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Stanley Launches Apparel Line

Consumers can now proudly swear fealty with more than just the brand’s drinkware.

The Stanley Quencher gained unprecedented consumer loyalty throughout the past year, solidifying its status as the top-selling drinking vessel in the market.

Now, the company has launched an apparel line.

On offer for Stanley fans who want to “Wear the Bear” (the tagline for the collection, in a nod to the brand’s logo) are basics like T-shirts, caps, hoodies, sweatshirts and socks.

This crewneck sweatshirt features two embroidered Quencher tumblers on the left chest. Colors include black, rose quartz, cream and even Stanley green – in homage to the Hammertone green that Stanley, a brand that’s more than 100 years old, made popular with its classic vacuum bottle for many decades.

The Classic Patch corduroy cap in ginger has an embroidered patch.

Stanley also has T-shirt options for kids, with screen-printing in bright, eye-catching colors.

The Kids Roar Tee in cream has a playful imprint.

Stanley isn’t the first retail drinkware line to expand into clothing. Competitor YETI also has an apparel line with T-shirts, caps and beanies.

In recent weeks, shoppers stormed Target locations to snag a special-edition “Galentine’s Day” Stanley Quencher. Stanley also responded to consumer concerns about lead in the vessels, saying they’re “making progress on innovative, alternative materials for use in the sealing process.” Vacuum-insulated tumblers like the Quencher are often constructed with a small lead pellet in the bottom to seal the insulation. It’s encased in glass and therefore inaccessible by users unless the drinkware is badly damaged.

8 Ways To Deal With Rejection in Sales

Hearing “no” comes with the territory, but it doesn’t have to impact success. Check out these eight ways to contend with rejection constructively and move more sales to the close.

Rejection is never easy – particularly in sales, where a person’s response is directly tied to your livelihood. It can be tempting to let “no” poke holes in your confidence, which can lead to call reluctance. However, preparation and persistence are often rewarded. According to data collated by Peak Sales Recruiting, more than 40% of sales reps give up on a lead after one follow-up call, but six in 10 customers will say “no” four times before saying “yes.”

So, when rejection threatens to throw you off your game, remember these eight tips:

1. Expect rejection.

Being told “no thanks” is part of being a sales rep. Expecting it will mean you’re less surprised and caught off guard when you do hear it, and you’ll be less likely to take it personally. A “no” also gives you an opportunity to create responses to common objections. If that doesn’t work, practice picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and moving on to the next call.

2. Know your strengths.

Do you offer unparalleled customer service? Soup-to-nuts creative services? Always-met deadlines? Remind yourself consistently of the value you offer and the things that define you in an environment of uncertainty, which will help you psychologically withstand rejection.

3. Shift your mindset.

Look at every call or email as a learning opportunity: Track what works and what doesn’t, and make tweaks as you go. After each conversation, whether you get a “yes,” “no” or “maybe,” ask yourself what skills you used on the call and adjustments you could make.

4. Review your strategy.

If you’re hearing more “nos” than normal, analyze your strategy. Are you calling on the right people? Could the time of day be impacting their response? Are you communicating clearly what you offer and how it can help them? Take a good look at your process, and also ask for honest feedback from current clients, colleagues and your manager.

60%: The percentage of customers who say “no” at least four times before saying “yes”. (Peak Sales Recruiting)



5. Be persistent.

A lead or prospect may have said “no” last quarter, but try calling on them again. Data shows that it takes several “nos” before a “yes.” Maybe in the past three months, their circumstances have changed. You won’t know if you don’t ask, and they may have more of a listening ear the second time around.

6. Measure progress.

Track your “yeses,” “nos” and “maybes” – you might be hearing fewer straight-up rejections than you think. Monitoring responses will also help you gauge how tweaks to your strategy are impacting your success.

7. Listen to understand.

If the person you call on says “no,” ask questions to figure out why. It’s most likely a concern in one of four areas: time, money, authority or effort. See if you can find out where their concern lies, then fall back on the value you offer to counter that objection. A hard “no” could potentially turn into, “I’d like to know more.”

8. Shadow other sales reps.

Ask successful colleagues if you can sit in on their sales calls. Take note of the words they use, the questions they ask, their tone and how they respond to objections. Even if you’re a veteran, it’s a good idea to take some time for a fresh look on the process and dive into another rep’s strategy to find what works.

Your Path to Increased Profit: Take Care of Yourself First

Business owners who underpay themselves year after year are costing themselves in the long run.

Lots of business owners underpay or altogether forgo paying themselves in the interest of “investing” in their business and its needs. In the initial stages of a start-up or in tough times, one might have to make sacrifices, but doing so year after year points to a much bigger problem. To promote profitability, it may seem to make sense to habitually pay yourself less. In the long run, however, it will cost you and your business more than you might anticipate.

As the business takes off, it’s essential to start taking a decent salary for yourself and your partners. Whatever you pay yourself, it should be enough for you to live comfortably and allow you to save and invest for your future. Let the power of compounding work for you. If you own the building, make sure to charge the business a fair rent. You aren’t doing anybody any favors by hiding the actual expenses and giving yourself a false sense of profitability.

One of my consulting clients, let’s call him Steve, was in his 15th year in business but was paying himself barely enough to meet his household expenses. His wife also worked in his business. They hardly took any vacations or saved for their kids’ education or their own retirement. After I had a few meetings with him, he finally understood and realized the importance of taking care of themselves first. He gave his wife and himself a decent raise. They went on a family vacation that they thoroughly enjoyed, and came back rejuvenated with a new vigor. The following year, their business experienced a 10% growth in revenues and a 5% growth in profits.

Steve realized that he hadn’t performed at his best for several years. With the excessive number of hours he was putting into his business and the small return he was getting, he had lost the needed energy and motivation to think creatively and focus on profits. With the rotten mood he brough home at the end of the work day, his relationship with his family had also taken a hit. As a result of increased compensation, things were looking up. Not only could he pay for his immediate needs, but he could also sock away enough and invest for a comfortable life in his golden years.

How much should you pay? This question comes up all the time, and there is no one formula that fits all. It depends on variables such as type of business, legal structure, profitability percentage, tax bracket and others. Some possible solutions are:

  1. At least the pay needed to hire a manager to replace you in case you can’t work anymore
  2. Anywhere from 3% to 6% of your revenue
  3. A certain percentage of profits, leaving enough for reinvestment into the business, ensuring its continuous growth
  4. Enough to cover your necessary expenses plus maintain a rainy-day fund, among others

Family business dynamics. I have seen situations where the father, who has owned the business for years, hires children to management roles and pays them more than his own salary in order to “keep them motivated.” I find two issues with this situation. One, the children must earn their way up to management by proving their worth. Two, paying more than your own salary sends the wrong message of you being of less worth – it undermines your credibility as the leader.

Greed can kill the business. I have also seen the opposite happen. I knew an owner of a printing business who treated it as her ATM machine. She kept taking money out of her business to splurge on her luxurious lifestyle, including building a second house and taking multiple vacations a year. The number of employees went from seven to two. Sales kept shrinking. She lost most of her customers. The only reason she’s still in business is because of a contractual agreement with one large client.

You’re the one taking all the financial risks, having sleepless nights and making sacrifices; there’s nothing wrong with reaping the rewards. If you have managed your business with a focus on profits, you should not have to worry about finances after your exit – which, by the way, you get to decide, not your age, personal situation or circumstances.

The Bright Side: Company Helps Restore Coral Reefs

The company announced two new giveback programs for 2024, including a partnership with two organizations dedicated to saving coral reefs.

The Baltimore-based supplier has launched a new environmentally focused giveback program this year, donating a portion of all sales of its new Coral Reef towels.

Coral Reef Towel

Coral reefs are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, supporting 25% of all marine species. They’re also a source of food for hundreds of millions of people; they power coastal economies through tourism, fishing and recreation; and they shelter coastlines from storms and erosion. However, due to factors including climate change and direct human impact, half of coral reefs around the world have been lost, and scientists have projected that more than 90% will have died by 2050.

One solution to the problem is to create high-tech coral farms that can grow coral up to 50 times faster and boost their resiliency against warming and acidifying oceans. Once the new coral is grown, the organization says it can plant it into degraded reefs to bring them back to life.

In addition to its coral reef giveback program, the supplier has announced that it will be donating a portion of all sales to the Melanoma Research Foundation.

These two new giveback programs build on the company’s established philanthropic practice of donating towels and blankets to the Salvation Army, particularly in areas suffering the effects of natural disasters.

4 Ways To Use Peach Fuzz, the 2024 Pantone Color of the Year

The pastel neutral is on trend for apparel, accessories and other promotional products.

Expect 2024 to bring warmth and comfort – at least in terms of color. Pantone has announced Peach Fuzz as its 2024 Color of the Year, describing it as a “clean peach tone with a vintage vibe.”

Pantone Peach Fuzz
The Pantone Color Institute says the subtle hue is meant to evoke a message of caring, collaboration and sharing.

“A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration and is an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel and heal, and to flourish from, whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

The 2024 color is a departure from the more saturated hues Pantone has chosen for other recent Colors of the Year like 2023’s Viva Magenta and 2022’s Very Peri. It’s similar, though, to the 2019 pick Living Coral. Pantone’s announcement also marks the 25th anniversary of the Color of the Year program, which was instituted in 1999, with the color Cerulean Blue.

Trend watchers say Pantone’s latest color of the year is a win. “It perfectly represents trends we’re seeing in the market now ... a rise in neutrals, emphasis in timelessness and attraction to the softness found in nature,”

Others also said, the color “is giving me all the summer sunset vibes” and is the “perfect neutral yet fun color” to complement a brand.

Peach Fuzz works well for athleisure and other apparel basics, lifestyle drinkware and various accessories. Consider these ideas for upcoming trends:

1. Beach apparel

peach fuzz tank top

2. Fitness

peach fuzz tumbler

3. Tropical Vacation

peach fuzz towel

4. Spirit Wear

peach fuzz hoodie

2023 Product of the Year - The Stanley Quencher

It’s a social media sensation, the next big thing in the drinkware boom – and the must-have status symbol of 2023.

Just before Thanksgiving 2023, a viral TikTok video showed the aftermath of a major car fire. In the center console among the destroyed seats, roof debris and water from firefighters’ hoses sat a bright orange tumbler with a handle and straw – blackened with soot, but otherwise unscathed. Miraculously, the ice inside was still intact.

stanley cup

The item was the popular 40-oz. Quencher H2.0 FlowState tumbler from Stanley. It certainly made a great ad for the company; the video garnered millions of views and tens of thousands of comments (many of them indicating they were soon to become first-time customers). Terence Reilly, president of Stanley, offered to replace both the tumbler and the car.

It was also an apt image of both Stanley and the Quencher’s remarkable recent success. Despite fears of a recession, slashed corporate budgets, cash-strapped households and a nearly saturated product category, this $50 tumbler became the must-have status symbol of 2023 in both retail and promo.

What’s even more remarkable is this unlikely resurgence is over a century in the making. Stanley, founded in 1913, was known for decades for its classic steel vacuum bottles and lunch boxes in its signature Hammertone Green, mostly used by the workers who first built the country’s infrastructure. The company’s items and its clientele were both suited to spend time outside in the elements.

That changed in late 2022, when a combination of brand flexibility, new executive faces, image retooling, earnest influencers, savvy affiliate marketing and swoon-worthy lifestyle shots – plus a bit of luck – launched the 40-oz. Quencher into the stratosphere. The tumbler is an object of adoration, lauded by millions of social media users and so worshipped that consumers this holiday season camped out in tents outside Starbucks locations to try to score the special-edition Stanley x Starbucks style, many with plans to resell them online for huge markups.

Get Comfortable With Cozy Cardio

The social media trend is ideally suited for end-buyers in the health and wellness space.

It can be hard to start a fitness routine, particularly for newbies and those who have had less-than-stellar workout experiences in the past. Now, say hello to ‘Cozy Cardio,’ a recent TikTok trend featuring a gentler, home-based way to work out.

The movement’s been popularized in recent months by TikTok creators, who started sharing their early morning workouts that often feature a lighted candle, iced coffee with protein, walking pad, comfortable clothes, and a streaming show in the background.

This is a great way to heal people’s relationship with exercise. It explores the boundaries of new and creative ways of moving your body to still be able to lose weight and feel good.

While health professionals say gentle walking should ideally lead to more intensive exercise over time for maximum benefit, it’s ideal for easing people into building fitness into their days.

4 Sustainability Trends To Watch in 2024

Brands are increasingly looking for third-party eco-certifications as a strategy to cut down on greenwashing claims. Expect such requirements to intensify in the new year.

As we round the corner to a new year, most companies are conducting annual reviews, setting goals, and revisiting their values. Navigating modern business with appropriate awareness is no easy task, but one thing’s for certain: You’ll want to continue – or start – placing emphasis on your social and environmental impact amid your fourth-quarter reflections and upcoming aspirations.

The overarching theme across all industries moving into 2024? Sustainable business practices are no longer optional. While companies that were mission-driven from inception are thrilled to see more responsible behaviors take hold, the fact that sustainability is “trending” comes with its own set of challenges. Here, a handful of promotional business owners weigh in on several areas of sustainability worth watching – and getting involved in – as we forge a realistic path forward.

1. Cracking Down on Greenwashing

forest greenwashing

In the Wild West of marketing, words like “eco-friendly,” “natural,” “sustainable” and “green” are open to infinite interpretations. Businesses all along the supply chain can help the industry create standards of practice and uphold collective integrity by asking questions, requesting documentation and learning more about their partners’ practices before buying.

2. Making Third-Party Certifications a Must

sustainable LEED-certified facility

To answer questions of proof, many companies are relying on audits from outside eyes. Official third-party certifications such as EcoVadis ratings or B Corp status on the company level, and OEKO-TEX and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) on the product level, are becoming expected pieces of documentation on RFPs.

3. Addressing PFAS – Again

Mirum
Mirum is a plant-based, plastic-free material that can mimic the look of leather to create climate-friendly footwear, fashion and accessories.

Back for another year on the sustainability trends list is the need to address PFAS. Polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are found in outdoor and leisure apparel, cookware and other items such as an industry favorite: the stress reliever ball. According to the Environmental Working Group, these chemicals “pollute water, do not break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades.” As of July, at least seven states have passed PFAS restrictions or reporting requirements for a range of consumer products.

Companies are following suit with their own alternatives, prioritizing products that are fully circular and can break down in soil over time. Mirum, for example, is a new USDA-certified bio-based product, used to produce plastic-free and plant-based bags, shoes, apparel and automotive interiors.

4. Building Sustainability-Focused Business Structures

green cube structure

Gone are the days when one person in the office happened to care about sustainability and single-handedly led the efforts. Companies are hiring environmental consultants, creating teams to focus on their sustainability plans, and centralizing efforts for maximum efficiency across departments and branches.

With this growing demand for transparency and new generations of creative minds at the helm, retail and promo are certainly in for another revolutionary year.

Content Marketing Strategies for Reaching the Right Buyers

Tips for crafting effective social media marketing posts.

The best social media marketing is strategic, targeted and starts a conversation. Noting that the goal is not to go viral and reach the most eyeballs, but to focus instead on reaching your target audience and sparking meaningful connections.

To achieve this goal, one needs to focus on the “TERA” method for creating compelling content.

First, focus on content that triggers emotion and credibility. One way to do this is by crafting short-form video testimonials where clients share stories about how they’ve used promotional products to create memorable experiences.

The second part of the TERA method is to trigger relatability and make connections.

One surefire method is to create posts highlighting mistakes you’ve made – whether it’s a misprint, a production delay, or a customer complaint – then showing how your team addressed and learned from those challenges. That kind of transparency is rare and valuable. It can be reassuring to prospects who value honesty and resilience.

The final piece of the TERA method is to spark action and conversion.

Provide a clear call to action that explains what you want your followers to do after engaging with your content. Make sure any links you share are active and up to date. One idea is to offer free samples or consultation as a way to encourage potential clients to experience first-hand that you have to offer.

Additionally, following the social media content marketing “rule of thirds.” One-third of your content promotes your business, converts prospects and generates profit. One-third of your content should share ideas and stories from thought leaders in your industry or like-minded businesses. And one-third of your content should be personal interactions with your audience.

Your Path to Increased Profit - Dynamics of a Family-Owned Business

There are many positives of working with family, but also potential trouble spots that can harm your company’s profitability.

Family-owned businesses are all around us. Nearly 62% of the U.S. workforce (approximately 82 million people) is employed by a family-owned business, which also generates 64% of the United States’ GDP, according to research by FamilyBusiness.org. Growing up in a three-generation family-owned business, I have been a huge supporter of them. Since this article series focuses on profitability, let’s examine some of the pros and potential issues with family-owned businesses that owners need to navigate to maximize profits.

Pros

Trust: To me, this is the most significant benefit. For the 25-plus years I ran my distributorship, my wife was 100% in charge of all the accounting and financial decisions. She watched every outgoing dollar like a hawk. Whom could I trust with money more than my life partner?

Quick decision-making: Since it was just the two of us who managed the business with no overlap of responsibilities, the decision-making process was swift, efficient and without conflict. There were no lengthy meetings, approval processes or red tape. This eliminated any delays or employee frustrations, thus making them more productive and positively affecting the company’s profitability.

Building your family legacy: In a family-owned business, you get to work with the people you love the most, and eventually have a succession plan in place to pass the business over to your heirs who can preserve and build your personal and financial legacy.

Potential Issues

Blurring the line of leadership hierarchy: Problems arise in family-owned businesses when every family member feels they are the boss. If there’s clarity among employees on leadership, it can result in satisfaction, non-duplication of work, effort and wasted resources. Another issue I see a lot is sibling rivalry. When siblings compete or, worse yet, sabotage each other’s actions, it can result in the demise of the entire enterprise.

Mixing business and personal lives: Sometimes it’s hard for family members to keep their disagreements and squabbles at home. When they have a yelling match in front of employees and, worse, in front of customers, it makes it difficult for staff to work in that unhealthy environment. Make sure professionalism is always maintained. I’ve also seen family members acting with a sense of entitlement. They expect to take advantage of all the privileges of joining their parent’s business without working or holding up their end of the bargain.

Not encouraging active participation from all: A parent who starts a business may view it as their own baby and be reluctant to listen to the ideas presented by younger family members. This can result in frustration and hostility, diminishing the motivation of others to work hard or work there at all. In addition, such a situation can lessen their push to bring innovative and value-added solutions.

Nepotism: This is a significant issue that causes discontent and loss of morale among employees. The owners’ family members enjoy many more perks and get undeserved promotions. If you’re looking to fill a position at your company and one of your family members is out of a job, that doesn’t mean, in your desire to help them, you hire that person if they don’t meet the necessary qualifications. Not only are you potentially hurting your company’s profitability, but you’re also doing a disservice to that family member. If you want to help, let them shadow one of your staff members. As they get trained and meet the job requirements, you could consider offering them a position. If not, their newly learned skills could also open doors at other organizations.

Roles not clearly defined: All family members must have a job description. They should be evaluated just like the rest of the team. Their compensation must be in line with others. Underperformers should be shown the door. That helps your company’s bottom line and conveys that the management is fair, and nobody is above the set rules.

One example: A husband and wife team, after running their business successfully for decades, handed over the company’s reins to their only son as they aged and moved away. The son inherited that multimillion-dollar business without having to work hard for it. The problem was he didn’t have the “need” to hustle all his adult life; he didn’t have any motivation to work hard. The business was profitable but slipped into the red within five years of his taking it over. This was the direct result of his wasteful spending habits. He used the business profits for his personal wants and those of his friends. This, unfortunately, happens more often than we imagine. Therefore, it’s incumbent on you to evaluate the proper heir to the business throne based on their skills, work ethic, commitment, sweat equity, financial investment, and long-term goals for the business.

3 Trends in Sustainable Apparel

Bacteria-dyed fabric and shoe takeback programs are among the recent innovations.

Researchers are exploring new ways to decorate clothing – whether it’s using bacteria to create a one-of-a-kind dye job, grinding up old textiles to create a pigment that can be used for screen printing new designs, or simply launching a takeback program to ensure that used products don’t end up in a landfill.

Giving Textiles New Life

recycled textiles
Artists used pigments created from recycled textiles to design new tees.

Researchers at a university in Australia have figured out a way to recycle textiles into a pigment that can be used to print other garments. Deakin University recently demonstrated these “Perpetual Pigments” at an exhibition that featured screen-printed T-shirts, designed by indigenous artists and produced in collaboration with surf brand Rip Curl.

Rangam Rajkhowa, an associate professor at Deakin, said that about 800,000 tons of textile waste ends up in Australian landfills each year, but he hopes his pigment extraction process can provide new ways that discarded clothes and other textiles can be reused in the circular economy.

“We’ve found that particles produced from textile waste segregated by color could be used for a range of applications. This includes pigments for printing or coloring textiles, and which can also be used to create art,” Rajkhowa said. “Our simple but powerful approach could address the huge challenges of recycling textiles due to complexities of different colors, fibers and blends.”

The Deakin research team grinds down textile waste – sourced from industry partner Textile Recyclers Australia – turning the fabric into a fine powder. Artists were given the recycled pigments in various colors and asked to experiment and provide feedback on them.

“We wanted to explore what’s possible,” said Dr. Russell Kennedy, co-curator of the Perpetual Pigments exhibit. “We hope this is the first step in developing new ways that waste textiles can be given a beautiful second life.”

Crocs Get Circular

crocs
Crocs has launched a takeback pilot program.

Crocs wants your old shoes. The brand recently launched a new retail takeback pilot program, inviting consumers to bring their old Crocs to stores in select states. Crocs will then leverage partnerships and product innovation to give the donated shoes a next use.

Participating stores are equipped with a designated collection box, and participants will receive a free, limited-edition “Crocs Saver” charm as a thank you, while supplies last.

“We’re excited to take this next step on our path toward innovating for a circular economy and a better future for footwear,” said Deanna Bratter, vice president, global head of sustainability at Crocs. “This pilot program aims to address both environmental and social challenges faced by the fashion industry when it comes to product waste. Together with our fans, we can unlock innovation and partnerships to effectively reduce waste, reuse our materials, keep shoes out of landfills and help people in need.”

Eventually, the company says it wants to scale the program to all U.S. Crocs retail and online stores.

“Our responsibility extends beyond the sale of our product. We want to keep Crocs products in use for as long as possible,” Bratter said.

A Jacket With Culture

pink jacket
This jacket was dyed using a pigment-producing microbe. (Courtesy of Normal Phenomena of Life)

You might have heard of algae ink – a more-sustainable alternative to carbon black pigment – but what about using bacteria to create a one-of-a-kind dye? Normal Phenomena of Life (NPOL), which calls itself the world’s first biodesign-native lifestyle brand, did just that, with its silk Exploring Jacket, batch-dyed with wildtype Streptomyces Coelcolor, a pigment-producing microbe that creates “bespoke patterns ranging from blue to red in color,” according to the NPOL website. The jacket is made of 100% GOTS-certified organic silk, using the toxin-free, water-efficient microbial dye process.

Also available on the site is a face oil made of fungi and T-shirts screen printed with algae-based ink.

Natsai Audrey Chieza, of design research lab Faber Futures, explained the impetus for launching the NPOL brand in design magazine Wallpaper: “We need to change everything, including consumer expectations of what products should be.”

“NPOL offers a unique opportunity to merge cutting-edge biotechnology with standout product innovation and storytelling,” she added.

Kicking Off the Holiday Season With Branded Merch

Limited-edition snow globes, boxy sweaters and cookie-scented lotions are among the many delights on offer this year.

'Tis the season when brands roll out all their extravagant holiday-themed merch, and we get to judge it. If you’ve been following along over the years, we’ve seen some truly ugly sweaters, settled the debate over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie and discovered the utility of specialty beer-holding mittens.

This year, there’s truly something for everyone, whether it’s snack cake earrings, a fast food snow globe or lotion that makes you smell like fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. Journey with me through this veritable winter wonderland of kitschy merch.

1. Wrapped Up on a Hip Hop Milestone

hip hop wrapping paper
Grand Marnier is celebrating 50 years of hip hop with limited-edition (w)rapping paper.

It’s hard to believe that hip hop is half a century old, but the calendar doesn’t lie. Liqueur brand Grand Marnier is celebrating the milestone with its (W)rapping Paper program. In collaboration with rock and rap artist Teezo Touchdown and luxury Black-owned gifting company UNWRP, Grand Marnier is releasing limited-edition wrapping paper and custom cocktail kits. The brand is also making a donation to the Hip Hop Museum and releasing social media content featuring Teezo Touchdown.

The cocktail kits include all the ingredients to make a “Grand Margarita,” along with garnishes and the custom gift wrap.

“Grand Marnier is once again honoring our storied history of blending unexpected elements to create something extraordinary,” said Andrea Sengara, vice president of marketing for Campari U.S. “Just like the unexpected encounter of orange liqueur and cognac coming together to create something grand, this collaboration with UNWRP and Teezo Touchdown to create an item that blends hip hop, the holidays and cocktails demonstrates the fun you can have when you bring together the unexpected.”

Verdict: I appreciate the commitment to a good pun – the rap/wrap combo is fun – but taking the idea one step further to work with a Black-owned wrapping paper business and include the donation to the Hip Hop Museum elevates this holiday promotion.

2. Dreaming of a White (Castle) Christmas

limited-edition snow globe
White Castle is offering this limited-edition snow globe for the holiday season.

Can I make a confession? I’ve never actually eaten at White Castle, though I have seen this 2004 cinematic classic. Still, I appreciate the fast-food brand’s stab at holiday branded merch, particularly the limited-edition snow globe, which features a miniature, vintage White Castle scene.

Also part of the “Ultimate Craver’s Gift Guide” are a set of four collectible mugs featuring a different seasonal image on each, a knit scarf and winter hat, a Cheese Slider tree ornament, and a royal blue stocking featuring the White Castle logo and images of snowflakes and fast food forming a background pattern. A decorated crewneck sweatshirt, trucker hat, and glass and bamboo water bottle are also part of the collection.

“As a family-owned business for 102 years, we cherish creating memorable moments year-round, and especially during the holiday season,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle and fourth-generation family member.

Verdict: White Castle has put together a cohesive collection of holiday merch that showcases its signature items in a fun way.

3. Some Out-of-the-Box Merch

Franzia holiday sweater
Boxed wine brand Franzia is offering a holiday sweater that includes battery-powered lights and an attached “wine swirl scarf.”

Franzia is a wine brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Remember a few years ago when the company released a wine-dispensing backpack shaped like one of its signature boxes of wine? So, it doesn’t surprise me that Franzia was able to put a fun twist on the now ubiquitous ugly holiday sweater.

The company recently released a limited-edition holiday-themed Cabernet Sauvignon box with a matching sweater, complete with battery-powered holiday lights and an attached “wine swirl scarf” for extra flair. Other items in its holiday merch collection include inflatable snow globe lawn ornaments and Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay tree ornaments.

“We’re thrilled to release our holiday merch collection that gets our Franz feeling festive and also allows them to showcase their holiday spirit in a uniquely Franzia way,” said Amy Navor, brand manager for Franzia.

Verdict: Ugly holiday sweaters seem to be part of every merch collection these days, so a brand has to do something special to stand out. The attached scarf on Franzia’s version gives the sweater just enough extra personality to stand out, without turning it into something utterly unwearable.

4. Let Them Wear Cake

Little Debbie earrings
Little Debbie is selling earrings based on its iconic Christmas tree snack cakes.

Snack food brand Little Debbie is going all out this holiday season, releasing an array of merch all based on its Christmas Tree snack cakes. There’s a red-and-white Hawaiian shirt featuring images flowers and Christmas trees, a fringed white scarf featuring red stripes and green sprinkles, a hat-and-scarf combo featuring the phrase “tree cake hugger,” a Christmas tree cake-scented candle, an inflatable Christmas tree cake-shaped decoration and a “Cakes for Santa” plate. There are also dainty Christmas tree cake earrings.

Plus, you can wrap up any of these tasty gifts with some custom Little Debbie wrapping paper.

Verdict: The cute tree-shaped earrings make my nice list.

5. Wash Your Hands With Cookies and Milk

chocolate chip cookie-scented body care collection
Beekman 1802 and Nestlé Toll House collaborated on this chocolate chip cookie-scented body care collection.

There’s nothing better than milk and cookies. So, pairing goat milk soaps and lotions with a sweet, fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookie aroma makes perfect sense.

Enter the limited-edition holiday collaboration between body care brand Beekman 1802 and Nestlé Toll House: The fresh-baked cookies and milk body care collection includes bar soap, hand cream, hand and body wash, whipped body cream and lip balm.

The two companies said they worked together to replicate the nostalgic childhood aroma of freshly baked cookies, and that it took seven iterations to nail the formulation that they wanted. The scent recipe includes the “warmth of real vanilla, richness of butterscotch, depth of cocoa, wrapped up in the perfect sweetness of toasted brown sugar,” according to the brands. It was also formulated with fragrance technology suitable for sensitive skin.

Verdict: All I can say is that this is a pretty sweet collaboration. Also, now I want some cookies.

Brighten Up Campaigns With Butter Yellow

The runway favorite is poised to trend at retail and in wholesale circles in the new year.

As economic and geopolitical uncertainty continue, a sunny, optimistic hue is making appearances on runways as a must-know trend for spring.

woman in yellow sweater

Butter Yellow is an attention-grabbing hue that’s easy to add to existing wardrobes. Designers such as Bottega Veneta, Loewe, Louis Vuitton and Proenza Schouler all presented flowy, feminine dresses in Butter Yellow – and distributors can leverage the trend for campaigns in the first half of 2024.

W Magazine calls the color “a perfectly mellow dose of sunshine.” Kaitlyn Clapinski at The Everygirl says it’s a bright color that has staying power. “Trendy tones, such as Barbie pink, will inevitably come and go, whereas a pale yellow shade is everlasting no matter the season,” she writes. “Simply put, yellow is a no-fuss way to incorporate color that still fits into a capsule wardrobe.”

Here are a few items in related hues from industry suppliers and ideas for using them in upcoming campaigns.

1. Dance & Cheer

Dance studios and cheer teams can distribute jogger sweatpants in bright pastel tones.

yellow sweatpants

2. Wedding Parties

Brides with a pastel yellow theme on their special day can distribute commemorative bottles of matching nail polish.

yellow nail polish

3. Team-Building Events

Attendees at off-site retreats will appreciate this insulated tumbler in a bright eye-catching hue.

yellow water bottle

4. Spas & Salons

Suggest that personal-care businesses distribute writing instruments in pastel colors that will remind recipients to book their next hair, nail or facial appointment.

pastel pens

5. New-Hire Kits

Recommend to corporate clients that they welcome new employees with a bright cooler that’s perfect for lunch in the office or a picnic in the park.

yellow lunchbox

3 Quick Tips for Premium Apparel Prints

There are many factors that can affect your ability to provide clients with consistent, high-quality decorated apparel – many of which are not related to your skills as a decorator or distributor, but rather about the apparel you’re printing on.

1. Combed Ring-Spun Cotton

As cotton is a natural fiber, unprocessed cotton can contain small impurities in the fibers, such as small bits of plant matter or seed fragments. This creates not only a rougher texture for garments, but also a less consistent surface to print on, as those impurities can show through your client’s graphics and affect color saturation.

To avoid these challenges, opt for apparel made from 100% combed ring-spun cotton instead. Softer, more durable, and most importantly lacking those impurities found in unprocessed cotton, ring-spun cotton will provide you with a smoother and more uniform printing surface.

Combed Ring-Spun Cotton

2. 100% Cotton Facing

Not every apparel fabric is compatible with every decoration method. For example, polyester blends can create challenges for screen printing because of polyester’s tendency to cause ink migration when put in the dryer. Thankfully, all hope is not lost. Just look for styles that feature 100% cotton facing. This way, even if apparel fabric contains polyester, you’re decorating only on that 100% cotton outside layer, allowing you to use any decoration method compatible with versatile cotton fabric.

100% Cotton Facing

3. Current Color Trends

The color of the apparel you print on is important not only to ensure graphics are legible and look appealing, but also to help your clients convey they’re on top of the latest fashion trends. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert on fashion or color forecasting to make this happen for your clients.

With a wide range of popular styles in an updated color palette that evokes the colors of natural landscapes, your client’s branding will stand out and look chic when added to these trendy muted neutrals.

7 Tips for Setting 2024 Goals

The quit rate is high, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out these tips for setting manageable goals and sticking with them.

It’s natural to want to set goals ahead of the new year – we’re all looking for a fresh start, a reset for the next 12 months. These endeavors can take a slew of different forms, such as working out more, earning a promotion at work or learning a new language. The list is endless.

But by February, many people fail to stick with those resolutions. According to Insideout Mastery, a personal development resource, nearly a quarter of those who’ve set a goal give up by the end of the first week, and 43% expect to quit by the second month of the year, which means many throw in the towel as early as January.

However, setting goals and tracking progress are essential for moving forward in all areas of your life, both personal and professional. Here are seven ways to establish objectives and actually achieve them in 2024.

1. Ask what you want to achieve.

Before setting goals, brainstorm exactly what you’re looking to accomplish next year. Keep goals organized in different buckets – like personal, professional, financial, physical and mental health, etc. – and break them down into smaller goals. That will help you track progress and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

2. Make sure goals are SMART.

“Develop better sleep habits” is a worthy objective, but it’s vague and easy to forget. Instead, just like on your annual performance review, make sure each of your goals is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. Therefore, a sleep goal may look like “get eight hours of sleep a night for the next month.” That gives you a target to work toward that you can then tweak as necessary.

3. Write them down.

It’s super easy to forget your goals if they aren’t recorded. Write or type them out, and keep them visible. Perhaps they’re in your day planner, or on sticky notes on your laptop, fridge or bathroom mirror, or you keep them in your phone for easy access. Decide what works for you, and develop a way to track progress, like using a journal with positive affirmations inside.

43%

The percentage of people who expect to give up on their new year’s resolutions by February.
(Insideout Mastery)

4. Re-evaluate as needed.

As you work toward your objectives, you may learn things about yourself and the process that you weren’t initially expecting. Give yourself permission to adjust your goals as you find necessary (they aren’t written in stone, after all). If you need more time to accomplish a smaller goal, allow yourself the flexibility to adjust the timeframe.

5. Tell family and friends.

Letting trusted people know what you’re working toward not only invites encouragement and feedback, but also keeps you accountable. They may also want to join you in the goal-setting process, which will add a bit of camaraderie and mutual support.

6. Celebrate progress.

Find ways to reward yourself for a job well done, for positive reinforcement. If you achieve a goal, large or small, consider scheduling some well-deserved PTO, head to the spa or golf course, or just read a book or take a leisurely walk in nature. Give yourself time to take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back.

7. Be patient with yourself.

If you don’t hit your targets or forget about a goal, don’t despair. Tomorrow is another day. Pick yourself up, speak positively to yourself, re-evaluate the goal if necessary and start again. The timeline is determined by you, so give yourself permission to reset in a low-key, low-drama way.

Promotions Planner - Out of This World

Start presenting ideas to clients for campaigns centered on January observances.

While January may mark the end of the holiday season, there are plenty of ways to keep the party going. Consumers are sure to be looking for fun activities and delicious eats during the long winter, and the many observances during the first month of the year, like National Science Fiction Day and National Pie Day, pose opportunities for your clients to undertake campaigns to promote their products and services.

Jan. 2/National Science Fiction Day

This day marks the 104th birthday of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It’s become an annual observance to celebrate all things sci-fi – in literature, film and gaming.

PITCH: Encourage local theaters to host special showings of classic science fiction movies. Staff can wear T-shirts to commemorate the day and distribute branded themed items to patrons.

UFO

Jan. 4/National Trivia Day

Celebrated for more than 30 years, this day of fun highlights the many forms of this popular game and its ability to bring people together in a friendly, collegial atmosphere.

PITCH: Bars hosting Quizzo tournaments can brand coasters and glasses as items that participants and guests can then take home to commemorate the event.

coasters

Jan. 9/Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

This observance encourages the public to remember the hard work that police officers undertake every day to keep neighborhoods safe.

PITCH: Approach municipalities to hold events this day and offer branded items for distribution to community members – think tents and table covers and smaller themed items that express appreciation.

law enforcement bag

Jan. 10/National Houseplant Appreciation Day

It’s critical to take consistent care of houseplants, especially during the colder winter months. These green babies bring a slew of benefits to homes and offices, including reducing anxiety, decreasing air pollutants and improving humidity.

PITCH: Garden centers can give out educational brochures and branded giveaways, like planters, aprons and spades.

house plants

Jan. 23/National Pie Day

For more than 35 years, the American Pie Council has hosted National Pie Day – a time set aside to celebrate the making and eating of one of the country’s favorite desserts.

PITCH: Suggest that local restaurants, diners and coffeehouses that serve pie offer specials and help them promote their offerings with signage and branded kitchen tools to distribute to guests.

pie and cake cutting tool

7 Questions To Ask Before Working With an Apparel Decorator

Pricing is only one part of the puzzle when shopping for a screen printer or embroiderer.

Decorators are typically the last link on the chain before an apparel order makes its way to your clients. The quality of their work is a reflection of your own. After all, if there’s a misprint or a production delay, your client will blame you – as the distributor – whether or not you had anything to do with it. It’s imperative, then, to partner with high-quality decorators who understand your needs, meet your expectations and will be accountable if something goes awry.

Finding out an apparel decorator’s pricing structure is, of course, key, but that’s only the beginning of the conversation you should be having. Consider asking the following questions to determine whether the partnership will be a good fit.

silk screen decorator

1. What decoration techniques do you specialize in?
Embroidery and screen printing are the standards, but there are times when digital methods like dye sublimation make more sense for a project. It’s also worth finding out whether your chosen decorator can handle specialty techniques, like mixed-media designs, puff prints or 3-D embroidery, patches, laser etching or appliqué.

2. Do you decorate on a wide variety of items?
Even if you’re just looking to have left-chest logos embroidered on performance polos or a two-color screen print added to a few hundred tees, that doesn’t mean you won’t have need for other projects in the future. Find out whether the decorator can handle bags, caps and any other soft goods you might throw their way.

3. What size orders do you handle?
If the decorator has a limited staff and one or two pieces of equipment, larger order sizes will likely be a no-go. It’s worth getting a concrete answer on the order volume the shop typically handles to make sure their capabilities align with your needs.

4. What are your turn times?
Find out how long orders typically take and whether the decorator offers rush service when necessary. It’s important to have such expectations spelled out in advance to avoid headaches down the line.

5. Can I check up on an order while it’s in production?
Some decorators offer technology that lets distributors track their order status via an online portal, giving them peace of mind that everything is progressing as it should. Even if you’re working with an old-school shop, it’s worth knowing if you’ll get a prompt answer when you call or email asking for an update.

6. Will you provide samples of previous work?
Many decorators share examples of their work on their website and social media feeds. That’s a good start to scope out the quality of their production. But seeing – and touching – physical decorated samples is worth a thousand photos.

7. Can I get a tour of your shop?
If your prospective decorator is local, it might be a good idea to request a walk-through of their facility. You can get a sense of how busy they are, the state of their equipment and how efficient their processes are.

Study Finds Forever Chemicals in Paper, Bamboo Straws

Reusable stainless-steel straws did not contain PFAS, according to the recent research.

Certain paper and bamboo drinking straws are more likely to contain “forever chemicals” than traditional plastic straws, according to recently released research.

Scientists in Belgium looked at dozens of straw brands – made from paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic – available at grocery stores and tested them to see whether they contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of chemicals that’s often been used to create water-repellent and nonstick coatings on products. The chemicals, which don’t break down in the environment, can contaminate water sources, and research has linked exposure to certain PFAS with cancer, thyroid disease and other health problems. Many states have taken efforts to ban or restrict forever chemicals from products.

Sustainable Straws

The results, recently published in the Food Additives and Contaminants journal, found that paper straws were the most likely to contain PFAS, with the chemicals detected in 18 out of 20 brands tested by scientists. Four out of five bamboo straw brands contained PFAS. Three out of four plastic and two out of five glass straw brands contained PFAS.

The good news, particularly for promotional products companies that offer reusable stainless-steel straws, was that scientists didn’t find PFAS in any of the metal straws analyzed.

The Belgian study built on a 2021 U.S. study that also discovered PFAS found in straws made from plant-based materials. Authors of the new study say it’s unclear whether manufacturers are intentionally adding PFAS as a waterproof coating to straws or if the chemicals end up there inadvertently during the manufacturing process.

The study concluded that plant-based straws “are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws, because they can be considered an additional source of PFAS exposure in humans and the environment” and that “the most sustainable alternative seems to be stainless-steel straws, which can be reused, do not contain PFAS and can be fully recycled.”

Experts say individual users don’t necessarily need to panic about the risk of using bamboo or paper straws, since it’s likely only a very small source of exposure; however, the findings should be of concern to manufacturers, Graham Peaslee, a professor at the University of Notre Dame who studies PFAS, told NBC News.

“All the straw manufacturers should take warning and say, ‘Hey, do we use this stuff?’ Because at the moment, they’re not even asking that question,” he said.

Plastic straw bans came into vogue a few years ago, because they can’t be recycled and end up in landfills or oceans and other waterways, risking the lives of sea creatures. California, Colorado and New York are among the states that have banned plastic straws from food establishments, and restaurants like Starbucks have phased the items out. The bans also brought opportunity to the industry, which could offer branded reusables as an alternative. In fact, ASI named reusable straws the Product of the Year in 2019.

Trucker Chic Is the New Black

Trucker trendy and camo couture are styles to stay on top of this year.

What do trucker hats, camo-printed tops and earth tones have in common? They all fit into the Americancore trend, which has been going strong for the last few years on TikTok and Instagram, where people around the world share their obsession with American culture and food or show off their farmer-chic ensembles.

Camo trucker hat

Trucker hats – which typically have a foam front, mesh back and snapback closure, as opposed to the curved bill and top button of a traditional baseball cap – have been in fashion for a while, and the style doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Searches for “trucker hat” in ESP were up by about 5% in May and again in June this year, compared to the same period in 2022, according to ASI Research.

Celebrities and big brands have gotten in on the trend. Supermodel Kendall Jenner recently sported a camo trucker hat at a football stadium in Paris, and the Waffle House restaurant chain sells camo trucker hats with its logo embroidered across the front.

Once mostly reserved for “rugged” industries like agriculture and manufacturing, camo trucker caps have crossed over into more fashion-forward markets like music festivals, the food and beverage industry, and travel and hospitality.

Camo printed shirt
Alternative band boygenius offers this camo-printed tee on its merch site.

Country stars aren’t the only ones adopting the trend, however. Alternative band boygenius, which counts rocker Phoebe Bridgers as a member, sells a camo-printed T-shirt with the band name in rainbow gradient puff screen-printed across the front. Pop musician Justin Bieber has an orange-and-white trucker hat in his Peaches collection of merch, and rappers Post Malone and Bad Bunny also feature trucker hats as part of their merch.

neutral colored trucker hat

Trucker hats are cost-effective to take on the road. “It’s a great way to pivot when you’re doing hats as merch,” he says. “If it’s a venue where they’re working in multiple cities, they can easily remake transfers and press the hats on the hat press. If they run out during the day or if it’s a multiday festival, they can create more on site.”

Camo print is a popular color scheme for trucker hats, especially paired with a flaming orange shade that’s used in deer hunting, Lever says. He notes that neutral tones like fatigue green and beige are also popular.

“This movement goes along with the sustainability push that we’ve all witnessed and is why we’re seeing so many earth tones throughout retail,” she adds. “Camo fits nicely here, so much so that a generic tonal camo pattern is almost considered a neutral – you can pair it with just about anything.”

Boost Employee Engagement

Your clients can recognize and thank their team members with unique branded items.

Employee engagement continues to be a concern among companies as levels continue to drop. According to Gallup, the ratio of “engaged” to “actively disengaged” workers stands at about 1.8 to 1, down from 2.6 to 1 just three years ago. Branded employee gifts, combined with competitive compensation, generous benefits and career mobility opportunities can enhance morale and help engagement efforts.

hand-poured luxury candle

This hand-poured luxury candle (candle-14b-box) contains soy-blend wax and an eco-friendly wooden wick that crackles as it burns. Choose from sandalwood, fig and oakmoss scents. Gift box included.

MuteMe button

Virtual-meeting attendees can mute and unmute themselves quickly without fumbling to click small buttons. Also lets nearby coworkers or family members know when the user is in a meeting. Syncs with Zoom, Teams, WebEx and Google Meet and is compatible on MacOS and WindowsOS platforms.

engraved wood cutting board

Available in multiple sizes, this engraved wood cutting board is ideal for welcoming new employees and gifting to homebuyers at closings. Choose from three stains. A gift box with display stand and board oil is also available. Made in a Native American-owned workshop in North Dakota.

stainless-steel cocktail shaker

End-users can become top-level mixologists with this stainless-steel cocktail shaker. Hands won’t get cold, courtesy of the vacuum-insulated, double-walled construction. Perfect for new-employee happy hours.

H2go Essen

This is copper vacuum-insulated, so it keeps food at the ideal temperature. The threaded lid offers an airtight seal and the rubber bottom prevents slips and spills. Available in seven colors. Makes a great gift for employees who like to “brown bag” their lunch.

sling bag

Crafted from luxurious leatherette, this sling bag has an adjustable shoulder sling and zippered main organization compartment with multiple interior pockets.

Q3 Customers - Sales Prospects for Popular Promos

As we reach the second half of the year, now’s the time to regroup and reinvigorate your sales strategies to keep the promo momentum going. Make that happen by targeting these top customers for Q3 and presenting popular products they want the most.

Four different kinds of events

Concerts & Music Festivals
From local community concerts to massive sold-out tours and festivals, the end of summer is filled with promo opportunities for both venues and performers. Hit all the right notes with your product suggestions by presenting products allowed in event locations that can also be used by end-users during the show. For example, many stadiums require clear bags below a certain size, making these a savvy sell for music-related events.

Look to Fall 2023 Trends for Upcoming Campaigns

From lace accents to tailored blazers, here’s what’s popular in fashion circles that will make ideal additions to fall and winter client promotions.

Thank the return of in-person gatherings – from the communal office to trade shows to celebrations – for fall’s notable fashion trends.

After three years of comfort-first looks, tailored pieces are making a comeback, as are items with whimsical feminine accents – thanks to the popularity of social media- and entertainment-fueled styles like mermaidcore, balletcore, rom-com core and quiet luxury.

It’s “back to business” this fall, writes Amanda Randone for Refinery29. “According to the fall 2023 collections, the best in fashion for the season ahead includes all things sleek and sophisticated,” she says, “though not without opportunity for a sparkly twist.”

Here are six fashion-forward trends that are sure to resonate with end-buyers for autumn and winter promotions.

1. Bridal Parties
After pandemic disruption, the wedding market is back in full gear. Bridal parties would be a good fit for lace-accented robes to wear ahead of the ceremony. Pitch personalization and pair them with hard goods like soft slippers and champagne flutes.

bridal robes

2. Company Get-Togethers
The preppy cable knit has made a return to the catwalk. Consider high-quality sweaters as part of uniform programs, or blankets for holiday parties that welcome a large number of attendees.

cable knit

3. Recognition Programs
Rugged leather accessories – like tailored jackets, thick belts, chunky boots and durable bags – are all the rage. High-performing sales reps can bring retail or retail-inspired items with them on sales calls.

leather backpack

4. Corporate Wear
Say goodbye to oversized, work-from-home comfort wear: Classic tailored looks are back. Think suits, pants and pencil skirts, ideal for sales reps heading to meetings with prospects and clients. Garments with performance properties are essential for travel.

blazer

5. Fitness Studios
Off-the-shoulder tops offer a fun, relaxing style for casual settings, like fitness and yoga studios, dance teams and college bookstores. Also approach coffee shops and bookstores looking for a way to promote their businesses. For an eye-catching detail, add foil or sequins.

off-the-shoulder sweater

6. Brand Ambassadors
Clients with staff representing their brand at events and product launches can furnish them with striking outerwear, like diamond quilted jackets. They also make a great gift for loyal clients and employees celebrating milestone work anniversaries.

diamond quilted hacket

More Outdoor Brands, Retailers Phase Out PFAS

Dick’s Sporting Goods recently announced it would be getting rid of "forever chemicals" in its store-brand clothing. A variety of outdoor apparel brands have also been phasing out PFAS.

A growing number of outdoor apparel brands and sporting goods retailers are enacting plans to phase so-called “forever chemicals” out of their gear. The moves come as several states (with New York and California leading the way) ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances from clothing.

jackets on rack

PFAS have often been used to create durable water-repellent (DWR) coating on various performance fabrics to give them water- and stain-resistant properties. PFAS have also historically been used in firefighting foam and to create other products with nonstick, water- and grease-resistant properties. However, the chemicals, which don’t break down in the environment, can contaminate water sources and build up in fish and wildlife. Research has linked exposure to certain PFAS with health problems that include kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Earlier this month, Dick’s Sporting Goods, which has more than 850 stores across the U.S., announced it will be getting rid of PFAS in its store-brand apparel, shoes and textiles, according to Environmental Health News. In February, REI announced that it will ban PFAS from all cookware and textile products from its suppliers starting in the fall of 2024.

Several brands have already removed, or are in the process of removing, PFAS from their products. Outdoor footwear brand KEEN, for example, spent four years removing forever chemicals from its supply chain and even published a guide for other companies that details alternative waterproofing methods to consider. Patagonia notes on its website that it is “working to convert all our water-repellent finishes to non-fluorinated versions by 2024.”

Canva To Become First Design Platform With Popular Music in Content Library

Canva announced a partnership with Warner Music Group and Merlin on Thursday, June 29, that will allow users to add music clips to content.

Canva will soon be the first design platform to let customers use commercially released songs from the world’s most popular artists in their content. The company announced a partnership with Warner Music Group and Merlin on Thursday, June 29, which will allow paid and educational Canva users unprecedented access to music clips beginning this fall.

country singer

A Warner Music Group (WMG) press releasehttps://www.wmg.com/news/canva-announces-partnerships-with-warner-music-group-and-merlin-to-bring-music-hits-to-canva said this opportunity will allow artists to get their music in front of over 100 million engaged creators – while earning royalties – when their songs are used in published designs.

“Music is such a fundamental expression of creativity and offers an inspirational starting point for many. We are thrilled to welcome Warner Music Group and Merlin to the Canva content ecosystem and can’t wait to see what millions of music fans, content creators, educators and beyond design using content from their favorite artists,” said Silvia Oviedo, head of content, discovery and print at Canva, in the WMG press release.

The number of videos created on Canva has grown by 70% in the last 12 months, and an increasing number of searches are for specific audio tracks, according to the release. This new update will allow customers to add clips of their favorite music to videos for social media, internal training, education and more.

Canva also recently announced BeatSync, which is a newly released AI-powered tool that helps users match their video footage to the beat of their selected soundtrack. The WMG press release said Canva will share more information later this year on additional efforts to expand design possibilities for music fans.

Jessica Goldenberg, WMG’s senior vice president for digital strategy and business development, told Variety that WMG is looking forward to shaping the future of visual communication by enabling creativity in ways that are uniquely achievable with music.

“This collaboration with Canva will provide new opportunities for our artists to increase their reach and engage their fans, while also empowering Canva’s creator community to elevate their designs with our robust catalog,” Goldenberg said.

Launched in 2013, Canva is an online design platform with simple user interface that allows people of varying skill levels to create graphics, video and other content for social media and other purposes. The company also has a custom print division that lets users have their designs printed on T-shirts, business cards and other promotional products.

Make a Statement With Branded Sunglasses

They’re an enduringly popular item with consumers and industry end-buyers alike. Fortunately, this year’s trending styles at retail are also available from suppliers.

A classic accessory that’s been a favorite of style icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Anna Wintour is now available in a variety of attention-grabbing shapes and sizes, perfect for promo campaigns.

While demand for sunglasses increases every year as the weather warms up – they were among the top 10 most-searched products in ESP in Q1 – the plethora of options in promo and their perennial popularity make them an ideal year-round branded item for virtually any industry.

woman wearing sunglasses

“This year, we’re seeing the classic sunglasses shapes and colors reimagined,” writes Avery Matera for style site POPSUGAR. “That could be a retro shape upgraded with a new color frame or mirrored lens, an oversize take on a timeless style, or a silhouette that feels vintage and futuristic at the same time. With a seasonal color palette that ranges from bright pink to classic white, incorporating neutral blacks and tortoise tones, there’s something for everyone.”

Here are five ideas for selling statement sunglasses, along with trending styles available from suppliers.

1. Museums & Art Galleries
Promote cultural centers with modern angular sunglasses with minimalist imprints. Encourage clients to provide a variety of colorways in line with branding.

sunglasses

2. Product Launches & Grand Openings
End-buyers can celebrate new products, services, rebrands and locations with statement accessories, like mirrored sunglasses with a step-and-repeat imprint on the frame.

sunglasses

3. Corporate Get-Togethers
Take a cue from the hype around the upcoming Barbie movie with bright-pink shades – perfect for company picnics, team-building activities and happy hours.

sunglasses

4. Travel Agencies
Demand for vacations is back post-COVID, and travel agencies and tour organizations can promote their services with Jackie Kennedy Onassis-inspired oversized glasses.

sunglasses

5. Cruise Lines & Resorts
White sunglasses not only make a statement, they’re also ideal for setting off an imprint and message on the arms – particularly for the hospitality industry.

sunglasses

Now Trending in Apparel - The Latest Looks To Present Your Clients

Fashion trends are ever-changing, and promo apparel is no exception. Gain access to free marketing tools you can start using today.

futuristic fashion

Futuristic Fashion

Modern styles inspired by space and technology.

Taking design cues from space, the metaverse, and our environment as a whole, futuristic pieces look toward what's ahead and speak to end-users’ desire to escape everyday monotony. Modern styling combines elevated comfort, sleek design details and innovative components that give each garment an edge, whether it's through textures, heathers, trim accents or tonal effects. As for colors, look for stable shades like blacks and grays which will carry over season to season.

Target Markets for This Trend

• Tech startups
• Banks and financial institutions
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Law firms

Functional USA-Made Products

Help your clients embrace civic pride and support local communities with products that embody excellence and sustainability.

USA-made promotional products make a big impact. According to the most recent Ad Impressions Study from ASI Research, 54% of consumers feel more favorable about an advertiser that promotes their company on a domestically made item. Fortunately, the promo industry is chock-full of made-in-America options.

Custom-labeled bottled water

Custom-labeled bottled water is a great way to quench thirst while effectively advertising clients’ services. Choose from two sizes. Great for conferences, trade shows and events.

reusable, dishwasher-safe drinkware

Your clients can join the movement toward a greener future with the 32 oz. Crafted with Tritan ReNew, this reusable, dishwasher-safe drinkware is constructed with 50% certified post-consumer recycled material and has a drink-through lid. Available in five colors.

custom 2D zipper pull

With a sleek black cord, this custom 2D zipper pull adds a touch of personalization to bags, jackets, backpacks and hoodies. Let your client’s imagination run wild as you design a unique accessory in any shape and with any Pantone color they wish.

jumbo fluorescent highlighters

These Brite Spots jumbo fluorescent highlighters illuminate important notes and textbook passages in six eye-catching colors. Perfect for highlighting both thick and thin lines. Choose either a silkscreen or full-color decal imprint.

menu cover

The Tamarac menu cover features a silky leather-like exterior, sturdy black interior and album-style corners to provide a professional showcase for entrée, drink and dessert menus. Removable and replaceable inserts make it simple to update menu items.

wood webcam cover

Users can keep their privacy intact with this thin wood sliding webcam cover. Compatible with various devices such as computers, monitors and phones, it offers versatile protection. Choose from a range of wood options.

non-button two-pocket unisex vest

Retail settings are ideal for this non-button two-pocket unisex vest. Crafted from 65/35 poly-cotton twill, it has two side pockets and matching color binding. Available in five colors and four sizes.

custom brass coin

These custom brass coins are reminiscent of 14 karat gold. Meticulously crafted, they capture finer details than die-cast or spin-cast products. Perfect for milestone anniversaries, awards, commemoratives, safety incentives and VIP admissions.

Zippo windproof lighter

Classics are always a good choice – that’s why this Zippo windproof lighter is sure to be appreciated. Features a satin chrome finish with a silky feel and comes packaged in a sleek gift box. Backed by Zippo’s Lifetime Guarantee.

Eco-Wood magnet

The Eco-Wood magnet is crafted from 1/4” recycled wood and can be custom-cut into nearly any shape. The Ultra Vivid printing process ensures vibrant and high-definition results. The 25 mil magnetic backing securely adheres to any metal surface.

wire-bound journal

Students and business professionals can capture their thoughts in style with this wire-bound journal. Features a sleek, durable design and clear gloss cover mounted to heavy chipboard for added sturdiness. Includes 100 sheets of 60-pound white offset paper with light gray rules on both sides, pen and pen loop.

molded hard-plastic bag tags

Make a lasting impression with molded hard-plastic bag tags featuring raised graphics. Ideal for tennis clubs, golf outings, pickleball and special events, they’re a stylish and practical way to garner brand impressions while identifying belongings.

Decorators View - Navigating Graphic Placement on Apparel

In this new series of columns, decorated-apparel industry veterans share tips to help promo distributors ensure that logos look their very best.

Have you ever requested a logo be printed in a certain spot – perhaps across the back of a hoodie – only to receive finished garments with artwork inches off the target location? Graphic placement on shirts and other garments can sometimes be an arbitrary decision, or even just a personal preference, by your chosen decorator. But promotional products distributors can specify their own requirements when ordering contract printing. The important thing is to make sure you and your decorator are on the same page and speaking the same language.

Consider these suggestions for a variety of graphic sizes, locations and garments to help ensure artwork is sized and placed properly.

screen printers
Graphic placement can vary from one decorator to another, so it’s best to specify your own preferences.

Large full-chest designs, in the range of 10” x 12”, will look best printed approximately 2” from the base of the collar. Shorter, wide graphics across the chest should be printed about 3” from the collar. Sweatshirts should be printed lower by about 1”, since they are not tucked into pants and therefore have a larger printable and visual area.

Left-chest designs should be centered between the vertical centerline of the shirt and the seam attaching the sleeve to the shirt body. Larger left-chest designs should be printed on an imaginary line from the bottom of the sleeve at the point it attaches to the shirt body. Smaller left-chest designs should be printed 1” above this imaginary line. This left-chest placement also applies to placket shirts, such as polos. Some printers attempt to line up graphics with the shirt placket, but visually, placement should be a function of the imaginary line from the bottom of the sleeve.

Pocket prints are generally printed in the center of the shirt pocket. For prints above the pocket, it should be approximately ¾” above the top of the pocket and centered with the physical pocket. Not all pockets are perfectly square with the shirt, but the image will look best squared with the actual pocket, rather than attempting to square with the physical shirt.

Sleeve graphics on short-sleeve garments are almost always printed on the left sleeve when given the choice. These graphics should be printed 1” from the hem at the bottom of the sleeve. For long-sleeve prints, the graphic is commonly centered on the sleeve between cuff and shoulder.

Back prints should be printed as if you are looking through the shirt at the front print. In other words, the print on the back of a shirt will be further from the collar than the same print on the front. Large, full-back designs should print approximately 4” from the collar base. Short, wide designs should be printed about 5” from the collar. Shoulder-blade prints, most often a wide graphic of single-line type, will be located about 2” from the collar base. Take special note of back-print location. Decorators will commonly print the same distance from the collar on both front and back prints, but this results in a finished product that appears out of balance, front to back.

Shorts should be printed 1” from the bottom hem and either 1” from the side seam or centered on the leg, depending on the look you’re trying to achieve.

Sweatpants should have a small graphic printed with the bottom of the graphic on an imaginary line 2” below the crotch of the garment and centered on the leg. Long prints can be printed either on the front of the leg or the side, and placement is commonly the preference of the customer.

Youth designs look best when printed 1” from the collar base for a full-chest graphic. Short, wide prints should be printed 2” from the collar base. As a rule of thumb, the graphic should have less distance from the collar to the graphic than from the graphic to the shirt bottom. Even if that requires decorating closer to the neck, having more open space at the bottom of the graphic than the top is more pleasing to the eye. This is only a concern when decorating very small garments.

Practical Essentials

Libbey Pint Glass

Libbey Pint Glass
A standard 16 oz. pint glass is a must-have for restaurants, breweries, events and weddings. Available with a silkscreen or full-color digital print.

Buckle-Release Polyester Lanyard

Buckle-Release Polyester Lanyard
Every conference and trade show could use a lanyard for attendees and exhibitors – this one is made of polyester with a metal lobster clip and buckle release and has a full-color sublimated imprint on the front and back. Also consider new-student orientations.

Cinch Drawstring Backpack

Cinch Drawstring Backpack
This backpack is ideal for any welcome kit, student tour or summer camp. It has adjustable soft nylon shoulder straps that double as a drawstring closure.

Glass Cup with Bamboo Lid and Straw

Glass Cup with Bamboo Lid and Straw
Take a restaurant or café’s promotion to the next level with classy glassware. This glass is perfect for any drink, from water, beer or cocktails to coffee, tea or juice.

Custom Branded Cutting Board

Custom Branded Cutting Board
Cutting boards offer both function and decorative style. This one is made of wild cherry wood – consider it as an anniversary, birthday or closing gift.

Corrugated Signs

Corrugated Signs
Corrugated signs are a perfect way to promote fundraisers, sports teams and recent grads. Available in any color and a variety of sizes.

Mesh Sun Hat

Mesh Sun Hat
Made of quick-dry nylon fabric, this unisex sun hat has a mesh panel on top and offers UPF 50+ sun protection. Great for weekend warriors and hiking trips.

Show Appreciation to Volunteers

Loyal and hard-working, these altruists deserve recognition for their dedication.

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly a quarter of Americans volunteered their time with an organization during the pandemic from September 2020 to September 2021. Their commitment hit more than 4 billion hours of service with an approximate value of nearly $123 billion. Any of the people who give of their time – from cleaning waterways, to playing with shelter dogs, to caddying at charity golf outings – would appreciate the branded items here as appreciation gifts.

Ocean Bottle

Eco organizations can show appreciation to volunteers with the Ocean Bottle made of stainless steel and recycled materials. It’s leak-proof, dishwasher-safe and double wall-insulated, and has a double lid for easy filling and drinking. Comes in six colors. Each bottle funds the collection of 25 pounds of ocean-bound plastic, the equivalent of 1,000 plastic bottles.

pillow case

Whether used in the home, as a gift or in an Airbnb rental, this pillowcase offers optimal branding space for businesses, schools and charitable organizations. It measures 20 inches by 30 inches and features a one-sided, full-color, full-bleed imprint.

wine and cheese picnic cooler

Professional service firms looking to self-promote can use this wine & cheese picnic cooler as a silent auction or raffle item for volunteer appreciation events. It’s insulated and includes two wine glasses, corkscrew, cheese knife and hardwood cutting board. The cooler area is divided into three separate sections – two for wine bottles, and one larger area for food.

dog collar with bottle opener

Here’s a fun gift for shelter volunteers and fosters: a dog collar with bottle opener. It’s made from upcycled bicycle inner tubes and features a latch lock buckle. Users can easily open their favorite beverages without having to carry additional tools.

double sided golf flag

With golf season in full swing, more companies and organizations will soon be hosting their annual charity outings. Make sure you get in on the action with this double-sided golf flag. It measures 14 inches by 20 inches and has a digital print on knit polyester. Great for sponsor logos, advertising messages and as a souvenir for players and event volunteers.

double sided golf flag

Long-time loyal volunteers will enjoy a nice pour from the Panor whiskey glasses. Made of high-quality glass, the smooth cylindrical body affords a balanced grip. Available with six different bottom colors. Also ideal for distillery tours and as a gift with purchase.

Infographic - Eye-Opening Sustainability Stats

Consumers across generations say they’re willing to spend more on sustainably made goods.

Consumers increasingly want to buy from companies that are serious about sustainability, but those efforts need to be sincere and clearly stated. Research shows that end-users are looking to brands to cut back on plastic packaging and clearly label the environmental claims they’re making. Those expectations are set against a stark backdrop where only a small percentage of products are recycled or reused, and the vast majority still ends up in landfills.

The circular economy, where products are reused or remade rather than trashed at the end of their original lifecycle, is still in its infancy, but these eye-opening statistics share a roadmap of some of the things that need to change to help businesses kickstart circularity.

Sustainability Infographic

Fall in Love With Rom-Com Core

The nostalgic style that evokes leading characters from early 2000s flicks is gaining in popularity this year.

This year, people want more looks from entertainment in the early aughts.

That’s according to fashion industry outlets like Harpers Bazaar, which calls “rom-com core” the year’s most romantic trend.

Taking its cue from romantic comedy and drama films from the early to mid-2000s, the styles pay homage to main characters with confident personalities – like Julia Stiles in Save the Last Dance, Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls and Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30. It incorporates a soft, feminine look (think a touch of balletcore) while adding strong character energy.

What’s behind the return of 2000s fashion? Nostalgia hearkens back to a simpler time and rom-coms also provide welcome predictability during a time of upheaval, which has certainly characterized the past several years.

“The genre, known for happy and predictable endings, for finding love, [as well as] its light-hearted nature and mood-lifting capabilities, found itself back in demand throughout the height of the Covid-19 pandemic as it offered escapism for an audience who (let’s be honest) needed somewhere to escape to,” wrote Shona Hendley for Harpers Bazaar.

Hendley added that digital analytics from Pinterest reveal that consumers’ searches for “2000s girl” are up 235% this year, along with “pink mini skirt outfit” (145%), “cool girl aesthetic outfits” (140%) and “rhinestone dress” (90%).

The popular “cool girl” look relies on simple basics related to rom-com core – think white tank top (regular or cropped), high-waisted mom jeans and claw hair clip – paired with bold accessories like large hoop earrings, chunky platform shoes, graphic T-shirts, fishnet stockings, butterfly clips, bandannas and grommet belts.

“It’s more than just an aesthetic,” Marta Topran, Pinterest’s fashion and beauty creator, told the Huffington Post. “Beneath their candy-colored clothes and impeccable hair, [these characters] were strong, self-assured ladies.”

Editors Picks Soothing Stress Relievers

Easing tension at home, in the workplace or at school can be aided by a variety of items.

After the physical and mental toll of the pandemic, meditation has grown in popularity. Research firm Marketdata states that the U.S. market – which includes meditation and health/wellness centers, yoga studios, apps and more – went from $1.86 billion in 2021 to just over $2 billion in 2022. It’s poised to grow by 7% each year from now to 2025.

sports stress ball

Whether it’s watching a favorite pro or college game or sitting on the sidelines of a youth athletic competition, sports can be stressful for those in the stands. Choose from a basketball, baseball, football or soccer ball.

bag dispenser

The classics will always have value, and that’s why this round stress reliever works for a variety of programs. It’s made of polyurethane foam that can be squeezed or thrown against a wall to release tension. Choose from seven colors.

bag dispenser

This made-to-order squeezable foam can is perfect for soft drinks, beer, hard seltzer and wine.

fidget toy

The Pop N Play is a fun stress reliever and fidget toy. Recipients can create games to see who can pop the most bubbles in the shortest time. Includes a carabiner to easily clip onto backpacks, tote bags and keychains.

stress reliever pen

When anyone has “had enough” at work, this fun eye-popper stress reliever pen will do the trick to alleviate pressure. Users simply give the head a gentle squeeze and watch its eyes pop out.

emoji stress reliever

Teens, tweens and others will get a kick out of this emoji LOL Squeezies stress reliever.

collars

This Zen On the Go set has a portable USB essential oil diffuser with a reusable felt pad that holds a few drops of ZEN essential oil for hours of potent aromatherapy. Plugs into cars, laptops or any outlet with an adapter.

goofy moptoppers

This fun stress reliever is part of the Goofy Group of MopToppers. Soft and squeezable, it relieves stress while the microfiber hair cleans device screens.

zen garden

Serenity can be found with this desktop Zen Garden. Includes a vanilla-scented candle, sand, rake and Zen rocks. Brings a sense of tranquility, calmness and peace.

Editors Picks Perfect Pet Products

With more time spent at home during the pandemic, pet ownership rates increased significantly. According to a recent Forbes Advisor survey of new owners, nearly 80% adopted their furry friends during COVID. Now with life returning to relative normalcy, including more time spent in the communal office and an increase in vacation bookings, people need more services like dog walking, boarding and obedience training.

Frost Buddy Bowl

The heavy-duty mammoth-sized 42 oz. Frost Buddy Bowl is large enough to keep pets hydrated throughout the day. The double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel keeps water cool for extended periods. Features a nonslip bottom.

neon leash

A fun ’80s-themed pet would be totally rad when using a neon 4’ or 6’ lead.

Bag dispenser

Most cities and towns have pet-waste ordinances in place, making this plastic-bag dispenser with matching bags a useful and appreciated item.

pet carrier

Whether taking a favorite feline to the vet or a pooch to the airport, this pet carrier will make the trip easier. Features a zip side entry, breathable mesh, storage pocket, removable fleece interior and removable shoulder strap that doubles as a leash.

training clicker

This training clicker allows dog owners to reinforce good behavior. Users click and then offer a treat after the pet follows a command. Includes a coil bracelet.

pet bowl

This sturdy and durable 32 oz. pet bowl is made of stainless steel with a nonslip grip on the bottom. Available in six colors.

collars

These leatherette collars are laser-engraved and can be personalized. They feature light padding for comfort and a heavy-duty metal buckle and ring. Choose from seven colors.

bandanna

This made-in-the-USA bandanna set fits both dogs and cats. Features a triangular polyester bandana and attached woven collar with side-release buckle, slide adjuster and D-ring hardware.

trucker hat for dogs

Trucker hats aren’t only for long-haulers and tractor enthusiasts. This foam front/mesh back trucker hat for dogs will have plenty of tails wagging. Designed by a veterinarian, it features the adjustable Furfect Fit system and a soft chinstrap. Available in six sizes to fit every dog.

collar adjustable

This collar features an adjustable buckle release. Fits from 10”-14” necks and has a D-ring clip for a leash.

Fashion is looking to the past to chart its future

Fashion has always been cyclical, with designers drawing inspiration from decades past and teens shopping their parents’ and grandparents’ closets for looks that have regained cultural relevance. Previously, these retro trends seemed to focus on one decade at a time. But nowadays, thanks to the endless churn of micro-trends on TikTok and our insatiable cultural appetite for the comfort food of nostalgia, you can find influences from a range of eras all at once. There’s something for everyone, and everyone’s got their something. With that in mind, we’ve assembled outfits representing the last six decades of fashion to show off how these trends are still relevant today.

The 1960s

The “Summer of Love” is more than half a century behind us, but the flower child aesthetic lives on. Tie-dye has been a perennial favorite, thanks to the rise of DIY, and flared-leg pants are making a comeback after years of skinny jean dominance.

1960s fashion
Did You Know? More than 20 million copies of The Doors’ self-titled debut album have sold since it was released in 1967.

The 1970s

A ringer tee, gym shorts and old-school basketball shoes are a classic look – bringing an effortlessly sporty chic that transcends the ’70s.

19702
Did You Know? “The Rat,” short for Rathskeller, was an influential punk rock club in Boston that opened in 1973.

The 1980s

The era of acid wash and Aqua Net, cassettes and Cabbage Patch remains relevant today – thanks to the overwhelming popularity of hit shows like Stranger Things.

1980s
Did You Know? The iconic catchphrase “Where’s the beef?” first appeared in a 1984 Wendy’s commercial. Clara Peller, the woman who uttered the famous words, was 81 when she was discovered by the agency that filmed the spot.

The 1990s

For disaffected Gen X youth, a well-timed eyeroll was as much of an “it” accessory as a choker or mini backpack. With bands like Nirvana still cultural touchstones and skate culture firmly established, the era of slackers and Hackers is alive and well today.

19902
Did You Know? Beanie Babies are often considered the world’s first internet sensation. By 1997, eBay had auctioned off $500 million worth of the plush toys, making up more than 6% of the site’s total sales.

The 2000s

It was the age of boy bands and Mean Girls, low-rise jeans and blinged-out tees. The velour tracksuits that became synonymous with the Y2K era have made a somewhat surprising comeback thanks to the growth of e-commerce and social media.

2000s
Did You Know? The Juicy Couture velour tracksuit was an icon of Y2K fashion, with celebs like Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez and Lindsay Lohan spotted in the look during the aughts. At its peak in 2008, Juicy was making $605 million in annual sales.

The 2010s

It’s sometimes hard to believe we’re done with the teens and well into the roaring ’20s – but it's worth remembering the decade that birthed the Instagram influencer, millennial pink and high-end drinkware as a lifestyle accessory.

2010s
Did You Know? Apple introduced the rose gold iPhone in 2015 – ushering in the era of millennial pink in fashion, accessories and Instagram filters.

Editors Picks Innovative Electronics and Wearable Tech

Electronics and wearable tech continue to grow in popularity. According to Graphical Research, the consumer electronics market in North America is poised to grow by 10% each year from now through 2027.

istand+

The iStand+ charges Qi-enabled devices on a fully collapsible phone stand. The 15W Eco MagSecure wireless charger is removable so it can be taken on trips or to the office as needed.

otterbox mobile charger kit

Keeping devices charged while on the go is crucial, and the OtterBox mobile charge kit is up to the task. Compact with a slim design, it has a 3-in-1 cable for devices that require a micro-USB, Lightning or Type C connection.

SATA external hard drive

This SATA external hard drive supports most Windows operating systems as well as Mac OS X and Linux OS. Its 1 terabyte capacity makes it ideal for storing files, photos, videos and music.

JBL headphones

Travelers and music lovers will enjoy the quality of these JBL headphones. Adaptive noise cancelling and smart ambient technologies provide a premium listening experience. Charge lasts up to 50 hours.

bladeless neck fan

Lightweight and rechargeable, this bladeless neck fan will keep the wearer cool and comfortable when working out, running or while out in the hot weather. Has three speeds.

Bluetooth headphones

This wireless transmitter pairs Bluetooth headphones or earbuds to equipment that doesn’t have Bluetooth technology. Users can listen to music and TV shows, play video games or connect to gym equipment without disrupting people nearby.

Bluetooth sunglasses

Walkers, hikers and bikers can listen to tunes while protecting their eyes with these Bluetooth sunglasses. Featuring UVA/UVB sunray and IPX7 waterproof protection, these shades deliver quality sound and allow the wearer to take calls while on the move.

solar power bank

Compatible with most cellphones, this UL-certified solar power bank draws energy from the sun and doesn’t require a traditional outlet to recharge. Includes two USB ports and a built-in lithium-ion battery pack.

Editors Picks Drawstring Bags and Fanny Packs

People are once again looking for adventure and unique experiences. Data from active-travel company Backroads, which helps travelers book tours around the world, found that reservations in early 2023 had increased 60% from the same time last year.

canvas drawstring backpack

Constructed of 100% cotton, this 5.5 oz. canvas drawstring backpack features adjustable, extra-soft cotton rope closures. Choose from 11 colors.

customizable fanny pack

This customizable fanny pack is made to order with PMS color-matching. The sky’s the limit to create a bag that’s unique to your individual needs.

waterproof drawstring backpack

Rafters, kayakers and day hikers will love this waterproof drawstring backpack. It’s made of a diamond lattice Oxford cloth with internal glue-coating. Features a mesh pocket on each side.

sublimated cinch bag

Full-color, edge-to-edge printing is available on this sublimated cinch bag. Made from 420D polyester, it features adjustable drawstring straps and corner grommets for added strength.

waterproof fanny pack

This waterproof fanny pack is fully sublimated and has an earbud cutout for using a phone or listening to music while your device stays safely inside.

Puma fanny pack

Featuring a main zippered compartment with interior and front zippered pockets, this Puma fanny pack will be a hit with athletes and travelers. It has an adjustable webbing waist strap with release clip.

water bottle fanny pack

Users will stay hydrated with this water bottle fanny pack. Featuring a zippered pocket on the back, bottle holder and two front zippered pockets, there’s plenty of room to stow essentials while out walking or running. A reflective sticker offers extra visibility during dusk and dawn activities.

fanny pack

With a zippered pocket, water resistance and durability, this fanny pack is sure to be a favorite. Easily carry a cell phone, money, keys and sunscreen while enjoying the day outdoors.

lightweight cinchpack

Support your school, sports club or pickle ball league with this lightweight cinchpack made from 100 GSM nonwoven polypropylene.

How Casual Style Became the Foundation of Fashion

Workplace shifts, generational differences and the quest for comfort have all played a role. Plus, take a look at five other hot apparel trends for 2023.

Back in 2005, members of Northwestern University women’s lacrosse team wore flip-flops (albeit fancy rhinestone-bedecked ones) to meet the president for a White House ceremony honoring their NCAA championship. The resulting “flip-flop flap,” as many dubbed it, ruled the news for several days – with the nation debating whether it was a breach of etiquette or just a signal of changing generational tastes.

Fast forward to 2017: Two teens were barred from boarding a United Airlines flight because they were wearing leggings, which went against the airline’s dress code for travelers using an employee pass. The decision set off a firestorm on social media with many decrying what they saw as, at best, an out-of-touch company policy and, at worst, policing of women’s clothing choices.

Then came the pandemic, with its suspension of sartorial norms. Even Anna Wintour – the Vogue editor who once claimed never to wear sweatpants – posted an Instagram pic where she sported red trackpants in her home office. Clearly, the fashion police were off duty during quarantine.

But once the world reopened, it became obvious that COVID had just accelerated an already snowballing trend. Would the flip-flop flap have dominated discourse today the same way it did two decades ago? Has the question of whether leggings are pants been resolved once and for all? Barring a few curmudgeonly holdouts, the answers are no and yes, respectively. Everything is casual now – and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

“It’s definitely comfort, hands down,” says Julie Crawley, director of product development for Top 40 company. “We became acquainted with our sweatpants and loungewear during COVID, and we don’t want to give them up. We still love style and want to look good in the latest trends, but we consistently look for comfort; any fabric that’s super soft is very appealing.”

And many offices have relaxed their dress codes as a welcoming gesture toward staff, says Catherine Tremblay, director of merchandising for apparel private brands. “Employees continue to see evolving workspace landscapes from different forms of hybrid structures, to varied remote settings,” she says. “Even if a workplace has gone back to completely in-person staffing, it seems that the days of having to ‘dress up’ for the office are all but extinct.”

‘TAILOR-MADE’ FOR THE OFFICE

Athleisure has been the norm outside of the office for years, but it’s only in the aftermath of the pandemic that it’s become completely accepted at work. “Where top management has generally not wanted to compromise on dress codes, that’s now shifted,” says Marcus Davis, product development manager for HanesBrands. “Employers and employees are working to find a middle ground.”

The North End sweater
The North End sweater fleece quarter-zip shows how fleece can have a more tailored look.

That could mean trading in joggers for cinched-leg sweats; swapping out hoodies for quarter-zips; or donning a polo instead of a T-shirt, Davis adds. For women, leggings or double-knit stretch pants might be paired with a cardigan for a dressier look. “A button-front loose kind of cardigan concept for a woman is every bit as dressed up as you need to be,” says Vicki Ostrom, a futurist and trend analyst with Top 40 company. “That’s your blazer now.”

Even on notoriously buttoned-up Wall Street, the new work uniform consists of a nice shirt and pants (preferably with some degree of stretch to them), and ties come out only if client meetings are on the agenda, according to a recent New York Times piece on how “business bros” are dressing in their “native habitat.”

Comfort Wash garment-dyed quarter-zip
Ideal for “workleisure,” this new Comfort Wash garment-dyed quarter-zip is polished enough for the office and relaxed enough for everything else.

Comfort, Crawley notes, doesn’t have to translate to sloppy and disheveled. Instead, she adds, it’s all about the use of “soft, tactile, lightweight fabrics with Lycra that help promote range of movement.”

The term “tailored” itself has taken on a different meaning in this era of dressing. Whereas before it may have conjured up the image of three-piece suits and custom-fitted Oxford button-down shirts (items that were actually altered by a tailor), these days a tailored piece tends to refer simply to embellishments that give a garment a more dressed-up look. “There are these signifiers that bring you to the idea that something is tailored,” Ostrom says. “I’ve noticed this a lot with pants. It could be a jogger made of sweatshirt fleece, but it will have this stitched-down pin tuck all the way down the front, so it makes it look like it’s been pressed into a crease.”

GapFit hoodie
This GapFit hoodie shows how small touches can give fleece an elevated, tailored look.

Metal tipping on drawcords, taping around the zipper and other modern touches can give even a hoodie that tailored touch, says Lauren Cocco, director of merchandising at apparel company. “I would say,” she adds, ‘tailored’ is referring to some sort of elevated detail in the design of the garment.”

REAL WORKWEAR & HUNDRED-DOLLAR HOODIES

One factor in the casualization of fashion is the sustained popularity of workwear – think Carhartt jackets, Dickies pants and old-school Levi’s denim – among the younger generations. They like the rugged aesthetic of these blue-collar brands, and the fact that garments are made of long-lasting fabrics doesn’t hurt.

