Blogs

Many years ago, when my company entered the promotional products marketplace, we were told that every style of apparel we introduced must have a women's companion piece. This women's apparel companion style should be manufactured with the exact same fabric as the men's styling—but be distinctly “women's” in make and silhouette. The theory and logic…

In an effort to protect Planned Parenthood against proposed defunding, companies are stepping in to create promotional products with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit. Power and Light created a tote bag that went viral, and these Nasty Women T-shirts helped raise more than $100,000 for Planned Parenthood. Now, it seems the fashion world wants in on…

Here's what's happening this week in the apparel world ... * Athletic wear companies Under Armour and Adidas have kissed and made up. Both retailers have reached a settlement in a patent infringement lawsuit regarding mobile fitness product patents, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Adidas AG, Under Armour Inc. and MapMyFitness Inc. have resolved their pending patent…

The Trump brand has seen licensing agreements disappear dramatically of late. In 2015, before Trump’s presidency, 19 companies were paying the Trump Organization to produce or distribute Trump-branded goods. Today, only two remain. Yet, the Trump campaign store is still a major mover of merchandise. What gives?...

Five apparel pieces fit for any stadium, team or any baseball-loving client to give away.

The best thing we can do as garment counselors is to make our clients look like heroes to THEIR end-users. The perfect apparel category for that? Jackets.

When it comes to the holiday season, I know it's all about giving and being thankful. But, I also can't help but get excited when musicians, sports teams, theme parks and TV shows release special edition holiday gear. In fact, my coworkers know my Sixers ugly sweater is one of my most coveted possessions, as…

We know you're still settling into your post-holiday routine. It seems like just yesterday you were hanging the stockings on the fireplace and singing "Auld Lang Syne." But like it or not, Valentine's Day will be here soon, and there's nothing worse than waiting 'til the last minute to plan for it. If your clients…

With all this 2016 election hullabaloo, we've been focusing a lot of attention on the Democratic and Republican National Conventions' merchandise. And while that's definitely important, there's another convention that pulled out all the stops for its merchandise. San Diego Comic-Con is that wonderful yearly event where fans receive updates on their favorite comic franchises,…

With March Madness gone, basketball fans are focusing on another basketball event: the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Whether it's to watch LeBron go for another ring or the Golden State Warriors' dream team, fans everywhere are ready for an exciting end to the 2017 NBA season. And, as per usual, all I can focus on are the…

March Madness is such a magical time. I'm probably only saying that because I'm currently winning my group's bracket challenge. Either way, we've got never-ending games, college rivalries and awesome mascots to hold our attention. What could be better than that? And, when you work in the world of promotional apparel, you tend to pay…

Maybe it's just me, but when the news gets to be too much to bear, I tend to reminisce. I think about simpler times, like my childhood—Nickelodeon shows, yo-yos, saying "wazzup" for no reason and, of course, the Spice Girls. The Spice Girls were, and still are, my everything. I've seen them in concert twice,…

If you had to increase your prices 20 percent tomorrow, how would your customers react? After you absorbed unflattering comments and disappointment, your customers would buy fewer products, if they bought any at all. Beyond our industry, consider what we buy every day: clothing, footwear, housewares, electronics and so on. How would you feel the…

The U.S. House Republican tax reform proposal includes a recommendation to adopt a Border Adjustment Tax (BAT). If it passes in any form, it will increase the cost of promotional products significantly. The BAT will have a negative overall impact to the promotional products industry. You must start learning about BAT, and how it is…

On November 23, 2015, the world’s largest food manufacturer, Nestle, disclosed publicly that slave labor was being used to produce its seafood sourced from its supply chain in Thailand. An investigation had shown that Thai fishing operators lured migrant with false promises. The migrants were sold systematically and then kept in bondage and degrading conditions…

It's hard to believe that Donald Trump's Inauguration Day is almost here. And while many people are focusing on the actual politics, I always have a different angle. Working in this industry, I know one thing is true—it's all about the promotions. During the election, I took a look at some of the weirdest political…

With March making its debut next week, St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. I get extra excited about St. Patrick's Day because it's a chance to bore people with my stories about spending a semester in Ireland. I'll save you the snooze-worthy stories and instead provide some insight as to how your brand…

Though I already have provided my opinion of the best NBA giveaways, the experts at ESPN ranked the top five NBA giveaways this season. There certainly are some creative promotions, and even with the ones I thought I had seen before, I noticed cool, new features that I wouldn't have thought of. ESPN gave the…

I'm going to level with all of you. A few years ago, I did not know the first thing about…

This month marks my two-year anniversary of curling. Every Tuesday night, I head to Bucks County Curling Club, put on the proper footwear, grab my broom, stretch, catch up with fellow club members and take the ice. Strangely enough, there’s plenty to be learned from what curlers wear on the ice. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind for your future apparel campaigns, and how to reach out to markets that may seem more specialized than others...

