Current Features

People have their brand allegiances when it comes to beverages. They have their preferred brand of coffee, their favorite soda, and their go-to drink at the bar. Helping a beverage brand build awareness and customer loyalty has a lot do with its promotional advertising. This means products like drinkware, apparel and barware are crucial to the success of the brand. Distributors also need to be mindful about where and how these products will be used, and whether or not they promote the particular client’s brand identity.

What happens when a company’s inventory outnumbers its sales, or vice versa? Dennis Funk from Proforma Signature Solutions, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, shared how he efficiently streamlined a nonprofit’s e-commerce platform, while decreasing its liability.

We at Promo Marketing understand that summer living isn’t always easy for our readers—particularly for those trying to fulfill the hot-weather wardrobe demands of fickle clients. Sure, a basic crew-neck tee will never go out of style, but what happens when your customer wants to outshine the competition with something bold and fresh? We’ve got expert insights into the T-shirts and tanks that will make your apparel programs sizzle.

Long work commutes and heavy traffic patterns cause automobiles to be second homes to some people, which means the automotive market is large for promotional products. We spoke to Janet Trachter, vice president of sales and marketing for Superex, Toronto, Canada, and Paul Dubois, general manager for Ready 4 Kits, Keene, N.H., to find out what three automotive promotional products sell best.

In a 2013 Forbes article, Mark Stewart, former executive director of the Tailgating Industry Association, estimated that fans spend as much as $20 billion on tailgating for football and $35 billion on auto racing annually. Adding in baseball, hockey, soccer and outdoor concerts, you’ve got a lot of opportunities for tailgating and cheering. This provides end-buyers with myriad ways to advertise their brands, and a wealth of different products for distributors to provide them.

Working for a tech company in New York City can mean long hours and a lot of work, but there’s always room for a little bit of fun. Bill Resnik, vice president, partner and owner of Proforma Printing and Promotion, Boston, described one promotion that stuck with him, and gave employees at PayPal an opportunity to play some games.

As people mind their wallets and the environment, reusable drinkware options continue to rise. End-users are more likely to keep using the free mug or tumbler they received, and that means a lot of eyes on your client’s logo. We spoke to three of the industry’s top drinkware suppliers to find out what trends end-users will appreciate the most.

The Top 50 Distributors List recognizes the top-performing distributors each year, and as a whole this year, distributors have exceeded expectations. The list’s totals have crossed the $4 billion mark ($4.2 billion to be precise), increasing the total revenue of those appearing on this list by about $350 million. The threshold to join the list also rose. Last year, $18 million in sales earned a Top 50 spot, while more than $24.5 million in sales was needed this year.

Giving back builds team morale, helps the community and creates a positive impact. Promo Marketing spoke to Bill Banks, director of technology for Attachmentville, Fleetwood, Pa., to learn about the company’s charity work—specifically its involvement with the Greater Berks Food Bank and how Attachmentville uses its customizable lanyards to benefit local charities.