There’s even an element of sustainability to workwear, Ostrom says. “Just by the fact that it’s such a durable fabric, it will last a long time and that means a lot to young people that you keep it in circularity,” she adds. “I think a lot of them are leaning heavily into workwear for that reason.”

Mercer+Mettle open front cardigan
This Mercer+Mettle open front cardigan is a great example of the new office uniform – relaxed, while still looking polished.

Cargo pants and jackets – with their deep, roomy pockets – are also trending. “Utility style,” as Cocco calls it, is hot precisely because of how useful and practical it is for the wearer.

Capitalizing on the trend, Carhartt and other workwear brands have developed more fashion-forward lines, Ostrom says. “It’s their regular workwear, but has a different fit and isn’t quite as oversized,” she adds. “That’s something you could wear more easily in an office situation.”

Another element at play is the economy. With inflation cutting into budgets, many people don’t want – and can’t afford – to maintain multiple wardrobes. So, their apparel purchases have to do double and even triple duty.

Camber hoodie
Camber makes sought-after hoodies and other basics, with consumers often signing on for a months-long wait after ordering one of its garments.

“I think people are choosing versatility,” Crawley says. “If I buy a garment, I want it to serve a few different purposes. Can I wear it to work? To the gym? To the grocery store? Does it pack well for traveling? And can I wear it year-round?”

With that mindset, a high-end hoodie or well-made, durable chore jacket can actually become an investment piece. Cary Heller, vice president of sales apparel company, has seen this phenomenon first-hand, thanks to All USA’s partnership with Camber, a Norristown, PA-based clothing manufacturer for making “the World’s Greatest Sweatshirt.”

Camber’s small stateside team of 25 cuts and sews sweatshirts, hoodies and other basics built to last. “When they shrink up a little, it feels like you’re wearing a tank, almost like a second or third layer of skin,” Heller says. “The only way to fully understand the depth and breadth of how different it is from other hoodies is to put one on. If you buy a product from Camber, even if you’re digging ditches or working as a lineman, you’re going to be wearing it for 50 years. They only get better with washes, not worse.”

That quality comes with a cost: nearly $100 and a months-long waiting list. As GQ writer Noah Johnson described it, “The company makes sweatshirts like Rolex makes watches, which is to say with a degree of care that borders on the mythic.”

The brand is popular in the tech industry, Heller notes. “Those kinds of guys are investing more in an outfit. They’re looking to pay special attention to find something different and something unique, since they know they’ll be wearing it every day,” he adds. “It’s not fast fashion. But this type of person is willing to search out that product and wait for it.”

Younger shoppers are also thinking of the booming secondhand-clothing market when they make a purchase. So, many are willing to drop hundreds of dollars on a designer hoodie, for example, because “they’re expecting that’s an investment they’re also then going to resell,” Ostrom says.

Buying well-made garments – even if they’d traditionally be considered casual – also helps elevate your wardrobe.

“By choosing items that have more quality construction and fabrications,” Tremblay says, “consumers can not only increase the shelf-life of their wardrobe, but it will give a more polished overall look, when paired with dressier items and accessories.”

5 HOT APPAREL TRENDS FOR 2023

1. PATCHWORK & DIY STYLING
Doodlage
Doodlage, a zero-waste brand out of India, upcycles post-consumer waste and post-cutting scraps into new garments, such as this quilted patchwork trench coat.

Handmade items and crafty looks are all the rage on TikTok. “Whether it’s deconstructing blanks and tapestries and making them into jackets/hoodies or creating patchwork and turning it into shirts and pants, having a one-of-a-kind garment is the style,” says Jeremy Picker, creative director and CEO of apparel design and branded merchandise firm AMB3R Creative.

2. PREPPY & COLLEGIATE LOOKS
Mercer+Mettle stretch jersey
Polo shirts, like this Mercer+Mettle stretch jersey piece, are classic and aspirational in uncertain times.

This style conjures up images of Ivy Leaguers with popped collars and perennial tans – an attractive prospect in these unsettled days. “It’s essentially just a simple, useful, functional look that just feels right,” says Vicki Ostrom. “We’re potentially heading into a recession and costs are high, but a polo is always accessible. Everyone can buy into that look.” The other factor, she says, is the growth of “court sports” like tennis and pickleball. Wearing a polo with a crisp tennis skirt helps you “be part of a club,” Ostrom says.

3. SUBTLE CROP TOPS
TriDri cropped hoodie
Cropped tops, where the hem of the shirt meets the top of the pant, are on trend – as evidenced by this TriDri cropped hoodie.

Cropped tops with a “meet-and-greet length – like 22 inches – where the bottom of the shirt just edges the top of the pant” will be big this year, as will cropped hoodies and fleece, according to Marcus Davis. A recent New York Times feature noted that young people have been wearing crop tops in the office, pairing them with high-waisted skirts or pants and adding a cardigan or blazer for extra coverage.

4. SUSTAINABILITY
stretch polo
This stretch polo is made of 44% REPREVE recycled polyester as well as regular polyester and spandex.

Eco-friendly materials and responsibly made garments will continue to grow throughout 2023. And more apparel will highlight the sustainability of their product lines. Julie Crawley of Charles River Apparel says the supplier is partnering with Nexgen Packaging to develop sustainable packaging and recycled hangtags. It’s also working with Unifi to add REPREVE, a brand of recycled polyester, to its collection.

5. RICH EARTH TONES
Mercer+Mettle stretch jersey
Earthy greens, like this quarter-zip from Champion, are the new neutral.

Though playful and uplifting pinks and reds will be popular this year, many color palettes will stick to browns, tans and other outdoorsy “shades from nature,” says Lauren Cocco of Vantage Apparel. “We’re seeing a continued trend toward earth tones and a spectrum of neutrals becoming more sought after.”

Sophisticated Business and Executive Bags

Today’s road warriors require a bag for hauling important information to and from the office and on and off planes. But their preferences are as unique and varying as the industries that employ them.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in December – more than analysts had expected. Meanwhile, unemployment fell to 3.5%, a historically low rate, BLS reports.

Travis & Wells Transit Computer Portfolio

The Travis & Wells Transit Computer Portfolio has a multifunction organizer with RFID card pockets, mesh smartphone pocket, keychain clip and anti-slip silicone work surface. Also features individual compartments for a tablet and laptop, as well as an adjustable, removable padded shoulder strap.

engraved laptop brief bag

Function and fashion combine in this engraved laptop brief bag. Features include an adjustable shoulder strap, two zip pockets, laptop pocket and multiple accessory pockets.

Oakley Enduro 20L backpack

High-end backpacks are a great gift. This Oakley Enduro 20L backpack features a padded laptop sleeve, fleece-lined eyewear/media pocket, interior organizer panel and mesh water bottle pockets.

genuine-leather computer portfolio

This genuine-leather computer portfolio has five large, zip compartments and a front half-moon zip-pocket with full organizer. In addition, there’s a small organizer, a padded laptop pocket and three file dividers. Choose from saddle, chocolate or black.

Sound Wave hybrid brief/backpack

Users can pick between two functions with this affordable Sound Wave hybrid brief/backpack. Includes a zip main compartment with padded laptop sleeve and full-width zip pocket with a built-in slot for earphones.

Duluth Pack executive briefcase

The Duluth Pack executive briefcase combines 15-ounce canvas with a full-grain leather flap and bottom. Features two interior full-length pockets with ample storage, two large exterior pockets on the front, and a zip pocket on the back. Hand-stitched and made in the USA.

Briggs & Riley Delve slim laptop sleeve

Laptop protection is job #1 for the Briggs & Riley Delve slim laptop sleeve. It’s lightweight and made with RapidWipe-coated outer fabric that protects devices from questionable surfaces in airports, hotels and coffee shops.

4 Major Sustainability Trends for 2023

Thoughtful product design and circularity are some of the areas to focus on in the new year.

Countless industries are now facing the facts on the dire need for greater sustainability in their products’ lifecycles. The genie is out of the bottle, and the consequences of consumption have changed the conversation on what and why we buy.

As is typical when an industry is trying to hold itself to new standards, “There are varying levels of sustainability theatre going on,” says Dan Cardozo, president, and CEO of apparel company.

Steve Starr, senior vice president for global programs and brand at Top 40 company, expresses a similar sentiment, noting that many commercial and consumer users are “starting to think seriously about their carbon footprint.”

“Sustainable products alone largely go unchecked and unaudited,” he continues. “Many times, we see a product that sounds eco-friendly, but really needs another review to determine whether its impact on the environment can be properly accounted for.” With eyes on these issues from all angles, experts share several areas gaining traction regarding safe and sustainable production.

1. You’ll hear more about: Circularity
Circularity

Circularity is a sustainability concept that takes the end of an item’s useful life into account when it’s being produced. Kriya Stevens, director of apparel company, says to consider the following questions: Can the product be recycled? If so, are there viable recycling programs readily accessible to consumers? Can traditional materials be replaced with materials that can be composted or recycled? “Products that can claim true circularity will set themselves apart from the pack,” she adds.

Textiles perhaps have the most work to do on circularity, says Ben Grossman, co-president of Grossman Marketing Group. “Companies want to do business with other companies who are responsible in these ways,” he says, “so we’ve seen an increase in interest in that in RFPs. Companies don’t want to just make the item; they have to consider the product lifecycle.”

Cardozo’s Ethix is looking at moving its clients to products that have their entire supply chain transparently disclosed, “all the way back to the ginning and spinning of the cotton, the sew/cut/dying, to the end of the life of the product.” That’s still a rarity, he adds, but he’s hoping circular and transparent production will become more prevalent.

2. You’ll hear more about: Pushing out PFAS
test tubes

Last year, scientists made headway on a difficult problem: finding a cost-effective way to break up PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as “forever chemicals,” that can leach out and contaminate soil and water even years after first coming into contact with them. In August 2022, the journal Science published research that indicated the chemicals could be essentially boiled away with the addition of two low-cost and widely available compounds. Because these PFAS chemicals are also commonly found on fabrics – particularly as waterproofing on performance apparel – Stevens says the industry is expecting “new requirements for chemical screenings related to PFAS to become part of fashion’s standard operating procedures.” She notes that the Environmental Protection Agency is still researching these chemicals, “but the jury is in for many scientists; these harmful chemicals need to be eliminated.”

Indeed, states are already enacting forever chemical bans. Both California and New York have legislation prohibiting PFAS in apparel. And 3M announced late last year that it will stop manufacturing and using PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025, in response to the accelerating regulatory trends and other factors. Expect momentum against PFAS chemicals to continue as 2023 unfolds.

3. You’ll hear more about: Thoughtful design
man in gray sweater

Grossman says that how a product looks factors heavily into whether it will have a long life. From T-shirts to totes, a nice graphic or illustration – with a logo used more subtly – will have broader appeal versus a basic tote blaring a giant company logo. “If you have the budget and time for planning, spend a little more on your design,” he says. For apparel, “Make the logo more subtle on the left sleeve or the back neck, and use the larger real estate for the beautiful illustration or message,” he explains. “Often, you don’t even need to spend more for production; you can do a beautiful design in one color. Simplicity can be elegant.”

Any company is going to want to be thoughtful about how to get its message across in a way that resonates. No matter the industry, Grossman says he’s noticed items that are message-driven sell much better than brand-driven ones.

4. You’ll hear more about: Packaging
compostable packaging

Ecovative makes a packaging alternative to Styrofoam, composed of hemp and mycelium. Packaging is a hot topic for sustainability. Efforts continue to create packaging that’s easier to recycle than the plastic containers or laminated products more common in years past, says Grossman.

Cardozo says company stores and online web stores, which still rely on cellophane and Styrofoam, have the most work to do in this area: “People are getting fancier and fancier all the time with what they want to provide for clients, but we need to be conscious of the impact on the environment.”

Starr shares this view, saying that he’s seeing major companies frequently placing such requirements on those they partner with. “We’re seeing a point of cognition across the world, where both commercial and consumer users are starting to think seriously about their carbon footprint,” he says.

For her part, Stevens has seen a viable alternative to Styrofoam in Ecovative’s mushroom packaging, made of hemp and mycelium, which is scalable and compostable. She also notes startups like Olive, which offers premium reusable packaging and claims retailers can save 50% on return shipping costs using its service. “Like most of the environmental challenges we face,” Stevens adds, “we expect to see solutions come in a myriad of forms.”

Items for the New Year

Discover creative new products.

Leatherman Apron

Leatherman Apron
Perfect for any grill master, this apron is made of full-grain premium leather and can be engraved. Includes adjustable straps and two towel loops.

Pet Flying Disc

Pet Flying Disc
This flying disk is made of high-quality cotton and polyester. The durable rope sides make it easier for pets to pick up and are gentle on their teeth and gums. Choose from six colors.

Mongolian Cashmere Throw

Mongolian Cashmere Throw
Crafted from 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere, this quality throw creates the feeling of class and comfort. Choose from five colors.

Crew Socks

Crew Socks
Socks add a touch of whimsy to any outfit. Choose from regular, thick or extra thick constructions, and customized color combinations.

Bluetooth Stereo with Climbing Clasp

Bluetooth Stereo with Climbing Clasp
Take this waterproof speaker anywhere. Features a battery that lasts nearly four hours on a single charge.

48-Inch Golf Umbrella

48-Inch Golf Umbrella
This large umbrella has a sturdy metal shaft and comes in five colors.

5 Tips for Attracting and Retaining Boomerang Employees

Though some executives are skeptical of a former worker’s loyalty, there are a lot of benefits of rehiring familiar faces.

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

A 2022 study from payroll firm UKG found that 43% of people who quit their jobs during the pandemic say they were better off at their original workplace. In fact, one in five who quit during the pandemic actually returned to the company they left, according to the UKG study. The Great Resignation is rapidly becoming the Great Rebound.

Boomerang employees, as they’re called, often get a bad rap, with some executives questioning a wayward worker’s loyalty and feeling reluctant to bring them back into the fold. However, experts say boomerang employees can enrich your workplace, since their time with other companies has likely made them more well-rounded and knowledgeable. Plus, they already know your culture and have connections with other staffers, so onboarding will be less costly than for a brand-new face.

Here are some strategies to help you attract former employees and make sure their reentry into your firm is a success.

1. Pay attention to exit interviews.
When employees share why they’re leaving your company, it’s important to listen. What factors led them to scroll the job boards? Was it pay? Culture? Their manager? If multiple high-quality employees are leaving for the same reasons, perhaps it’s time to address those issues – both to help with retention and to attract new and former talent to your company.

2. Keep in touch.
After an employee leaves, don’t cut ties. Connect with them on LinkedIn to follow their career path, and check in occasionally via phone or email to see how they’re faring and what their plans and aspirations are. You never know when their ambitions and your own hiring needs might converge.

3. Create an alumni network.
The easiest way to signal to staffers who’ve left that they’re still welcome is to, well, make them feel welcome. An alumni network, similar to groups for college and university grads, keeps your former workers connected to your company and instills a sense of pride – and perhaps even nostalgia for the way things were. (You could also invite ex-employees to company picnics and other events to help them maintain social ties with their peers.)

4. Don’t skip onboarding.
Once you’ve rehired a worker, take time to acclimate them. Sure, your boomerang employee knows exactly where the break room is and can put a name to just about every face in the office, but that doesn’t mean they’re experts on your current workplace culture and expectations. It’s important to go through the same onboarding checklist with a boomerang worker as you would with any new hire, in case procedures have changed during their absence. The process will likely be quicker for a boomerang than for someone brand-new, but it’s a bad idea to skip it altogether.

5. Welcome them back.
How you treat a boomerang employee speaks volumes about your leadership skills and company culture. If you’re skeptical of them or question their loyalty, everyone on the team will take notice – not just the rehire. Be sure to show your excitement for having them back. Send out a company-wide welcome notice to reintroduce them to staff and demonstrate your appreciation for their talents.

A Fresh Take on Tie-Dye

Fashion and retail lines now feature this elegant garment print.

Ink-dyed garments and accessories are making a comeback – but this isn’t your typical rainbow tie-dye.

A trend called “watercolor” has been hitting the fashion catwalks and retail stores. It combines the gradient look of ombre with the unique ink pattern of tie-dye for an elegant, “watery” appearance evocative of the art of Claude Monet.

watercolor shirt
The “watercolor” look features different hues combined on a variety of media, including apparel and hard goods.

Fashion houses such as Ferragamo, Courrèges, Marni and Paco Rabanne featured the color trend in their Spring/Summer 2023 lines. “Bob Ross, eat your heart out,” wrote the staff of W Magazine in its show report. “Bright hues this season took on a watery look, blending together like a sunset or lakeside scene in a painting.” Other designers such as Peter Do and Diesel featured “soft ombre” looks, with colors “elegantly blend[ing] into one another across a diverse array of fabrics,” reported Hypebeast.

Professional sports teams are getting in on the action, too; The Philadelphia Eagles features an ink-dyed beanie from its New Era Crucial Catch collection, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society; other teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Chargers have them available in franchise colors.

Fortunately, there are plenty of products featuring ombre and dyed patterns that can fit the bill

Ball caps featuring eye-catching dyed colors, especially with silkscreen or embroidery on the front. This style also allows for a high ponytail and comes in a variety of color combinations.

eye-catching dyed colored ball caps

This insulated tote is ideal for bringing lunch from home, comes in four ombre tones.

insulated tote

For a unique item with a touch of whimsy, consider this corkscrew, which opens both wine and beer bottles and is available in three ombre tones and three solid colors.

whimsy corkscrew

Pick up accessories that feature an ombre pattern. These also make great gifts; choose from four color combinations, like Lavender Fields and Galactic Ocean.

ombre water bottle

A subdued take on the watercolor look with a wicking performance style; available in five color combinations.

watercolor wicking performance shirt

Versatile Gym and Duffel Bags

They’re essential for travelers, fitness club members and athletes of all skill levels.

After nearly three years of staying put, people are ready to get going again. According to Travel Experts, an agency of independent advisors and agencies, 2022 sales among its network members is on track to exceed 2019’s numbers. They also estimate that Q4 2023 numbers will be between 20% and 30% above this year’s Q4.

gym bag

This cylinder-shaped gym/locker bag includes a main compartment with pull-cord closure, zippered drop-bottom storage compartment and adjustable shoulder strap. Stow sweaty post-workout gear in the main compartment separate from essentials in the second.

duffel bag

Custom bags go a long way in giving your clients exactly what they want. This duffel is made of durable canvas and features accents and embroidery.

duffel bag

Travel warriors need a bag that’s both tough and functional. This duffel is made of high-density jacquard and includes two-tier zippered storage compartments with dual zippered side and front pockets and an adjustable shoulder strap. Choose from three color combinations.

duffel bag

Great for weekend getaways, this 18” heathered duffel bag has all the features necessary to tow personal gear. Features a zippered main compartment and open front pocket, plus an adjustable shoulder strap and dual carry handles.

duffel bag

Sporty and lightweight, the Swissgear 23” Getaway XL Everything Duffel Bag is a classic example of form meets function. It works as a garment bag and zips up to become a luxury duffel bag. Neatly carries blazers, suit jackets and all things needed for business travel.

sport bag

Gym denizens and others will love the Terrex sport bag. Its large main compartment features a dual-zipper opening with easy access to workout gear. Also includes front webbing accents, elastic bands on the bottom for securing a yoga mat or towel, and a front pocket for additional storage.

rugby gear bag

The rugby gear bag measures 24” x 13” and will keep players’ gear contained and protected. Available in 25 colors.

Capitan Executive Duffel

Travel in style with the Capitan Executive Duffel. Features an adjustable strap, top carry handles, four front pockets, large back pocket and two oversized side pockets for shoes. Made of Colombian cowhide leather with a mocha brown nylon interior.

classic weekend bag

Cost-effective with lots of details, this is a classic weekend. Features a double-zippered spacious main compartment, front zippered pocket for accessories and mesh bottle pockets on the sides.

Dynamic Mobile and Tech Accessories

As digital tools continue to evolve, so do related branded products. The industry has a plethora of options, and that’s good news for distributors looking for the latest trends.

With the sheer ubiquity of mobile devices across the country, related products, particularly chargers and wireless earbuds, continue to gain popularity. According to Allied Market Research, the mobile accessories market is slated to grow more than 13% each year from now through 2026, to nearly $80 billion. End-buyers have a number of options for branded products to give to their target audiences, as everyone from ambitious students to hard-working businesspeople will appreciate the items.

Chi-Charge Trio

The easy-to-use Chi-Charge Trio helps keep wirelessly charged devices powered up and regulates the temperature of liquids inside the included mug. Makes an awesome employee-appreciation gift.

multifuncttion charging cable

How does someone charge multiple devices at once? With this multifuncttion charging cable. Includes USB to Type-C and Lightning, and Type-C to Type-C and Lightning charging connections. Made of nylon braided wire and aluminum alloy. Perfect for use at home, in the office or on the road. Essential for businesspeople in any industry.

wireless earbuds

The iHome AX-38 wireless earbuds allow the user to move effortlessly while dancing, listening to a podcast or mowing the lawn. Includes slide-open charger case, three ear-tip sizes, micro USB charging cable and lanyard.

portable mini chair wireless charger

Fun and practical, this portable mini chair wireless charger will likely garner advertisers that desired desktop real estate. It charges any phone and can also be used as a stand during Microsoft Teams or FaceTime calls, or to watch videos and movies.

folding 3-in-1 wireless charger

This folding 3-in-1 wireless charger charges multiple devices like Phones, Apple Watches and AirPods at the same time. It’s also compatible with all Qi-enabled Android and iOS devices. Slim and foldable, it’s easy to take along on trips.

portable selfie-stick tripod

Users can capture all the important moments with this portable selfie-stick tripod. It comes with a wireless remote with a 33-foot range, extends to 27.5 inches and features a 270-degree-rotation head. Works with all mobile phones and folds to just 7 inches.

type-C multiport USB hub

This type-C multiport USB hub allows users to charge older devices that don’t support type-C charging. Features four USB port extensions and is easy to use with no driver installation required. Great for students and professionals alike.

expandable stand

Great for holding phones and tablets, this expandable stand folds flat for easy storage. Users will appreciate it while in the kitchen trying out a new recipe or talking on speaker phone with the kids. A silicone anti-slip base keeps it secure on countertops, desks and coffee tables.

magnetic car phone mount

This magnetic car phone mount is mini-sized, but comes with an extremely strong magnet. It holds big phones steadily and allows users to be safe while driving and taking calls. Easy to adjust with full 360-degree rotation for the perfect viewing angle. Great as a gift for new car owners.

three-port USB charger

Recipients can charge several devices at a time with this three-port USB charger. Ideal for office and home use or when traveling on business or for pleasure.

Get Spotted in Polka Dots

The playful design has appeared in fashion lines and on celebrities in recent weeks, and it could make a fun addition to end-clients’ upcoming spring campaigns.

A classic pattern is making a comeback on catwalks and celebrities, which could point to increased demand among end-buyers of promo products.

women in polka dot outfits

The whimsical polka dot print, which has a long and storied history, recently made appearances in the Burberry, Marni and Saint Laurent Spring 2023 lines, as well as Sergio Hudson and Proenza Schuler, on flowy dresses, cardigans and scarves.

On Nov. 12, actress Kerry Washington wore a Sergio Hudson polka dot dress with long train to the Baby2Baby Gala for charity in Los Angeles. And just yesterday, the Princess of Wales wore a blue dress with gold polka dots from L.K. Bennett, in honor of Ukraine’s national colors, during a visit to the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre to meet with displaced families.

Meanwhile, for end-buyers who want to get in on the action, the promo industry has a plethora of polka-dotted options, from apparel and accessories to food gifts. Here we have five markets to target to add a touch of fun to upcoming campaigns.

1. High Schools & Colleges
Students will appreciate warm-weather accessories on their walks to school or between classes on campus. Items that feature polka dots add a touch of whimsy to their wardrobe. Think spirit wear and booster clubs.

polka dot beanie

2. Corporate Programs
Small polka dots can add a subtle touch of fun to business wear. Consider button-down shirts, ties, pocket hankies and socks featuring the pattern for company programs.

men's polka dot dress shirt

3. Professional Services
Branded items for finance, insurance and real estate agencies don’t have to be stuffy – encourage clients in these markets to think outside the box with lighthearted prints for writing instruments, totes and umbrellas. Polka dots certainly fit the bill.

polka dot umbrella

4. Client Gifts
End-customers can thank their staff and clients with sweet and savory treats presented in packaging with a festive polka dot pattern.

Candy apples in polka dot gift tray

5. Entertainment Companies
Think polka dots for entertainment equipment suppliers and venues – beach and pool parties could use inflatable balls to promote sponsors.

Candy apples in polka dot gift tray

Comforting House and Home Items

There are myriad opportunities for clients to use branded household products to connect with their customers and employees.

In a recent survey, Deloitte found that only 31% of Americans will travel for the holidays this year, down from 42% in 2021. That’s due to inflationary pressures and some lingering health concerns. Fortunately, the industry has a number of branded house and home items available, so advertisers can still make an impression while people stay put.

indoor decorative pillow

This indoor decorative pillow is ideally suited for family residences, as well as Airbnb and VRBO rentals. Made of 100% polyester microfiber, it’s sublimated on both sides, blown with stuffing and then sewn together. Available in 16” x 16” or 18” x 18”.

engraved catchall tray

Everyone needs a place to toss keys, change, sunglasses and wallets. That’s why this engraved catchall tray makes a fantastic gift for virtually anyone. It’s laser-engraved and handmade from vegan leather. Users can place it on an end table, dresser or desk to keep important essentials together.

Stargard cut crystal vase

The Stargard cut crystal vase is made from beautiful leaded crystal and is perfect for showing appreciation to employees, vendors and customers. It stands 12” tall, with space on the front for engraving corporate and award information.

rocking chair

This sturdy rocking chair is the perfect high-end gift or award. Its size, seat height, back height, contours and balance point make it a pleasure to sit and rock in. Made of premium weatherproof kiln-dried Robinia wood, it features exterior-grade hardwood, non-water-soluble glue, slats cut to shape with mortise, and tenon construction.

PureVis Advanced Filter Pitcher

The PureVis Advanced Filter Pitcher has a unique two-step filtration and purification process. Its plant-based filters are effective against pollutants like lead, chlorine, mercury, VOCs, cadmium and particulates. Includes sensors that tell the user when to replace the filter.

surge protector

Art meets function with a surge protector. It’s an outlet adapter that’s ETL Certified with 900 Joules of surge protection, featuring A/C outlets and two universal USB ports. Charges phones, tablets, cameras and other mobile devices at the same time. Also includes a convenient holder at the top for a mobile phone.

Money Tree

The Money Tree is a tropical indoor plant made to brighten and freshen up any space. A popular Feng Shui plant, the Money Tree is said to bring good luck and fortune wherever it goes. It comes in a modern pot with a custom message card and branded plant stick.

9” lighter

This 9” lighter creates a tiny electric arc that’s hot enough to ignite anything a normal lighter can. Windproof and rechargeable, it has a long neck that’s great for lighting hard-to-reach candle wicks, BBQs and stoves. Comes in a gift box with a micro-USB cord for charging.

wind chimes

The gentle sound of wind chimes is both calming and cathartic. That’s why this Gregorian-style wood and aluminum wind chime makes a fantastic addition to health and wellness campaigns. Features eight chimes in a eye-catching, balanced design.

custom full-color print

End-users can decorate any room with a custom full-color print of their favorite photo. Images are wrapped around the sides of a canvas stretched across a wooden frame. Measures 24” x 36” and can be displayed vertically or horizontally.

Winning Branded Products for Winter Trips

End-users looking to escape from cold weather will appreciate these useful travel items.

The short-term rental market in the U.S. has grown steadily over the past three years: AirDNA, a rental-analytics firm, estimates almost a 9% increase in the number of properties available for rent next year, compared to 2022. Major players like Airbnb and VRBO have revolutionized the rental market, making it easy for people to become gig proprietors while offering travelers unique experiences. And those taking winter trips will need essentials while they’re away. Here are some perfect leisure and business travel products for the coming months.

merino wool camo half-zip sweatshirt

Hunters are loyal to their camouflage brand; some are Mossy Oak fans while others favor Realtree. For those in the Realtree camp, they’d certainly enjoy receiving this merino wool camo half-zip sweatshirt. It’s warm and comfortable and will fit any promotion geared to hunters or outdoor enthusiasts.

Eye Poppers webcam cover

Users can protect their privacy from hackers’ prying eyes with the Eye Poppers webcam cover. This fun item has eyes that pop out with a little squeeze. Designed to fit most devices an available in four colors.

Molten Lava Manly Herbal Soap

The Molten Lava Manly Herbal Soap is geared to those who prefer soap that’s not overly fragranced. It’s crafted from natural, pure ingredients including organic shea butter, plus olive, coconut, hemp, corn and soybean oils. Perfectly sized to fit in a dopp kit, it’s also infused with activated charcoal. A must-have for dude-focused promos.

Thule packing cube set

Packing for the next vacation or business trip is easier with this Thule packing cube set. Users will enjoy having organized luggage with these cubes that expand and compress to maximize packing space. Spot-on for travel-related promotions.

cabin throw

Brrr, it’s getting cold outside…and inside cars and airplanes, too. That’s why this cozy cabin throw makes a great item for wintertime promotions and employee- or customer-appreciation gifts. Features a buffalo check and plaid design in six color combinations.

Editors Picks Showcase: Essential Drawstring Bags & Fanny Packs

These functional accessories are a mainstay in the industry, and waist bags in particular have seen a resurgence in both promo and retail.

As COVID restrictions are lifted across the globe, leisure travel rates are once again approaching pre-pandemic levels. According to data from Research & Markets, vacationers around the world will help to grow the industry by nearly 20% every year from now through 2027. That’s great news for companies that serve travelers, and they’ll appreciate branded drawstring bags and fanny packs like the ones below to advertise their products and services.

colorful fanny pack

A splash of color through a dye sublimation process makes this hip pack something that will get noticed as a promotional bag. Made of 100% polyester, it’s roomy and features a secure zip closure and adjustable 48” strap. A wonderful product for theme-park promotions and group outings.

heathered and jute backpack

Take a drawstring bag to another level with this heathered and jute backpack and bring an air of sophistication to a promotion. Made of 300 denier polyester and faux jute, it features an adjustable black drawstring closure. Ideal for students, sports tournament registration gifts and trade shows.

promotional waist pack with a reflective strip

Runners, walkers and bikers need to be seen in low light, and this promotional waist pack with a reflective strip is perfect for promotions targeting these groups. Features two zip pockets and a waistband with a quick-release buckle.

two-tone drawstring backpack with mesh top

This two-tone drawstring backpack with mesh top has metal grommets for strength and durability. Features PMS colors and front zip pocket for additional storage, plus large decoration capability.

multipurpose tote

And now for something a little different: This multipurpose tote can be carried as a purse or a drawstring bag. Features matching carry handles and a macrame drawcord for a cinch closure. Spot-on for spa giveaways and as a gift for new gym members.

eco-friendly fanny pack

This fanny pack is made from bamboo fiber, PLA and PBA, features no plastic, and is compostable. Eco-friendly, it features a full design on the front with the option for a second on the back. Personalization is possible, making it great for sports team promotions.

sport cotton drawstring bag cinch pack

This sport cotton drawstring bag cinch pack is excellent for large giveaways. It provides huge exposure for a brand and allows the user to store everything from gym clothes to school supplies to snacks for weekend hikes.

Osprey Daylite waist pack

The Osprey Daylite waist pack features a zip main compartment, zip front-panel exterior pocket, interior mesh organizer and key clip. Keeps the user’s phone, wallet and other important items safe when out and about. Consider this for travel-related promotions.

fanny pack

This fanny pack as a lot going on. It’s made of nylon ripstop and features three zip pockets, a front pocket, a side cellphone pocket and an inside mesh pocket. Also features a built-in slot for earbuds and adjustable 52” waist strap.

heavyweight canvas drawstring bag

Drawstring bags needn’t just be nylon or polyester. Made from heavyweight canvas, this drawstring carry backpack features multiple exterior pockets and storage space for large and small items. The leather straps are thin and lightweight. Makes a nice gift for couples’ retreats and vacation getaways.

SoundWave sport pack

The SoundWave sport pack is stylish and functional with a cinch closure and adjustable web shoulder straps. Includes a built-in earphone outlet, interior deep pocket for a bottle, and a zip front pocket that can fit a 10” tablet with case. Suitable for businesses, schools and travel agencies.

This Weeks New Suppliers: Promo Fun

Discover creative products from new ASI suppliers.

Recycled Plastic Cup

Recycled Plastic Cup
Keeping costs low doesn’t mean compromising sustainability. These food-grade and BPA-free cups are affordable and 100% recyclable.

Magnetic Towel

Magnetic Towel
Golf towels just got better. This magnetic towel is easy to access while on the course. It can withstand up to 25 lbs. of pull force for a secure hold to carts, clubs and bags.

Silicone Folding Mug

Silicone Folding Mug
Commuters will appreciate an 18-oz. travel coffee cup that folds up, making traveling and storage much easier. Choose from five colors.

Event Pouch

Event Pouch
This unique gusseted stand-up pouch is digitally printed on all sides. It can hold various items like T-shirts, candy, business cards and chargers. Choose from a variety of colors.

Color-Changing Mug

Color-Changing Mug
Recipients of this drinkware can consume coffee, tea and hot chocolate with a dash of fun. It changes color when filled with hot liquids. Perfect as a welcome gift or kitted appreciation bundles.

Snake Laurentii in Planter

Snake Laurentii in Planter
The Snake Laurentii is a succulent that’s easy to care for and offers air-purifying capabilities. Comes in an elegant planter. Ideal for new homeowners and to promote garden centers.

Cardboard VR Headset

Cardboard VR Headset
Based on the Google Cardboard v2 specifications, this VR viewer for smartphones is great for playing games, viewing 360-degree videos and images, and browsing VR-ready websites.

Joes Promo Picks: Making a Statement

Product Editor Joe Haley features items with unique imprinting space that’s sure to grab attention.

Having business cards on hand is a must for networking events – the antimicrobial one featured here doubles as a screen cleaner, so it won’t get lost in the shuffle. When brainstorming upcoming campaigns with clients, look to promo products with distinctive imprint areas that will earn impressions.

Unique Custom Products

advent calendar

The lead-up to Christmas is a time of wonder and excitement for kids who still believe. Increase the anticipation with this hand-printed advent calendar. Users can fill the drawers with candies or small gifts, or mini liquor bottles for adults.

Discount Marketing Products

teardrop backpack flag

This teardrop backpack flag is great for directing large crowds through a sporting event, trade exhibition or historic city tour. It’s ready to use and includes a full-color, digitally printed polyester flag, carbon-fiber poles and black backpack with storage space for components when not in use.

18-piece stainless-steel knife set

Here’s a corporate gift that’s cutting-edge … literally. This 18-piece stainless-steel knife set includes two chef’s knifes, slicing knife, bread knife, Santoku knife, serrated knife, eight steak knives, paring knife, bird’s beak knife and kitchen shears. Each piece has a high-carbon stainless-steel blade and stainless-steel hollow handle with satin finish.

antimicrobial card

Are your customers looking for something different for their business cards? If so, consider this antimicrobial card that doubles as a device cleaner (FYI). The washable card cleans phone screens while killing bacteria, mold, yeast and fungus. It’s infused with a Dow/Dupont Silvadur antimicrobial treatment that’s been independently verified to be 99% effective.

heat and privacy shade

Since work-from-anywhere jobs are making it possible for people to move their desks to virtually any location, this heat and privacy shade will be a welcome accessory. It protects laptops from the sun, making it easy to see the screen in direct sunlight while preventing it from overheating. It also provides privacy when working in public spaces like coffee shops, airports and libraries.

passenger seat caddy

How often do you stow packages or bags on the front passenger seat, only to watch them go flying during a hard stop or sharp turn? This passenger seat caddy puts an end to that. It’s convenient, versatile, expandable and flexible. Features an extra elastic cord and grommet to restrain taller items.

4 Quick Tips for Writing High-Quality Content

Google has been rolling out updates to its search function to keep low-quality and unoriginal content from appearing high in rankings.

Last month, Google announced that it would be rolling out updates to its search function to make it easier for people to find high-quality content. The new ranking improvements are meant to stop low-quality or unoriginal content from appearing high in rankings.

Laptop Search Bar

The update will target “SEO-first” content – articles created primarily to rank on search engines – putting an emphasis instead on what Google calls “human-first content.” In a blog post, Google explained: “If you search for information about a new movie, you might have previously encountered articles that aggregated reviews from other sites without adding perspectives beyond what’s available elsewhere on the web. This isn’t very helpful if you’re expecting to read something new. With this update, you’ll see more results with unique information, so you’re more likely to read something you haven’t seen before.”

So, what does that mean for small businesses in the promotional products industry that use content marketing and search engine optimization tactics to raise their online profile and establish themselves as authorities on branding and logoed goods? Experts say there’s no need to panic. “I think Google’s new changes will penalize the sites churning out robotic content designed only for crawls, and (hopefully) reward those of us who focus on creating quality content that appeals to real people,” says Heather Clarke, marketing and communications manager for aloSIM, a company that sells prepaid phone data packages.

Still, it’s worth taking a look at your content strategy to make sure you’re serving your intended audience well. Here are a few quick tips to ensure you’re producing high-quality, customer-centered content.

1. Focus on what you know.
It’s a well-worn trope to “write what you know,” but when it comes to content marketing, it’s important to take note. High-quality content will help establish you and your business as an expert in your field. “It should be informative in a way that only someone in that niche can provide, but still understandable to customers,” says Sarah Brodsky, a digital analyst for search marketing firm 9Sail. “Writing about areas of your business that you know well and have personally experienced also demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the topic at hand.”

2. Make it readable.
Your articles should be easy to digest and get your point across without too much fuss. Use headings, subheadings and small blocks of text. Visual elements, like photos and infographics, can also help break things up. “People don’t like reading large blocks of text,” says Jessica Kats, an e-commerce expert at online shopping platform Soxy. “They get distracted, and it doesn’t get a good response.”

3. Use keywords naturally.
Keywords are still an important part of SEO strategy, but they shouldn’t make your writing stilted and awkward.

Once you’ve done your keyword research, find ways to incorporate them into a piece without it seeming forced. “It’s a delicate dance, trying to find that balance between writing in a fun, personable way and writing with SEO in mind,” says Clarke. “Because, of course, even the very best content won’t work if no one can find it.”

Above all, your keywords and chosen topic should mesh well. Your content, says Aissa Djalo of full-service creative agency Tiny Giants Co., should “answer the keyword’s search intent” – in other words, the reader should feel more educated after finishing your post.

4. Keep content fresh.
It’s tempting to repost evergreen content, especially if you’re a harried small-business owner with too much on your plate, but that could be a mistake. “If small businesses have been repeating or reposting their content, they’ll find that it does more harm than good after this update,” Brodsky says. “They should strive to create only new content – even if they’re repeating topics, all text should be unique, and the perspective and insights should be new.”

Hit the Slopes

Product Editor Joe Haley features his top branded swag choices for winter fun.

According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), ski slopes across the country reported approximately 61 million visitors last winter, a 3.5% year-to-year increase and the highest number of skiers since the NSAA started tracking numbers in 1978. Prepare for another busy season with these outstanding winter-themed promo products..

gogglesoc

The “OG” gogglesoc is fully customizable and sustainable since it’s made from recycled plastic bottles. Skiers will keep their goggle lenses scratch-free, and advertisers can get quality sublimated branding with PMS color-matching. Think ski trips and winter getaways.

USA-made Lodge 10.25” cast iron skillet

The versatile USA-made Lodge 10.25” cast iron skillet is sure to be a welcome kitchen item on winter camping trips. It arrives decorated, seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil and ready to use right out of the box. Features sloped sides, two pour spouts and an easy-grip handle.

waffle knit cuff beanie

Winter is coming, and that’s why this waffle knit cuff beanie makes a great choice for end-of-year promotions. It’s made of 100% acrylic and measures 12” when unfolded. Works for ski resorts, schools and sports venues for wear by outdoor employees. Choose from 16 colors.

Spyder half-zip sweater fleece

The Spyder half-zip sweater fleece combines technical features with an elevated aesthetic. Available in classic colors and multiple sizes with a modern fit. A women’s style is also available, making it great as a hospitality uniform piece or as part of a corporate store.

rechargeable, dual-power aluminum headlamp

This rechargeable, dual-power aluminum headlamp is super-bright and peaks at 2075 lumens on turbo mode. Features a dust-resistant and storm-proof aluminum body that detaches to become a handheld flashlight. Spot-on for DIY enthusiasts, emergency personnel and for nighttime hikes.

Survey - In Fact, People Love Promo Products

A poll of American consumers by Vistaprint, the online print and promo provider that’s part of Top 40 distributor Cimpress, yielded sharp insights for the industry.

Turns out people do indeed dig promo products.

A new survey, polled about 2,000 American consumers and found that 53% “love receiving promotional products,” while 76% share that their perception of a brand has changed in a positive way because they received a logoed item from said brand.

promotional products

Notably, half (51%) use promotional products in their daily lives.

Especially encouraging? The outlook for promo is bright, given generational predilections, the survey shows. Nearly nine in 10 millennials (87%) and exactly eight in 10 Gen Zers are more likely to perceive a brand in a positive way after receiving a promo product.

When asked about their ideal promotional products, consumers said they care most about how “useful” (49%) and “unique” (42%) the product is. When comparing among different age groups, Gen Zers care more about how “fashionable” (43%) and how “funny” (42%) the item and design are. Here are the top qualities that make for an ideal swag item, ranked in order of importance:

1. Useful (49%)
2. Unique (42%)
3. Colorful (40%)
4. Fashionable (39%)
5. Recyclable (36%)
6. A keepsake (36%)
7. Edible (35%)
8. Funny (34%)

When asked about the design of promotional products, the survey found that the majority of people prefer products with an unusual or unique design (45%) or brand name (38%). Here are the top qualities that Americans prefer when it comes to the design of promotional items:

1. Unique or unusual design (45%)
2. Eye-catching design (42%)
3. Unique or unusual brand name (38%)
4. Interesting use of materials (37%)
5. A quote or catchphrase (37%)
6. Logo positioning (35%)
7. Color scheme (35%)
8. Font (35%)

More findings from the survey include:

  • 49% of consumers prefer to receive promotional products from small businesses or unknown brands.
  • 40% are more likely to write a positive review online after receiving a promotional item from a brand.
  • 48% agree that promotional products are a more memorable way of marketing than simply advertising.
  • 44% of people are more likely to visit a business location (e.g., shop or restaurant) after receiving a promotional item from a brand.
  • 83% have worn or used a promotional item from the company they work for.
  • 34% consider sustainability to be an important factor – and 32% consider it important for a product to be locally made.

According to the survey, the top 10 promo products U.S. consumers want to receive are:

1. T-shirts
2. Pens
3. Mugs
4. Water bottles
5. Headphones
6. Tote bags
7. Sunglasses
8. Hoodies
9. Calendars
10. Umbrellas

Noteworthy Coffee and Travel Mugs

Coffee is a significant part of Americans’ daily routine, so the drinkware featured here is sure to garner countless impressions.

According to E-Imports, a resource for the specialty coffee industry, the average coffee drinker in the U.S. consumes more than three cups daily, and 50% of all Americans drink it every day. That means there’s plenty of opportunity to distribute branded coffee mugs for use at home and on the go.

16 oz. reusable Cupanion Cup

The 16 oz. reusable Cupanion Cup lets users ditch traditional paper and Styrofoam cups, as well as coffee sleeves. Made for hot or cold drinks, it features double-wall insulation and a clear lid, and it’s BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. Made in Canada using sustainable manufacturing processes. Ideal as a loyal-customer giveaway for coffee shops and cafés.

11 oz. stoneware mug

This 11 oz. stoneware mug with glossy finish and removable bamboo coaster bottom ensures that the user won’t leave rings on furniture. FDA-compliant and microwave-safe, it’s available in five colors. Works well for homebuyers and new employees.

steel, double-wall, vacuum-insulated 12 oz. mug

Imagine how long that coffee aroma will be wafting in the air when inside this steel, double-wall, vacuum-insulated 12 oz. mug. Keeps hot beverages hot for hours and features a non-slip matte gator coating, rubber bottom and shatterproof lid that also works as a splash guard. Choose from black, blue or red.

12 oz. ceramic Ui Self-Heating Mug Set

When hot coffee gets cold the drinker eithers heads to the microwave to reheat it or to the sink to pour it out. Not anymore. The 12 oz. ceramic Ui Self-Heating Mug Set maintains the ideal drinking temperature for coffee and tea and also wirelessly charges mobile phones. A nice gift for both onsite and fully remote employees.

12 oz. ceramic Ui Self-Heating Mug Set

Go big with the 20 oz. Urban Peak Harbor Trail vacuum camp mug. Its copper-lined, vacuum-insulated, deep-draw liner keeps coffee hotter significantly longer than a standard paper or Styrofoam cup. Features a leak-resistant plastic flip lid with Tritan snap-locking closure.

17 oz. campfire mug

This 17 oz. campfire mug is made of thick-gauge steel that’s double coated with high-gloss durable enamel. Handmade and available in eight colors. In addition to camping, it works well for tailgate promotions.

16 oz. Circular NOW Cup

Each reusable 16 oz. Circular NOW Cup is created from six recycled single-use coffee cups. The travel tumbler is 100% leakproof, with a push-lid mechanism that minimizes spills and offers one-hand opening. Can be recycled after about 10 years of usage. Help clients add sustainability to their next promotion.

ceramic mug

Stylish and practical, this ceramic mug features a cork base which serves as a built-in coaster. Featuring a slide-action lid, this mug is FDA-compliant and BPA-free.

17 oz. CORKCICLE Commuter Cup

The 17 oz. CORKCICLE Commuter Cup maintains hot beverage temperatures for up to five hours and cold ones up to 18 hours. Made from insulated stainless-steel with a ceramic-coated interior and a spill-proof lid. The included one-piece retail gift box is perfect for year-round rewards and incentives.

speckled 15 oz. mug

When tradition and trends collide, you get this campfire mug with bamboo base. The speckled 15 oz. mug will fit right in at campsites and inside RVs and campers.

12 oz. TRANSIT insulated stainless-steel mug

The 12 oz. TRANSIT insulated stainless-steel mug features modern lines and sleek design with unmatched temperature retention. Whether it’s used for cozying up on a couch or tailgating at a local stadium, the TriMax Triple Insulation keeps coffee steaming hot for four hours or maintains cold beverages for 40. Comes in six colors.

7 Strategies to Establish a New Routine

Take back control of your days by intentionally incorporating new tasks.

Life gets busy and challenges continue, and that can make burnout a real possibility.

To combat tension and weariness, create a routine that combines professional tasks and self-care; it’s proven to have both physical and mental health benefits. According to Chicago-based healthcare system Northwestern Medicine, being consistent in weekly activities has been shown to improve stress levels, lead to better sleep and help boost overall health.

Here are seven ways to incorporate new tasks into your days, and gradually turn them into second-nature habits.

1. Make a list. Do a “brain dump” – a simple list – of what you want to incorporate into your week, both personally and professionally. You may not be able to think of everything in one sitting, so keep a notepad with you and add to the list as you think of things. Nothing is too small – if you want to start making your bed every morning, add it.

2. Split tasks into smaller goals. Bigger objectives might be hard to incorporate into your week, so start with one step at a time. If one of your objectives is to make healthier food choices, choose a new recipe or two to try each week and build from there. Starting with manageable tasks and building on them will allow you to create a new routine gradually and improve your success rate.

3. Determine when you work best. Are you a morning lark or a night owl? Structure your day based on your energy levels. If you’re a morning person, that might be a good time to incorporate a new workout regimen. If your thinking is clearer at night, that may be the time to address tasks that require critical thinking, like developing sales strategies for the coming months.

4. Put everything into the calendar. Once you have your complete list of the things you want to incorporate into your week, put them in your calendar and make them non-negotiable. Schedule time for them each day (or as frequently as they need to happen). Putting routine objectives into your calendar gives them weight and helps you to remember what’s been added.

Establishing a routine improves stress levels, leads to better sleep and helps boost overall health.

5. Start with one week. Go through one week and see how things go. Follow your calendar and if something isn’t working for you, tweak it as needed. You may need to go through several iterations of your new plan before you find the one that works best. Give yourself permission to test-drive it and see how it goes.

6. Schedule in flexibility. Life is sure to throw curveballs. It’s OK to schedule things down to the minute, but make sure to account for the unexpected. Stick to your new plan as closely as possible, but extend grace to yourself when you can’t follow it exactly. Just recommit to it the next day.

7. Track your progress. At the end of each week, take a look back at your wins and where you need improvement, and then start again. If something isn’t working week after week, you may need to modify the plan. Continue to record tasks in your calendar until it becomes second nature – it’ll help you keep track of how things are going, and show you where you can add tasks.

Would You Wear a Dress Made of Cocoa Bean Husks

Whether it’s sneakers made of apple leather or haute couture to promote vegan ice cream, brands are getting creative with sustainable materials.

My inbox has been inundated with notifications about the latest innovations in sustainable apparel – particularly brands that are experimenting with nontraditional textiles, like apple leather or cocoa beans. Sometimes, the creations are simply marketing stunts rather than a product that will eventually be available at retail. But even then, it’s fascinating to see what companies come up with and how they might influence fashion at large.

These are just a few of the more interesting tidbits I’ve come across recently. Let’s judge them!

Just Call These Apple Leather Sneakers ‘Foodwear’

Apple Leather Sneakers
Italian footwear brand is using Kickstarter to fund the production of its vegan sustainable sneakers.

A new Italian footwear brand founded by Luca Matteo Manuzzi and Willy Anne Wijnja, combines “ethical design with luxury quality to create new-era premium high-fashion sneakers.” The company took to Kickstarter to fund the production of the Waver, its vegan sustainable sneakers, and as of July 27 has already surpassed its goal.

The handmade unisex low-top sneakers are sourced and made in Italy at a family-owned manufacturer. They feature an outsole made from recycled rubber, an upper made from vegan apple leather and recycled polyester, an inner lining made from bamboo fibers and an insole made with apple leather on a soft cushion of recycled and biodegradable latex. A portion of future sales of every sneaker will go toward funding the Lady Ripple bee initiative, helping to build more beehives across Tuscany.

“Our mission is to design ethical luxury products for consumers who value aesthetics and craftsmanship as much as sustainability,” Manuzzi says.

The creators also say the Waver’s gender-neutral design and thick sole are comfortable and on-trend, and the “complex patchwork upper made from apple leather patches over recycled polyester creates a unique sporty look and allows for breathability and airflow.”

Verdict: I’m not in love with the chunky design aesthetic, but I love how every part of the sneaker is sourced from sustainable materials and will be assembled by artisans in Italy. It would definitely feel good to walk a mile in these shoes.

We All Scream for Cocoa Bean Couture

3-D printed dress using a polymer derived from cocoa bean husks
Magnum partnered with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen for this 3-D printed dress using a polymer derived from cocoa bean husks.

Magnum – yes, the ice cream brand – made a splash at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month debuting a vegan haute couture dress made from cocoa bean husks. It was part of a marketing stunt to raise awareness for its line of nondairy vegan ice cream bars.

The brand partnered with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen on the dress, which features intricate details including plant-like body embellishments that were copper-coated, draped and entwined with upcycled organza. Other elements were 3-D printed using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. The cocoa bean husks were processed to create a fully organic biopolymer material for 3-D printing. Magnum says it wants to support van Herpen’s vision of “a fully sustainable production chain within the fashion industry and beyond.” The partnership was just its first step toward a wider ambition of circularity in the fashion world, according to Magnum.

Linking ingredients used in Magnum vegan ice cream with haute couture really allowed van Herpen to “push the boundaries of design” further than before, the designer said.

Verdict: I’m a sucker for chocolate, so a dress made from cocoa beans should be a no-brainer. Of course, calling this a dress is a bit of a stretch, since it lacks something I would consider a defining feature of said garment, namely a skirt. Still, this remarkably well-crafted, flourish-heavy bodysuit is an excellent example of how an unexpected brand collaboration can pay off.

Beach, Beer, Boardshorts & Branding!

Pacifico and Quiksilver merch collection
Pacifico and Quiksilver included a number of sustainable elements in this merch collection.

Beer brand Pacifico partnered with Quiksilver, a maker of surf-inspired apparel and accessories, for a line of sustainably made branded merch. The Quiksilver x Pacifico collection features T-shirts and wovens, boardshorts, hats, flip-flops, a beach towel and a tote bag.

The collaboration made sense, according to the two brands, because both share a foundation in “sustainability, surf and adventure.” Pacifico beer was originally introduced to the U.S. by California surfers who visited Baja. The brand partners with The Conservation Alliance to preserve North America’s wild landscapes and waterways. Quiksilver has been around since 1969, and so far has repurposed more than 245 million plastic bottles and avoided more than 254 million tons of carbon emissions through the use of recycled materials, organic cotton and natural dyes in production, according to the company.

The Quiksilver x Pacifico capsule collection includes hats made of a material created by recycling South American fishing nets. Other sustainable elements include boardshorts made from recycled plastic bottles, hats embroidered with recycled yarns and tees made from 100% organic cotton.

As part of the collab, the two brands also organized beach cleanups at the beginning of July.

Verdict: The sustainability story of this branded merch collection really elevates it into something end-users would be excited to wear. I’ve never surfed a day in my life (and people who know about the time – just a few months ago – I fell off my bike after brushing against a stone wall will understand why) but I could see myself rocking one of these tees or wrapping myself in the beach towel after a day at the pool.

5 Tips to Stay Organized in the Office

Clutter can increase stress levels and hinder productivity. Try these strategies to optimize your workspace.

The influx of unread emails and unorganized desk drawers filling up your office may be a bigger deal than you think.

Clutter can actually increase stress levels, take a toll on relationships and make it difficult to focus and be productive. On the other hand, when organization in the office is prioritized, it’s easier to complete tasks, be more efficient and excel in the workplace.

But let’s face it: When the environment is fast-paced and the emails are never-ending, or if you’ve fallen out of the in-office rhythm after working from home for so long, disorganization is likely.

To avoid getting overwhelmed, treat maintaining an organized office space like an ongoing project. Little by little and with these five tips, getting – and staying – organized can be accomplished.

Businessman working

1. Clean Your Office
Before any true organization can begin, a thorough purge of your office space is necessary. Throw away anything you haven’t touched in months. Shred or delete outdated documents that you don’t need any more. And lastly, toss out any duplicate files and items.

If you think you need the three staplers and the cup full of pens on your desk, you don’t. Instead of throwing these functional duplicates away, try giving them to coworkers or donating them.

2. Establish Work Zones
The best way to maintain organization in your newly decluttered office space is to establish zones. You likely have about three different areas in your workspace: a primary working area (desk and computer), a reference area (filling cabinets and binders) and a supply area (shelves, closets and drawers).

Once you identify these zones, redistribute everything in your office into their respective zones and label them. Use drawer organizers for the small items like paper clips, pens and tacks.

You could even designate a section of your desk as a “landing pad.” The landing pad is the one and only place that you’re allowed to put random items. Everything else has to have a home.

3. Sort Your Email
In Slack’s State of Work study, it found that the most highly engaged knowledge workers – people who holds an office position, work with data, analyze information or think creatively for their job – receive an average of 50 to 100 emails a day. It can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to get ahead of the inevitable cluttered inbox.

Consider scheduling 10 to 20 minutes during your day to go through emails and delete, reply to or archive messages.

As soon as you get an email, try to sort it. Place it in a created folder or category for projects, people or specific actions required. Folders are like drawers, and categories are like color-coding your emails.

Starring, flagging or putting priority labels on important emails allows you to visually distinguish them and helps you remember to review or reply later.

4. Time Block Your Day
Designating time for specific tasks and scheduling quiet time will help your day progress more effectively. If you notice you often end your workday with incomplete tasks, try timing how long it takes you to do assignments. Maybe you’re spending too long checking emails?

Using time blocks as a guide also allows you to see any flexibility you have for last-minute requests.

5. Keeps Lists, Calendars and Planners
Research on the psychology of goal-making and to-do lists reveals that unfulfilled goals can interfere with further achievement. However, simply planning how to reach a goal can help your mind focus on other projects.

Taking about 15 minutes each day to make a list of what you need to do, what’s a priority and what’s due will allow for a more productive workday. It’s best to organize these lists based on urgency so you’re prioritizing what needs to be done first.

An email calendar or physical planner promotes organization in the same regard, keeping you aware of the meetings, assignments and due dates you have coming up.

Staying fully organized in the office also means creating practices to facilitate mental organization. Remember, mess equals stress and stress can ultimately hinder productivity.

This Week's Staples

Discover creative products.

golf polo

Golf Polo
Made of high-quality 100% cotton, this short-sleeve polo is perfect for the beach, golf course, office and beyond. It’s comfortable, casual and classic all at the same time. Choose from 11 colors.

Metal Windproof Cigar Lighter

Metal Windproof Cigar Lighter
With an ergonomic grip, universal refill valve and adjustable flame height, this lighter is bound to make a lasting impression. Suitable for hiking, camping and barbecues.

Rocks Glass Candle

Rocks Glass Candle
Featuring a custom scent of your choice, this 11-oz. soy wax candle is presented in an elegant glass vessel that’ll look great in any kitchen, living room or bathroom.

The Everyday Backpack

The Everyday Backpack
Compact, lightweight and functional, the Everyday Backpack is perfect for work, travel and everything in between. It includes a main compartment, separate laptop pocket, passport pocket, luggage pass-through strap, hidden valuables pocket and side-access zipper.

Silicone Pint Cup

Silicone Pint Cup
This 16 oz. silicone cup is a rugged yet lightweight alternative to glass. It’s colorful, versatile and unbreakable, and is as flexible in shape as it is in utility. Great for BBQs, football games, picnics and pools.

Custom 3’ x 5’ Flag

Custom 3’ x 5’ Flag
Made from 130 gsm polyester, this eye-catching flag features a full-color imprint of your artwork printed with high-quality ink to penetrate through and reveal a mirror image on the other side. Features 1.5” header and grommets.

Leather Journal

Leather Journal
This Italian leather hardcover journal features 256 blank pages and can be embossed or foil-stamped. Ideal for students heading back to college and professionals at conferences.

Memorable Food and Drink Accessories

Grocery stores play an essential role for virtually every household across the country, which is why many were allowed to stay open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. According to careers platform Zippia, food markets account for 15.6% of total retail sales in the U.S.

two-tone ceramic shot glass

This two-tone ceramic shot glass features a black matte exterior with a choice of glossy interior color.

Bottled water

Bottled water is a staple item. This 12-oz. bottle contains 100% natural spring water and is made of 50% recycled plastic. Three cap options available.

lunch bag with bowls and utensils

Promote healthy eating by encouraging friends to pack their lunch and gifting them with this cutlery and container set in a quilted lunch bag. Includes an adjustable shoulder strap, nesting bowls with locking and vented lids, medium and large reusable food storage bags with zip closures, and utensils set.

5-inch plush avocado

Here’s a cute item: a 5-inch plush avocado. It complies with all CPSIA product safety requirements and works well as a gift for anyone.

three mesh produce bags

Sustainability is something more people are looking for; utilize this set of three mesh produce bags. They’re reusable and eco-friendly, and feature a drawstring closure.

popcorn bags

Fall school sports are about to swing into action with popcorn bags. This style is available in white or natural/kraft.

stainless-steel can cooler

Users can ensure a cold drink to the drop when they use the Frost Buddy 2.0. This double-wall, vacuum-insulated, stainless-steel can cooler accommodates nearly all 12-oz. and 16-oz. cans and bottles. It will keep the contents cold for more than 12 hours. Fits in cup holders and features a non-slip silicone bottom and straw.

7 Tips for Better Short-Form Videos

Thanks to the rise of TikTok (and its copycats), bite-size videos are hot. Here are strategies to improve yours.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth about 10,000. Just make sure your script isn’t actually 10,000 words long. Thanks to the rapid growth of social media platforms like TikTok, short-form video is king. TikTok announced last year that it has more than 1 billion monthly users. Instagram has been prioritizing Reels, its answer to TikTok, and parent company Meta began adding Reels to Facebook globally earlier this year. And YouTube announced earlier in June that 1.5 billion users are watching its Shorts each month.

Try these tips to help take your videos to the next level.

1. Create a compelling hook. “You have roughly three seconds to capture the attention of users scrolling through their feeds, so the start of your video needs to grab their attention,” says Emily Petherick, marketing manager of SEO agency Repeat Digital. Share an interesting fact, a controversial opinion or address a consumer’s pain point – anything that will hook the viewer in, she advises.

2. Keep it short and simple. Take a page from The Bard and remember that brevity is the soul of wit. In other words, your short-form videos need to be, well, short. Try to keep them no longer than a minute.

3. Serialize your content. If you have too much to say in one short video, consider breaking the topic down into bite-sized, snackable chunks. “Series are one of the best ways to increase engagement and following on TikTok, as users will visit your profile to find the other parts of the series, helping with the TikTok algorithm,” Petherick says.

4. Focus on quality. Your smartphone and inexpensive (or even free) editing software are often all you need to create a social media-ready video, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on quality. Before you shoot, make sure you have optimal lighting. If you’re speaking, make sure you’ll be easily heard without a lot of background noise to distract. “Another thing to consider is that most social media starts playing video with the sound off,” says Tim Donovan, director of motion at SalesAmp, a business unit of Figmints. “If you’re planning to create social-specific video content, you’ll want to add burned-in subtitles or closed-captioning to help grab the viewer’s attention.”
Adding transitions, using free software like Splice or CapCut, can also help up the quality and build engagement, Petherick says.

5. Be strategic. Take some time before you create a video to determine what you’re hoping to get out of it. What are you trying to say? What do you want your target audience to learn or do after watching? says Daniel Gibson, managing director of creative studio NiceDay.

6. Be authentic. Your videos – even when they’re only a minute long – should tell a story and share your true voice. “Your passion and professionalism are what your customers want,” Gibson says. “Forget about the haters – we call them white noise.”

7. Add a call to action to the end. This last step is crucial. Figure out what you want your viewers to do – whether it’s visiting your website, booking a meeting, or simply to get them to watch more of your videos – then ask them to do it.

The call to action can be as simple as asking the viewer to reach out with a phone call or email, or, says video platform VidYard, you can get more creative: Ask a question and have viewers join the conversation on your social, ask viewers to vote in a poll on your website or fill out a short form, or invite them to enter a contest with a promo giveaway as the prize.

Editors Picks Showcase - Flavorful Food Gifts

Sweet and savory treats are ideal for special occasions and showing appreciation, support and care.

Thoughtful food gifts are a winner when it comes to fostering important connections.

According to retail and technology market research firm Coresight, a recent study of 300 people in charge of corporate gifting on behalf of their companies found that more than 80% believe gifts strengthen connections with recipients.

espresso coffee blend

This espresso coffee blend is sure to be appreciated by java connoisseurs. The high-end specialty blend includes dark, rich and robust whole espresso beans. It’s packaged in a reusable zippered pouch to maintain freshness.

coffee, candy and tumbler gift set

Make someone smile with this beautifully packaged coffee, candy and tumbler gift set. Made for those on the go, the included 20-oz. stainless-steel, spill-resistant tumbler fits perfectly in car cup holders. Along with the 12-oz. bag of gourmet coffee and 3.6-oz. cube of Sour Kiddos.

12-count biscotti gift box

Whether users enjoy this 12-count biscotti gift box with a cup of hot coffee, tea or by itself, it’s sure to make a lasting, tasty impression. The hand-dipped, white chocolate biscotti are decorated with sprinkles.

ice cream kit

This ice cream kit includes six cones, chocolate sauce, cookie crumbs, candle pearls and sprinkles. This sweet set ships safe through summer conditions and has a three-month shelf life.

variety of premium gourmet treats

A variety of premium gourmet treats, like Hammonds Caramel Popcorn, East Shore Dipping Pretzels, Lark Tuscan Pizzetta Biscuits, and others are packaged into this 38-can cooler.

sweet and savory snacks

Are you undecided about a gift to give? Pitch this mini feast with a little bit of everything. It includes chocolate, gourmet Wisconsin cheese and sausage, sweet and crunchy nuts and more. It also includes an eco-friendly, customizable bamboo cutting board.

cooler filled with savory snacks

Spread love and appreciation with this trendy insulated cooler filled with savory snacks. Once the snacks are gone, recipients have a lunch bag to continue using. It features a mesh water bottle pocket and sturdy handle for easy transport.

3 Innovations in Sustainable Apparel

Whether it’s plant-based garment dye or a new twist on an age-old textile, many apparel brands are exploring fresh ways to boost the eco power of fashion.

Apparel, particularly when it comes to fast fashion, is notorious for being one of the most polluting industries, whether it’s the sheer volume of textiles that end up in landfills each year or the chemicals and water used in textile dyeing and processing. But people increasingly are demanding something different: According to McKinsey, 66% of consumers consider sustainability when they buy clothes. Here are a few recent innovations from clothing brands that will pique the interest of sustainably minded shoppers.

A Nutty Idea for Natural Tees
TS Designs
TS Designs used locally foraged black walnuts to dye a batch of USA-made tees.

A North Carolina-based apparel company that follows a “dirt to shirt” made-in-the-USA model, took its mission a step further, tinting a batch of its Solid State brand tees with dye made from locally foraged black walnuts.

The company said it collected hundreds of pounds of walnuts that fell from trees near the homes of CEO Eric Henry and North Carolina cotton famer Andrew Burleson. They partnered with a local brewery, Burlington Beer Works, which cooked the walnuts to create the soft brown dye. The company then dyed the garments at its facility. The dyeing process from “ground to garment” took about 48 hours.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the tees, made of 100% ringspun Carolina cotton, goes to the Croatan Institute’s Canopy Community, to enhance its mission to create an equitable world and resilient economies.

This isn’t the first time they have experimented with plant-based dyes. The company says it’s used plant matter including pomegranate, fustic and madder to create a range of colors for garment-dyed tees.

A Performance Tee … Made of Wool?
T-shirt made of Nuyarn
T-shirt made of Nuyarn, a twist-free spinning technology that’s said to unlock the performance qualities of wool.

A Portland, OR-based apparel company that makes performance ski and snowboard wear, recently released a collection of tees made of Nuyarn, a patented twist-free spinning technology.

Wool, notes Nuyarn’s website, is a natural performance material – keeping sheep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. “It’s literally a lifesaver and a genuine performance fiber,” according to the site. However, those benefits haven’t really been fully recognized in human apparel. “Traditional spinning twists the life out of wool by compressing natural air pockets, introducing tension, creating loops and restricting the natural movement of the fibers,” according to Nuyarn. This rope-like structure can feel itchy against the skin.

In comparison, Nuyarn doesn’t twist the fibers, instead drafting them to create two-ply yarns with more aeration and volume than traditional production methods, the company notes. In addition, the wool is certified non-mulesed and comes from open-range sheep that are shorn annually. Nuyarn is spun using 30% fewer raw materials than traditional methods.

A Carbon-Negative Cardigan
Carbon-Negative Cardigan
These wool garments actually save more carbon than they emit over their lifetime.

A London, UK-based brand that makes long-lasting, biodegradable cardigans, hoodies and sweaters, says its operations save more carbon than they emit. “Our starting point was to understand how you could create beautiful products while still addressing the climate emergency,” Edzard van der Wyck, company co-founder, told Robb Report. “There are so many systemic issues with how things have traditionally been done within fashion.”

The brand says it sources Merino wool from regenerative New Zealand farms then adds a “performance-enhancing, zero-chlorine treatment using solar power.” Each garment they make includes something it calls “The Connected Dot,” which uses near-field communication (NFC) technology “to help people connect the dots on where our clothes really come from.”

The NFC tag on the garments is the same tech that the farmers use to keep track of their flock. Once it’s scanned, you’ll be able to see which sheep provided the wool for the garment, plus details of how, when and by whom the knit was created. The company also gives a full breakdown of the CO2 impact of a sweater’s creation, showing how its supply chain approach can “naturally sequester and save CO2 impact at every stage,” according to its website.

A detailed carbon lifecycle report on the company’s website explains that its products are made from wool produced by sheep in New Zealand, cleaned in China and sent to Italy to be spun into yarn. The yarn goes to Portugal where products are made, then is sent to the UK for packaging and distribution. The garments can be composted at the end of a presumed five-year life expectancy. “The majority of emissions are associated with the product distributions, but overall, all the products have a negative carbon footprint due to the wool,” according to the report.

A T-Shirt That Charges Phones - New Tech Makes It Possible

Scientists in Singapore developed a stretchable, waterproof fabric that can harness energy created from bodily movement.

Forget the battery packs and electrical plug-ins. This new fabric technology relies solely on the human body to create energy that we can use.

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a stretchable, waterproof smart fabric that can harness mechanical energy created from bodily movement to power small electronic devices like LEDs, mobile devices, medical wearables and therapeutic items.

Throughout the day, as we walk, talk, live and breathe, we’re exerting energy. Now, that energy can be converted into a more usable form through piezoelectricity and the triboelectric effect. This means that energy can be derived anytime the fabric is pressed, squeezed, stretched or bent as a result of bodily activity. It also uses the energy caused by the material’s friction against the skin and other materials.

photo courtesy of NTU
The fabric-based energy harvesting prototype (right) developed by scientists at NTU contains a stretchable electrode (left) that’s screen printed with an “ink” made of a rubber-like material found in general purpose items like handlebar grips. (photo courtesy of NTU)

The spandex base-layer of the material is made up of a polymer that’s responsible for the energy conversion, and this is then integrated with a rubbery material, making it strong, flexible and waterproof. There’s potential for the material to be woven into T-shirts or placed in the soles of shoes.

Since the material is suitable for athletic and outdoor endeavors due to its waterproof and stretchable properties, this fabric has the potential to be an effective power source. Developers found that tapping on a 3-centimeter-by-4-centimeter piece of fabric generated enough energy to light up 100 LEDs. Now imagine the kind of mechanical energy that could be produced when the fabric is worn by a pro-athlete.

The prototype fabric generated 2.34 watts per-square-meter of electricity, enough to potentially extend battery-life and build self-powered systems. In the past, the major downfall of this technology was its tendency to degrade in function after being washed. However, this material retains electrical output even when washed, folded or crumpled, so it can survive the laundry machine and still provide a stable energy supply for up to five months.

One of its major applications could be in the medical field. This source of energy has the potential to power medical wearables, allowing people to live their day-to-day lives under constant monitoring of health parameters.

Self-Care Gifts

The items here are perfect for enjoying a little R&R.

After these last few challenging years (and as stress continues), people are looking for ways to take a break and treat themselves. The data bears it out: According to market research firm Statista, revenues in the U.S. adult beverage market are on track to hit $284 billion by the end of this year, a number that’s projected to reach more than $350 billion by 2025.

Romance Wine Cooler

Picnics in the park or a night on the beach are ideal settings for a nice glass of wine. Toting the bottle is easier with this Romance Wine Cooler. It features an insulated wine compartment, durable handle, secure closure and wooden-handled corkscrew.

Stanley Adventure Pre-Party Shot Glass + Flask Set

This Stanley Adventure Pre-Party Shot Glass + Flask Set makes adventures like hikes, bike rides and outdoor festivals a lot more fun. The stainless-steel breakproof shot glasses stow inside the cylindrical carrying case and the 8-oz. flask holds enough liquid to fill all four shots.

DIY lip balm kit

Everyone has a bit of creativity inside that’s just itching for an outlet, and this DIY lip balm kit may be just the thing to unleash it. It includes everything needed to make five lip balm tins – natural beeswax pellets, sunflower oil, peppermint essential oil, vanilla flavoring, utensils, empty lip balm tins and instructions.

ceramic ashtray

This ceramic ashtray features a solid color and classic marble print with titanium-plated edging in ceramic. The windproof design means ashes won’t blow away and cause a mess when used outdoors.

collapsible cutting board

This versatile collapsible cutting board is a natural for food- and cooking-related tasks. It has three adjustable heights and can be used as a cutting board, a basket to hold food, a fruit/veggie washing tub and storage basket.

Practical Multifunctional Pens

The traditional pen is a favorite among many users. And when a writing instrument is combined with another function – or even six – it’s sure to stand out from its peers.

Store ’N Go Lantern pen

Ideal for lovers of the outdoors, this twist-action Store ’N Go Lantern pen lights up with a push of a button. It functions as a flashlight, lantern or safety flasher. It also includes a container that can be used to store small items and a carabiner that easily attaches to backpacks, purses or belt loops.

MopTopper pen

Go for a MopTopper pen that’s fun and functional, with a cheery smiley face and microfiber “hair” that cleans screens. Slide the arms to switch from black ink to red. Choose from eight colors.

3-in-1 multifunctional pen

This 3-in-1 multifunctional pen has a stylus and can be turned into a mobile phone stand. It’s made of sustainable bamboo.

Fusion pen

A nice gift for new homeowners, the Fusion is a 5-in-1, six-sided twist-action ballpoint. It features a textured grip, pocket clip, level, 3-inch (7 cm) ruler, small reversible Phillips and flathead screwdriver bit and a stylus that works with touchscreen devices.

Quest multi-tool pen

Everything but the kitchen sink. This 6-in-1 Quest multi-tool pen has a Phillips and flathead screwdriver and bit, extra-bright white LED light, compass, twist-off cap, rubber grip and stylus. It also holds a variety of phone sizes.

stylus chrome pen

No one wants to touch public screens anymore, but in today’s world that’s nearly impossible. That’s why this Lavon stylus chrome pen is a needed and welcomed product. Features a colored chrome barrel with matching color stylus, and slide-action retraction mechanism with chrome accents. Available with black or blue ink.

Paper Mate Inkjoy Quatro pen

This Paper Mate Inkjoy Quatro pen features four vivid ink colors. The color-coded button allows the user to switch between the extra-smooth inks. It also has an easy-to-hold barrel with comfort grip and easy clicking buttons

Classic White Tank Top Is the Hero of Your Outfit

Perfect as a standalone or for layering, crisp white tanks are surging in popularity.

What do Marlon Brando and Cindy Crawford have in common? The iconic white tank top, of course. Brando sported the innerwear as outerwear in the 1951 classic Streetcar Named Desire, and Crawford paired a white tank with cutoff shorts for a 1992 Pepsi commercial – a look she recreated in a photoshoot for charity last year.

The white tank top began life in the 1910s, a garment men could wear underneath dress shirts and while swimming. Within a few decades, men were eschewing their button-downs and opting to wear the tank top on its own – a fashion evolution similar to their sartorial second cousin, the storied T-shirt.

Nowadays, the tank top is a wardrobe essential that functions both as a layering piece and a stand-alone – popular with any gender. The style was all over fall 2022 runways: Prada sent models wearing tanks embellished with its logo, Bottega Veneta created leather versions of the ribbed white top and Acne paired white tanks with oversized pants.

white tank

Mark-Evan Blackman, assistant professor of fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, calls the white tank top a timeless classic, explaining recently to Refinery 29 that “[Today’s] designers have used the item as a backdrop to bring forth their vision in a very contemporary time.”

There are several factors contributing to the current dominance of this old standby, including nostalgia for Y2K-era fashion, the pandemic-era insistence on comfort above all else and a burgeoning desire to strut your stuff in style. “The white tank is the hero of your outfit, the one item that makes everything else work,” says Marcus Davis, product development manager. “It’s a key item in the wardrobe, but it’s been hidden in the pandemic closet for a few years. It’s ready to make its grand entrance back into the market.”

And the color white is also emerging as an apparel trend. It “evokes a feeling of pureness and a fresh start,” Hopkins, director of merchandising, says, adding that “white is fitting as seasonal weather begins to shift and we approach the warmer months.”

white tank

White tank tops are the perfect way to achieve the relaxed, hybrid, return-to-the-office vibe that so many seek, says Christina Marcantelli, sales enablement coordinator. “It’s gender-neutral, basic and goes with anything from sweats to under a cuffed black blazer or paired with high-waisted wide-leg jeans,” she says. “It can be a day-to-night look within seconds as people are out and about again enjoying active lifestyles and entertainment beyond the home.”

Though the color is set, there can be a lot of variation in the silhouette, whether it’s cropped, flowy and festival-ready or a stretchy, skin-skimming baby rib. Styles with asymmetrical straps or necklines or cutouts “create a fun, unexpected twist” on the classic look, Davis says.

white tank

Traditionally a summer staple, the white tank has developed year-round appeal, Marcantelli notes, particularly in the bridal/bachelorette, e-commerce boutique and fitness industries.

This Weeks Household Favorites

slide sandals

Custom Slide Sandals
With comfortable polyurethane soles and neoprene/polyester straps, these slide sandals provide an optimum fit no matter the occasion.

Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
These T-shirts are a versatile and comfortable cotton. Available in black, white and gray and in sizes from S-3XL.

Kente Graduation Stoles

Kente Graduation Stoles
Crafted by a highly skilled weaver in Ghana, these Kente stoles are made from a blend of rayon and cotton, giving them a vibrant shine. Each measures approximately 4.5 inches in width by 72 inches in length with 1.5-inch fringe on both ends.

Picnic Lunch Bag

Picnic Lunch Bag
Made of high-quality Oxford cloth and EVA film, this lunch bag is durable and wear-resistant. It features reinforced zippers, wide handles and a detachable shoulder strap as well as thermal insulation for temperature control.

Items for Favorite Activities

From cooling treats and lawn games to long afternoons on the fishing boat, warm-weather pursuits need merchandise.

ice pop coolie

Where was this when I was a kid? You just have to love an ice pop coolie that keeps your hands warm and ice pops frozen.

pickle ball set

If you haven’t heard, pickle ball is all the rage. This set includes two wooden paddles, ball and mesh pouch.

matchstick jar

This glass matchstick jar includes 20 matches with colorful tips, and the cork lid features a friction surface for lighting the matches.

foldable outdoor wine table

This bamboo foldable outdoor wine table is made from 100% natural bamboo. It holds two stemmed wine glasses and one standard 750 ml bottle. The tabletop secures with locking pins and the unit spikes into the ground at a park, beach, backyard or camp site.

tire keychains

These tire keychains work great for nearly any business in the automotive industry, as well as RV dealerships and race-car promotions. Whether for a driver, track or event, this keychain is fun and functional.

tire keychains

This large-mouth in-line tackle fishing bag is ideal for fishing tournaments or for new bass-boat owners. Made from durable 600 denier polyester, it includes a huge top opening for quick access, gusseted exterior zip pockets and padded carry handle. Holds up to six trays and includes three.

Six Telltale Signs of Greenwashing

Many brands have been called out for exaggerating or misleading consumers about the sustainability of their products. When you’re evaluating “green” claims, it’s important to dig deeper

It’s never been more difficult to know what products to buy. When companies use terms with no standard scientific definition – like natural, sustainable, clean, ethical, green or eco-friendly – it can be nearly impossible for consumers to know if what they’re buying really is better. Enter greenwashing, a term for companies exaggerating or misleading about their environment-conscious efforts. A 2021 report from the European Commission found that in a sweep of websites’ “green” claims in sectors such as apparel, cosmetics and household, 42% of claims were exaggerated, false or deceptive.

Here’s how to spot promotional product greenwashing – as well as common, unsubstantiated claims and buzzwords in other industries and products.

Greenwashing

1. Using undefined marketing terms.
Across many industries, consumers swoon for language such as all-natural, clean, eco-friendly and organic. Unfortunately, there’s no oversight for the use of these words, according to Jess Taylor, a co-founder of Practically Green, a website focused on helping ordinary people make more sustainable decisions. “Any company can easily incorporate these into their marketing strategy,” Taylor says, “without making changes to their production or sourcing processes.”

2. Creating new brands to hide the parent company.
Consumers of both hard and soft goods are becoming more aware of how their purchases affect the environment, so conglomerates are launching smaller brands “and employing ambiguous keywords and dreamy images of nature,” Taylor says.

3. Using eye-popping natural elements.
Because of the way our brains work, people make connections between unrelated ideas when presented with visual or audio cues. “Corporations can fool your brain into thinking they are environmentally friendly simply by changing tags on clothing or staging a photoshoot in nature,” Taylor says. Earthy materials like twine and cardboard, and images of plants or other outdoor elements are all easily associated with earth-friendly aesthetics – even if there’s nothing to back it up.

4. Not disclosing the full product life cycle.
This is a common greenwashing tactic, Taylor says, wherein companies will cherry-pick to make their production efforts sound less wasteful. How to spot it, according to Taylor: “The product’s lifespan will only be revealed in part, such as that it’s made of recycled material.” What the company won’t talk about is production, where high-carbon emissions and conventional energy could still be used, both of which have the potential to harm the environment and human health.

5. Claiming items are recyclable.
Many critics of greenwashing point to high-profile cases – remember the uproar about Keurig K-cups? – of exaggerated claims meant to persuade buyers that packaging or products are recyclable. “It’s the wild, wild West of product claims and labeling with no sheriff in town,” Jan Dell, founder of The Last Beach Cleanup, told The New York Times in 2021. While it may technically be true that an item is recyclable, it also may be difficult or impossible in many areas of the U.S., depending on what recycling services are available.

