a company that loves fun and style and they are experts at bringing this style into the business world without making it goofy and childlike. There are a number of great business card cases made by Acme for both men and women, but this Blueprint Business Card Case is one of my favorites. Paying homage to the profession that Frank Loyd Wright made famous, this sleek, sturdy case is perfect for that young professional in their new career.

Bey Berk Lady Justice Bookends

Bey Berk is one of my new favorite companies. I hadn’t heard of Bey Berk before coming to work at EE, but the more products from them I see, the more I understand how committed they are to quality and design. I was first introduced to them through their great pen boxes and cases. These amazing Lady Justice Bookends and just the thing to hold that newly minted lawyer’s law library in place. These bookends are cast in solid bronze and set upon solid marble, measuring nearly 9 inches tall.

Hartmann Horizontal Prescription Pad

We all know that having a degree to practice medicine is mandatory, but it’s not nearly as important as having completely illegible handwriting. Well, that doctor new to the world might have messing handwriting, but that doesn’t mean he needs to have an unkempt subscription pad. This Horizontal Prescription Pad from Hartmann Briefcases is just the thing to help him keep track of his daily doses. And you might consider a nice pen to go along with it.

TravelPro Executive First Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase

Over the last handful of years that graduate in your life has been lugging around the same messenger bag from class to class. It’s got coffee stains on the bottom, a ripped lanyard with a broken clip, pretzel crumbs mashed into the pencil pockets and some sort of unidentified stain on the back — donut glaze perhaps? Sure, the strap still works, but only because they repaired it with a carabiner. All it’s filled with fond memories (and other unmentionable items) the ratty, old messenger bag just can’t accompany your graduate into the business world. Instead, they need a great briefcase like the one from Travelpro. This amazing bag is made out of ballistic nylon fabric. It has a pocket for your 17-inch laptop, water bottle and is large enough for legal papers. It has locking zippers and is sized to be checkpoint friendly at the airport. Bonus days!

Graduation Gifts For Women:

Hobo International Vintage Leather Rachel Clutch Zinnia

Being organized in the real world takes more than persistence and determination. It takes a good system and the right tools. Not only will this amazing Hobo International Vintage Leather Clutch be a great place to keep your business cards, but its tri-fold frame design has eight credit card slots, an ID window, three bill pockets, a zip security pocket and a detachable cosmetic mirror. It’s basically a graduates best friend wrapped in cowhide and fringed with antique hardware.

Dilana Collection Leather iPad Easel Black

We can argue about this all we want –and people do — but in a handful of years, the Ipad (and the windows version of it when it comes out) will be the replacement for a laptop. The iPad, in general, can make any professionals life much easier on a day to day basis. Not only does it allow you to keep in constant contact with your clients, friends, and family, but the apps available on the Ipad range from insanely fun to hard-to-live-without-once-you’ve-used-it. Once you have something that important in your life (and expensive) you want to protect it. This Dilana Leather Ipad Easel is just the item to keep it safe and make it easier to use.

Winn Slim Ladies Briefcase Black

I mentioned a great briefcase for the men, so I thought I would pull one out of the catalog for the women. There are so many to choose from here at Executive Essentials that it was hard to choose. But I did finally find this Winn Slim Ladies Briefcase.  This great bag has a computer sleeve built in that is good for laptops (and Ipads) up to 15 inches. It comes with a makeup pouch in matching leather, metal feet to protect the bottom of the bag, an adjustable shoulder strap, a full-length zipper and a file folder pocket. She’ll be organized and stylish.

These are just a few of the many great graduation gift ideas available here at EE. The catalog is literally bursting with items to suit any taste and need. So take the time to look around and see if anything fits the character and needs of your soon-to-be-graduate.

Montblanc Wallet: Anatomy of Perfection

Above you will find the exact description that Executive Essentials uses for Montblanc Leather Wallets. I’ve seen this description countless times from Montblanc themselves. This makes sense since it accurately describes the product. However, I realized that even though I had read the description dozens of times, I’d never really taken the time to understand what it all meant. Since I wasn’t a leather worker none of the descriptions really made sense to me – although it all sounded very nice. Well, today did some research to see what all these descriptions meant. And here is what I found out.

Southern German Fullgrain Calfskin

It’s obvious that Southern German refers to the country and the region of that country that Montblanc chooses to procure their hides from. The best I can tell from the internet is that Germany has a strong history in leather goods – as evidenced by the German Leather Museum in Offenbach, Hesse. In general, South German seems a popular place for leather. So Montblanc is choosing a widely accepted source of leather.

The Full-grain aspect of the leather means the hide has not had the top-grain removed. The top-grain is the layer that has the fur and skin. Full-grain leather has not been treated in any way that would damage the grain. This gives the leather strength and durability, allows it to breathe and causes it to develop a nice patina with wear. The skin of a calf is used instead of a cow because calves have a softer and tighter grain than their elders.

Mixed Chrome Vegetable Tanning

Before a hide can be used to make leather products it must be treated in order to make it softer, pliable and easier to work with. The process is called tanning and there are a number of different ways to get this job done. It seems Montblanc has chosen a mixture of vegetable tanning and chrome tanning. Vegetable tanning involves the use of tannin, which comes from vegetables and other organic substances. The process is obviously very non-toxic and provides many benefits for the worker. However, the results of the tanned leather do not hold up well to water and extreme heat, which will make the leather lose its color and eventually become brittle.

