Supplier News

6 Off-kilter 'Star Wars' Promotions
December 16, 2015 at 4:41 pm

After much anticipation, "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" opens in theaters this week. In all of the hype around the blockbuster, promotional items from T-shirts to fruits have hit shelves. Here are six "Star Wars" promotional items that stood out to us. 1. BB-8 Oranges One of the new droids that we've seen…

Promotional Incentives Inc. Celebrates 25 Years in Business
December 16, 2015 at 3:58 pm

Promotional Incentives Inc., Cape Coral, Fla., celebrated its 25th year in the promotional product industry. The company specializes in embroidered apparel, award and recognition gifts, and branded office and household items. When a young, recently married couple—Jack and Lucy Costa—launched the company in 1990, the duo set up shop in a Cape Coral office, where…

Cargo Ship Loses 12 Containers in San Francisco
December 16, 2015 at 3:42 pm

The U.S. Coast Guard warned mariners in the San Francisco Bay area to navigate with caution after a cargo ship lost 12 large containers in heavy seas last week. According to the SFGate, the Manoa, an 810-foot cargo…

PPAI Selects Saxum as Its Agency of Record
December 15, 2015 at 6:08 pm

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, has selected Saxum, Oklahoma City, as its agency of record. The agency will develop an integrated communications plan, including strategic brand positioning, media relations, integrated creative content, and a paid media campaign launching the promotional products industry’s first cohesive awareness and branding initiative. PPAI developed the branding initiative aided by…

Newell Rubbermaid Acquires Rival Jarden for $13B
December 15, 2015 at 5:11 pm

Newell Rubbermaid, Atlanta, announced on Monday that it will acquire Rye, New York-based Jarden, a rival company with multiple brands related to the promotional products industry, including Sunbeam, Rawlings and Coleman, for $15.4 billion. USA Today reported that Newell Rubbermaid, which also makes Sharpie, Paper Mate and Irwin products, is purchasing Jarden for a combination of…

Last Call to Sign Up for SuccessFit4Life! at the PPAI Expo
December 15, 2015 at 4:01 pm

Registration closes Dec. 18 for FreePromoTips.com's SuccessFit4Life! Fun Run/Walk, benefitting the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), at the 2016 PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. With a $25 donation to PPEF, participants will receive a collection of SuccessFit4Life! products. Participating suppliers include: SnugZ USA, Pro Towels, Halls & Company, Prime Line, Ad-A-Day Company Inc., Southern Plus,…

LeBron James Signs Lifetime Deal with Nike
December 15, 2015 at 3:41 pm

NBA star LeBron James has signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike, which has endorsed the Cleveland Cavaliers forward since 2003, when he signed a $90 million contract. Now, according to BBC, his lifetime deal is the first lifetime contract from Nike, and USA Today speculated that the deal may be worth more than $500 million.…

The Image Group Announces Name Change for LightHouse Brands
December 14, 2015 at 5:11 pm

The Image Group, Holland, Ohio, is retiring the name of its acquired subsidiary, Toledo, Ohio-based LightHouse Brands, on Jan. 1, 2016. The Image Group acquired LightHouse Brands in 2013 and, following the merger’s completion, operated the companies as separate divisions. Going forward, the two will operate as a single entity under The Image Group name.…

Brooklyn Nets Print Mistake on T-shirt
December 14, 2015 at 4:31 pm

The Brooklyn Nets celebrated Hanukkah with Jewish Heritage night when they played the Philadelphia 76ers last week, and planned to have T-shirts that said "Represent Brooklyn" in Hebrew. Unfortunately, the Nets made a mistake with the Hebrew spelling. According to the New York Post, "Brooklyn" was misspelled in Hebrew, and the Nets had to fix…

Penn Emblem Company Recreates Its Own Toy Factory
December 14, 2015 at 4:08 pm

Philadelphia-based Penn Emblem Company's Mexico location participated in the annual Christmas parade in Santa Ana, Sonora. This year, the company created a float with a toy factory theme. The parade included the whole community and ended in the center of town called La Plaza, where…