6. Not presenting any certificate from a recognizable institution.
Many internationally recognized agencies focus on regulating sustainability practices and providing a credible way of knowing which companies are worth supporting. “Keeping yourself informed can help you better decide where to shop remorse-free,” Taylor says. While these agencies vary on their strictness and requirements, look for the OK from agencies such as Certified B Corp., Cradle to Cradle, and Green America’s Green Business Certification.

Must-Have Appreciation Gifts

Bottle With Storage

24 oz. Bottle With Storage
This lightweight and durable stainless-steel tumbler features a hidden waterproof compartment that lets you stash your ID, keys, cash and other small items. It was even featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things.

Personalized Makeup Bag

Classic Vegan Leather Personalized Makeup Bage
This eye-catching bag is made of vegan leather with thick canvas lining and a strong antique brass zipper. It has a divider on one side and three pockets on the other, making it perfect for everyday use.

Crystal Iris Award

Crystal Iris Award
These artisan crystal awards measure 8 inches by 6 inches by 3 inches. Choose from four colors.

Buttons

Buttons
Perfect to show appreciation. 2 inch by 3 inch refrigerator magnets are also an option..

Wood Greenie String

Wood Greenie String
This unique golfer’s tool easily hooks onto flagsticks to create a straight line for putting practice. It also works as a ball marker and features 1’, 2’ and 3’ “gimme” marks.

BottleKeeper 3.0

BottleKeeper 3.0
BottleKeeper is designed to fit virtually any long-neck beer bottle. It’s insulated to keep your beverage cold and protected from breakage. Features a Stern Quick Access Cap.

Summertime Apparel and Accessories

Everyone is sure to appreciate these functional items that will make any warm-weather event even sunnier.

After two years of lockdowns, the data is clear: People are ready to gather again. According to travel company Northstar Meetings Group, 96% of planners say they’re going to host an in-person event this year. The items here are a perfect fit for events and the travel required to get there.

Aprons

Aprons fit many needs, from cafés, restaurants and culinary schools, to gifts for cooking class attendees and grill masters. This custom canvas apron has two pockets to hold utensils, recipes and thermometers. It’s antifouling, breathable, oil-proof and wear-resistant. Great for the next outdoor barbecue party.

LED yard glasses

Time to add some fun to spring and summer events, company picnics, music festivals, seaside bars/restaurants and parties. Create the right atmosphere for serving beer or signature drinks in one of these transparent LED yard glasses. These 17-oz. no-spill glasses include multicolor lights on the bottom, an attachable lid and plastic straw. Sure to be a treasured souvenir.

backpack

After two years of travel restrictions, wanderlust is at all-time highs. Whether for day trips, weekend treks or weeklong vacations, this outdoor foldable backpack will be an appreciated item. It’s made of high-quality water-resistant polyester that’s ultralight, durable and tear-resistant. Stuff the bag into its own pocket for storage or put it in a suitcase and use when needed. Just the thing for summer camps and back-to-school.

Hawaiian themed accessories

Hawaiian-themed parties and company luaus will do well with these flower sunglasses. They’re fun to wear and include ultraviolet tinted lenses for UV400, UVA and UVB protection. Also great for parties and beach weddings.

lunch cooler

This dual compartment lunch cooler is excellent for summer camps. This bag that has two foil-lined compartments to keep snacks, lunches and drinks cold all day. The adjustable shoulder strap makes it easy to tote, and the top outside zipper pocket is perfect for storing utensils and dry items like napkins and paper drinking straws. Choose from three colors.

lunch cooler

Here’s a hefty bag that’s built to last. This extra-large shopping bag is crafted from durable and easy-clean laminated nonwoven polypropylene and other recycled materials. It has a roomy main compartment, flat bottom for easy loading and an inner sleeve for a water bottle.

Change Your Diet to Maximize Productivity

Making simple adjustments can result in big benefits to your health and energy levels during the workday.

Do you feel sluggish during the day? Is it hard to stay asleep all night? Changes in your diet could help. Unfortunately, Americans aren’t known for their healthy eating habits, choosing instead to reach for the quick and processed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the 209 million people in this country, 117 million have a preventable chronic illness related to eating habits, like heart disease, diabetes, anemia and high blood pressure.

veggie plate

Changes in your diet can ward off chronic conditions over time and also help you improve productivity levels during the day. In fact, the World Health Organization says that good nutrition alone can improve output by 20% on average.

Here are a few simple ways to improve your diet and eating habits to improve energy levels during the day and be more present for your team.

1. Eat a healthy breakfast.
In the typical morning chaos – getting ready for work, getting the kids ready for school – breakfast often becomes an afterthought. But in fact, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Since it breaks your overnight fast, it should replenish vital minerals and nutrients so you can start the day off right. Skip the sugary and carb-heavy pancakes, which can lead to drops in blood sugar later on, and opt for rolled oats with fresh fruit, whole grain cereal with natural yogurt, raw nuts, smoothies with leafy greens, eggs and sausage for protein.

2. Stay hydrated.
According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, men should drink approximately 15.5 cups (or 3.7 liters) of water a day, and women approximately 11.5 cups (2.7 liters), with adjustments made for exercise levels and the environment. Water helps your body convert food to useful energy, keep joints lubricated, transport oxygen-rich blood and nutrients, balance electrolytes, improve skin and more. You can also go for zero-calorie flavored water or unsweetened tea, but avoid sugar-heavy coffee and juices.

3. Plan nourishing meals.
When you don’t have a meal plan for the day, it’s tempting to graze the fridge or pantry … and likely that you’ll pick something fast and not-so-healthy. Instead, do your grocery shopping over the weekend with a daily plan for your main meals and snacks. Decide what you’ll be eating each of the five days of the work week and stick to it. Instead of three large meals, plan on smaller, more frequent meals during the day to maintain energy levels, and stick to colorful fruits, leafy veggies, legumes and healthy proteins.

Good nutrition can improve productivity by 20% on average.

4. Eat at the table.
At lunchtime, shut off your screens and enjoy your lunch at the kitchen table or in the breakroom. You’ll not only clear your mind and prepare for the afternoon, but also avoid overeating since you’ll be able to pay more attention to the meal. Take your time, eat with intention and stick to healthy serving sizes.

5. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Coffee in the morning can wake you up, but don’t drink it in the afternoon or evening. Caffeine remains in your system for several hours and can make it difficult to fall asleep at the proper time (which leads to grogginess the next day). If you’re craving a warm drink in the afternoon, try caffeine-free green tea. Alcohol can have a similar disruptive effect: As its tranquilizing effects wear off in the middle of the night, it can wake you up.

6. Talk to a nutritionist.
You can optimize what you consume by speaking with a nutritionist or registered dietician. They can take into account your individual physical makeup, dietary restrictions and energy requirements, and help you create your ideal meal plan. They can also give you recipe ideas and show you how to make adjustments to be sure you’re getting all the minerals and nutrients you need to bring your best every day.

Journey-Worthy Travel Products

These products will help travelers to have better trips.

According to new research by vacation rental company Vacasa, almost 40% of Americans say they’re planning to travel during spring break this year, up from 29% last year. And home rental site VRBO says it’s seen nearly a 50% increase in demand compared to spring 2021. Get in on the high-flying action with these travel items, ideal for both leisure and business trips.

Safety kit

Need all the necessary travel supplies in a pinch? Look no further than this super-handy travel kit. A customizable pouch comes stocked with useful items including a toothbrush, tissues, bandages and soap.

garment bag

Clothing will stay protected on the go with this USA-made customizable garment bag. Featuring a full-length zipper and webbing carry handles, it’s ideal for those traveling with uniforms, suits or any important garments. Choose from a variety of colors.

nail kit

Travelers will always be prepared with this handy nail kit that comes with everything they need to keep hands looking their best. The laser-engraved leatherette case includes cuticle pushers, tweezers, clippers and other tools.

passport sleeve

This foil-lined sleeve protects passports and credit cards from devices capable of electronic theft.

universal travel charger

No matter the country end-users are visiting, they can stay charged up and ready with this universal travel charger. Includes interchangeable plugs for use in the U.S., UK, Europe and Australia.

customizable luggage tag

Travel the world with this unique and durable luggage tag. It’s fully customizable and makes sure lost luggage gets back to its rightful owner. Made of sturdy metal with a stainless-steel screw-in loop and fully finished with an epoxy dome.

travel kit

This travel kit includes a foldable pillow, eye mask and earplugs in a customizable carrying case. Perfect for long flights.

packing cube set

This three-piece packing cube set makes a great appreciation gift. Each is made of recycled fabric and includes a top-grab handle for easy carrying.

bag tag

Student travelers are sure to appreciate this highly customizable, sleek and stylish bag tag.

multi-purpose vinyl holder

This multi-purpose vinyl holder makes the perfect travel companion. It holds a passport, ID and any other cards, such as COVID vaccination record, that travelers may need. The durable vinyl protects the important items inside. Choose from a large variety of colors.

multi-purpose vinyl holder

Popping a button or pulling a seam while traveling is frustrating. But prepared travelers can patch things back together with this mini sewing kit. The compact 21-piece set includes an array of tools including as needles, tweezers and buttons.

multi-purpose vinyl holder

This elegant leatherette case with gold zipper closure protects jewelry and other precious items during travel. It has a canvas interior, and the dividers for rings, necklaces and bracelets help keep items organized and secure.

Spring Essentials

Discover creative products for Spring.

Charging Cable

1-for-3 Mobile Phone Charging Cable
This useful tech accessory allows users to charge up to three devices at once.

swag bag

The Game Changer
These high-quality, full-color bags are made in the USA on premium-grade paper stock with either a high gloss or matte lamination.

Stainless-Steel Lowball

12-oz. Stainless-Steel Lowball
This unique tumbler is made from 100% stainless-steel.

flash drive

Card Flip Custom Flash Drive
These personalized USB business cards have an extremely slim profile, making it easy for users to slide them into a wallet or purse like a business card.

Luggage SMART-TAG

Luggage SMART-TAG
Featuring award-winning technology, this luggage tracker/tag helps travelers reunite with missing luggage.

Algorithm USB Backpack

Algorithm USB Backpack
Users of this checkpoint-friendly 16” laptop backpack with tablet pocket will easily make their way through airport security.

Single Plastic Heavy Hex Gauge

Single Plastic Heavy Hex Gauge
Available with or without a vinyl sleeve, these heavy hex gauges are business-card sized for easy packaging and distributing.

Trendy BBQ and Tailgate Products

These items are a win: They’ll liven up any event!

Americans love to grill. According to recent data from market research firm Technavio, the U.S. barbecue and grill market is projected to grow more than 5% each year from now through 2025. Jump on the bandwagon with related items that are perfect fits for game day tailgates, picnics and family camping trips.

28-quart cooler

This USA-made 28-quart cooler is great for keeping food and drinks cold before the game day tailgate. Features anti-slip feet, top-loader latches, drain plug with patented lid lock and built-in bottle opener. It’s also certified bear-resistant, making it ideal for campsites.

insulated drink sleeve

No one wants cold hands, even in the summertime. This insulated drink sleeve helps keep drinks cool and hands warm. Fantastic for any tailgate or outdoor event.

multifunctional bottle opener

Keep stadium parking lots neat and tidy with this multifunctional bottle opener that opens bottles and catches the cap in one motion. It magnetically mounts to a fridge or vehicle, so it’s just the thing for tailgates.

multifunctional cooler

This cooler has it all: a bottle opener, lower shelf and elevating lid, which transforms it into a bar-like setup. It’s sure to draw attention at any gathering.

multifunctional cooler

Parties and sports tailgate events would benefit from this tailgater display package that includes a tent, sail sign, cooler and fitted table throw. It’s easy to find in crowded parking lots.

BBQ set

This BBQ set comes with the essential tools – knife, brush, tongs, fork and spatula with serrated blade – to cook up an outdoor feast, all conveniently packaged in a metal carrying case.

wireless smart thermometer

Open-flame cooking goes high-tech. Users can take their grilling game to the next level with this truly unique wireless smart thermometer. It connects to an app, helping the user cook perfect meat every time.

Can Jam

Can Jam provides endless fun at outdoor gatherings. This game challenges players to land flying discs into the opposing team’s can. The set is durable and lightweight, making it ideal for travel to the backyard, beach and campgrounds.

s’mores kit

This s’mores kit offers a nostalgic taste of summer any time of year. It comes with everything needed to make delicious treats right at home BBQs or picnics.

travel grill

Have grill, will travel. This versatile system features three interchangeable cook top inserts for endless cooking options. It’s practical for transporting to sports games.

Personal Care Essentials

According to market research firm Prescient & Strategic Intelligence, the beauty and personal care products industry in the U.S. is poised to grow nearly 5% from now through 2030.

Zen Stress Less Gift Box

Serenity now. This Zen Stress Less Gift Box includes 100 cards with stress-relieving messages and a bath bomb with lemongrass essential oil. Everything’s packaged in a magnetic-closure gift box.

multi-compartment travel bag

Users can enjoy their favorite tunes during their next self-care session or while on the road with this multi-compartment travel bag. It doubles as a speaker, making it the perfect gift for travelers.

compostable bamboo toothbrushes

These BPA-free, compostable bamboo toothbrushes are perfect for eco-conscious healthcare clients. They come in a variety of colors and can be laser-engraved.

salad container

This large salad container has one 10-ounce section, two 5-ounce compartments and a reusable fork.

clear PVC toiletry bag

This clear PVC toiletry bag holds cosmetics and essentials and is available in from five trim colors.

nail brush

Anyone who works with their hands will appreciate this handy nail brush. It features a plastic handle for easy grip and strong bristles.

productivity calendar

The new year means new goals. Everyone can stay on track with their objectives with this handy productivity calendar. Users can write down their goals at the beginning of each month and the calendar provides suggestions to help with health, mindfulness and more.

travel-size sun care kit

Users will stay protected during fun days in the sun with this travel-size sun care kit.

pill case

This pill case helps users keep their medication, vitamins and supplements organized. The compact size makes it ideal for travel. Choose from a variety of colors.

LinkedIn Launches Podcast Network

The business-focused social media site is gearing its shows toward a professional audience.

LinkedIn is making a push into podcasts. The social media site for the suit-and-tie set has launched the LinkedIn Podcast Network, featuring in-house shows from its own news team as well as programs from various personalities in the business world.

Podcast

The shows are geared toward business professionals, focusing on areas like career development, big tech, managing mental health and leadership strategies. Reid Hoffman, co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn, will cohost “The Start-Up of You,” a podcast set to premiere in the spring that will explore personal entrepreneurship.

The podcast network is a pilot program that builds on the success of “Hello Monday,” a LinkedIn News podcast about the evolving nature of work, according to LinkedIn. The shows will be ad-supported, with the initial sponsor being Verizon, Engadget reports.

LinkedIn hopes its podcast network will draw listeners back to the social network, allowing hosts and listeners to engage with each other. “By connecting with these hosts on LinkedIn, you’ll be able to extend the conversation beyond the passive listening experience,” according to Social Media Today.

Podcasts have been growing in popularity over the last few years, thanks to a variety of factors that include the growth of smart speakers and people’s insatiable appetite for new content during the pandemic. About 80 million Americans (28%) are weekly podcast listeners, and 116 million Americans (41%) say they’ve listened to at least one podcast in the last month, according to Edison Research.

Though the LinkedIn Podcast Network already features a range of podcasts, the social network has an open application for other podcasters to join its network. LinkedIn’s podcasts will be available on LinkedIn by following a podcast host in the app and subscribing to their newsletter. People will also be able to listen to the shows via Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other providers.

Unforgettable Gifts

Dolphin Retro Record Player with Bluetooth

Dolphin Retro Record Player with Bluetooth
Perfect for any music lover, this retro record player comes with built-in speakers and Bluetooth capability. It can also connect to external speakers with an auxiliary output.

5-Pack Short-Sleeve Rib Bodysuits

5-Pack Short-Sleeve Rib Bodysuits
These 100% cotton bodysuits feature an expandable neckline, and a snap closure that keeps dressing and diaper changes simple. Available in many sizes and colors.

Sea Salt Caramels

Sea Salt Caramels
Share joy with fresh, creamy sea salt caramels. Handcrafted and packaged with care, these sweet treats are a perfect gift for any occasion.

Two Reusable Reed Drinking Straws with Pouch

Two Reusable Reed Drinking Straws with Pouch
Promote sustainable practices with this reusable straw/jute pouch travel combo. Reusable straws help minimize the use of single-use plastics.

Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle

Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle
Lightweight, foldable and leakproof, this collapsible silicone water bottle is perfect for hiking, camping, airline travel or everyday use. It’s 100% BPA-free and made of food-grade materials that are safe for both hot and cold beverages.

Golf Growth Brings New Apparel Trends

Thanks to a pandemic-age boost, more people are taking up the sport – and looking to outfit themselves in versatile, trendy performance wear.

Traditional golf apparel is no longer par for the course.

An influx of new golfers during the pandemic has helped to change the overall look of the sport, meaning the apparel must follow suit. Golfers now look for styles that transition from the course to happy hour and beyond.

Consider that in 2020, 36.9 million Americans golfed, according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF). That was the largest increase in 17 years. Golf courses, one of the few nonessential businesses that could stay open during lockdowns, allowed people to get outside, exercise and enjoy themselves while remaining socially distant. So, it’s perhaps not surprising that 3 million people tried out the sport for the first time in 2020.

cb traverse golf
Golfers today are looking for versatile apparel that works both on and off the course.

The question, of course, was whether they would stick with the sport once other options for their attention returned. Data for 2021 from the NGF shows that golf’s popularity is still on the upswing: 37.5 million people participated in the sport.

Another major shift in the golf world is the growing popularity of entertainment venues like Topgolf, which offers high-tech driving range games that appeal to millennials and other younger players. “Topgolf did something incredible for the world of golf – it found a way to bring non-golfers to a driving range by gamifying the experience and serving up a fun time for everyone, no matter what your skill level is,” says Brad Moxley., associate director of an apparel company.

Though many golf courses still have a dress code, venues like Topgolf are much more informal. “Fashion is a fun way of expressing yourself, and it wouldn’t be cool of us to hinder that,” Topgolf notes on its website.

Even on typical golf courses, players are looking for apparel that has versatility. “As we transition through our day, we want our apparel to shift easily from the greens to dinner or from the driving range back to work,” says Lisa Terry, marketing manager at an apparel company. “While bold, retro performance looks capture some golfers’ vibes, the majority are preferring styling like that of TravisMathew with subtle colors and a natural hand feel.”

solo golf
SOLO Golf brings a modern, streetwear-inspired edge to golf apparel.

Some brands are even bringing a streetwear sensibility to the course. SOLO Golf, founded in 2017 by Dan and Tessa Sullivan, has made its mission bringing more fashion-forward looks to the game. The brand’s fleece-blocked hooded vest, for example, is a modern take on a traditional golf garment. The vest features a high neckline, built-in hood and Sherpa-based, three-layer fabric. That and other styles “speak to the SOLO mentality” of “bringing uniqueness and expression to the golf course,” Dan Sullivan noted on the company blog.

Innovation is also key when appealing to golfers, according to Andrea Routzahn, chief merchant at an apparel company. In particular, golfers are looking for performance apparel that has a cotton feel. “While polyester has great performance qualities – lightweight, quick-drying – it can also feel synthetic and a bit crisp against the skin,” Routzahn says. “New yarn technologies over the past few years have given rise to polyester fabrics with a soft feel of cotton.”

As golf continues to trend and evolve, expect performance apparel for the game to change as well. “Fabric blends are constantly improving, and we’re utilizing these new fabric blends to make even better golf performance apparel than ever before,” Moxley says.

Striking Caps & Hats

The variety of styles and fits means you are sure to find the perfect headwear for your needs.

Wisconsin Knitwear

Made in the USA, this heavyweight, 100% acrylic knit hat features a rib cuff and personalized name woven directly into the material. Its vintage appeal and contrasting striped design make it a fashionable yet practical snow accessory.

kati sportcap

This pop hat is foldable and offers plenty of protection from the sun. It’s one-size-fits-all with an adjustable drawstring for a custom fit, and features cooling breathable mesh and a Spandex sweatband. Choose from four colors and patterns.

sportsman cap bag

Looking for a fun cap for a spring or summer festival? Consider a tie-dye dad hat. This unstructured, six-panel, low-profile hat is made of 100% cotton and features a pre-curved visor and tri-glide buckle closure.

stellar lanyards

This four-panel cap is made to order – it’s fully sublimated so it can feature virtually any design.

value plus branding

You needn’t feel out of touch when you use this slouchy cotton beanie. It’s one-size-fit-most and it comes in a variety of colors. Its lightweight fabric makes it ideal for year-round wear.

brighter promotions

Howdy, partner! Have fun with this cowboy hat. It’s a great addition to country-themed events and settings such as hoedowns, square dances, music festivals and bars.

logostar promos

This baseball cap is made of washed cotton with an adjustable metal closure.

outdoor cap

People still love the classic trucker hat and this five-panel style takes the design to the next level. This structured cap has chino twill front panels with mesh back panels, slight pre-curved visor and plastic snap closure.

Inviting House and Home Items

As the omicron variant of COVID-19 threatens another winter of remote work and hunkering down inside, these houseware items will be in high demand.

The highly transmissible omicron variant of the virus is forcing millions of people to rethink travel plans and returning to the office in the new year. Apple has postponed the return indefinitely, while Lyft says employees won’t come back before 2023. That means housewares like the ones listed here will stay popular as gifts in kitted packages of branded items, delivered to doorsteps.

Holmes Tabletop Air Purifier

Go the extra mile with the Holmes Tabletop Air Purifier. This model captures allergens, such as dust mites, mold, dust and pet dander, to create a healthier and fresher environment in the house. Its small tabletop structure is designed to fit anywhere and still be effective.

set of measuring spoon

Guaranteed to measure up is this set of measuring spoons. It includes a quarter teaspoon, half teaspoon and whole tablespoon, making it a great set to have on hand while baking, cooking or scooping coffee. Options are available to customize each spoon to a different color or get the entire American-made set in one color.

rolling pin

Roll right into 2022 with a rolling pin. These original award-winning French baking essentials are ergonomic and made with waxed hardwood barrels. The full-length steel axle runs through a self-lubricating nylon bearing, guaranteeing durability and years of use.

ceramic cookie jar

Available in a variety of colors, this ceramic cookie jar is USA-made and perfect for holding snacks, biscuits or kitchen supplies.

lightweight fleece blanket

The lightweight fleece blanket is made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste transformed into premium polyester fibers for a soft brush finish. It comes in five color combinations.

house-shaped metal keychain

This laser-engraved house-shaped metal keychain features a chrome finish and can be customized.

steel digital food scale

The easy-to-clean surface of this steel digital food scale also features high-precision sensors for accurate data and a user-friendly control panel. It also has a digital LCD display, auto shut-off, overload indicator and low battery alert.

indoor pillow

This 18” x 18” indoor pillow is machine-washable and makes a great gift. It can be customized to add a personal touch to a home or office. Features a soft polyfil insert and zipper closure.

drawstring laundry bag

The 7-ounce drawstring laundry bag is made from 100% cotton canvas, and features a drawstring close and shoulder strap. It’s also foldable and lightweight, and can be used as a liner for a basket

Demand for Denim Jackets Resurges

Pandemic-era desires for a rugged outdoor look and nostalgic escapism to simpler times have pushed these sartorial staples into the spotlight once again.

Denim jackets, a quintessentially American fashion piece, are having yet another moment. First invented around 1880 by Levi Strauss, shortly after the blue jean businessman created denim pants as durable apparel for those working to develop the American West, the jacket has gone through countless iterations over the past 141 years.

Why the resurgence? Industry analysts point to a confluence of factors. After nearly two years of COVID, denim jackets evoke the great outdoors. That’s inspiring a rugged workwear and Western look for both men and women, helped along by the current popularity of the show Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner.

Denim Jacket

Staying indoors during the pandemic has also been the impetus for a new aesthetic called “Cabincore,” inspired by camping and the comforts of home. “The combination of consumers reconnecting with nature and dropping temperatures is bringing a new sartorial trend to the forefront,” writes Liz Warren in Rivet. “Cabincore is the latest escapist aesthetic for consumers who prefer a rustic and hygge lifestyle over that of a bustling city. … [It] ties in nature and a reclusive attitude inspired by a period of global isolation.” Warren adds that loose-fitting denim pants and dark wash jackets are fundamental to the Cabincore style.

Theophilio Denim
Fashion house Theophilio presented an oversized dark wash jacket paired with matching pants at New York Fashion Week in September. (photo courtesy of Hypebeast)

It also seems to align with an intentional push among designers to bring denim back after sales declined during the pandemic as people hunkered down at home in softer garments. In January 2021, the Office of Textiles and Apparel reported that denim imports coming into the U.S. fell almost 25% to $2.8 billion compared to $3.73 billion in January 2020, just before the COVID. This past year, after new fashion collaborations, commitments to sustainability efforts and retail store openings as lockdowns lifted, denim made a comeback as a reaction to the jogger pants of 2020. Market research firm Allied Market Research says the global denim market is poised to grow by 4.4% each year from now through 2030.

denim jacket by Louis Vuitton
A denim jacket by Louis Vuitton for Spring-Summer 2022. (photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton/Wonderland)

At the same time, consumers have continued to seek out nostalgic styles for an escape to a simpler time during ongoing COVID angst. Denim offers a throwback look both to the ’80s (think rebel John Bender in The Breakfast Club) and the “Y2K” teenybopper look, à la former celebrity flames Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake who wore matching denim-on-denim outfits to the American Music Awards in 2001.

The look is gaining traction in many industries. For example, this Eagle Classic Washed Jean Jacket made of heavy 14-ounce 100% cotton. For a more retro athletic look, the letterman jacket-inspired Cascade is made of washed denim with khaki sleeves, a cotton lining and striped elastic collar, cuffs and waistband.

washed denim jacket with khaki sleeves
This washed denim jacket has khaki sleeves, front slash pockets and a snap front closure.

Unisex Denim Jacket and a Unisex Sherpa Lined Denim Jacket, both made of a 99% sustainably sourced cotton and 1% spandex blend (the Sherpa lining is also made of recycled polyester fiber) look great with patchwork and bedazzling for a Western look.

Unisex Denim Jacket
This Unisex Denim Jacket is made of 99% sustainably sourced cotton and 1% Spandex and comes in Classic, Light, Black and White Denim.

Wrangler Unlined Western Denim Jacket
The Wrangler Unlined Western Denim Jacket is made of 98% cotton and 2% Spandex twill and has front pockets with “W” stitching.

Convenient Drawstring Bags & Fanny Packs

Bags and fanny packs are affordable and useful, and with all the different styles available, they’re sure to grab attention.

Champion Carry Sack

The brand-name Champion Carry Sack is perfect for grab-and-go situations, like an impromptu walk in the park. Made of 420 denier polyester with a cinch closure at the top, it has a smaller zippered pocket inside that secures valuable items.

Puma waist bag

This Puma waist bag keeps everything in reach, eliminating the need to rummage through a large backpack. Adjustable for any waist size with a strap and release clip, it’s made of 600D polyester and includes pockets.

drawstring backpacks

These drawstring backpacks are ideal for student field trips, booster clubs, new gym members and more. They’re lightweight and durable, feature metal grommets to prevent tearing, and come in a variety of colors.

Willow Recycled Fanny Pack

The Willow Recycled Fanny Pack is an ideal fit for eco-conscious consumers. It’s perfect for holding personal essentials and has an adjustable strap for optional wear as a sling. It’s made with 54% post-consumer recycled material – the equivalent of four plastic water bottles.

Fanny Pack

This fanny pack is a fit for travel and fitness. It can be worn on the waist or as a crossbody bag, offering easy access to belongings when on the go. Popular webbing loop detail allows the user to attach a carabiner.

lightweight drawstring backpack

This lightweight drawstring backpack is ideal for running errands or spending a day on a hike or at the beach. Its sturdy construction is made to last and it’s available in eight colors. Makes a great gift for students and athletes.

multifunctional non-woven drawstring bag

This multifunctional non-woven drawstring bag is perfect for students, hikers, travelers and more, thanks to a pull-string cord that allows for a secure closure.

non-woven bag

This non-woven bag can be used as either a drawstring backpack or shoulder tote. Made of coated water-resistant polypropylene, it comes in five colors. Perfect for 5K walk/run participants and trips to the farmers market.

water bottle fanny pack

Long walks and hikes are made better with this water bottle fanny pack. It features a zip-up pocket on the back, bottle holder and two front zippered pockets. It also has a phone compartment and a reflective sticker for safe evening walks and runs.

Hone Your Public Speaking Skill

It’s a good idea whether you’re new to public speaking or a seasoned veteran.

Very few people are able to avoid public speaking entirely, whether it’s to a room of 250 people for a wedding speech or a small workplace panel. And yet, 77% of American adults feel at least some anxiety when public speaking or preparing to do so, according to the National Institutes of Health. But not speaking well can certainly have an impact on career mobility, not to mention sales performance.

Whether you’re preparing for a team presentation, sales pitch, panel discussion or award acceptance speech, it’s important to continue to polish your public speaking skills. As uncomfortable as it may be, make it a goal this new year to improve your performance, no matter if you’re new to selling or a seasoned professional. Here are five ways to make it less scary.

public speaking

1. Practice alone first. If you think you can deliver remarks without practicing, think again. Don’t try to wing it – the pressure of people looking at you expectantly might cause you to lose your train of thought. Write everything down and then expand or cut material as necessary to fit the timeframe. Then deliver it to yourself, out loud, to get comfortable with the information and make sure you’re including everything you want to say. Delivering it to an audience of one will put less pressure on you at the beginning and help you to craft your presentation well.

2. Moderate your speech. When speaking in front of others, we all naturally tend to speed up. Practice speaking very slowly (more than you think is necessary) and time your presentation at the slower rate. Don’t be afraid of silence; pauses add interest to your remarks, and unnecessary filler words such as “ah,” “um” and “like” can be distracting. Also take a few deep breaths to slow your breathing and thoughts and, subsequently, your pace of speaking.

3. Request a test audience. Ask a coworker or two if they could take a few minutes to listen to your presentation, either in person or virtually, and offer honest feedback. Speaking before a few friendly faces will simulate delivering in front of the actual audience and will also let you work out any snags beforehand. Also consider tapping into the “offstage beat” – take a few minutes beforehand to generate a positive mindset that will inform your overall delivery when you’re in front of the group. Having notes is fine, but don’t look down and read them.

4. Look for opportunities to speak. Sharpen your speaking skills by finding podcasts or panels where you could speak and offer to be a guest. It’s a little more conversational than a speech in front of a full room, but it will help you to become increasingly comfortable with simply speaking in front of a group of people. Even just speaking up more during team meetings (ask if you can facilitate a few) or in a Twitter Space can help your comfort levels. Once you feel confident in front of different audiences, it’ll make formal presentations even easier.

5. Host workshops. If you’re in charge of a sales team, make public speaking a priority for them in the new year, too. Hold a series of training sessions and encourage the giving and receiving of constructive feedback. Some may be seasoned speakers but may have adopted bad habits, such as too many filler words or not enough eye contact. If some are resistant, ask them to present on a topic they love, even if it’s outside of work. Point out the positive aspects of each presentation in real time, while asking the team to submit critiques afterward to you for anonymity.

Hoodies Are Fashion Heavyweights

Cozy yet durable, hooded sweatshirts are making the transition from a pandemic staple to updated office casual.

In some parts of Canada, they call a hooded sweatshirt a “bunny hug,” and there’s no denying the cozy comfort of an oversized hoodie in a heavyweight fleece fabric.

It’s almost like “wearing a weighted blanked,” says Caius Olowu, Director of Merchandise at a top apparel company. “Heavier fabrics hold their structure in a relaxed cut, whilst also providing the wearer a sense of comfort and protection.”

unisex Santa Cruz fleece hoodie
The unisex Santa Cruz fleece hoodie features a heavy cotton face for ease of printability and breathability.

Thanks to the influence of streetwear in fashion and a sustained nostalgia for ’90s-era silhouettes, oversized unisex hoodies have been popular with younger consumers for a while now. But the pandemic broadened their appeal, with the desire for comfort turning sweats into the de facto work-from-home uniform. “Research shows that 60% of men feel that wearing a hoodie is appropriate when working from home,” says Michael Johnson, printwear director at a top apparel company.

The trend seems poised to outlast the pandemic. “As people return to work, some offices are adopting what Silicon Valley execs embraced years ago, the hoodie, specifically the Champion hoodie,” Johnson says. “In other words, grownups are catching up to what high school kids have known for years.”

Cary Heller, vice president of sales at a top apparel company, believes the trend has an element of sustainability to it as well. “People don’t want the tri-blends,” he says. “They want chunky T-shirts and stubbornly tough hoodies that are going to last a long, long time.”

Fabric weight is a measurement of the thickness of the threads that make up the material, and heavyweight hoodies are typically made from cotton that ranges from around 10 to 13 ounces. The Champion Reverse Weave, for example, a campus staple for more than 80 years, weighs in at 12 ounces.

heavyweight hoodie
This heavyweight hoodie comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, including a bold houndstooth print.

Garment-dye treatments that give the hoodie a vintage look and tie-dye continue to be in demand, according to Johnson. Basic colors like gray, navy and black are top performers, according to Christina Marcantelli, sales enablement coordinator at an activewear company. Still, she adds, there are so many colors and patterns to choose from. “Alternative neutrals” like cream or off-white, sandstone, khaki and army green are also growing in popularity, she adds.

Invigorating Coffee Mugs

For both the coffee-lovers and tea-drinkers among us, a sturdy mug can become a favorite go-to.

According to the National Coffee Association, 70% of Americans drink coffee every week and 62% drink it daily. Meanwhile, more than half of all Americans consume tea every day, says the Tea Association of the USA, with the highest concentrations in the Northeastern and Southern regions. The items here are ideal for coffee and tea (either hot or iced), as well as hot chocolate, hot toddies and more.

double-wall vacuum tumbler

This 12-ounce, double-wall vacuum tumbler is made of high-grade stainless steel with a lid to keep debris out, ideal for the great outdoors. It keeps coffee hot for hours (or iced beverages cold) and makes a nice gift for campground visitors and new homeowners.

camping mug

The holidays are here, and so is the perfect camp mug. Whether it’s hot coffee in the morning or a cold drink on the rocks in the evening, this 12-ounce camp mug is sure to meet your needs. Users can take their beverage on the go thanks to the no-spill slider lid. Choose from four neutral colors.

Windsor 12-ounce mug

This Windsor 12-ounce mug is made of stoneware and has a matte white outside, a glossy colorful inside and glossy base.

15-ounce stoneware mug

Large enough for anyone’s favorite hot beverage, this 15-ounce stoneware mug brings the style with a colorful glossy interior that adds a pop of color against the matte black exterior finish. Choose from five color combinations.

glass jar mug

Keep your drinks hot and your hands protected with this glass jar mug featuring a custom-branded leather sleeve with embossed logo. Cozy and sophisticated, it can be used at home, in the office or around the campfire.

14-ounce Urban Peak Trek

Powder-coated and vacuum-insulated, this 14-ounce Urban Peak Trek is a new take on the standard camp mug. It has a copper-lined deep draw liner that maintains an optimal drinking temperature and its heat retention is seven times longer than the average coffeehouse cup. Comes with a clear push-on, sip-through lid.

16-ounce bistro mug

This 16-ounce bistro mug is two-toned and made of a smooth molded ceramic composite. It features a matte black exterior with a colored interior and has a high curved handle for easy grip.

15-ounce ceramic coffee mug

Keep stains and water marks off tables with this 15-ounce ceramic coffee mug. Made of ceramic, the bottom is crafted of natural cork which functions as a built-in coaster. Includes a slide lid. Choose from black, white or gray.

12-ounce Soma ceramic mug

Ideal for hot or cold beverages, this award-winning, 12-ounce Soma ceramic mug has a leakproof bamboo lid and double-wall insulation. A percentage of all proceeds are donated to charity:water, a nonprofit organization.

retro-styled ceramic campfire mug

You can give the gift of a cozy night in with a retro-styled ceramic campfire mug. This is the perfect for wilderness exploration, parks and recreation and coffeehouses. Choose from 15 colors.

retro-styled ceramic campfire mug

Here’s yet another take on the popular campfire mug. This curvy 12-ounce ceramic style features a unique glazed speckle design with a black rim. Great for campgrounds.

Sumptuous Blankets

Perfectly cozy options for the couch, bed and office chair this upcoming winter.

Frosty Fleece

The Frosty Fleece is made of high-pile sherpa, comes presentation-ready tied with a ribbon and bow and is available in 10 colors. Soft and durable, it makes a thoughtful gift for remote workers.

Lux Plaid Sherpa Blanket

Staying warm on the couch this winter will be easier than ever with the Lux Plaid Sherpa Blanket. Made of faux micro-mink and lambswool, recipients can cozy up in style. Comes in four plaid colors with optional embroidery. Makes for a nice piece of usable décor in mountain-home rentals.

silky-soft blanket

This silky-soft blanket comes in a zippered bag for easy portability. It features anti-wind corner technology so it stays put in outdoor settings, and comes in a variety of color combinations.

custom throw blanket

This custom throw blanket is available in 30” x 40” and 50” x 60” sizes with a full-color imprint from end to end. Pair it with tech accessories for a perfect WFH bundle gift.

pocket picnic blanket

When you’re looking for something unique, check out this pocket picnic blanket. The 59” x 59” blanket features a custom full-color imprint and folds to less than 8” x 8” for super-easy carrying.

3-pound Woodland blanket

The plaid side of the large 3-pound Woodland blanket is made of extra-soft brushed velvet, while the solid black side provides lambswool-like softness. Ideal for campgrounds and RVs.

dye-sublimated Sherpa blanket

This dye-sublimated Sherpa blanket has an eye-catching geometric design on the front and a soft sherpa backing, ideal for movie nights. Perfect for gifting.

plush throw

Creating the perfect gift just became easier with a plush throw. It measures 50” x 60” and has a photorealistic design that elevates any brand or special event. Friends and family are sure to enjoy it in their homes and offices.

Yorkshire wool blanket

Pair this Yorkshire wool blanket with hot cocoa mix and popcorn for a perfect gift. Made of 50% Australian fine wool/50% acrylic, it features a twisted fringe and leatherette patch for a high-end look.

Fitting Jackets

According to the Census Bureau, an estimated 124 million people live in the Northeastern and Midwestern regions, which sees some of the coldest winters in the country. Here are some great options for warmer outerwear.

warmup jacket

This fully custom warmup jacket is made of fleece-lined polyester trinda fabric. Perfect for high school and youth league sports.

leather jacket

Everyone will appreciate a stylish leather jacket. This men’s A-2 style bomber is made of cow skin leather and comes with multiple front pockets to warm hands or store daily essentials.

Dryflip windbreaker

Soft to the touch, versatile and great for layering, the Dryflip windbreaker packs easily in its own drawstring backpack and is great for all weather conditions. It’s constructed of 100% lightweight and breathable polyester with a front zip closure, and has an interior water-wicking coating, scuba neck, mesh-lined three-panel hood, welt pockets and patented Quikflip conversion technology.

super-lightweight puffer jacket

This super-lightweight puffer jacket keeps the wearer warm when cooler weather arrives. It’s insulated with Polyloft that’s made of recycled plastic bottles and comes with a matching bag for easy packing. Features a full-zip front and open single welt pockets, and comes in three colors.

bomber safety jacket

Work crews need to be seen, even in colder weather. This bomber safety jacket is ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Class 3-compliant, as well as reversible and water- and wind-resistant. Includes a concealed hood with drawstring, detachable sleeves, ribbed waist and wrists, pen holder, badge holder, mic tabs and a zipper pocket on the sleeve.

eco-insulated quilted Front-Runner jacket

This stylish eco-insulated quilted Front-Runner jacket is water-resistant and windproof, affording the wearer comfort and warmth without the bulk. Perfect for running and biking clubs and as a uniform piece for those who work outside in the fall and winter.

waterproof insulated jacket

Here’s a jacket with all the bells and whistles: This waterproof insulated jacket is fully seam-sealed, wind-resistant and waterproof. Features a jersey-lined body, hood with drawcord and toggles, polyfill insulation and taffeta sleeves for easy on/off. Available in five colors.

Timberline Camo work jacket

Hunters will love the Timberline Camo work jacket. It’s constructed with a cotton twill shell, and has a polyfill quilted body and sleeve lining, zippered front pockets, and ribbed knit cuffs and waistband. Choose from Oilfield Camo, Realtree AP, Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity patterns.

Convenient Food Containers

Whether for travel or as a gift for people who pack their lunch, these items are practical and appreciated.

As employees continue the gradual return to the office, refrigerators in breakrooms are poised to be off-limits for the foreseeable future. With these helpful food containers, your team can enjoy lunches and snacks at their desk without fear of contamination.

lunch box

“Form and function” is a good way to describe this lunch box. The stainless steel will not absorb food tastes or odors. It includes a foldable handle and wooden cover that doubles as a cutting board. Ideal for campers and hikers.

salad-to-go container

This salad-to-go container is constructed of food-grade polypropylene and features a salad dressing container on the inside and a flip-down snap closure lid. It’s BPA-free, top rack dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe.

Cutco Knives tablecloth

This collapsible lunch cube is useful for packing lunches or snacks for work or school. It fits easily into a backpack, messenger bag or lunch box. A fork/spoon utensil stows in the lid and it’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

12-ounce double-wall stainless-steel food jar

When you’re looking for an item that’s built tough, consider the Thermos 12-ounce double-wall stainless-steel food jar. It features a removable microwavable liner to make food prep a breeze. This can be filled with soup, stew, pasta or chili. Great for construction and worksite crews.

lunch gift set

Crafted of plastic, silicone and stainless steel, this lunch gift set is great as an employee appreciation gift. It’s eco-friendly and will lessen your carbon footprint. Includes a bowl and utensil set, and comes gift boxed.

disposable food tray

Made of high-density white paper board, it’s disposable for easy clean up. Spot-on for restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums, ballparks, arenas, food festivals and youth sports snack shacks.

ice bucket

This 5-quart custom ice bucket fits six bottles of beer or cans of hard seltzers. Made from galvanized metal and printed with a full-wrap four-color process. A must-have for bar and beer promotions.

Eco-friendly beeswra

Eco-friendly beeswrap is made with certified organic cotton coated with sustainably sourced beeswax, organic jojoba oil and tree resin. This all-natural way to store food is reusable, washable and compostable. Useful for wrapping deli sandwiches and reusable by the consumers who receive them.

chicken bucket

Environmentally friendly, this chicken bucket is made of food-grade paper that’s renewable. Also works as a popcorn bucket for movie theaters, company events or for any takeout meals that can feed a family of four.

Trendy Beverage Accessories

From tailgates to distillery grand openings, you’ll find what you need among these offerings.

Did you know that the craft-spirits market is poised to grow almost 19% each year from now through 2025? If you’re a distillery, brewery, or winery, make sure you have unique branded accessories to promote grand openings and special events.

coaster/bottle opener combo

Pop the top and protect the coffee table with a coaster/bottle opener combo. Made of all-American hard maple, it features a galvanized steel bottle opener insert. Choose from a full-color or etched imprint, as well as other woods, shapes and sizes.

drink insulator

Used for bottles or cans, the Double Play drink insulator (DP-BC) keeps beverages ice-cold, thanks to its convertible construction. With a quick twist, users can add the top to most 12 oz. bottles or remove it to fit most 12 oz. cans. Can you say cheers to a great tailgate promo item?

flask

Bachelor parties and liquor companies will love the Incognito flask. Featuring a flexible, low-profile design, it’s freezable, top-rack dishwasher-safe, and BPA-free.

speakeasy gift set

This Speakeasy Gift Set is perfect for whiskey, bourbon and scotch lovers. Set includes two 8-oz. whiskey glasses and two sets of laser-engraved whiskey stones packaged in custom muslin bags.

Cupkeeper

The Cupkeeper makes it easy to tote up to six beverages (or 12 if carrying a Cupkeeper in each hand) at once without fear of spillage. Made of durable, recyclable plastic, this carrier is ideal at bars at large music and sport events.

light-up ice cubes

Fun for bars, night clubs and late-evening events, the LitedIce light-up ice cube will definitely bring the party. These frosted plastic cubes are available with a single-color LED or a seven-color, three-LED combination.

bottle stopper

Cap off a day of wine tasting with this eye-catching bottle stopper. Wineries and vineyards can brand it with a logo, location map or any graphic of your choosing. Made in the USA.

drink insulator

This Corkcicle Classic Arctican is practical and has a philanthropic element. In addition to keeping beverages cold for three hours, proceeds help bring clean water to people in need through Corkcicle’s partnership with Charity: water. Fits most 12 oz. aluminum cans and standard bottles.

cotton cup sleeve

Move over, paper and silicone cup sleeves – this cotton version is the new kid on the block. It’s reusable, biodegradable and protects hands from hot drinks. Includes a pocket for stowing cash or business cards.

flavored edible flag straws

Users can sip their favorite drink and then chow down on these flavored edible flag straws. Available in vanilla, chocolate strawberry, lemon and lime, these gluten-free straws are made of tapioca and become edible after 30 minutes.

environmentally friendly straws

If you’re looking to lessen the impact of plastic on the environment, straws crafted of alternative materials are perfect. This kit includes a collapsible stainless-steel straw with silicone tip, cleaning brush and carry case with a bottle opener and carabineer clip. Choose from seven colors.

rowler cover with strap

Craft brew enthusiasts and beer festival attendees are picture-perfect recipients for this growler cover with strap. Made of high-quality neoprene, a business or festival logo will get noticed on this unique giveaway.

4 Quick Social Media Tips

We all know that social media marketing is crucial to success these days, but are you using it effectively? We’ve compiled four quick tips to polish your social media strategy so you can get the most out of each platform.

social media apps

Know your audience.
Posting generic content to try to engage with everyone on a platform is daunting and usually ineffective. Get specific and know your followers’ challenges, goals and preferences. Then test your content! See what types of posts get the most engagement and which ones fall flat. Then you can tailor your posts more specifically to your audience.

Stay in the conversation.
Don’t post and ghost! Being successful on social media means engaging and interacting with your followers. Reply to comments on your posts and keep the conversation going – especially if it’s about your products or services! If someone posts a positive testimonial on any of your pages, reach out to thank them and, when appropriate, ask if you can use the testimonial in your other marketing efforts.

Count your non-sales wins.
Winning isn’t always about landing sales and getting more orders. Be sure you’re celebrating wins like increased engagement, improving your interactions on your social platforms and building relationships online.

Create a path to purchase.
An online visitor doesn’t engage with your social media and then immediately become a paying customer. You need to pave their path to purchasing from you. Start by getting feedback and asking how your product or services could make their life easier. Create more marketing touchpoints from there and keep your eye on the prize – the end goal is the sale; the journey is your social media conversations.

Promotions Planner - Feel-Good Campaigns

It’s not too late to plan your promotions centered on December events.
*Dates and events subject to change due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

The last month of 2021 presents several fun observances that you can use as jumping-off points for promotions and marketing campaigns. Celebrate sweet treats and adult beverages, recognize hard workers, educate about American history and more.

Dec. 2/Special Education Day
This observance marks 46 years since President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act into law, which requires public schools to provide appropriate instruction for children with disabilities. Today, it’s set aside to recognize the devoted teachers who serve students with disabilities and their families. Consider high-end apparel and packages of sweet and savory treats for hard-working teachers.

candy gift box

Dec. 4/National Cookie Day
Bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants — anywhere that serves up cookies — can offer specials and discounts on this day, which celebrates the many different types of cookies that exist and their fans. If you don’t normally offer sweet treats but would be interested in providing a surprise experience for customers that day, National Cookie Day is for you, too!

You may need signage for cookie specials and branded jars filled with baked goods for a fun raffle giveaway. Bonus: Have people guess how many cookies are in the jar for a chance to take it home.

cookie jar
Cookie jar with mini chocolate chip cookies.

Dec. 5/International Volunteer Day
Established by the United Nations, this day is set aside to recognize the many contributions that generous and dedicated volunteers make to organizations around the world. Organizations that count on volunteers could run a themed marketing campaign this day.

Give out branded apparel as a thank you for committed, loyal volunteers.

Quilted crewneck sweatshirt
Quilted crewneck sweatshirt.

Dec. 13/National Day of the Horse
In 2004, Congress declared National Day of the Horse to recognize the contributions that equines have made to U.S. history and the development of the country. Today, more than 30,000 wild horses still roam in the Western region, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

Schools that host special sessions on the history of the horse could offer fun giveaways like writing instruments, stress relievers and plush.

Light-up horse pen
Light-up horse pen.

Dec. 20/National Sangria Day
Restaurants, bars and home party hosts will want to celebrate sangria, a delicious drink made with either red or white wine, fresh fruit, juices and optional liquor, herbs and spices. It’s a versatile beverage — summer and winter recipes abound — and there are myriad ways of making it.

Send sangria kits to remote workers as a way of saying thank you for all their hard work this year.

Wine glass set with sangria mix
Wine glass set with sangria mix.

Snapchat Trends Offers Marketing Insights

The new tool from the social media app is a way to see what’s resonating with younger demographics.

Snapchat has unveiled a new marketing tool that brings valuable insights into what its 293 million daily active users are sharing. Snapchat Trends highlights the most popular keywords shared via the app’s public and shared Stories feature.

Using a concept not unlike Google Trends and Pinterest Trends, Snapchat Trends shares a list of topics that have been trending in the last week, along with an example of a Snap referring to that keyword. Clicking on one of the top trends will take you to a chart showing the popularity of the keyword over time. Among the biggest trends Snapchatters posted about during the previous week were the Saweetie Meal, McDonald’s latest celebrity collab; turmoil in Afghanistan; International Lefthanders Day; fantasy football drafts; and regional county fairs.

Snapchat trends
Snapchat Trends shares the topics that trended on the app over the last week.

The bottom of the main page also shares a handful of case studies, purporting to show how other businesses “reach an engaged audience that lives only on Snapchat.”

Users can also input their own search terms to see how popular they’ve been and to see examples of recent Snaps featuring the keywords. For instance, a quick search found that the term “logo” appeared in captions 21 times during the week of Aug. 8 to 14, whereas “pen” appeared 72 times.

Snap, Snapchat’s parent company, says the trends feature “is able to provide a new level of visibility into organic chatter on Snapchat, looking at what our community is talking about and showcasing popular Snaps that exemplify each trending topic.”

Early testing of trends, the company says, has helped marketers and creators in several ways, including product market research. “Within the last few months, we’ve seen a market increase in the volume of conversation around seasonal summer flavors like strawberry, watermelon and rhubarb,” Snap notes, adding that such insights could help brands explore new products or shift marking to focus on those flavor categories. Other ways to use the trends include researching language trends and new slang, researching key moments and behavior (mentions of “streaming” increase on Fridays, for example) or looking up mentions of your and your competitors’ brands and products.

There are limitations, though, since Snap isn’t sharing all its data, only insights from public stories. Plus, “Snap doesn’t provide specific data on where these mentions occur, nor does it provide all data on shared Snaps between friends,” Social Media Today points out.

Still, it’s a valuable tool, whether or not your company is active on Snapchat, providing users with a quick and easy way to get a glimpse into the topics and events that resonate most with younger demographics.

Facebook Launches VR Meetings But Why

‘Workrooms’ allows the distributed workforce to come together in a virtual conference room, but will the high-tech collaboration solution find mass appeal?

If you hate Zoom, you’re sure to despise Facebook’s new solution for better remote collaboration. Horizon Workrooms allows users with an Oculus Quest 2 VR headset to “meet” at a virtual conference room, interacting via a cartoonish avatar. It’s sort of like embodying your own Bitmoji if it were cut in half, with the torso just hovering above a virtual desk chair.

Facebook VR meeting

Or as some on Twitter have dubbed it: “Animal Crossing for work meetings.”

The Workrooms app is free to use (though an Oculus headset will set you back a few hundred bucks). Up to 16 people on VR headsets can gather virtually around a sturdy pixel-board conference table. The app allows 50 people in the meeting, but the others would join as video callers who appear on a flat screen in the virtual meeting room. Participants wearing VR headsets can use their hands to gesture during meetings, and their avatars’ mouths also move while they speak. The space includes a virtual whiteboard that allows people to share pictures or make presentations.

“The pandemic in the last 18 months has only given us greater confidence in the importance of this as a technology,” Andrew Bosworth, vice president of Facebook Reality Labs, said during a presentation to announce the app, according to CNN Business.

Facebook says it’s been using the Workrooms technology internally for the last year. Calling it their “flagship collaboration experience,” the company says it’s a melding of several technologies, including mixed-reality desk and keyboard tracking, hand tracking, remote desktop streaming, videoconferencing integration, spatial audio and the aforementioned avatars. “We think it’s one of the best ways to work if you can’t be physically together,” Facebook wrote in its announcement of the new technology.

In addition to the high-tech hand tracking features, the app also offers more traditional meeting features, like file sharing, calendar integration, chat and meeting notes.

Product Picks The Great Outdoors

According to Kampgrounds of America, more than 10 million families went camping for the first time during the pandemic and more than 60% of them say they’ll go more often moving forward. These items are ideal for those who love getting out into the fresh air.

St Regis Group Mug

Camping mugs are wildly popular as are double-walled copper vacuum insulated drinkware. Combine the two and you have this Lou double wall mug. The powder-coated matte finish mug is BPA-free and suitable for both camping and office promos.

Under Armour Hustle backpack

If you’re looking for a rough-and-tumble backpack, consider this Under Armour Hustle 4.0 water-resistant backpack. It features an abrasion-resistant bottom panel, a laptop sleeve, two water-repellent front valuables pockets, adjustable shoulder straps, laundry/shoe pocket and two side water bottle pockets.

Wov In sticker decal

Since many laptop owners like to decorate them with stickers, help your brand stand out with this custom woven sticker decal. It’s made of polyester, available in three sizes and completely customizable. Includes a pressure-sensitive nonpermanent adhesive backing. Ideal for college, craft brewers and national and state parks.

Tie-dyed bucket hat

This tie-dyed bucket cap will surely be a class favorite regardless of the school. It’s made of 100% cotton, with an unstructured design and sewn eyelets.

Snugz USA outdoors gift set

This gift set is great for lovers of the outdoors. Includes a 16-ounce Thermos Stainless King stainless-steel food jar and a Mojave Key multi-tool. Perfect for enjoying hot soups and a cold beverage while on the trail. Comes in a cardboard gift box with a full-color label.

6 Tips For Social Media Accessibility

Consider using captions in videos and alt text on images to make your posts more inclusive of people who have hearing loss or vision impairment.

Social media marketing is all about knowing your target audience, crafting content to engage clients and attracting new prospects. And while it’s a good idea to have a laser focus on whom you’re trying to reach – rather than going for a scattershot “spaghetti on the wall” strategy – it’s also important not to inadvertently alienate and exclude people.

That’s one reason why more and more brands are focusing on accessibility in their social media strategy. Accessibility is all about reaching people who use assistive technology to access social, whether they’re blind, visually impaired, deaf or have dyslexia or cognitive learning disabilities. In the US, there are more than 2.2 million people considered deaf and roughly 37 million people with some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Around 32.2 million Americans report being blind or having trouble seeing even when wearing corrective lenses, according to a recent National Health Interview Survey.

Making social media posts more accessible is a way to signal respect for all potential audiences, but it can also be a smart business move. For example, adding closed captions to your video content can boost search engine optimization, and multiple studies have shown that captioning makes people more likely to pay attention and remember your video.

Here are six tips for making your social media posts more accessible.

1. Add closed captions to your video content. Not only does this help people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it could also boost engagement on a video overall. Though several social media sites auto-caption videos now, the quality of the transcription varies, so it’s worth exploring third-party apps and services to add captions. Remember to add context to your captions beyond what’s being said. Describe sounds (like an audience laughing) or music cues if they change the tone or add meaning to the video.

2. Use alt text on images. Alternative text is a short but detailed description of a photo to help people using screen readers understand what’s happening in a picture. Most social media apps allow users to easily add alt text as they’re posting an image or to edit once it’s posted. Don’t forget to add alt text to GIFs as well.

3. Use “CamelCase” in hashtags. CamelCase, where you capitalize the first letter of each word in a hashtag phrase, can be very helpful. First, screen readers will often read uncapitalized hashtags as a string of letters, rather than individual words, which is cumbersome and obscures meaning. Also, people with dyslexia or cognitive disabilities could have trouble decoding hashtags without capital letters marking each word.

4. Don’t overuse emojis. Screen readers describe each emoji in a post. Including too many in a row or peppering clapping hands emojis between each word to show emphasis can make it almost impossible to follow. That doesn’t mean you should avoid them entirely, but be thoughtful when you use them and add a space between each emoji, if your post includes more than one.

5. Avoid custom fonts. Adding bold, italic and other custom fonts to a tweet or post gives it a unique look, but can be a nightmare for people using a screen reader.

6. Maintain color contrast. When you’re creating a graphic for social media, take color contrast into consideration. If there’s not enough contrast, it can be difficult for people with colorblindness to read text or decipher an image.

College Athlete Merchandising Poised to Explode

A new ruling finally allows NCAA athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. The promotional opportunities are vast – but so are the questions.

Three days before Independence Day, college athletes were finally granted a different sort of freedom: the ability to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL).

After a Supreme Court decision that the NCAA can’t limit education-related benefits (such as computers and paid internships) that colleges can offer their athletes, the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors reversed its longstanding, controversial policy on student athletes being prohibited from receiving compensation.

What pressed the NCAA’s hand – after decades of resistance – is the fact that eight states had laws or executive orders going into effect July 1 that allowed college athletes to earn money. (More than a dozen other states have passed similar measures with later effective dates.) In the absence of a uniform federal law, the smorgasbord of different laws threatened to create advantages for some schools over others. After all, schools in states with legal guarantees that students could potentially earn money would be better positioned to recruit prospective players.

As such, the NCAA enacted the interim policy until a federal law arrives. Overnight, more than 480,000 student athletes in the United States had the ability to become entrepreneurs.

“It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this development,” says J. Michael Keyes, partner at the international law firm Dorsey & Whitney. “By some estimates, the sports merchandising market over the last few years hovered around $15 billion. It’s about to get a lot bigger very soon.”

The opportunities are plentiful, as college athletes can now license their name to promote brands, sponsor events and campaigns and launch their own merchandising companies. “This will exponentially grow the promotional products industry,” says Ivan Parron, founder of PARRON Law Sports & Entertainment.

NCAA earning potential
ESPN

Parron, who recently represented NCAA players at the NBA Draft Combine, immediately sees a couple major benefits in which branded merchandise would play pivotal roles. “NIL will do miracles for women’s sports and is a huge opportunity for brands to get involved with female athletes,” he says, arguing that women often develop loyal followings as college athletes, but typically make much less money than men if they turn pro.

“I also think non-traditional sports, the ones you see at the Olympics, will get more exposure and potentially build strong fan bases,” Parron says.

With football and basketball as the top revenue-producing college sports, those athletes are sure to be highly sought after by major brands. Some industry experts expect the most prominent players to charge $1,000 or more an hour for endorsement work or appearances, The New York Times reported.

However, today’s marketplace is so fragmented that there are opportunities for athletes involved in other college sports, such as tennis, soccer and lacrosse, to still make a fair amount of money from their NIL, especially from local businesses like restaurants, car dealerships and sporting goods stores.

“This ruling will generally increase the visibility of college sports,” says Allen Adamson, co-founder and managing partner at the marketing strategy and activation firm Metaforce. “More buzz means more merchandise. Social media will play a huge factor, as popular athletes will influence followers into wanting a school’s mug or hat or T-shirt.”

NCAA total athletics revenue - $18.9 billion
NCAA

Similar to how cities and states rely upon professional athletes and celebrities for location-branding activities, now there’s a whole new segment of spokespeople at their disposal. Consider Trevor Lawrence, the superstar quarterback for Clemson who was taken number one overall in this year’s NFL draft. If this was 18 months ago, Lawrence could have been South Carolina’s biggest ambassador, says John Boyd, principal of the management consulting firm The Boyd Company.

“If you’re high-profile, it’s your responsibility to tell your story and products are a part of that,” Boyd says. “Sneakers, jerseys, nutritional products, licensing for video games and apps. You’ll be bombarded with opportunities now.”

And you can bet promotional products will be part of the mix.

Slam Dunk for Promo

Even before the policy and laws went into effect, some college athletes had already prepared to cash in.

Georgia running back Kendall Milton launched his KM2 clothing line brand, partnering with Seven Six Apparel Co., which designs apparel for sports markets around the Southeast U.S. Jordan Bohannon, a basketball player at the University of Iowa, also launched his own clothing line called J3O Apparel. University of Wisconsin’s starting quarterback Graham Mertz unveiled a trademarked personal logo on his social media accounts, and then launched his own official store and licensed apparel collection.

Even the players’ furry friends are getting in the action – Arkansas wide receiver Trey Knox and his Siberian Husky Blue inked a deal with PetSmart.

“This is no different than anyone selling merchandise, whether it’s a YouTuber, someone on Twitch, a band, a school or a retailer such as Target,” says Jeff Becker, president of Top 40 distributor Kotis Design, which is a collegiately licensed vendor. At the end of the day, Becker says, “it’s just someone selling something.”

Distributors and merchandising brands have already reached out to college athletes from all three divisions, offering a plethora of products and strategies to exercise their NIL rights. “I see nothing but a positive for the promo industry,” says Lucas Guariglia, owner of Rowboat Creative, which is extremely active in the burgeoning influencer space and has also worked with numerous sports clients. “The opportunity for more brands popping up and more need for promotional products and merchandising is a good thing for us all.”

Amobi Okugo

“Just as our industry became the initial go-to for PPE, we will be the front line for change in what ultimately will be new collegiate licensing opportunities,” says Jon Saferstein, owner and COO of Top 40 supplier Sportsman Cap and Bag in Lenexa, KS. “We always look for various opportunities in the college market, but this generation embraces social responsibility and will be looking for products like our new sustainable cap styles to help them build better brands.”

Natalie Welch, a sports business professor at Linfield University, has already seen a couple athletes donating a percentage of their branded merchandise to charity. She expects that to become a hot trend over the next few months, as college students tend to be very passionate about social causes.

“This ruling will force athletes to be more collaborative and creative while finding partners doing cool stuff,” Welch says. “We’ll see more athletes creating a product line or apparel line within an established brand. Right now, it’s just about getting your name out there, but long term, it will have to be more strategic to be sustainable.”

In addition to their presence on social media and in their community, student athletes offer another benefit for advertisers: youth. “Most brands are always trying to reach the younger demographic,” says Amobi Okugo, professional soccer player with Austin Bold FC and founder of financial consultancy A Frugal Athlete. “These student athletes have their finger on the pulse of what’s hip. From a marketing perspective, they provide a lot of value.”

Social media influence
Sports Illustrated

Steve Flaughers, owner of Proforma 3rd Degree Marketing in Canton, OH, has targeted the college sports market for years. Although he sees the potential in college athletes selling their own branded T-shirts and bobbleheads, he’s concerned about licensing issues that can arise.

“Students don’t seem interested in wanting to learn the licensing aspect of the products,” Flaughers says. “I assume if allowed, they will sell anything and everything that they can. This could pose a serious problem for the universities. Would they fine their own student athletes the same as they would us licensed suppliers? If the university feels they’re losing a great deal of revenue, will this mean licensing fees skyrocket to make up for that loss of money they have made off the student athletes?”

On June 30, the Collegiate Licensing Company – which governs the use of college sports trademarks, such as university names and logos – sent notices to licensees, such as Flaughers, with updated guidelines for pursuing NIL programs co-branded with university trademarks. Unlike the original policy proposed by the NCAA, many state laws and university policies allow the student-athlete to use logos and brands only with approval from the institution.

“Merchandise that does not contain university IP marks, brand elements, names, etc. but contains student-athlete NIL, must be licensed/approved directly with student-athlete, as CLC does not represent student-athlete brands,” the CLC stated.

The Wild West

Until Congress steps in or the NCAA is forced to issue a permanent decree, many questions regarding NIL have been left unanswered.

How will revenue-sharing agreements work? Will student athletes be allowed to wear their school’s name or logo in their own promotional activities? Will these athletes have to go through vendors pre-approved by their athletic department? What happens when an athlete promotes, say, Nike, but the school’s athletic department has a partnership with Adidas?

“Many politicians seem to think this should be a 50/50 split between the schools and the student athletes, but that probably doesn’t accurately reflect what it costs to maintain a major scholastic athletic program,” says David Jacoby, intellectual property law attorney with Culhane Meadows. “However, there’s no way you could make all this money without the players.”

It’ll resemble the Wild West for a while, says Marc Kidd, CEO of marketing agency Captivate. Kidd helped create the NCAA corporate partner program while serving as president of Host Communications during the 1980s and ’90s. “Clearly, each school has protected trademarks, but if I was a player at the University of Texas, can the school keep me from wearing burnt orange in advertisements?” Kidd says. “It’ll be interesting to see how this is policed and administered throughout the country.”

Lucas Guariglia

Attorneys Andrew Dana and Alonzo Llorens, leaders of Parker Poe’s sports and entertainment industry team, say the NCAA decision is long overdue. But there needs to be uniformity with a federal law because each state has different laws, and in those that don’t, schools have been left to make up their own rules.

“If you’re deciding which school to go to and one has limitations, that leads to unequal decision-making and hinders that school’s ability to be competitive,” Dana says. “That disparity needs to be evened out.”

With so much uncertainty regarding the rules and regulations, some promo firms are reluctant to plunge headfirst into the neoteric market. “We want to avoid the chaos,” says Bruce Jolesch, president and CEO at Garland, TX-based PXP Solutions, which already works with distributors who service the NCAA. “There are all types of unknowns that frankly haven’t been addressed yet. And no matter what happens this year, everything will change again in 12 to 24 months.”

San Francisco-area distributor Harry Ein, owner of Perfection Promo an affiliate of iPROMOTEu, works with professional sports teams, but doesn’t perceive the NCAA ruling as an opportunity to expand his business. “It’s bigger news for digital printing companies, like one-off shops,” Ein says. “I could see college athletes using social media to promote branded merch that could be printed-on-demand, but I don’t see them needing to hold inventory or anything like that. There’s only a handful of athletes around the country who could demand that type of interest and justify the cost of setting something like that up.”

just say no

Fresno State was among the first athletics departments to partner with Opendorse – a sports technology company that maximizes endorsement value for athletes – providing all of its student-athletes with the education and tools to maximize NIL rights. Fresno State twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder, star guards on the Bulldogs’ women’s basketball team, have already signed deals with Boost Mobile and Six Star Pro Nutrition. They’re considered among the top five most marketable players in women’s college basketball, according to Opendorse.

The twins’ earnings potential continues to explode on social media with a shared TikTok account that currently has 3.3 million followers, up from 2.9 million in April. They also have individual Instagram accounts with more than 250,000 followers, up from around 185,000 in April. A valuation prepared by the marketing platform estimated the Cavinders’ shared TikTok at more than $520,000 annually and their individual social media accounts at around $45,000 annually, The Fresno Bee reported. A single branded post on TikTok would be worth around $35,000.

By comparison, Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, the newly hired Fresno State president, is paid $348,423 (excluding benefits and other perks). Jaime White, the Bulldogs’ women’s basketball coach, makes $262,563 in base salary.

“Female athletes are more likely to have a significant following on social media,” Dana says. “By focusing on their brand identity and social media engagement, they created these followings before the ability to monetize, so they’re in a prime position to capitalize.”

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. While student athletes have already been splitting their time between academics and sports, now they add entrepreneurship to the equation. Dana and Llorens suggest they build a support team before embarking on this endeavor, hiring legal counsel, a financial consultant and other experienced business professionals who they can trust.

“This is their first time making significant income, so they need advice on how to spend, invest and store,” Llorens says. “There’s eagerness to monetize themselves, but they need to temper that with a prudence to enter into these agreements with eyes wide open. They need people around them to make sure they don’t get taken advantage of.”

“If you thought the NCAA was bad, wait until you get before the IRS,” Dana adds.

Although it’s already too late for some eager college athletes, every marketing expert shares the sentiment that less is more. Instead of taking every deal that comes in, it’s important to be selective so you don’t dilute the value of your brand.

“You don’t want to have look back in a few years and see your social media posts plugging a bad restaurant chain,” says Larry Mann, partner at rEvolution, a sports marketing and media agency. “You would never eat there, but you promoted it for $300. Be authentic and work with companies you believe in.”

Postal Service Hiking Rates in August

The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with the planned price increases even though some federal legislators asked that they be postponed.

The U.S. Postal Service plans to move forward with price increases in August, despite the objections of some federal lawmakers.

On Monday, July 19 the Postal Regulatory Commission formally approved the proposed price increases, ruling that the hikes are consistent with commission orders, directives and regulations.

Mail Truck

That greenlights the Postal Service to implement the rises as planned on Aug. 29. Overall, the Postal Service plans to raise prices by an average of about 6.9% on its “market dominant” offerings, which are First Class Mail letters, postcards and mail services. The cost to send catalogs, newspapers and magazines in particular is scheduled to rise 8.8%.

Notably, the Postal Service is not, at this point, increasing prices for First Class Package Service or Priority Mail.

Under the pending charge changes, the rate for a first-class mail letter (1 ounce) purchased at a post office will rise three cents to $0.58. If you buy the postage online, the metered rate for a first-class mail letter (1 ounce) will be $0.53, up from $0.51. With first-class mail, it will cost another $0.20 for each additional ounce – a charge that’s already in place.

Certified mail is poised to increase to $3.75 from $3.60, a $0.15 increase, while registered mail is rising to $13.75 from $12.90, an $0.85 increase. Media mail rates will increase by an average of 10.865%. For more on pricing, see here.

The expected August increase is the Postal Service’s second price hike of 2021. In January, the Postal Service hiked the rates on market-dominant products by 1.8% to keep pace with inflation. In January 2019, the Postal Service increased the price for first class stamps from $0.50 to $0.55 – the biggest ever price lift by the organization.

As Federal News Network reported earlier this month, both Democratic and Republican members of Congress asked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Postal Service to postpone the planned August 2021 price hikes until January 2022.

“We have heard clearly from employers in our districts and across the nation that a second increase in a single year will be highly disruptive and result in significant job losses and significant reduction in their use of Postal Service mail services,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “Many of these companies, especially small businesses, cannot afford a second increase, saying such action will reduce revenues and lead to job losses.”

Postal Service officials have been adamant that the rate increases are necessary to help return the agency, which receives no tax dollar support, to solvency. The Postal Service experienced a $9.2 billion loss in 2020 that continued a decade’s run of annual losses.

The Postal Service says the August price changes will generate an additional $1.7 billion for the organization annually, though mail volume will decrease by 2.3%.

Postage rates in the U.S. vs International
Current single piece letter-mail postage rates in the U.S. vs International. Source: US Postal Service.

“As part of our 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence, the Postal Service and the Board of Governors are committed to judiciously implementing a rational pricing approach that helps enable us to remain viable and competitive and offer reliable postal services that are among the most affordable in the world,” DeJoy said in a recent statement.

If fully implemented as envisioned, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan is designed to reverse a projected $160 billion in operating losses over the next 10 years.

TikTok Launches Livestream Upgrades and Spark Ads

The features could benefit marketers keen to leverage the social media platform.

TikTok is launching features that could help marketers engage audiences and grow followers on the video-sharing social media platform.

The upgrades center on live-streaming and a new advertising option.

TikTok

For upcoming livestreams, TikTok creators can now make an event card to share on TikTok and other social networks. The cards include a call-to-action prompt that people can tap to get an in-app reminder about the event.

The next enhancement allows livestream viewers to post questions via a “Q&A” overlay on the screen – an option that debuted in January but that was only available on select creator profiles. Now, all livestreamers can use the Q&A overlay option, in addition to letting viewers post questions via the comments. The overlay puts a greater spotlight on questions – and thus potentially better engagement.

The third livestream upgrade allows the host and a guest to be featured split-screen style to viewers. This feature isn’t new, but had previously only been available to TikTokers with more than 5,000 followers. Now, all who are allowed to livestream on the platform – you need to be above 16 and have at least 1,000 followers – can use split-screen mode.

Meanwhile, TikTok has also just debuted Spark Ads. As Social Media Today explained, Spark Ads enable brands to “sponsor already trending organic content that aligns with their offerings, in order to get an association boost without having to create anything themselves, or even commission a creator to do so.”

Social Media Today continued: “Through Spark, brands can boost both their own organic posts and/or relevant content posted by creators, converting them into In-Feed Ads or TopView ads. … It could be a great way to maximize brand reach and resonance, which could come in particularly handy for marketers that are less familiar with the platform and may not have the budget or skills for original material.”

To see how brands have leveraged Spark Ads, check out TikTok’s case studies from users like Vessi, a Vancouver-based direct-to-consumer waterproof sneaker brand and Isle of Paradise, a beauty brand that created the world’s first 100% vegan, cruelty-free, color-correcting, self-tan. Other brands that have adopted Spark Ads include French online gaming app Lanslot and Australian sports streaming service Kayo Sports.

Apparel Trends From ASI Show Chicago

Dye-sublimation and sustainability dominated the trade show floor.

Yajaira Beltran didn’t know what to expect at ASI Show Chicago – her first promotional products trade show.

Only three months into her customer service role at Katy, TX-based BAW Athletic Wear, she entered the industry at such a unique time. As sales of personal protective equipment (PPE) have tapered off while the market emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, distributors are eager to present their clients with the latest products. “I definitely didn’t expect such a huge turnout,” Beltran said.

colorful shirts
Charlotte, NC-based Paragon showcased shirts with UPF50+ for protection from the sun.

Suppliers returned to the show floor for the first time in nearly 16 months, unveiling their new collections in front of 2,400 distributors. Apparel companies had some of the busiest booths, which is no surprise considering T-shirts are the top product category, accounting for 12.8% of the industry’s total sales in 2020, according to ASI data. Hats and caps ranked fourth, followed by polos and sport shirts.

“Everybody has been asking about inventory,” said Lake Tankersley, sales manager at Garland, TX-based T-Shirt Tycoon Solutions. Aside from rejoicing over finally seeing familiar faces in person, the ongoing supply chain issues plaguing the industry dominated the conversation on the show floor. “We have an advantage because our full-custom solution allows you to make garments to order,” Tankersley said. “You have a longer lead time, but you’re guaranteed to get your product exactly as you want.”

Sustainability was the hottest trend at the ASI Show Chicago, influencing products in seemingly every category. SanMar, the largest supplier in the industry by revenue, showcased many new products made with 100% recycled materials, such as the Port Authority Recycled Performance Polo, Sport-Tek Re-Compete Tee and District Re-Blanket.

sanmar shirts
SanMar has added new products made with 100% recycled materials.

Meanwhile, Top 40 supplier Charles River Apparel has added another design to its recycled water bottle jacket and an animal print to the New Englander, its signature raincoat.

charles river apparel leaopard jacket
The leopard print New Englander is quite popular for Charles River Apparel.

Dye-sublimation was another trend with apparel companies boasting about their equipment, processes and product selection. Augusta Sportswear Brands displayed its cotton-touch tees and hoodies, designed with a polyester/spandex wicking knit that has a soft feel. Plus, with tie-dye all the rage again, the Augusta, GA-based supplier allows you to choose whichever colors you want splashed together onto a stock design.

tie dye t-shirts
Retro or timeless? Augusta Sportswear Brands has gone all in on tie-dye.

Charlotte, NC-based Paragon has also incorporated dye-sublimation, providing shirts with UPF50+ for protection from the sun. “It’s a hot trend in the outdoor lifestyle market right now,” said associate Stan Blair.

Socks were ubiquitous at ASI Show Chicago. Every aisle had a supplier presenting differing lengths, colors, designs and textures. For example, Dunbridge, OH-based Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. specializes in custom printed slipper socks.

“All of our products are printed with non-slip puff ink on the bottom, so they’re really good for trampoline parks, hospitals and schools,” said Sara Mellott, account executive at PromoTreds. “We recommend pitching them to party planners for weddings, mitzvahs, school dances, anywhere you’re taking your shoes off. Soon, we’ll be coming out with socks for yoga mats.”

socks
Atlanta-based Sock Fancy celebrated ASI Show Chicago with these custom socks.

Educate On Cons Cyber Threats Now Or Risk the Worst

The danger to your promo products business is real, increasing and potentially devastating. Don’t fall prey.

It’s never been easier for crooks to rip off you and your promo company.

One wrong click and you can launch malware that cripples your network, rendering it inoperable, until you pay the hackers a ransom to have the system restored.

One fake buyer can convince an unwitting sales rep that an order is legit and get them to ship product the scammer never pays for. The next thing you know, your company is on the hook for a five-figure bill.

Cyber Security Criminal

It’s the downside of the digital age – the fact that hackers and con artists have a high-speed, direct conduit to us through the tech tools that are foundational to how we now do business.

The sad part is these hackings and swindle attempts are increasing, and they’re likely to continue to do so, including at promotional products firms.

Consider this: In 2020, the FBI received almost 2,500 reports of ransomware attacks – up 66% from the prior year. The actual number of cases is likely far higher.

Meanwhile, ransomware victims paid cyber crooks four times more in cryptocurrency ransom payments in 2020 than they did in 2019 – some $350 million, according to Chainalysis, a firm that specializes in blockchain analysis. The estimated total cost to the U.S. economy of ransomware hackings reportedly tallies in the billions each year.

Another major bummer: Cybersecurity firm Sophos estimates that the average total cost of recovery from a ransomware attack has more than doubled in the last year, increasing from just over $760,000 in 2020 to $1.85 million in 2021.

Next consider the cons. Earlier this month, I reported how a distributor was left liable for paying for 10,000 flash drives after a schemer posed as a buyer for a major university and got the promo firm to fulfill the order, then never paid. Following the publishing of that report, I received an avalanche of feedback from distributors saying they’ve been hit with such scam attempts weekly – if not daily. No, these efforts to swindle aren’t new, but the word from the industry is that they’re rampant, increasing and, at least in cases, growing more sophisticated.

What’s a promo company to do? Be prepared as possible to the thwart the threats. Of course, part of that is ensuring your tech systems are as up-to-date and bulwarked as possible against cyber threats. But even if they are, that doesn’t remove the human element, which can bring things crashing down. How to handle the human variable? Invest in routine, ongoing cyber/scammer security education for company leaders and employees.

While some may dismiss the cons and ransomware attempts, saying they’re easy to spot with common sense, that kind of cockiness is dangerous. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and what may be obvious to one employee or sales rep may not be so to others. Therefore, it's incumbent on leadership to do everything within reason to ensure each employee is as informed as possible so they don’t fall prey.

As far as cyber security goes, there’s an abundance of programs available that offer both web-based and/or in-person training. These programs can range in scope from awareness-raising to more comprehensive offerings that cover cyber security for every type of employee, from IT executives to general workers.

At the least, a cyber security education course should teach about spotting phishing scams, which are often the means through which ransomware attacks are launched. In a phishing scheme, hackers trick unsuspecting victims – like a business’ employees – into downloading or clicking a link or file that’s infected with malware. The malware then spreads rapidly through an entire system, encrypting it. The criminals then demand that victims pay them a ransom in exchange for a decryption key, which is used to free computers.

Depressing stat: Sophos found in its State of Ransomware report that only 8% of companies managed to get back all their data after paying a ransom, with 29% getting back no more than half.

Though it’s important to train workers in the technical details of a phishing attempt, it’s even more crucial to drill down to the psychology behind why such emails work. “People are rarely fooled by the detail and authenticity of phishing attacks, and much more so by the emotional hooks that they use to bypass rational consideration,” James Bore, director of Bores Security Consultancy, told ASI Media recently.

Promo firms also should, on an ongoing consistent basis, educate employees about cons aimed specifically at our industry. Take the flash drive scheme that hoodwinked the distributor, who was new to the industry.

It involved a crook emailing the company and pretending to be a procurement manager from Ohio University, Michael Pidcock, who wanted to buy 5,000 branded flash drives. Pidcock is an actual individual who works in procurement at the university – something the distributor looked into by checking on LinkedIn and on the educational institution’s website. You can read the full account here, but what it boils down to is that the distributor believed the order was legit and shipped flash drives and then another batch of 5,000 before realizing the ruse.

After the story published, some in the industry disparaged the distributor in social media comments and emails to ASI Media for being woefully naive. Still, there were others – more experienced folks included – who contacted ASI Media directly to say they’d fallen victim to such scams too, as some crooks do a remarkably good job of creating the appearance of authenticity.

That said, there were tells in the recent scam. The request for flash drives – decorated or blank – is a common request from the would-be con artists. So, incidentally, are blank T-shirts. Furthermore, the email address was doctored to closely resemble a genuine Ohio University email address, ending in a “@ohio-edu.org”. Even so, the “.org” should have raised a red flag; the legit address was “@ohio.edu”. Another clue that this was crookery was broader: It’s generally not easy to become a vendor for a major university. Why would one be reaching out to you out of the blue with a big order? That bears investigating.

