Kyle A. Richardson

Kyle A. Richardson

Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.

Being Aware

Timothy James Richardson, my uncle, passed away on Sept. 9, 2016 following a long, 15-month battle with cancer. He was 63 years old. My grandparents raised me, and when I was 16, my uncle came to live with us. Until then, I knew him as Uncle Timmy the doctor—kind of stiff, kind of stern. Over…

Voting With Your Dollar

The Democratic National Convention was held here in Philadelphia last month, about 4.5 miles south of Promo Marketing offices. If you were in the city, you could see the convention’s influence everywhere, from the demonstrators to the crowded streets, the rallies to the blocked roadways, the ... actually, protests and traffic were all you could…

Thoughts on PPAI L.E.A.D. in Washington, D.C.

Last month I had the privilege of joining a select group of promotional products professionals in Washington, D.C., for Promotional Product Association International’s (PPAI) Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.). Influential industry members from across the country volunteered their time to head to our nation’s capitol, to raise awareness about our industry and the legislation…

2016 Top 50 Distributors List

Promo Marketing's Top 50 Distributors list is the promotional product industry's most important distributor recognition. Where did your company rank in 2016?

The Top 50: Do Acquisitions Hurt the Industry?

As we were preparing our Top Distributors issue, news broke of four major industry shakeups. In the span of two weeks, Ennis announced plans to sell off Alstyle Apparel to an undisclosed buyer (later revealed to be Gildan Activewear), Hanesbrands Inc. acquired Champion Europe and Pacific Brands Limited, Taylor Corp. bought Staples Print Solutions, and private equity…

3 Reasons Why Promotional Products Trade Shows are Changing

Trade shows are invaluable tools in our industry: They let you see new product, connect with associates, and learn new selling and marketing strategies. The traditional, big industry shows, like PPAI Expo, are great for many reasons and always will be needed. That said,…

How Technology Settled the 'Jocks vs. Geeks' Debate Forever

Growing up, there were two types of kids in my school. First, you had the active kids—the students on the school teams, sure, but also boys and girls in the scouts, skateboarders and bikers, the kids who climbed trees, and the kids who just ran in circles until their mothers called them to come home…

Dov Charney's American Apparel Rival May Open in 'Six Weeks'

Dov Charney, former CEO of American Apparel, is looking to set up a rival shop in the backyard of the company he founded. Charney has been scouting factory locations around South Central Los Angeles, just a few miles away from American Apparel's downtown Los Angeles headquarters, according to Bloomberg. The new company, which has not yet been named, will…

What Does Devo Have to do with Promotional Products?

Sometimes, last-minute orders are amazing: those quick turnaround projects mean a quick turnaround on dollars. Most of the time, however, they don’t work out so perfectly, especially when the product isn’t available to ship immediately. It doesn’t matter how much more your customer is willing to pay if the product can’t ship the next day.…

Video: The Best Products (to Eat) at PPAI Expo East 2016

PPAI Expo East 2016 and the Imprinted Sportswear Show were held last week at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Thousands of suppliers and distributors walked the show floor looking for new products, unique marketing ideas, the latest decorating techniques and, most importantly, something good for lunch. Promo Marketing went to the convention to help you find the…

Can I Eat That?

We ask ourselves this question every day. For example: Oh look, someone brought in donuts! Can I eat that? Hmm, this has been in the fridge for three weeks. Can I eat that? Mmmmm this lip balm smells like pineapples. Can I eat that? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never gnawed on lip balm before, but…

American Apparel's Post-bankruptcy Plans

American Apparel talks to Promo Marketing about its new CEO, the company's January bankruptcy filing and the future of the promotional apparel business in this exclusive interview.

What's Next for American Apparel?

American Apparel talks to Promo Marketing about its new CEO, the company's January bankruptcy filing and the future of the promotional apparel business in this exclusive interview.

The Story of American Apparel

American Apparel is arguably the most well-known promotional products company in the world. Strip away the stores, the ads, the headlines: At its core, it is a wholesaler that built its business manufacturing and selling T-shirts to decorators. That’s American Apparel. Of course, American Apparel also is an internationally known retail brand. It’s impossible to…