Yesterday, I wrote a story about American Apparel founder and former CEO Dov Charney's new apparel company, which he plans to build into a rival of his former company. So far, we don't actually know the name of the company, but we do know that it's based in…

In this industry, we know the power of a T-shirt. We know how many impressions they provide—and how effective those impressions can be. A shirt donning a slogan in support of Orlando combats the hate that caused this tragedy and unites us all in support of our fellow man...

You guys know that I love T-shirts. I couldn’t write about them as much as I do if I didn’t. And I know that you guys love T-shirts, too. You wouldn’t be as good at your jobs as you are if you didn’t. But how much does your end-user love your T-shirt? That’s the make-or-break question of a successful promotion...

With fall just weeks away, I've been thinking about all the reasons to be excited for it. Pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, football season and, of course, the "Gilmore Girls" revival. Honestly, there is nothing more fall than "Gilmore Girls," which is set in the fictional New England town of Stars Hollow. And with Netflix…

While it's been uncharacteristically cold here in Philadelphia, the first week of April still has brought chirping birds and blooming cherry blossoms. The start of spring also signifies that Earth Day is almost here, and if you're anything like us, you love the opportunity to give back to Mother Earth. Whether it's with eco-friendly products…

Providing cross-promotion products increases the brand exposure for your client(s). Here are two cross-market promotion ideas to celebrate warm weather.

Imagine this: The event is going a lot better than you had expected. Everyone seems really excited about the new launch, and a bunch of the prospects in attendance have expressed interest in learning more about what you can offer. You have gathered lots of new, quality leads it seems! Even better, your chief marketing…

Paul Bellantone and I walked to dinner after the first day of PPAI’s 2015 Product Responsibility Summit and talked about the same thing

Jane Nelson-Halverson, owner of Dakota Promotions & Printing, describes her experiences volunteering for an abused adult resource center, which she also does some promotional work for. She details the services the center provides, as well as how she handles selling promotional products to an organization she also volunteers at.

The Rising Trend in Personal Care Good marketing, and the products or services being promoted, seek to identify and fill a void within the consumer’s present life. For millions of individuals, that void often centers around wellness and personal care. An overlooked yet deadly serious element of daily life, self-care is an activity or habit…

College was an exciting time in my life. For me, a kid from suburban Central Pennsylvania, it was a time when I moved to an exciting city, made new friends from all over the country (and the world)…

I got the Microsoft Surface Book (not the Surface tablet) two weeks ago, and it’s going back to Microsoft this week. It’s an expensive laptop that has great potential, but it’s not worth the extra money. Here are my thoughts. The potential is there: Beautiful and stylish Powerful Excellent tablet functionality with a great Bluetooth…

What are you going to do in 2016 that is going to make you even more relevant in 2017? What are you going to do to create the customer experience needed to ensure that you can compete and flourish long term? Are you going to curse the online challengers who are driving you crazy? Or,…

I am, without a doubt, the most mobile CIO in the USA. Name one other CIO that is so committed to mobile that immerses themselves all the way to the point of staying in a mobile home.

Earth Day is right around the corner. Need ideas for upcoming promotions? Here are three products that scream "I <3 Earth."

Earth Day is almost here. Are you and your clients ready to go for the green on April 22?

Whether you want to believe it or not, the weather impacts the ability for business to get done. One look at Facebook during Hurricane Sandy illustrated just how disruptive the storm was to industry firms.

Paper supplier Mohawk shows support for small businesses that source and create American-made products. Here's the why and how.

Dita Von Teese recently modeled the first 3-D printed full-length gown. How will this influence fashion and are you buying the 3-D printing hype?

5 imprintable greeting cards for everyone from your favorite supplier to your most curmudgeonly client.

How to find potential Labor Day clients and implement a promotion before September 2.

A review of Diamonds Cosmetics Inc.'s nail polish and ideas for including polish in your upcoming promotions.

What to wear and bring while traveling to Vegas, Atlantic City or any other show location.

Feeling burnt out and unproductive? Make time for a vacation—even if time isn’t on your side.

Season 3 of HBO's "Game of Thrones" premieres on March 31. Here are some fun ways to connect the worlds of fantasy and promotional products.

Clients not wowed by QR codes? Watch this video for a way to focus on their strengths and make them impressive and intriguing again.

Valentine's Day and other promotion ideas for February and March.

My favorite promotional item carries a lot of meaning for me. Here's a clue to figure it out: If you're like rapper Wiz Khalifa, "you know what it is."

Are you looking for a product that sends just the right message for an awareness campaign? Here are some suggestions.

Award season is in full swing. Help your clients take home the Oscar for "Best Party" with these five movie-themed promotions.

A short example about how a little promotion can go a long way.

Stationery company Paper Mate recently conducted a survey about office theft and came to a bold conclusion: 100 percent of respondents admitted to stealing pens from coworkers.

PCA Calendars and Pepco Promotional Products share some of their new products from the show floor.

A quick preview of all the cool stuff I'm working on for June.

I know it's only March 10th, but I'm starting to feel it—golf season is near. In my dinning room is a brand-new Big Bertha driver, a Christmas gift from my wife who apparently didn't know just how much the size of your club matters when it comes to golf (I explained it to her).