Educating salespeople, customer service reps and other employees about such tipoffs to scams should be part and parcel of what promo firms do. No doubt, these types of swindles will evolve, so companies must stay alert and educate their workforces to emerging threats.

In the interconnected digital marketplace we all operate in, there are – very excitingly – more opportunities than ever to quickly grow your company. Unfortunately, there are more threats, too. Be wise to them and make prevention from being victimized a top priority. It could just save your business.

For Promo in Canada Its Eyes Forward

After 15 long months of heavy virus restrictions, the Great White North is finally seeing promising signs of recovery as provinces cautiously reopen.

No one knew just how bad it was going to get.

As COVID-19 spread across Canada’s provinces, emails stopped coming in and phones went silent at the country’s promo firms. While there was hope that the situation wouldn’t deteriorate as badly as it already was in the U.S., that hope was quickly dashed. The heady days of 2019 were officially over, and the North American promo market was headed for a generation-defining downturn, the likes of which it had never experienced before.

Streets were eerily empty as the government mandated that residents stay home, aside from trips to the grocery store and dog walks. That reality has improved for much of the country only in recent weeks, meaning that for many Canadians, their world for the past 15 months was limited to the four walls of their homes.

Canada Flag Mask

“We thought it would be over quickly,” says Nikki Sgro, a Toronto-based business development representative for HPG Brands. “As summer 2020 went by, we realized how serious this was. It was scary and unnerving. There was so much differing information, and no one really knew about COVID or the long-term implications.”

As of this writing, Canada has had more than 1.4 million positive cases and lost over 26,000 people. And while the actual number remains to be seen, early estimates indicate that more than 200,000 businesses will shutter due to long-term closures.

While each province managed its lockdown measures slightly differently, all eyes have been fixed on Ontario, the most populous. People there have been under nearly continuous lockdown and stay-at-home orders since October. At about eight months, it’s among the longest shutdowns in the world.

Finally, the government there is beginning a cautious three-phase reopening plan, but the economic and psychological damage has been done. “The prevailing feeling right now is exhaustion,” says Paul Wieleba, owner of multi-line firm {WE} Promotional Advertising in London, ON. “The market has changed so much, and there’s still incredible unpredictability. We don’t know from one day to another what’s going to happen. It’s hard not to be cynical, but the reopening plan is an iota of certainty when early on we didn’t have that.”

Now, the resourceful and determined promo firms of Canada are picking up the pieces and charting the path ahead, one they expect to look quite different from years past.

Where Things Stand
To the west of the country, Albertans are seeing some bright spots as the province reopens. In recent weeks, they expected a nearly identical strategy to neighboring British Columbia, which announced a four-step plan in May; they’re currently in Step 2 and awaiting the beginning of Step 3, which won’t be before July 1 and requires at least 70% of adults to have one dose of the vaccine. Sam Singh, president and CEO of Full Line Specialties in Surrey, BC, told ASI Media recently that, while he’s happy to be eating in restaurants again, promo there is still awaiting the return of more events for full recovery.

Meanwhile, the Albertan Open for Summer Plan will begin on July 1, said Premier Jason Kenney on June 19. It’s going to be much quicker than British Columbia’s.

“We’re excited,” says Russell Bird, owner of The Promo Addict in Sherwood Park, AB, and a competitive barbecuer who opened a retail shop during the pandemic. “We immediately sent an e-blast to all of our customers telling them to get their orders in. We wanted them to know that, because of demand, it was going to be difficult to get what they want if they waited until the last minute.”

Unfortunately, the smaller clients – those that ordered maybe a couple of times a year – have yet to come back. “Top customers are making the gears turn right now,” says Bird. “Our biggest clients are oil and gas, education and healthcare. We’re still seeing staff engagement items, some direct mail to homes and business from sports teams. Uniforming and team wear are coming back, but not a lot of giveaways and swag yet.”

Events this year are still an unknown, says Bird. While the Calgary Stampede is happening, the annual K Days festival won’t be because of a lack of adequate preparation time. Bird found out directly from organizers since they were in talks to provide promo for it.

“They might be allowed to have the event, but is it logistically feasible?” says Bird. “It’s still very confusing.”

To the east of Alberta, in Saskatchewan, spirits are high too as the province confidently moves to full reopening. Mike Yager, president of Spotlight Sport & Corporate Wear in Humboldt, says they anticipate that will happen by next month. Private get-togethers like weddings are beginning again, but large-scale public events that normally take place during the summer aren’t there yet.

“Cities across Canada weren’t open enough, and these organizers won’t just do an event in Saskatchewan and leave, so other provinces are holding us back,” says Yager. “People are especially excited to get back into stadiums, but we’re not sure yet how many they’ll allow. The Canadian Football League has a schedule for the fall, so that’s promising.”

In Quebec, promo demand is steadily returning as vaccination rates remain steady and cases drop to a nine-month low. Premier François Legault announced this week that the entire province will move into the green phase of its plan on June 28, which allows for larger gatherings. That’s great news for Stéphane Maurais, president of Alco Prevention Canada in Laval, QC, who says demand is steadily returning, particularly for their breathalyzers.

“People are celebrating the reopenings,” he says. “I can see a lot of blue sky for our single-use breathalyzers moving forward, so we’re optimistic.”

But the future is still very uncertain in neighboring Ontario, the country’s most populous province and a virus hotspot. On June 11, it finally entered the first of a three-phase plan, which, among other restriction lifts, finally allowed nonessential retail to open its doors at 15% capacity and reopened restaurant patios (with a cap of four people to a table) after eight months of nearly consecutive lockdown orders. While the province has reached high enough vaccination rates to move into the third phase weeks ahead of schedule, officials have yet to commit to a timeline.

Distributors are beginning to quote again, anticipating growing demand in the coming months, but still, “people are confused and stressed,” says Wieleba. “There are still so many restrictions. It’s mentally taxing. We’ve had more time in lockdown than any other province. But we’re hopeful. We were able to pivot to PPE and now more traditional promo is coming back.”

Even with those bright spots, there are concerns about the future of many small firms across Canada and, subsequently, the suppliers and distributors that normally serve them. “This has been devastating for small businesses,” says Sgro. “So many are going under. There are ‘closed’ signs everywhere.”

Jamie McCabe, president of London, ON-based McCabe Promotional Advertising says his team was able to “make up ground” over the past four months, and there’s a renewed push to really get to know their best clients to better serve them moving forward. But it’s going to take some time to get back to a semblance of normalcy.

“The industry is certainly hurting right now,” he says. “May and June have been busy, but I’ve been telling my team to try to capitalize on the good part of the year that’s coming up in the fall. Programs and ship-to-home are booming right now, though we did just have someone ask about shipping 900 boxes to one location. We can definitely do that.”

It’s especially hard for the sales and marketing professionals that populate promo, says Shaun Lichtenberger, president of Brand Blvd in St Catharines, ON, and a past Counselor Best Place to Work. “There are so many personalities in this industry that just aren’t meant to be caged,” he says. “They couldn’t do anything for so long, and it wears on people.”

Fortunately, the recent reopening measures in Ontario have allowed Brand Blvd to start welcoming people back to the office, and they’re eager to return. In fact, the company was about to open a brand-new building just as COVID hit last year, so returning employees are finally able to enjoy their new digs. “They want to see people and hear voices, and we’re excited to get back,” says Lichtenberger. “We’re very close as a team and we want to see each other.”

Lingering Challenges to Recovery
As the Canadian and U.S. promo markets try to get back to business, supply chain disruption – marked by sky-high raw material and container costs, disappearing inventory, lengthy delivery delays and staff shortages – continues to put a damper on recovery.

Fortunately, domestic manufacturer Redwood Classics Apparel in Toronto maintains deep inventory of raw materials and components, says Kathy Cheng, founder and president. With promo demand drying up quickly last spring, she and her team were able to create premium face masks when supplies were critically low across the country. That led to the #MadeForGood campaign, which distributed coverings to needy populations through a giveback component.

“We were able to donate to our country and the people who needed protection the most,” says Cheng.

A year later, Cheng says they’re still contending with arrival delays of raw materials that her team needs to produce apparel. If the component comes from the U.S., it’s staffing shortages that are slowing things. Overseas orders come with more logistics issues. “Other people’s backlog is aggregated to us,” she says. “The risk is lower for us, but we still need to replenish the ingredients and we’re working through that now.”

Meanwhile, Sgro and her team are meeting returning demand for more traditional promo as best they can, in particular cooler bags for employees returning to the office as well as outdoor event attendees, who also want yoga mats, blankets, camping chairs and drinkware. Demand for personalization is high right now as a way to avoid accidental sharing. She says she also expects sanitizer to remain popular, especially for events (which make up 80% of her company’s business). But the supply chain has put a damper on full recovery.

“It’s difficult to fill the larger orders,” she says. “It’s like going back in time, especially with programs. We used to tell them to order only what they needed and hold no stock. Now, they better order extra and hold onto it because we’re not sure what inventory will be available.”

The return of the usual promo items is encouraging, but the psychological effects of long-term shutdowns remain. “We’ve been excited to open up and then there’s another lockdown, so we’re skittish and trigger-shy,” says Sgro. “Distributors are constantly quoting right now, and there’s more competition than ever.”

Although Saskatchewan is making strides in its reopening process and many clients are ready to start purchasing again, Yager says it’s been challenging to expand their customer pool. While they were looking forward to recovery in the second or third quarter, it’s been moved back to the third or fourth, he says.

“We’re going to customers who normally buy from us, not brand-new prospects, and they didn’t buy last summer so they still have stuff in boxes that they haven’t used yet,” he says. “So, they’re not ready to buy. Those that are purchasing have much smaller order sizes than normal.”

Yager says he did receive a few small orders recently for regional teams’ sports jerseys, an improvement on 2020 when he had exactly zero. But supply chain delays are a lingering concern.

“It’s important to keep the dialogue going with suppliers and customers and always offer them alternatives,” says Yager. “One of our clients waited six months for sweatpants last year. Situations like the Suez Canal blockage help us explain to customers what’s going on.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing Canada-U.S. border closure to nonessential travel (now until July 21) has been a source of tension for those who rely on cross-border travel and commerce. Although the Canadian government says it will ease some quarantine requirements in the coming weeks, long-term lack of business in tourist-heavy areas like St. Catharines – about 20 minutes west of Niagara Falls – has been challenging to recovery.

“U.S. tourism here is nonexistent,” says Lichtenberger. “Officials are going to delay the border reopening as long as they can, so we’re thinking by the end of July-ish. Families that live across the border haven’t seen each other since they closed it last March. But we’re very aggressive on vaccinations here, so we’re looking forward to a strong end of summer into Q4.”

Looking Ahead
In the short term, Yager says he hopes supply chain issues will start to resolve themselves as the world strikes its post-COVID balance, barring any new strains or spikes in cases. “It’s still a dire situation in promo,” he says. “Everyone’s just trying to grab as many clients and orders as they can. We’re not at 2019 numbers yet, and government subsidies are still keeping a lot of companies alive. But normalcy feels more real here now.”

Meanwhile, in Ontario, movement toward Step 2 (based on vaccination rates) continues, but the next phase won’t begin before July 2. Sgro fears there’s a chance they could see case counts increase and shutdowns begin again.

This is the “hang tight” year, says Lichtenberger, as the province moves slowly and cautiously toward reopening. “I’m worried about smaller companies in general,” he says. “How long can they hold on? Government subsidies are beginning to wane. We’re seeing who survived and who didn’t. But being able to sell to U.S. customers does help our mental state and reminds us we’re not far behind.”

Also to be considered is the long-term impact on the industry. Cheng is confident that current supply chain upheaval will lead to more demand for domestically made items, which aligns with her company’s brand and mission.

“Younger consumers now want to know where a product came from, its quality and the impact of a brand,” she says. “What we represent – supporting local and diversity – is so relevant now after the year we’ve had. It’s sustainability, which is people, planet and profit. Companies will have to look at more sustainable business models. We’ll have to bring value, not sell on price. We’re elevating the industry and there are real positives to that.”

Firms will be forced to add value if they weren’t already, says Wieleba. “We’ll see more strategic partnerships between suppliers and more M&A as distributors consolidate with other distributors and marketing agencies,” he adds. “This past year really showed that we’re more than ‘swag slingers.’ We brought so much value. There’s more awareness now of our capabilities, like sourcing PPE. Competition will grow.”

If it wasn’t clear before that just selling product based on price would soon go away, COVID, and the competitiveness it spawned, made that more obvious than ever.

“The days of the order-taker are gone,” says McCabe. “The days of the transactional sales rep are gone. We need to be proactive partners. Those that take the time to build deep relationships with clients will get through this more quickly.”

It’s a new era in promo that’s been a long time in coming, but that COVID accelerated forward, says Cheng. “Embrace the reset,” she says. “It’s debilitating to those who are resistant or don’t have the appetite to evolve. But the world is evolving whether we like it or not.”

Amazon to Top Walmart as Largest US Retailer

Both global retailers have a presence in the promo products industry.

In the never-ending race to be the United States’ largest retailer, Amazon is on Walmart’s heels and about to overtake its competitor.

That, at least, is what analysts from JPMorgan Chase predicted in a recent research note. Researchers from the multinational bank/financial services firm said Amazon could outpace Walmart and become the largest U.S. retailer as soon as 2022.

Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, founder, Amazon

“The dramatic growth of e-commerce over the past 18 months has accelerated Amazon’s rise to dominance, and even the largest traditional retailer may soon fall behind,” the JPMorgan analysts told FX Empire in a statement.

Amazon captured 39% of U.S. e-commerce sales in 2020, an increase over the prior year. JPMorgan analysts shared that the COVID-19 pandemic “pulled forward three years of e-commerce growth” and Amazon capitalized.

A Seattle-headquartered multinational technology company that specializes in everything from e-commerce and cloud computing to artificial intelligence, Amazon increased its total first quarter 2021 revenue by 44% year over year to $108.5 billion.

Net income increased to $8.1 billion in Q1 2021, or $15.79 per diluted share. That compared with net income of $2.5 billion, or $5.01 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2020.

Promotional products firms sell on Amazon’s e-commerce marketplace. Amazon also offers promo-related services like Merch by Amazon, which lets independent designers sell personalized T-shirts and other items, with Amazon handling production, shipping and collection. In 2020, Amazon expanded its print-on-demand offerings.

Walmart sells promotional products directly through a partnership with promo distributor Harland Clarke. The Texas-based company operates Walmart PromoShop, where a wide array of promotional products are for sale.

As Events Return So Should Promo Products

At a food truck and music festival in northern New Jersey recently, there were almost no promo products to be had.

With the pandemic finally showing signs of receding, events both big and small are popping up all over the country. People are looking for reasons to get outside, and they have money to spend. The promo industry should be working hand-in-hand with clients to ensure they’re getting their brand message out with clever and useful swag and merchandise.

This past weekend, I attended the Mine Hill Food Truck & Music Festival in northern New Jersey – my first event in a long time. It was strange seeing a few hundred people roaming around maskless. It felt normal, if you remember that feeling. However, there were very few promo products to be had. It was a missed opportunity for both local and major brands. I was there for just over an hour, enjoyed a cheesesteak and toured the area. There were only three vendors with promotional items on display. The one nationally known brand was Cutco Knives, which had a tent set up with some products – including kitchen utensils of all kinds, as well as pots, pans and other smaller branded items, like bags.

Cutco Knives tablecloth
Cutco Knives had their wares spread on a branded tablecloth.

Two local businesses set up shop at the festival. One of the food trucks, Taxi Cab Burger, pitched branded tents with tables underneath, offering shade from the 90-degree heat. It was the only food truck out of about 15 that offered a place to sit with a shade option. Naturally, it was packed with business as customers looked to enjoy their meal out of the sun-kissed field.

Taxi Cab Burger
Taxi Cab Burger offered relief from the heat at tables under logoed tents.

Finally, the most impressive display of branding was from Butch’s Hot Sauce, which had a tent set up along with a display of eight different sauces available for sample and purchase. My family and I sampled several flavors before buying a mild BBQ garlic sauce. Along with the purchase, we received a labeled bag, along with stickers and a business card. Custom stickers and sticker sheets are a low-cost promo, ideal for helping small businesses boost brand awareness.

Butch's Hot Sauce stickers
Butch’s Hot Sauce gave out branded stickers with purchase of its sauce.

These were the only companies with branded items on display. No one else was selling merch or giving away promo items. This could be partially because of COVID, as there was still social distancing being enforced and cashless payments encouraged. Regardless of the reasons, however, it was a huge missed opportunity.

An even bigger missed opportunity was at the event’s beer garden. Locally brewed drinks were available for tasting and purchased, but the samples were all in clear shot glasses. Why not pour drink samples in glasses branded either with the event logo or the logo of the beer being sold? The logoed glasses could be given away or sold as a way to commemorate the event. A sticker or other small item with the brewery logo could help drinkers keep track of their favorite samples.

Even the food trucks themselves could have made a more lasting impression by giving out small items, such as stickers, magnets or cups, with a food purchase. COVID precautions may prevent some businesses from handing out swag, but with the country rapidly reopening and people returning to festivals like this one, there’s a lot of opportunity for distributors to help clients promote themselves after a year of being stuck inside.

Supply Chain Issues Mean You Should Plan for Q4 Now

The holiday season is promo’s busiest time. Want to fully capitalize? Encourage clients to order in advance or risk the worst.

The distributor executive was emphatic.

Go, he implored his sales team, to your clients now and start proactively planning for the holiday gifting season. Stress to them, he said, the wisdom of ordering their year-end branded merchandise in as far advance as possible. That, he explained, will give those customers the best chance of securing the products they desire when they want them.

It may seem an odd exhortation given that summer hasn’t even officially started, but in fact the executive’s directive should be followed by every distributor in the North American promotional products industry – starting immediately.

Why? Because the supply chain issues that have triggered rising prices, inventory shortfalls, longer production times and related fiascos within promo appear here to stay for 2021 – and potentially into 2022.

The supply chain challenges, which are affecting virtually every industry and which in general are beyond the control of promo suppliers, have potential to worsen amid the Q4 sales crush, possibly exacerbating stock scarcity and delays in order fulfillment.

Indeed, the autumn run up to year’s end is traditionally promo’s busiest time as clients order items to gift to employees and their own customers, which means demand on already stressed industry stock levels could intensify, making it harder to find first-choice products and alternatives when those are depleted.

Because many suppliers, like companies across industries, are struggling to establish adequate staffing levels given the economy’s current jobs glut, delays in getting orders decorated and shipped could possibly lengthen. Add to that the fact that domestic transport carriers are stretched and could be further so given all the late-year shopping activity…and in promo the reality is that last-minute orders just might not make it on time as they have in the past during the fourth quarter.

Of course, no one has a crystal ball. Things may turn out far better. More shipping containers may suddenly become available, more space on cargo ships/planes may magically open up, and port congestion and domestic transport problems that hold up deliveries may alleviate, all of which would make it more feasible for suppliers to import necessary inventory and restock quickly to satisfaction. Job market dynamics could switch too: Employers could again be in the driver’s seat with a wealth of eager workers to choose from, helping them to hire in full and fulfill orders faster.

But those sunny-day scenarios don’t seem likely to happen – at least not all of them at once. Do you really want to rely on things “just working out”?

Better to hope for the best and plan for the worst. And in this case, that means proactively planning now with clients for Q4 and getting orders in early wherever possible. Listen, I live in the real world too. I know some clients just aren’t going to want to hear it and are going to put off ordering until the last minute. There’ll also be unforeseen opportunities and complications that arise in the fourth quarter and you’ll just have to react and adapt. Still, every order you can get in early – especially those bigger ones with key clients – is one less you have to handle when the Q4 frenzy is in full swing.

Do yourselves and your clients a favor: Act now.

The Rise of the Conscientious Business Buyer

Inside commonsku

Emissions abatement. Climate positivity. Circularity. Net-zero. Carbon offsets. Blockchain. Ethical sourcing. Bio-based materials.

The word “sustainability” encompasses so much that -as a simple definition- it’s at risk of losing its impact.

Though it’s hard for us to get our arms around this topic, there is one thing that is no longer in question: today’s buyer is more conscientious about their spending, more attuned to the impact of their buying habits on the planet, and more passionate about social responsibility than ever before.

Over the past few weeks, I have been having discussions with industry leaders in sustainability, in preparation for our Product Summit. In one conversation, Kathy Cheng with Redwood Classics Apparel said to me that we should simplify this big topic and keep in mind that we’re talking about conscious consumption, or simply, being a more conscientious buyer/seller.

Further, she said that the sustainability topic falls under a bigger conversation around being intentional with how our businesses impact both our world-at-large and our communities at home. Diversity. Gender equality. Race. Climate change. Fairtrade. Labor. These topics are no longer fringe topics relegated to a small segment of our society and therefore easy for businesses to brush aside in the name of profit, these issues are now mainstream.

You can see this rise peak through one very important window of our world: how we search. Search results are a window into the mind of our culture. Search indicates what people are thinking about and how they are thinking about it.

According to Google’s search trends report in 2020, “how to change the world” was searched twice as much as “how to go back to normal.”

PA Lawmaker Proposes Plastic Bag Ban

If approved, the statewide legislation could help promo distributors sell alternatives like totes.

While Pennsylvania is currently being sued over a law that prevents cities from enacting bans on single-use plastic, one legislator has gone a step further, proposing a statewide prohibition on plastic bags.

If such legislation goes into effect, it can potentially create opportunities to sell more branded reusable alternatives like tote bags. That could be a boon to promotional products distributors. Depending on the exact nature of the bans, however, costs may go up for retailers, which could result in them having less money for marketing purposes.

People with plastic bags

Rep. Brian Sims of Philadelphia has introduced House Bill 1382 to create a 15-cent paper bag fee that’s split between businesses and environmental programs, The Times Observer reported. If a business has annual revenue of less than $1 million, all paper bag fees would be refunded. If a business’ revenues are between $1 million and $10 million, 50% of the fees would be refunded. Any business with revenues more than $10 million would receive no refund.

Also, any Pennsylvania business that gives out plastic bags would face a $50 fine for the first violation, a $100 fine for the second violation and a $200 fine for a third or subsequent violation. Pennsylvanians use an estimated 4.6 billion plastic bags each year, according to the Independent Fiscal Office.

“To protect our environment for generations to come, it is time we find a way to move on from using plastic and paper bags,” Sims wrote. “They are one piece of the puzzle of daily conveniences that are damaging our environment and contributing to climate change, which is one of the greatest threats to not only the Commonwealth, but our world.”

Enacted in 2019, Philadelphia’s bag ban was set to begin in January 2021, but Mayor Jim Kenney announced it would be delayed for the second time due to the pandemic’s impact on local businesses. Philadelphians use an estimated 1 billion plastic bags a year, according to Clean Air Council attorney Logan Welde. Many of them end up as litter on city streets and in trees and waterways. It can cost millions of dollars each year to clean up, WHYY reported.

The war on plastic has been raging for years now. Since 2016, 10 states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington – have banned single-use plastic bags. Major cities with such bans include Boston, Chicago and Seattle. In 2019, state lawmakers introduced at least 95 bills related to plastic bags, either outright banning them or placing a fee on them. Ban proponents say the pollution spoils natural habitat and poses a danger to wildlife, which can choke on or become caught in the disposables.

After several plastic bag bans were temporarily lifted at the beginning of the pandemic due to safety concerns, now the “green wave” has risen again in 2021, as Colorado and Rhode Island have considered anti-plastic legislation. In February, George Washington University announced that it will be eliminating single-use plastics from campus. Other schools such as Georgetown University and the University of Montana are also pushing for a similar ban on single-use plastics.

In 1950, the world’s population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tons of plastic, according to Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity based in the United Kingdom. In 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion people produced more than 320 million tons of plastic. The 2016 tally is set to double by 2034. Every day, approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into oceans, according to Surfers Against Sewage.

Promos Return to the Office

Though few companies plan to give up their office space completely, many are exploring the possibility of a hybrid model that gives employees the flexibility they crave.

The CDC relaxed masking guidelines for the fully vaccinated – a change that has paved the way for workers across the country to return to the office, if they hadn’t already done so. In many ways, however, the coronavirus pandemic has permanently altered the landscape of work – with more employers making remote and hybrid opportunities a fixture of company culture.

Inside the office without a mask

And for many employees, remote work opportunities are becoming less of a perk and more of a requirement. A survey by professional network Blind reported that 64% of workers at the biggest companies preferred permanent work-from-home over a $30,000 raise. (In ASI Media’s admittedly unscientific recreation of the poll, the results were decidedly different, with the vast majority of Twitter poll respondents opting for cold, hard cash over the comforts of a home office.)

When ASI Research surveyed promo products salespeople in 2019, 26% of respondents chose an enjoyable workplace environment and culture as their number-one job attribute, followed closely by high compensation (25%) and strong work/life balance (23%).

The bottom line? In a post-pandemic world, flexible work arrangements have a lot of appeal for a wide range of workers.

“I never want to go back to a five-day weekly commute, even though I only work about 15 minutes away,” says Jason Storms, account manager at Printcbf in Cedar Knolls, NJ. “I don’t mind commuting whenever it’s needed, but I just think it’s a bit unnecessary to have to come in every day. The companies that refuse to change will have a hard time adjusting to the new standard.

“I wouldn’t take a new job unless they stated I could work remotely,” Storms says.

Brayden Jessen, owner of Zome Design in Spokane, WA, has also noticed that job seekers crave flexibility. The decoration shop had several ads out for full-time employees, but didn’t get responses until it mentioned that part-time work was also available.

“Right now, I see employees having a lot of leverage on companies,” Jessen says. “Companies are having to be more adaptable to how employees want to work. People have gotten used to being at home, having a more flexible schedule with kids, dogs, running errands, working out, etc., and they want to continue that lifestyle without being tied to a desk 8-5. If companies can adapt to that, maybe we’ll have a much happier, productive workforce.”

The tech world in particular has welcomed the idea of fully remote work. Last year, Dropbox announced that it would become a “virtual first” company and embrace “nonlinear workdays” that allow employees to design their own schedules. Facebook and Twitter continue to embrace remote work. Spotify has a work-from-anywhere policy that lets its 6,550 employees choose whether they want to be in an office, remote or at a coworking space that the company will pay a subscription for. Employees will also have more choice over the city, state or even country where they want to work.

“This is an opportunity to scrap the idea that big cities were the only places where meaningful work can happen because we know firsthand that isn’t true,” Travis Robinson, head of diversity, inclusion and belonging at Spotify, told Insider.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are sectors like finance, which have largely rejected the notion that work-from-home is the new normal. David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, called remote work an “aberration” that needs to be fixed “as quickly as possible.” Jamie Dimon, CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co, said remote work makes building “culture and character” nearly impossible and limits the kinds of impromptu collaboration and innovation that often happens before or after formal meetings.

Embracing Hybrid

In the promo products industry, about 48% of companies have returned to the office at their pre-pandemic capacity, with another 38% back in the office at a reduced capacity, according to ASI research. Only about 14% of promo firms have not yet returned and have no plans to do so in the next year.

48% returned to office
50% plan to return to office at reduced capacity (ASI Research)

In both the survey results and email responses to ASI Media, it’s clear that promo companies are embracing a variety of approaches, including full returns to the office. And though fully remote staffs are rare for promo companies, many industry leaders say they are more open to hybrid setups – where some employees are remote at least some of the time and others stay in the office.

Many suppliers and decorators with production facilities and warehouses have been back to the office for many months, especially if they were initially designated essential. Richardson Seating, a Chicago-based supplier of high-end bar stools, brought employees back slowly, one to two at a time shortly after the start of the pandemic, according to owner Ira Lichtenstein. The company separated workers, changed the entrance location, ditched the breakroom and limited the bathroom to one person at a time. Masks and safety glasses are mandatory as well. Once the vaccine was available, Richardson offered employees a $500 incentive to get the jab – $250 per shot.

“People were excited to be able to go back to some normalcy,” Lichtenstein says. “We didn’t have a single person refuse to come back. Everyone wanted to work.”

The staff of Citadel Brands has been back in the office for a while too. “Employees were literally begging to return,” says Greg Brown, chief operating officer and president of the Charlotte, NC-based supplier.

“Right now, I see employees having a lot of leverage on companies. Companies are having to be more adaptable to how employees want to work.” Brayden Jessen, Zome Design

Employees who aren’t needed in the warehouse have the flexibility to work from home if they want, Brown says. His controller, for example, is remote about 60% of the time. Citadel Brands also ramped up its basic apparel offerings during the pandemic, figuring there would be a need once things calmed down. By September, Brown says, “Orders were flowing in, and I was hiring people again. I could not keep up.” The small supplier went from a dozen employees prior to the pandemic to 19 staffers now.

Top 40 distributor Zorch has been working in a 100% virtual environment since the pandemic began, thanks to streamlined processes and digital systems, according to Mike Wolfe, president. However, he adds, “We really love our office culture and have planned to get back into the office after the Fourth of July holiday.”

Zorch does plan to implement a permanent hybrid schedule once the office reopens, so that employees can split their work time between the office and home for more flexibility and better work/life balance. Custom printing company Plastic Card City in Irvington, NY, was also able to shift its operations online seamlessly, and once they did, employees discovered they liked it better than being in the office, according to Daniel Rush, managing partner. “Everyone liked working remotely, travel time was eliminated and people have become more productive,” Rush says. “Now 95% of our business operations are online, and our clients have no problems with our format.”

Thanks to technology and hybrid office setups, several promo companies are expanding their ideas of whether an employee needs to live locally. Yvette Hymel, owner of Proforma Key Solutions in New Orleans, had an employee whose husband is in the Coast Guard. They were relocated to Guam – more than half a day ahead of the Gulf Coast. Though the employee initially thought she’d have to leave the company, Hymel was able to switch the administrative coordinator position to be fully remote – with the employee starting her days at 3:30 a.m. Chamorro Standard Time and finishing in the late morning. “She still has her whole day to spend with her husband and puppy to do whatever it is she wants to do, and we get to have her back and know that she’s helping us to stay on track,” Hymel says.

Buzztag
Buzztag in Bend, OR, has an office space with an industrial-chic vibe. Though owner Brenda Speirs is open to the idea of remote work, she has no plans to get rid of her office space – which has also functioned as a community space pre-pandemic.

Brenda Speirs, head of Bend, OR-based Buzztag, recently hired a woman who lives across the country – in Connecticut – to work on account management, bookkeeping and, eventually, sales. “This is an experiment,” Speirs admits. “I’m a little nervous that we can coach her the way she needs to be, but I know her, and I know her capability. I think it’s actually going to work great.”

Speirs says she’s always been open to the idea of remote work for her staff, but at the same time, she has no plans to get rid of her office space because it’s a “really nice place to be in and work every day.” Decorated with an industrial chic vibe that includes wide, open spaces and a faux kitchen counter, the office was designed to be a community space, and Speirs hopes to reopen it to the public so nonprofits can set up meetings or marketers can swing by to “poach” the internet. “I still want that,” she says, “and once COVID is in check, I want to keep this office as part of being the center of the community.”

DC Attorney General Files Antitrust Suit Against Amazon

Karl Racine says the e-commerce leader illegally controls online prices.

Karl Racine, attorney general for the District of Columbia, has sued Amazon on antitrust grounds, alleging that the e-commerce corporation manipulates online prices to eliminate competition.

Racine asserts that Amazon’s tactics have led to price hikes that are unfair for consumers and that thwart innovation.

Filed in Washington, D.C. Superior Court, the lawsuit asserts that Amazon has used contract terms to prohibit third-party sellers on its online marketplace from selling their products for lower prices on other platforms, thereby leveraging a monopoly power.

The practice manipulates pricing in the online commerce arena, making prices higher than they would be if fair market conditions were able to prevail, according to the attorney general’s office. At the end of the day, Amazon’s imposed agreement on third-party sellers hurts consumers and the sellers themselves by stifling choice, innovation and competition, Racine maintains.

Karl RacineFollowing some scrutiny, Amazon in 2019 removed a clause in its business solutions agreement, which third-party sellers must agree to in order to sell on the platform, that barred sellers from offering their wares on competitors’ web marketplaces for lower prices than what they sell for on Amazon.

Still, Racine says Amazon just replaced that clause with another that has essentially the same effect. Referred to as the “fair pricing policy,” the clause empowers Amazon to “impose sanctions” on sellers that retail their products at a lower price elsewhere online.

Racine’s aim with the lawsuit is to get Amazon to stop enacting what he describes as its illegal price manipulation practices. He’s also seeking damages and penalties.

Beyond being an e-commerce marketplace, Seattle-headquartered Amazon functions as a multinational technology whose business activities touch everything from cloud computing and artificial intelligence, to entertainment. In the first quarter of 2021, Amazon increased revenue by 44% year over year to $108.5 billion.

Over roughly the last decade, Amazon has grown into a source of concern and opportunity for the $20.7 billion North American promotional products industry. Certain promo companies actively sell on the platform, generating what some have described as good returns. Still, developments that include Merch by Amazon, a service that enables users to online-order custom-fit T-shirts with personalized labels, and an on-demand apparel manufacturing system have caused some branded merchandise pros to view Amazon as a major competitive threat to the promotional products industry.

12 Tips to Beat Back-to-Normal Anxiety

Mental health experts deliver strategies for managing stress associated with returning to a ‘post-pandemic’ world.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric Johnson was a road warrior.

Now, the prospect of returning to frequent travel fills the vice president of sales and development at Minnesota-based promotional products supplier with something not far from dread.

“I’ve become comfortable with my new lifestyle – with being at home with my wife and doing things with her,” Johnson admits. “Plus, the technology we’ve come to rely on during the pandemic enables us to do our jobs very effectively. Having to cover the high cost of travel is a concern too.”

Meditating

Johnson is among the people in the promo industry and beyond experiencing what some mental health experts have come to call “back-to-normal” anxiety or “post-pandemic” anxiety. Put basically, this is a sense of discomfort, worry and/or distress associated with the reopening of society and return to something like what life was like prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The phenomenon has been increasingly experienced as vaccination rollouts accelerate, restrictions on businesses and events loosen or lift, and as more companies look to return workers to some level of in-office work. The sense of anxiety can vary from mild to severe, ranging from some who feel occasional nagging worry to those experiencing near crippling fear for everything from their health to social phobia related to interacting in person with people again.

Mental health experts say that it’s normal to experience such emotions, especially given the stressors and outright trauma of the past year of pandemic and the uncertainty that comes with how things will go in the months ahead as routines established during the hunkering down of COVID are subject to change. But while the worry is normal, it doesn’t mean you’re powerless against it.

Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter
“Anxiety thrives in the unknowns and ‘back-to-normal’ anxiety is just that, an unknown,” says Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter (pictured). “However, there are ways to manage this anxiety.”

“The expectation is that we’re to ‘go back to normal’ and readapt and readjust to a whole new world, post-COVID,” says Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with individuals diagnosed with both substance use disorders and severe mental illness.

Utter continued: “This adaptation can be scary, anxiety-provoking. But what’s fascinating about human beings is our ability to adapt. We may feel anxious and fearful, but the vast majority of us will adapt to whatever the ‘new normal’ may be. Anxiety thrives in the unknowns and ‘back-to-normal’ anxiety is just that, an unknown. However, there are ways to manage this anxiety.”

Indeed, here are 12 strategies from mental health professionals to help you do just that.

1. Develop a post-pandemic life plan. This can bring a sense of focus and clarity that helps dispel or lessen the uncertainty where anxiety breeds. It can include planning to retain, where feasible, elements of pandemic life that you’ve come to enjoy, from simple things like continuing to have groceries delivered, to more complicated ones like keeping your commitments and to-do list lighter.

Amanda Stemen recommends that you develop this plan in line with your personal values. “If that includes maintaining a slower pace of life and/or spending more quality time with a close circle of loved ones, make choices that continue to support that,” advises Stemen, a licensed therapist and owner of FUNdaMENTAL Growth, a therapy, coaching and consulting business in Los Angeles. “The choices might be difficult, such as quitting a job or not reconnecting with certain friends, but ultimately the more we live in line with our values the less anxiety we’ll experience overall.”

2. Engage in journaling. This involves writing down anything and everything that’s on your mind, especially matters that are troubling you, says Pareen Sehat, a registered clinical counselor and certified mental health professional with Canada-based Well Beings Counselling. “I believe there’s nothing more effective than journaling to overcome the fear and anxiety of going back to normal in the current circumstances,” proclaims Sehat. “This will clear your mind of all the fears and will direct your thoughts to a path that leads to a brighter destination.”

Pareen Sehat
“There’s nothing more effective than journaling to overcome the fear and anxiety of going back to normal,” says Pareen Sehat (pictured), a registered clinical counselor.

3. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations. It can be highly therapeutic. Utter notes that the mindfulness app Headspace can help.

“Mindfulness allows us to recognize what we have control over (ourselves and our responses) and what we don’t have control over (pretty much everything else),” says Stemen, “so that we can make the best decisions to move ourselves forward. Mindfulness also gets us out of our heads where we’re telling ourselves stories that may or may not be true. Those stories can negatively impact our lives.”

4. Give meditation a go. Meditation can help reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health and lead to enhanced self-awareness and a broader perspective that, among other things, will help you achieve mindfulness. This article has 12 good tips for meditation beginners. Few things to keep in mind: As you start trying to meditate, take a few minutes to wind down first and begin with slow deep breaths to calm the body. Find a quiet space to meditate in, try not to fidget, and, as you go forward, simply breathe.

5. Take it slow. Decide what tasks you’re most interested in returning to in the “post-pandemic” world and start integrating them back into your routines one at a time, says Dr. Jeremy Enzor, a faculty member at Walden University and certified counselor with 14 years of clinical experience in community mental health and private practice.

“If the thought of going full-force back into your pre-COVID life is overwhelming, take small steps to where you want to be,” adds Kellie Brown, licensed mental health counselor and owner of Quiet Water Counseling in Florida. “Maybe you miss hanging with all your friends on a Friday night, but the thought of seeing everyone at one time is too much. If so, think about scheduling a smaller event with just one or two people at a time. You don’t have to jump right back into your previous social life right away.”

6. Prep for the new workday routine. One thing eating at a lot of folks is the prospect of returning to in-office work after a year of working from home. If an in-office return is something you’re not keen on but can’t avoid, Dr. Andrew Mendonsa, a California-based clinical and forensic psychologist, suggests that you practice your former morning and work routine every day. “If you know you’re due to return to the workplace in a month, start soon by waking up as if you need to in order to grab a train or commute to work,” Mendonsa advises. “Re-form these habits as much as possible to avoid shell shock when ‘the day’ comes. Be sure to build in mental health breaks throughout the day when you do return to work.”

7. Reduce news watching and social media time. “Take your news in small chunks – get what you need regarding updates and weather and tap-out,” says Utter. “The same applies with social media platforms. If you notice your heart racing and your brow sweating while scrolling through feeds, then shut them down.”

Dr. Tasha Holland-Kornegay
Try progressive muscle relaxation, advises Dr. Tasha Holland-Kornegay (pictured). This method consists of intentionally putting tension on the muscles and then intentionally releasing the tension.

8. Perform tasks that require simple repetition. Certain tasks that require repetitive activity can soothe the nerves and thus be worth engaging in when anxiety mounts, says Dr. Tasha Holland-Kornegay, a licensed clinical mental health clinician and founder of Wellness In Real Life. “You could try to shred some papers, vacuum your car or even repetitively recite a certain phrase that gives you some hope or positivity,” Holland-Kornegay notes. Relatedly, studies show that “when repeating spiritual phrases, individuals were able to cope more effectively with stress, anxiety and tension,” she says.

9. Express an attitude of gratitude. “As we continue to face the consequences of COVID-19, we can practice exercising control over what we focus on in our lives,” says Manny D. Castro, a licensed psychotherapist currently in clinical practice within a large New York City hospital. “An attitude of gratitude can help protect us from the negative effects of adversity. In practice, this can, for example, involve expressing gratitude to your loved ones for what they add to your life.”

10. Try progressive muscle relaxation. “This method consists of intentionally putting tension on the muscles and then intentionally releasing the tension,” says Holland-Kornegay. “It helps reduce anxiety and relieves tension. Sit in a comfortable position, breathe a couple of times, tense the muscles on one of your feet by squeezing as tight as possible, hold on at this position for up to 10 seconds and then release it. Take 30 seconds to breathe and relax; then, shift to the second foot, and so forth.”

11. Take care of yourself physically. Exercise regularly. Get sufficient sleep. Eat a healthy diet. Don’t overdo caffeine and alcohol. All this can make you feel better. These things may seem self-evident, but actually enacting them is easier said than done. Remind yourself of their importance and have a plan for living these strategies. Relatedly, notes Holland-Kornegay, ensure you’re getting enough magnesium, which helps with energy and stress levels. She says women need 300mg per day and men need 350mg. Supplements are available.

12. Seek professional help. If worrying thoughts and feelings become overwhelming and you’re struggling to cope, it could be time to get help from a mental health professional. In some ways, this is easier than ever, as telehealth options have proliferated, meaning you can engage in therapy sessions without leaving home. Talkspace, for instance, is one of your online therapy options.  

LinkedIn, Spotify Planning Live Audio Features

They’re the latest in a string of social media and tech firms looking to jump on the Clubhouse bandwagon.

The race to be the next Clubhouse continues. The buzzy audio-only app that’s proven popular among early adopters in the promotional products industry has the rest of the social media landscape scrambling to catch up. Both Twitter and Facebook have versions, either in the works or rolling out. Now LinkedIn is testing its own social audio feature, which the social media company believes will be different than its rivals because it’s a networking feature for professionals, rather than just a social outlet.

“We’re seeing a nearly 50% growth in conversations on LinkedIn reflected in stories, video shares and posts on the platform,” Suzi Owens, a spokesperson for LinkedIn, told TechCrunch. “We’re doing some early tests to create a unique audio experience connected to your professional identity. And, we’re looking at how we can bring audio to other parts of LinkedIn such as events and groups, to give our members even more ways to connect to their community.”

The LinkedIn audio feature will include a stage showcasing the room’s speakers and a set of listeners below, as well as tools to join and leave a room, react to comments and request to speak, according to screenshots of the interface discovered in the app by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, as reported by TechCrunch.

LinkedIn says it will be able to use its current moderation tools built for features like its live videos to help prevent inappropriate, harassing or otherwise harmful discussions. “Our priority is to build a trusted community where people feel safe and can be productive,” Owens told TechCrunch. “Our members come to LinkedIn to have respectful and constructive conversations with real people and we’re focused on ensuring they have a safe environment to do just that.”

LinkedIn hadn’t announced an exact launch date yet, but told TechCrunch that it will begin beta testing soon. Spotify, the popular music and podcast streaming app, is also looking to get in the live audio game. The company recently announced it was acquiring Betty Labs, a company that makes an app called Locker Room, which is similar to Clubhouse but with a focus on sports fans.

Adding live audio when most of Spotify’s content is consumed on-demand will be a challenge, according to Protocol, an online news site focused on tech. Though so much of the app is organized into playlists, audio chat will give users another reason to stay connected. “We think audio is going to just start evolving like crazy again,” Gustav Soderstrom, Spotify’s chief research and development officer, told Protocol.

Over 21 Million Bogus Face Masks Seized by ICE

The counterfeits were uncovered as part of Operation Stolen Promise, which combats COVID-19 related crime.

More than 21.2 million.

That’s how many counterfeit respirator masks U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) says it’s seized since launching Operation Stolen Promise a year ago to combat fraud and other crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HSI noted that fighting scammers bent on committing personal protective equipment swindles has been a key focus, with one of the organization’s “most significant and wide-ranging ongoing investigations” centering on disrupting a criminal organization selling and distributing counterfeit 3M N-95 respirator masks.

Covid-19 Crimes

3M, parent company of Top 40 promotional products supplier 3M/Promotional Markets, produces the N-95s, which have been in high demand during the pandemic because of their ability to protect against viral spread. “HSI has initiated 98 criminal investigations into counterfeit 3M respirators and seized more than $5 million in criminal proceeds derived from the sale of counterfeit 3M masks, in addition to preventing these masks from entering hospital and consumer supply chains,” authorities said in a news release.

3M has been working with law enforcement to combat mask fraud. In February, for instance, authorities announced that 3M provided important information that helped lead to the seizure of some 11 million counterfeit N95 masks. 3M recently sued a Florida company, alleging mask fraud.

While sales of PPE have retreated in the promotional products industry, industry companies that continue to move product in the category should take note of HSI’s activities and source only from well-vetted, proven vendors.

Operation Stolen Promise, which began in April 2020, is broader than just mask fraud, though. It’s also cracked down on mislabeled, fraudulent or prohibited COVID-19 vaccines/alleged treatments and test kits, while also fighting major fraud schemes tied to the Paycheck Protection Program. Overall, the operation has led to 267 arrests and the seizure of $48 million in illicit proceeds.

Of late, HSI is “seeing a rise in criminals attempting to profit off vulnerable Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic by targeting people searching for online products and information on cures, vaccines and other treatments.”

In February, three Baltimore-area men were charged for an alleged scam that replicated the website of a biotech company in order to attempt to sell COVID-19 vaccines. In March, HSI warned the public about a scam targeting consumers with promises of gifts and cash for taking a fraudulent post-vaccination survey.

Tips for Improving Your Virtual Networking

Many professional networking activities have moved online in the last year. Are you taking full advantage of the opportunities out there?

The shift to remote work and virtual events has also changed the way people are approaching professional networking.

Virtual Networking

A new study from market research firm Savanta found that 46% of Americans have taken their networking to social media platforms, and 35% are attending virtual meetups. In fact, people who are currently working from home were much more likely (44%) than those working outside the home (26%) to attend virtual meetups. “When COVID-19 forced most Americans to work from home, traditional professional networking methods came to a halt,” says Sadia Corey, vice president of client development at Savanta. “As a result, online platforms became essential in forging new professional relationships. … Americans have become creative in how they use social media to interact with their networks.”

Among the virtual networking activities growing in popularity during the pandemic are joining professional groups online, connecting with industry experts on LinkedIn, following up with speakers from virtual conferences held on social media, and writing blog posts and articles to share on social media networks, according to Savanta.

If you’ve been trying to expand your professional network during the pandemic and beyond, try these tips for making a good impression online.

1. Rethink the idea of networking. It’s not just about attending every Zoom gathering out there, according to networking expert J. Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network. “Instead of imagining the digital version of the in-person schmoozy event as being your networking choices, rethink what networking is: Networking is every single human interaction, as every interaction is a chance to start or further a relationship,” she says. Other online activities that “count” as networking include commenting on a friend’s LinkedIn post, recommending a podcast to a colleague, forwarding an article to a client or volunteering for an industry board, she says.

2. Make sure your online profiles are up to date. This should have been a given even before COVID, but it’s absolutely essential now that so many of our interactions are in the digital world. Expect that people you reach out to online will be checking up on your LinkedIn and other social profiles before they respond. Make sure all your information is accurate, and your headshot is recent. Give your personal branding a boost by using the same photo across networks and crafting professional bios that link back to your website or blog.

3. Be prepared and look professional. This goes for both tech tools and talking points, says Robert Kienzle, senior consultant with Knowmium. That means dressing professionally, having clear lighting, an eye-level webcam and a headset, if you’re going on Zoom or another video platform. “No one wants to talk to people they can’t see, especially if one person has their camera on but the other doesn’t,” he says. “Echoes and background static don’t make for pleasant conversations, either.” Take some time beforehand to prepare your thoughts and consider personal stories and relevant ideas you might want to bring up during the call, he adds.

4. Offer help freely, without expecting an immediate return. Brand strategist Blaire Brown says Facebook Groups are her favorite way to connect online. “Find a community of professionals that makes sense to your field,” she says. “It’s a great springboard to make connections. As members contribute tips and ask for advice, it opens a door for everyone in the group to provide a response.” Brown recommends offering a free consult call or advice whenever you can, without expecting anything in return. As with in-person networking, don’t be “salesy,” but go in with a “giving mindset.” Many of these types of groups have strict “no self-promotion” policies anyway, so “people who go in with the sole intention of just selling their product/service end up just annoying people and getting kicked out,” says Steve Morgan, author of Anti-Sell.

5. Leverage technology to your advantage. There are plenty of free tools out there that you can use in creative ways to help with online networking. For example, Hoey says, “Google Alerts are a smart networking tool.” Set up Alerts for prospective clients, so you can be among the first to congratulate them when they have a business success. Another simple but powerful idea: Turn your out-of-office auto-responder into a networking tool. “When you’re in meetings or attending a training, put it on not to simply signal that you’re not available, but to tell your network what you’re up to,” Hoey suggests.

6. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Just as you wouldn’t attend every in-person trade show, conference or training session offered in your field, you have to be selective when it comes to virtual networking. Choose events, groups and social networks that have the most relevance to your professional ambitions and go in with a mission. If most of your field and clients interact on LinkedIn, for example, focus the bulk of your efforts there, rather than trying to build a presence on Snapchat, TikTok, Clubhouse, Dispo or whatever new social network is currently trending.

Blankets Emerge as Popular Pandemic Gift

Blankets were the sleeper hit of 2020.

Although face masks, hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE) have dominated the promotional products industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for comfy apparel and accessories picked up in the second half of the year. During Q4, “blanket” was the most sought after product.

With more companies offering a work-from-home option as a semi-permanent or even permanent choice, high-quality comfort products will continue to be in high demand

Blanket

3 Tech Trends to Watch

These apps are changing the way people interact online.

Social media is moving beyond the endless scroll, it seems. Instead, tech companies are pushing toward better virtual and augmented reality, bringing back delayed gratification and enabling audio-only experiences.

Meetings in the Metaverse

SURREAL
SURREAL is a 3-D web-based virtual environment for online trade shows and events.

Could the next round of virtual events happen in virtual reality? Companies like Facebook and Roblox are banking on it. Facebook has devoted nearly 20% of its workforce, about 10,000 employees, to developing augmented and virtual reality devices, according to a report in The Information. CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the social media juggernaut wants to create “realistic avatars” that allow people in the virtual world to “make real authentic eye contact with someone and have real expressions that get reflected on your avatar,” according to The Verge.

Roblox, the video gaming company popular with kids and teens, is banking on making the “metaverse” a reality, according to CNBC. In geek terms, the metaverse is a digital world where people can get together virtually to play, work, meet and socialize – think of it like the book and movie Ready Player One.

These lofty ambitions are still more science fiction than reality, but another company just launched its own entry into enhanced virtual events. SURREAL is a 3-D, web-based virtual environment built with the same technology behind games like Fortnite and Disney’s CGI-heavy show The Mandalorian. The tech allows for realistic, real-time rendering and is customizable depending on clients’ needs. SURREAL is already working with big brands to host events like car shows and kitchen/home expos.

The tech was conceived in 2020 in direct response to the coronavirus pandemic, but SURREAL creators are hoping it will have relevance beyond that.

“SURREAL complements physical events without the transitional limitations of IRL, such as cost, carbon footprint or physical location,” says Josh Rush, co-founder and CEO of SURREAL. “While face-to-face communication is lasting and impactful, virtual connections are equally as powerful and important – and can seamlessly extend experiences by removing the limitations of time or location in the form of a preview, post-part or exclusive VIP offering.”

Bottom line: With improvements in VR hardware, Zoom meetings could one day become a quaint relic for salespeople.

Rediscovering the Joys of Waiting

Dispo
Dispo is an iPhone app that mimics old-school disposable cameras.

Smartphones and streaming services have made instant gratification and binge-watching nearly universal concepts. But perhaps these trends are beginning to wear thin. Consider the discourse around buzzy Disney+ shows WandaVision and the aforementioned Mandalorian. Episodes were dropped once a week, rather than a whole season being dumped at once, a release structure designed to maximize the amount of fan theorizing and meme-making that occurred.

Dispo, a previously invite-only app available for iPhones, mimics the old-school disposable camera. Users can take as many photos as they want on the app. The only catch? They need to “develop” overnight and aren’t available until the next morning at 9 a.m. The photos can then be shared in solo or shared rolls or kept private.

Created by YouTuber David Dobrik, the deliberately nostalgic Dispo is perhaps an antidote to the highly curated, idealized world of Instagram. It was also the fourth-most-downloaded app within a week of being released, according to Entrepreneur. Though the app makes people wait, its motto is “Live in the Moment,” a phrase emblazoned all over a merch line recently dropped by Dispo.

Bottom line: Audio-only experiences let users make a human connection without worrying about doing their hair or changing out of their pandemic jammies.

Audio Is Worth 1,000 Pictures

Checking cell phone
Twitter expects to release its audio-only Spaces to everyone on the platform by April.

The biggest trend in social media is sound. After Clubhouse took the tech world by storm, all the major social media services are scrambling to release their own versions. Clubhouse lets you drop in on live conversations with everyone from celebrities to random strangers. You can also create your own rooms to build a following and establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Twitter plans to release its own version of audio rooms, called Spaces, to everyone on the platform by April, according to The Verge. And Instagram recently released Live Rooms, which allow up to four people to broadcast live at the same time. Though Live Rooms include video, there are indications that Instagram is working on an audio-only option as well, according to Pocket-Lint.

Bottom line: Audio-only experiences let users make a human connection without worrying about doing their hair or changing out of their pandemic jammies.

How to Market Effectively With Text Messages

It just makes sense to meet people where they are – on their phones. SMS marketing can be incredibly powerful; just be careful not to abuse the medium.

Last month, email automation service Mailchimp acquired Chatitive, a marketing platform that helps businesses communicate with clients via text messaging.

Texting

“It’s more important than ever for small businesses to reach their customers where they are, and mobile messaging is an incredibly effective way to do just that,” Mailchimp wrote in a statement. The company added that texts are a great solution for businesses that need to “share time-sensitive information, like transactional and promotional messaging, and build lasting relationships with their customers.”

Indeed, marketing via text message can be incredibly effective. Consider these stats from Hafta Have, a company that provides online tools for retailers: 98% of adults age 30 to 49 use texts, and 66% of millennials say they prefer text messaging over email. Text messages also have a remarkably robust open rate – 99%, compared to email marketing’s lackluster 19% average. “It’s just where everybody is communicating,” says Amanda Latifi, co-founder of Hafta Have. “It’s a very intimate communication channel.”

Hafta Have has partnered with retailers including Starbucks, Chilli Beans and Kittenish to use custom text message campaigns to increase engagement and sales in brick-and-mortar and online stores. With Starbucks, for example, Hafta Have tested a promotion in a Las Vegas location to drive upselling of select store merch. Signage depicting a barcode was placed next to one of the store’s travel mugs. Shoppers who took a picture of the barcode and texted it to a specific number would then unlock an offer for a free tall coffee with a purchase of the mug. A quarter of the shoppers who texted the barcode ended up buying the mug, and the store was able to increase its average check size by two times during the four-week test period, according to Latifi.

Hafta Have has also used text messages to help retailers solve the “abandoned cart” syndrome in online shopping. The technology can monitor products being added to a cart, and if the purchase isn’t completed, send out a product-specific text message giving customers added incentive to buy, perhaps with an offer of free shipping on the purchase.

Brands using text messages in their marketing strategy have seen some impressive returns, but the personalized nature of texting that makes it such a powerful tool also means marketers must tread carefully to avoid raising the ire of the very consumers they’re trying to reach.

Consider these tips for ensuring your text message marketing is effective, inoffensive and even welcomed by the recipient.

1. Have recipients opt in. “A lot of people say that SMS is the wild, wild West,” Latifi says. But there are rules governing when you can send a marketing text. In particular, marketers need to have a “timestamp of consent” before sending out a message. By skipping this step, you’re more likely to irritate the recipient, but you also open yourself up to potential legal trouble. Have customers opt in to receiving texts when they sign up for your email list, make a purchase or by having them text a keyword to a short code, says Shaun Price, head of customer acquisition at MitoQ, a dietary supplement company.

2. Be intentional when you craft your message. Marketers run the risk of making the same mistakes with SMS that they did with email, Latifi says. Text messages should not be used as a megaphone or for what Latifi calls “spaghetti-wall messaging.” Share information about a great, time-sensitive discount (but don’t spam them with “sale” messages) or relay timely information that the recipient cares about.

3. Keep it real – and respond promptly. As previously mentioned, texting is an intimate communication method. Make sure your marketing message sounds real, not robotic, even if you’re using automation tools for convenience. Personalize the message whenever possible. “Use colloquial language that aligns with your brand,” Price says. “You want your SMS marketing to feel as much like talking to a friend as possible.” Consider using an auto-responder so you can answer customers in real-time and spark a conversation, he adds.

4. Use graphics to make your message stand out. A picture is worth a thousand words. Given the brevity inherent to the medium, why not add some pertinent visuals to your text to ensure your message carries extra weight?

5. Choose the right time to send. With COVID disrupting many people’s typical schedules, advice about when to send marketing messages has gone out the window (though it’s always a good idea to ensure your time zones are accurate and you’re not sending messages in the middle of the night). “You have to figure out what works best for you as a brand,” Latifi says. “It’s a crapshoot right now.” She recommends using a/b testing – just as you would with an email campaign – to narrow down optimal timing.

6. Include a call to action. “Make sure you give customers something to do with the text,” Latifi says. “Don’t just tell them something. Give them the next step.” That means ensuring there’s an active link in the message and a crystal-clear path to what you want the recipient to do or see next.

Ingenious Touch-Free Tools

With the lingering fears about COVID, these creative new PPE items can protect users from surface contact with bacteria and viruses.

Alexander Manufacturing

Available with nine stock ribbon colors, this safe key has a high-quality acrylic tip for keypads and a curved hook for opening doors. Made in the USA.

Berlekamp Plastics

Meet the germ-free way to open doors, push buttons, carry bags and lift latches. Made in the USA and available in a variety of colors, this no-touch tool is a great new hire or new tenant gift.

Compass Industries

Choose a simple USA-made tool that’s also a discreet keychain for operating ATMs, elevators and touchscreens at self-checkouts. Add your full-color logo and design.

Essef Distributors

Consider a keychain that’s made of antimicrobial zinc alloy. It protects the end-user from viruses and germs found on everyday objects like drawers, doors and keypads, and it can also be used as a bottle opener. This would be a great promo item for outdoor festivals, or restaurants and bars.

KEY-BAK

Great for retail, corporate, hospitality, e-commerce and B2C customers, this lightweight door opener and stylus is ideal for use on high-touch surfaces, and attaches to purses, belt loops and more.

Pinnacle Designs

Choose from two designs and say good-bye to touching doors, keypads, signature pads and buttons. Customize this item with your logo imprinted with either a spot or full-color imprint.

How to Enlist the Right Social Media Manager for Your Business

A solid social media presence and reputation starts with understanding the medium and how critical it’s become for a brand’s image. “You have to understand the intersection of technology, sociology and business,” says Taylor Gaines, the CEO of social media strategy firm Social Gaines. “You have to ask yourself, ‘Where are we going as a business?’ ‘What content is driving conversion and how are we monetizing that?’ Social media is so integrated with everything.”

That’s where a social media manager comes in. They should understand your company’s objectives and bring that to bear on engagement and managing the conversation with prospects and clients. But to do that, they have to engage with company leadership as well.

“There’s often no dialogue with the higher-ups,” says Gaines. “That means higher-level conversations about strategy aren’t intersecting with lower-level tactics. Leadership says, ‘just tweet about it,’ while the social media manager doesn’t see all opportunities. They should communicate about the most effective ways to use the tools and the actual execution of it.”

A manager is also the first line of defense if criticism on social starts to swell up. Work with them on a proactive plan for addressing the issue in a calm, collected tone. Put together variant responses without sounding canned. “There aren’t a million ways to say sorry,” says Gaines, “but have a few different ones and establish a central place for them if something occurs. So companies need to pick their battles. If a customer has a terrible experience, figure out exactly what happened, and tell them, ‘We’re so sorry. Let us make it up to you.’ Own up to it.”

How to Strengthen Your SEO

Put these strategies into play to rank higher search engine results relative to your business in 2021.

Want to give your company a competitive edge in the digital marketplace and rank higher in search engine results relative to your business? Then start implementing these search engine optimization strategies now.

SEO

1. Dig Into Google Analytics
This Google service tracks and reports pivotal information about your website, providing data that helps create a clear picture of your site’s performance and your audience. With Analytics, you can learn things like what browsers visitors most commonly use to access your site, get insights about referral traffic, and gain an understanding of what devices people use to visit your pages. Draw on all that and more to optimize your site to better attract target prospects.

2. Focus on Keywords
Consistently craft new site content that’s based off, and peppered with, keywords which ideal prospects would search to discover the products and services you provide. Incorporate the keywords into content copy in a natural conversational way; Google’s algorithms can sniff out spammy tactics like keyword stuffing and lower you in rankings.

To get keyword-fueled content right, do keyword research. This could begin as simply as making a list of topics relevant to your business. Then, within each topic category, write down words customers would likely use in searches on those topics. There are also tech tools, such as Keyword Magic from SEMrush, that can help with the research.

3. Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly
If you haven’t done this yet, now’s definitely the time. Consider: Two-thirds (63%) of Google’s U.S. organic search traffic originates from mobile (according to Merkle), and Google captures about 90% of search engine market share in the United States. Plus, Google gives preference to mobile-optimized sites in rankings, whether a searcher is looking on a desktop or smartphone.

In addition to having the necessary site architecture created so pages display properly on various mobile devices, you should populate your site with mobile-optimized content. To help with this, perform research on what mobile-friendly keywords are relevant to prospects and include them, and put the most compelling/helpful items toward the top of your pages so they load before anything else.

4. Optimize Content for Voice Search
Spoken searches are already a factor in SEO, and that influence is only going to increase. Ensure your site’s ready to rank high in voice searches by creating plain-language content that answers questions prospects would commonly put into search engines in relation to services/products you provide. Additionally, improve your page load speed, include keywords and phrases of local significance on your site, and leverage microdata that won’t be seen but that gets built into your site’s source code to give search engines more relevant information about your site’s content.

5. Weave an Intricate Web of Backlinks
Developing a diverse backlink web that features links from authoritative sources indicates to Google algorithms that your site is a valid repository of information, which can help bump you up in rankings.

Some low-tech ways to build links include: Provide testimonials to businesses you’ve partnered with and patronized and ask them to link back to your website; write a guest post for a blog or news source that relates to the industry or other topics and have the entity for which you’re crafting the content link back to your site; be interviewed/quoted as an expert business source in industry-related or local news podcasts and articles, asking that a backlink be provided when you’re mentioned.

Also, start your own blog and create high-quality content that others will want to share, cite and link to in their content. Try asking people in your network who have sites or blogs to link back to your site through in-content links, though be tactful about this. Additionally, list your site in valid niche directories and ones that are part of quality websites for a specific industry (like a trade association).

Three Quick SEO Tips

1. Optimize Images. This consists of decreasing the file size of images, using either a plugin or script, so that pages featuring them load faster. Slow load times increase bounce rate and hurt your search rankings.

2. Use Jump Links. At the top of pages, create a list of topics covered in the page content. Base these on keywords and have each list entry “jump” link, when clicked, to the part of the page where the topic is discussed. This isn’t a good fit for every page but works great for certain blogs and articles.

3. Set Up Your Google My Business Account. It’s free and helps prospects find you more easily in searches and on Google Maps. This is especially important for promo firms that serve particular geographical areas.

Fun Accessories to Spice Up Any Outfit

Whether it’s a beanie, tie, scrunchy or scarf, a branded accessory can complete a look.

From head to toe, the right accessory can complete any outfit. Why not pair an outerwear order with a custom beanie or a graphic T-shirt with a matching scrunchy?

Buffalo Bay Scarf

This custom tie and scarf set is 100% silk decorated with a wet-dye process.

Tip: Coordinated ties and scarves are the perfect way to complete a uniform look, and a step-and-repeat can transform a logo into something unique. Or, consider going even more abstract and extract the colors from the logo to create a new pattern – like stripes, polka dots or chevrons. It gives a subtle branding reminder without being garish.

Columbia Hat

The Columbia Cascade Peak beanie is made of 100% soft acrylic knit and features the Columbia logo as a patch along the edge.

Tip: Cozy cold-weather gear is a welcome item, when so much socializing is done outdoors these days. This hat would be perfect for a local restaurant with outdoor seating to help you keep diners warm and cozy with branded hats, scarves or gloves.

Tumi Tote

This high-end Tumi tote is designed to carry all your essentials, including a 15” laptop and other devices.

Tip: Luxury purses, bags and totes that combine style with functionality are a winning idea for corporate gifting.

Cobalt Blue Scrunchie

This ’90s throwback is now available in velvet (VS100) from Pop! Promos. The product comes in 12 stock colors and an optional bow add-on. A customizable tag comes standard. Pop! Promos also offers two full-color packaging options to give the scrunchies a retail-ready look with extra branding opportunity.

Tip: Consider adding scrunchies as part of a fun custom kit – anything from a “girls’ night in” spa box to a retro movie marathon starter kit.

How to Pivot Your Business to E-Commerce

6 tips for moving your goods and services online.

1. Find Your Niche
E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet. Offering an assortment of products at your digital store is a no-brainer, but you’ll also need to differentiate yourself from the pack. Consider which services you’ll use to market your offerings, like virtual demonstrations, Zoom consultations and webinars.

Man and woman looking at ecommerce store on computer

Do market research to ensure you’re on the platform that will bring in the most customers.

2. Select Your Marketplace
The internet offers plenty of e-commerce options: your company website, social media channels, e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Etsy or a combination of the above. Do market research (even just a short survey of prospects and clients) to ensure you’re on the platform that will bring in the most customers and maximize your sales.

3. Consider Pricing Strategy
During these difficult economic times, consumers have less discretionary spending and are trying to pinch their pennies. In order to earn their business, you should have clear pricing and consider incorporating deals into your offers, such as free shipping, first-time order discounts, referral incentives and bulk-buying specials.

4. Create Engaging Content
Don’t just sell to your customers – give them a reason to care about your online presence. Transform window shopping into a digital experience by producing high-quality content like captivating product images, video tutorials and blogs rich with information that can help their business.

5. Outsource Shipping
Dealing with logistics to get products to customers can be time-consuming and costly, especially if you have a small staff or you’re a one-person shop. Allow a third-party fulfillment center to store inventory, distribute customer orders and help scale your business. You may also be able to avoid paying retail rates for shipping carrier services.

6. Promote Yourself
Don’t wait for customers to find you. Market your platform on social media by joining groups and engaging with brands and influencers so your target audience notices you. You should also send email blasts to your current customer base informing them of your transition to e-commerce.

Opposites Attract in Pantone Colors of the Year

Researchers from Virginia Tech recommend well-fitted three-layer masks to help prevent the spread of COVID.

For 2021, the color institute chose Ultimate Gray and the vibrant yellow Illuminating, a combination that evokes both steadiness and hope.

After the tumultuousness and uncertainty that have defined much of 2020, people are looking both for rock-solid dependability and a bit of sunny optimism. Those two desires come together in Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year: Ultimate Gray and the vibrant yellow Illuminating.

“The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

Both color choices work well in the realm of promotional products.

Newport Jacket
The Newport jacket comes in yellow, with contrasting gray thread in the zippers and drawcord.

There are multiple ways to wear the combo as well. For example, the Newport jacket in yellow, with gray thread in the zippers and drawcords. Another option is to layer the colors – pairing a yellow T-shirt under a hoodie in gray/white.

Newport Jacket
The snag-proof polo is ideal for the office or the golf course.

We expect to see Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in a variety of demographics and markets next year, including healthcare, senior living, hospitality, service industries, transit and any market that wants their employees to feel and look their best.

This is the first time Pantone has given the Color of the Year crown to multiple hues since it chose Rose Quartz and Serenity for 2016. Last year, the institute chose Classic Blue, and the 2018 Color of the Year choice went to Living Coral.

Reputable Retail Brands

Choose well-established names like those listed here so your brand will benefit from increased prestige in turn.

Gemline Backpack
Star students and sales reps will appreciate this Moleskine laptop backpack with room for a 17” laptop and 10” tablet. It’s made of durable 600D polyester and has several organizational pockets and compartments.

Hanes
This midweight 50/50 Hanes sweatshirt has double-needle, cover-seamed neck and arm holes for added durability and up to 5% recycled polyester from plastic bottles. The patented low-pill, high-stitch density fabric allows for easy embellishment. Choose from a variety of colors.

Perry Ellis
A ladies’ Perry Ellis full-zip fleece is perfect for the colder months. It has a mock collar and waffle knit that keeps the wearer warm. There’s also a subtle two-tone appearance to provide contrast. It’s machine-washable and available in an assortment of colors.

Adidas
Go for an Adidas brushed terry heathered polyester pullover that’s lightweight and comes in five color combinations. Tonal stitching and three reflective gradient stripes on the right forearm add a touch of safety and style.

SanMar
With a lightweight design and temperature regulation properties, this ladies’ Nike jacket makes the perfect layering piece. It has a chevron design across the chest and a brushed interior that will secure it in the wearers’ rotation.

Vantage
Add your company name or logo to this Greg Norman polo and your brand will travel from the golf course to the office (or video call). Moisture management and sun protection will win over wearers too.

4 Ways to Improve Your Workday

Brands could eventually be able to leverage it to offer fast automated responses to common queries.

Marketers could soon have a new Instagram feature that will help with responsive customer service on the social media platform.

Under the feature that Instagram is reportedly testing, brands would be able to provide clickable question-and-answer options within their direct feeds on their business Instagram accounts to deliver quick responses to common queries.

As the screenshots of the under-work feature in the above tweet from social media commenter/consultant @MattNavarra illustrate, brands could spotlight frequent questions in the message window. Users could then click for speedy answers.

“At this stage, it seems that businesses can set up four questions that will be displayed in your initial message interaction, giving brands a simple, automated way to address the most common queries,” reported Andrew Hutchinson of SocialMediaToday.

Instagram on phone

It’s unclear when the Q&A feature will be rolled out to all users.

However, social media analysts said it makes sense that Instagram is taking this step to enhance customer service functionality through the platform. Parent company Facebook already provides a similar feature on its Messenger in which Facebook Page managers can deliver automated responses to oft-asked questions.

Plus, with both Facebook and Instagram delving deeper into ecommerce, the feature could prove a “handy function to address common queries around shipping, returns, etc.,” wrote Hutchinson, who continued: “It could provide another helpful option to consider for connecting with your Instagram audience, while also lessening the response load at your end.”

Instagram Testing New FAQ Feature

Brands could eventually be able to leverage it to offer fast automated responses to common queries.

Marketers could soon have a new Instagram feature that will help with responsive customer service on the social media platform.

Under the feature that Instagram is reportedly testing, brands would be able to provide clickable question-and-answer options within their direct feeds on their business Instagram accounts to deliver quick responses to common queries.

As the screenshots of the under-work feature in the above tweet from social media commenter/consultant @MattNavarra illustrate, brands could spotlight frequent questions in the message window. Users could then click for speedy answers.

“At this stage, it seems that businesses can set up four questions that will be displayed in your initial message interaction, giving brands a simple, automated way to address the most common queries,” reported Andrew Hutchinson of SocialMediaToday.

Instagram on phone

It’s unclear when the Q&A feature will be rolled out to all users.

However, social media analysts said it makes sense that Instagram is taking this step to enhance customer service functionality through the platform. Parent company Facebook already provides a similar feature on its Messenger in which Facebook Page managers can deliver automated responses to oft-asked questions.

Plus, with both Facebook and Instagram delving deeper into ecommerce, the feature could prove a “handy function to address common queries around shipping, returns, etc.,” wrote Hutchinson, who continued: “It could provide another helpful option to consider for connecting with your Instagram audience, while also lessening the response load at your end.”

Study Finds Cloth Masks Protect Wearer, Others

Researchers from Virginia Tech recommend well-fitted three-layer masks to help prevent the spread of COVID.

A recent study out of Virginia Tech found that cloth face coverings help to protect both the wearer and others who are nearby from spreading the coronavirus.

The research, led by airborne disease transmission expert Linsey Marr, found that a well-fitted three-layer mask with outer layers made of a flexible, tightly woven fabric and an inner layer designed to filter small particles provides at least 75% filtration efficiency from respiratory droplets produced during breathing and speaking.

Linsey Marr, and team
Linsey Marr, a civil and environmental engineering professor at Virginia Tech, and students Charbel Harb (left) and Jin Pan (right) worked on a recent study on the effectiveness of cloth masks.

“Some people say, ‘Well, an N95 respirator can block 95% of that most penetrating particle size, and anything else is worthless,’ ” says Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. “It’s true that some of the cloth masks that we looked at only block 10 or 20% at that size. But once you get up to the sizes that we think are more important for transmission, like 1 to 2 microns or even 5 microns, those cloth masks are able to block half or more.”

SAR-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is about 0.1 microns large, but, Marr notes, “it doesn’t come out of us naked.” Instead, it’s carried in larger respiratory droplets, or aerosols, that contain salts, proteins and organic compounds, leading to aerosols up to 100,000 times larger in mass than the virus itself. For their study, Marr’s team focused on a size range of 1 to 2 microns for testing homemade and commercially available face coverings.

“It’s not something I would ask a healthcare worker to wear in high-risk situations,” she says. “They would need the best protection we can get. But given that it’s impractical to have everyone in the general public walking around wearing an N95, I think homemade masks are definitely helpful.”

In the study, Marr and her team of researchers set up conditions as close to day-to-day life as possible to best match how people go about a typical day wearing face coverings. They looked at nine homemade masks, as well as a surgical mask and a face shield, evaluating their ability to trap particles in size from 0.04 microns to more than 100 microns. Each mask was tested for outward efficiency – how well it traps particles exhaled by the wearer – and inward efficiency, for mask wearers as they inhale. At the low end of particle sizes, homemade masks performed poorly, but at the larger end, several of the masks could trap 50% to 80% of particles in tests of both inward and outward efficiency. Given what scientists have learned in the last year about how the coronavirus is spread, that performance is significant, Marr says.

Virginia Tech shared electron microscope scans of the material tested in the study
Virginia Tech shared electron microscope scans of the material tested in the study. Click here for a larger image.

In the testing, researchers mounted two manikins on opposite sides of a chamber to mimic a pair of inhaling and exhaling people talking closely. They connected the exhaling manikin to a medical nebulizer that generated droplets from the mouth. The other manikin had a vacuum line in the mouth to mimic inhaling. Measurements were taken of particles in the chamber from both sides.

The team found that masks tended to perform better as sources of outward protection than inward, but the differences in most cases weren’t statistically significant.

Because of the controlled setup and lack of human subjects, the research has some limitations, according to Marr. Chiefly, the experiments didn’t factor in things like mask adjusting or variability in airflow that occurs when people breathe in and out. Still, Marr believes her team’s work is a good complement to other studies being done on reducing transmission of the coronavirus.

“No one study by itself is going to tell you the whole story,” Marr says. “And no one intervention will stop the spread of COVID-19 alone. The mask is one of the many interventions that we need to combine together.”

The Virginia Tech study, published in November on medRxiv, has not yet been peer reviewed.

Facebook Buys Kustomer for 1B

The acquisition continues the social media juggernaut’s push to help companies use its platforms for business.

In another major acquisition for the social media juggernaut, Facebook has purchased Kustomer, a startup specializing in customer relationships. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but people familiar with the matter said it would value New York-based Kustomer at a little over $1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Kustomer

Kustomer’s technology gathers conversations from different channels, such as customer-service platforms and chatbots, and displays them on a single screen. It’s a helpful tool to examine the history between a company and its customer and will fit quite nicely in Facebook’s ever-growing offering of platforms for companies to do business online, especially during the pandemic. In May, the company launched Facebook Shops, which lets businesses create online stores through Facebook and Instagram.

Prior to the acquisition, the companies already had a relationship. Kustomer allows businesses to aggregate and respond to customer inquiries that come in through Facebook Messenger. In October, Kustomer said it also began integrating with Facebook’s Instagram messaging. Messaging companies on social media rather than picking up the phone is becoming the preferred method of interaction for customers. For example, Facebook said more than 175 million people reach out every day to businesses using its WhatsApp messaging service.

Kustomer was founded in 2015 by Brad Birnbaum and Jeremy Suriel, two entrepreneurs who sold a previous company to Salesforce.com Inc. Kustomer was valued at $710 million in a private funding round roughly a year ago, according to PitchBook.

How to Manage Your Reputation Over Social Media

Five practical tips for protecting your brand on networking sites.

1. Acknowledge Errors
If you make a small mistake in a post or tweet, such as a spelling error, and you catch it quickly, delete the post and repost with the corrected spelling. However, if the post has some engagement on it, or if you tag the wrong company, delete it and repost while owning up to the mistake in a pithy, lighthearted tone. Audiences like to see brands that have an authentic, self-deprecating side. Acknowledging the error shows you’re not too proud to admit there are imperfect humans managing the brand’s presence. Also, consider enlisting a few more people at your company to look at posts and tweets before they’re published to mitigate the chance of errors.

Social Media

2. Tread Lightly
Recent discourse surrounding diversity practices presents an opportune time for brands to express their support for minority communities. But be careful – posting your own support for the cause over social media can look like tokenism or jumping on the bandwagon. Before publishing anything that alludes to current events, especially if they’re controversial and elicit strong emotions, consider running the post by a few people whose opinion you trust. Ask them for an honest assessment of how it sounds. If there’s any chance it could sound like opportunism, edit it accordingly or don’t post it at all. Just one tone-deaf post can severely harm a brand’s image and result in fallout that then needs to be managed.

Only 54% of companies have a plan in place to deal with a social media emergency.
(Reputation Management)

3. Respond to Complaints
If you receive negative feedback about recent posts or customer service over social media, determine if it’s worth responding. Some people head to social just to voice their opinions, but if someone has a legitimate complaint, respond in a measured way that’s not accusatory or critical. You can be sure that others are watching to see how you handle yourself. Try to defuse the situation by affirming the complaint and asking if they’d be willing to continue the conversation in a direct message, email or phone call. Delete complaints only if they contain offensive language, and post explanations about why you had to take action. Otherwise, let the post stand, whether you’ve decided to respond or not. Taking posts down looks like you have something to hide.

4. Enlist a Social Media Manager
Social media moves fast, and it’s become a key aspect of marketing strategy. Consider hiring a full-time social media manager who knows best practices across multiple platforms, posts consistently in the brand’s voice, and quickly addresses complaints. It’s a mistake to think it can just be put in the hands of a Gen Zer who needs a job; it should be more than a part-time internship. They need to know the ins and outs of a company to keep the tone consistent and be empowered to respond to queries. Keep social managers in the loop as to what’s going on at the company and ask them to report regularly on their ongoing strategy.

5. Create a Crisis Plan
If something negative happens – a tone-deaf post goes viral or people pile on a complaint – have a plan in place for addressing it. Deleting comments isn’t a strategy. As a precaution, develop a template for a statement so you can act quickly in the event of a crisis. This is a time to be upstanding and professional while acknowledging the gravity of the situation; avoid any attempts at humor. Make sure it’s approved by leadership and proofed by trusted colleagues. Then, determine the chain of command for putting out subsequent fires. Also, consider consulting with a crisis communications expert for developing a plan.

4 Business Costs to Cut During COVID-19

Also, three areas you should maintain investment in.

Even though traditional promotional products categories are slowly returning to prominence, the industry is still in the midst of its greatest challenge.

Evans Manufacturing

COVID-19 has disrupted everything: the workplace, travel, recreation, communication, you name it. As companies try to adapt to the new normal, changes need to be made to survive. Counselor has reached out to business leaders and experts on which costs to cut and which areas to maintain investment in as the pandemic continues.

Cut: Travel
With events and trade shows going virtual, there’s no need to fly anyone across the country. As for face-to-face meetings, although they’re still important, maybe you should limit them to once or twice per year. “We’ve all learned there’s so much business we can conduct remotely that we don’t need to incur as many hotel and travel expenses,” says Alan G. Lefkowitz, managing director at CFO Strategies, LLC.

Cut: Office Space
One of the best ways you can save money right now is to continue working from home. “Financially, you are going to be better off not using that space to work in, as it requires a lot of maintenance and support for the people working there,” says Ethan Taub, CEO of online marketplace Loanry. “With everyone working from home now, you don’t need to worry like you did pre-COVID.”

Keep: Outsourcing
If you’ve implemented a hiring freeze, you can outsource tasks to freelancers. You’re not expected to provide them with employee benefits, and they pay their own taxes, which means savings for your business. “Virtual designers, web-based accountants or remote marketing services are just a few of the professions to consider when outsourcing to save money or time,” says Jim Pendergast, senior vice president of specialty lender altLINE.

Cut: Non-Earning Assets
When business is booming, companies tend to spend on equipment, vehicles and office amenities. But when you’re not busy, those asset sits idle. “You have a non-earning asset you either paid for and are not earning from or you have a loan against it and you’re paying principal and interest payments,” Lefkowitz says. “Selling those assets frees up cash flow when you need it most.”