Chrome-tanned leather, which first appeared in the mid-1800’s uses chromium sulfate — a type of salt –to treat the hide so that it can be worked into leather products. Leather treated with chromium sulfate is softer and doesn’t’ lose its shape when it comes in contact with water and heat like vegetable-tanned leather. Unlike vegetable tanning, chromium sulfate is a hazardous material. This may explain why Montblanc chooses to mix the two – in order to get the best of both worlds, without the worst of either.

 

Montblanc Leather Wallet

Semi-Aniline Dyed

 

Much like the skin of any other creature on this great planet of ours, the skin of a calf or a cow is marked and potted with imperfections and blemishes. A nice patina from wear and use will often time cover up these blemishes, but what really does the trick is dying. In fact, the original purpose of dying leather was to hide imperfections.  Aniline dying is just one of several substances used to not only provide a deep rich color to the leather but to enhance the pliability of the hide. Semi-aniline dyed means that aniline and other chemicals were used to enrich the look and feel of the leather. Another technique is to use only aniline dye.

Jacquard Lining

In the beginning of the 1800’s, Joseph Jacquard created a textile with an intricately woven pattern. He accomplished this by inventing one of the earliest programmable looms. Although the fabric that he created was eventually named after him, it comes in many different styles including Damask and Brocade. In Jacquard’s time, this style of fabric was expensive and much sought after. In modern times Jacquard lining is much more commonplace. However, the look and feel of the jacquard lining is a great touch.

Black & White Resin Star Logo with Palladium-Plated Ring

The black and white resin star logo simply refers to the world famous Montblanc emblem that tops the caps of all pens in their line. The Palladium-plated ring is a part of that logo. Montblanc is known for using a number of different precious metals in their pens. Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal discovered in 1803. Today it is used in the production of catalytic converters and electronic equipment. It’s also used by Montblanc to provide a nice finishing touch to their leather goods.

I hope that was useful in some way to give you a better understanding of what goes into making a finely crafted Montblanc Wallet. Go ahead and take some time to see the great selection of wallets we have here at Executive Essentials.

The zebra is one of those highly distinctive and well-loved animals. And, even though they live in only one country, Africa, they are known worldwide. They are primarily known for their black and white striped coats which give them striking physical features. The pattern actually evolved as a defense against predators, which blurs the outline of the animal and confuses distance, making the zebra harder to hunt during dawn and dusk. And, although in a group all zebras may look the same, each pattern is as individual as a fingerprint or a snowflake.

The zebra pattern has been lifted from the animal and used in fashion and design in clothing, furniture, and numerous other products. Here at Executive Essentials, we have several products that carry the distinctive zebra stripes including a few zebra print pens.

Cross Sauvage Fountain Pen Onyx Zebra

In the world of accessories for women, the Cross Sauvage Zebra Fountain Pen stands high above the rest. Cross specifically engineered this one of a kind pen to suit a woman’s hand for writing by adjusting the balance and shape. The Sauvage features a curvy outline of silver and onyx that echoes the feminine form. The deep engraving of this pen mimics that of an exotic zebra print. This pen is hand-polished and is covered in a jewel-toned lacquer. It is tipped with an 18-karat nib.

JanSport Black and White Cosmo Zebra Elefunk Messenger Bag

It’s been years since messenger bags replaced the standard backpack as the de facto carrying accouterment for urban dwelling individuals and the designs and styles just continue to expand and evolve. Case in point is Jansport’s Elefunk in zebra print. This is a great messenger bag for books, school supplies, or even hauling groceries from the Good Food Store. It comes complete with an adjustable shoulder strap with a removable pad, one large main compartment, an organizer that keeps essentials handy, dual side pockets with one for a cell phone and a fully padded back panel for cushioning comfort. Did I mention it has a zebra print? Classic!

Retro 51 Exotic Animal Prints Rollerball Pen Zebra

Retro 51 Pens goes 1980’s with this great Zebra print pen from their Exotic Animal Prints series. I am a huge fan of Retro 51. They know how to have serious fun when it comes to writing pens. Not to mention that many of their pens are extremely affordable for the quality you get in both the ink and the barrel. So slide in the Tears for Fears cassette, raise your bangs, cuff your pants and get your 1980’s on with this ultra fun pen.

Ogon Aluminum Credit Card Wallet Zebra

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that nothing goes together better than an aluminum credit card holder and zebra print. The Ogon Credit Card Holder is a unique carrying case that allows men and women to carry the essentials in a pocket size case. Easy to find in a purse, it also fits perfectly in a jean pocket. The open fan-shaped compartments are functional in design and allow easy access to each card. The wallet features seven expandable pockets made of resistant PVC to fit up to 12 cards. The aluminum is made of water-resistant material and it has a simple button that makes opening and closing easy.

Fashions, fabrics, and styles come and go like the tides. But some designs and patterns are timeless. Make sure to check out these and other great zebra print products from Executive Essentials. You won’t be disappointed.