2018 Wrap-Up: Our 10 Most-Shared Stories of the Year

We all learned early in life that sharing is caring. The following 10 stories prove that sentiment is especially true within the promo industry, as they generated the most displays of social-media generosity among our readers. We would like to share with you our appreciation for your enthusiasm for the content and encourage you to send them along to everyone who can benefit from their insights. Heck, you might just want to share 'em again!

1. Nathan Peterman, Arguably the NFL’s Worst Quarterback, Is Selling Branded Merch

Now seeking a team, then-Buffalo Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman proved that he is more than a huddle presence (and interception machine) by hawking customized merchandise. Items for men, women and children, along with accessories, comprise the 24-year-old’s business venture.

2. Colorado Timberline Abruptly Closes, Cites Ransomware Attack

Also holding down the second spot on our Most-Read Stories of the Year list, this item focused on the sudden departure of the five-year-old company from Denver’s business community. In a website-based message, the business cited being “unable to overcome the most recent ransomware attack” that had struck its operations.

3. 2018 Top 50 Distributors: Stats, Trends and Analysis

Who can refuse a look at the state of the promo industry? Apparently, all of you can’t, as this look at distributors’ success led to many shares. A key takeaway from the analysis is that 2018’s Top 50 constituents totaled $5.033 billion in promotional products sales in 2017, a significant boost over our previous list’s $4.476 billion tally.

4. 2018 Top Distributors: Taylor Corporation Prepares for Promo’s Future

Taylor Corporation secured the fifth spot on our 2018 Top Distributors list. Through a reflective piece on the company’s success, Promo Marketing interviewed its president of promotional marketing, Mike Giachetti, learning from him how millennials and technology are helping to drive the promotional products industry.

5. Zac Posen’s New Delta Airlines Uniforms Could Change In-Flight Fashion Forever

Earning plaudits as “athleisure in the sky” and “high fashion,” the Zac Posen-designed uniforms for Delta Airlines debuted in late May. Promo Marketing’s Hannah Abrams pondered whether the “flattering and functional looks might transform airline uniforms forever.”

6. NFL Teams Have Fun With Costco Hat Embroidery Mishap

We take pride here at Promo Marketing over having the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles sharing our city, so we found it comedic when becoming aware of a hat that featured on it the Birds' logo but the Houston Texans’ name. Interestingly, the teams that were a part of the Costco mistake play this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

7. New USPS Rule Would Limit Marketing Mail to Paper Products Only (No More Merchandise)

The U.S. Postal Service made a few headlines for us this year. In this September piece, Promo Marketing looked at a possible amendment to its marketing mail standards, with the proposed change seeking to limit such mail delivery to regular and nonprofit, letter-size and flat-size, to content that is only paper-based/printed matter, thus putting the clamps on merchandise and goods.

8. The Story Behind Pantone 448 C, “the World’s Ugliest Color”

Pantone 448 C has not enjoyed a fruitful existence among admirers of vibrant colors. It has registered as such a drab shade that a few countries have enlisted it on cigarette packaging as a symbolic condemnation of indulging in nicotine.

9. Hot Dog Restaurant’s Promotional T-shirts Cause Quite a Stir

Some say there is no such thing as bad publicity. Weenies, a hot dog shop in Madison, N.J., tested that belief with employee T-shirts that read “Grab Yours Here" and that have an arrow pointing downward to the website in small font.

10. Promotional Considerations President Buys Back Company from Corporate Owner, Affiliates with iPROMOTEu

There’s nothing like some late-winter news to get the heart pumping. In this instance, Jeffrey P. Marks and Bobby Baughan, the president and vice president, respectively, of Promotional Considerations, announced they had purchased their company back from Vanguard Industries. The two were also proud to announce that Promotional Considerations now enjoys an affiliation with iPROMOTEu.