Keep: Customer Service
Focusing on your existing clients means being there for their questions, concerns and complaints. Customer service – actual human beings available by phone, email, video or social media – will be more important than ever. “Finding new clients is more expensive than retaining existing ones,” says Ian Wright, CEO of Bequests. “Build strong relationships with them, and as you provide them with excellent customer service, they will stick with you and even tell others about your business.”

Cut: Staff
This should be your last resort. Don’t just take an ax to your staff, though. Joseph Meuse, founder and president of consulting firm Business GPS, recommends looking for areas where you can strategically reduce your workforce. “Eliminate any redundancies or nonessential positions,” Meuse says. “If that’s too painful, you can also change full-time positions to part time or make salary reductions across the board.”

Keep: CFO/Controller
One position you absolutely shouldn’t cut is your chief financial officer or controller. “You always need somebody to manage your operations and have financial oversight,” Lefkowitz says. “Most entrepreneurs are great at their core business and selling but tend to not have that strong financial background. They need a trusted advisor, especially to navigate a challenging time like we’re currently going through.”

Face Masks Could Soon Get Certification Labels

ASTM International, which sets standards for a range of products, is working with scientists and manufacturers to develop guidelines for filtration efficiency of cloth masks and other face coverings.

Masks may soon be getting a set of standards to help consumers determine how efficient each type of face covering is at filtration. ASTM International, the organization that sets technical standards for products ranging from amusement park rides to drones, is working with industry and government partners to create the guidelines. Once those standards are agreed upon, masks that meet them would bear a label certifying that.

Chris Rodgers

The standards are needed, experts say, because there’s a lot of variation in how well face coverings block particles from passing through. N95 respirators are required to filter out 95% of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. But cloth masks that are available to the general public don’t have to meet any particular filtration standards. Back in June, the World Health Organization published recommendations for a multi-fabric, three-layer mask, but that design doesn’t necessarily match what is available for sale online and at retail.

“We want everyone to be wearing masks … [but] there’s a huge variability how effective cloth masks are,” Linsey Marr, a civil and environmental engineer and aerosols expert at Virginia Tech told Quartz. “Things are ad hoc right now, and the public has no guidance.”

The task group writing the face mask standards has not yet reached a consensus on how effective the masks should be at trapping particles, according to Jennifer Marshall, program manager for public safety standards coordination at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “One of the concerns is how much is leaked through and around the barrier and the best way to measure it,” she told Quartz. Usability is also key. “There’s a balance to blocking particulates and breathability, and ultimately masks need to be comfortable and wearable.”

Those are all factors suppliers in the promotional products industry considered as they developed face masks early on in the pandemic, but different fabrics and fits have yielded a wide variety of styles with no universal guidelines.

The face covering standards will identify which labs are certified to run tests and set requirements for design and labeling, according to Marshall. They may also include type and durability of material and what portion of the face the masks should cover. ASTM began working on mask guidelines back in July, and the new standards could be published before the end of 2020, Marshall said.

The mask standards are being discussed by a group of about 50 scientists, industrial hygienists, government officials, special interest groups and manufacturers, according to the Washington Post. Employees from 3M, maker of N95 respirators, have been involved in the discussions.

Americans have been scrambling for assurances of how effective various face coverings are at blocking particles and slowing the spread of the coronavirus, as evidenced by how a viral study out of Duke University this summer put a damper on neck gaiter sales before later studies showed that face covering efficiency had more to do with the type and number of layers of fabric, rather than the form factor. An agreed-upon set of standards with associated labeling requirements could help cut down on confusion and panic.

“Whether it’s a standard or whether it’s something equivalent to the Consumer Reports rating [of] good, better or best, it is probably useful because otherwise people are lost,” Philip Harber, a professor of public health at the University of Arizona told the Washington Post. He added that the standards should be “very, very, very simple,” given some Americans’ hostility toward masks.

Helpful Wellness Products

Consider these items for health-conscious end-buyers. This year, that’s virtually everyone.

Berlekamp Plastics
Berlekamp Plastics
This handy no-touch grip tool is 100% USA-made and perfect for opening doors, pushing buttons, carrying bags and keeping hands safe from germs.

Evans Manufacturing
Evans Manufacturing
Ideal for healthcare facilities, grocery and retail stores, schools and the hospitality industry, these PPE kits include a reusable mask, pair of nitrile gloves, hand sanitizer packets, alcohol wipes and a reusable pouch.

Gemline
Gemline
A nice gift for new employees or returning students, this container set is eco-conscious and will keep food and snacks fresh and cool for hours. The lunch box is BPA-free and the cooler has a PEVA heat-sealed lining.

Nu Promo International
Nu Promo International
Hands stay clean all the time with this mini case of disposable soap sheets. Featuring a light lemon scent, they’re great for hotels, gyms and outdoor activities.

Pinch Provisions
Pinch Provisions
This vegan leather case and 1-oz. bottle of sanitizer is a perfect partner for purses, backpacks and bags using the attached carabiner or lanyard. Available in four colors.

Snugz USA
Snugz USA
Earth-friendly organizations will appreciate this USA-made tinted lip moisturizer. It has a beeswax base and comes in six different natural flavors. Think trade shows and gifts with purchase at beauty stores and salons.

Starline USA
Snugz USA
It’s easy for runners, hikers and cyclists to quench their thirst with this hydration pack. Target end-buyers with active clients; think athletic clubs, sporting goods stores and even health food stores.

How To Grow Your Email Subscriber List

Email marketing provides a direct conduit for communicating tailored messages and important information to clients and prospects -- something that's become even more critical during the disruption from COVID-19. As such, growing those lists can be especially pivotal for promotional products distributors and suppliers. Here's a few tips how to do just that:

1. Sign-up all new clients. Each time you onboard new clients, their contact information should be shared with the marketing pros that handle email outreach. The new clients should then be segmented into an email list that’s most appropriate for them. (Tip: segmented lists lead to better engagement.)

Email Marketing

2. Make it easy for site visitors to opt-in. Prominently feature email opt-in forms on your website pages that get the most traffic. You can use Google Analytics to determine which pages are most visited. Also: place a “sign up” option on your website’s header.

3. Leverage blogs & whitepapers. Your blog should feature a call-to-action encouraging people to subscribe to receive more useful content in their inboxes. This can be a pop-up form or a subscribe CTA that’s static, but clearly displayed, on blog pages. Access to whitepapers, which should feature insights of high value to sought-after audiences, can be situated on special landing pages. Have the landing pages provide a few teaser insights. Then, have it so that enticed readers must give their email address/name to download the full whitepaper.

4. Attract subscribers through social. Run contests on your social platforms that offer, to those who provide contact information, the chance to win rewards, such as a certain number of free branded travel mugs. The social posts should link to a page where people enter the contest by inputting their name and email address. Also, share links to blog posts, whitepaper landing pages and other content that contains email subscriber opt-ins. Posting videos on YouTube? Feature a link in the text description below the video that sends clickers to a page where they can get access to on-topic gated content if they provide an email address. Also, include a clickable link to the page in the video itself. And, take advantage of the “sign up” feature you can put at the top of your business Facebook page. Link it to a landing page that asks for an email address in exchange for an element of good content, such as a webinar.

5. Create email content that’s valuable. If the content is useful or entertaining, recipients will be more willing to share the email with others who have similar business interests. If you’re a distributor, for instance, a buyer at one large technology firm might be inclined to send your email to colleagues in similar positions at other tech companies. When those people get your message from the forwarding colleague, make it simple for them to get onto your email lists by providing a “subscribe” CTA link in all your marketing emails.

6. Feature a subscribe link in every employee’s email signature. All email interactions employees have with people outside your organization then become potential channels for streaming in new subscribers. Make the “subscribe” option a text hyperlink that’s wrapped in a compelling CTA, such as “Get Free Insights That Will Power Your Marketing and Grow Your Sales.” The link should take clickers to a web page where they can sign up for your e-marketing communications.

7. Provide commentary for blogs, articles, podcasts, videos and social media forums. Designated team members can deliver information on topics upon which they and your company are experts, providing insights and solutions for audiences of desired prospects. This can help drive website visits from prospects warmed to your company. Once on the website, they should find more great content and sign-up options that nudge them toward entering your email subscriber base.

8. Source from the real world. From trade shows to networking events, company team members are always meeting new people who could be prospects and getting their contact information. See to it that those email addresses make it onto your email marketing lists.

Five Biggest Mistakes When Working From Home

Stay on track by avoiding these blunders.

1. Unsustainable Workspace
With a little forward planning and common sense, anyone can create a comfortable workspace, says Joe Wilson, senior career adviser at MintResume. “Your kitchen table may be well lit and close to electrical outlets and refreshments, but how many other people in your household constantly walk in and out? Your bedroom may be comfortable and quiet, but when videoconferencing, does a headboard or wardrobe in the background give the most professional impression? Don’t prioritize comfort over efficiency.”

WFH with Dog

2. Pedal to the Metal
In a typical day at the office, you work from about 9 a.m. until noon, take lunch and then finish the day around 5 p.m. That schedule should be less rigid at home. In addition to lunch, you need a break in the morning and another in the afternoon, according to telecommuting expert David Bakke. “There’s no way you can be totally productive sitting in front of a computer screen for four hours straight,” Bakke says. “Take 20 minutes to walk around the block, do some sit-ups or pushups, clean a bathroom or even do some laundry. Anything to keep the blood pumping.”

3. Lack of Communication
Don’t let your colleagues become out of sight, out of mind. Keep in touch on a regular basis to make sure all tasks are being performed and everyone is on the same page. But don’t make these talks just about work, says Tami Parker, owner of UNIcycle Business Consulting. “Ask how they’re doing or what hurdles they’re facing,” she says. “Ask about things like family, pets, neighbors or WiFi connections. Being aware and showing interest is important.”

4. Frequent Interruptions
Even though being social is healthy, you still need to focus on the task at hand. Too many interruptions from your family and friends and even pets can throw off your whole day. “Write out a rough work schedule so you can let people know when you’re not to be disturbed,” Bakke says. “If you don’t, you can expect phone calls and texts throughout the day, which will, in fact, sidetrack you. The schedule can always be adjusted if something pops up last minute.”

5. Maintain Work/Life Balance
Even though the line between work and home has been completely blurred, you must do your best to keep them separate. Share parental responsibilities with your spouse – don’t prioritize your job over theirs. “Families fall into habits where one parent shoulders the burden alone, but if you have help, take it,” Parker says. “If both parents are working from home, can they alternate days? Or mornings versus afternoons? This also lets you plan for meetings, projects or hitting deadlines.”

How to Improve Facebook Ad Performance

Eager to attract new customers when the pandemic economy has made them a premium? Strategic use of Facebook ads can help.

1. Develop a Facebook Ad Funnel: Charlie Lawrance, founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Gecko Squared, says a successful Facebook ad funnel consists of several stages: awareness, engagement and website remarketing.

The awareness stage is about introducing audiences to your brand – something best achieved through educational or entertaining content-based ads, Lawrance says. The engagement remarketing stage centers on getting audiences to consider your products and services; ads that offer a special promotion can be especially effective here. Target these ads at people who engaged with your awareness content.

Facebook Ads

With website remarketing, the objective is to engage with people who have already clicked through to your landing page, Lawrance says. Ads at this stage should restate the offer you issued in the engagement phase, but should additionally include elements like testimonials or a sense of urgency and even fear-of-missing-out. Reminder-style ad content that reiterates the limited-time nature of the offer from the engagement stage can do well in this phase.

2. Create a Custom Schedule: Spraying ads all over at various times isn’t wise. It can wear out target audiences (campaign fatigue) and significantly drive up your cost-of-customer-acquisition. Prevent this by honing your approach. Define the audiences you want to reach and target ads to them at specific times when they’re most likely to engage.

3. Ensure Your Landing Page Delivers on Its Promise: Your ad must have a hook – an enticement that appeals directly to the prospects with whom you want to connect. However, this will only help you achieve your goal of getting the prospect into your pipeline if the landing page to which your ad directs traffic is in sync with the promise made in the ad. Otherwise, you might earn clicks but no new customers.

4. Try Shorter Video Ads: Given the quick-hit, scroll-on nature of social media, some evidence suggests that shorter, video-driven ads could be especially effective. Consider this case study: “Champs Sports tested 30-second and six-second video ads to see which was more effective,” Facebook reports. “In this instance, the six-second ads delivered an 11% increase in estimated ad recall, 12% increase in return on ad spend and 271% increase in video completion rate — proving to be most effective in driving results for the brand. The six-second ads also resulted in incremental lift across several other key metrics including conversion rate, average purchase value and click-through rate.”

Facebook accounts for 80.4% of U.S. social referral share to e-commerce sites.

(eMarketer)

5. Experiment With Your Audience: On Facebook, a “Lookalike” audience is a way to reach new people who are likely to be interested in your business because they’re similar to your best existing customers. To get your Lookalike effort going, choose a source audience based on information pulled from elements like fans of your Facebook page and the pixel or code that’s on your website. The pixel collects data that helps you track conversions from Facebook ads. Once done, Facebook identifies common qualities of the audience, such as demographic information and interests, and then delivers your ads to other people who are like the source audience.

6. Build Automated Rules: These rules automatically check your campaigns, ad sets and ads, and then notify you of any changes. Done correctly, the rules provide valuable insights that enable the optimization/alteration of ads so they can have the most success. They also can help reduce the time needed to manage your ads, as they can take the necessary actions for you. Automated rules can, for instance, entail things like automatically pausing a low-performing ad when it hits a specific metric or increasing your budget if a certain number of people click on your ad. When you create an automated rule, you choose things like the criteria that triggers the rule; the action your rule takes on the ad; and the active campaign you want the rule to impact.

3 Ways to Navigate Troublesome In-Home Wi-Fi

Spotty connectivity holding you back? These quick tips should have you back up and running in no time.

1. Use Your Smartphone as a Hotspot.
If your connectivity issues are only occasional, this can be a temporary get-over-the-hump trick. Cellular networks are constructed to carry a greater number of users, meaning your smartphone’s data connection could be faster than your broadband when the latter is acting up. So swipe on your phone’s hotspot to connect your laptop/desktop to the Internet for a while.

Wifi Signal Phone

2. Use a Mesh Wi-Fi System.
This can be a lasting solution for remote workers who have strong connectivity in one area of their home and weak connectivity in others. These systems enable you to web together various wireless access points to cover your house with a balanced and robust Internet connection. Amazon Eero, Google Nest Wifi, Asus ZenWifi AX (XT8), and TP-Link Deco M9 Plus Mesh Wi-Fi System are some of your best options.

3. Invest in Speed.
If you experience consistently slow internet and the mesh system doesn’t appreciably improve spotty coverage, then check with your internet provider about options for faster broadband speeds, which will likely be more expensive. If the investment becomes necessary, see if your employer might help offset the cost increase.

7 Tips for Networking Virtually

Use these strategies from networking experts to gain valuable connections in the age of COVID-19.

The coronavirus pandemic has canceled countless conferences and trade shows and put the kibosh on traditional in-person networking events. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t successfully grow and leverage your network both by forming deeper connections with current contacts and by making valuable, new connections. Use these tips to network virtually with success.

Virtual Meeting

First, clean up your online brand. Ensure your social media accounts and, if applicable, website(s) are current and that they showcase the image you want to present to the world. Like it or not, you’re a personal brand, and potential new contacts are going to check you out online. An audit and subsequent edit of your web identity will help you make the desired impression once you dig into virtual networking.

Make the most of LinkedIn. “If you're serious about digital networking, you need a LinkedIn premium account,” says Casey Halloran, CEO and co-founder of Costa Rican Vacations, a travel agency that sells high-end vacations to Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. “I block out time on my calendar each week to share content, make comments, solicit new connections and tune up my profile. This is an essential tool in the age of digital networking.”

Laptop with LinkedIn

Scott Swedberg, CEO and founder of career services company The Job Sauce, says effective networking on LinkedIn includes focusing on so-called “second-degree” connections. “Search through the connections of your top first-degree connections to see who they know,” Swedberg advises. “It's as easy as asking the mutual connection to be introduced and providing a reason you want to speak with one of their connections.”

Other social media platforms, from Twitter to Facebook to Instagram, can, of course, be useful for expanding your network, too. Determine which platforms your ideal new connections/prospects are most active on and focus on building bridges there in a genuine way.

Participate in virtual “morning coffee” and “happy hour” events: Identify such events that might have people with whom you’d like to connect – and then participate. “These events typically allow users to participate for free and meet other professionals virtually via video conferencing software, such as Zoom and Join.me,” says Amanda E. Moore, senior manager of integrated marketing and partnerships at Juno Beach, FL-based Loggerhead Marinelife Center, one of Florida's most visited nonprofit scientific destinations focused on ocean and sea turtle conservation.

Virtual Happy Hour

Moore notes that the face-to-face experience offers a more intimate networking opportunity and helps mimic similar in-person events. Participants can maximize the experience by connecting with other participants after the end of the event or by mentioning in the event that they are open to collaborations. “When attending these events, it's helpful to read the event details beforehand and have a few topics or points of discussion in mind,” Moore notes.

Attend industry-specific virtual conferences and events: Moore says such events can provide a platform for professionals to share their thoughts, meet other professionals and learn from others in a truly meaningful way. Some such events provide virtual options to participate in breakout sessions, happy hours and online discussions. “Professionals can make the most out of these events by also participating in social media discussions, such as Twitter chats and Slack forums,” Moore explains.

Get active in relevant online forums and groups. Most industries have active forums, Facebook/LinkedIn groups, and other online communities that are full of people worth knowing, says Adam Sanders, founder and director of Successful Release, an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged populations find financial and professional success. As such, join groups and forums where prospects, clients, colleagues and industry peers are interacting and become an active member.

“Remember you have to give value to get value,” says Sanders. “Taking some time to answer and ask questions and help other members of the group can be a great way to make a lot of new connections and drum up new business. It can take some time to build credibility, but the scale of many online groups is hard to beat.”

You can also join online communities based around your personal interests. The common ground you’ll have with others could help form relationships that bear fruit in the professional realm.

Share expertise through new media. Identify podcasts, vlogs, blogs, niche news sites and other new media communication channels that have relevance to your industry and/or your clients/prospects. Then, offer to contribute your expertise. “Getting your face or voice out there is easier than ever in this digital age, which adds to your authority, which makes it easier to network,” says Halloran. “Most times after I appear on a podcast, I get new LinkedIn requests out of nowhere, often from very interesting people.”

Reignite your existing network. Block out time on your calendar to reach out to friends, colleagues, family, clients and others within your network. Don’t make the reach “salesy.”

Be human. “When I do this, I ask how they’re doing and share a bit of my own personal status,” says Halloran, noting that you never know what opportunities that can lead to.

Email, of course, is a viable outreach vehicle. But, urges Sanders, don’t overlook the phone and/or chats on Zoom or a similar platform. Given all the social distancing and working from home, people are more apt these days to jump on a call for a chat than they were just a few months ago.

“Call them up and check in with them about their business and see if there are any opportunities for you to help them out,” advises Sanders. “This can be a great way to strengthen your existing relationships and find new business opportunities. Don't forget to also mention a few of the challenges that you're having and solicit their advice. Everyone is helpful when business is booming, but great partners are around when things are bad. This can lead to a lot of new referrals.”

Fundamental Writing Instruments

They generate 3,000 impressions throughout their lifetime.

Zipline
Zipline Pen
Ideal for the office, kitchen or workshop, this 5-in-1 pen tool stylus (ZIP1703) features a twist-action ballpoint pen, textured metal grip, level, ruler, Phillips and flathead screwdriver bit.

Calico
Calico Pen
Upgrade a presentation with this twist-action pen made of maple and rosewood (CLP206MR). Used as an employee award or seminar giveaway, this item will be appreciated.

Lungsal
Lungsal Pen
This ballpoint (Inca-303) has an aluminum barrel and color rubber grip with matching accents. Can be used as part of a new employee welcome package or for school promotions.

Pilot Corporation of America
Pilot Corporation of America Pen
The fun and funky design of this gel roller pen (IB2C B2P) mimics the recycled water bottles it’s made from. The vibrant G2 gel makes this a great fit for eco-friendly promotions.

Goldstar
Goldstar Pen
You get dual end functions with this Vivano Softy pen (LNH). It has a stylus on one end and a flashlight on the other with a slightly wider barrel and rubberized soft touch-finish cap. Ideal for trade show giveaways.

Liqui-Mark
Liqui-Mark Pen
Spot-on for K-12 and art schools, this 12-pack set of hand lettering brush markers (480172-FCD) are housed in a hard plastic case.

4 Apps to Help You Work From Home Effectively

These applications will enable you to work from home with greater organization, focus and mental health.

1. SPARK
This app is a virtual personal assistant that helps you prioritize your emails – a welcomed aid given that remote work tends to trigger a rise in messages bombarding your inbox. Spark will only notify you about emails from people you know, even allowing you to customize mail sounds and vibrations for each account. You can also pin priority emails and batch archive messages, creating email folders that, with an easy swipe, can be accessed to be read, deleted or moved. Also, snooze email when desired and make pre-written templates for emails you send frequently, including placeholders for names or numbers. Spark’s compatibility includes macOS, iOS and Android. It works with email systems such as Gmail, AOL, Hotmail, MSN, Yahoo, Exchange, iCloud, Microsoft Outlook, mail.ru and IMAP.

Apps to Help You Work From Home

2. TODOIST
Todoist is a task management app that helps keep you and your projects organized and on track. Essentially, it empowers you to create to-do lists that include due dates and reminders. Todoist enables you to prioritize tasks and track your progress with personalized productivity trends. You can establish recurring deadlines for each type of task and these will automatically activate based on how long you took to complete the same/similar assignments previously. Also, many appreciate that Todoist empowers users to convert emails from colleagues, superiors and others into tasks or comments related to an existing project when the messages are received. Recently called the best to-do list app by techies at The Verge, Todoist is available for Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Outlook, Gmail, Apple Watch and Apple Wear.

CFOs plan to shift to remote positions

3. FOREST
This app uses gamification to help you maintain your focus on work. It associates your ability to keep from playing around on your smartphone with the growth of a virtual tree. In the app, you plant a virtual seed and it keeps growing into a tree for as long as you don’t mess around on your phone. If you exit the app for some social media scrolling or the like, the tree withers and dies. Compatible with iOS, Android, Windows Phone and others, Forest motivates you to stay away from smartphone distractions in a fun way.

4. ALOE BUD
When you’re working from home, the dividing line between your job and your personal life can blur, making it harder to disconnect and even more difficult to remember to take breaks and pay attention to self-care. Aloe Bud helps with all that. It’s a self-care pocket companion that lets you create scheduled reminders for doing things like drinking a glass of water, enjoying a lunch break, taking a walk, meditating or just chilling – anything that gives you a healthy pause so you can be your best when you dive back into work. You can add activity cards to your personal dashboard based on what you believe needs attention on a given day or in the near future. Also fun: Use the app’s reflection prompts to write mini journal entries about your self-care successes and ways you can improve.

Feature-Rich Umbrellas

From golf courses, to beaches, to outdoor cafés, rainy day promos will never go away.

AAA Innovations

AAA Innovations

Make and answer phone calls from your umbrella. Users connect with Bluetooth to the Inverted Phonebrella (BT46inv) and never have to fumble with their cellphone in the rain. A perfect employee recognition gift.

Vitronic/IMAGEN Brands

Vitronic/IMAGEN Brands

Windy conditions can wreak havoc with an ordinary umbrella, but the Windjammer compact umbrella (2258A) has vents that let the air escape the canopy without inverting it. It’s compact but features a 54” arc when open.

Finger Lakes Promotions

Finger Lakes Promotions

To protect skin, shelter from the sun is paramount. Keep dangerous rays away under this portable canopy shelter umbrella (FLJX011). More tent than umbrella, it offers 99.5% protection from UVA and UVB rays.

StrombergBrand

StrombergBrand

Products like the ViceVersa inverted umbrella (SB-4620) are growing in popularity. Featuring a colorful outer canopy and contrasting gray undercanopy, it makes it easy to get in and out of cars and through doors.

Haas-Jordan

Haas-Jordan

For your client’s next golf outing, suggest this 62” umbrella (7905). The fun canopy resembles a golf ball and has an epoxy dome medallion in the handle.

Unusual Wearable Tech

Unique functionality will surely impress buyers.

CFS Promotional Products (asi/42989)

CFS Promotional Products

Keep in the heat and the tunes with this Bluetooth speaker hat (BTS-HAT). An appealing giveaway for commuters or fans at a cold weather sports game; cfspromo.com

BIC Graphic (asi/40480)

BIC Graphic

Forget the earbuds and try something cooler: sunglasses with Bluetooth speakers (32247). Great for running, hiking, doing yard work or driving cross country. Wearers can answer calls too; bicgraphic.com

Trimark (asi/92121)

Trimark

This heat panel vest (TM19548) is a perfect item for fall and winter. It features interior chest and back heat panels that can be set to a specific temperature with a touch button control; pcna.com/trimark

AAA Innovations (asi/30023)

AAA Innovations

Holding a cellphone and umbrella in the rain is an exercise in frustration. With the Bluetooth-enabled Phonebrella (BT46), users can keep their phone in their pocket while answering calls through the handle; aaainnovations.com

California Lifts Reusable Bag Ban Restrictions

San Francisco is lifting local prohibitions too as authorities say growing evidence suggests the bags aren’t conveyors of the coronavirus.

The reusable bag could soon be back in business.

In moves welcomed by purveyors of branded reusable bags in the promotional products industry, California this week reinstated a ban on single-use plastic bags and San Francisco said on Friday, June 26 that it was within days of lifting a temporary ban on reusable bags in grocery stores.

“This is good news on many fronts for us as a company and our industry,” said Andy Keller, founder and CEO of California-based ChicoBag Company (asi/44811).

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, prohibitions on reusable bags like grocery totes have proliferated in California and other states throughout the U.S. as authorities reacted to what some said was evidence that the bags could spread COVID-19. Those restrictions have dented sales of reusable bags in the promo industry.

Critics of the clampdown on reusable bags, however, have asserted that the purported evidence linking the products to disease spread is derived largely from studies commissioned by pro plastic industry groups that are eager to counteract what had been a growing trend of bans on single-use plastic bags.

Reusable Tote

Still, there now appears to be a mounting body of science that calls such claims into question. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), touching a surface that may have the virus on it is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Potential exposure to COVID-19 from handling reusable grocery bags is considered low, but consumers should wash the bags after each use, authorities say.

“The plastic industry has for years tried to advance the notion that reusable bags are a vector for sickness, but it’s not backed up by science,” said Keller.

Meanwhile, Consumer Reports issued a rebuke to one study that painted reusable bags as carriers of dangerous bacteria. The study, which was sponsored by a plastics industry group, analyzed just 84 bags and only found bacteria that doesn’t usually cause disease. “A person eating an average bag of salad greens gets more exposure to these bacteria than if they had licked the insides of the dirtiest bag from this study,” Michael Hansen, senior staff scientist at Consumers Union, told Consumer Reports. “These bacteria can be found lots of places, so no need to go overboard.”

Andy Keller
Andy Keller, ChicoBag Company.

Hansen noted that it’s easy to spread bacteria from meat, fish or poultry to other foods, so it’s smart to carry such items in disposable bags. “Reusable bags are fine for most everything else, but it’s a good idea to wash them,” Consumer Reports says.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to allow reusable bags again was based significantly on findings from the CDC that indicated that, although the virus can live on surfaces, there are no documented cases in which it has been transmitted to a person from a surface.

San Francisco was the first major U.S. city to ban plastic bags, having done so in 2007. The city-specific ordinance was suspended during the early days of the pandemic, but that’s soon to reverse. Authorities in San Francisco said that “changing” science around how the virus is spread is driving the impetus to again allow reusable bags.

“Early on in this, when science was changing, we didn’t know the virus as well as we do today,” Charles Sheehan, a spokesman for San Francisco’s Department of the Environment, told the Chronicle.

More cities and states in the U.S., as well as governments internationally, have sought to ban single-use plastic bags in recent years. The motivation is to better protect the environment. Disposable plastic bags create litter, pollute habitats and threaten wildlife, especially marine life when they enter the ocean and other waterways, plastic bag ban advocates say.

It remains to be seen if California’s renewed embrace of reusable bags will influence other states and municipalities to take similar action. Regardless, from a public relations perspective, the reusable bag might have to contend with negative perception for a time after bans on them are lifted, given the widespread media coverage of the products as potential disease bearers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a constant battle against misinformation,” said Keller. “It can get frustrating.”

Case Study: Microsoft Sends Out Swag for Virtual Conference

Digital attendees of the “Build” event are getting everything from socks to a bamboo lunchbox.

Top techies will have to attend Microsoft’s annual “Build” conference virtually this year, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll miss out on sweet event swag.

Microsoft is mailing early registrants a branded merchandise package that features a welcome card, a bamboo lunch box, socks, sticker sheets, a lanyard and a badge.

“Microsoft is doing their bit to make virtual attendees feel a greater sense of the occasion,” reported mspoweruser.com. “The gift is especially awesome since registration is free this year, with likely many more people signing up.”

stickers
Photo from mspoweruser.com.

This year’s “Build” is scheduled for May 19-21. The conference is for software engineers and web developers using various Microsoft technologies. The in-person event typically draws thousands of attendees.

Microsoft’s decision to direct-mail conference swag is another high-profile example of event organizers continuing to utilize promotional products for their occasions, even though their events have gone digital because of the COVID-19 pandemic. From virtual beer festivals and graduations to many more happenings, end-buyers are increasingly incorporating branded merch initiatives into their now digital events.

COVID-19 Crisis Disrupts Bag Market

Reusable bags are under fire due to concerns over spreading the coronavirus.

After years of increasing legislation banning single-use plastic bags, the “green wave” has crashed due to the COVID-19 crisis, creating a ripple effect throughout the promotional products industry.

States, cities and stores have changed their tune over the past few months, encouraging plastic bags rather than reusable bags because of fears over spreading the coronavirus. Even California, the pacesetter of the anti-plastic movement, has suspended its 4-year-old ban after certain studies have suggested that reusable bags, when not cleaned properly, can become veritable petri dishes for bacteria and the like. In order to better protect their workers and customers, retail, grocery and plastic industry advocates have rallied for plastics to be reinstated at least for the time being.

Plastic Bags
COVID-19 Crisis Disrupts Bag Market

It’s been a reversal of fortune for promo firms who’ve benefitted from selling branded totes and other reusable bags in recent years. “Our sales have dropped since the pandemic due to the shutdown, and we’ve been hit extra hard because of stores removing reusable bags,” says Andy Keller, founder and CEO of California-based ChicoBag Company (asi/44811). “Raley’s Supermarkets, for example, will not sell new reusable bags as part of this, which has no basis in science or logic.”

Keller points to environmentalists and other ban advocates who’ve called studies linking reusable bags to increased disease spread dubious. They note that reusable bags are not necessarily any more or less contaminated than other surfaces at stores. Keller also argues that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have all given guidance supporting the notion that reusable bags don’t pose a health threat. Although those organizations don’t specify whether the coronavirus is spread through reusable bags, the CDC does state “it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.”

Despite trepidation from some clients, Top 40 supplier Bag Makers (asi/37940) is still seeing a demand for reusable nonwoven polypropylene bag styles. “While bag sales have slowed in general due to the economic impact of coronavirus, our customers continue to show interest in reusable bags for promotions and program business,” says Jennifer McFadden, communications director at Bag Makers.

The most popular bags during the pandemic, according to suppliers, have been paper, plastic and insulated bags that support restaurant takeout and delivery orders, as well as home grocery delivery.

“The nonwoven cooler sales spiked exponentially,” says Gary Semrow, owner and vice president of marketing at Illinois-based American Ad Bag (asi/35290). “We also had a large spike in demand for the wider gusseted paper shopping bags for the restaurants to do take-out, causing a tight supply chain. Now that most of the country is opening up, the stress on the supply of wide gusset paper shoppers has lessened.”

Deliveries of all kinds have experienced a surge during the pandemic, as consumers have turned to e-commerce for their goods. “Our poly mailer business is very strong now, as well as any other kind of packaging sold to online marketers,” says Ken Trottere, vice president of New York-based Poly-Pak Industries, Inc. (asi/81350).

Although the pandemic has prevented revenue from reusable bags, ChicoBag has seen a rise in other product categories. “We’ve seen a spike in sales for our bottle sling and travel pack because people are spending a lot more time walking, hiking and getting outdoors,” Keller says.

Promo Industry View: How to Dress the Part

No time like the present to start preparing your wardrobe for reentry.

After spending your extra time at home cleaning out closets and planning your triumphant return to the office, now’s the time to consider sprucing up your wardrobe for reentry. There’s no need to go all-out Queer Eye on your closet (most of us have everything we need right at home), but perhaps it’s time to part with a few items and habits that no longer work at work.

Lisa Bennett
Lisa Bennett is a multi-line representative and freelance writer based in Chicago.

I started in the promotional products business with a high-end gift company – my first job out of college. It was a great job and I learned a lot. But it was the late ’80s, and along with a healthy travel allowance and fabulous benefits, that job came with a fairly strict dress code: skirted suits with nylons for women and suits and ties for men. While uncomfortable, it didn’t seem out of the ordinary for the time.

Enter the ’90s. “Casual Fridays” came along, a gift from the HR department as a company perk used to help manage the exodus of valuable employees fueled by a booming economy. It was then that I went out on my own as a commissioned sales rep, and with that came the freedom to choose my own workwear. The suits and nylons were put away and only saw the light of day for funerals and the one time I got called for jury duty and didn’t get picked.

When business casual became acceptable everywhere in the ’90s, even the most conservative companies hung up the jacket and tie for a more casual environment. Men adopted the unofficial uniform of Dockers and polo shirts while women who gave up wearing nylons turned to comfortable pants and blouses.

Today’s workplace dress code in the promotional products industry is simple: Dress appropriately for work. However, “appropriately” leaves a lot of room for interpretation. We don’t need to return to the days of suits and nylons, but the industry can do a little better sprucing itself up. Here are my suggestions:

Jeans and T-shirts are no longer a no-no at work. Many of us are making a nice living selling T-shirts, so if you like ’em, wear ’em. However, if your favorite tee is that Bruce Springsteen shirt from the “Born in the USA” tour in 1984, maybe just wear it at home after work. And jeans are great; I for one am cheering the absence of women’s super-skinny spandex jeans on the mannequins this year. But if you have jeans with holes, even the holes that are factory-installed, don’t wear them to work.

Ben Turry
Ben Turry, vice president of business development at Tangerine Promotions, proves that a T-shirt and jeans can certainly qualify as work-appropriate attire.

Gentlemen, it’s time to break up with your pleated cuffed pants. You need to start seeing new pants. If you still own pleated cuffed pants, please donate them to the Salvation Army. The newer styles of pleated pants are OK, but flat-front pants have a more flattering fit and will give you a contemporary look.

Ladies, please stop wearing capris. They’ve seen their day, and no one needs to have their legs looking short or stumpy. Please replace them with your fabulous looking ankle-length pants. They’re far more flattering and truly more professional.

Where would this industry be without the ever-popular polo shirt? It’s casual, wears well and offers comfort for anyone from the executive team to the warehouse. The key to looking great in a polo shirt is the decoration: heat-seal continues to grow in popularity and embroidery is still an option for the right logo. But please, for the love of all swag, do not put a giant left-chest logo on an otherwise stylish garment. Speaking for women everywhere, we don’t want a polo shirt with a left chest logo, let alone one that is oversized. And guys just look more professional in a polo with a left sleeve or back neck decoration.

Shorts at work used to be practically illegal, but not anymore. If you live in the southern half of the U.S. where temperatures reach 100 degrees regularly, shorts are necessary workwear for survival. Having said that, make sure you check the full-length mirror before you walk out the door to verify your choice – unless, like me, you have a 13-year-old daughter who’s always willing to critique your style.

Footwear has really evolved in the last decade. The greatest thing is that almost anything goes. Do you have a favorite pair of sneakers? Go ahead, wear them with a suit. As long are you’re comfortable, wear any shoes you like. And if flip-flops work in your office, go for it. (Note of caution on the flip-flops: Before you take a single step into the office, you must get a pedicure. This is non-negotiable.)

Tattoos, facial hair and man buns? Yes, yes and yes. What would have kept you out of the boardroom in the ’90s is now a statement of creativity and individuality in 2020. Just be careful how far you take that creativity – women with unicorn-colored hair, for example, won’t even warrant a second look.

In a perfect world, you’ll be judged by your ideas, creativity and services you offer your clients. But it never hurts to make a great first impression.

Five Ways to Get Employees Invested in Tech Upgrades

Your company can have the most advanced technology out there, but it’s no good if the employees who are supposed to be taking advantage of it aren’t willing or able to learn the new system. Here are some tips to ensure buy-in from everyone.

Tech Upgrade: Old Phone to iPhone

  1. Roll out new technology in waves.
    Geiger’s IT team always tests upgrades on itself before going company-wide. “If we can’t make it work or it’s frustrating for us, then it’s going to be frustrating for everyone else,” says Dale Denham, Geiger's CIO. Denham will seat techs with each department that tests the new software, supporting them as they drive adoption. “When it works there, we spread it by saying, ‘It works for them, you should try it.’ Once it crosses the 50% threshold, it becomes a corporate mandate.”
  2. Empower an employee or team to choose.
    When Campus Ink is looking for a new app or technology solution, co-owner Steven Farag will sometimes ask the employee who will be using it most to research options and present his choice. “I let him onboard and demo. He’s going to train me,” Farag says. “If he doesn’t love it, what’s the point?”
  3. Listen to employees who have concerns.
    When Geiger decided to stop using Dropbox in favor of Microsoft’s OneDrive, some employees were very upset with the change, Denham says. “We could have sent an email or mandate, but instead we spoke to the individuals personally. We don’t hide behind email. We meet with the users to make sure we really understand why it’s an issue, and they’re usually less resistant when you’ve done it.”
  4. Keep it positive.
    As the Magnet Group has been rolling out its new ERP system, the supplier’s management team has been vocally upbeat, talking it up to employees. “We don’t make it seem like it will do something it can’t, but we explain how it will make us more efficient and give us the ability to respond to business,” CIO Jonas Temple says. SanMar CIO Mike Knapick will emphasize that the business side is driving technological change rather than vice versa. “The key,” he says, “is getting the business to say, ‘We need this change. It’s good for us long-term.’”
  5. Provide ample testing and training.
    Says Denham: “We always make users test and accept a rollout before we roll it out.”

DC Teams Combat COVID With Merch Fundraiser

Professional sports teams in the nation’s capital are teaming up on a merch-driven fundraiser that benefits people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.

The Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA) and Washington Mystics (WNBA) have a released a new line of branded T-shirts that will raise money for Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s “Feeding the Frontlines” charitable fund.

Proceeds from sales of the T-shirts will go to feeding first responders, healthcare workers and essential workers in the Washington D.C. area.

In replacing “Washington” with “Wash Your Hands” in the Capitals logo and adding a second, sudsy hand in the Wizards logo, the T-shirts’ messaging promotes frequent hand washing, a CDC recommendation to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Mystics “We’ll Always Be Together” shirt promotes unity and togetherness during a time of quarantining and social distancing.

Capitals shirt
The Washington Capitals replaced the “Washington” in their logo with the phrase “Wash Your Hands.”

The Washington Capitals replaced the “Washington” in their logo with the phrase “Wash Your Hands.”

To date, the “Feeding the Frontlines” fund has underwritten more than 7,500 meals to first responders, healthcare personnel and essential workers – and raised more than $175,000.

The limited edition T-shirts cost $25 each and can be purchased on the MSE Foundation site at https://www.monumentalfoundation.org/tees.

Virtual Races Want Promo Products

COVID-caused social distancing is canceling running races, but organizers are holding virtual events, which still require swag.

Because of COVID-19, the Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival had to go virtual this year.

Instead of having the marathon, half marathon, triathlons and various other endurance events between June 19 and 21 at courses in Sunriver, OR as planned, organizers have invited participating athletes to complete their race distances anytime from June 19 to July 4 on a course of their choosing, then submit their time online.

Shirts
Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival T-Shirt.

Even though the athletes won’t be competing together, they’ll still get branded merchandise to create a sense of camaraderie and to remember the unique “event.” Pacific Crest will be shipping race-branded T-shirts, medals and more. So far, 1,000 or so participants are said to be signed up.

“A big piece of virtual (races) is the swag,” Max King, who reformatted the April 19 Bend Marathon into a virtual event, told The Bulletin. “People are looking for that, since they can’t have the physical event.”

hoodie
The Bend Marathon and Half hoodie eco-fleece contains organic and recycled materials.

King’s insight should come as welcome news to promotional products distributors. Virtual race events are proliferating across the country amid social distancing practices that are occurring due to the coronavirus pandemic. And, race organizers still want to help attract and reward potential participants with swag.

Take the “Social Distancing Run 2020.” Organized by the Marathon Training Academy, more than 14,000 participants around the world are reportedly so far signed up to participate in the rolling date event, which invites athletes to run any distance from 5K and up between now and the end of the year. “Join our virtual race, stay motivated and earn some cool bling in honor of your un-run races,” race organizers say on the event website.

Folks who sign up for the basic $30 registration get a finisher’s medal and virtual race bib. Those who sign up for the “deluxe” package get the bib, medal and a technical running trucker’s hat.


Finisher’s medal for the Social Distancing Run 2020.

Elsewhere, Virtual Strides organizes virtual races that typically have a charitable aim. For instance, the Coronavirus Relief virtual race benefits Direct Relief’s efforts to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Participants in the race receive unique virus-themed swag. There’s a 3-D coronavirus molecule medal that features a toilet paper-patterned ribbon, an attached silicone keychain containing a 1-fluid-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer, a “Wash your hands, ya filthy animal” button and a forehead thermometer.

Medal

Such examples show that the demand for creative swag remains even though races are virtual.

To capitalize, promo distributors should contact race organizers with whom they’ve previously worked to see if they’re in need of solutions for a virtual race. If a distributor doesn’t have experience with races, he or she should reach out to people in their personal and professional networks who participate in races to see if they can point them in the right direction or help make an introduction to folks involved with organizing such events. Also, distributors can check out sites like https://www.active.com/running and https://race-find.com/us for help identifying virtual races.

Devo Debuts Energy Dome Face Shield

It’s among the more light-hearted, clever and quirkier pieces of branded personal protective equipment to hit the market amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Devo wants to whip COVID-19 – whip it good.

The classic New Wave band has released a line of branded personal protective equipment that includes face masks and face shields. The shields are created in the style of the unique “Energy Dome” hats the act sported during its early 1980s heyday.

Devo fans will remember the Energy Domes, which band members perhaps most famously wore in the video for their 1980 hit “Whip It.”


Devo performing “Whip It” while wearing “Energy Dome” hats.

“Devo introduced the Energy Dome in tandem with our 1980 LP. Graphically bold design in aggressive primary red, it became the most iconic symbol of the band’s multi-media mission to spread the idea of Devolution,” writes Devo member Gerald Casale in a characteristically quirky description on the band’s website.

The “spiffy, clear plastic Devo … shield is designed to attach easily to the Devo Energy Dome to protect you from invisible microbes and unwanted bodily fluids,” Casale continues. “Stay safe in devolved style!”

Devo Energy Dome
Devo’s Energy Dome with face shield is available here.

Devo enthusiasts can also purchase various quantities of Devo-branded masks, which come in two styles. The band’s focus on PPE appears to be another indication that the market for branded personal protective equipment is poised to grow amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Devo face masks
Devo face masks are available here.

Coloring Books Trend As Social Distancing Stress Buster

With more and more Americans working from home and practicing social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the need for simple stress-relievers and indoor activities is also on the rise. Enter the humble coloring book.

Adult Coloring Books
Coloring Book Solutions has seen an uptick in interest for its adult coloring books and puzzle books.

Adult coloring books – with their intricate patterns and tiny shapes requiring extra hand-eye coordination to fill in – were a big trend in the industry a few years ago. And the classic children’s versions have never really gone out of style. But coloring book suppliers in the industry say they’re seeing an uptick in interest for their products at a time when demand for many other types of products is dropping.

“I’ve been in the business since before the internet,” says Wayne Bell, CEO of St. Louis, MO-based Really Big Coloring Books (asi/82277). “During bad economic times, coloring books always rise in sales. … All the expensive electronic toys go out the window as families try to save money, and a lot of people turn to that family table time with kiddos and grandkids and coloring books.”

Chicago-based Lion Circle (asi/67620) has had a “couple of decent orders” for adult coloring books lately, says Rich Carollo, president. Scott Ward, national sales manager of Coloring Book Solutions (asi/45815) in Ashland, OH, says his company has been “slammed with orders,” because after all, what else are you going to do when you’re stuck at home?

One of Ward’s distributor partners, for example, is preparing care packages for a client’s employees who are working from home in California, and adult coloring books are just one of several gifts being put in each box, Ward explains.

Another idea for distributors would be to suggest pairing coloring books with delivery and curbside services that are proliferating as local businesses shut their brick-and-mortar locations. “If you were to hand one out as a point-of-purchase gift, people would really enjoy that,” Carollo says.

One of the biggest reasons coloring books are hot – besides people having a lot of free time on their hands right now – is their efficacy in relieving anxiety. Studies have shown a link between coloring and mindfulness. “Coloring allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus on the moment,” Ward says. “Concentrating on coloring an image may facilitate the replacement of negative thoughts and images with pleasant ones.”

Bell says there’s “something magical that happens when you begin to color. ... Your body chemistry changes and you begin to relax.”

It’s not just adult coloring books that are selling well as more states issue stay-at-home orders. Coloring Book Solutions has also seen an increased demand for its large-print puzzle books, especially to the senior market. “These are primarily elderly folks living in retirement communities or facilities where no outside visitors are currently allowed,” Ward says. “The puzzle books allow them the opportunity to engage in an activity that will help stimulate their brain in addition to passing the time.”

Bell’s company has made several educational coloring books geared toward children to teach them about coronavirus and proper handwashing techniques, which Bell says have been getting a good response as well.

Clever Ways to Keep Clients, Coworkers Engaged

Tips for staying focused while working from home.

It’s beginning to feel like Groundhog Day.

As the United States tries to flatten the curve and stem the tide of new COVID-19 cases, many of us have been working from home for over a week now. Wake up in the same outfit as yesterday, plop in your recliner, scan through the same “we’re all in this together” emails all these brands are flooding our inboxes with and spend the rest of your day wondering when things will go back to normal.

Before the ennui sets in, I got you (babe). Here are some innovative ways to keep clients and coworkers engaged while social distancing.

Social Media Campaigns
As Apple’s weekly screen time report can attest, people are scrolling social media more than ever before. Take advantage by launching a social media campaign. Encourage your staff and followers to share photos of their work-from-home station, home-cooked meals and, of course, their pets. Tweet or post a status asking folks to share their recommendations for binge watching and playlist compiling. Showing your personality can lead to stronger relationships with clients and even pique interest in potential ones. Plus, the online camaraderie can compensate for the lack of water cooler talk.

Newark, NJ-based Peerless Umbrella (asi/76730) has stepped it up a notch by creating a blanket fort challenge. The company’s Facebook followers can participate by building a fort with blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes or any other materials. Simply snap a photo of the design and post it in the comments by March 29 to be entered to win outdoor checkers or a giant yard domino set. Extra points for uploading the photo to Instagram, tagging @PeerlessUmbrella and using #PeerlessBlanketFortChallenge. It’s a fun, creative and safe strategy to build rapport with clients and grow your social media following.

Online Education
Despite your kids insisting this is an endless spring break, class is still in session. For you, too. ASIUniversity.com (free for ASI members) offers over 75 courses specifically designed to help you continue your professional development and grow your business. The team is also creating a calendar of education sessions and webinars geared toward helping you manage through the economic recovery. Now is a good time to invest in yourself, improving your knowledge and skills on a broad range of topics, such as how to increase sales, amplify your social media presence, learn decorating techniques and more.

Direct Mail
While digital media takes center stage during social distancing, stand out from the pack by sending promotional products directly to your client. If you’re not sure what to drop at their doorstep, perhaps something useful, yet informative during this time of need.

Soap tube

Buffalo, NY-based Le Tour de Spice (asi/67035) is using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to market its healthy products. The supplier produces spice tubes of beet root powder and turmeric, as well as a tube of soap for when you’re using a public bathroom and want to avoid the soap dispenser. Each of the tubes come with packaging that gives tips on how to wash your hands effectively and avoid the spread of illnesses. It’s easy for distributors to sell – clients simply add their logo to one of the stock themes.

Creative packaging can turn the simplest products into tokens of value. For example, Leanne Schillinger, account executive at Top 40 distributor American Solutions for Business (asi/120075), sent her clients the most cherished item at the moment: toilet paper. But she focused on presentation, printing a label with messaging and wrapping it around the roll. Brian Ensign, owner of Aurora, CO-based Be Branded, went one step further and sent branded toilet paper to his top clients.

toilet paper

toilet paper

Direct mail isn’t just for clients. Mary Dobsch, owner of Washington, MO-based The Chest (asi/44830), has transitioned new hire kits into working-from-home kits to keep employees engaged. Inside a custom-printed box can be a letter expressing gratitude to your team for how they’re adjusting, along with useful branded items like a water bottle, pen and power charger, all placed in a custom tray.

Smile, You're On Camera
While email, conference calls and messaging apps are effective tools for keeping in touch, don’t be afraid to experiment with video. You don’t have to be tech savvy, just sincere. Bjorn Rheborg, regional manager at Top 40 supplier Gemline (asi/56070), has launched a YouTube series to inspire new ideas, showcase hot products and update viewers on what Gemline is doing internally to push through during this difficult time.

You can also build engagement by hosting Facebook Live videos, which is a great way to gauge your audience’s hunger for different topics that you can turn into a video series. Several suppliers and distributors have been giving brief video presentations about their company, products and services on various Facebook groups. Lindsey Davis, director of promotional sales at Cedar Rapids, IA-based Raining Rose (asi/80489), went outside the box by hosting a watch party of a virtual tour of the supplier’s facility.

Also, consider engaging webinars with relevant content that your audience can sign up for. Send out the information to your contact list and gather the email addresses during registration as warm leads for future marketing campaigns. Follow up with them after, particularly those who sent in questions during the webinar.

Now, More Than Ever, Practice Gratitude

Suppliers are developing innovative, useful and delicious kits and care packages.

The words have come calling to me a lot over the years.

My dad often spoke them back when I was a kid. He’d say them when I’d worked up a head of steam and was bemoaning some unfortunate turn of events. “OK, that might be true, but you still have a lot to be thankful for. You have to remember those good things. Hold on to them and build on them.”

Purple Flower

Not going to lie: When I was a teenager, the advice got on my nerves. I felt, back then, like the issue I was blowing up about was being minimized. But with time, I’ve come to see the simple, but deep, wisdom in dad’s directive. Certainly, I’m seeing it more now than ever amid the unprecedented societal, economic and health disruption we’re all experiencing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

For sure, all of us have legitimate reasons to be anxious, aggravated, afraid and downright angry. You, like me, probably know people who’ve lost their livelihoods as a result of the coronavirus fallout. Maybe, sadly, you’re even among them. You, like me, may have people in your personal circles who’ve been infected with COVID-19 and are bravely battling it. Perhaps you, like me, are watching with a sense of injustice that the industry you’ve found a professional home in gets battered by operational disruption, temporary closures and diminished sales.

Sorry: Not trying to bum you out further. I’m just trying to say I get it. I’m not speaking from an Ivory Tower. I’m a guy with a wife and kids whose health is everything to me – a guy with bills, a mortgage and a destroyed 401(k) who’s concerned about what lies ahead for our health and for an economy that’s already in recession and heading, potentially, for worse.

Still, I’m trying to keep those winds of worry from whipping up into full-blown tornadoes by following dad’s advice, which in modern parlance would be this: I’m practicing gratitude every chance I get.

When I wake up in the morning, I’m expressing thanks for that profound fact of continued existence, something we all often take for granted. When I exercise, I’m expressing gratitude for the miracle of body movement. As stressful and overwhelming as work can be, I’m digging into a sense of thankfulness that I still have work. Of course, it goes without saying that I’m pouring thanks into the continued health of my wife and children.

The examples could go on, but don’t need to. The point is merely this: As tough as the coronavirus situation is, you probably have so many things in your life that you can still be thankful for. “Hold on to them and build on them,” as my dad would say. I’m no psychology Ph.D., but I know from experience that when you fill your heart and head with thanks, you feel better. When you feel better, you’re stronger and able to think clearer. That best prepares you to not just weather the adversity of your particular situation, but to develop smart strategies to actively navigate it. If it helps, pray, mediate and/or journal on things for which you’re grateful.

No, times aren’t good. It’s OK to look that reality in the face and acknowledge it – to talk about it, complain about it. But only up to a point. Eventually, the temporary catharsis that can come from kvetching turns toxic. Wallowing helps no one, most of all yourself. It only weakens your ability to deal with the situation at hand. Don’t succumb to it. Instead, straighten your back, give thanks as often possible, and push forward with a strategy and a sense of hope.

Speaking of hope: It snowed a little, iced a little, and then rained buckets in my neck of the woods on Monday (March 23). Come evening, however, the clouds rolled back, and a rainbow appeared. Some might call me sentimental, a sucker for easy symbolism, but I was thankful for that rainbow and the reminder it conveyed – that things can and do get better, and that hope is always worth holding onto.

Rainbow
The rainbow had faded a bit by the time I spotted it, but its colors and what it offered were still appreciated.

Demand for Digital Gifts Has Exploded

Business for supplier MediaTree has taken off by delivering emailed rewards for the homebound.

The promotional products that supplier MediaTree Rewards (asi/70303) offers the industry aren’t tangible, but they are lucrative. The Parsippany, NJ-based firm has been in the digital rewards business since the mid-2000s – back when downloading custom ringtones for your flip phone was totally hip.

product line
MediaTree offers various digital rewards from a variety of brands and retailers for the promotional products industry

There isn’t much demand for premium ringtones anymore, but the company has carved out a niche with its gift card programs and digital rewards. Business has always been steady, says Bill Grassmyer, owner/founder of MediaTree. But in the last few weeks, due to stay-at-home orders and self-quarantining going on across the nation in response to the coronavirus pandemic, MediaTree’s business has “just exploded because now everyone is at home.”

“Distributors are looking at items they can offer while at home,” Grassmyer says. “Our product fits the bill because it can be emailed.”

The company does print physical gift cards, but most people have been opting to go fully digital with rewards sent directly via email. The other benefit is how quickly these digital gifts can be delivered. Turn time is within 24 hours, since there’s no physical product that needs to be created and shipped.

MediaTree also can deliver on two of the big things people want when they’re stuck at home: food and entertainment. The supplier has a gift card product that allows people to pick from all the national retailers that deliver food, including GrubHub and Uber Eats, Grassmyer says. The supplier also offers digital movie rental vouchers.

One quick glance at social media over the last few weeks demonstrates the obvious: many people have extra time for catching up on movies and TV. In fact, half of Gen Z and millennials and 49% of Gen Xers said they would be watching more online movies due to self-quarantining during the coronavirus pandemic, according to research conducted by tech company Morning Consult with The Hollywood Reporter. About a third of Gen Z and millennials were likely to rent movies via streaming services during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the same Morning Consult report. And with restaurants’ dining rooms mostly closed, takeout service has become the only way to get a break from cooking at home all the time.

In recent weeks, a lot of companies have been incorporating MediaTree’s digital rewards as part of employee-related gifts, to motivate and reward workers who may be working remotely for the first times in their careers. “To be able to provide a meal for a family, if a company can do that, it’s a nice thing to do,” Grassmyer says.

A lot of distributors have been sending out digital gifts as self-promos. “They’re looking for a way to reach out and connect with their customer base in some way and just provide a little bit of joy,” Grassmyer says. “A lot of them are doing it because they want to be helpful.”

Creative 'Thank You' Gifts for Frontline Workers

Suppliers are developing innovative, useful and delicious kits and care packages.

Although many markets have dried up during the coronavirus pandemic, distributors, along with the rest of America, can rely upon frontline workers.

Industries such as healthcare, emergency services, food processing/services, delivery drivers, law enforcement, postal workers, sanitation and more have been classified as essential workers, unable to stay home while the rest of the country practices social distancing. These people on the frontline deserve our gratitude for their selfless contributions, and many suppliers have updated their product lines accordingly.

Here are some creative “thank you” gifts that distributors can capitalize on.

Sweet Treats
Everybody has to eat. Of course, frontline workers don’t always have time to cook or run out for a bite. Sending food as a token of appreciation is a major trend right now, according to suppliers.

Alyssa Andrews, jack of all trades at Phoenix-based Fairytale Brownies (asi/53518), has gotten quite a few requests for “thank you” and “thinking of you” brownies since the coronavirus pandemic began. “Customers are sending gifts to hospitals, first responders, nursing homes and any place that a caregiver might be going the extra mile,” Andrews says. “Now that offices are closed, companies are conducting virtual meetings with brownie treats for their breaks. Others are sending gifts of encouragement just to let their team know they’re thinking of them. Birthday programs are still going strong – people are sending them as gifts to friends and family they can’t celebrate with in person.”

Brownies
Fairytale Brownies has gotten several requests for “Thank you” and “thinking of you” brownies.

Being proactive is crucial for generating sales. Top 40 supplier Chocolate Inn/Lanco (asi/44900) has developed “hero recharge” kits, which include Jolly Ranchers, mini wafers, chocolate bars, roasted and salted almond bags, cinnamon fig bars, raisin nut trail mix and Starbursts. Meanwhile, Bethpage, NY-based Midnite Snax (asi/71685) has produced “healthcare heroes appreciation gifts.” Choices include a gift box or tin of candy and snacks, an assortment of fresh baked cookies, heart-shaped lollipops and a recovery kit filled with an Emergen-C packet, Nature’s Valley Granola Bar, Synder’s Mini Pretzels, Peppermint Lifesavers and a lollipop.

Recovery Kit
Midnite Snax has developed a snack-filled recovery kit to recharge the batteries of frontline workers.

Mosinee, WI-based Maple Ridge Farms (asi/68680) has dedicated a section of its website to work-from-home products, offering gift boxes of candy, chocolate, nuts, gourmet cheese and other snacks. The company is offering discounted pricing, free setup and free drop ships on most of the items. “Work-from-home gifts have been really popular,” says Traci Simonis, national sales executive at Maple Ridge Farms. “It’s a great way to be able to show frontline workers that we’re all thinking about them.”

Self-Care Items
With the hectic schedules, increased workload and ever-changing demands during the pandemic, frontline workers could use some time to unwind and take care of themselves for a change. Distributors should seek self-care packages that focus on comfort, relaxation and stress relief. Lotions, lip balms, hot and cold packs, stress balls and other personal care products are sure to be valued.

Soap Tin
HHPLIFT’s hottest product is personal soap in a travel tin.

Chicago-based HHPLIFT (asi/60465) has been promoting its luxe spa line, which features bath salts, candles and the company’s biggest seller, personal soap in a travel tin. Top 40 supplier SnugZ/USA (asi/88060) has a zen category that is apropos during this anxiety-ridden time. The West Jordan, UT-based supplier provides candles, essential oil, room spray, diffusers and other bath products to soothe the body and mind.

Sally Anderson, owner of Newnan, GA-based Key Promotions, received an order for “thank you” gifts for frontline workers in the medical field. Anderson curated a package with a Made-in-the-USA travel mug, hand lotion, hygiene kit and sticky notes. “Hand lotion is very popular right now because so many people have dry hands from the extreme hand washing,” Anderson says. “The scent was lavender so hopefully it has a calming effect.”

Family-Friendly Activities
Don’t just target frontline workers – consider their families, too. Even though they’re on the job, their children are home from school, and boredom is surely setting in. Journals, puzzles and coloring books are some fun options to keep kids occupied. Adult coloring books are useful, too, as studies have shown a link between coloring and mindfulness.

“During bad economic times, coloring books always rise in sales,” says Wayne Bell, CEO of St. Louis, MO-based Really Big Coloring Books (asi/82277). “All the expensive electronic toys go out the window as families try to save money, and a lot of people turn to that family table time with kiddos and grandkids and coloring books.”

Coloring Book
Really Big Coloring Books has seen an increase in orders – for both adults and kids – during the coronavirus.

Trusty Equipment
While several suppliers have shifted their production operations to making personal protective equipment (PPE), others are capitalizing on the equipment needs of frontline workers to continue their daily tasks. Tools, safety gear, power banks, backpacks and travel mugs remain popular items.

“People want made-in-USA and name brands right now,” says Michael Levy, president of New York-based Compass Promos (asi/46170). “They want to reward everyone doing hard work, from hospital workers to truck drivers. My cellphone number has been going out on every email because I want people to know I’m here to help.”

Pocket Knife
Leatherman tools, like this multipurpose pocketknife, remain popular items.

The company has been sending out email blasts to distributors showcasing creative decks – products curated for specific industries. For example, the first responders deck includes an assortment of Maglite flashlights and Leatherman multipurpose pocketknives. Each deck email comes with a random special, such as free setup or “better than EQP.” Having access to each brand’s entire product line, Compass Promos also offers customized decks and can request special orders for products not listed on its website.

Fellow New York-based supplier Aakron Line (asi/30270) has shifted production to a facility in Tennessee. As a result, some products are temporarily unavailable, as is 24-hour rush service. However, Tami Wainscott, Midwest regional sales manager, says that the Otaria Ultimate backpack has been a hit for frontline workers. “My daughter is a nurse, and she loves the backpack,” Wainscott says. “It has a bottle pocket on each side, so many distributors sell it as a combo with a custom bottle.”

Backpack
Otaria Ultimate backpacks are a hit in the medical field.

As of April 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States’ leading national public health institute, has recommended that Americans wear cloth or fabric face coverings when entering public spaces. Sugar Land, TX-based PMGOA (asi/79982) is one of the suppliers producing these masks. PMGOA’s 100% cotton face mask has a one-size-fits-all design available in black, navy, red, white, charcoal and chocolate.

Medical Mask Hooks

Inkwell Designers has gotten innovative, making a brandable product that pulls medical masks tighter.

As the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus intensified, Desiree Colonna wanted to do something to contribute to the fight against the pandemic and keep some business moving at her Woodstock, GA-based Inkwell Designers (asi/553001).

Her solution? Leverage her promotional products company’s in-house design and production capabilities to start creating medical mask hooks that can be sold branded or unbranded.

Mask hook
Inkwell Designer’s flexible, soft acrylic mask hook in action.

Made of flexible soft acrylic, the hooks situate at the back of a wearers’ head, where the mask side loops fit into them. This helps eliminate slack in the mask, holding them tighter against the face, Colonna says. Additionally, the mask loops no longer have to go around the wearer’s ears. That, says Colonna, helps prevent the abrasion and soreness members of the medical community have reported from wearing the masks.

comparison

“I am selling about 200 units per day, donating 2,000 per week and taking in donations to help pay for the materials to make more for our local and in-state medical community and beyond,” Colonna told Counselor. She continued: “We have donated hooks to Georgia medical workers and workers around the country. We’ve sent them as far as California.”

Colonna noted that people have been purchasing the hooks for family members working in essential jobs – like grocery store worker. Meanwhile, Inkwell Designers’ donations have included giving 1,000 hooks each to Northside Hospital, one of Georgia’s largest healthcare providers, and to the commander general of Georgia’s National Guard.

“The coolest story involved getting the call from the commander general’s wife and working with her to get these in the hands of nurses and doctors in Albany, GA, our state hot spot,” Colonna told Counselor.

Customers have also included the general public and some other promotional products distributors.

Colonna notes that she got the idea for the hooks from online engraving forums. Still, she says Inkwell Designers’ touch of ingenuity involved using the soft, flexible acrylic, which lends a pliability to the product that will keep it from cracking/snapping apart under pressure.

pliable
The hooks are pliable.

“We want to help during this unprecedented period in our history,” Colonna told Counselor. “We found this was the best way – to create a product people could really use, especially our first responders.”

Inkwell Designers is part of a much broader phenomenon in the promotional products industry in which companies are pivoting to sell and/or manufacture personal protective equipment to meet unprecedented demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. More on that can be found here and here.

Trend Alert: Floral Fashion Is in Bloom

Nothing screams spring quite like a floral print. Whether it’s a blouse bursting with big, bold blooms or a skirt sprouting sprigs of pastel petals, these lush prints have a timeless appeal. And lucky for you, they’re completely in season.

There are as many ways to wear florals as there are varieties in your grandmother’s garden. Psychedelic flower-power prints inspired by ’70s-era fashion are huge for spring, according to fashion site Who What Wear. Though often considered feminine, floral prints are also trending in menswear, and not just for loud Hawaiian shirts either. In fact, there’s a particular floral hoodie by designer Louis Vuitton that famous athletes can’t get enough of, according to GQ. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and retired Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia wore the sweatshirt to the same Super Bowl afterparty.

In the promotional and corporate apparel realm, florals are cropping up in headwear and outerwear, in particular. “Floral prints can create a fresh and appealing look for any outfit, especially when done on outerwear,” says Tracy Lehnen, vice president of marketing at Top 40 supplier Charles River Apparel (asi/44620). “They inspire creativity and give a youthful look and feel to your wardrobe.”

Floral print apparel
Charles River Apparel offers a floral print New Englander rain jacket (5194) and a version with flower-printed lining (5197).

Traditionally, specialty and boutique markets have gravitated toward florals, Lehnen says, but the prints are also becoming more mainstream, and a floral print “can be a great gift or showstopper for brands who want to make a statement.”

Floral hats
Mega Cap offers many hat styles with floral prints, including this cap (7655H) with a floral brim and this wide-brimmed ladies’ bucket hat (6535).

Michael Nakajima, a sales executive for Mega Cap (asi/70434), recommends targeting the beverage market, since floral designs pair well with their recent emphasis on lighter alcoholic beverages. But florals also work for themed events, corporate markets, travel and hospitality, he adds. Consider adding straw hats to the mix in these types of pitches, he says. “Straw hats sell to the same market as florals,” he adds.

When it comes to logos on florals, stick to one color that complements the palette used in the print, advises Kaitlyn Montagna, decoration operations specialist at Charles River. For example, the supplier’s floral print New Englander jacket uses muted tones, so a great choice for logo color would be olive green. “It’s in the same family, but doesn’t draw too much attention,” she says.

You should also pay close attention to the proportions in the print. “If you have a small print, a small logo will have a hard time standing out,” Montagna says. “On a larger print, a small logo has space to be seen clearly.”

Trend Alert: Lavender Is a Promo It Color

It’s no secret that pastels have been trending, perhaps kicking off with the craze for millennial pink that started a few years ago. Pistachio, peach and other pale shades have all had their moments in the sun. Now for this spring and summer, it’s time to focus on lavenders, lilacs and other soft purples.

Some trend watchers have gone so far as to dub the hue “millennial purple.” The Pantone Color Institute calls it Grape Compote, predicting that it will be huge this year. Online magazine PopSugar says it “feels decidedly fresh and feminine in clothing and accessory form.”

Model Cara Delevingne rocked a three-piece lavender power suit during Milan Fashion Week, and Glamour gushed: “The model nailed the monochromatic look while ushering in the pastel hue as this season’s it color.”

There are plenty of lavender options in the promotional apparel world. Fruit of the Loom (asi/84257) recently launched a new collection of T-shirts called the Iconic line that comes in 27 colors, including “Candy Hearts Heather” – its own version of lavender. Kristen Vincent, manager of merchandising at Fruit of the Loom, calls it a “tinted neutral” and notes that the shade is “appealing as a trans-seasonal, genderless palette that’s an easy, yet fresh option for decorators.”

Lavender t shirt
Fruit of the Loom (asi/84257) offers a version of lavender in its new Iconic T-shirt (IZC47WR) line.

Lavender is in particularly high demand with 20- and 30-somethings (hence the millennial purple designation), and it’s “especially popular within the youth street market,” Vincent says.

Logos in classic black and white, or even creams, yellows, hot pinks and light blues would pair well with lavender apparel. Don’t limit yourself to clothing, however; lavender tints could also give a fresh look to water bottles, tumblers, tote bags and more.

Lavender zippered case
This faux crocodile zippered case (BLLA-R1493) is available from Bella Line (asi/39586).

Lavender bottle
This 22-ounce stainless steel bottle (4760) is available from Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840).

NJ Could Ban Single-Use Plastic and Paper Bags

The Garden State would be the first in the U.S. with bans on both types of bags.

New Jersey is poised to become the first state to ban both single-use plastic and paper bags – a move that could help stimulate interest in branded reusable bags, such as totes.

Person holding plastic bags

Just days after neighboring New York’s single-use plastic bag ban took effect, New Jersey’s state Senate voted in favor of a bill that would place prohibitions on single-use plastic and paper bags, as well as disposable plastic straws and Styrofoam/polystyrene foam takeout containers.

The Garden State’s General Assembly still needs to approve the measure. And, Gov. Phil Murphy must sign it into law. A timeline wasn’t certain as it remained unclear if the Assembly would support the measure.

Should the bill become law as written, retailers and food service businesses will be prohibited from providing or selling single-use plastic and paper bags. They also won’t be able to sell or give out polystyrene containers. There are limited exceptions to the rules, which can be reviewed here. Food service businesses would be able to give out disposable straws, but only if customers specifically request them.

As an alternative to disposables, legislators, environmentalists and bill proponents are encouraging consumers to take advantage of reusable products. Totes, drawstring backs, and reusable straws are options. That presents opportunity for businesses of all stripes to provide and/or sell such products with their branding on it – something promo products pros can capitalize on.

Distributors in nearby New York are poised make the most of such opportunities as they begin to arise in their state.

“The (NY plastic bag) ban is absolutely an opportunity to sell more reusable bags, and it helps our positioning as a brand partner,” Joseph Sommer, owner of New York City-based distributorship Whitestone Branding (asi/359741), recently told Counselor. “The ban allows us the opportunity to educate our clients on how to use product to bring more attention to their brands.”

NYC-based Axis Promotions powered by HALO (asi/128263) is excited about the prospects, too. “I definitely see the ban on single-use bags as a big opportunity for all of us to sell more branded reusable bags to our clients,” Axis EVP Joan Bluestone Landorf told Counselor recently. “Most of our clients are already avoiding plastic bags and some of our beauty clients absolutely forbid using any plastic packaging.”

A growing number of cities, municipalities, states and even countries are enacting prohibitions on single-use plastic bags. It’s part of an effort to reduce plastic bag litter and pollution. Ban proponents say the pollution spoils natural habitat and poses a danger to wildlife, which can choke on or become caught in the disposables. States like California, Maine and Vermont have voted statewide prohibitions on plastic bags into place.

In 1950, the world’s population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tons of plastic, according to Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity based in the United Kingdom. In 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion people produced more than 320 million tons of plastic. The 2016 tally is set to double by 2034. Every day, approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into oceans, according to Surfers Against Sewage.ly loaded USB on them – a USB that features their creative work, ready for sharing. Certainly, Anthony had that in mind when he developed the USB cap.

Baby Yoda Merch Finally Rolling Out

I’ve already gone on record with my love of all things Baby Yoda – or if you want to get all technical and boring, “The Child.”

The cuddly alien was the breakout star of The Mandalorian, the Disney+ Star Wars drama that released to massive hype last fall. Disney successfully surprised fans by keeping the diminutive character under wraps, but after the shocking reveal, the big-eared baby broke the internet, becoming the star of countless memes and subject of tons of unlicensed Etsy merch.

But official Baby Yoda merch was few and far between – the price Disney paid for honoring Mandalorian director Jon Favreau’s request to keep the character spoiler-free. During that crucial holiday-shopping season after the show premiered, there was little that Star Wars fans could put under the tree – other than an IOU for TBD toys. Not exactly satisfying.

The first round of hastily rolled out merch was also a let down (for me, at least).

But I did enjoy seeing how the promo industry embraced the trend at recent ASI trade shows.

Fast-forward to February, and a ton of adorable Baby Yoda baubles are in the works – from Lego sets and board games to plushies and pajamas. There are Baby Yoda backpacks and speakers – the sound emanating from holes poked in his little, bald head. The full lineup was revealed at Toy Fair 2020 in New York, and it’s a lot. Maybe almost too much?

Baby Yoda merchandise
The Child merchandise is now available on Shop Disney, though some of the preorder items have already sold out.

It left me wondering whether the novelty of the new character has worn off. Then, I spent 15 minutes watching videos of the animatronic Baby Yoda made by Hasbro, so what do I know?

The 10-inch doll, which will feature over 25 sound and motion combinations, was already sold out less than a day after becoming available on Disney’s e-commerce site. Even if it does become available to preorder, the doll isn’t expected to ship until December of this year. Other Baby Yoda items are still just as sought over. Funko announced recently that its upcoming Baby Yoda figure broke pre-order sales records at the company.

Clearly, the Force is still strong with The Child.

Promo Demand for Sanitizer, Face Masks Skyrockets

ESP search data appears to indicate a significant increase in end-buyer demand as coronavirus spreads around the world.

According to new data from ASI, searches for face masks and hand sanitizer increased dramatically this month, signaling a growing concern about preventing transmission of the coronavirus.

This month, the terms “hand sanitizer” were searched 5,577 times, up from 2,900 in January and 2,173 in February 2019 (a 92% increase and 157% increase, respectively).

Meanwhile, “face mask” was searched 711 times this month, up from 373 last month (a 91% increase) and just 25 at the same time last year (a 2,744% increase).

The first coronavirus deaths in the U.S. occurred on Feb. 27, when two residents of a nursing home in Kirkland, WA, succumbed to the disease. As of March 4, there are 126 cases across 13 states and 11 people have died, 10 in Washington state and one in California. A Department of Homeland Security location in King County has closed after an employee visited the Kirkland care facility.

Chocolate Inn/Lanco (asi/44900) offers hand sanitizer to the industry, and marketing manager Nick Caputi says that while they usually see an increase in demand each year during flu season, this year is different.

“We saw a direct jump in sanitizer interest once the coronavirus became headline news,” he says. “It’s been a 40% increase year over year.”

Fortunately, the company manufactures its own sanitizer, so they’ve been able to replenish supply to keep up with demand. They’ve seen orders from a variety of industries, mainly for their own employees’ use, and they don’t expect it will diminish anytime soon. “With all of the reports coming in, we anticipate the demand to continue well into the spring and very likely even further,” says Caputi.

SnugZ/USA (asi/88060) also offers sanitizer, and demand increased significantly since January and has been “off the charts” since the end of February, says CEO Brandon Mackay, about the time that California announced it had its first case of unknown origin; the patient had not traveled to any countries with confirmed cases and hadn’t been exposed to anyone infected.

Sanitizer sales at Snugz are up 25% from February 2019, mostly for health campaigns, hospitals, schools and travel-related companies. “We’ve also seen a spike in requests that confirm the product is manufactured in the USA,” says Mackay, who added that much of its products (not just personal care) are in higher-than-normal demand because of the ripple effect of the virus.

“I think the fact that we’re a domestic manufacturer has pushed business our way as the workforce has yet to return to China after Chinese New Year,” he says. “People had hoped that China factories would be open and then ran out of time, and now the orders for us are coming in like a wave.”

Personal care supplier and manufacturer Raining Rose (asi/80489) says they’re seeing a 400% year-over-year increase in sales for hand sanitizer, and volume of inquiries is even higher.

“At this point in the year, we usually see our business move toward sunscreen,” says Lindsey Davis, director of promotional sales. “Instead, we’re seeing an uptick in sanitizer that’s outpacing sunscreen. Our call and email volume and our rush orders for sanitizer have all increased. We’re continuing to produce our best-selling items more quickly and in larger batches to keep up with demand, since most requests aren’t item-specific.”

Many of the requests are coming from the travel industry and public event organizers. “We’re forecasting that demand on our inventory will continue to build,” she says, “so our staff is prepared to handle the increase in general communication.”

Meanwhile, ASI suppliers that manufacture or source disposable face masks are also seeing increases in demand. This comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked the public not to panic-buy masks in bulk, since they’re not effective for protecting non-infected people from catching the virus, but are needed for infected patients to help stop the spread. Shortages have led to unprotected health workers, who are at the highest risk for transmission, and price-gouging.

“This is a psychological thing,” Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told CNN this week. “The coronavirus is coming, and we feel rather helpless. By getting masks and wearing them, we move the locus of control somewhat to ourselves.”

Suppliers in the promo industry say the increase in demand is absolutely related to these fears. “Inventory is really tight nowadays,” says Cecilia Shi, marketing manager at Wonderland Promo Inc. (asi/98102). “But we have several factories that produce them, so we’re not anticipating that inventory will be affected. I’m not sure of the exact end-buyers asking for them, but we’re expecting demand to continue building over the next month.”

Nancy Wang, a manager at AC Services Co. (asi/55220), says the demand is rising so fast that accurate numbers are hard to calculate, but they also work with factories that are churning them out quickly. “We’re also seeing more demand for infrared ear and forehead thermometers,” she says. “This will definitely continue over the next month.”

To encourage continued mask production over the coming weeks, the U.S. government has made plans to buy up all surplus supply of face masks. The plan is to obtain 500 million N95 respirators and face masks over the next 18 months for the Strategic National Stockpile, comprised of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and emergency supplies.

Six Ways To Be More Creative

In a fast-paced industry with educated clients, creative ideas will set distributors apart.

1. Listen to TED Talks and podcasts.
The sheer breadth of topics you can learn about listening to TED Talks and podcasts will take you out of your daily routine and get you to think in new ways about subjects you might not have been aware of before.

Creativity Workspace

2. Learn something new.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to take art lessons, or play the piano, or learn a new language. Make time once a week to pursue a creative activity that requires you to use a different part of your brain.

3. Create a vision board.
A vision board is a visual representation of the goals you want to achieve. Think loftily and set high objectives. If being more creative with clients is there, include visual representations – such as magazine photos – of how you want them to feel after experiencing your customer service.

4. Go somewhere different.
Take a well-earned vacation – or just a day – and go somewhere that’s been on your list. Leaving your comfort zone and daily routine behind will give you a new perspective and get those creative juices flowing.

5. Prioritize daily brainstorming.
Find the time of day where you’re most productive and do some brainstorming. It could be about your business, clients’ upcoming promotions or prospecting activities. Write down everything that comes to mind, then clean it up and create actionable steps to address each area.

6. Start a sketchbook.
Buy a lightweight sketchbook you can carry with you everywhere you go, and just start drawing. Taking a few minutes away from the daily grind and focusing on something creative and low-pressure will get you thinking in a different way.

Watch This
Copywriter Ashlyn Carter gives her five tips for boosting and maintaining high levels of creativity in virtually any industry, whether it’s sales, writing or another role. Watch it below:

PopSockets Launches Wireless Charger

The new product allows your smartphone to charge even with a cell phone grip on the back.

At CES, the massive tech trade show in Las Vegas this week, PopSockets announced the latest product to join its lineup of smartphone accessories.

Pop Sockets Wireless Charger

The PopPower Home Wireless Charger allows your Apple or Android smartphone to wirelessly charge even with a PopSocket – the popular collapsible phone grip and stand – on the back, TechCrunch reported. Previously, PopSockets users would either have to remove their phone case to wirelessly charge or opt to charge their phone with a power cord.

With this new accessory, you’ll simply plug it in and place your phone or other device on top, making sure any attached PopSocket slides into the hole in the middle. An LED indicator on the side will alert you that the case is charging.

Powered by Nucurrent, the new charger features Qi certification with Extended Power Profile (EPP) to deliver up to 15 watts of wireless power, up from the standard 5 to 10 watts. The accessory will also work through phone cases up to 5 mm thick and can charge devices that don’t have a PopSocket on the back. The case will come in an array of designs, including Night Bloom, Mountainscape, Matte White, Cosmic Cloud and Carbonate Gray. The phone’s model, case thickness and battery depletion will affect the charge times, PopSockets says.

PopPower Home Wireless Charger is currently available for $60 exclusively on Popsockets.com.

“PopSockets is a highly successful retail brand focused on innovation and the new PopPower product is a great example of this,” Jeff Hall, president and CEO of iClick, told Counselor. “iClick is committed to launching all relevant PopSockets products for our distributor partners and we look forward to making PopPower available in the very near future.”

Report: Retailers See Totes as Marketing Tools

Bans on single-use plastic bags are a factor driving brands’ interest in reusable bags.

Demand for branded totes is forecast to rise among retailers, according to a just-released report from Adweek. Though the increase in single-use plastic bag bans has often been the impetus for the growth, certain high-profile brands are also making the most of what they see as an excellent marketing opportunity, Adweek reports. 

“Smart retailers have turned plastic bag bans from potential pain point to branded billboards that travel into every shopper’s home and stay out of the trash,” Bob Phibbs, CEO of consultancy The Retail Doctor, told Adweek Senior Editor Robert Klara. “It’s a great way to remind the consumer of that store before they leave the house again, and it’s so much better than generic, flimsy and polluting plastic bags.”

As Phibbs’ analysis suggests, prohibitions on single-use plastic bags helps drive demanded for branded alternatives, like logoed tote bags. That could be good for the promotional products industry, with savvy promo distributors capitalizing and increasing sales of branded reusable bags.

