Newsletter Blogs

Stop Underestimating Promotional Products E-Commerce
January 10, 2017 at 3:18 pm

“Department Stores Are Paying the Price for Underestimating Amazon” Department stores have been dabbling in e-commerce for a long time, but failed to recognize the big shift in consumer shopping preferences. Now, they are paying the price by closing stores en masse and shifting more investments into e-commerce. Amazon has such a large lead online…

Organizing by Class
January 6, 2017 at 2:28 pm

Question: Is there a way to view my profit by type of customer? Answer: QuickBooks has a function within it to allow segmenting your business in reports. It is called "classes." You can create a set of classes, which you enter into QuickBooks and apply to customers, vendors or other categories. For instance, you can…

3 Critical Components of Your Web Strategy
December 27, 2016 at 1:56 pm

Customer shopping expectations are racing ahead at light speed. We are at the point where buying online is often simpler and preferred over talking with a person. When that happens, new value is created and a new buying preferences are formed. To build your business, you must leverage your relationships while participating in the burgeoning…

7 Steps to Make 2017 Your Best Year Ever
December 19, 2016 at 1:31 pm

Are you ready? Ready to make 2017 your best year ever? Here are seven steps to make it happen. 1. Identify a Big Goal for Your Business. I recommend setting a big sales goal for three to five years out. Identify a specific sales goal and a specific deadline. Then, write it down and read…

Trust Your Instincts
December 16, 2016 at 3:04 pm

Question: I called Intuit/QuickBooks support and was told something that I know is not the way we do business. How can that happen? Answer: We have a complex and unique business. We do not fit typical business models, and it is confusing to many bookkeepers, CPA's and, yes, even QuickBooks support on occasion. Recently, a…

This is My New, Favorite Tote Bag
December 14, 2016 at 11:02 am

Working in the promo industry, I tend to be hyperaware of the promotional products I encounter in my everyday life. So, when I took a spontaneous trip to New York City for a weekend, I got too excited about a tote bag I saw at a farmers' market. But, what kind of Promo Marketing writer would…

Home Automation Is Fun and Simple
December 13, 2016 at 2:51 pm

If you haven’t started with home automation yet, now is the time. Even if you have, now is the time to add one more thing: Amazon Echo Dot, better known as Alexa. On its own, Amazon Echo Dot ($50) is a great deal. It plays music (although only loud enough for one room), creates shopping…

Come Together
December 12, 2016 at 2:27 pm

I have written about changing business landscapes in this publication for more than a decade now. During this time, we have experienced a shift in technology that created an “adapt or perish” atmosphere. We also experienced a recession so deep, many didn’t expect our industry could bounce back. But, we did. Today, we face uncertainties…

Another Year In the Books
December 8, 2016 at 11:13 am

In just more than three short weeks, we’ll be saying “so long” to 2016 and welcoming in a brand new start. As the craziness of December slows down from a boil to a simmer, and when you finally get to catch your breath, you realize the reset button gets hit, and soon you’ll be starting…

Turn Your Job into a Business: Part 2
December 5, 2016 at 2:22 pm

In my last blog article, I discussed the fact that most distributors don’t really own a business, but rather, they own a job. The test to determine if you own your own business is if you can fly to Hawaii for three months and tell someone else where to send your check. The key words…