Calling grocery totes “movable marketing tools,” Klara highlights examples of top retailers that have turned to totes. For instance, there’s a reusable bag from Rochester, NY-based upscale grocery chain Wegmans. Selling for only 99 cents, the bag’s veggie-rich graphics are a nod to Wegmans’ “open-air European-style produce market,” Klara writes. Spotlighting other examples from Macy’s, Target and more, Klara notes that southeastern grocery chain Publix, with its 1,100 stores, has a collection of 14 reusable bag styles. Late last year, a branded tote from The Fresh Market went viral as a result of an attorney using it to carry documents to a hearing related to the potential impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Wegmans “Box Veggies” tote
Wegmans “Box Veggies” tote

A growing number of municipalities, cities and states, as well as countries, are considering or actively trying to ban single-use plastic bags. For example: Providence, RI, recently enacted prohibitions on the bags. The motivation is environmental. Ban proponents say the bags present a threat to wildlife and natural habitat, while also generating litter and pollution.

The world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic each year, according to Statista, and scientists estimate that up to 91% of plastic is never recycled. The average American family reportedly uses 1,500 plastic bags annually.

Statewide prohibitions on single-use plastic bags have been approved or are in place in Vermont, Maine, California and New York. Hawaii has a de facto statewide ban. Both Washington and Kentucky are among the states considering statewide bans. The Kentucky proposal would also place restrictions on single-use plastic straws and balloon launches.

Commentary: More Than Trinkets and Trash

Promo products branded with powerful messages can serve as a tangible force for good during difficult times.

Recently, we’ve spotted news reports referring to promotional products as “trinkets and trash.”

The tired slag ignores the cost-effective, ROI-rich impact that promo products can have when the solutions are tailored intelligently to a client’s audience. Read more about that here. As importantly, the long-running insult also ignores the fact that the products can serve as the foundation for powerful messages that do everything from contribute to collective catharsis when tragedy strikes, to help raise money to support important causes during difficult times.

Two examples from recent weeks illustrate the latter points. The first centers on the tragic story of Carley Ann McCord. She was a popular sports reporter in Louisiana. On Dec. 28, the 30-year-old died in a plane crash en route to see the Louisiana State University Tigers football team play in the college football semifinal. Her father-in-law, Steve Ensminger, is LSU’s offensive coordinator.

On Jan. 12, the day before LSU was to play in college football’s national championship game, the LSU fans group Cajun Tiger Tailgating held a crawfish boil at which they gave out bracelets branded with the message, “Do it for Carley” – an inspirational rallying cry calling on the team to win the big game for McCord and her grieving family.

The group was also providing McCord-inspired T-shirts, which were screen-printed with a quote the late reporter posted on social media before she passed away. The quote is: “Only rainbows after rain. The sun will always come again.” Beyond the quote, the shirts featured an LSU logo and McCord’s name and the years her life spanned.

Additionally, Cajun Tiger Tailgating told news outlets that it plans to sell merchandise as part of the tribute to McCord. A portion of the money will benefit a memorial scholarship established in McCord’s honor at one of her alma maters – Northwestern State University. Funds from the scholarship will support female students at the school who are pursuing a career in sports journalism.

In another example from the sports world, 23-year-old professional hockey player Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed in December with Ewing’s sarcoma. Following the cancer diagnosis, his teammates on the Philadelphia Flyers started wearing special “Oskar Strong” T-shirts under their uniforms, in solidarity with Lindblom. Fans and players on other teams began sporting the shirts, too. Made by Biscuit Tees, the shirts are available for consumers to purchase. All proceeds benefit the “Hockey Fights Cancer” initiative.

Meanwhile, Flyers Charities also released an “Oskar Strong” shirt. All proceeds were to benefit Ewing’s sarcoma research at the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

While heart-wrenching, the McCord and Lindblom stories serve as examples of how branded merchandise can be a tangible force for good when trials strike. That impact amounts to much more than trinkets and trash.

Most Interesting (and Wildest) Products From CES2020

Thousands of products – from the useful to the bizarre – were unveiled at the massive tech trade show.

CES, the massive consumer electronic expo that takes over Las Vegas at the beginning of each year, launched over 20,000 products from more than 4,400 exhibiting companies in 2020. With more than 2.9 million net square feet of exhibit space, that’s a lot of new technology to sift through.

“This week at CES illustrated that every company is truly a tech company,” said Karen Chupka, executive vice president of CES. “Global technology brands blended with nontraditional tech companies to showcase how innovation is furthering business across all markets – setting the stage for the decade ahead.”

Tech companies showed off wall-sized TVs, laptops with foldable screens, driverless cars, meatless “Impossible Pork,” and much more. Here are a few of the gadgets that stood out, whether because they’re quirky, useful or a combination of both:

Samsung Ballie

1. Samsung Ballie: Though it resembles a tennis ball, this gadget is actually a combination smart home device and robotic companion. Thanks to cameras and sensors, this “all-around life companion” can follow behind you – like a diminutive BB-8. The device can take photos, control smart home features and send you updates on your home when you’re away.

Prinker S temporary tattoo printer

2. Prinker S temporary tattoo printer: A fabulous idea for brand activations and event marketing, this tattoo printer creates realistic-looking temporary tattoos in seconds. Users scroll through a companion app to choose a tattoo (or design their own) then pass the handheld printer over their skin to painlessly apply the ink, which lasts one to three days.

NURVV Run

3. NURVV Run: These smart insoles are designed to help fix flawed running style. Each insole has 32 embedded sensors capable of capturing a wide range of running data, such as stride length, pronation, cadence and foot strike. After a run, that data is transferred to a companion smartphone app for analysis. The app then suggests ways to help runners avoid injuries and become stronger and faster during their runs.

Charmin RollBot

4. Charmin RollBot: Charmin’s conceptual product – don’t expect to be able to purchase it anytime soon – is a rather cheeky marketing ploy. The RollBot can deliver a fresh roll of toilet paper to someone in distress, via smartphone control.

Inupathy harness

5. Inupathy harness: Japanese company Langualess brought the Dr. Doolittle factor to CES. It Inupathy harness measures and analyzes your dog’s heartrate, using it to determine the canine’s mood. The harness changes color based on the animal’s mood, and owners can use the associated app to track their pet’s mood over time.

Y-Brush

6. Y-Brush: If you though two minutes was just too long to devote to oral hygiene, rejoice. This smart brush is designed to clean all of your teeth in just 10 seconds – five seconds for the top and five for the bottom.

The Latest Fleece & Sweatshirts

They’re stylish, varied and extremely lightweight.


Bella + Canvas (asi/39590)

Bella + Canvas hoodie

Greek letters will look excellent on this unisex sponge fleece pullover hoodie (3729). It features thick, dyed-to-match draw cords and ribbed cuffs and waistband; bella.com




Dyenomite (asi/51185)

Dyenomite hoodie

Tie-dye apparel is surging again in fashion circles, and this warm and comfortable spiral hoodie (854MS) is ideal for a younger demographic; dyenomite.com




Dri Duck Traders (asi/50835)

Dri Duck Traders fleece

The quarter-length design, four-snap placket and pocket of this jacket (7352) add a stylish and functional element to a great work piece. It’s anti-pill and offers UPF 50+ sun protection; driduck.com




Storm Creek (asi/89879)

Storm Creek fleece

This fleece pullover (2640 Mark) features a quilted diamond pattern on the top and brushed fleece on the bottom for a classy look. Stock in gift shops and employee stores; distributor.stormcreek.com




Cutter & Buck (asi/47965)

Cutter & Buck fleece

Calling all corporations: This versatile ½-zip pullover (MRK00040) can be layered over a T-shirt, polo or dress shirt, with or without tie; cbcorporate.com




Vantage Apparel (asi/93390)

Vantage Apparel hoodie

Dig the bold colorblocking on this fleece pullover hoodie (3283). It’s made from a soft 80/20 cotton/poly blend, with striping that offers a natural spot for decoration; vantageapparel.com




2019 Promo Item of the Year: Reusable Straws

Whether they’re stainless steel or silicone, the year’s hottest product trend on land has its roots deep in the sea.


While many zeitgeist-y movements are kick-started by fashion, pop culture or people with the last name Kardashian, the driver of this year’s biggest product trend has a less auspicious – and way more interesting – origin: a sea turtle’s nostril.

Back in 2015, a young marine biologist studying in Costa Rica shot a video of her team removing a plastic straw impacted up a sea turtle’s nasal cavity. The 8-minute video, which went viral and currently has over 38 million views on YouTube, moved viewers because the straw had to be gingerly taken out with pliers as the turtle was clearly in distress. Predictably, outrage ensued. This, coupled with the influence of the millennial and Gen Z demographics’ embrace of sustainability and visceral aversion to single-use plastics, generated a wave of plastic straw-shunning. Soon, brands like Starbucks and American Airlines, as well as restaurants across America and in Europe, started foregoing the ubiquitous red- and blue-striped plastic tubes, encouraging consumers to find alternate methods that reduce plastic usage and lessen the impact on the environment.

Reusable Straws
Counselor Top 40 distributor Boundless did a direct mail piece to clients and prospects with the tagline “Sip Sustainably,” which garnered interest among recipients looking to promote the use of reusable – in this case, silicon – straws.

The upside for the promo industry? Wait for it: There are currently 275 suppliers in ESP carrying reusable straws and ESP searches that contained the word “straw” were up 247% for the first three quarters of 2019 compared to the first three quarters of 2018. Year-over-year searches for the term “Reusable Straws” were up 402%; “Stainless Steel Straws,” 294%; and “Straw,” 271%. All three are in the top five biggest product search increases in 2019. Additionally, in Q1 of 2018 “Reusable Straws” were searched a total of 35 times in ESP; in Q1 of 2019, searches for “Reusable Straws” were up 100 times over.

Distributors in the industry aren’t terribly surprised. “Clients who order these items are using them as a marketing tool for being a ‘renewable’ company more than practicality,” says Amy Wolf, founder and CEO of the distributor evo3 marketing (asi/190628) based just outside Seattle. “But yes, they’re shown and requested more for smaller-budget items.”

Nicole McNamee, managing director of global accounts for Top 40 distributor Boundless (asi/143717), points out that geography is playing a big role in the demand for reusable metal and silicon straws. “I’m in the middle part of the U.S. in Memphis, TN,” she says. “In my local market, we’re not seeing much of an increase in requests for reusable straws. I think it will come, but the trends start on the coasts and work inward. For example, my largest client is Carnival Corporation with headquarters in Seattle, Santa Clarita and Miami. With these three locations there’s an absolute uptick for requests (and in some cases, required by law) to ditch the one-time use straws.”

And just because this story started with a sea creature, don’t discount couture as an impetus behind the trend. “The retail/fashion industry is probably the biggest buyer of these products from us,” says Michael Scott Cohen, CEO of the NYC-based distributor Harper + Scott (asi/220052). “It’s not just about the product though; we’re helping construct the story behind why they’re giving away a reusable/sustainable product.”

For that, the turtles of the world can breathe a sigh of relief.

How to Handle Negative Online Employee Reviews

Popular web destinations for disgruntled employees to post reviews include career sites like Glassdoor.com, Indeed.com, Vault.com and Careerbliss.com. Some even turn to Yelp. To stay abreast, establish accounts on these sites and, where possible, set up alerts for when comments related to your company appear. Of course, ex-workers may take to social channels like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, too. They also might comment in news articles and blogs that touch on your brand. Catch the activity by setting up Google Alerts for your company, and consider using social media monitoring software, such as Critical Mention.

Negative review on cellphone

Here are more tips to deal with negative online reviews.

1. Establish a Response Strategy.
Include procedures like who’ll respond to the negative reviews. This can vary. Some companies might want an HR professional to reply under the company name. Others might desire current employee advocates to respond under their personal names. The bottom line is to have a strategy, which increases the chances of replying consistently and successfully.

2. Get the Tone Right.
Rise above the bile and deliver a personalized, empathetic response that shows your company cares about creating a positive workplace. This can include an apology using the more sincere “we” such as: “We’re sorry that you had a negative experience.” This can be complemented by a mention of something that the ex-worker did well while still employed. If the person is making statements that are patently false, keep your tone polite and still apologize, but correct the inaccurate information with facts. Thank the reviewers for their feedback.

94% of workers believe negative comments about a company on employer review sites damage the company’s brand.

Source: CareerArc and Randstad USA

3. Respond to Positive Reviews.
It shows you’re engaged and that you appreciate the feedback, implying you value creating a workplace culture in which employees are happy. Also, sunshine drives out the dark, so a swell of positive reviews with responses from your company can overwhelm the negative ones. However, don’t have current employees flood a negative review with too many positive comments in response; it looks disingenuous.

4. Consider the Criticism Objectively.
Does the critic have a point? Maybe. And, if so, negative reviews are opportunities. If valid, they point out areas in your operations and culture where improvement could potentially be beneficial. Use negative reviews that air legitimate gripes as a springboard for growth.

5. Nip It in the Bud.
Of course, the best way to handle negative ex-employee reviews is to see that you don’t receive any in the first place. Sure, it’s easier said than done. But there are things you can do.

Suggestions include:

  • Be truthful during the hiring process. Set honest expectations regarding what the job entails, what the perks/benefits are, and what potential paths for advancement exist.
  • Foster good management. Sometimes, when employees say they “hated” a company, what they really mean is they disliked their boss. Therefore, developing good managers who care about their teams and lead by inspiration, example and positivity can be an invaluable investment. Obviously, it will help with retention, too.
  • Set clear goals for employees and provide them with the tools and support to achieve those objectives.
  • Recognize employees when goals are achieved, and reward workers who go above and beyond.
  • Say thank you often. It never hurts.
  • Share in the success. Consider introducing a profit-sharing plan. Pay a fair market wage.
  • Invite feedback. Provide mechanisms through which employees can feel safe giving sincere feedback about what they feel is effective and what’s broken within the company, their department and managers. Solicit the same type of input from managers. Review the feedback with an open mind and adjust as necessary.

TikTok Memes Are Moment Merch Fodder

The trendy short-form mobile video sharing app is wildly popular with Gen Z and has helped launch everything from hit songs to viral tees.


If you’re over the age of 22, you’ve probably never used – let alone heard of – TikTok, but the short-form mobile video sharing app is a massive platform that just hit 1.5 billion downloads and has 1 billion active users. More importantly for the promo world, it’s a breeding ground for youth culture, where viral memes and fresh slang are born with every 15-second lip sync clip posted. And for print-on-demand e-commerce vendors, it can be a great way to find fodder for the latest moment merch.

Jonathan Garriss, CEO of novelty merch maker Gotham City Online, recently told CNBC that his staff frequents places like TikTok and Reddit for trending memes, since social media sites that skew older, like Facebook, tend to be outdated. “We try to find memes that have a little more staying power,” he said. “There are things that are popular this week and not popular the next. We try to avoid those.”

Print-on-demand vendors are finding inspiration from 15-second videos on TikTok.
Print-on-demand vendors are finding inspiration from 15-second videos on TikTok. Photo via Amazon.

Gotham City Online sells T-shirts on Amazon through its subsidiary Pop Threads. Amazon’s print-on-demand services make it easy for Gotham City Online to experiment with designs and memes to see what sticks. “If we create a design that doesn’t work, it’s not like we’ve got a thousand shirts sitting on the shelves. We produce them as they start to sell,” Garriss told CNBC.

Here’s a sampling of the internet slang that’s been memorialized in thread and ink: “Respect the drip, Karen,” which references a TikTok video of a teen telling his stepmom to respect his outfit; “Yeet,” an expression of excitement, approval or surprise; and “OK boomer,” Gen Z’s dismissive, sarcastic response to criticism from older generations.

Kylie Jenner Hoodie
Celebrity Kylie Jenner capitalized on a TikTok meme she inspired by selling hoodies in her official shop. Photo via The Kylie Shop.

TikTok also has star-making power. The biggest success story is rapper Lil Nas X, who uploaded his award-winning, genre-defying country rap hit “Old Town Road” to TikTok late last year, turning it into a meme and propelling the song to a record 19 weeks at number one on the Billboard charts.

Another example occurred in October. Kylie Jenner posted an office-tour video on YouTube, at the end of which she sang the words “rise and shine” to her sleeping daughter, Stormi. In less than two weeks, the impromptu serenade had become a massive meme on TikTok. In grand Kardashian tradition, Jenner wasted no time merchandising the clip, posting hoodies based on the meme onto her online shop. She also applied for a trademark on the three-word phrase.

The runaway success of TikTok has certainly caught the attention of other social media sites – including Facebook, which has been testing Reels, a copycat video-editing tool for Instagram, to try and steal some of TikTok’s thunder. While the typical TikTok user doesn’t match the typical demographic of a corporate buyer (according to GlobalWebIndex, 41% of users are between 16 and 24 years old), it mirrors the trend of past successful social media sites that started young before capturing older demographics. In addition, it heralds a movement toward bite-sized video that could prompt promo professionals to keep their marketing messages short, sweet and set to a catchy beat.

Trend Alert: Puffer Jackets Are a Fashion Staple

Quilted outerwear serves as both a functional piece and streetwear statement.


The puffer jacket has become a ubiquitous sign of slipping temperatures, with everyone from snow bunnies to streetwear fashionistas sporting the cozy style – and that’s not even getting into runway iterations of the trend, like those outrageous outerwear ball gowns Moncler is dreaming up. North Face product director Michael Horsch has even given our puffer predilection a name: “outleisure.”

The idea for the modern-day puffer was born way back in the 1930s, after adventurer Eddie Bauer nearly died from hypothermia when his wool jacket became waterlogged and froze. He filed for a patent for his quilted, down-filled jacket in 1940. For decades, puffer jackets were all about utilitarian needs, keeping outdoorsy types protected from the elements. In the 1990s, however, they gained a cool factor in hip-hop culture and as streetwear. Now, of course, the puffer is everywhere. “It’s become a cultural piece that offers functionality and fashion, much like the rise of the Timberland boot,” says Christina Marcantelli, inside sales representative for Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358).

Group of five friends in puffer jackets
Puffer jackets, like this array offered by Storm Creek, come in a variety of styles and colors.

These days, there are way more options for puffer jackets than ever before, from long and belted to cropped and collared, in every color of the rainbow. “The versions are endless and go beyond the look of a ‘marshmallow puff,’ ” Marcantelli says.

Advancements in quilting machine technology have also enabled outerwear designers to offer new stitch-line patterns to change up the look of a jacket without compromising its strength and integrity, according to Doug Jackson, founder and president of apparel supplier Storm Creek (asi/89879).

Men’s hybrid down jacket (1555) from Fossa Apparel features heat seal finishing, rather than stitching to ensure the down fill stays intact.
This men’s hybrid down jacket (1555) from Fossa Apparel features heat seal finishing, rather than stitching to ensure the down fill stays intact.

Smaller and narrower bands of quilting are currently more in vogue “than the bigger, blocky patterns,” says Eric Chen of supplier Fossa Apparel (asi/55141). Some companies have even eschewed traditional quilting all together, in favor of heat seals, he adds, which has the advantage of keeping down feathers from escaping through tiny stitch holes.

As far as the guts of a puffer, down is considered the premium insulation option, Chen says: “The natural properties of goose feathers provide some terrific insulation that polyfills just can’t quite match.”

Plus, Marcantelli says, down has a better fill power and makes for a lighter, but warmer jacket. “If you’re looking for a lightweight, packable option, buying a puffer with feather down is the best choice,” she says.

Columbia Powder Lite jacket (169800) is available from S&S Activewear.
This Columbia Powder Lite jacket (169800) is available from S&S Activewear.

Still, down tends to be more expensive than synthetic polyfills. The material also raises allergy and animal-rights concerns, says Andrea Routzahn, senior vice president of portfolio and supplier management at alphabroder (asi/34063). And, Jackson notes, down doesn’t perform well if it gets wet, an issue that doesn’t affect synthetics. Storm Creek uses the branded insulation, Thermolite, in its jackets, which Jackson says provides better warmth than generic insulation.

North End puffer jacket (NE708) from alphabroder (asi/34063) is insulated with synthetic down.
This North End puffer jacket (NE708) from alphabroder (asi/34063) is insulated with synthetic down.

The other aspect of functionality that’s critical for puffer jackets is the shell itself. “A good puffer must be water-resistant and wind-proof,” Jackson says. “Wind is the biggest ‘chilling’ factor for people outdoors.”

Thanks to the versatility and variety of puffers, the pieces needn’t be relegated merely to winter weather. Lighter jackets and vests can sometimes be worn all year long. “Our Colorado customers will wear a puffer vest and a T-shirt in the summer, and our northern customers can get through a cold winter with our 120-gram insulated jacket,” Jackson says. “To illustrate this point at our annual retail outdoor show one year, a very high-end outerwear vendor showed a mannequin in a bikini and puffer vest.”

Trend Lessons From New Fresh Prince Collection

Actor Will Smith’s limited-edition line, Bel-Air Athletics, is filled with retro-inspired 1990s styles that promo pros should keep an eye on.


The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is back with some retro 1990s-styled branded merchandise that heralds a few fashion-forward trends promotional products pros could do well to check out.



Called Bel-Air Athletics, the limited-edition line from Will Smith is inspired by gear the mega star wore while playing the title character of the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Earlier this year, Smith released a different ’90s-retro collection of Fresh Prince gear. It’s all part of a broader trend in retail and branded merchandising – namely, a fond reimagining of 1990s apparel that younger audiences are embracing. Everything from the reemergence of scrunchies to *NSYNC capsule collections are part of the style movement.


Anyhow, here are some particular looks from the collection to take note of – and how they might apply to your promo products sales.


The Unstructured Flat Bill

Dribble Drive Will flat bill cap


The “Dribble Drive Will” six-panel cap has style elements that will appeal to end-client audiences in markets that range from music and extreme sports, to craft breweries, colleges and startup/technology firms with younger and/or urban workforces. For sure, the unstructured, flat bill look checks the still-hot laid-back “dad hat” box. Furthermore, the small, cartoon-style embroidery is a feature brands courting Gen Z and younger millennial audiences might want to incorporate into merch.


Reactive Tie-Dye Throwback Tee

Retroactive Tie-Dye Throwback Tee


Tie-dye just keeps getting hotter – as Counselor has previously detailed. High schools, colleges, fraternities, sororities, summer camps, vacation destinations, outdoor recreational businesses, musical acts, ice cream parlors, preschools – these are just some of the end-clients increasingly investing in the style. Will Smith taps into – and gives further credence to – the trend with this tie-dye tee that features a back-in-the-day photo of himself as a basketball star. What’s additionally notable is the heat-reactive tie-dye, which changes color with body heat. Talk to vendors about their ability to provide heat-reactive tie-dye. Being able to deliver the color-shifting shirts to clients could give you a leg up on the competition.


Reversible Jacket

Reversable Track Jacket


This track jacket can be worn with either the navy side or paisley pattern as the exterior. The jacket has proven so popular that Smith’s website notes that orders will ship in six to eight weeks, as opposed to the initially anticipated three to four. That tells you something: The look is sizzling hot.


Admittedly, it won’t be for every client, but for brands that want to communicate a truly in-the-now, on-style vibe, this type of reversible vintage-sparked track jacket could be just the thing. To name a few, end-clients could include: Adult beverage brands, legal cannabis-related firms, musical artists, gamers and streamers, gaming companies, nightclubs, skate/surf brands, higher-end tattoo artists/shops, custom vehicle businesses, new-school barbershops, mobile app development firms and other tech companies. Indeed, be sure to suggest the reversible outerwear to technology clients. After all, a reversible jacket was one of the choicest pieces of swag at Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference earlier this year.

Band Sells Personalized Merch Based on Spotify Streaming

The interesting case study occurs at the crossroads of music, technology and promotional products


Bring Me the Horizon, a Grammy-nominated rock band from the United Kingdom, is putting a tech-fueled spin on its branded merchandise through an offering that enables fans to buy personalized band swag based on their Spotify listening preferences.



To get the band-branded T-shirt, fans go to a site called http://amoincolour.com – a nod to Bring Me the Horizon’s 2019 album amo. Visitors then follow prompts to connect with their Spotify credentials and to select their six favorite songs from amo. The Echo Nest, a music data intelligence platform, then performs a bit of digital age wizardry, analyzing the users’ amo track preferences along with previous Spotify listening habits that involve Bring Me the Horizon. Factors like the loudness and energy of music tastes are weighed.


Oli Sykes from Bring Me the Horizon performs at a concert in Germany.
Oli Sykes from Bring Me the Horizon performs at a concert in Germany.


From there, fans receive a virtual sample of a T-shirt that features a unicursal hexagram symbol, which the band often uses in its iconography. The symbol is suffused in color that’s based on the fan’s musical predilections. Ultimately, would-be buyers can receive 10 possible color outcomes.


A Bring Me the Horizon T-shirt option from the band’s “amo in colour” website.
A Bring Me the Horizon T-shirt option from the band’s “amo in colour” website.


Interestingly, you can participate even if you don’t have Spotify. You just have to tap in via email and put in your Bring Me the Horizon song choices for the design magic to occur. Don’t have Bring Me the Horizon on your Spotify? No worries, you can still take part, as the T-shirt color design will be based on the six songs you select from the group’s most recent album.


As The Verge suggested here, some users might have privacy concerns. “In order to create your custom shirt, you’ll have to grant the album’s label — Sony Music Entertainment — a lot of access to your Spotify data. Spotify’s API — an online protocol that allows companies to share data — was questioned earlier this year by Billboard for giving overreaching permissions to labels. In particular, Billboard said Sony Music Entertainment often asks for the most access, and the company is still asking for the same set of permissions here, including the ability to stream and control Spotify on your other devices. One thing has changed: at the time, these permissions were hidden in drop-down menus. Now, they’re not.”


Nonetheless, the concept of using personal music streaming data to create a music-to-mood-specific color on a T-shirt design is novel and interesting. For promotional products distributors, it can serve as a potential source of inspiration for creative customized merch initiatives with end-clients in the music market. Potential in that market is soaring.


As traditional sales of compact discs and the like plummet and listeners only download/stream select songs, musical artists have increasingly turned to branded merchandise as a primary source of revenue. The Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association reports that sales of music merchandise tallied $3.1 billion in 2016 – a 10% increase over the prior year. Furthermore, in the previous two years, the volume of branded music merchandise available for consumer purchase has tripled, according to Edited, a company that specializes in retail analytics.


Savvy companies in the print and promo space are keen to capitalize on music merch’s potential. Virginia-based Custom Ink, which specializes in ecommerce sales of custom-printed apparel and other items, recently acquired Sidestep – a website and mobile app devoted to selling concert merchandise. Custom Ink made the acquisition through its subsidiary Represent, a Los Angeles-based company that specializes in partnering with celebrity influencers and others on branded merchandise initiatives. With Sidestep, musical artists can sell swag to fans before, during and after live events.


Recent significant acquisitions in the music merch world include The Thread Shop, Sony Music’s merchandising division, buying the music merch division of New York City-based The Araca Group over the summer.


Sony’s acquisition occurred only about a half-year after its competitor Universal Music Group bought Los Angeles-based merchandiser Epic Rights. Last year, Warner Music Group spent about $180 million to purchase EMP, a Germany-based retailer of music and entertainment swag.

Billboard Launches First-Ever Merch Store

It’s part of a growing trend among publishing brands that promo products professionals could capitalize on.


Billboard, the popular print and online media source for music news, has launched its first-ever online store for branded merchandise.



The move is notable as it marks another pillar of the traditional publishing world turning to merch as a revenue stream. In that, there’s potential opportunity for the promotional products industry.


Billboard vintage Hot 100 logo hat.
Billboard vintage Hot 100 logo hat.


The Billboard Merch Store features T-shirts, drinkware and caps, including on-trend dad hats (see above). The new collection is classified into categories like “comic,” “classic,” “retro” and “Hot 100” – the latter a nod to one of Billboard’s music sales charts, which is among the publication’s most recognizable and enduring creations. Despite the categories, retro/vintage-style graphics dominate much of the line, with T-shirts displaying cassettes, “boomboxes,” references to the 1980s and bold, geometric coloring endemic of that decade.


Retro boomboxes T-shirt from Billboard.
Retro boomboxes T-shirt from Billboard.


Retro pop art tee from Billboard.
Retro pop art tee from Billboard.


For the store, Billboard partnered with TWG Konnect, the ecommerce division of The Wildflower Group, a Hoboken, NJ-based licensing and consulting agency that aims to deliver best-in-class product extensions and collaborations for brands and manufacturers. TWG Konnect also runs web stores for Discovery, Piper Lou and Mathew Berry’s Fantasy Life.


Billboard is among the growing list of notable so-called “old media” brands trying to capitalize on strong brand cachet through online merch. The New York Times, for instance, is a leader in this regard, having a collection of retail promotional products that include everything from wool caps and onesies, to T-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, drinkware, tote bags, aprons and more.


Super “T” wool baseball cap from The New York Times.
Super “T” wool baseball cap from The New York Times.


The Washington Post is also in on the ecommerce swag act, selling shirts that bear the tagline “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” The Post’s webstore proclaims that each purchase “supports journalism that matters.”


Democracy Dies in Darkness’ shirt from The Washington Post.
Democracy Dies in Darkness’ shirt from The Washington Post.


For promotional products distributors, such developments signal that there’s opportunity to create similar web stores for media clients increasingly interested in monetizing their brands as they carve out new revenue niches amid a digital age transformation that has seen traditional print revenue decline. One potential route might be to connect with a media company that owns local publications throughout the nation, and then create merch-stocked web stores for each of its media brands to retail to their local audiences. Independent and niche publications with a devoted audience are other avenues to purse.

OK Boomer Is The Hottest Trend In Moment Merch

The phrase is Gen Z’s dismissive riposte to Baby Boomers and other older folks.


“Moment merch” has been used to do everything from champion social justice issues and convey political messaging to capitalize on hot topics in sports and entertainment.


Now, the moment merch phenomenon, which involves translating topics trending in the public discourse into imprinted merchandise, is at the center of the generational divide between Gen Z and its older counterparts, particularly Baby Boomers.



The phrase “OK Boomer” is being blazoned across everything from T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and socks to stickers, mugs, phone cases, buttons, throw pillows and more.


OK Boomer T-shirt available on Amazon from Grizzly Designs.
OK Boomer T-shirt available on Amazon from Grizzly Designs.


Gen Z, the generation that’s just younger than Millennials, is using the phrase as a dismissive riposte to older age groups. “OK Boomer” is a way for so-called “Zoomers” to express their frustration at what they see as the negative state of the world they’re coming of age in – a world they blame Boomers and other older folks for creating. Furthermore, it’s a sarcastic, eye-rolling response to what Gen Zers feel is the constant unfair criticism that Boomers and others over 30 hurl at them.


OK Boomer sticker available on Redbubble.
OK Boomer sticker available on Redbubble.


Interestingly, young entrepreneurs are cashing in on the popularity of the generational retort by printing it all over merchandise that they’re then retailing to like-minded peers. The New York Times, for instance, reported that one 19-year-old woman, Shannon O’Connor, has captured more than $10,000 in orders from her online store, which sells apparel bearing the “OK Boomer” line. Similarly, 18-year-old Nina Kasman told the Times that she intends to use the money she’s earning from selling “OK Boomer” merch to help pay her college tuition.


OK Boomer mug from Amazon store Indica Plateau.
OK Boomer mug from Amazon store Indica Plateau.


In an ironic twist, Gen Z biting its thumb at Baby Boomers is very much mirroring what the Baby Boomers themselves did when they were young. Many of that generation grew up rebelling against the status quo and the Vietnam War, while espousing things like “never trust anyone over 30.”


From a purely merch perspective, it’s interesting to see how brandable products have become a platform for voicing intergenerational strife. Promotional product distributors might look for opportunities to tap into the trend in end-client and self-promotional merch initiatives aimed at younger audiences.


OK Boomer phone case available on Redbubble.
OK Boomer phone case available on Redbubble.

YouTube Debuts Merch Shelf for Music Artists

The shelf appears just below videos and, with one click, lets fans purchase branded gear from official artists.


YouTube has a new offering that allows musical artists with an official artist channel to sell their branded merchandise from a “merch shelf” that appears below videos.


Launched this week, the novel swag-focused ecommerce service is the result of a collaboration between YouTube and Merchbar, which carries more than 1 million branded items from 35,000 artists, making the site one of the largest global music merchandise aggregators.


“Merchandise drops have become an integral part of artists’ album campaigns,” YouTube said in a statement. “With this partnership, YouTube is giving fans direct access to their most favorite merch. Fans watching videos from their favorite artists on their YouTube Official Artist Channels can now see a shelf with the artist’s own branded merchandise and, with a simple click, access the artist’s merchandise on Merchbar’s website.”


Music producer/DJ Marshmello debuted a soccer jersey on his Merchbar/YouTube merch shelf.
Music producer/DJ Marshmello debuted a soccer jersey on his Merchbar/YouTube merch shelf.


As part of the launch, popular electronic music DJ and producer Marshmello debuted an all-new soccer jersey that’s exclusive to Merchbar and his YouTube channel, which has nearly 40 million subscribers.


Marshmello soccer jersey.
Marshmello soccer jersey.


If the YouTube merch shelf sounds a bit familiar, that’s because the video-sharing platform previously established a merch shelf offering for non-music creators who have more than 10,000 followers. That was done in partnership with Teespring.


From a promotional products perspective, merch shelf offerings like this could represent a potential source of competition. On the other hand, the move also speaks to the important emphasis musical artists are placing on merchandise sales, which translates into opportunity for savvy promo pros. Other recent creative music merchandise initiatives include U.K.-based rockers Bring Me the Horizon selling fans a personalized T-shirt based on their Spotify streaming preferences.

Trend Alert: VSCO Girls and Promo

The product penchants of these Gen Z fashionistas could influence preferences in the promotional products space.


The “Valley Girls” of a new generation are here, and they’re called “VSCO girls.”


That just might be a good thing for promo. Consider: This Gen Z demographic is already – and will soon be an even greater – target audience for a bevy of brands’ promotional initiatives. Plus, VSCO girls’ tastes could prove increasingly influential on their peers. And just check out what some of their top product preferences are: name brand reusable water bottles, scrunchies, and oversized T-shirts and sweatshirts – all good news for promotional products companies.



Promo distributors would be wise to start positioning such products in pitches to end-clients targeting youthful audiences. Initiatives aimed at high school and college-age crowds in particular would do well to feature industry-equivalent products and corresponding styles. Counselor has previously written about the re-emergence of scrunchies and the Croc/sandal look. With more suppliers offering oversized T-shirts with vintage appeal and pastel colors, not to mention an array of water bottles with on-trend styling and high-performance insulation features, savvy promo distributors will be poised to capitalize on the VSCO girl phenomenon.


h2go force (91671) from ETS Express (asi/51197)
h2go force (91671) from ETS Express (asi/51197)


Garment-dyed crew neck T-shirt (1801GD) from Los Angeles Apparel (asi/67971)
Garment-dyed crew neck T-shirt (1801GD) from Los Angeles Apparel (asi/67971)


If the term “VSCO girl” has you all …


Patrick Stewart 'huh? what?' meme


Don’t worry. Urban Dictionary is here to help with a bit of a salty definition: A “VSCO GIRL wears oversized T-shirts or sweatshirts with Nike shorts. Has Vans, Crocs, Birkenstocks, and wears a shell necklace. She also wears tube tops and Jean shorts. She always has a Hydro Flask (the brand name reusable water bottle). She can't leave home without a scrunchie and her favorite car is a Jeep.”


We can help with some additional details. The term “VSCO” is a reference to the photography app, with flattering filters, these young women often used to snap images of themselves for social media posts.



The whole look is meant to give a laid-back beachy vibe, though ironically it takes quite a bit of effort – and cash – to pull it off.


Still, the VSCO trend is gaining a crazy amount of momentum – a Gen Z retro-inspired-yet-all-new creation that’s increasingly popular, as the savvier-than-us folks at Buzzfeed have previously reported. Sure, older folks may lower an eyebrow of disdain, as previous generations are wont to do with the style choices of younger generations, but such condescension, from a business perspective, is a waste of time. Rather, promo pros – and brands/marketers in general – should be cooking up clever ways to capitalize on a trend that, for the moment, is on the rise.

Long Island Releases Tourism Merchandise

Long Island, NY, is now tapping into community pride and increasing regional tourism with its own line of swag.


Residents and visitors of Long Island can now advertise their appreciation of the area with branded merchandise, including T-shirts, tanks, slide sandals and headwear, thanks to Discover Long Island, the area’s official tourism agency.


The organization says demand for locally branded apparel and accessories grew after the agency launched its “BeLONG on Long Island” marketing campaign in the spring; the new e-commerce shop opened this week.


Triblend unisex T-shirt with 1-color screen print.
Triblend unisex T-shirt with 1-color screen print.


Unisex muscle tank with a screen print in rainbow colors.
Unisex muscle tank with a screen print in rainbow colors.


“We were inundated with requests for Long Island-branded attire and merchandise,” Kristen Jarnagin, president and CEO of Discover Long Island, said in a company statement. “We immediately recognized the need to align with other Long Island retailers to offer visitors and residents the opportunity to proudly wear their love for Long Island and to enjoy unique and locally sourced Long Island products, ultimately building local pride in the beautiful place we call home.”


Unisex slide sandals.
Unisex slide sandals.


Rainbow-colored sunglasses celebrate World Pride.
Rainbow-colored sunglasses celebrate World Pride.


PopSocket with Discover Long Island's signature wave graphic.
PopSocket with Discover Long Island's signature wave graphic.


To that end, Discover Long Island has simultaneously partnered with locaLI bred, a subscription box company on Long Island that sends out locally made products. The first co-branded box from Discover Long Island and locaLI bred, slated to ship next month, will have eight fall-themed items from local artisans; a few randomly chosen recipients will also receive a piece of Discover Long Island merchandise.


The subscription box will include items from Long Island artisans and swag from the new line.
The subscription box will include items from Long Island artisans and swag from the new line.


“Discover Long Island’s mission is very similar [to ours],” said locaLI bred co-owner Haile Geller. “They want to get people thinking about Long Island as a destination where things are always happening, as a cool and awesome place to be. Being able to do our part to support that, for us, [is] very special.”



Discover Long Island is a nonprofit that receives most of its funding from a hotel and motel “bed tax” in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as from dues from 800 members. The merchandise proceeds pose an additional “potential revenue stream,” according to the organization. The State of New York reports that tourists spent $5.8 billion there in 2017, a number that’s steadily increasing.


Distressed ball cap made of 100% cotton.
Distressed ball cap made of 100% cotton.


Beanie with faux leather imprinted patch.
Beanie with faux leather imprinted patch.


Leveraging people’s pride in their communities is a prime opportunity for distributors to launch product collections that complement tourism efforts. Last month, the Nebraska Tourism Commission released a line of branded items with the tagline “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” And last spring, Travel Michigan released Pure Michigan swag to promote tourism.

HYLETEs Charitable Outreach Aims To Support Female Student-Athletes

The fitness lifestyle apparel brand has partnered with the GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation.


Solana Beach, CA-based apparel supplier HYLETE (asi/62076) has launched a new charitable initiative that’s focused on supporting and empowering young female athletes.


HYLETE says it will be contributing 1% of its women’s product line sales to benefit the GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission includes providing scholarship opportunities to female student-athletes pursuing participation in sports in college.


GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation Tri-Blend Crew Tee
GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation Tri-Blend Crew Tee


“We have an opportunity to highlight the recipients of the scholarships and exemplify the importance of athletics for young women,” says Kate Nowlan, president of the GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation and a VP at HYLETE. “With all the obstacles young women face, this is one tangible contribution and statement we can make as an inclusive, passionate and innovative brand. For the HYLETE community, they not only can purchase incredible product, but they can support a relevant cause."


GRACEDBYGRIT was formerly a women's athletic apparel brand. HYLETE acquired the company in June 2018. Nowlan, GRACEDBYGRIT’s co-founder, and some team members joined HYLETE. Leaders at HYLETE and the GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation say they value the “power women find within themselves to overcome obstacles life throws at them.”


HYLETE added in a statement: “By sponsoring scholarships that honor female student-athletes who've overcome adversity, HYLETE hopes to alleviate one of the obstacles. HYLETE acknowledges that sports and athletics can positively affect the personal development of a young woman, encouraging goal-setting, leadership, and teamwork.”


In addition to GRACEDBYGRIT, HYLETE supports a number of other charities, as detailed here. Founded in 2012, HYLETE provides a range of performance-enhanced apparel and accessories.

Innovation Watch: The Biodegradable Plant & Algae T-Shirt

It’s an eco innovation the promotional products industry should keep its eyes on.


A London, U.K.-based apparel company has pulled off a fashion first that takes the concept of eco-friendly clothing to the next level.


Vollebak’s biodegradable, compostable tee. Photo from Vollebak.
Vollebak’s biodegradable, compostable tee. Photo from Vollebak.


Vollebak has created a T-shirt that’s made from pulped eucalyptus and beech that’s sourced from sustainably-managed forests, as well as algae that’s grown in bioreactors. The end product is a soft, durable earthily hip tee that’s biodegradable. Bury it in the earth, and it’s gone in approximately three months. But don’t worry, Vollebak says, the shirt won’t biodegrade while you’re wearing it; the tee needs the fungus, bacteria and heat from the Earth to do that.



The ingenious tee is the work of Vollebak founders Nick and Steve Tidball – twin brothers who’ve been at the forefront of wild apparel innovations since launching their company four years ago. The innovations include a solar charged jacket that won a list of awards, including Time’s Best Invention of 2018, Fast Company’s Innovation by Design award and Wired’s Gear of the Year. The T-shirt made with ceramic technology for high-level abrasion resistance, a jacket that mimics the adaptive camouflage of squid, and fire-and-water battling pants designed to last 100 years are other notables.


The Black Squid Jacket mimics the adaptive camouflage of the squid. Photo from Vollebak.
The Black Squid Jacket mimics the adaptive camouflage of the squid. Photo from Vollebak.


Still, it’s the recently released Plant and Algae Shirt that’s been gaining the most attention of late because it addresses one of the biggest negatives of the textile industry – and that’s the heavy toll clothing waste and industrial apparel manufacturing take on the planet. Consider: People sent about 11.2 million tons of textiles to landfills in 2015, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, it takes anywhere from 25 to 40 gallons of water to dye two pounds of fabric, and the textile industry gulps down almost 25 trillion gallons of water annually, research shows.


But through an innovative process and use of organic materials left in their natural state, Vollebak is presenting an innovative solution to the waste and resource depletion with its Plant and Algae Shirt. The ingenuity includes using a closed loop production process to turn the wood from sustainably-managed forests into fabric. “In practice this means that over 99% of the water and solvent used to turn pulp into fibre is recycled and reused,” Vollebak says on its website. “And on the Higg MSI scoring system, which measures the impact of producing a kilogram of fibre – taking into account fossil resource depletion, water scarcity, eutrophication and global warming – this fabric scores 10 against cotton’s score of 60. Our eventual aim is to score 0.”


Green engineering T-shirt print. Photo from Vollebak.
Photo from Vollebak.


The green engineering extends to the T-shirt print, which is made from algae. “To turn algae into a printable ink, we use the same technique used in Kenya to create algae cake,” Vollebak says. “Instead of passing lake water through a cotton net, we pass water from the bioreactor through a filter. This process separates the algae, leaving a soupy algae paste. This paste is then dried in the sun to create a fine powder, and this powder is mixed with a water-based binder to make algae ink.”


Over time, the algae print organically changes color. No chemicals or dyes are used in the making of the shirt. So, when wearers do bury it to biodegrade, only organic material enters the soil. "Our idea with all our clothing is to cut down on the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills and [..] make people think differently about how long they could or should own a piece of clothing for," Vollebak CEO Steve Tidball told Forbes.


Currently, the shirt retails for $110. Here at Counselor magazine, we don’t expect the tees to start popping up in the promo products industry tomorrow – but one day they, and future models like them, just might. After all, the shirts are representative of a growing movement centered on creating apparel that’s truly sustainable in material, production process and post-life. As younger Millennials and Gen Zers begin to dominate the consumer and corporate buying marketplaces, promotional products professionals should look for demand for verifiably green wearables to take deeper root and sprout.


Photo of Vollebak founders Steve and Nick Tidball
Vollebak founders Steve and Nick Tidball.

3 Common Content Marketing Mistakes To Avoid

Looking to improve your social outreach and brand messaging? Sidestepping these pitfalls will boost your success rate and help you better connect with buyers.


Content Marketing Illustration of Bullseye


  1. Focusing on Quantity
    Instead of Quality Instead of rushing to create as many content pieces as possible to blast out via social platforms and newsletters, step back and take the time to develop thoughtful, well-rounded content that’ll be truly useful and entertaining to your desired audiences. The quantity of content you produce will decline, but it’s likely that overall engagement will increase, as more are drawn to view the better pieces.

  2. Creating Content Just Because It Interests You
    Sometimes, marketers produce content that they might find compelling, but that doesn’t ultimately carry great significance for their prospects. The remedy is to always create blogs, videos, social posts and white papers that appeal to the particular audience you’re targeting. One way to get a feel for what audiences want is to simply ask them. Also, utilize data and research, which can include tracking the types of content topics and forms that perform best.

  3. Branding Too Broadly
    This issue can arise for businesses that serve a variety of markets and end-buyers. One solution is to segment recipients of your emailed content into different lists, with the lists being composed of clients/prospects that have mutual interests. For instance, you could group all your manufacturing clients onto one list. By segmenting, you can develop and share content that’s crafted to the specific interests of the list audience. You’ll likely get more clicks. A similar tactic can work with your content mediums: Consider creating differently branded blogs and social accounts that focus on the verticals you target.

Custom Scrunchies Are Hot Promo Trend

Promotional products distributors can capitalize by selling similar styles to a variety of markets.

A time traveler from the ’90s would feel right at home these days. Retailers are hawking Friends-inspired merch – like the “Pivot” hoodie at Target, inspired from the iconic couch-moving scene in the 25-year-old sitcom – and fanny packs are cool again. Need further evidence? That once-ubiquitous hair accessory, the humble scrunchy, is back with a vengeance.


Custom scrunchies, like these from Martini-Vispak, are trending.

“Nostalgia has a strong pull, and we’ve seen the cyclical patterns of ‘what was old is new’ pop back up a number of times,” says Jesse Gray, marketing director at Pop! Promos (asi/45657). “But the lure of the scrunchy is also that it’s a fun, and useful, piece of promo that brands have found their customers wanting.”

Fabric-covered elastics are a big hit with the teen and early 20s crowd, Gray and other suppliers say. In fact, scrunchies are part of the unofficial uniform (along with Hydro Flask brand water bottles) of the latest flavor of Instagram influencer, the VSCO girl. “It seems the resurgence is real and here to stay,” says Karen Slabotsky of Martini-Vispak (asi/93987).


Quashies offers full-color customization of its scrunchies.

Schools and universities are a natural fit for scrunchy-centered promotions. “Tap into the school spirit,” Gray says. He suggests pairing branded scrunchies with items teens and college students view as valuable promos, such as drawstring bags and silicone sticky wallets for phones. “These are items that when bundled together make for great opportunities that will actually get their customers those valuable brand impressions they want from effective promo items,” Gray adds.

Other possibilities for scrunchy sales include dance studios, spas, camps, sports teams and gymnastics clubs, Slabotsky says. Scrunchies have also been popular with restaurants, according to Jonathan Shapiro of Harstan Ties & Accessories (asi/60080), whether for servers to wear or as giveaways.

Another winning sales strategy, Slabotsky says, is to position a branded scrunchy as a “gift with purchase” for makeup and skincare brands. “Who doesn’t tie their hair back when washing their face?” she asks.


This packaging tree, stocked with three custom scrunchies, is a popular item for Pop! Promos.

Lest you fear that scrunchy styles are stuck in the ’90s, Kim Fisher, owner of Quashies (asi/80127), assures us that there are many fresh versions of the stretchy staple. Quashies, for example, is releasing a “double ruffle” scrunchy soon. Most suppliers that offer scrunchies have the ability to do full-color custom prints on the fabric. Consider also branding add-ons like a woven tag or custom hang tags, Gray says. “Our most popular option is the scrunchie packaging tree, which is a full-color packaging option that holds three scrunchies together for a retail-ready piece,” he says.

How To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Headline

The headline is the section on your LinkedIn profile below your picture. Here, you have 120 characters to say something about yourself. The description pops up in search results.

Many LinkedIn profiles simply feature the default headline – one’s job title. However, you can get much more out of this valuable piece of digital real estate if you provide a headline that conveys the essence of what you’re all about professionally – a statement that compels people you’d like to connect with to click on your profile.

To do this, consider the audience you aim to entice, your unique value proposition, and the language prospects commonly use. Then, roll all of that into something pithy. A distributor sales professional in the promotional products industry might have a headline that reads: “Strategic partner who builds brand awareness and drives ROI through cost-effective branded merchandise solutions.”

Bottom line: Make your headline about the results and value you can deliver, and it will be more of an asset for you.

Four Fun College Football Branded Merchandise Trends

Promotional products distributors can capitalize by selling similar styles to a variety of markets.

Are you ready for some football?

We’re certainly fixin’ for some. And that’s all well and good, as the 2019 college football season kicks off in earnest this weekend. Of course that means great gridiron action to enjoy. Plus, from a promotional products perspective, there’s also a raft of new branded merchandise to check out from teams across the country. We did a little swag reconnaissance to see what styles might be trending in merch collections. After all, the looks could bellwether trends end-buyers will be keen for promo distributors to provide. Here are four fun trends we found – plus sales tips promo products distributors can use to sell similar styles to end-clients.

Bucket Hats



As Counselor has mentioned previously, bucket hats are back in a big way, and we’re sure Liam Gallagher is pleased. Perhaps Baker Mayfield is to praise (blame?) for the comeback of buckets. Regardless, the style is featuring prominently in the branded merchandise collections of more than a few top college football teams, as seen here with this example from the University of Southern California. Sales Idea: Sure, college, university and Greek life clients are a clear fit. But don’t forget high schools and youth sports leagues. The younger athletes, coaches and parents/supporters are often eager for the cool styles that pop up on campuses and at NCAA stadiums. Also: End-clients in the music and entertainment industry could go for bucket hats, too.

Floral Patterns



Floral and football? Yes, it’s a thing. Saturday afternoon superpowers across the country are featuring branded, button-down, floral-patterned shirts in their swag collections. This scarlet-colored model from the Nebraska Cornhuskers – featuring the famous Nebraska “N” logo throughout -- is a spot-on example. Football’s floral fandom is an outgrowth of one of retail’s hottest casual everyman apparel trends – namely, form-fitting patterned short-sleeve woven shirts. Sales Idea: You already know certain hospitality clients favor the style, but go beyond that. Start-ups and otherwise youthfully-vibed technology firms could convey their cutting-edge, quirky/irreverent culture with branded floral shirts.

Color Block Polos



Color block polo shirts like this one from the Alabama Crimson Tide are sure to be favored by coaches on the sidelines of some this season’s biggest games. The style, which features an abrupt top/bottom cut off between the different colors just below the chest, incorporates a fetching flourish in the form of heathered-style striping in the lower half. Sales Idea: Try golf events and corporate stores. Really, companies and corporations of all varieties could be keen to outfit sales associates in this casual logoed wear look.

Gradients



Many of the NCAA’s top pigskin programs are selling quarter zips, hooded sweatshirts and even hooded T-shirts that feature performance features and gradient coloring. This hooded tee from the Miami Hurricanes is an excellent incarnation of the trend, featuring as it does a gradient that rises from black to light gray before ending in white around the upper chest/shoulders. Sales Idea: Beyond the obvious of schools and youth sport teams, consider gyms/fitness centers, mixed martial art studios, independent auto body/custom vehicle shops, wellness programs and more.

Innovation Watch: The Shirt With a Built In Air Conditioner

It’s one of those cutting-edge innovations that one day could find its way to the promotional products industry.

Sony is looking to launch a new wearable technology device capable of cooling you down on hot days and warming you up on chilly ones.

The Reon Pocket is a smaller-than-a-smartphone temperature controlling device that slips into a tiny pocket located in the center of the upper back on a specially-designed T-shirt.


The Reon Pocket slots into the back pocket of its companion shirt.

Using small electrical currents to absorb or deliver heat, the device can cool local skin temperature by about 23 degrees – from 96.8 Fahrenheit to 73.4 Fahrenheit, or raise local skin temps by 14 degrees. Wearers control the cool-spreading or heat-providing through a companion mobile app. A single charge via USB Type-C lasts approximately 24 hours.



Interestingly, Sony was crowdfunding the device, which costs about $130 with the shirt. As of this writing, the Japan-based technology company was at 104% of its fundraising goal. The Reon Pockets are slated to start shipping in Spring 2020. They’ll initially be available in Japan only, but expansion could come if the product finds success. Certainly, those sweating out the hot and humid summers that typically suffocate much of the U.S. could be interested.


The Reon Pocket can cool or warm the body.

While Reon Pockets and related wearable tech devices aren’t poised to take over the promo products industry tomorrow, such innovations are worth keeping an eye on. Certainly, some of yesterday’s clever longshots have become today’s in-demand products. We could see tech-driven cooling devices like this catching on, especially as global temperatures reportedly continue to rise. The companion shirts, for instance, could be branded with team names (front and back pocket) and worn by athletes at all levels. Wellness programs could feature logoed shirts and other apparel with pockets capable of cradling the cooling gadget. Sure it won’t be tomorrow, but it could be someday.

Trend Alert: Glow Hard or Go Home

Warning: Blindingly bright fashion ahead. From slime green to highlighter yellow, striking fluorescent hues are glaring down runways and beaming from closets, all while serving up some serious ’80s flashbacks. Loud, eye-catching neon is back, and it’s not just for ravers anymore.


A pop of neon, as with these hoodies (LST236 and ST236) from SanMar, can go a long way.

Neon first became trendy 30-plus years ago, when outrageously colored workout apparel and rave attire dominated. Today, the bold, radical color trend has grabbed the attention of major designers such as Dior and Carolina Herrera. “Even Queen Elizabeth is rocking entire lime green or shocking pink suits,” says Rhonda Lee of SanMar (asi/84863).

Bright colors are especially hot with young people, who often wear neon to concerts and festivals, according to Jason Murphy, part of SanMar’s decorator relations team. But as the Queen herself has shown, this is a trend that can be worn by everyone. “It’s all about creating the right looks with mixing in colors that balance out,” says Genevieve Lopez of Next Level Apparel (asi/73867).

People reach for neon when they want to make a statement. Neon screams, “Look at me!” without uttering a single word. Which is why in 1930s, the U.S. Army enlisted magician Bob Switzer to create fluorescent clothing.

That’s right, fashionista; long before Kim Kardashian started lighting up the fashion scene in lime-green dresses, fluorescent clothing was worn not for fashion, but for safety. Made to help prevent friendly fire in combat, high-visibility clothing is still sported by construction workers and crossing guards, so that they’re visible in any background.

It’s safe to say that neon is the hottest color trend of the moment, but how can you incorporate the trend in a promotion? Try easing customers into the idea by recommending a neon screen print, rather than going straight for a bright fabric, Lopez says. She suggests using a fluorescent pigment ink on a 100% cotton shirt. But avoid the temptation to overcompensate for the fluorescence. “Overcompensating will affect the final product leading to a very thick ink print,” Lopez says.

The key to decorating on neon fabrics themselves, Murphy says, is to use low-cure, low-bleed inks or transfers. And be sure to give the prints ample time to cool. “Try to avoid hot stacking,” he adds. “Hot shirts folding over on themselves can create zebra striping.” And animal prints are a totally different trend to chase!


This heather green crew neck (6210) from Next Level offers a slightly muted take on neon.



This Port Authority cinch sack (BG613) from SanMar is a great way to highlight bright, bold color.

Trend Alert: Buffalo Plaid Has Cross-Generational Appeal

Let’s talk plaid. Like the timeless plain white T-shirt or a classic pair of blue jeans, who doesn’t have a plaid flannel in their closet? Plaid is one of the most important print trends across all fabrications, whether apparel, accesories or home goods, according to Kristin Slinn of Boxercraft (asi/41325). Right now, the hottest version of this classic print is buffalo plaid, described by Slinn as the “most traditional plaid print” and a “color-block version of plaid.”


This ladies plus essential flannel shirt (PF50RBB) from Boxercraft is a wardrobe classic.

Buffalo plaid is another trend riding on the ’90s nostalgia wave. “We’re really romanticizing that decade as a society,” says Vicki Ostrom of SanMar (asi/84863). “We think of it as the last decade where we can actually define the styles that were worn.” Like the grunge look – with its combat boots and signature buffalo plaid flannel button-downs.

Today, the boxy pattern is embraced as haute couture, with Dior parading the print down fall and winter 2019 runways. Even fashion designer Marc Jacobs has resurrected his infamous 1993 Grunge Collection for Perry Ellis, which also features buffalo plaid pieces.

Way before it became high fashion, buffalo plaid was worn not to look hot, but to keep warm. Legend credits outdoor apparel company Woolrich Woolen Mills for creating the beloved buffalo plaid pattern shirt in the 1850s; the pattern’s quirky name was apparently created by the designer who owned a herd of pet buffalo. And while the buffalo pattern button-down was a wardrobe essential for outdoorsmen braving the elements, it was folklore figure Paul Bunyan who propelled the shirt into the spotlight, making it the signature look of the American lumberjack.

From Bunyan to legendary Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, the unmistakable red-and-black checkered buffalo plaid print has clearly woven itself into American pop culture. So what makes it so appealing to the fashion masses? According to Slinn, it’s the pattern’s ability to work with unisex trends. Its appeal also stems from people gravitating toward a simple and basic approach to fashion, says George Keppler of Brew City Brand (asi/41730). “Consumers aren’t motivated by kitsch and novelty as much as they were years ago,” Keppler says. “Buffalo plaid is a classic fashion statement.”

Another factor, according to Ostrom, is a renewed fascination with outdoorsy Western style and the ascendance of the sustainability movement. “Buffalo plaid tends to be very well made and therefore sustainable,” Ostrom says. “That’s attractive to those interested in supporting the circular fashion economy.”

And the buffalo has been roaming outside of fashion. Both Christina Marcantelli of S&S Activewear (asi/84358) and Ostrom say the trend is gaining momentum in home décor. According to Marcantelli, “shabby chic home décor” has been gaining popularity over several seasons. “Millennials want to have a stylish and trendy home, and buffalo plaid fits the bill,” Ostrom says.

But millennials don’t own the buffalo plaid trend exclusively. Buffalo plaid transcends generations. “This back-to-basics approach seems to be resonating with both young and older generations,” Keppler says. “And when you can get multiple generations buying into the same fashion trend then you have something.”

Buffalo plaid is an easy pattern for distributors and decorators to work with because it can be scaled smaller or larger without compromising the overall look and integrity of the pattern, Slinn says. Embroidery is a go-to method for decorating buffalo plaid, according to Mark Bailey and Jason Murphy of SanMar. You don’t have to stay traditional, however. “Don’t be afraid to try something exciting and flashy like oversized graphics or glitter,” Slinn says.

Minnesota Museum Sells Dinosaur Hoodies Seen on Stranger Things

The Science Museum of Minnesota is hoping that something “strange” will bring them some change.




As fans of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things anxiously await the July 4 release of season three, the Science Museum of Minnesota is launching a new collection of dinosaur-inspired apparel to coincide with the return of the mega-popular show.

After the Science Museum’s “Thunder Lizard” hoodie appeared in an episode of the show back in 2017, fans immediately flooded the museum’s twitter account with requests to bring the sweatshirt back.

The Science Museum happily obliged, and the original purple 1980’s Brontosaurus hoodie was successfully relaunched last year, selling 18, 000 units worldwide in the first two days alone.



Further capitalizing on the nostalgia, the new collection of hoodies and T-shirts are designed with a vintage look. They feature two new dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex (“Tyrant Lizard King”) and Triceratops (“Three Horned Face”). Stranger Things fans can also purchase the original Thunder Lizard hoodie.

The museum isn’t riding the Stranger Things wave alone. Brands such as Nike & H&M and Baskin Robbins have also launched collaborations with the hit show.

Forever 21 Teams Up With Cheetos for Hot Merch

Move over, Taco Bell! The hottest branded merch these days comes from a collaboration between Forever 21 and Cheetos. The capsule collection celebrating the Flamin’ Hot variety of the crunchy treat includes swimsuits, T-shirts, crop tops, beach towels, pool slides and more.



The items, which range in price from $5 to $30, are available online and in stores for a limited time. A rep for Forever 21 said the collection is a response to the high popularity of the extra-spicy snack food. “Flaming Hot Cheetos fans are so fanatical,” vice president of merchandising, Linda Chang, said in a statement. “Over the past couple of years, we have seen their love for this food illustrated all over pop culture, and in particular, via social media.”

Indeed, Cheetos chompers online are already raving about the Forever 21 collection.



Or, at least, admitting their inability to resist temptation…



It seems the appetite for trendy, irreverent swag based on beloved brands – which should be welcome news for distributors helping clients develop their own merch campaigns.

Check out some highlights from the Forever 21 x Cheetos collection below:


Forever 21 x Cheetos


Forever 21 x Cheetos

7 Merch Trends From the US Open Swag Collection

Admittedly, our golf game here at Counselor magazine is more Rodney Dangerfield than Jack Nicklaus.



Still, we love the action on the greens – and the branded merchandise that customarily accompanies golf’s Major tournaments, like the upcoming U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach (June 13 to June 16). So, as we did with the PGA Championship and the Masters, we scoured the U.S. Open swag collection for trends that might translate to the promotional products industry.

Without further ado, here’s our latest trend dispatch from the 19th hole.

Shawl Collars


Photo from Pebble Beach.

This 92% polyester/8% spandex half-zip fleece pullover from Top 40 supplier Cutter & Buck (asi/47965) features a shawl collar. It’s a stylish flourish that the piping and heathered appearance augment. We could see more corporate clients opting for this look for programs, sales team apparel and other applications.

Woodburning Graphics


Photo from USGA Shop – a Fanatics Experience.

The woodburning graphics on this Galaxy phone case exude class and distinction – in a subtle, earthy way. The style is a fine fit for resorts, spas, wellness programs, kitchenware brands, organics brands, and other businesses/nonprofits that want to emphasize a green/environmental image. Of course, the graphics would work for most corporate end-clients keen to project a quietly distinguished vibe.

Camouflage Cool


Photo from USGA Shop – a Fanatics Experience.

There was a time when camo was strictly for donning while hunting, fishing or otherwise engaged outdoors. Increasingly, though, the look became everyday wear in rural America, and continued to grow from there. Now, camo is so ubiquitous and on-trend that hoity-toity Ralph Lauren has teamed up with pro golfer Justin Thomas to splash the pattern across this half-zip U.S. Open pullover. We’re thinking engineering firms, utility companies, hydrologic services businesses, real estate developers, fencing companies and so many others would be interested in camo fleece pieces like this. That said, we don’t see the corresponding camo golf pants catching on….

Stripe & Solid Combo


Photo from USGA Shop – a Fanatics Experience.

In this RLX brand commemorative polo, the stripes mount toward a solid block shoulder/upper chest area – a combo that’s growing ever more popular. From a promo perspective, it’s especially advantageous, helping the left-chest logo to stand out. That would be a good point to make when presenting similarly-styled polos to clients in the ad specialty space.

All Over Prints




Photo from USGA Shop – a Fanatics Experience.

As we saw with PGA Championship merch, all-over prints are making a comeback. The star pattern on this white, fabric-strap, polyester cap and the pine cone critter print Adidas polyester polo bear evidence of that.

Pocket Tees In Pastels


Photo from USGA Shop – a Fanatics Experience.

Pocket tees, especially in softer colors like pastels, have been a hit on college campuses for a while now. The inclusion of the style in the U.S. Open collection indicates that the market could well be broadening. Beyond the education space, the hospitality sector is replete with businesses that could stock shops and outfit staff in this chill, summery fashion statement.

Ombre


Photo from USGA Shop – a Fanatics Experience.

Lightweight, wind-and-water resistant, and easily packable – all those features in this 100% polyester Cutter & Buck hoodie make it a winner. Still, what really made the piece pop is the ombre coloring. The style has been gaining steam at retail, and is likely to cross-over into the B2B realm. It wouldn’t be hard to see ombre outerwear and fleeces scoring in Silicon Valley and among technology company clients in general.

For more merch, head to http://www.usgashop.com and here.

New Stranger Things Merch Features In Brand Collaboration with Baskin-Robbins

The collab is helping to hype the upcoming release of Stranger Things’ third season.

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for…Stranger Things…?”

Yep.

The Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop chain and the Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things are teaming up for a brand collaboration that aims to satisfy fans’ sweet tooth -- and their desire for cool merchandise tied to the wildly popular show.

It’s all starting in June in the lead up to the launch of the third season of Stranger Things, which is set for release on July 4th.



The collab will center on a specialty menu that will have Baskin-Robbins serving up two new Stranger Things-inspired ice cream flavors and related show-referencing treats for a limited time.

To pump even more flavor into the delectable experience, Baskin-Robbins is also offering limited edition merchandise that can only be purchased in-shop. The swag includes a Funko Pop! figure of show character Steve Harrington wearing the uniform of Scoops Ahoy, the ice cream parlor in the show where he works.


Funko Pop! figure of Stranger Things character Steve Harrington in his Scoops Ahoy employee uniform. Via Baskin-Robbins.

There’s also a Scoops Ahoy T-shirt that includes, on the back, the Stranger Things text logo and “Baskin-Robbins” written in the same unique font.


Scoops Ahoy T-shirt. Via Baskin-Robbins.

Since Stranger Things is set in the 1980s, Baskin-Robbins went retro with the graphics on the Baskin-Robbins and Scoops Ahoy stickers and magnets it’s offering.


Retro-inspired Baskin-Robbins and Scoops Ahoy stickers and magnets. Via Baskin-Robbins.

Last but not least, Baskin-Robbins’ patrons can take home ice cream in one of four collectible plastic quarts.


Collectible plastic ice cream quarts from the Baskin-Robbins x Stranger Things collaboration.

The merch alone might be enough to compel some Stranger Things fans to visit their local Baskin-Robbins. Of course, there’s a chance they’ll find something Stranger Things-inspired to fill their bellies, too. Specialty delights include “Eleven’s Heaven,” a waffle-cone flavored ice cream that’s a nod to show character Eleven’s love of waffles. “Upside Pralines” is another specialty concoction, featuring praline pecans, chocolate ice cream and more – and referencing, of course, the “Upside Down” in the show. You can see the full list of offerings here, but we’ll tease one more: the Byers’ House Lights Polar Pizza Ice Cream Treat – show fans will get it.

Also, as part of the fun, Baskin-Robbins will be making the Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Shop a temporary reality via an ice cream truck that will be serving up the sweet stuff at West Coast locations this month.

Need a little more appetite whetting for Season 3? Check out the official trailer:

The July 4th Gritty Bobblehead Is Here And You Need It

The Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot may look like a total nutter, but he’s a marketing and branding hit.

Gritty is all Philadelphia Flyers orange, but he’s about to get his red-white-and-blue on in a big way.

The marketing and branded merchandising phenomenon that is Gritty – the pro hockey Flyers’ maniacal-looking, googly-eyed mascot – has been an endless source of amusement…and legitimate brand-building lessons, as we’ve documented here and here and here – and, well, here too. (Did we mention we like Gritty a bit…?)

And now, there’s a new Gritty swag offering that bumps elbows with the promotional products market: A patriotic, Fourth-of-July-inspired Gritty bobblehead that’s in stock starting Monday, June 3. Pre-order is already underway.


The new limited edition, Fourth-of-July-inspired Gritty bobblehead is made by Kollectico and can be purchased here.

Hand-sculpted and painted by the pros at Kollectico, the new Gritty bobble comes in a full-color collector’s box. Only 243 of the bobbleheads are being produced. Each will be numbered.

Gritty aficionados – there probably are such folks – will no doubt shell out the $30 for the NHL officially licensed bobble. If we know Gritty, he’ll probably add one to his own self-adoring personal collection:



From a marketing perspective, the Fourth-of-July Gritty bobble could well be a win. It’s potentially a way of generating positive, fun fan engagement after a disappointing Flyers season and keeping the franchise top-of-mind while hockey – well, Flyers hockey anyway – is on hiatus. It’s also a case study in tying a brand to seasonal/societal events while keeping the core brand intact. But enough over-thinking it. Here’s a little more Gritty to make you smile:

Trudeau Announces Plans for Plastic Ban Across Canada

This week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to ban single-use plastics country-wide by 2021, which may pose an opportunity for promo firms to offer reusable alternatives.

While the specific items that would be prohibited have not yet been declared, pending a scientific review, Trudeau says the government is considering water bottles, plastic bags and straws.

Trudeau’s announcement comes just three months after the European Union announced a wide-ranging plan to ban plastics across its member countries in two years. In fact, Trudeau cited the EU’s recent move as inspiration.

“As early as 2021, Canada will ban harmful single-use plastics from coast to coast,” he said to reporters from a lake bank in the Gault Nature Reserve in Quebec. He added that “many other countries are doing that and Canada will be one of them. This is a big step but we know can do this for 2021.”



The Canadian government says that less than 10% of plastic there is recycled, and that a million birds and more than 100,000 sea mammals across the globe are injured or killed every year when they become entangled in plastic or eat it by mistake.

“To be honest, as a dad, it’s tough trying to explain this to my kids. How do you explain dead whales washing up on beaches around the world, their stomachs jam-packed with plastic bags?” Trudeau said. “As parents, we’re at a point when we take our kids to the beach and we have to search out a patch of sand that isn’t littered with straws, Styrofoam or bottles. That’s a problem, one that we have to do something about.”

Meanwhile, although the EU Parliament passed the plastics ban, legislatures of each of the member countries must vote on it before it officially takes effect. It includes a number of products for which there are reasonable alternatives, including cotton swab sticks, cutlery, plates, straws and earbuds. Disposable utensils must be made of sustainable materials whenever they’re available. The legislation also set a goal of 90% of plastic bottles being recycled by 2025.

The EU has estimated that the ban will cost the collective EU economy between $291 million to $781 million. Trudeau has not yet offered estimates of the cost in Canada.

Trudeau's announcement comes just four months before elections in Canada, when he will be up for re-election. His campaign counts climate change and pollution among its top issues.

How to Succeed with Sonic Logos

Sonic branding is becoming an increasingly trendy marketing tool. But what exactly is it? Marketing expert Gary Vaynerchuk calls it “the audio equivalent of a brand’s username.” Indeed, a sonic logo can be a seconds-long tune, a few notes, a sung phrase or even a single sound. Think McDonald’s “Ba da ba ba ba, I’m Lovin’ It!” or the famous Intel “bong.” Recall the NBC chimes, T-Mobile’s ringtone-like sound logo, and Farmers’ Insurance jingle “We are Farmers, bum ba dum bum bum bum bum.” Surely, you also know “Nationwide is on your side.” Get the idea?


Sonic branding figures to grow in importance in the years ahead as voice-related web searches and voice commerce rise.

Catchy tunes aside, sonic branding matters because it can be an extremely effective way of distinguishing your company in a crowded marketplace and help trigger positive emotions about your business in target audiences. Also, it’s set to grow in importance in the years ahead as voice-related web searches and voice commerce rise – and as more people rely on in-home, voice-directed virtual assistants like Amazon Echo.

So how do you create a sonic logo? Here are some ideas:

  1. Be Original
    Using sounds that are generic or, even worse, another brand’s sonic logo, will do little to distinguish you – and could also run afoul of copyright/trademark law.

  2. Undertake a Brand Inventory
    What’s your brand all about? What do you want people to associate most closely with your business? What type of audience do you target? Flush out thorough answers to these questions. After all, you can’t create a sonic logo that represents your brand unless you understand its essential qualities.

  3. Look for Auditory Clues
    It’s possible you’re already using music or other auditory elements in podcasts, videos, presentations, web pages, at trade show booths or in your advertising. Maybe there’s a common sound theme or other elements that help paint a picture of how your sonic logo should sound. Reviewing your brand’s auditory profile can be a potential source of inspiration.

  4. Partner With Professionals
    Maybe you’re extremely fortunate to have talented musicians/audio engineers on your marketing team who can spearhead creating your sonic logo, but if you’re like most firms, that’s not the case. You’re going to need to work with professionals, be they marketing/advertising agencies that include sonic/audio branding among their services or providers like Sixième Son, Audiobrain and amp whose primary business is devoted to audio/sonic branding.

  5. Make Sure They ‘Get’ You
    It’s pivotal the partners you enlist to craft your sonic logo truly understand your brand. Share things like your mission statement, short and long term goals, information on your current and planned marketing and branding initiatives, and how/where you plan to use the sonic logo with them. Provide a portrait or portraits of your typical clients, and convey how you’d like ideal customers and prospects to view your brand. It could also be worthwhile to create a list of three to seven words that best characterize your brand for sonic pros to consider.

  6. Don’t Settle
    Provide your audio partner with feedback through the sonic logo development process to make certain things are on the right track. When you hear the proposed final logo, it should hit you instantly as representative of your brand. If it doesn’t, you probably need to go back to the drawing board.

Bacardi Launches New Brand Experience in Puerto Rican Port

The installation includes promotional products and rum bottles that can be personalized.

As Puerto Rico aims to continue reinvigorating its hurricane-impacted tourism industry, Bacardi Limited is chipping in to help with a new Bacardi Rum brand experience at the San Juan Cruise Port in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The interesting installation features promotional products.


The installation has rum and merchandise for sale, as well as mixing demonstrations and a personalized label station.

Visitors to the port can enjoy the experience at the SMT Duty Free Flagship Pier 4 store, which provides historical information on Bacardi rum, mixing demonstrations, and cocktail samples at an in-store rum bar. The port is located about 9 miles from a Bacardi distillery, the world’s largest rum distillery, in Cataño, Puerto Rico, and the Casa Bacardi Visitor Center, which offers information on the Bacardi family and brand, the history of Bacardi rum in Puerto Rico, and its rum production methods.



Back at the port’s brand experience installation, designed by agency Bloommiami, branded merchandise features in the mix. Items include drinkware, T-shirts and headwear, along with the entire range of Bacardi premium rums. Visitors can also personalize labels on bottles of Bacardi Carta Blanca.


Customers can purchase drinkware, hats and T-shirts featuring the Bacardi brand.


Another memento: personalized labels of Bacardi Carta Blanca.

The brand activation comes after a difficult few years for Puerto Rico. In September 2017, the island was slammed by Hurricane Maria, which killed almost 3,000 people and caused an estimated $90 billion in damage. The tourism industry there is still recovering.

“Puerto Rico holds a special place for Bacardi,” said Geoff Biggs, regional director for the Americas at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, in a statement. “With so much to offer, Puerto Rico is a great cruise destination and we hope guests explore the art of rum making by visiting the Casa Bacardi Visitor Center, support businesses by enjoying Bacardi cocktails at local restaurants and bars, and end their trip with a visit to the port store to pick up mementos of their island experience.”

San Juan Cruise Port saw 1.8 million passengers and 517 cruise ships in 2018, a 21% increase from 2017. The Bacardi installation hopes to help build on that by offering memorable experiences for consumers and high-end promotional products.

“Bacardi has brought a whole new level of shopper engagement to the retail area,” said Vince Laureano, sales manager of SMT Duty Free, in a statement. “[J]ust a few days in, we’re already seeing the positive commercial impact and with many happy shoppers, this is a win-win for us all.”

Fisher Space Pen Co Launches 50th Anniversary Moon Landing Collector Set

Fisher Space Pen Co. is a supplier selling in the promotional products space.

When man first landed on the moon, the Fisher Space Pen was there – literally – as the ingenious pen has been on all manned NASA space flights since 1968.

And now, as the 50th anniversary of the first-ever moon landing nears, the Fisher Space Pen Co. (asi/54423), which operates in the promotional products industry too, is coming to market with some special offerings, including a limited edition collector’s set that contains actual pieces of space travel history.



The Nevada-based supplier this week announced its new Apollo 11 Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Astronaut Pen & Coin Set. The set features a small piece of actual, authenticated “Kapton” foil material from the Apollo 11 Space Craft – the first to land humans on the moon. The material served as a protective thermal insulation for the Command Module Columbia.

“This rare material floats in a clear acrylic dome sealed into the pen’s cap,” Fisher Space Pen said in a statement. “The exquisite collectible pen features a black titanium nitride finish complemented with fine engravings plated with 24 karat gold. The diamond cut engraving includes an American Eagle landing on the moon, historic dates, Apollo 11 Anniversary text and a serial number for each of the Limited Edition sets.”

Beyond the collector’s set, Fisher Space Pen Co. is also debuting four Apollo 11 50th Anniversary commemorative pens.


[From top]: Special Edition Black Matte Bullet Space Pen w/ Gold Finger Grip Engraved 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. #400BGFG-50; Black Matte Bullet Space Pen w/ Gold Finger Grip & Pocket Clip, Engraved 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. #400BGFGGCL-50; Black Matte Bullet Space Pen w/ Gold Finger Grip & Pocket Clip, Engraved 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. #400BGFGGCL-50; Plastic Cap-O-Matic Space Pen, Brass Cap, 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Hot Stamped, In Black Apollo 11 50th Blister, Assorted Barrel Colors. #S251G-50.

Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on the moon on July 20, 1969. For the full story of the gravity-defying, element-defeating Fisher Space Pen that NASA first used on missions 51 years ago, check out Counselor’s feature piece, which includes an interview with an astronaut who wrote with the pen on its inaugural space mission.

Three Marketing Takeaways From the Omaha Storm Chasers Rebrand

What started as an April Fools’ Day joke turned into a reality – and a brilliant bit of marketing.

Minor League Baseball has once again proved itself a repository of creativity when it comes to branding, marketing, fan engagement, and community do-gooding.

The latest example comes from the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. For one night only, the team will re-brand as the “Omaha Potholes,” complete with corresponding uniforms and logoed merchandise.



It all started with a prank. Omaha experienced historic flooding this year. The flooding, and rapid snow melt, exacerbated seasonal potholing, which left local roads pocked and cratered with tire-busting holes. As an April Fools’ Day joke, the Storm Chasers tweeted that they would be rebranding as the Omaha Potholes on June 31 – a day, in case you didn’t catch it, that doesn’t exist.





More importantly, though, Storm Chasers’ fans loved the Pothole fake rebrand. Many encouraged the team to go forward with the idea – something the club decided to oblige, as Rovell notes above.



Sympathetic to local struggles in the wake of the massive flooding, the Storm Chasers are using the popularity of the Potholes initiative to help the community. Twenty percent of sales of Potholes-branded merchandise, including T-shirts and hats, will go to help restore Little League fields damaged by flooding in the Omaha Metro area through Chasers Charities, the club’s charitable arm. Jerseys will be available too, but were not yet retailing as of this writing. Additionally, the Potholes – sorry, Storm Chasers -- will be auctioning off baseball-related collectibles on Potholes Night, scheduled for April 24.


Virtual rendering of the limited edition Omaha Potholes hat.


Virtual rendering of the limited edition Omaha Potholes shirt.

Marketers can haul in some valuable takeaways from the Storm Chasers’ initiative. Here are just a few we thought of.

Know Your Audience & Tailor Your Outreach To Them: At the end of the day, the Storm Chasers are entertainment providers. Fans attend games and follow the team on social media for enjoyable diversion. There’s a general irreverence in Minor League Baseball teams’ images, and the Storm Chasers are no exception, even playing themselves up as the “weirdest team in baseball” – something that resonates with the fan base. As such, a playfully PG tongue-in-cheek -- but plausible -- April Fools’ Day prank of the type the team pulled was probably always going to go over well with audiences. What made it even better, however, was that the Storm Chasers tapped into the frustration many are feeling over potholed roads and turned it into a communal laugh-sigh of shared understanding – a sort of “Ha-ha, yup. That sounds about right.” Calling such an experience cathartic for Omaha locals would obviously be going way too far, but it’s fair to say that many driving those potholed roads all the time would probably relate and, perhaps, have a gallows chuckle over the “Omaha Potholes.”

When You Get Momentum, Make the Most of It: Let’s be real. Sometimes, marketing can feel a bit like shouting into an empty cave. So when you do get robust engagement, it’s important to capitalize – without overdoing it. That’s just what the Storm Chasers did here. And what’s even better, they executed something savvy brands across industries pull off: They gave their customers exactly what they want. Fans were quite vocal in saying they desired the Potholes prank to become a Potholes reality. The Storm Chasers committed to making that happen, thereby pleasing their core fans and extending their time in the spotlight, as national media outlets, including MLB Network, reported on the gag-turned-real.

Add A Give-Back Element: Donating a portion of proceeds from the merch sales and raffle items toward a charitable initiative that addresses a real need in the community from which the Storm Chasers draw their fans is morally commendable – and a marketing masterstroke. The charitable initiative will earn goodwill among the Storm Chasers’ audience and become another talking point that will help keep the team top-of-mind even after the Potholes novelty fades.

By the way, if you’re not totally sold on going to Potholes Night, keep in mind that April 24 is also Wiener Wednesday, with hot dogs available for just 25 cents each. It’s also “Bark at the Park,” which means fans can bring their pooches to the game. Sounds like fun. Tickets can be purchased at this link: http://bit.ly/2UnBkWB.

Taco Bell Debuts New Line Of Summery Branded Merchandise

“Hot sauce” is the collection’s definitive theme.

Call it a “Tac-ini.”

We’re referring to the new bikini from Taco Bell that’s embellished with images of hot sauce packets. It’s one fun piece in a just-released collection of summer-themed branded merchandise from the fast-food chain.


Sauce Packet Bikini from Taco Bell can be found here.

Hot sauce, a preferred condiment with Taco Bell’s Mexican-inspired cuisine, is the prevailing theme of the collection. That makes sense, of course, since the swag is for summer. Beyond the “tac-ini”, as we’ve dubbed it, there are hot sauce-branded swim trunks, velour beach towels and a pool float. A pop art-themed beach umbrella and cooler round out the novel merch.


Hot Sauce Packet Pool Float can be found here.


Sauce Packet Swim Trunks can be found here.


Sauce Packet Collection Beach Towel can be found here.


Taco Bell Pop Art Beach Umbrella can be found here.


Taco Bell Pop Art Cooler can be found here.

Taco Bell has made a habit of launching irreverent seasonal/topical merch lines. There was, for instance, the holiday apparel collection that came out last November. In summer 2018, the purveyor of Nacho Fries came to market with wedding-themed promotional products – a collection inspired by couples keen to tie the knot at Taco Bell’s flagship location.

What’s the takeaway for promo pros from Taco Bell’s swag shenanigans? One, for sure, is that brands in the restaurant/hospitality market seem to have been upping their game when it comes to branded merchandise over the last few years. So, in that, there’s opportunity. But even more fundamentally, the collection is a reminder of the fun that promotional products can be. Try approaching your next few consultative sales with that sense of fun, and you might find that your creativity blooms, sprouting solutions that are a win for your clients – and, thereby, for you too.

Will Smith Releases New Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Merch & Its Suddenly 1992

The mega star’s limited-time swag collection is another sign of the marketing potential in the 90s nostalgia trend.

“In west Philadelphia born and raised / On the playground was where I spent most of my days…”

If you’re a child of the 1990s, you probably just had total recall on what comes next.

“Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool / shootin some b-ball outside of the school…”



The lyrics, of course, are from the theme song of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – the hit show of the 90s that became the vehicle for Will Smith to begin his transformation from popular rapper to A-List movie star royalty.

With 90s nostalgia now in full swing, and everyone from the Spice Girls to *NSYNC keen to capitalize, Smith decided to tap into the trend with a limited edition capsule collection of retro-inspired Fresh Prince merchandise.



Alas, the collection of T-shirts, hats and more was only available through Sunday night. So, if you didn’t score some swag, you’re already too late (maybe try eBay…). Still, we thought the collection worth noting – and not just because Fresh Prince was one of our favorite shows.

First off, the bold, bursting color combinations of some of the collection’s pieces – so totally early-to-mid 90s -- harkens to a style trend that could start to see demand among fashion-forward end-users that promotional products distributors will be outfitting for clients. Also, check out the heat-reactive print on one of the line’s trippy tees. Distributors could look to do something similarly creative for clients that include summer festivals, night clubs and musical acts.



Even more broadly, marketers can take the Fresh Prince capsule as another cue that now might be a good time to think outside the box and try some 90s nostalgia-themed campaigns/promotions, whether targeting audiences in the Millennial range that experienced the decade or Gen Zers who have a hankering for the bygone era.

Who knows – it could work. It did for Will Smith; the collection sold out.

How to Improve Your Landing Page Conversion Rate

Use these 10 strategies to turn website visitors into buyers

  1. Streamline to the Essential
    According to Oli Gardner, a digital marketing expert who co-founded Unbounce, landing pages should ideally have an “attention ratio” of 1:1. Attention ratio is the ratio of the number of things a visitor can do on a given page to the number of things the visitor should do. The more things visitors can potentially do on a page that distract them from the one thing a marketer wants them to do, the more confusing it gets for the prospect and the less likely they are to take the desired action, the reasoning goes. With that in mind, shear each landing page to its essentials – a paring down that many marketing experts say should include removing links, social share buttons and navigation menus. Yuppiechef, a South African company selling premium kitchen tools, doubled the conversion rate on a landing page by removing a navigation bar – an action that helped take the attention ratio from 15:1 to 3:1.




  2. Get Creative With Your Offer
    In a study of high-conversion landing pages, the online advertising/marketing experts at WordStream found an impressive range of creative and differentiated offers. In its own case, WordStream discovered that offering a free trial of its software – a common carrot, so to speak – wasn’t generating desired conversion. WordStream mixed things up and devised an offer of a free AdWords Grader, which provided prospects with recommendations to improve their Google AdWords strategy. “Prospects loved it and conversions went through the roof,” founder Larry Kim wrote in a blog.

  3. Feature Interactive Content
    While this may seem to contradict the attention ratio advice, it doesn’t if done right. The interactive content should be interesting – even entertaining – and get people to stay on the page and help move them toward taking a call to action (CTA). Commvault, a data protection and information software management company, has used a landing page featuring a calculator that swiftly helps prospects understand how much they could reduce their data footprint. Page text invites prospects to use the calculator and undertake the CTA – namely, downloading a white paper that provides deeper insights.

  4. Make Your CTA Button Stand Out
    Feature a CTA button in a color that contrasts with the primary color on your landing page. For instance, if a cool aqua tone permeates your page, make the CTA button a warm yellow, orange or red.

  5. Have the CTA Text Convey Value
    A blasé “Click here to get started” doesn’t say much. Instead, go with something like “Click Here to Supercharge Your Marketing” to communicate that there’s a reward for engaging with your business.

  6. Test & Refine
    Identify impediments on your landing page that are discouraging conversion. Test different solutions until you’ve paved the smoothest road possible for the particular prospects you’re courting.

  7. Show Pictures of Real People
    Page visitors are more apt to convert on landing pages that feature someone who’s actually from your company as opposed to pages with stock art imagery of random models. A study from Marketing Experiments found that visitors to a landing page highlighting a debt relief company’s founder were 35% more likely to fill out a CTA form compared to visitors who landed on an alternative page for the company using stock art of a smiling woman. The more successful page included brief text that identified the man as the founder.

  8. Consider Using Illustrations
    Artistically crafted illustrations can grab attention and keep prospects on your page. Be sure the visuals emphasize your brand value and aesthetic.

  9. Optimize for Mobile
    Various studies indicate that more than half of web traffic comes through smartphones and other mobile devices, which is why it’s essential to have your landing page properly formatted for mobile. You simply won’t convert nearly as many visitors if it’s not.

  10. Copy Edit Carefully
    Not every landing page visitor will spot errors, but folks who do will be disinclined to work with you. Some might even think you’re a scammer, as such errors are often a “tell” in web-based phishing schemes.

Theres One American Blockbuster Left & Its Got Promotional Products

Cups, hoodies, hats and tees are among the merch that offers a nostalgic appeal.

Kids these days. They’ll never know the joy of going to the local Blockbuster on a Friday night and finding that the flick you want to rent is in stock. Or conversely:



About 9,000 stores strong at its height, Blockbuster was pulverized into bankruptcy and near non-existence by online streaming. Still, the once proud video rental chain has not totally gone the way of the dinosaur and the 70s leisure suit. Nope, there are still two around – one in Australia, and one in Bend, OR. As The New York Times reported, the location in Australia is scheduled to close by the end of March.

That will make the store in Bend the last of its kind.



The Times piece has a bunch of great details on the Bend Blockbuster story, but what we found particularly interesting from a promotional products perspective is that the location sells Blockbuster branded merchandise. As you can glimpse in the tweet below, offerings include a $20 “Last Blockbuster” T-Shirt, a $40 hooded sweatshirt, a $15 cap and $10 silicone pint glasses.



Definitely some folks dig the merch.



For sure, there’s a nostalgia/retro factor to the merchandise. We can see that helping to make it increasingly popular and sought-after, especially as time goes on. Not to sound too highfalutin, but in a way, the desire for Blockbuster swag says something more general about promotional products – how they can do more than promote or show attachment to a brand. Indeed, they can also act as emotional conduits to particular moments and eras that one experienced or wished to have experienced -- even serve as cultural signposts for times gone by. Or, as we said in this article, one generation’s tchotchkes just might become subsequent generations’ valuable artifacts.

We’re probably way overthinking it. At the end of the day, though, we’d like to go to Bend, buy ourselves a Blockbuster hat, and then sip some Oregon craft brew from the Blockbuster silicone pint, thinking about the Friday nights of a simpler time when happiness was as easy as an in-stock copy of the latest new release.

Sentimentality aside, do yourself a favor and follow the last Blockbuster on Twitter. It’s not actually connected to the store in Bend, OR from what we can tell. Still, the account is pretty funny, though some of the content definitely qualifies as PG-13 and above. Couple sample tweets below:





Promo Products Pro Co-Founds South Florida's First 'Rage Room'

Kathy Barrios, an HR pro for Polyconcept North America, says the venue provides a unique stress-relieving experience.

Stress, sadness, frustration, a deep sense of loss – all these negative emotions congested like rush hour traffic in the heart and soul of the South Florida woman. It was for good reason. Her husband had just died. And now, her birthday had arrived, emphasizing the emptiness. Still, the woman’s family wanted to do something special for the birthday -- something that would break her cycle of bleakness. A spa weekend? A yoga retreat? A vacation? Nope, it needed to be more active and affirming – something more empowering to blast through the barrier of grief and pain.


Kathy Barrios and Messiel Reyes, Co-Founders, Smash the Rage.

The family came to Smash the Rage in Miami, FL. By the time their session was over, the woman’s catharsis had begun. “She enjoyed it so much that she brought her sister a few weeks later to do another session,” says Kathy Barrios, co-founder/owner of Smash the Rage. “They left crying and laughing. They had an amazing time.”

The anecdote illustrates the release a growing number of Americans are experiencing after visits to “rage rooms” like Smash the Rage, says Barrios, a human resources professional for Polyconcept North America who co-founded Smash the Rage as a side venture.

Just what’s a rage room, you ask?

“Rage rooms are safe controlled rooms where you are given regular household items and you get to destroy them,” says Barrios, noting participants wear protective equipment. “These short 15-to-25 minute sessions can get your adrenaline kicking and your blood flowing. You release so much of that pent-up tension and stress that you've been carrying.”



Rage rooms appear to have originated in Asia, most likely Japan, as a way for overtaxed workers to relieve tension. They’ve since spread around the world, from Europe and South America, to the United States. Barrios and her business partner Massiel Reyes launched Smash the Rage in September last year. They say it’s the first rage room in South Florida. Both women continue to work their day jobs, managing rage room events on the weekends and some nights. Business in the 1,500-square-foot space has been brisk, and Smash the Rage has featured in local television media.

“We’re excited,” says Barrios. “We’re focused on spreading the word and having people give us their feedback. We just hope that people continue to check this out and see the benefits of it.”


Happy customers at Smash the Rage.

As an HR professional, Barrios knows well that workplace stresses in even the most positive company cultures can sometimes weigh heavy on employees. Rage rooms can provide an outlet for release, she says. While her Polyconcept colleagues haven’t been in for a company-sponsored smash-up yet, other businesses have visited – and enjoyed – their time at Smash the Rage. “From a wellness perspective, it gets the employee's blood flowing and adrenaline rushing in a new, fun and innovative way,” says Barrios.

Some mental health professionals take issue with rage rooms. They argue that the experience can ferment deeper foundational anger and contribute to blocking participants from learning better mechanisms for coping with stress. Barrios and Reyes don’t claim to be providing therapy or medical treatment, and they certainly make clear on their website that they’re not psychologists or psychiatrists. Still, they say, their firsthand witnessing of cathartic experiences among clients leads them to believe that rage rooms can provide a welcome deliverance from daily life’s ample stresses.




Working in the promo industry, Barrios made sure Smash the Rage had some branded merchandise, like the above hat, as well as the protective headwear participants wear during a session.

“We have seen this help people in ways that no other thing has,” says Barrios. “It should be something that definitely ties to professional help to continue to work on the deeper issue. However, as far as everyday stress, this is like boxing: You're increasing your adrenaline, you're sweating, you’re working an eight-pound hammer, and you’re having fun.”

A typical session plays out for 15-to-25 minutes inside a room that’s been stocked with smashables – everything from bottles and televisions, to furniture and much more. Some participants bring things they want to destroy. Smash the Rage also collects and provides items to bust up. During the smack down, participants wear a jumpsuit and a helmet with a faceshield for protection. They use the hammer to go to town, so to speak, on the breakables. A bring-your-own-items session can start at $20; a whole room set up involving a themed room runs $100-plus. Themes can include everything from parenting stress, divorce parties and holiday-time sadness, to celebrating victories like beating cancer.


The rage room at Smash the Rage before participants get to work busting things up. Donations of unwanted items help Barrios and Reyes keep the space stocked with smashable goods.

“When you first go inside the room, it feels awkward because these are not things you're supposed to be breaking -- if your mother knew what you were doing, she'd swing the chancleta,” says Barrios with a laugh. “But after the first few swings, you're having fun and you start sweating and dancing. When the session is over, you're just mellow and ready for a nap.”


Barrios and Reyes having some fun.

The idea for Smash the Rage was born from personal experience. After a particularly stressful stretch, Barrios one day felt she’d reach her boiling point. She admits: She literally felt like smashing something. She channeled the energy into researching rage rooms, and within 24 hours, had a business plan for Smash the Rage written up. Now she has a space to do a bit of smashing when needed.

“It’s just a different way for people to release their stress and relax,” says Barrios.

Who knows? Maybe one day Smash the Rage can do on-site rooms at industry trade shows. We’re fairly certain there are more than a few deadline-buzzing, hard-charging promo pros who could do with a session of hammer-fueled tension taming. Perhaps, too, HR executives and department heads/managers in the industry might want to consider planning a rage room event for employees. It could prove just the thing to dispel any simmering angst.

MiLB Teams Rebrand Names, Logos For Select Games to Celebrate Latino Communities

The nicknames take inspiration from culture, and many of the logos are wonderfully imagined and executed.

Minor League Baseball is celebrating Hispanic/Latino heritage and cultures with the Copa de la Diversión – or “Fun Cup”. The initiative includes a reimagining of MiLB team logos that we thought branding-obsessed promotional products pros might enjoy.

This year, the Copa de la Diversión will have 72 MiLB teams participating. When the Fun Cup comes to town, the fan experience takes inspiration from Latino communities, with culturally relevant food and entertainment – and a change in team logo and nickname to something inspired by the culture being embraced, according to MiLB.



One of our favorite logo/name changes was for the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs, which will temporarily become the Coquís de Lehigh Valley. Coquís are tree frogs, and they hold a special place in Puerto Rican culture. Allentown – the Pennsylvania city that hosts the IronPigs – has a significantly-sized Puerto Rican community.





Another logo change-up we loved came from the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats, which rebranded as the Murciélagos de Louisville. It’s a play on words: Murciélagos means bats (as in the animal), and the team is particularly referencing Cuban greater funnel-earned bats. The colors, letter styling on the jersey, and Mesoamerican-inspired embroidered design on the cap are deftly stylish and sharp in our opinion.



Meanwhile, we appreciated the inspiration that went into the Las Vegas Aviators nickname and logo change to Reyes de Plata de Las Vegas. “The Aviators' alternative persona, ‘Reyes de Plata,’ or ‘Silver Kings,’ pays homage to the migrant workers that helped shape the rich mining history of Nevada, and gave the state its ‘Silver State’ nickname,” says the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.



Still, probably our personal favorite alternative team name/logo concept goes to the Albuquerque Isotopes, which will transform into the Mariachis de Nuevo México, just as they did last season. “Mariachi bands, like baseball, provide the colorful soundtrack of people's lives,” said the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. “Mariachis represent celebrations and shared experiences for family and friends -- the very fabric of Minor League Baseball. By re-branding to the ‘Mariachis,’ the team honors the function of these musicians, celebrates their heritage, and provides a communal bonding experience over dance, attire and music.” Plus, the logo is pretty kick-butt, to use the highbrow term:



Overall, kudos to MiLB on the Copa de la Diversión. It’s an entertaining adventure in culture and creative alternative branding, all focused on better connecting with and uniting its audiences. Gran trabajo!! Apparently, we’re not the only ones to think so:



See all 72 teams’ logos here.

Trump Store Unveils Cherry Blossom Collection

The merchandise promotes Trump’s Washington, D.C. hotel during spring time.

Trump Store, the official retail website of the Trump Organization, has released a new product line to celebrate the return of Washington, D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms in the spring.

Titled “Cherry Blossom Collection,” the line features nearly a dozen new products, all emblazoned with “Trump Washington, D.C.” and images of the flowers. Inspired by the Trump International Hotel in the nation’s capital, the collection includes T-shirts, glasses, a mug, tumbler and more.



Of course, President Donald Trump is no stranger to promotional products. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he spent far more than other candidates – including Hillary Clinton – on promotional merchandise. By the end of August 2016, Trump spent $11.5 million total on campaign merchandise. Prior to that, he had already broken the record for promotional products spending by a presidential candidate, set in 2012 by Barack Obama’s campaign at $6.7 million.

With his ubiquitous red “Make America Great Again” hat, Trump understands the power of branding. Back in 2005, roughly a decade before the former host of The Apprentice entered politics, he shared his marketing tips during the keynote address at ASI Show Philadelphia. “I’m a believer in the public relations route,” Trump said, adding that the biggest mistake marketers make is choosing the wrong product. “You can do all the research you want, but if your product isn’t widely accepted when it first hits the market, then get out. People throw too much money into trying to make bad products successful.”

Case Study Q&A: Teddi Mellencamp Arroyaves New Merch Line

Top 40 distributor BAMKO (asi/131431) delivered the collection for the reality TV star/accountability coach.

Top 40 promotional products distributor BAMKO (asi/131431) has a habit of landing high-profile clients. The Los Angeles-based firm recently launched a winter apparel collection for IHOP. Then, this week, BAMKO got a pat on the back in an US Weekly article for its work on the line of branded merchandise it just created for Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave – a star on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and daughter of rock star John Mellencamp.


Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave modeling the Vimmia Cross Front Pullover BAMKO created for her All In branded merchandise collection.

The merch line promotes Teddi’s All In – an accountability coaching service that helps clients live healthier lives through fitness and nutrition. The collection features leggings, tank tops, T-shirts, caps, water bottles, a backpack, a fitness tote, hair ties and more. BAMKO Co-Founder Brett Marz and Joshua White, general counsel and SVP of strategic partnerships, took a few minutes with Counselor to share insights on the collection, a portion of the proceeds of which go toward supporting All In clients who are not able to meet the initial financial requirements of the coaching.


Women’s Quarter Zip pullover from the All In collection.

Q: How did BAMKO connect with Teddi?
Brett:
I’m friends with Teddi’s husband. When I learned about Teddi’s company and her message of personal accountability, I wanted to help promote that message. We design and develop high quality merchandise programs, so that was our way of using our tools to help promote what we all felt was an important message.

Q: What were Teddi's goals for the line?
Joshua:
The primary goals were driving brand awareness and message reinforcement. Because Teddi's message is all about personal accountability, developing athletic wear that people could wear while living out that message through their actions was a natural fit.


The All In Zip-Up Hoodie is a blend of 50% polyester, 37.5% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, and 12.5% rayon

Q: What's unique about the products/branding?
Brett:
This is a brand that’s all about a single central message. The idea of being "all in", of having an uncompromising commitment to your goals, is the organizing principle at the heart of the brand. We tried to reinforce that messaging in every detail of this campaign. You can’t really offer a half-hearted design or “good enough” product quality when the core concept of the brand is about going all in.

Q: What challenges did BAMKO have to overcome to make this order a success?
Joshua:
Merchandise is a new category for Teddi. Extending a brand into the world of merchandise for the first time always brings with it a bit of a learning curve. Fortunately, their team is savvy and has a great design sense. We worked closely with them to understand their core audience and the emotions that they hoped to evoke in that audience. They have a very clearly defined brand ethos, which made the process of expressing that ethos through merchandise a whole lot easier.


The fitness tote features a large main compartment, a padded slip-through front to store a yoga mat or gym towel, and a side space for a water bottle.

Q: The collection is available through an online store. Is BAMKO managing that?
Brett:
Yes. We’ve got a team of programmers in-house who custom-designed the online store. We’re running the entire operation, soup to nuts, including product design, online store, and warehousing. Providing a seamless one-stop merchandise solution is a great way to provide value to customers who want to focus on running their core business. The store can be found at: allinbyteddi.bamkostores.com.


20 oz. stainless steel water bottle.

Q: What, if any, additional solutions is BAMKO providing?
Joshua:
We are always thinking about how to maximize the impact of a launch through a multichannel approach to social media and earned media coverage. We helped consult on the launch and messaging around it with the specific goal of maximizing the value of earned media. When we talk about doing much more than just selling a product, that’s the sort of thing we have in mind. We are in the advertising business, not the products business. Our goal is not just to sell some product. It’s to provide exponential value through a multi-channel marketing campaign. The client here was already a public figure with more than half a million followers on Instagram. We wanted to make sure to leverage those brand assets to maximize the value of this campaign. Getting written up in US Weekly this week was a good start.

Q: Can you quantify the order in some way?
Joshua:
We have provided 19 items so far. This spans over 40 SKUs given sizing and color options. The initial product launch sold out within a few hours and our team is refreshing inventory as we speak. The line may or may not expand in the future, but it will continue to evolve in order to continue offering new and fresh looks.

3M Headquarters To Operate 100 On Renewable Energy

By 2050, the parent company of Top 40 supplier 3M/Promotional Markets aims to have all its facilities worldwide powered by renewable sources.

When it comes to going green, 3M is going big.

The parent company of Top 40 supplier 3M/Promotional Markets (asi/91240) announced Thursday that its St. Paul, MN headquarters will operate 100% on renewable electricity, effective tomorrow – Friday, March 1. By 2050, the global tech and manufacturing corporation aims to have all of its facilities around the world fueled entirely by renewable energy. 3M has set an interim target to source at least 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2025.



The company was winning praise from environmentalists for its emphasis on getting more eco-friendly. “Seeing such a large manufacturer commit to ‘go all in’ on renewables to produce sustainable new products is an encouraging step forward,” said Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, a non-profit that works with business and government leaders to address climate change. “Big brands like this can influence positive action from other companies and customers and accelerate the clean energy transition around the world.”



Currently, 3M sources about 30% of its total electricity from renewable sources. Since 2002, the supplier has decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 68%, while also doubling revenue. As further evidence of its commitment to sustainability, 3M said Thursday that it’s joining RE100, a global leadership initiative led by The Climate Group and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), that brings together influential businesses committed to sourcing 100% renewable power for their worldwide operations. “We are continuing to step up our leadership toward a more sustainable future – in our own operations, and in solutions for our customers,” said 3M CEO Mike Roman.

In evolving into renewable energy at its 409-acre corporate headquarters, which is home to about 30 buildings/research labs and 12,000 employees, 3M became the largest company in Xcel Energy Inc’s service area across eight Western and Midwestern states to convert to 100% renewable electricity. Xcel will provide the majority of the power for 3M’s headquarters from wind farms located near Pipestone, MN. Additional electricity will come through wind projects that are part of Xcel’s Windsource program and solar sources.



“We applaud 3M’s leadership in making a bold commitment to 100% renewable energy. Xcel Energy is proud to partner with 3M, because we both share a drive to innovate and a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment,’’ said Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy-Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.

In December, 3M announced an increased commitment to build sustainability into its pipeline, which produces thousands of products and technologies. Effectively, 3M is requiring that a Sustainability Value Commitment be included in all new products introduced beginning in 2019.

With estimated North American promotional product revenue of $93 million, 3M Promotional Markets ranks 18th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest suppliers in the industry.

Feed Your Feet With Avocado Toast Shoes

We’ve reached peak millennial baiting. In what seems like it should be an elaborate pre-April Fool’s Day stunt, but is instead all too real, Saucony has released avocado toast-themed sneakers. (A few years ago, if you’ll recall, an Australian real estate mogul blamed millennials’ lack of home ownership on an inordinate fondness for overpriced avocado toast – fighting words that set off wave after wave of angry rebuttals and tongue-in-cheek memes.)



The guac-green kicks –with a toast-toned brown base – feature the image of a halved avocado on the insole and tongue and the phrase “Saucomole” scrawled across the heel. The green inner lining is speckled with red to resemble pepper flakes. Saucony’s Shadow 6000 Avocado Toast sneakers retail for $130. “It’s everything you avo-wanted, even if the guac is extra,” according to Saucony’s product description.

As might be expected, the savory shoes garnered quite a response on social media.



Snark aside, Saucony’s shameless pandering is a smart move. As of Thursday afternoon, the avocado toast sneakers appeared to be sold out on the shoemaker’s website.

This isn’t the first time Saucony has allowed hunger to fuel its design decisions. Last year, it released Dunkin’ Donuts themed sneakers in honor of the Boston Marathon. Back in 2014, the company dropped burger-bedecked shoes.

Disney Launches New California Food & Wine Festival Merchandise

The collection has interesting creative takeaways that should inspire promotional product professionals.

Disney’s magical touch extends to its merch.

Few, if any, do a better job of translating their brand into merchandise than Disney. The latest example of that is the new line of special swag the entertainment maestro has launched for its 2019 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which starts Friday (March 1) at Disneyland and runs through April 23.

This week, Disney teased some pieces from the collection, as media outlets like NBC and WDW News Today reported. From a promotional products perspective, what caught our attention was the deft job Disney did at combining some of its iconic brand symbols with the food-and-drink theme of the event itself. It’s something from which promo pros can take inspiration.

First case-in-point? The below Minnie Mouse ears headband, which features a spiffy spoon and fork in a way that feels natural and truly complementary.


Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Another great example? The festival logo that shows Mickey Mouse enjoying a plate of delicious food over an apparent wine/ale barrel. The branding appears on a T-shirt Disney teased as well as the below wine tote.


Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Another product we loved? This wine-shaped cutting board that features carved silhouettes of Disney symbols, including the beloved castle.


Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

For more on the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, check out this blog.

New Amazon Service Uses Machine Learning To Detect Counterfeit Products

Amazon is cracking down on counterfeit products with a new automated service, powered by machine learning, that aims to catch ne’er-do-wells trying to sell knock-offs on its ecommerce platform.

On Thursday, Seattle-headquartered Amazon announced the launch of Project Zero – a nod to the e-tailer’s goal of reducing sales of counterfeits on its platform to zero. Currently an invite-only service, participating brands provide Amazon with their logos, trademarks and other important data. Amazon’s automated protections then scan its roughly five billion product listing updates every day, searching for counterfeit items.



“We’ve been testing these automated protections with a number of brands, and on average, our automated protections proactively stop 100 times more suspected counterfeit products as compared to what we reactively remove based on reports from brands,” said Dharmesh M. Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide customer trust & partner support.

As Mehta noted, the technology empowers brands to remove counterfeit listings themselves. In the past, brands had to report the fraudulence to Amazon, which would investigate and take action. But now, brands can nix the items using a self-service tool. “This provides brands with an unprecedented ability to directly control and remove listings from our store,” Mehta said. “This information also feeds into our automated protections so we can better catch potential counterfeit listings proactively in the future.”

Additionally, Amazon’s new offering includes a product serialization service. It allows Amazon to individually scan and confirm the authenticity of every one of a brand’s products that are purchased in Amazon stores. The product serialization service provides a unique code for every unit, and the brand puts these codes on its products as part of its manufacturing process.

“Every time a product using our serialization service is ordered in Amazon’s stores, we scan and verify the authenticity of the purchase,” said Mehta. “With this product serialization service, we can now detect and stop counterfeiting for every product unit before it reaches a customer.”

While Project Zero enrollment itself is free, brands that use the product serialization service will incur a cost between $0.01 and $0.05 per unit, based on volume, according to a TechCrunch report.

Brands that have been part of Project Zero beta-testing include Vera Bradley, the luggage and handbag company. “Project Zero, with its automated protections and the self-service removal of counterfeit products, is a significant development that will help ensure our customers receive authentic Vera Bradley products from Amazon,” said Mark Dely, chief legal and administrator officer at Vera Bradley.

Thunderworks, which makes products for pets, was also amped about Project Zero. “When we were offered the opportunity to enroll in Amazon Project Zero, we jumped on it,” said CEO/Founder Phil Blizzard. “Every unit we sell through Amazon has a unique, serialized barcode, and our counterfeit problem has nearly disappeared in the United States.”

Counterfeiting has become a major problem on Amazon, “largely due to the size and scale of Amazon’s third-party marketplace, which it does little to regulate,” TechCrunch reported. “Some of these items are never even touched by Amazon, but are sold and shipped by the third-party seller themselves. Others are only fulfilled by Amazon, but that doesn’t include a verification process.”

Amazon says it’s working to add more brands to Project Zero. Learn more about Project Zero and sign up to join.

Bryce Harpers Phillies Jersey Breaks Sales Record

Philadelphia Phillies’ fans had high hopes that star right fielder Bryce Harper would join the franchise ahead of the 2019 season. After several months of negotiation and anticipation, the 26-year-old phenom signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the organization, the largest deal in Major League Baseball history.

That’s not the only history the six-time All-Star has made over the past week.



Harper broke the all-time record for the best 24 hours of sales for a jersey launch for any player in any sport, according to sports merchandise company Fanatics, which runs the Phillies’ online store. Fanatics says sales of Phillies merchandise was up more than 5,000% compared to the same day last year, 6abc.com reported.

Harper wore No. 34 on his jersey when he played for the Washington Nationals, but because that number was worn by the late Roy Halladay in Philadelphia, he will instead wear No. 3 out of respect to the hall of fame pitcher.





"I want to be on Broad Street on a frickin' boat or bus or whatever it is and hold a (World Series) trophy over my head," Harper said Saturday after putting on his new No. 3 jersey.

He is expected to make his spring training debut on March 9 against the Blue Jays, per Phillies.com.

Next Level Apparel Is the Official T-Shirt Sponsor of SXSW

It’s the fourth consecutive year that the Top 40 promotional products supplier is the tee sponsor for the iconic festival.

It doesn’t get much bigger – or much hipper – than South by Southwest (SXSW). The massive festival that annually takes over Austin, TX for about 10 days in March is renowned for showcasing not only what’s hot now, but what’s cutting edge and poised to take off in film, music, emerging technology, comedy and gaming.



Naturally, branded merchandise is part of the festival. And, Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867) has a big hand in that. The Gardena, CA-based company is the official T-Shirt sponsor of SXSW, which runs March 8 to March 17. It’s the fourth year in a row Next Level has been SXSW’s tee gurus.

“The merch component is huge, and we’re extremely excited to be part of that,” Mark Seymour, C.S.O at Next Level, told Counselor.


Official artwork from a 2018 SXSW T-shirt.

For 2019, Seymour and his team have some cool stuff in store for SXSW. First, they’ll be outfitting festivalgoers with official branded merchandise that can only be bought at SXSW. But that isn’t all. On March 15th and 16th, Next Level will be setting up shop at the SXSW Marketplace at the Austin Convention center to, among cool offerings, perform live demonstrations of direct-to-garment digital printing. “A lot of people haven’t seen digital printing before, and it’s really eye-opening for them when they do,” said Seymour, who noted Next Level will also be at booth #1236 at the SXSW trade show at the Austin Convention Center from March 10th through the 13th. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”


Official artwork from a 2018 SXSW T-shirt.

Music aficionados are really going to dig the third prong of Next Level’s SXSW presence. The fashion-forward apparel maker is teaming up with global marketing agency COLLiDE to host a two-day “POP UP” event at one of Austin’s coolest spots – Clive Bar, located on super trendy Rainey Street. To be held March 14th and 15th, the event will feature a dozen up-and-coming musical acts. Plus, Next Level will be screen-printing on the spot with the help of partner AKA Printing, providing attendees with personalized T-Shirts.




Seymour is pumped for the POP UP. “One of the coolest elements is that we’re devoting a day to female artists – solo performers and female-fronted acts,” he told Counselor. In addition to domestic musical artists, there’s an international flavor to the line-up. For instance, Canadian singer/songwriter Cat Clyde and Wafia, an Australian singer/songwriter of Iraqi/Syrian origin, are on the bill.



Furthermore, in a nod to the POP UP and SXSW Rainey Street experience of music and revelry, Next Level is teaming up with COLLiDE to create a first-to-market NLA X #COLLiDEonRainey merchandise line featuring custom graphics, artist line-ups and SXSW logos. The collection figures to include tees, tanks, hoodies and raglan sleeve tops. Check ‘em out:





Next Level’s prominent role in SXSW came about naturally. The client in charge of festival merchandise was already a fan of the brand’s apparel, which is known for on-trend cuts and styling, along with a super soft-hand feel. Leveraging the love, Next Level provided some peripheral T-shirt work for SXSW, while another brand was the main sponsor. But when the other apparel company’s official T-shirt sponsorship ended, the door opened for Next Level to step in. The supplier was in pole position to do so thanks to the pre-existing relationship and the client’s preference for the brand’s apparel. “It started with love of the product and evolved organically into more and more opportunity,” said Seymour. Personally, we’re stoked to see more of the festival-only merch that Next Level debuts in the coming weeks.

Our only regret is that we won’t be in Austin to buy some – and take in a few tunes and inspiring keynotes.

10 Facebook Live Marketing Tips

Organic reach for business content on Facebook has become more difficult to achieve, but there’s hope. Brands have a much-improved chance of being seen if their content comes in the form of Facebook Live videos. To make the most of your live videos, follow these 10 tips.



  1. Deliver Value. The remaining tips will be pointless unless you nail this first one. Understand the audience you aim to engage – its interests, goals and pain points. Know, too, how you’re uniquely positioned to help and entertain the audience given your expertise. Then, create live feeds based on these strengths.

  2. Stream for 10 Minutes at Minimum. While you don’t want to drone on, try to be live for at least 10 minutes. If you can get nearer to half an hour, with quality content, that’s even better. The longer you’re live, the better chance you have of followers discovering – and watching – your stream.

  3. Promote Your Video in Advance. If you’re throwing a party, you’re going to invite folks well before the soiree kicks off, right? Take the same approach for live videos. Use Facebook and other social forums to tell people when you’ll be streaming. Send reminders to Facebook followers about the video’s go-live time, and for followers/influencers you really want to engage, consider sending personalized digital invites. Shortly before you start, blast out one last reminder via social feeds.

  4. Convey Urgency & Importance in Your Header & Description. If you don’t, few people are going to click on your stream. For example: “How tariffs will affect 2019 pricing” is a timely, critical and interesting option right now.

  5. Keep a Steady Schedule. Consistency can be the key to upping your view count. If, for instance, you broadcast the same time each week, you stand a better chance of followers engaging consistently with the content.

  6. Get the Timing Right. The best time to stream will vary based on your brand and your audience. Nonetheless, a general sweet spot is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. If you stream after hours, evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. might find people smartphone scrolling and more apt to watch. Facebook’s Page Insights can help you discover a time that’s best for you.

  7. Invest in a Tripod. Streams that shake along with the jumpy hand of someone doing the recording are annoying. A tripod ensures a steady shot throughout. And while you don’t need professional lighting equipment per se, do ensure on-screen subjects are well-lit.

  8. Shoot at Cool Locations. A backdrop of an attractive landscape, cityscape or other eye-catching setting can get scrollers to slow their roll. Consider what settings exist near you that you can feature – and how you can possibly connect your video content to them. Maybe you want to highlight something about brandable hiker’s backpacks. Well, head to an overlook at a mountain trail and shoot there.

  9. Do a Test Run. Before going live, be sure there’s no buffering, connection problems or other kooky audio or visual issues by doing a brief walk-through using the “only me” setting, in which you’ll be the only person able to view.

  10. Share on Other Social Platforms. Once you’re done shooting live, you can keep the stream on your Facebook page. When you do, share links to the videos via social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn. If content isn’t too time-specific, share multiple times with different descriptions to highlight various themes of the streams. This helps increase views.

WWE Features New Hemp-Made Championship Belt

WWE Champion Daniel Bryan has been leading an eco-friendly crusade in and out of the ring for years. A highly-publicized vegan and environmentalist, even endorsing Green Party nominee Jill Stein in the 2016 United States presidential election, Bryan has recently blended his personal views with his pro wrestling character. He took another step on Tuesday by unveiling a new championship belt made of hemp.



Tossing the old leather belt in the trash, Bryan claimed that this “new symbol of excellence” is made from 100% sustainable and organic hemp. It’s the first of its kind in the history of pro wrestling, and fans flooded social media with mixed reviews.











The new belt was made possible after Congress voted to legalize hemp and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law in December. The legislation puts the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies in charge of hemp regulations, granted farmers access to banking, water rights and crop insurance. As a result of the legislation, the U.S. cannabis industry could grow to $20 billion by 2022, up from $800 million this year, Fortune reported.

Several industry suppliers have been excited about the potential opportunities that the legalization of hemp can provide for apparel. “It is like an industrial revolution,” said Glen Brumer, sales director at New York-based Royal Apparel (asi/83731). The company has been supplying viscose hemp T-shirts and V-necks over the last few years. “Our product has introduced us to many areas of the hemp industry, from advocacy groups to various companies that support it. From our experience, we have seen the positive impact it has on business.”

Legislation dating back to 1937 made the growing of industrial hemp (because of its ties to cannabis) illegal, forcing Americans to import the crop from other countries as long as it contains scant levels of THC – the psychoactive constituent in cannabis. But a provision in the 2014 Farm Bill opened the door for growing hemp in certain states.

Nebraska-based Bastcore was the first to capitalize on the provision, inking a contract with Los Angeles-based Recreator to supply American-grown hemp fiber for apparel. John Lupien, CEO of Bastcore, says that hemp becoming legal simplifies the production process, loosening restrictions such as which states to retrieve the crop from and how to transport it. “It’s a big deal for us,” Lupien says. “This alleviates some of the concerns institutional investors might have in terms of what’s the likelihood of hemp being legal. After all, it takes capital to get this scaled up if you want to see hemp in more T-shirts.”

Spice Girls 'Gender Justice' Shirts Made By Women Working In Inhuman Conditions

The ordeal highlights the importance of thoroughly vetting your supply chain – a lesson for promotional products firms.

The Spice Girls’ T-shirts were supposed to champion female empowerment – a call for “gender justice” that would raise money for charity.

Only there was this: The tees were made by women in Bangladesh working in inhumane conditions while being paid what amounted to a slave wage, according to an investigation by The Guardian.



The Spice Girls, an all-female musical group popular in the 1990s that’s enjoyed a recent nostalgia-driven renewal in popularity, designed the shirts to say “#IWannaBeASpiceGirl.” A portion of proceeds of sales from the approximately $25 shirts were to go to Comic Relief’s fund to champion “equality for women.”

But The Guardian investigation revealed a sad irony: Bangladeshi women machinists laboring 54 hours a week in a factory for a little more than $100 a month were the workforce that produced the shirts. “We don’t get paid enough and we work in inhuman conditions,” a machinist told The Guardian. The investigation alleged that the workers are verbally abused, called “daughters of prostitutes” for failing to hit targets The Guardian characterized as impossible. From the report:
  • Employees are forced to work overtime to hit “impossible” targets of sewing thousands of garments a day, meaning they are sometimes working 16-hour shifts that finish at midnight.
  • Factory workers who do not make the targets are verbally abused by management and reduced to tears. Some have been made to work despite ill-health.

Saying they take the allegations seriously, Comic Relief and the Spice Girls deflected blame to Represent, a crowd-selling platform that enables anyone to create and sell custom merchandise, that the girl group and Comic Relief engaged to source the shirts. In a statement, Comic Relief said that it and the Spice Girls conducted ethical sourcing checks on the supplier that Represent said it would use. However, Represent allegedly switched the supplier to a firm called Stanley/Stella, which then turned for production to the factory where the alleged abuse of the women workers occurred. Full statement from Comic Relief:



A representative for the Spice Girls responded to the allegations by saying: “The band are grateful that this information has been brought to their attention…As to be expected, they are deeply shocked and appalled by these claims and have demanded a full explanation from Represent…The band intend(s) to demand that Represent donate their profits from this initiative to localized campaigns in Bangladesh.”

Represent, which is not ASI-listed, has offices in London, Los Angeles and Prague, according to a company bio. Bryan Baum, Andrej Pancik and Leo Seigal founded Represent. While at Oxford University, the three also started Prizeo, a crowdfunding platform that partners with celebrities to raffle off exclusive prizes for charity. According to the Represent bio, the largest apparel campaign on the platform sold 46,000 units and generated more than $1 million in 27 days. “Many sports and entertainment influencers have already launched successful campaigns on Represent, including Stephen Amell, Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, and George R. R. Martin,” the company says.

The fallout over the Spice Girls tees builds on a recent spate of high-profile investigations that have revealed inhumane conditions in overseas factories from which apparel is sourced. In December, an Associated Press report revealed that promo industry supplier Badger Sportswear (asi/37876) was sourcing apparel from a Chinese factory the AP said was using forced labor. North Carolina-based Badger Sportswear has since ended its relationship with Hetian Taida Apparel Co. Ltd.

In separate situation, alleged human rights abuses at Vietnam-based apparel factories recently compelled Norway Pension Fund Global, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, to stop investing in Texwinca Holdings – a Hong Kong-based investment holding company in the yarn, fabric and apparel business. Texwinca is the main shareholder in Megawell Industrial Ltd., which came under fire for what Norwegian officials characterized as “serious or systematic” human rights violations at its Hugo Knit and Kollan factories in Vietnam. Discrimination against women, health and safety risks, and restrictions on the right to form unions were among the alleged abuses.

For promotional products firms, the recent sourcing scandals are cautionary tales. They emphasize the importance of thoroughly vetting partners and facilities where products are produced. That vetting should include boots-on-the-ground firsthand assessments of factories. Failure to partner wisely could result in working with unethical manufacturers, which isn’t only morally wrong, but also a potential business disaster, as it could end up embarrassing end-clients and costing both distributors and suppliers their reputations and business.

Perhaps, too, the need for increased diligence is growing in importance. In the Comic Relief/Spice Girls case, maybe a contractual clause or similar agreement should have been made binding Represent to use the supplier they initially said they would use or obligating the company to notify Comic Relief/Spice Girls if the supplier was to be changed so those end-clients could conduct further sourcing checks. If such a clause existed – and we don’t know if it did or didn’t – then Represent really has a lot to answer for.

Bottom line is this: Source smartly. There’s too much at stake to do otherwise.

Former TV Personality Chris Hansen Arrested For Allegedly Failing To Pay For Pro

Chris Hansen, former host of Dateline NBC segment “To Catch a Predator,” has been arrested for allegedly bouncing checks. What was he buying? Promotional products.

The former television host was charged Monday with issuing a bad check, allegedly failing to pay a $13,000 bill despite a police warning. He ordered 355 ceramic mugs, 288 T-shirts and 650 vinyl decals from Promotion Sales LTD (asi/301160) in Stamford, CT, The Stamford Advocate reported.



Three months after receiving invoices for the goods in September 2017, a person working for Hansen sent a Hansen News LLC check for the entire amount, according to the arrest affidavit. However, police said the check bounced and Peter Psichopaidas, owner of Promotion Sales LTD, reached out to Hansen, who apologized and attempted to make a partial payment.

Psichopaidas then filed a complaint with police last April after still not receiving payment. Hansen agreed to make a statement at the Stamford police station, but never showed up, the affidavit said. A few days later, Psichopaidas said he refused Hansen’s offer to make four partial payments, the affidavit said. Hansen then promised his wife would drop off a check, but she never showed up, authorities allege.

Police warned Hansen that if he failed to pay the invoice, he would be arrested for larceny. On April 27, 2018, Psichopaidas said he received a personal check from Hansen for $13,200, which bounced three days later, according to the affidavit.

Hansen emailed Psichopaidas the day the check bounced. “Peter ... I truly thought I had this covered,” Hansen wrote, according to the affidavit. “I am scrambling to get it done. Please give me till the end of the day. I sold a boat to cover the rest of this and need to pick up the payment this afternoon.”

Psichopaidas said another check never came, and an arrest warrant was issued for Hansen, who turned himself over to police on Monday and was released without bond.

Hansen previously offered coffee mugs and T-shirts as part of a 2015 Kickstarter campaign intended to revive "To Catch a Predator," The Los Angeles Times reported. It’s not confirmed whether those products were also ordered through Promotion Sales LTD.

OREO Releases New Contest Merch

To encourage consumers to buy its limited edition Most Stuf cookies, OREO has collaborated with a few major brands to offer prizes.

To celebrate its new limited edition Most Stuf cookie, OREO has announced an upcoming sweepstakes featuring unique branded prizes – the latest in a recent run of food brands using logoed gifts to generate interest and loyalty.



For those not satisfied with a regular-sized OREO, or even a Double Stuf version, the new Most Stuf cookies have three times the amount of creme filling found in a normal OREO. Fans are already getting their hands on them:



To encourage consumers to hunt down their own packages, OREO has collaborated with a few major brands to offer prizes for “The Stuf Inside” sweepstakes, which runs February 4 to March 6. Consumers can scan one cookie each day at the Stuf Inside website to be entered for a chance to win everything from an OREO-branded Tervis Tumbler, to a Roomba Vacuum, Jonathan Adler Cookie Jar, Terez Leggings, and even an Xbox, K2 Snowboard and Jeep Wrangler (in black and white, of course). The contest uses image recognition technology to turn the "twist, lick and dunk" ritual of OREO fans into an online experience. To play, visit www.thestufinside.com to scan a single eligible OREO cookie with a mobile or tablet device, thereby revealing an animated OREO cookie. Twist open the animated OREO cookie to unlock the prize of the day and see if you've won.

Other limited edition cookies from OREO in recent years have included Birthday Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Red Velvet and Pumpkin Spice.

The Stuf Inside sweepstakes is yet another example of a beloved food company trying to deepen brand loyalty and garner more brand impressions with unique and quirky products. In December, McDonald’s released McNugget-themed holiday items and earlier this month, Arby’s launched a merch subscription box service. It sold out in an hour.

As for the Most Stuf OREOS, opinions among those who’ve tried the cookies are mixed:

Study: Brands Values & Beliefs Increasingly Influencing Consumer Purchasing

The global study from Accenture Strategy provided data and tips for building stronger consumer connections and sustaining competitiveness by becoming purpose-led.

For today’s consumer, it’s not just a company’s products and pricing that matter – it’s the brand’s values and beliefs. That’s according to a new worldwide study, which found nearly two-thirds (63%) prefer to buy goods and services from companies that stand for a shared purpose that reflects the consumer’s personal values and beliefs.

Similarly, the 14th annual Accenture Strategy Global Consumer Pulse Research – ‘rom Me to We: The Rise of the Purpose-led Brand' – revealed that 62% of consumers want companies to take a stand on social, cultural, environmental and political issues close to their hearts. Another 62% say their purchasing consideration is driven by a company’s ethical values and authenticity.

“Purpose is more than companies simply responding to issues of the day. It’s about having a genuine and meaningful commitment to important principles that consumers care about – such as health and wellbeing, natural ingredients, environmental sustainability and family connections – which inform every business decision,” said Bill Theofilou, senior managing director, Accenture Strategy (pictured on the left). “Many companies have neglected to convey purpose due to complacency, lethargy or the fear of polarizing people, which has allowed smaller players to rise.”

Accenture Strategy is a global professional services company that says it partners with about 75% of the Fortune Global 500. Released Wednesday, the firm’s Consumer Pulse study involved surveying nearly 30,000 consumers from 35 countries, including the United States, to measure their expectations of brands and companies. The study found companies that stand for something bigger than what they sell, communicate their purpose and demonstrate commitment are more likely to attract consumers and influence purchasing decisions, which improves competitiveness.

Additional key findings included: Consumers prefer companies that use good quality ingredients (76%), treat employees well (65%) and believe in reducing plastics and improving the environment (62%). Furthermore, when companies fall short, consumers are quick to ditch them. Nearly half (47%) have boycotted a company as a result of their actions. Two-thirds of consumers believe their protest actions – such as boycotting or speaking out on social media – can change how companies behave. Also, purpose, sincerity and ethical behavior matter especially to younger consumers. Approximately 60% of Gen Zers and millennials believe it’s important for companies to speak up on issues like human rights, race relations or LGBT equality.

As part of the research, Accenture provided strategies brands and companies can use to build stronger consumer connections and sustain their competitiveness by becoming purpose-led. They are:

Define what your business stands for: “Companies need to determine the larger role they want to play in their customers’ lives and put a stake in the ground,” Accenture says. “Leaders can do that by understanding what their customers feel passionately about, why their employees choose to work for them, and why other businesses partner with them. They’ll find what makes the company special and can use it to make a difference.”

Be clear and authentic: “Consumers can see through inauthenticity,” says Accenture. “If a company is truly committed to its purpose, its principles guide every business decision. This purpose will bind consumers, employees and shareholders alike. It requires bold leadership where actions speak louder than words.”

Engage consumers on a deeper level: “With consumers actively aligning themselves with specific companies and having a stake in their success, businesses can capitalize on this energy by getting customers involved in co-creating new products and services, designing initiatives or partnerships, and investing in the company’s growth in exchange for personalized rewards,” says Accenture. “Including customers in their innovation ecosystem will help companies maintain their relevance, identify new growth opportunities and markets, and keep them on track with delivering on their promises.”

How to Capture Business Intelligence with Surveys

10 tips for being more successful with surveys.



  1. Define Specific Objectives. Understand what you hope to learn from each survey and how you’d like to use the information. From this exercise, you can establish clear, achievable goals. Note: It’s often best to focus on one or two precise objectives, like learning what clients think about your customer service and pricing, or what your employees think about annual reviews.

  2. Be Succinct. SurveyMonkey, a cloud-based online platform, has found surveys receive the best response rates and lower abandonment when they take five minutes or less to finish. Six to 10 minutes can work too, but abandonment rates accelerate substantially starting around 11 minutes.

  3. Ask Only What’s Necessary. Fluff questions unnecessarily elongate surveys. Pare down questions so you’re only asking the essentials.

  4. Stick to One Question at a Time. Asking multiple questions at once can be confusing and contributes to survey abandonment or vague answers.

  5. Avoid Jargon. Populating your survey with acronyms and corporate buzzwords can confuse survey takers. Formulate questions in plain, direct language that makes what you’re asking clear.

  6. Start Simple and Build. After an introduction, begin with simple questions and advance toward the more specific/challenging ones. Typically, demographic and contact information questions should be at the end.

  7. Leverage Response Scales. They allow for a more nuanced understanding of subject matter. Instead of “Do you believe promotional products are effective in helping your company achieve its marketing objectives? A. Yes. B. No,” try using a response scale question that asks, “To what degree do you believe promotional products are effective in helping your company achieve its marketing objectives? A. Very Effective. B. Effective C. Not Really Effective. D. Not Effective At All.”

  8. Get the Timing Right. In a study of 100,000 surveys, SurveyMonkey found both customer and internal surveys received the highest response rates on Monday. Customer surveys sent Monday received 10% more responses than average, while customer surveys sent Friday received 13% fewer responses than average. Tuesday was the second best day to send. Meanwhile, internal surveys distributed Monday received 13% more responses than the average. Friday finished second. Remember, though, the ideal time could vary depending on your particular target audience, so experiment.

  9. Do a Test Run. Get a handful of people, preferably those representative of the audience you want to engage, to take the survey. See how long it takes them to finish to make sure the survey’s not too long. Review answers to learn if your questions are getting the kind of feedback you want. Refine as needed.

  10. Consider Incentivizing. Even simple incentives, like a discount or gift card, can help compel more people to complete surveys.

'Pooey Puitton' Maker Seeks Parody Protection

Does a popular poop-shaped toy purse piggyback on the fame of French luxury retail company Louis Vuitton? Or is the “Pooey Puitton” a perfectly fine form of protected parody?



Los Angeles-based MGA Entertainment, maker of the $59.99 rainbow slime-filled toy, filed a complaint in federal court in late December, arguing that the Pooey Puitton does not infringe on Louis Vuitton’s intellectual-property rights. The lawsuit claims that Louis Vuitton told an MGA customer that the Pooey name infringed on and diluted its trademarks. But in the complaint, MGA counters the argument, noting that “no reasonable consumer would mistake the Pooey product for a Louis Vuitton handbag.”

MGA maintains that its line of “magical unicorn poop” is intended as parody. The Pooey name and product design “is intended to criticize or comment upon the rich and famous, the Louis Vuitton name, the LV marks, and on their conspicuous consumption,” MGA explains in the complaint.

MGA is seeking a court declaration that Pooey Puitton does not infringe on Louis Vuitton and is, in fact, protected as parody under the doctrine of fair use.

It’s the kind of legal battle that delights and distracts online onlookers.





But it’s also a case worth following for less whimsical reasons, raising questions about how far fair use protection goes when it comes to well-known trademarks. In the past, courts have not always looked favorably on parodies. Back in 2012, a Missouri judge ordered clothing brand “The Butt Face,” a play on The North Face, to shut down operations for infringing on the popular outdoor apparel company’s trademark.

Louis Vuitton has been embroiled in many trademark spats over the years. In 2007, courts sided with Haute Diggity Dog, noting that its “Chewy Vuitton” plush pet chew toys were immediately obvious parodies. In 2014, Vuitton sued and ultimately lost an infringement case against My Other Bag, which depicted Louis Vuitton designs on canvas totes.

Intellectual property law can be a thorny issue, particularly for apparel decorators and promotional products professionals. Last year, in a landmark win for promo, drinkware supplier ETS Express (asi/51197) successfully took on S’well Bottle Company, which had sued ETS for trademark infringement on drinkware styles that ETS had sold before S’well unveiled its own product.

How to Leverage Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a flourishing new medium that gets results. Here’s how you can get in on the action.



PetSmart’s YouTube channel had grown stagnant. Puppy training videos simply weren’t generating the engagement they used to. That was a problem. Good engagement from new puppy owners could help compel those folks to shop at PetSmart. Get the pooch lovers buying at PetSmart at the start of their pet parenting adventure, and you potentially have long-term loyal customers.

Clearly, something was needed to bolster engagement. Enter August United.

The Tempe, AZ-based agency specializes in influencer marketing campaigns. Once engaged by PetSmart, Managing Director Tyler Farnsworth and his team devised an initiative that centered on partnering with YouTube influencer Aaron Burriss of Lazyron Studios. August United, Burriss and PetSmart collaborated to create a fun, entertaining and practical series of 10 puppy training videos. In a savvy move, the partners crafted the content to answer key questions related in top YouTube search terms for puppy training.

Housed on the PetSmart YouTube channel, the videos featured an engaging PetSmart trainer and Burriss, whose vibrant personality resonated with PetSmart’s desired audience of millennial-age pet parents. Burriss also posted behind-the-scenes vlogs, strong calls-to-action, and a clever scavenger hunt challenge to direct viewers to PetSmart’s channel to see the video series.

The campaign was a smashing success. As of late September 2018, there were more than 2.7 million views of PetSmart’s video series. Burriss’ behind-the-scenes vlog had tallied more than 465,000 views. In a December 2017 study, research firm Gartner found the video campaign was registering stellar organic visibility, appearing for 61% of key pet search terms. “The campaign combined the ideal influencer, engaging storytelling and helpful advice that new pet parents connected with,” says Farnsworth. “It really demonstrates the power of influencer marketing when it’s done right.”

Q: What is influencer marketing?
A marketing practice in which brands partner with individuals who have strong influence over audiences/prospects the brands want to reach. In return for compensation, the influencer engages in marketing activities that promote the partner brand to its audience. The promotion comes in the form of content – photos, videos, etc. – that the influencer shares via social channels.

Q: Why invest in it?
Strategic, well-executed influencer marketing campaigns can extend a brand’s reach with desired audiences, build credibility/social proof that prospects rely on in their purchase decision-making process, and aid in getting potential customers into a sales/marketing funnel, helping generate better bottom-line results.

“Influencers have the power to connect with audiences on a level that brands only wish they could,” says Emma Paye, influencer/content marketing manager at Hawke Media, a Santa Monica, CA-based digital marketing agency. “People are actively going to influencers’ channels and feeds, causing them to be exponentially more receptive to the content. These influencers can sway the sentiments of their online audience regarding a brand since they’ve already established their credibility.”

There’s an SEO benefit, too. “Search engine optimization is all about natural links, and those can only be earned,” says Paye. “When an influencer shares a link, it’s shared by others, and those others share the content even further.”

Additionally, influencer marketing could prove a cost-saver: High-quality visual content can be repurposed for other marketing mediums, including print and digital catalog spots.

Q: Sounds good, but is it really for me?
Yes. Firms ranging from megabrands to small businesses can benefit. “We work with everyone from Fortune 500 companies to boutique salons,” says Mae Karwowski, CEO/founder of Obviously, an influencer marketing firm in New York City.

Admittedly, smaller brands might not have the wherewithal to compensate a macroinfluencer – a person with a social following that numbers into the hundreds of thousands or millions. That is, unless the influencer simply loves the brand and wants to hype it. But that’s OK. Microinfluencers – social media personalities with engaged followings that can number as low as the hundreds – are also integral to powering successful campaigns.

Obviously provides a microinfluencer success story through its client Rogue House. For the Manhattan-based boutique salon, Obviously orchestrates a campaign that involves working with five to 10 microinfluencers per month. The influencers visit the salon for a free service – often hair-dyeing done in eye-catching colors like vivid blue and bright red. Loving the experience and results, the influencers post images of their fabulous hairdos. The evocative pictures grab attention on social, generating engagement.

Even better, the campaign compels people from the influencers’ followings to become Rogue House customers. The business-driving results are a consequence of Obviously activating New York-based influencers whose audiences are replete with NYC residents who fit the salon’s target demographic. “Our client wanted to get more people walking through the door, and with the right influencers, we’ve been able to help them achieve that,” says Karwowski.

Q: OK, so how do I get started?
A grassroots method would have your internal marketing department scouring social platforms. The goal would be to identify influencers that appeal to audiences you want to connect with. From there, marketers would contact desired influencers, negotiate compensation, talk creative direction, track content production to ensure it meets agreed-upon terms, and formulate a means for analyzing ROI. While that can work, it can be labor-intensive and time-consuming – especially if you aim to undertake campaigns at scale.

There are, however, a growing number of tools and agencies that seek to facilitate effective, efficiently managed influencer marketing initiatives. For example, TapInfluence and Upfluence are tools that help marketers identify influencers, manage campaigns and analyze returns. Meanwhile, Mavrck is an influencer marketing platform that helps marketers discover and collaborate with influencers, advocates, referrers and loyalists to create authentic content and insights for customer experience touchpoints at scale.

Not be outdone, a firm like Obviously combines an influencer technology platform and a white-glove agency approach that handles all aspects of a brand’s influencer marketing experience. Services include identifying influencers, managing relationships with them, providing creative input on content, handling the logistics of scheduling and shipping products, analyzing ROI and more. Similarly, Farnsworth’s August United will help you find the right influencers, develop campaign concepts, and maintain guardrails to create a sustainable influencer marketing strategy.

Bottom line: There are potential partners out there. Understand what exactly they do, what they charge, vet them carefully and consider using them.

Q: How can I succeed with an influencer marketing campaign?
1. Have the requisite infrastructure in place. Before delving into influencer marketing, make sure you have a strong website, a solid approach to social media, a system for capturing and nurturing leads, and the product and service quality to meet the expectations prospects will come to you with, says Farnsworth. “Influencer marketing is a powerful way to augment your marketing strategy, but it’ll only be valuable if you’re able to capitalize on it, and you need those other things in place to do so,” Farnsworth says.

2. Know your budget. Sure, it would be nice to have Kendall Jenner plug your company to her 95 million or so Instagram followers, but a post from Kendall is probably out of most brands’ price range. Which is to say: Know what you’re able to commit to in terms of compensation and establish a budget that won’t break the bank while being ample enough to generate the realistic returns you’re after. “Your incentive budget will determine what you can do with your activation,” says Liz Gottbrecht, vice president of marketing at Mavrck.

3. Partner with the right influencers. The “right” influencers are social media personalities whose general image and content coalesces nicely with your brand, and whose audience is one you want to reach. Of course, this implies that you first understand your brand and know how you want it to be perceived and your desired audience and goals for each campaign.

Armed with this knowledge, begin honing in on influencers. As you do, focus on more than subscriber/follower numbers – look at engagement, too. A microinfluencer who has fewer followers than another but much greater engagement could be more effective for you, assuming each influencer is speaking to the prospects you’re keen to court.

“It’s essential to work with influencers who are authentic – who’ll bring enthusiasm to your brand and collaborate with you for the long-term to bring value to multiple parts of your organization,” says Gottbrecht.

4. Negotiate terms. Compensation isn’t just about cash. Influencers often work in exchange for free services, experiences and products. That presents opportunity for promotional products firms, which can potentially provide influencers with a certain amount of free/discounted swag that bears the influencer’s branding. Influencers can, for example, promote the distributor and the awesome merch/service they provided in their posts, while simultaneously promoting their own brand with the swag. “There’s a real need for swag that brands in your industry can leverage,” says Karwowski.

Ensure influencers understand how many posts/content pieces are expected over a defined period of time in return for the agreed compensation. Define, too, whether compensation is something set in stone, or based on performance metrics – for example, influencers receive “X” in exchange for generating a certain amount of impressions.

5. Provide a creative brief. The brief should communicate to influencers goals for each activation, but that’s not all. “It should contain elements like things to avoid, and things to emphasize,” says Farnsworth. The brief can provide creative direction, including suggestions on approaches to take and even visuals of sample posts. Still, the brief shouldn’t be a rigid dictum. Give influencers room to exercise the creativity that has made them successful social media personalities.

6. Measure the results. Once a campaign concludes, it’s essential to analyze how it performed against your goals. Relevant metrics can vary based on an activation’s objectives. Still, things to consider could include: How many impressions did the campaign generate? What social platforms, if multiple were used, led to the greatest engagement and most impressions? Did influencers’ posts drive a desired number of people to your social platforms and/or website? How many new leads did you get?

Similarly, how many potential customers were you able to start moving through your sales funnel based on the campaign? Did the initiative lead to a desired number of new followers on your Instagram page or YouTube account? If it’s all about sales, consider having influencers use affiliate links to pages you’re trying to advertise to help with sales tracking.

7. Foster relationships. If analysis shows that certain influencers helped drive good results on a campaign, expand the partnership and try to work with them consistently. Recognize, too, that they’re not ad space – they’re people. Treat them as such, perhaps sending handwritten thank-you notes and maybe a bit of extra free swag.


FTC rules require influencers to be upfront about partnerships.

8. Beware of influencer fraud. This occurs when pseudo-influencers do things like artificially inflate follower numbers to make it seem like they have far-reaching influence when they do not. Be sure to carefully vet potential partners.

Q: Alright, I’m in. Are there regulations I need to know about?
Yes. The Federal Trade Commission requires influencers and brands to make it obvious that an influencer is being compensated. Fortunately, this can be as easy as influencers using hashtags like #ad or #sponsored in their posts. If that feels spammy, the FTC also says it should be acceptable to provide a hashtag like “#XXPartner,” wherein the “XX” is the brand name. So for example: “#ASIPartner.”

Also, Instagram has a special branded content option that places a header over a post saying it was paid for by whoever the sponsor is. As you pursue partnerships, ensure influencers understand they must make it evident that they’re being compensated for each post they put up.

Predictions for the Future of Influencer Marketing

1. The Practice Will Grow as Social Platforms Exert Greater Marketplace Power. “Our business tripled in 2017 and it’s tripling again this year,” says Mae Karwowski, CEO of Obviously, an influencer marketing agency. “In 2019, our clients are devoting larger portions of their budgets to influencer marketing.”


[From left] Mae Karwowski, Obviously; Emma Paye, Hawke Media; Liz Gottbrecht, Mavrck.

2. Authenticity Will Become Paramount. “As more brands leverage influencers, consumers are going to be more skeptical of paid partnerships,” says Emma Paye, influencer/content marketing manager at Hawke Media, a digital marketing agency. “Brands will need to work collaboratively with influencers to make sure their content remains sincere.”

3. More Influencers Will Leverage YouTube and Pinterest. A study from content marketing firm #HASHOFF found that 12% of influencers intended to make YouTube their top platform in 2018, up from 3% the year before. Meanwhile, in September, Pinterest extended its content marketing API to third-party influencer marketing platforms. That came after Pinterest released redesigned business profiles in April and a June creator conference in which company leaders invited 250 influencers to Pinterest’s San Francisco offices.

Relatedly, Pinterest is increasingly intriguing experts in the influencer marketing field because pins have greater longevity than certain other content, such as Instagram posts. “We’re investing more in Pinterest because we believe in the long-tail impact of influencers’ Pins to drive brand value, and we expect others will do the same,” says Liz Gottbrecht, vice president of marketing at Mavrck, an influencer marketing platform.

4. Long-Term Relationships Will Increasingly Replace One-Off Collaborations. “Brands will start partnering with influencers as brand ambassadors in order to establish credible, genuine relationships,” says Paye. “Influencers in turn will feel more respected, valued and incentivized to produce quality work.”

Flyers' Gritty Mascot Now Available In Bobblehead Form

The outlandish (slightly maniacal) appearance of the Philadelphia Flyers’ new mascot has made him a viral marketing hit for the professional hockey club.

In what is probably the most expected merchandising move of all time, Gritty has got himself a bobblehead.


The “Wrecking Ball” Gritty bobblehead. Image from Kollectico and National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

On presale for $110 (for the set of three), the miniature statues of the Philadelphia Flyers’ new mascot are available from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Kollectico is making the bobbles, which are officially licensed by the Flyers and the National Hockey League. Set to ship Feb. 19, the Gritty bobbleheads come in three varieties. Only 500 of each are reportedly being produced. The above image shows the “Wrecking Ball” bobblehead – a nod to Gritty’s theatrics earlier this year when he descended from the ceiling of the Wells Fargo Center, where the Flyers play, to the tune of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”



The second Gritty bobblehead pays homage to Rocky, the famous fictional boxer from the City of Brotherly Love whose training run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. The bobble depicts Gritty, arms raised triumphantly like Rocky, on the steps.


[At left] Liberty Bell Gritty. Image from Kollectico and National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. [At right] The “Boxing Steps” Gritty bobblehead. Image from Kollectico and National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

The third Gritty bobbelhead ties into Philadelphia’s rich colonial history – its position as the United States’ one-time Capitol. The bobble shows Gritty with the Liberty Bell.

The Gritty bobblheads are a hoot. But in a way, we think the design almost tones down some of the wildness of his most defining feature: those crystal meth-fueled eyes.



Still, the bobbleheads – and Gritty himself -- are a success. So, not surprisingly, there are other official and unofficial Gritty promotional products available for purchase. Items include everything from branded T-Shirts and hoodies, to Christmas ornaments. Going forward, we expect to see swag that includes toys, youth caps, pennants, pins, water bottles and more.

As we wrote about previously, Gritty may be a towering orange behemoth who looks like he killed every other character on Sesame Street…but that’s exactly why he has been such a viral marketing victory for the Flyers. Consider: Gritty debuted in September and already has 194,000 followers on Twitter. He has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America, and made headlines in the regional press and national hockey news for his antics. He’s a hype-win for the Flyers – who, languishing in next-to-last place, have done little winning otherwise this year.


Official Gritty T-Shirt is available in the Flyers online shop.

For promotional products distributors and marketing professionals in general, the Gritty phenomenon hammers home what’s perhaps an important lesson: You have to be creative and push the boundaries sometimes – to go a bit over-the-top even – if you want to generate strong buzz amid the constant hype cacophony of the digital age. “Not since IHOP tricked people into believing that they changed their name to IHOb (International House of Burgers) have more people taken to social media to share their opinion on a marketing tactic,” Ken Wisnefski, a social media marketing expert and founder/owner of digital marketing agency WebiMax, previously told Counselor. “A generic mascot was not going to get people talking. Ultimately, if the Phillie Phanatic debuted today, he would be blasted across social media, too. However, he would connect with kids and accomplish the goal of getting people talking.”

In case you haven’t had enough Gritty, here he is playing in the snow. Just, because:

Adidas Designs Uniforms Top Pro Soccer Teams Will Only Wear In A Video Game

Still, fans will be able to buy actual physical versions of the kits for Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich – and there’s some trend-spotting to be had for promo products pros.



Professional soccer players will don these jerseys strictly on a digital pitch, but fans can buy them for wear in the real world.

See, Adidas has just released a range of limited edition uniforms for four of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, with the catch being the flashy wearables will only be sported by digital versions of the sides in the video game FIFA 19. Created in collaboration with game-maker EA Sports, physical versions of the kits are, however, available for fans to buy from Adidas. Clubs getting digisphere jerseys are England’s Manchester United, Germany’s Bayern Munich, Spain’s Real Madrid and Italy’s Juventus.

And as for the designs? Well, “bold” would be an appropriately neutral term. Judge for yourself:


Neo-ravers, next-gen hippies, and lovers of black lights in general will probably dig the dark galaxy design on Real Madrid’s kit. Photo from Adidas/EA Sports.


No, the graphics on these Bayern Munich tops are not the cover of a sci-fi paperback about exploding suns or the colonization of Mars, but heck, they could be. Photo from Adidas/EA Sports.


“Whoa, far out man…” is probably not what Juventus players said when they saw these kits. Still, we’re guessing it is the phrase used by at least one of their U.S. fans who resides in a state where recreational cannabis is legal. Party on. Photo from Adidas/EA Sports.


We saved, perhaps, the best for last. Manchester United’s Ecto-green and leopard print uniforms are a 21st Century mash-up of a 1960s/1970s swinger aesthetic that simply can’t be ignored – no matter how hard you might try. Photo from Adidas/EA Sports.

So, we’re taking the mickey a bit in our descriptions, but it’s all in good fun. We actually like the designs. Of course, we’re not young enough or stylish enough to pull off wearing them with a straight face. But among the youthful demos Adidas/EA Sports is targeting, there is likely to be ample fans.

For promotional products distributors, the uniforms signal a growing boldness in design that has been showing up in professional team uniforms – something we’ve covered before. While we don’t think most end-clients who buy uniforms will want something so “vava-va-voomish” yet, it’s good to be aware that demand for non-traditional, adventurous graphics/treatments could grow. Also, the digital tie-in with the apparel could be something distributors working with clients in the gaming, entertainment, sports and technology industries could use as inspiration.

Onesies, Sweaters Feature in Taco Bells Holiday Apparel Collection

The fast-food chain collaborated with Tipsy Elves – a holiday-themed clothing company – on some of the branded merchandise.

This holiday swag comes with a spicy kick.

Fast-food chain Taco Bell has released a collection of seasonally-themed branded apparel. And heaven help us, adult onesies are among the promotional products. Onesies in the form of mild sauce, hot sauce and fire sauce packets. Marvel:



Released Wednesday, the logoed apparel was as hot as a Fiery Doritos Locos Taco with consumers. The onesies had sold out as of Thursday morning. One holiday sweater featuring the Taco Bell logo and tacos in a kind of southwestern style pattern were out of stock too, as were fire sauce packet holly socks.


Fire Sauce Packet Holly Socks worn here sold out almost instantly. The sauce packet-print pajama pants are part of the seasonal apparel collection, too. Photo from Taco Bell.

Beyond socks and onesies, the Bell’s Christmas swag included festive (“ugly”-themed?) holiday sweaters, T-Shirts, sauce packet-printed pajama pants, and sauce packet shorts. Some cynics have sniffed that the jammies and onesies don’t look especially holidayesque – but Hello McFly, they don’t have to. They’re simply meant to keep you warm and snuggly on chilly December nights or while tearing through gift-opening – to give you that cozy feel synonymous with the holidays. Don’t overthink it, people.

Notably, the onesies and sweaters are a collaboration between Taco Bell and Tipsy Elves – a holiday-themed apparel company. Brand collaborations on logoed merchandise are proliferating, as we’ve written about with Nike/Paul George/PlayStation, Ziploc and BEAMS, and Starbucks x ban.do. Check out some of the Taco Bell holiday promo products:


Taco Tree Sweater. Photo from Taco Bell.


Tacos and Santa Sweater. Photo from Taco Bell.


Gather ‘Round the Fire Sauce Shirt. Photo from Taco Bell.


Joy Full of Tacos Shirt. Photo from Taco Bell.

Overall, we think the collection is fun and festive. Where would you rank it in the expanding pantheon of fast-food merch? Better than Arby’s? Ahead of Wendy’s? Behind McDonald’s? Regardless of your preference, one thing is certain: Fast-food branded apparel is a hot commodity – and a growing market for promo pros.

Cincinnati Reds Prevail In 'Bobblehead Tax' Court Case

The ruling in favor of the professional baseball team has implications for the promo industry.

The Cincinnati Reds finished in last place in their division this past season, but the Major League Baseball franchise came out on top in a court case that has potential importance for the promotional products industry.

On Nov. 21, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that the Reds are exempt from paying taxes on bobbleheads and other promo products the team offered with ticket purchases for select games.


The Reds’ bobblehead offerings this past season included a co-brand with Bob Ross (a left), the late artist/television personality who taught painting on his show The Joy of Painting, and Reds’ star Joey Votto (at right).

The Ohio Department of Taxation wanted the team to pay $88,000 in taxes tied to Reds-branded merchandise provided to fans on game days between 2008 and 2010. Counsel for the department argued that the Reds should be on the hook for the taxes because the team buys and gives away the swag, rather than selling it with tickets.

The Reds fired back that they’re exempt from the tax because the bobbleheads and other merch are resold as part of a ticket purchase. In Ohio, law excuses companies from paying tax on products they buy to resell.

A majority of the court’s justices agreed with the Reds. Writing for that majority, Justice Patrick Fischer – a Cincinnati resident, according to press reports – said that bobblehead/promo item games are marketed and advertised so fans purchase tickets for them with the understanding that they are buying not just a seat at the game, but also the premium.

"We accordingly conclude that the promotion items constituted things of value in exchange for which fans paid money that was included in the ticket prices," Fischer stated in the opinion. As such, the Reds were deemed not liable for the tax.

While the court cautioned that the ruling is specific to the Reds case and wouldn’t necessarily apply to other organizations, you better believe defense lawyers will view it as an important precedent for future game day promo tax cases in the Buckeye State – and potentially beyond where similar laws are on the books. If for nothing else, the argument the Reds’ lawyers made helps show teams/companies a legal path they can follow to prevail if state officials come knocking for tax money on game day premiums.

Ultimately, the Reds victory is a good thing for the promotional products industry as, in the abstract, it absolves an end-client from paying an additional expense on goods distributors sell. If the Reds were found liable for the tax, could they have reduced investment in merch-with-ticket packages? Perhaps. Had the Reds lost, would other teams and organizations have taken note and sought to reduce investment in game day promos? Maybe. We’ll be Captain Obvious here and simply state: That wouldn’t be a good thing for promo distributors.

Interestingly, other state courts have issued decisions on cases involving taxes on game day giveaways. The Kansas City Royals successfully fought to have a decision requiring them to pay state sales and use tax overturned. The Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins ended up having to pay taxes on their promo products. The disparity of results can be down, in part, to differences in law from state-to-state, but arguments made in one state can potentially be useful to lawyers battling cases on behalf of their clients, regardless of where they are in the U.S.

In supporting the argument that the Reds provided bobbleheads and other merch as freebies to increase attendance, Ohio tax officials argued that the ticket price for each particular seat is the same throughout the season, whether a promo item is offered or not. Furthermore, not all patrons are guaranteed that they will get promo merch for a game in which it’s advertised because supplies are limited. Justice Mary DeGenaro echoed such points in her dissenting opinion. “Every ticket purchaser at every game helped pay for promotional items regardless of whether a promotional item was received—or was even offered—at a particular game, and that circumstance breaks the link between the payment of the ticket price and the offer of a promotional item,” DeGenaro held.

At the end of the day, though, Fischer and four other justices didn’t see it that way, which allowed the Reds to do something they didn’t do much of in 2018: Win.

Scotland Yard To Launch New Branded Merch Line

London’s famous police force wants to use the swag to generate revenue to help pay for new officers.

Old Bill’s getting is’self some new merch.

For those unacquainted with Cockney slang, let us translate: London’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), known better by its famous metonym of Scotland Yard, wants to start selling new branded merchandise that includes apparel, hats, mugs and more. To date, MPS’s merch marketing has been limited to selling branded cufflinks, a model forensics kit, and toys that include Obi, a police dog injured in the London riots, and a teddy bear called Bobby bear.



The Evening Standard tells us that Scotland Yard is looking to sell the promotional products to bring in extra revenue to fund new officers and to pay for training. The force also hopes the swag will help inspire younger generations to become bobbies. The popularity of New York Police Department merchandise, which is worn by people throughout the world, is said to have been a motivator behind Scotland Yard’s push into promotional products. “It could be worth millions,” Mark Borkowski, a PR expert, said to the Evening Standard about the value of the merch line. He felt the swag would sell especially well overseas. “I think it has more of a hope to succeed as a foreign export.”

Scotland Yard is reportedly licensing elements that include the MPS logo, the New Scotland Yard sign, the MPS font and color palette, and imagery of officers on patrol. No products will resemble uniform-issue items worn by Met police officers. Agency Point.1888 is on the contract, which was tendered by Transport for London (TfL).



While the cop merch campaign is happening across the pond, it’s a great reminder that similar initiatives can potentially work in the USofA, too. Yankee promo distributors should speak with police and fire departments about how the outfits can leverage their brand into merch that helps generate much-needed revenue that could help fund operations.

We thought the model forensic kit was cool, too.


Scotland Yard Forensic Kit. Image from here.

Teslaquila Is Elon Musks Latest Uncanny Promo Product Idea

The potentially coming-soon tequila brand hypes Tesla, the electric car company Musk founded.

The master of offbeat branded merchandise is at it again.


Elon Musk

Billionaire, bonafide genius Elon Musk has previously sold flamethrowers to promote his Boring Company, surfboards to hype the Tesla electric car company he founded, and more, including 50,000 Boring-logoed hats.

Now, Musk is ready to get the party started with “Teslaquila,” a tequila that, as the name clearly indicates, is branded to Tesla.



News about Teslaquila broke recently when it was revealed that Tesla filed a trademark application to protect the name “Teslaquila.” The application identifies the product as “distilled agave liquor; distilled blue agave liquor” – tequila, in other words.



Note, the trademark application doesn’t mean Tesla will definitely bring the booze to market, but does indicate the company has a “good faith intention” to have the elixir eventually hit shelves at your local package store.

Curiously enough, “Teslaquila” began as a lark. Back on April Fool’s Day this year, Musk, Tesla’s CEO, tweeted that he had gone bankrupt and had passed out drunk surrounded by bottles of “Teslaquilla” (then with two “l’s”). Apparently, the joke got the marketing brain gears turning, and it was realized that the liquor could be an actual product people would buy.



We hope Teslaquila comes to market. Not because we’re keen to drink it; we’ve sworn off tequila since that streaking incident freshman year (TMI, sorry)…. But, rather, because it’s an item with a lot of promotional product leg length. Consider: the tequila itself serves as a promotional product for Tesla. Then there are all manner of branded items that can support the liquor’s promotion. T-Shirts, hats, shot glasses, keychains, bar towels, flasks, coasters, whisky glasses – the list could go on. We’re not the only ones to dig the potential:



Anyway, we’ll be watching closely to see what comes of Teslaquila. One thing’s for sure, if the liquor does become a buyable reality, it should include a warning to refrain from using Musk’s branded flamethrower following consumption. Also, we hope it’s a bit smoother going down than those flames. Just sayin’, y’all. Just sayin’.

New Branded Merchandise From Apple is 80s-Tastic

The retro-inspired T-Shirt designs are available strictly at the Apple Park Visitor Center. They herald a growing trend toward vintage looks.

Apple is going retro with some new logoed merchandise.

The global technology company recently released new branded apparel that’s exclusively available at its Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino, CA. As 9to5Mac noted, three of the autumn collection’s designs appear to take their inspiration from vintage 1980s Apple styling.



Apple aficionados will note that the rainbow-colored “hello” script from the 1984 Macintosh features on both a white T-Shirt and a black T-Shirt. Meanwhile, at least two other tees depict the retro Apple logo surging upward across the chest, fueled by rainbow stripes. Michael Steeber, writing for 9to5Mac, notes that the design appears to be taken from the 1983 Apple Gift catalog.


The rainbow design on these 1980s tees appears to serve as inspiration for new Apple T-Shirts available only in the Apple Park Visitor Store. Image from here.

Perhaps the coolest, most iconic throwback looks are the shirts that read “Apple” in colorful Apple Garamond – the tech company’s preferred marketing font for three decades. Steeber notes that similarly fonted shirts appear in the 1986-87 edition of The Apple Collection catalog.


On left, new vintage-inspired tees featuring “Apple” text in throwback Apple Garamond font. On right, similar styles from the late ‘80s. Image from here.

The new apparel collection at the Apple Park Visitor Center also contains contemporary designs. These include shirts decorated with Apple Park’s ring logo, which is patent pending, as well tees that say ‘Apple Park California 95014’ and ‘California’ – the latter bearing an “O” stylized to look like the ring logo.

The modern styles are cool, but for us, the retro designs are where it’s at. From a promotional products perspective, the styles are another example of the growing trend among major brands to offer vintage-inspired merchandise to their fans. We saw that recently with ‘90s boy band *NSYNC and others, too. Perhaps the takeaway for promo pros is that at least some of your clients can tap into the retro trend to gain positive traction with desired audiences.

As you contemplate that, we’ll leave you with an aesthetic uplift – this wicked sweet logo we’d love to see on some Apple merch.

Famous Mascots Don Staches In Movember Promo

Plus, T-Shirts and a Fossil hybrid watch + digital dial are among the branded merchandise supporting the annual men’s health initiative.

The Jolly Green Giant is going the full Tom Selleck for “Movember” – and we’re pumped:



It seems Magnum approves, too.



Green Giant, which sells frozen and canned vegetables, is giving its iconic mascot the moustache treatment this November because the brand is an official partner of the Movember Foundation, an organization that raises funds and awareness around prostate cancer, testicular cancer, men’s mental health and suicide prevention. The foundation’s annual “Movember” initiative encourages men everywhere to grow a moustache during the year’s 11th month in support of the men’s health issues.

In addition to the Jolly Green Giant, Mr. Peanut, the mascot for snack-food company Planters, and Mr. Monopoly of the board game fame, are also said to be growing curtains for their upper lips in support of the Movember Foundation.



We bring up the mascot ‘stache mania because we think it’s an interesting example of how partnerships and strategic co-branding can enable a brand to do good, entertain audiences, and garner credible positive attention in a way that can go far in the social media age.

Plus, the campaign is just fun. Consider: In addition to sporting a new moustache on the Green Giant logo, the 55-foot tall Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, MN will debut a moustache on November 1. The statue's moustache will weigh about 15 pounds and measure over 4 feet long. Given the size, it would take an average man eight years to grow a moustache of equivalent length, Green Giant says. Also, each week during Movember, the Green Giant logo will feature a stylish new moustache across all the brand’s online social platforms. A Green Giant billboard in New York City’s Times Square will get ‘stache-styling too, and Green Giant will donate money to the Movember Foundation. Mr. Monopoly approves:



Beyond the mascot shenanigans, official Movember merch from the Movember Foundation is hyping the moustache-growing campaign. Swag includes these tees:





Other official Movember Foundation merch includes a hybrid watch + digital dial created by Fossil, the parent company of promotional products supplier Fossil Corporate Markets (asi/55145). The no-charge hybrid smartwatch features a 42mm stainless steel case with a moustache-printed dial, moustache embossed strap, and smart capabilities that include activity tracking, filtered notifications, music control, and water resistance (up to 50m). Customers who own a Fossil touchscreen smartwatch can also choose a Movember dial as part of the custom watch designs. The seasonal dial features a digital moustache that grows each day, resulting in a fine breadth of lip whisker by month’s end.


ThisFossil hybrid watch + digital dial is official Movember Foundation swag.


The moustache-embossed strap on the watch.

We dig the watch. Probably Aaron Rodgers does too:



Given the global scope of Movember, chances are promo products distributors can find companies and other organizations in their locales that are getting in on the men’s health initiative. Police and fire departments, schools, gyms, fitness centers, martial arts studios, automotive dealerships, minor league/semi-pro sports teams, and tech companies are just some of the organizations that could be ‘staching it up. Promo distributors can provide branded merch that helps power these campaigns – and even partner with participants to do good and potentially generate positive buzz on social media and in the local press. So go get your ‘stache on –Sam Elliott is counting on you.


Rocky Inspires Philadelphia 76ers New City Edition Uniforms

The creativity that went into the kits carries inspiration and edification for promotional products distributors.

Yo Adrian: The Sixers did it!

By “did it,” we mean the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers have debuted new Nike “City Edition” uniforms that take some inspiration from the famous (kinda manky) sweatsuit that title character Rocky Balboa wore in Rocky, the Oscar-winning movie from 1976 that is, of course, set in Philly.

The Rocky sweatsuit in action:



The Sixers new City Edition uniforms:



These images are set at the Front Street gym where Rocky trained:



According to the NBA, the uniforms embody Philly’s underdog “challenger’s mentality” – a mentality that inspired the Rocky and Creed films. The 13 stars on the jersey are a nod to the boxing ring where Balboa first took on Apollo Creed, while the gray sweatsuit-textured top and trunks are influenced by the sweat clothes Rocky wore on his iconic city-spanning training runs and meat locker punch-ups in the City of Brotherly Love. A similar sweatsuit was later worn by character Adonis Creed, and thus also provided inspiration. While Philly’s favorite founding father Ben Franklin is spotlighted on the waistband’s center, the rest of the band – with its crisp blue, red and white colors – takes its cue from Rocky’s championship belt.



This is Sixers player J.J. Redick getting his swag on in the team’s new City Edition uniform.



Sixers guard Markelle Fultz certainly seemed to dig the new unis:



We’re guessing these guys will too:



The Sixers plan to wear the City Edition jerseys for the first time on November 9th. Thereafter they’ll don them at Spirit of 76 Friday home games, and again at home games throughout April. Kind of cool: The Sixers aren’t the only NBA team receiving Nike’s City Edition treatment. For instance, the Minnesota Timberwovles will sport City Edition threads that are inspired by Minneapolis’ beloved native son – the late pop icon Prince.



While some have panned the City Edition uniforms, we’re fans of them, if for no other reason than this: They show an interesting creative process at work – a process that seeks to identify the essence of a brand, its audience’s tastes, and then develop branded apparel that embodies core elements of the two. Perhaps promotional products distributors can take inspiration from that.

Streetwear Fashion Influencers Offer Free Swag To Millennials Who Vote

The planned T-Shirt giveaway is a collaboration between Brendan Fowler and Denim Tears by Tremaine Emory.

How do you get more Millennials and Gen Zers to vote?

How about giveaways of hip graphic T-Shirts.

That, anyway, is the idea of Brendan Fowler, a musician, artist, streetwear fashion designer and founder of the politically-charged clothing brand Election Reform! Fowler has teamed up with Denim Tears by Tremaine Emory on the initiative, which will see free streetwear tees given, while supplies last, to people who prove they voted in the upcoming November mid-term elections.





A primary distribution point for the tees will be a pop-up shop at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Still, Fowler and Emory are planning giveaways in Boston and other cities too, GQ tells us. Those who want the limited edition Election Reform! x Denim Tears tees can reportedly register for the event beforehand and then bring their “I Voted” stickers to ICA LA or other participating locations to pick up the merch.



GQ says Fowler and Emory got the idea for the tee giveaway from realizing that younger people will wait in line for hours for streetwear swag drops, but will not put the same committed effort into voting – an anecdotal observation backed up by a Pew study that shows only 49% of eligible Millennials voted in the 2016 election. Fowler and Emory want to change that. Fowler, in particular, is deeply passionate about getting more young people to the polls and seeing what he views as a corrupt election system reformed – hence the title of his “Election Reform!” brand.

View this post on Instagram

Jiro and Gabby 💐

A post shared by Election Reform! (@electionreform) on



Of course, it’s unlikely that the Denim Tears x Election Reform! merch campaign is going to move masses of disenfranchised Millennials to pull the voting lever on Nov. 6. But so what. Even if the initiative encourages a few thousand – even a few hundred – extra young people to participate in the civic process, well, you could call that a start. Furthermore, the free-swag-for-voting collaboration is another sign of how central branded merchandise – apparel and T-Shirts in particular – is becoming to helping advance the goals of political and social movements. Read more about that here, and here, and here.

Walmart Pledges To Pull Soviet T-Shirts After Eastern Bloc Outcry

Still, it appeared some Soviet-themed tees were available online early Monday.

Logoed T-Shirts are lightweight, but depending on the symbol they bear, they can carry a massive burden of politics, history and pain.

The truth of that was again evident last week when Walmart said it would stop selling imprinted tees that bore symbols representative of the former Soviet Union. Retailed in Walmart’s online shop, the hammer-and-sickle T-Shirts were the subject of criticism from officials in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The three former Eastern Bloc countries were forcibly annexed to the Soviet Union in 1940, and suffered under communist rule until the regime’s collapse in 1991.



Lithuania led the criticism. After learning of the T-Shirts, the Lithuanian ambassador to the United States, Rolandas Krisciunas, wrote Walmart asking the company to pull the tees. Krisciunas said that “horrific crimes were done under the Soviet symbols of a sickle and hammer,” and “the promotion of such symbols resonates with a big pain for many centuries.”



Similarly, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry equated selling the hammer-and-sickle shirts with selling tees with Nazi symbols. In Lithuania, Communist-era imagery, including the hammer-and-sickle, is banned. According to Lithuanian officials, Soviet rule left hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians dead or exiled.



Ultimately, Walmart decided to pull the T-Shirts from its online marketplace – a move that drew praise from officials in Lithuania.



While media reports indicated that no Soviet shirts were for sale on Walmart.com as of late last week, it appeared some possible third-party sellers had managed to get Soviet-themed tees back on the platform by Monday Sept. 24. A search for “Soviet” shortly before midday turned up a number of Soviet-themed shirts that included the below:


An example of a Soviet-themed tee that was available early Monday from third party-seller “Old Glory” on Walmart.com.


A Soviet-themed tank top that was available early Monday.

Russia did not remain silent during the initial controversy surrounding the T-Shirts. Indeed, the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs took a swipe at Lithuania over the outcry.





The whole situation raises interesting questions and reflections. Under free speech ideals, for example, are Walmart and others within their rights to sell any T-Shirts they desire, no matter how controversial the symbols the shirts display? Or, are there some symbols – like the swastika perhaps – that should be retired for good/outright banned? Maybe, for some, it does not involve principles at all. Rather, perhaps it all comes down to a matter of practical (Machiavellian?) commerce: If a symbol is popular in one place, sell tees bearing it there. If it’s reviled in other spots, don’t sell the tees in those locations. The considerations could go on. But one thing seems certain: Sometimes, history’s competing narratives clash in the symbols of T-Shirts, and the pains of the past roar from screen-printed ink into the present.

Adventures in Rebranding: Dunkin Donuts Changes Name

“Donuts" is being dropped in favor of just “Dunkin’.”

Homer Simpson won’t be happy with Dunkin’ Donuts’ latest decision.

The 68-year-old chain announced on Tuesday that it will be changing its name to simply Dunkin’ in an effort to rebrand itself as a “beverage-led” company, focusing on coffees, teas, speedy service and to-go food. Starting in January, Dunkin' Donuts will drop the "Donuts" from advertising, packaging and signage at new and remodeled stores, as well as its social media accounts, CNN reported.



Munchkin lovers need not fret, though, as doughnuts will still be on the menu. After all, the top U.S. retailer of doughnuts sells 2.9 billion of the baked goods each year worldwide, according to USA Today.

“By simplifying and modernizing our name, while still paying homage to our heritage, we have an opportunity to create an incredible new energy for Dunkin’, both in and outside our stores,” Tony Weisman, U.S. chief marketing officer at Dunkin’, said in a statement. “While donuts may no longer appear in our logo, we remain committed to serving our signature donuts and will continue to offer new and seasonal varieties to delight donut lovers everywhere.”



With coffee and other drinks accounting for 60% of its sales, the company has contemplated a name change for a while. Last year, it tested the Dunkin’ logo on a new store in Pasadena, CA, and this past January, it used the logo on another new store in in Quincy, MA – birthplace of the original Dunkin’ Donuts.

Patrons of the Quincy location have gotten a glimpse into the Dunkin’ future: the store includes digital kiosks, an expanded Grab & Go section, and a drive-thru that lets customers cut the line if they ordered ahead on the app, CNN reported. Employees wear new uniforms emblazoned with slogans like “Fueled by Positive Energy” and “Drink Coffee. Be Awesome.”





In April, Dunkin’ replaced marketing agency Hill Holliday, which had handled creative responsibilities for the brand since 1998 and introduced the “America Runs on Dunkin’” tagline. BBDO Worldwide has since taken over advertising strategy and creation, while Publicis Groupe's ARC/Leo Burnett handles retail and in-store marketing, according to AdAge.

In order to promote the name change, creative agency Jones Knowles Ritchie has developed a social media campaign that includes giving people the chance to win Dunkin' friendship bracelets.



Dunkin’ is the latest company to announce a name change this week, joining Weight Watchers (WW) and Michael Kors (Capri Holdings). Each of these brands wants to expand their appearance and offerings, refusing to limit themselves in the eyes of consumers. Of course, rebranding efforts are opportunities for distributors to help push a new logo, message or vision with the use of promotional products.

Gritty: Marketing Gold or Short-Term Stunt

The Philadelphia Flyers new mascot is a viral sensation, but can his appeal last? We hope so, because he’s awesome.

The Philadelphia Flyers took over the Internet Monday when they debuted their new mascot, Gritty. One look at Gritty tells you why:



As you can see, Gritty’s appearance suggests he deserves to be at the forefront of a dubious pantheon of homicidal maniacs that includes characters like the clown from It and everyone’s favorite murderous doll Chucky. But as some experts see it, Gritty is genius marketing on the part of the Flyers. Over a 24-hour span early this week, Gritty was the top searched term on Google. Social media exploded with commentary. Press across the U.S. and Canada covered the new face of the Flyers. By midday Tuesday, Gritty had 40,700 Twitter followers. In fact, Gritty was trending so wildly that there was already a beer being brewed up in his honor. To put it succinctly, Gritty is the definition of a digital age viral phenomenon.



Sure, a lot of the buzz around Gritty is replete with negative comments. But that’s not a big a deal, says Ken Wisnefski, a social media marketing expert and founder/owner of digital marketing agency WebiMax. Wisnefski believes the Flyers knew exactly what they were doing with Gritty. A blasé mascot wasn’t going to generate much buzz. However, a towering orange behemoth with meth amphetamine eyes who looks like he killed every other character on Sesame Street was always going to get a lot of attention (our words, not Wisnefski’s…)





The upshot, says Wisnefski, is that Gritty has put the Flyers – and the upcoming hockey season – in the national spotlight at a time when football season is in full swing and baseball is nearing its playoffs. “Not since IHOP tricked people into believing that they changed their name to IHOb (International House of Burgers) have more people taken to social media to share their opinion on a marketing tactic,” says Wisnefski. “A generic mascot was not going to get people talking. Ultimately, if the Phillie Phanatic debuted today, he would be blasted across social media, too. However, he would connect with kids and accomplish the goal of getting people talking.”



Not everyone necessarily agrees with the point about connecting with children:



Jokes aside, Wisnefski says the Flyers are in a strong position to capitalize on Gritty’s appeal if they play their cards right. “It’s vital for the Flyers to get creative with how they position Gritty moving forward in order to take advantage of his popularity,” says Wisnefski. Certainly, we could see a lot of novelty Gritty T-Shirts and hats selling this season around the City of Brotherly Love and its suburban counties. Gameday merch could include Gritty bobbleheads, toys, youth caps, pennants, pins, water bottles and the like. We could see a lot of that swag appealing to adults keen for quirky novelties, just as much as it would kids. Admittedly, we’d be terrified to wake up at night to find a Gritty bobblehead staring at us from the shelf or mantelpiece, but this would not prevent us from desiring such an item.



While the jury remains out on how Gritty will do in the long-term, he is most certainly the marketing win of the moment. Kudos to the Flyers. We look forward to seeing how Gritty is leveraged through promotional products and branded merchandise. And now, more from social media:



Some celebrities couldn’t escape Gritty comparisons:





Gritty had his fans too:









And for those who were critical, Gritty just bid them a good day and got on with things:



Stranger Things Merch Stars in Halloween Horror Nights Swag

The new promotional products support Universal Studios’ special Halloween event. The collection also includes Michael Myers merch and more. Universal Studios’ annual spine-tingling Halloween extravaganza, Halloween Horror Nights, begins Friday, Sept. 14. Fortunately, branded merchandise for the event is now available – and fans of Stranger Things, the Halloween movies, psycho doll Chucky, and spooky fun in general are already howling at the moon with delight. Loving the merch from @HorrorNightsORL @HorrorNights this year! Who’s with me?! @HNNightmares @HHNCrypt @HHNYearbook #HHN28 #hhn2018 pic.twitter.com/JYkDkmf1cT — FirstClassHorror (@class_horror) August 26, 2018 Stranger Things swag created for Horror Nights 2018 includes T-Shirts, hoodies, drinkware, phone cases, a light-up pin, lanyards, and more. It’s all really cool, IMHO. Check out some samples available from The Universal Store: Light-up pin. Those who get a thrill from Michael Myers and the Halloween flicks will probably want to add this tee to their merch collection. Meanwhile, Chucky aficionados had tees and a poster with which to bolster their swag horde. There is also Horror Nights merch co-branded with characters from Stranger Things, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Poltergeist, and Trick ‘r Treat. Items include a hoodie and a drawstring backpack. Also eye-catching is this tee for annual passholders: With the Halloween event season poised to launch throughout the U.S., it’s still not too late for promo pros to provide promotional products for local events. Draw a little inspiration from the Halloween Horror Nights merchandise and get cracking today on contacting prospects. They can include entities that range from farms that do “agritainment” with haunted hayrides to community theater groups that offer haunted houses and performances, to bars and nightclubs with Halloween-themed events. Still here? Check out the sneak peek from Horror Nights below. And, be sure to leave the lights on. Here's your FIRST LOOK inside the maze based on @netflix's @Stranger_Things at this year's Halloween Horror Nights! Who's ready to enter the Upside Down? #UniversalHHN pic.twitter.com/tVsTct5ZgA — Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 5, 2018

Instagram Testing Video Tagging Feature

Depending on how things go, it could be a boon for brands, marketers and social media influencers.

Heads-up, marketers: Instagram is beta-testing a new feature that would allow users to tag friends in their video posts – a development that, if fully rolled out, could help extend the reach and views of posts on the visually-driven social platform.



Currently, Instagrammers can only tag friends in photos. TechCrunch reported that the video tagging feature being tested works similarly to photo tagging, but with a twist. With photos, clicking an icon at the bottom left prompts a list of tagged names to appear over the image. But with videos, clicking the icon will take users to a list of tagged people.



TechCrunch spotted this example of video tagging on the Instagram account @cablegirlsrd.

As of now, video tagging is only available on Instagram’s mobile platform, not the web version. Only users who opted in to the beta test can access the feature. Unlike with photos, videos do not currently appear in the profiles of tagged Instagrammers. Still, that could change as Instagram refines the feature.

As TechCrunch’s Sarah Perez noted, video tagging opens up some potentially exciting possibilities for brands. “The feature could also make way for shoppable videos, not just photos, and allow Instagram influencers to post videos of their favorite products and places, while pointing fans to those brands’ own Instagram accounts in a more structured fashion than is possible today,” Perez wrote.

Trend Alert: College Football Merch

College football is back, and we’re pumped.



Viewing the new season through a swag lens, here’s a quick look at five product categories of branded merchandise – outside traditional top-sellers like hats, hoodies, polos, and T-Shirts -- that are trending hot with collegiate football fans right now.

ELECTRONICS
We’re in the digital age, so it’s no surprise that schools of all sizes are offering everything from tech accessories to actual technology items. We loved the Oregon Ducks’ tech swag, which included this bamboo iPhone case and Bluetooth speaker.


Oregon Ducks Logo Bamboo iPhone 7 Case




Oregon Ducks Bluetooth Speaker

FOOTWEAR
Logoed footwear is growing in popularity with college football fans – and the collegiate market in general. That’s in line with broader trends in the promotional products marketplace, including rising interest in statement socks and flip flops/sliders. We felt the USC Trojans’ branded footwear collection was full of color, verve and style.


[At left-top] Men's Nike Black/Cardinal USC Trojans Free TR V8 Shoes; [At left-bottom] Men's ISlide White USC Trojans Logo Slide Sandals; [At right] Women's Cardinal USC Trojans Logo Sketch Crew Socks

GOLF GEAR
Golf accessories are a hit with alums and boosters. If you do business in the college market and you’re not selling such products, start doing so now. Your bottom line – and client – will benefit. Divot tools, club head covers, ball markers, and even golf bags are among the desired items.


North Carolina Tar Heels Mascot Headcover. Designed to fit most 460cc drivers.


Kansas Jayhawks Switchfix Divot Tool and Poker Chip Ball Marker Set

AUTO ACCESSORIES
You already know that car magnets and car flags are beloved among the college football faithful. But hitch covers have gained a lot of traction in recent years, too. The Clemson Tigers and Texas Longhorns’ offerings bear testimony to that.


[At left] Texas Longhorns Domed Logo Plastic Hitch Cover; [At right] Clemson Tigers Light Up Hitch Cover

OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT & GAMES
Cornhole, camping chairs – yep, they continue to trend in this category beloved of tailgaters. Interestingly, some colleges are branching out with more backyard/patio items, such as fire pits. We could sure picture celebrating a Penn State win on a cool October evening around the flames of this particular product.


Penn State Nittany Lions Fire Pit

HBO Offers Game of Thrones Back to School Swag

Fans pining for the return of the Starks, Lannisters and Targaryens must wait until 2019 for HBO’s final season of Game of Thrones, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the “Back to School” branded merchandise now available for the hit show. Retailing in the HBO Shop, the collection features everything from a House Stark Stationery Kit to a Night King Black Mug. Here’s a sampling of the wares from Westeros.




The Winter is Coming Stark sigil vacuum bottle features double-wall stainless steel construction, and holds 17oz. of fluid. If the toughest of medieval warriors were to suddenly reanimate and start drinking from travel tumblers, we feel this would be their container of choice. It’s that bada*s-looking.




Of course, we could be wrong about the Stark sigil vacuum bottle. Perhaps the medieval warriors would prefer This Fire and Blood Targaryen sigil 17oz. water bottle, which is equally fierce.




When you see the Night King (here depicted), you know for sure that “Winter is Here.” Good thing, then, that you’ll have this trusty mug to fill with warming tea, coffee or hot cocoa to keep you warm.




You can feel the cold winter winds blowing in over The Wall and withering away the last of the autumn in the starkly beautiful design on this House Stark Stationery Set. It includes much of what you’d need to communicate in the pre-iPhone days of Westeros, including a wax stamp, two wax sticks, envelopes, paperweight, writing paper and display box – all bearing the Stark sigil. Now, all you’ll need is a raven or a rider to carry your message.




Tyrion Lannister’s famous phrase adorns this T-Shirt, which is 100% cotton and printed in California.




Popular character Hodor’s name gets the neon treatment in this new shirt, which is 100% cotton and printed in Michigan.




This hat features the sigil of House Targaryen -- a three-headed dragon. Admittedly, we’re intimidated…




With winter upon Westeros, this 46" x 60" 100% polyester double layer fleece throw blanket featuring character Jon Snow will come in handy. Curl up beneath it and sip from your Night King mug.

Winter is (nearly) Here. Gear up for the final season of GOT!

Starbucks Releases Autumn-Inspired Merch

Starbucks and ban.do teamed up to collaborate on the promotional products collection, which features double-wall travel tumblers, notebooks, a mug and more.

With Labor Day in the rearview, autumn’s pumpkin spice season is officially underway. Starbucks is capitalizing not only with its panoply of pumpkin-spiced goodies, but also with a new fall-inspired branded merchandise collection.


Selections from Starbucks new fall-inspired swag line. Image from Starbucks.

Created in collaboration with lifestyle brand ban.do, Starbucks just released the collection today (Sept. 5). It entails two 24-oz. Starbucks cold cups, two Starbucks double-wall travel tumblers, a ceramic mug, two notebooks and a pencil pouch. The Starbucks-branded swag features images of boots, scarves, umbrellas, flannel shirts, acorns and other items that herald the autumn. Some products also bear a “midnight floral” design.


Image from Starbucks.


The “Midnight Floral” items are available at Target. Image from Starbucks.

Starbucks has previously partnered with ban.do on merch, but the collections were only available in Asia. This time, the swag has come stateside and to Canada. To pick some up, however, you’ll have to go to a Starbucks that’s inside another retailer. The “Midnight Floral” designs are only available at Target.

While the collection was being heralded as cozy and fun by some, others felt the collaboration missed the mark a bit when it came to conveying a true autumn vibe.



Nonetheless, for promotional products pros, the collection is notable on a number of levels. It provides another example of a fast-growing trend – namely, brands collaborating on limited-edition merchandise collections, often at key points in their respective business calendars. (We especially liked the recent Ziploc/BEAMS team-up.) Furthermore, the collection is a creative way to potentially increase foot traffic at Starbucks and partner retail locations. Perhaps more brands in the retail space can take a cue and use limited-edition branded merchandise, available in-store only, to motivate consumers to get out from behind the keyboard and shop brick-and-mortar. At the least, it’s an idea promo pros can consider suggesting to retail clients.


Image from Starbucks.

Is LinkedIns New Feature a Threat to the Traditional Business Card

In a Nutshell
  • • The simply titled "LinkedIn QR Code" debuted in recent weeks.
  • • It lets people quickly connect on the social media platform by scanning QR codes using the LinkedIn app.
Could the days of the traditional printed business card be numbered? That question is circulating in professional circles these days in the wake of the recent release of "LinkedIn QR Code."


The new LinkedIn QR Code feature. Photo courtesy of LinkedIn.

Available in LinkedIn's mobile app for iOS and Android, the new feature provides LinkedIn users with a personal QR code for their profile on the social networking platform. When another LinkedIn user scans your code – or vice versa – you instantly connect. LinkedIn says the service makes it easier than ever to capture vital business contact information anywhere – from industry conferences and networking happy hours, to sales meetings, tradeshows or other social gatherings. "Gone are the days of requesting a business card, asking the person to spell their name, or handing over your phone to make sure you found their profile," writes LinkedIn's Alice Xiong in a blog.

The new feature has been winning praise.



As you can see, folks were eagerly posting their profile QR codes on Twitter (and elsewhere online) in the hope of securing more connections.

Clearly, professionals across industries appreciate the practicality and ease-of-use of the new QR code feature. But for those in the print and promo industry who sell business cards, the offering can also represent a competitive threat. Will more people eschew buying business cards and just use digital mediums like this? We're inclined to say no – at least not for a while. Offerings like LinkedIn QR Code can complement/co-exist with traditional cards. We feel there's something tangible and validating in a printed business card that will help them stay relevant. But for how long? That's tougher to say. As LinkedIn QR Code and other digital information- exchange products populate the market, will the printed card ultimately be squeezed out? What do you think? Tweet us your thoughts.

Meanwhile, if you haven't already, do brush up on how to use the new LinkedIn QR Code feature. Tutorial from LinkedIn's blog below:
  1. Open your LinkedIn app on iOS or Android and tap the QR code icon in the search box found on the Home tab.
  2. From here you can scan someone else's LinkedIn QR code and you will be taken to their profile where you can check out mutual connections, common interests, and send a connection request. You can also upload a LinkedIn QR code image from your phone.
  3. To find your own LinkedIn QR code, tap on "My code." If you'd like to share your code through iMessage, email, or other apps you can do so directly from this page (available now on iOS and coming soon to Android). You can also save your code to your photos.

Trend Alert: Logoed Flip Flops & Sliders

In a Nutshell
  • • A leading supplier in the logoed footwear niche says sales of flip flops and sliders are increasing.
  • • The "logo sole" for flip flops is a unique offering that's growing in popularity.
Statement socks have been all the rage of late, but there's another category of wearable products for the feet that some promo pros say is picking up momentum in the branded merchandise world: flip flops and sliders.


Custom flip flops are a fast-growing product category for supplier Neet Feet (asi/79750).

The team at Neet Feet (asi/79750), which specializes in producing custom logoed footwear, says that soaring sales of flip flops and sliders have accelerated year-over-year order volume by 44%. The upward trend could, in part, be a result of the footwear increasingly being positioned as a lifestyle product that, proponents say, associates end-clients' brands with calm and good vibes amid stressful schedules.


Flip flops from Neet Feet featuring a die-cut logo sole, which leaves brand impressions in the sand.

"When you hear flip flops, you instantly think of summer," says Bob Strem, vice president at Neet Feet, which is part of The Pro Towels Family (asi/79750). "They're products that put a smile on your face. In today's fast-paced business atmosphere of constant stress, our flip flops and sliders literally have that positive effect on people's everyday life. Even going to work in flip flops relaxes the anticipation of stress."

Working through promo distributors, Neet Feet makes flip flops for end-buyers that feature custom parts, including straps and soles. For the soles on most of its flip flops, Neet Feet can produce a die-cut that leaves the imprint of a logo or other desired graphic in the sand, giving end-customers' brands ample additional exposure. Custom flip flops and sliders are beginning to garner more attention from end-buyers. "We have seen a trend towards custom footwear with a 60-day turnaround," says Strem. "The quick turnaround on our domestic production fits right into the everyday business that is required."


Flip flops featuring a die-cut logo sole.


The popularity of branded sliders is on the rise, Neet Feet says.

Naturally, flip flops and sliders are a great fit for summer-related promo campaigns. Distributors can pitch them as something special for the warm weather promotions. Still, the demand doesn't have to twilight with the coming of autumn. The collegiate and resort markets, for example, could prove fertile ground for sales of flip flops and sliders year-round. Just think of all the fraternities that could go for sliders with their crest on the strap – the sororities who might want their icon die-cut in a logo sole flip flop. Students sport flip flops and sliders year-round on campus, so why not capitalize and deliver logoed versions of the footwear for them? "Flip flops and sliders are a fun promotional product category that people really enjoy wearing," says Strem.

New Swag Collection Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Hocus Pocus

In a Nutshell
  • • Hocus Pocus is a family-friendly Halloween movie that has become a cult classic.
  • • Released by Disney, the merch collection gives fans a fun way to take new joy in the flick.
This merch will cast a spell on you. And it comes just in time for those summer-heat-weary folks (me) starting to crave cozy sweaters, carved pumpkins, and a little cool-weather autumn fun.

The branded merchandise in question is a new collection of promotional products from Disney celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hocus Pocus, a family-friendly Halloween flick. While the movie wasn't a box office hit when released in 1993, it has grown in stature over the years. Indeed, it's now widely watched during the fall in the lead-up to the annual Trick-or-Treat day. Tapping into the movie's latter-day popularity and the current pop penchant for all things 90s', Disney released the Hocus Pocus collection, which includes a journal, spirit jersey for women, T-Shirts, pin set, coffee mug, faux leather bag and more. Here's a look at the merch!


The Sanderson Sisters! Female fans of Hocus Pocus are going to dig this T-Shirt depicting the movie's entertaining antagonists – the witch sisters Winifred, Sarah and Mary. Image from ShopDisney.


This spookily attractive journal references the version of "I Put a Spell On You" that actress Bette Midler leads the singing of in her role as Winifred in a popular scene in Hocus Pocus. Image from ShopDisney.




The Hocus Pocus Spirit Jersey for women references the black candle that plays an important part in the film. "Hocus Pocus" is printed across the shoulders on the back. Image from ShopDisney.


You can start each morning with a little magic with this Hocus Pocus coffee mug. Image from ShopDisney.


The Hocus Pocus Faux Leather Bag is by Loungefly. Image from ShopDisney.


While much of the 25th anniversary merch is aimed at women, male fans weren't left out. This tee helps them express their Hocus Pocus fandom. Image from ShopDisney.


The official pin set. Image from ShopDisney.

Lastly, kudos of The Walt Disney Archives for preserving the below. The costumes are not part of the swag collection, of course, but they're a neat bit of pop culture history that just might put a smile on your face.

Child Prodigy Inspires T-Shirt Brand

From the tip of Walter Champion IV's pencil a hippo roars to vibrant life.

Walter Champion IV takes time to hand-sign cards that are sent out with each T-shirt order.

The quick strokes and strategic scribbles combine to form a drawing that's deft and detailed – an image that exudes the energy of the alpha animal it represents. The artwork becomes that much more impressive when you realize Walter was four when he drew it. Even more impressive still when you learn the hippo penciling was the inspiration for a T-Shirt brand that has Walter, now 6, installed as creative director.

Juvenile Virtuoso, as the nascent line is called, features Walter's hippo drawing on several styles of T-shirts. It's just the beginning of a tee collection Walter's parents say is aimed at revealing the hidden talents of child artists and supporting a worthy cause. The brand is also a testament to the power of imprinted T-shirts to convey powerful messages with layers of meanings.

"T-shirts are experiencing a renaissance," says Walter's mom Adepeju Champion, who started Juvenile Virtuoso in March with her husband, company president Walter III. "People are using them to display thoughts and feelings and affiliations with different ideas. We wanted to highlight the really beautiful things kids are capable of."

To that end, Juvenile Virtuoso expects to hold three or four new T-shirt releases annually. Child artists will create the graphics. Walter IV will play a lead role in selecting which designs make it onto T-shirts, and occasionally contribute additional designs of his own. A portion of sales will benefit Arts For Healing, a nonprofit organization that provides art therapies for individuals with disabilities. Children affiliated with Arts For Healing will be among the contributing artists. The next release is scheduled for August.

"We want to use T-shirts to do something bigger than just make money," says Walter III, who, like his wife, is a physician. "The whole concept is to encourage kids to pursue art, to show why that's important and what they can do with their abilities. Also, we have a child (Walter's brother William) on the autism spectrum, and we're passionate about supporting a charity like Arts For Healing."

For Walter IV, it's a thrill to see his art on T-shirts, and to view pictures of people wearing his tees on Instagram and Facebook. "He's just amazed that people like what he does," says Walter III. So much so, in fact, that Walter IV takes time to hand-sign cards that are sent out with each T-shirt order in a high-end gift box that also includes Juvenile Virtuoso merch, such as a branded pencil.

"Drawing is something he's used since preschool to calm down his nervous energy," says Adepeju. "All the positive reaction he's received has been a real confidence-builder." Walter IV draws every day at a table in the family home. Animals are his favorite subjects. "Drawing makes me happy," he says.

For now, Juvenile Virtuoso is in the startup stages. Nonetheless, the venture has garnered growing media attention, and Walter III said it's possible that partnerships with retailers and larger-scale production could be pursued. Whether or not that happens, though, the Champions will be happy if Juvenile Virtuoso does some good and inspires children – including their son – to use the potential they possess.

"My favorite part is seeing what our son is going to do next," says Walter III. "I just want to be part of his vision."

Photos
The young artist creates designs like these every day.

Shakira Removes Necklace Resembling Nazi Symbol From Merch Collection

In a Nutshell

*Shakira and Live Nation, the company that reportedly designed the controversial necklace, stopped selling the $9.95 piece in the wake of criticism.

*Live Nations said the symbol was based on pre-Colombian imagery and carried no racist intent.

Branded merchandise from pop star Shakira was at the center of controversy because of its use of a symbol that some criticized for bearing a striking resemblance to imagery used by Nazi Germany.

Neither Shakira nor the design's creators intended a connection to the Third Reich or modern day Neo-Nazis. Still, a necklace the singer was offering as part of the merch collection in support of her current Road to El Dorado Tour featured a design similar to a black sun, or sonnenrad. Ancient cultures had used the sunwheel image, but the Nazis appropriated it, inserting a swastika into the inner circle. As German publication Bento pointed out, the mosaic symbol appeared at the Wewelsburg Castle in Germany that later became a home base for Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler and his infamous Schutzstaffel. Twitter users latched onto the connection, and there was public outcry.

Some thought the criticism was overblown.

Live Nation, the events company that reportedly designed the necklace, apologized in tweets.

The necklace had been selling for $9.95, but is no longer available. For promotional products pros, perhaps the lesson here is: Make sure you and your clients fully understand the layers of meaning attached to the graphics, symbols, and logos you put out into the marketplace.

New Service Lets YouTubers Sell Swag From Video Pages

In a Nutshell
  • • The new merch service displays branded products in a shelf below videos –fans click on items to purchase.
  • • Teespring and YouTube get a cut of the sales.

YouTube just took a big step into the promotional products industry – and boosted a competitor to traditional distributors in so doing.

The San Bruno, CA-based company announced last week that creators with more than 10,000 fans can sell branded merchandise directly through their channel on the popular video sharing website. Teespring, a web-based custom merchandise platform, will provide the fulfillment. Creators will be able to offer more than 20 merch items with their custom branding, including T-shirts, phone cases and hats.

As part of the service, branded items will appear in a shelf below participating creators' videos. To buy, a fan simply clicks on a product image in the shelf and is re-directed to Teespring, where they purchase the item. A number of media outlets reported that some YouTube creators already had success with the new swag service during beta testing. The creator of Lucas the Spider, for example, made more than $1 million in profit in about three weeks after selling a plush version of Lucas through the YouTube/Teespring service.

According to Teespring, YouTubers that sold through the merch shelf during beta testing experienced an 82% success rate. In fact, Teespring said conversions from views to sales tested at 2-½ times higher than with the typical YouTuber process for pitching merch on the platform, which essentially involves providing links to online destinations where creators' swag can be bought. Bottom line: It all translated into 25% more units sold per participating user in the limited beta group, data showed.

Given such numbers, it's not a surprise that other YouTubers were keen to get in on the action after YouTube moved to full rollout late last week.

Still, there was some backlash against YouTube's decision to partner with Teespring, which has been at the center of controversy for failing to detect that independent creators were selling everything from swastika/Nazi gear to pro Dylann Roof T-shirts on its platform.

Meanwhile, some critics noted that certain YouTubers already have merch partnerships with other companies and might not desire to use Teespring. YouTube is not requiring creators to use the on-page merch shelf offering, meaning video makers can still plug links to swag-buying destinations as has been done. Admittedly, that might put such creators at a disadvantage. Even so, YouTube is reportedly looking to add more online custom product providers from which creators can sell merch directly through its platform.

For those interested in the financial mechanics, it appears Teespring will retain a flat price per item sold. YouTubers will be able to set the pricing on products so there is potential for mark-up on popular products, which could possibly lead to substantial profit. Teespring's cut can vary per item and on quantity sold. YouTube receives a commission on the sales, but did not reveal the specifics of its compensation.

For Teespring, the partnership with YouTube is a huge win. Laying employees off amid difficult times a few years ago, the web-based merch seller now stands ready to benefit from a potentially massive new revenue channel. Could the exposure Teespring will gain threaten at least some sales for traditional distributors? Could the YouTube/Teespring partnership weaken distributors' ability to compete for the business of YouTubers selling merch? We'll be interested to see how things play out.

Capsule Collection Weds High Fashion With World Cup Spirit

In a Nutshell
  • • Fashion designers created looks for hoodies and T-Shirts to represent nations participating in the 2018 World Cup.
  • • Part of the proceeds benefit a children's charity.

Some mega popular international footballers – soccer players to us Yanks – are known to translate their sporting stardom into being fashion icons off the pitch. Just think of the ever Instagramable David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Given that, the new Soccer Couture collection of printed apparel tied to the 2018 World Cup makes a lot of sense.

The capsule collection is the fruit of a partnership between online fashion retailer Yoox and SEPP, a publication covering soccer/fashion. The pair enlisted fashion designers to create looks to embellish T-Shirts and sweatshirts. Each graphic represents something about the spirit of a nation whose national football team is participating in the World Cup, the international tournament being played now into July. Participating fashionistas include Vivienne Westwood, Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida, and Esteban Cortazar.

Hearteningly, part of the proceeds from sales of the #YOOXSOCCERCOUTURE capsule collection are being donated to Stars for Children, a charitable foundation founded in 2015 by Russian soccer player Alexander Kerzhakov to support kids in need and help them get involved in sports.

Anyway, without further ado, here are a few samples from the collection:

This design from Isolda supports Brazil – the nation that's won the World Cup more than any other (five times). Designers intend the plants and wildlife in the print, which are native to Brazil, to capture the essence of a big multicultural country that is unified by its love of soccer.

Created by Kolor, this design displays the famous Rising Sun of the Japanese flag. Designers said the idea is to show that passion for soccer can connect people, encouraging unity that helps them to become one – like a single rising sun.

This design from Nio Far x Mwami represents Senegal – sadly now eliminated from the tourney. Still, it's a great design, using the symmetry and position of the Senegal lion as a nod to traditional African masks.

Marques'Almeida came up with this creation that takes the brand's penchant for stripes and divvies the concept up into abstract shapes in the striped colors of Portugal's flag.

Let Freedom Ring with Vintage Americana Clothing

In a Nutshell
  • • Retro patriotic styles have an enduring appeal.
  • • Don't limit yourself to Independence Day. There are plenty of opportunities year-round to pitch this trend.

A sea of people in red, white and blue emerge each year to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and festivities. But stars and stripes – particularly with a faded, distressed look – have an unflagging, year-round appeal.

Classic Americana "never goes out of style because it's homegrown and therefore touches on the nostalgic aspect of the unique American spirit," according to the Creative Market blog.

Alternative Apparel (asi/34850) recently released its Americana-inspired apparel line that features the classic red, white and blue in vintage style. The company used a "fabric first" approach to ensure soft, simple and eco-friendly apparel.

"Our Americana collection is the perfect apparel for any [Fourth of July] celebration," says Kevin Miles, director of sales operations for Alternative Apparel. "And beyond our favorite star-studded holiday, the vintage look of these styles is classic and timeless. The elevated stars-and-stripes prints create neutral design elements as a backdrop for embellishment."

Alternative Apparel's Americana collection includes baseball tees, ringer T-shirts, sweatshirts and tank tops.

To achieve a Vintage Americana look, designers typically use dusty reds, dirty whites and faded blues. The perfect balance of all three ensures no color overpowers another. Plus, it's more subtle and retro than the bright and vibrant flag motifs typically deployed for the Fourth of July. Think of any design or aesthetic that brings you back to the good old days. Vintage Americana reflects classic cars, 1970s-era John Travolta films and cozy diners from the 1950s.

Vintage Americana has an enduring patriotic feeling, which thrives despite the challenges the U.S. currently faces, according to Lea Robinson, vice president of sales and marketing for Staton Corporate and Casual (asi/89380). "It's a feeling that never goes away, whereas [saturated red, white and blue looks] feel like we are celebrating more in the moment."

The vintage Americana trend has broad appeal across party lines and demographics. After all, "Vintage is ageless," Robinson says.

"It's really the convergence of three well-established trends — the popularity of classic styles like baseball tees and ringer tees, the appeal of the vintage look and feel, and the drive toward authentic brands," Miles says. "It also connects to the idea of sustainability and durability."

Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) has also been capitalizing on the retail trend by applying vintage design to its merchandise. Even the cover page of this year's Vantage Apparel catalog is rendered in red, white and blue.

"Our design team spent a lot of time researching trends and putting together different ideas for this year's merchandise," says Gina Barreca, director of marketing for Vantage. "We decided on something that would show different colors and patterns that would work for various companies. The colors red, white and blue were up there and we saw an opportunity to go beyond the basic idea."

The Vansport Zen Pullover (3450 men's, 3451 women's) from Vantage Apparel

A screen print with a vintage Americana feel by Vantage Apparel.

This Gildan Fleece Hoodie with Custom Color Draw Cord features decoration with a vintage Americana feel.

Vantage Apparel has also explored the idea of adding the stars and stripes pattern within the fill of a logo to give it a patriotic look. Even clients that have strict logo guidelines have options: "Adding the company established date to a logo or using a small flag as a second placement are easy ways to put a heritage spin to apparel," Barreca says.

The company also recommends screen printing with soft-hand inks and distressed art filters to achieve the vintage and nostalgic aspect of the Americana theme. Soft cotton-rib appliqué also fits with the vintage Americana look.

For J. America (asi/62977), vintage styles have been surfacing in the past few years. Steve Zimmerman, vice president of sales, says that vintage designs continue to be a staple of the company's assortment, because "they are timeless." J. America recently introduced vintage Americana to its Top of the World headwear collection, by adding a vintage wash to the fabric.

Vintage Americana evokes a classic, nostalgic and retro feeling in the wearer. Showing off samples in that style will help you get that message across to clients, Miles says. "Create a trend sheet that captures vintage Americana styles from runways to retail displays," he suggests.

Though vintage Americana is a perfect fit for Independence Day, there's no need to retire the style after the fireworks fizzle and the picnics peter out. Opportunities to use the retro motif abound, suppliers say.

"Our country has gotten very patriotic the last couple of decades, not that we hadn't been prior to then," Zimmerman says. "Between our national holidays, sporting events, the agriculture market and what now seems to be endless election campaigning across the country, there are numerous opportunities for distributors and decorators to work with end users on Americana themes year round."

J. America introduced vintage Americana styling to its headwear collection.

Techdirt Promotional Products Based On Declassified NSA Security Posters

Techdirt is an influential blog that delivers keen insights into technology's legal challenges and related business and economic policy issues.

The Techdirt team is also pretty savvy when it comes to spotting an opportunity for clever promotional products that, in their way, augment the blog's brand and help it to raise funds to support its mission.

Case-in-point: Government Attic recently filed a Freedom of Information Request that resulted in the release of posters the National Security Agency (NSA) made in the 1950s and 60s to remind employees about security. After Techdirt got feedback about the posters, they decided to reproduce the prints on T-Shirts, hooded sweatshirts and coffee mugs. The branded merchandise has been on offer in the blog's swag store on Teespring. All profits from sales of the merch support Techdirt's ongoing reporting on copyright, technology and innovation.

A Techdirt T-Shirt based on an old NSA security poster. See this print on a mug and hoodie here.

The use of once classified information as swag is a nice match for the Techdirt brand. After all, the blog is focused on journalistic digging – on delving deep to uncover the real roots of important issues at the intersection of technology, business and related economics.

Also, quite honestly, the merch is cool in a retro way that we dig. Check out a few examples below.

See this print on a T-Shirt and hoodie here.

See this print on a T-Shirt and mug here.

See this print on a T-Shirt and hoodie here.

See this print on a hoodie and mug here.

Promotional Products Part of Historic TrumpKim Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean "Supreme Leader" Kim Jong-un are set to engage in historic face-to-face talks regarding possible nuclear disarmament of North Korea in Singapore. While the potential geopolitical implications are beyond our humble scope, we thought we'd mention this: There are promotional products tied to the summit – perhaps not a surprise given the global interest in the event.

The Straits Times, an English language broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore, had the below prefilled, single-use water bottle on offer:

At least some folks were eager to get their hands on summit swag:

Others disparaged The Straits Times summit-branded merchandise:

Additionally, Los Angeles Times reported that, on the ground in Singapore, there were cardboard fans and coffee cups that showed depictions of Trump and Kim. BBC Asia Bureau Chief Imelda Flattery noted that the summit's media center had summit-branded coffee cups:

Back in May, in anticipation of an earlier round of proposed talks between Trump and Kim that were cancelled, the White House Communications Agency was selling a coin – or medallion since it has no currency value. It was to commemorate the meeting:

It appears there will be more coins/medallions. The White House Gift Shop was making new commemorative coins available for pre-order as of Monday. The gift shop website said images of the first coin – apparently there will be another as well for a series of three -- would be released on Tuesday June 12th. Coins were expected to begin shipping Aug. 1.

Beyond the merch, there's a bit of a surreal atmosphere surrounding the summit between two of the world's most controversial leaders. For example, people were lining up in Singapore to take pictures with Kim and Trump impersonators. Pics reportedly cost $11.

Another element kicking the "What the heck?" factor of the summit into overdrive was the fact that Dennis Rodman, the eccentric former NBA star, was traveling to Singapore. Rodman says he is a friend of Trump and Kim. He was going to Singapore as part of a promotional push for a digital currency for the cannabis industry. While certainly not expected to figure in the talks, Rodman was offering to be a facilitator for Trump and Kim:

Los Angeles Times reported that about 2,500 members of the media have registered for the summit. That's the largest contingent ever hosted in Singapore, according to The Straits Times.

Promotional Products Were Everywhere At Wizard World Comic Con

From free swag to swanky branded merchandise, Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia abounded with promotional products. There was everything from official logoed event gear for purchase, to giveaways from a variety of vendors and exhibitors, including household name brands like Xfinity and 5-hour Energy.

Held Thursday through Sunday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, the pop culture event featured talented comic book artists, unique toys and comics for sale, in-person autograph signings from celebrities such as Sebastian Stan, Elijah Wood, Jason Momoa, Sean Astin, and Henry Winkler, and much more. I swung by to check out the merch on offer (tough gig, I know). Here's what I found…and a saber fight…keep scrolling...

First up, official Wizard World Comic Con branded merchandise! As you can see in these first four photos, wearables, totes, drawstring backpacks and lanyards were part of the mix.

DKMS is a nonprofit that helps blood cancer patients find matching donors. To get Comic Con attendees engaged with its mission, the group came up with what the best giveaway I spotted from an exhibitor: This branded cape. It's a perfect product to connect with the superhero-loving Comic Con crowd. DKMS was also giving out the below earbuds in a branded clear plastic slide-open pouch.

Xfinity was promoting HBO GO with the above hat, which attendees were snapping up. Xfinity, which offers cable, internet, telephone and wireless services, also co-branded with Wizard World on the below freebie tote. Neat aside: Xfinity had screenprinters creating totes on the spot.

You could get these 5-hour Energy sunglasses by participating in a basketball shootout game at 5-hour's tent booth, which had a real-world game set similar to this for the hoops fun.

A super friendly woman at The Lasik Vision Institute table asked me if I was interested in Lasik surgery. I felt bad telling her not really, but she was still nice enough to give me this credit card holder to slap on the back of my phone.

Lots of parents attend Wizard World Comic Con with their kids. It makes sense then for a charter school like Commonwealth Charter Academy to promote at the event. As part of the effort, Commonwealth was handing out free pens, drawstring totes, dog-shaped stress toys, and info cards with a friendly dog mascot.

Army recruiters had a table at the event, too. The guys were very friendly and insisted I take this water bottle and keychain. I was happy to oblige.

A fair share of movie promoting was going on, and there were various types of swag to support the hype-push. I scored these Teen Titans buttons at a booth after playing a little game. To get the buttons – or potentially other movie-themed freebies – you spun a game wheel. You got whatever swag item the wheel fell still upon.

TV station PHL17 was promoting itself. By liking the station on Facebook, you were entered for a chance to win one of these fun show shirts, I was told.

Well, T-Mobile wasn't about to let itself be missed, was it?

Dudes from The Saber Legion, an international saber combat organization as it were, had quite the duel. I didn't record to the end because it went on a bit (sorry), but the fellow in all black emerged victorious (I'm pretty sure).

Trend Alert: Clear Tote Bags

Clear tote bags are the rage of the runways – which means the trend could soon be sweeping the promotional products industry too.

While the roots of clear tote bags might be utilitarian, some high fashion labels have suddenly fell in love with them, creating astoundingly expensive offerings in the category. The Prada tote below is a great example of the trend. It was retailing online at Nordstrom recently for $1,040 before selling out.

Made in Italy from PVC, the transparent tote features Prada's black logo print across the front and a white canvas trim. In a little nod to privacy, the push-stud top closure reveals a detachable zip-fastening pouch for storing essentials out of sight.

Meanwhile, this transparent Kara PVC Pinch Tote is another example of transparency couture. It retails for $325 at ssense.com – hardly even the cost of a lunchtime appetizer for your average Manhattan billionaire.

For those of us sitting in the proletarian seats, though, there's good news. You can still get in on the namebrand clear tote trend for a relatively reasonable price. Urban Outfitters offers this tote for $25.

Interestingly, the high-fashion transparent trend extends beyond totes into other bag categories, including reusable shopping bags. The bag below is an exclusive collaboration between Voo Store and Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons. Available for about $180, the bag includes a dustbag that can also be used as an inner compartment.

Given the popularity of clear bags in fashion circles, promotional product distributors should anticipate that demand from clients in the promo space will increase, too. And who knows – the trend could proliferate well beyond bags altogether, if this tweet from Prada is a clue.

Lego Lovers Crowded Expo Center for Merch, Memories

Lego enthusiasts of all ages crowded into the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, on April 21 and 22 to enjoy Brick Fest Live!, which bills itself as the #1 Lego event in the U.S. The show featured feats of artistry and engineering, including detailed cityscapes, working miniature rollercoasters, a life-size statue of Darth Vader and a lovingly rendered replica of Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" – all crafted from the colorful plastic bricks that have been a toy chest necessity for decades.

The event was also an opportunity for vendors to peddle Lego-themed merch, from vintage building sets to apparel and accessories decorated with actual Legos. At the official Brick Fest Live! Booth, attendees could purchase a $20 #BrickSwag box, which included a T-shirt, flashlight keychain and a mystery minifigure. Other booths were selling caps modified with Lego baseplates, allowing wearers to customize to their heart's content. Several entrepreneurs had crafted hair clips, bracelets, earrings and bow ties out of Legos. There were even brick-shaped pillows and molded chocolate lollipops.

The Pennsylvania Distance Learning Charter School also set up a booth at the expo to share information about its virtual summer camps. To help build goodwill and boost name recognition, the school was giving away a slew of promotional products. Children could spin a wheel, and receive a branded foam stress brick, backpack, temporary tattoo, chip clip or other prize.

Brick Fest Live! heads next to New York City in July, then stops in Pasadena, CA, in August and Houston in October. Check out some of the highlights from the Philadelphia show below.













Hawaii Bans Certain Types of Sunscreens

Hawaii's state legislature has passed a bill that bans sunscreens containing chemicals that can reportedly damage coral reefs – a new regulation that could impact sales of branded sunscreen.

Senate Bill 2571, passed on Tuesday, prevents the sale and distribution of sunscreen that has oxybenzone and octinoxate, unless prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider. If Governor David Ige signs the legislation into law, the prohibition would take effect Jan. 1, 2021.

Should the ban become law, promo distributors and suppliers could no longer provide sunscreen containing the blacklisted chemicals in the Aloha State. What's more, the Hawaiian ban could resonate to the U.S. mainland, possibly influencing some would-be buyers of branded sunscreen to seek natural options that are perceived as better for the environment – or to avoid purchasing sunscreen altogether in fear their brand will be perceived as a polluter.

Found in popular sunscreen brands like Coppertone and Hawaiian Tropic, oxybenzone and octinoxate contribute to coral bleaching, studies show. For example, a recent study from the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology found that chemicals in sunscreen kill coral and result in DNA damage in larval and adult stage coral. The impact on DNA limits coral's ability to grow and develop healthily. Coral bleaching was reportedly a cause behind widespread destruction of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. According to researchers, about 14,000 tons of sunscreen glop onto coral reefs annually. Sunscreen concentrations were found to be among the highest in the world on the beaches of Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Certain environmental organizations praised legislators for passing the bill.

"Hawaii's reefs have been slowly dying over the past 20 years, and that death spiral has been accelerating with the impact of El Niño-induced mass bleaching events and increased local pollution impacts from both tourism and development," Craig Downs, the executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, told The New York Times. "Everyone has come together to support this legislation, from local nurses and doctors, to resorts and airlines, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of new sunscreen companies to supply reef-safer products."

Of course, the ban had opponents, too. Traditional sunscreen manufacturers pointed out that the chemicals are FDA-approved and important ingredients for protecting people from skin cancer. Ban opponents also included the Hawaii Medical Association. The association expressed worry that the prohibition could encourage people to reduce the degree to which they wear sunscreen – a concern given the heightened risk for skin cancer that comes with not using sunscreen.

Forbes reports that mounting public pushback against sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate has opened the door for a niche market focused on natural sunscreens made in Hawaii. "Tourists and locals on the islands can find Kōkua Sun Care Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen, Mama Kuleana Reef, and the mainland All Good products," wrote Geologist Trevor Nace for Forbes. Of course, chemicals found in sunscreens are far from the only pollutant causing problems for coral reefs. Ocean warming, agricultural runoff and sewage dumping also are weakening and killing reefs, research shows.

Promotional Products Opportunity: Canadian Premier League Reveals Official Logo

Canada is ready for its own kickabout. And now it has some branding in place to show it means business.

The Canadian Premier League is expected to begin play in the spring of 2019. It will be a FIFA-sanctioned, top-level, Canada-specific fully professional soccer league. While play hasn't begun yet, the league recently revealed its official logo – a crest of attractive green and blues.

As the CPL explains, Canada's people and natural beauty inspired the crest. Certainly some thought went into it:

"The North Star acts as a guiding light for the game of soccer in Canada, acting as a beacon for talent within our borders. The four rings portray a soccer ball, our coasts, and the earth formed out of a stylized time lapse of a star field. The maple leaf is comprised of many parts, which is a reflection of the diversity within our country."

Some soccer fans were already chiming in to say that the CPL logo is superior to the crest for Major League Soccer – the top professional soccer league in the U.S. MLS features several Canadian teams, too.

The CPL also released an all-red version of the league emblem. Teams will wear the crest of red – Canada's traditional color, of course -- on their uniforms on Canada Day. They'll also don the red logo during the Canadian Championship and when playing in the CONCACAF Champions league – an international tournament that features professional clubs teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

The CPL expects to begin play with 8 to 10 teams. Teams will reportedly be owned and operated, at least in part, by a mix of National Hockey League and Canadian Football League ownership groups. The league aims to foster and enhance Canadian soccer talent, as this promo video details.

For promotional product distributors, learning about the CPL's crest is an interesting case study in how a logo can be crafted to invoke the intended essence of a brand in a way that resonates with target audiences. What's more, it's a heads-up that there could soon be new opportunities to provide branded merchandise for teams in the forthcoming professional league. So far, it's confirmed that there will be teams in Hamilton, ON and Winnipeg, MB. Reports suggest there could be teams in Halifax, Calgary and the York Region as well, among others.

Even if you don't score orders directly with teams, distributors and/or decorators could hit the back of the net on any number of ancillary promo deals, such as providing scarves and T-shirts for fledging supporters' groups or soccer-related swag for pubs that want to be the go-to spot for fans to watch CPL matches. No doubt Canadian footy fans are already excited:

Pantone Creates New Wine-Inspired Color

Wine has helped fuel many an artist's creative endeavors. And now, a particular wine is the muse behind a new unique color from the Pantone Color Institute.

Pantone partnered with Valspar Paint and Laithwaite's Wine to develop English Sparkling Laithwaite's Wine. The color takes its inspiration from the shade of Wyfold Vineyard by Barbara Laithwaite -- one of England's most awarded sparkling wines.

Pantone said English Sparkling is "a subtle and stylishly elegant, creamy hue that quietly expresses effervescence and good taste. Young in spirit and timeless in its appeal, this natural off-white shade conveys feelings of spring freshness and modernity. Carrying an undertone of pleasantness and geniality, the inherent warmth of Laithwaite's Wine English Sparkling creates a sparkling yet soothing presence."

Available as paint from Valspar, the new hue could harbinger forthcoming color trends in the apparel world – something promotional product distributors whose clients have fashion-forward tastes and audiences will want to be aware of.

"English Sparkling is more than just a new shade of Valspar paint. Like every bespoke color we mix, it's about eternalizing a personal feeling, a moment in time, a memory," said Kasia Wiktorowicz, marketing communications manager at Valspar. "For us, this color is reminiscent of a warm laughter-filled summer's evening, enjoying an English Sparkling wine with close friends and family."

The new hue is also serving to promote English sparkling wine, elevating it into the official pantheon of color terminology in a manner akin to continental rivals like "burgundy" and "champagne."

"Just as burgundy and champagne are very well-known terms for colors, it's now time for English Quality Sparkling Wine to take center stage," David Thatcher, CEO of Laithwaite's Wine, was quoted as saying. "Creating an official color is a great way of acknowledging the ever-growing popularity of the English wine industry around the world."

Minnesota Twins & Princes Estate Launching Merch Line

Purple Rain is going to fall during Minnesota Twins games this baseball season.

The Twins have struck a deal to sell Prince-branded merchandise throughout the year at their stadium in Minneapolis – Target Field. Items, which will include hats, shirts, pins, patches and balls, will go on sale at the Twins home opener on April 5th. The StarTribune reported that the co-branding deal could be the first of its kind for a Major League Baseball team.

Why the Twins and Prince? Simple: The international best-selling musical artist was from Minneapolis. "Along with our fans, we look forward to celebrating the legacy of a man who brought an international spotlight to our great city," Twins CEO Dave St. Peter told the StarTribune.

For the second year in a row, the Twins will also host a special Prince Night. During the June 8 game against the Los Angeles Angels, additional Prince merchandise will be on offer. Game attendees who purchase a Prince Theme Night package will receive a Twins/Prince co-branded hat.


Attribution: Minnesota Twins

Perhaps most interestingly for Prince Night, there will be a special giveaway – inflatable purple guitars in the shape of Prince's famous symbol that will also display Twins branding. During the 7th inning stretch, the 10,000 folks lucky enough to have scored the limited edition guitar giveaway will be encouraged to stand and illuminate the item – a show of remembrance and respect to the hometown musical genius who passed away in 2016.


Attribution: Minnesota Twins

Who knows, the inflatable purple guitar could become a sought-after bit of merch. After all, the umbrellas the Twins provided fans on Prince Night in 2017 were being offered for as much as $220 on eBay.


Attribution: eBay

For those curious about the nuts and bolts of the co-branding deal, it seems that Delaware North Sportservice, the Twins' retail provider, negotiated it with Bravado – the company handling the merchandising and branding for Prince's estate. The word from the Twins is that Prince's family is cool with the merchandising.

The Bobblehead Tax: Cincinnati Reds Court Case Could Impact Promo Industry

The Cincinnati Reds, Ohio tax officials and branded game-day merchandise like player bobbleheads are at the center of an intriguing court case that could send reverberations throughout the promotional products world.

On Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court agreed to consider an appeal from the Reds. The Major League Baseball team argues that state tax officials have no legal basis to demand the payment of $88,000 in taxes tied to Reds-branded promotional products that the team provided to fans on game days between 2008 and 2010. The Ohio Department of Taxation, however, is doing just that, saying the Reds owe the levy.

The Reds contend that they're entitled to a resale exception/exemption because they're reselling the items as part of advertised ticket sales. Ohio law exempts companies from paying tax on items they buy to resell.

Lawyers for the Reds explained their position: Team officials identify certain games on the schedule they suspect fans won't be as interested in attending. To beef up ticket sales to such contests, the team advertises – and then provides – bobbleheads, player cards and other Reds-themed memorabilia as part of a fan's ticket purchase. "The price paid for the ticket includes consideration for the promotional item," Reds attorneys say in a court filing. "Accordingly, the Reds purchase of such items is exempt from tax since the items are resold to game attendees."

Ohio tax officials take an altogether different view. They say the Reds didn't resell the promotional items as part of the ticket price, but rather gave them away for free to increase interest in games. As such, the state tax commissioner contends that the promotional items should be taxed because the Reds bought the products to be distributed as freebies and are not, in fact, part of a ticket sale.

To support their position, tax officials say that the ticket price for each particular seat is the same throughout the season, whether a promo item is offered or not. Furthermore, not all patrons are guaranteed that they will get promo merch for a game in which it's advertised because supplies are limited. Relatedly, if a game attendee decides she doesn't want, say, a bobblehead, then her ticket isn't discounted. Given all that, the state Board of Tax Appeals denied an appeal from the Reds.

"We conclude that the Reds have not provided this board with competent and probative evidence in support of the position that it does not owe the assessed tax," board members wrote in their ruling. "It is the decision of the Board of Tax Appeals that the decision of the tax commissioner must be affirmed."

The Reds decided to appeal to the state Supreme Court. There the case rests, awaiting an initial hearing.

Depending on how the court rules, the case could have sweeping implications for the promotional products industry. Should the court side with tax officials, will teams and other businesses in Ohio be discouraged from investing in branded merchandise for game-day promotions and, indeed, other events because they don't want to pay taxes on the items? Could an Ohio ruling in favor of the tax commissioner's findings influence other states to enforce similar actions? Stay tuned.

Beach Town Considers Towel Ban

A tiny coastal town on Italian island Sardinia has proposed a ban on beach towels and large beach bags, in an effort to preserve the sand dunes at La Pelosa beach. The popular Mediterranean beach attracts thousands of tourists each day during peak season, many of whom leave with sand-caked accessories.

"We didn't come up with the idea of banning towels," Stintino Mayor Antonio Diana told La Repubblica. "The entire plan is based on scientific studies that indicate towels as one of the biggest dangers, since when they're damp they retain a lot of sand. This isn't some airy-fairy idea."

Instead of towels, beachgoers would be able to rent folding chairs, mats and reusable see-through bags.

La Pelosa is also scheduled for a number renovations to begin after the summer of 2019, including removing the road that leads to the beach and replacing it with pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes. The plan also calls for installing a new raised walkway along the beach to keep pedestrians off the sand dunes.

Last year, La Pelosa was ranked one of the top 10 beaches in Italy by Trip Advisor. Diana said he's not ruling anything out to protect and preserve the popular beach.

Backlash Over Walmart T-Shirts Portraying Negative Ethnic Stereotype

A New York man of Irish ancestry is calling for a boycott of Walmart's online store because the retailer's website is selling St. Patrick's Day-themed tees that feature images and messaging that promote negative stereotypes about Irish people being drunks.

After Kevin Westley, a radio show host and Irish dance instructor from Long Island, found a slew of shirts on Walmart.com that bore such portrayals, he began calling for the boycott. A search for "St. Patrick's Day shirts drunk" on Walmart.com makes it evident that Westley isn't making things up. See pictures below for examples from the site.

Back in 2015, Westley took up a similar cause when he bought hundreds of St. Patrick's Day T-shirts with stereotypical portrayals that were on sale at his local Walmart – just to clear them from the shelves. He then returned the tees on March 18. Westley's actions gained ample media attention and led at least a couple Walmarts in his area to desist in carrying such shirts.

Still, tees like "Kiss Me I'm Irish or Drunk or Whatever" and "Loud Proud Drunk Irish" remain available for purchase on Walmart.com. And, Westley wants to change that.

"All stereotypes are bad, regardless what group they demean," Westley states, according to IrishCentral. "Think of the thousands of job or housing opportunities that have been lost because of them. If you agree with me, please call Walmart corporate office on their toll-free line at 1-800-925-6278. Better yet, 'contact' them at https://help.walmart.com/ and let them know what you think about these T-shirts."

Westley has stated that, so far, Walmart has not replied to him.

IrishCentral has thrown support behind Westley, and encouraged site visitors to confront other retailers about St. Patrick's Day-related merchandise they find offensive. Suggestions include asking stores to remove the merchandise, while explaining that St. Patrick's Day is a holy day in Ireland and asking stores if they "would sell offensive stereotypical T-shirts for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Puerto Rican Day, St. Joseph's Day, etc."

If retailers refuse to remove the merchandise, IrishCentral suggests taking a page from Westley's book and buying up the merch, then returning it after St. Patrick's Day.

Company Aims To Revolutionize The 'Swag Bag'

Another disruptor has entered the promotional products industry, with her sights set on revolutionizing the swag bag. How? With what some are calling the anti-swag swag bag.

Lynne Lambert is the founder of the popular NYC Subway Line collection of mass-transit merchandise. From T-shirts and hoodies to hats and backpacks, her brand of clothing and accessories pays tribute to the Big Apple and all of its iconic elements. She has taken that same geographical approach with her new company: Mapt Gear.

"Many of us are not comfortable being a free walking advertisement for a company," Lambert told Adweek, "and many companies aren't doing anything more than putting logos in big text across the products. So I think there's room for a very tasteful product to come in."

Using a license to access a cartographic library, Mapt Gear imprints canvas totes with maps that pinpoint the location of a brand's headquarters -- or its various locations, or even the location of a conference it's having. The idea is that the image of an antique map with a pushpin will arouse enough curiosity and interest in a company without splashing its logo all over a product. However, the customizable map does leave enough room for a brand's name or logo – done subtly.

New York-based Mapt Gear currently offers three styles: a Gucci Nylon messenger bag, a 100% cotton tote bag and a silky 100% Poly/Canvas tote bag. Also available is a "Pad-Folio" iPad case made of vegan leather. If Mapt Gear generates sufficient interest from corporate clients, Lambert says she'll expand the product line.

Religious Freedom, Anti-Gay Discrimination Collide In Court Case Over T-Shirts

A Kentucky apparel decorating company and the imprinted T-shirts the business declined to print for a gay pride festival are at the center of a renewed court battle that pits arguments for freedom of conscience and religion against accusations of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

The case involving Hands On Originals (asi/219413), a Lexington, KY-based company that specializes in producing branded apparel for Christian organizations, schools and others, is before the Kentucky Supreme Court.


Blaine Adamson

Last May, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Hands On Originals (HOO), a verdict that marked the second court victory for the company, which previously prevailed in 2015 in the Fayette Circuit Court. Nonetheless, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission appealed the 2017 ruling and the case is now to be heard by the Kentucky Supreme Court.

The issue began in 2012 when the Lexington-based Gay and Lesbian Services Organization (GLSO) asked HOO to print shirts for its pride festival. HOO Owner Blaine Adamson declined the order, saying that printing shirts that bear certain messaging would conflict with his conscience and religious beliefs as a devout Christian. Adamson has said that he offered up another print shop that would produce the order for the same price.

In reaction to Adamson's refusal, the GLSO filed a complaint with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission and HOO was charged with violating Lexington's fairness ordinance, which, in part, prevents businesses open in a public forum from discriminating against people based on sexual orientation.

An initial ruling went against HOO, but that decision was reversed in the subsequent Fayette Circuit Court decision, reports show. In that 2015 ruling, Judge James D. Ishmael cited Kentucky's religious freedom statue and stated that Adamson was not refusing the GLSO as would-be customers because of their sexual orientation, but because he objected to the message on the T-shirt. "It is clear beyond dispute that HOO and its owners declined to print the T-shirts in question because of the message advocating sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman," Ishmael wrote. "The well-established Constitutional rights of HOO and its owners on this issue are well settled." In 2017, the appeals court ruled that HOO's right to free speech supersedes Lexington's fairness ordinance.

In the latest court battle, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin recently filed a legal brief in support of HOO, saying Kentucky's constitution ensures freedom of conscience. "Requiring (HOO's) owners to engage in speech with which they disagree is a violation of their freedom of conscience, and we are hopeful that the Kentucky Supreme Court will reaffirm this bedrock of Kentucky's constitutional charter," said Steve Pitt, Bevin's general counsel, according to the Lexington Herald Leader.

Josh Mers, chairman of Lexington Fairness, an organization that works for fairness and equality in Kentucky, told the Lexington Herald Leader that arguments for freedom of conscience are a "tired old message" that do not have bearing on the HOO case. "I think the most disappointing part is that the governor has decided to add the political aspect to the case by weighing in as the Governor of Kentucky," said Mers, who is running for a seat in Kentucky's state house.

The Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Adamson and his company. In a video posted to ADF's YouTube account, Adamson explained his reasons for declining the order from GLSO.

Also, in an online commentary, Adamson has said: "I've happily served and employed people of all backgrounds, of all walks of life.... I have gay customers and employ gay people. For example, we have printed materials for a local band called Mother Jane whose lead singer is a lesbian. That was never a problem for us because ... we'll work with everyone, but we can't print all messages." Adamson added that he has declined other orders, including one for "a simple black shirt with white text that read, 'Homosexuality is a sin.'…I don't think that's how Jesus would have handled the issue; Jesus would have balanced grace and truth."

Elon Musks Branded Flamethrower: The Hottest Promotional Product In The World

Elon Musk is a lot of things: genius, billionaire, pioneering entrepreneur, cracker-jack hat salesman. Now, he can add another eye-opening entry to his ever-growing list of impressive epithets – purveyor of the most dangerous (but hella cool, some would say) promotional product in the world.

Last weekend, The Boring Co., of which Musk is CEO, began taking pre-orders for flamethrowers branded with the company name. You read that correctly: flamethrowers.

Through early afternoon Tuesday East Coast time, The Boring Company had reportedly pre-sold about 15,000 flamethrowers – a figure that amounts to approximately $7.5 million in sales.

In announcing the branded flamethrowers, Boring Co. pitched the items as "guaranteed to liven up any party." Indeed, Musk was having fun on Twitter promoting the fire-spewing device. Amid tweets that gave a running tally of the number of pre-orders, Musk inserted funny "pitches" that included "Great for roasting nuts" before adding later, "Obviously, a flamethrower is a super terrible idea. Definitely don't buy one...Unless you like fun."

After tweeting that flamethrowers would come in handy in the event of a zombie apocalypse, Musk felt the need to address some scuttlebutt that was making the rounds: "The rumor that I'm secretly creating a zombie apocalypse to generate demand for flamethrowers is completely false," he tweeted, with a chuckle no doubt.

While Musk and Boring Co. were hyping the flamethrower with jokes and humor, not everyone was laughing. Boring Co. is based in California, where rampant wildfires wreaked havoc in 2017, scorching vast tracts of land and claiming lives. In the wake of such tragedy, California Assemblyman Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles criticized the flamethrowers, saying they could be a public health hazard. "We've just gone through some catastrophic fires in California," he told The Los Angeles Times. "It's a bad joke."

Still, sales of the flamethrowers were continuing to climb. The same consumer frenzy flashed out during Musk's earlier venture into promotional products with The Boring Company (which incidentally is focused on infrastructure and tunnel construction). Late last year, Musk started selling Boring Co.-branded hats. By mid-December, Boring Co. had sold more than 35,000 of the ball caps, generating $700,000. The LA Times reported this week that Boring Co. has now sold about 50,000 hats.

One thing's for sure, if Musk ever is looking for another new field to enter, he certainly has a future in promotional product sales.

Grumpy Cat Wins Copyright Case

Internet sensation Grumpy Cat, the feline face that launched a thousand memes, just had his day in court – and won. The sour puss was awarded $710,000 in damages in a California copyright case, after a beverage company used the cat's likeness for unauthorized purposes.

Grumpy Cat, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, has millions of followers on social media, hobnobs with celebrities and even has an animatronic likeness at Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London. Owner Tabatha Bundesen created Grumpy Cat Limited to capitalize on her pet's popularity after her brother posted Tardar Sauce's pic on Reddit, back in 2012. The cat's famous frown is likely caused by feline dwarfism and an under bite.

In 2013, Grenade Beverage, owned by father and son Nick and Paul Sandford, struck a $150,000 deal to market iced "Grumppuccinos," bearing the cat's likeness on the packaging. However, Grenade also began using the Grumpy Cat image on its roasted coffee and on T-shirts, neither of which had been agreed upon, according to the lawsuit.

Grenade filed a countersuit, claiming Grumpy Cat didn't promote the brand as promised in the original deal. However, the jury ultimately sided with the cat.

Grumpy Cat's lawyer, David Jonelis of Lavely & Singer, told TheWrap that this was a precedent-setting case. "It's the first verdict ever rendered in favor of a viral meme," he added. "Memes have rights too."

Imprinted Tees Commemorate Missile Attack

What do you do in the wake of a missile attack scare?

Make cheeky T-shirts to commemorate the event, apparently.

Indeed, a day after Hawaii issued false alarms that a ballistic missile was rocketing toward the state in the Pacific Ocean, a shop in Honolulu began selling tees that ironically acknowledged the scare.

As you can see below, the shirts say, "I Survived the Hawaii Ballistic Missile." The image of the shirts in the shop is courtesy of Alastair Gale, The Wall Street Journal's Japan editor.

The Honolulu store was far from the only retail entity eager to capitalize on the false alarm with T-shirts. A quick Google search revealed similarly themed tees for sale on sites that included Amazon, Redbubble, and Etsy.

As you've probably heard, the missile attack was really no such thing. A worker at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency accidentally issued an alert that a missile was inbound. The message caused pervasive panic, fueled particularly by increased tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Some 40 minutes after the alert went out, Hawaiian officials issued a second message saying that the first message was a false alarm.

Following the jolt, some islanders were clearly ready to dispel the excess nervous energy with a little humor – as evidenced by the T-shirts. It seems there really can be a T-shirt for every occasion these days.

Ice Cream Fit for a Jedi

The force is sweet with this one.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the latest film in the Star Wars pantheon, is set to begin playing in U.S. theaters on December 15. An Everest-sized swell of branded merchandise is expected to support the film. For fans with a sweet tooth, a favorite among the merch could very well be a new Star Wars-branded offering from Ample Hills Creamery.

In a licensed collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm, the Brooklyn, NY-based ice cream maker has created three limited-edition flavors that celebrate Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Inspired by the heroes, villains and enduring themes of the iconic film franchise, the interstellar ice cream is available in a three-pack that includes a specially designed, limited-edition pint of each of the three flavors. If that weren't a sweet enough deal (pun intended), there's also this: Each three-pack ships in a specially designed box with a punch-out X-wing fighter.

Here is Ample Hills' description of the flavors:

  • First Order: A celebration of the monolithic, fierce power of the First Order. Embrace relentless villainy with this salted deep dark chocolate ice cream, made with intense cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate and a dash of powerful espresso.
  • Resistance: A celebration of the spirit and determination of the motley band of resistance fighters, it's a brown sugar and vanilla bean ice cream with a wild assortment of mix-ins: passionate, fiery red velvet ooey gooey butter cake, hard-edged toffee pieces and spirited, hopeful mini-marshmallows.
  • The Force: A celebration of the power and beauty of the Jedi. Bring balance to the Force with the harmony and serenity of this sweet cream ice cream (the light side), but beware the seductive swirls of rich chocolate fudge (the dark side) – an epic conflict set against a galaxy of white and dark chocolate pearls.

We don't think were the only ones whose tummies are grumbling with nerdy anticipation after hearing those descriptions.

Ample Hills says the limited-edition ice cream should be available at least through the end of March 2018, but you might want to act fast. As Bloomberg reported, Ample Hills also made two special ice cream flavors for the 2015 release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Light Side and The Dark Side, as the ice cream offerings were called, sold out faster than an A-wing Starfighter.

New Stranger Things Merch Collection Is Off-Beat 80s Nostalgia Perfection

'80s nostalgia and an intoxicatingly dark storyline with elements of sci-fi and horror have earned the Netflix series Stranger Things a loyal – and growing – following of devoted fans.

Now, with season two launching last weekend, Netflix has teamed up with retailer BoxLunch to create a new collection of branded merchandise that seeks to capitalize on the enthusiasm around the show.

Inspired by scenes and '80s-tastic styling cues from the first and current season, BoxLunch and Netflix are offering a capsule collection of apparel, accessories and collectibles, some pieces of which you can see below.

For the uninitiated, Stranger Things is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, IN, in the 1980s. The plot centers on the investigation of a disappearance of a young boy and supernatural events that include a young girl with psychokinetic abilities who helps the missing child's friends in their search for their friend. The second season picks up the story a year after the events of the first season.

If you haven't yet indulged in binge-watching the show, give it a look and you'll see why so many people have done just that. And, why they're so excited about the new merch collection, which includes a Stranger Things Holiday Sweater; Hawkins High Crewneck and Duffle Bag; the '80s-arcade styled Pixel Tee and Merrill's Farm Tee; and three additional shirts that feature imagery from Season Two. Plus, there is a trio of limited-edition Madrid Skateboard decks and a line-up of Funko Pop! vinyl figures.

Just as cool, Strangers Things is spawning ancillary merch opportunities. As the StarTribune reports, fans are going bonkers over the retro purple sweatshirt from the Science Museum of Minnesota that character Dustin wore on the show. Sharp to spot an opportunity, the Science Museum is going to create a line of the imprinted hoodies. It's already using Twitter to encourage folks to sign up for the museum's email list to learn when the sweatshirts are available.

If that weren't enough merch-related fun, there is also this candle holder that's as wonderfully weird as the show itself. It's in the shape of psychokinetic character Eleven – wax bleeds through its nose. Available from Firebox, the candle is expected to be available by mid-December. "Easily the strangest thing we've ever created," says Firebox.

Then, of course, there are these rad Stranger Things-inspired sneakers/trainers from Reebok and BAIT.

What's the takeaway for promotional product distributors? Perhaps this: While you certainly can't rip off Stranger Things, you can tap into the same market current as the show. That's to say, there's a definite appetite for offbeat, retro '80s entertainment and products from both millennials and those in their later 30s and early 40s. When end-buyers target such audiences – particularly in urban areas, at cultural events, product launches, music festivals and the like – engineering a promotion that involves merchandise and messaging that draws on the quirky vintage vibe from the decade of MTV and big hair could be a smart move.

Branded Tees at Center of Beer Feud

Craft beer maker Arrogant Brewing is cleverly promoting its bad boy image and delivering an upper cut to competitors it calls "sellouts" with a new antagonistic promotional campaign that puts branded T-shirts in the spotlight.

With its "Unworthy Beer T-Shirt Amnesty Month" campaign, the Arrogant Brewing team is inviting suds lovers to send them the T-shirts of beer brands that were once independent breweries but have since sold to become part of global beer conglomerates.

Based in Escondido, CA, Arrogant Brewing says it will then either donate the T-shirts to charity or mail them in a show of cheekiness to corporate beer behemoths Heineken International or AB InBev.

In addition, Arrogant Brewing is offering to sell consumers who mail in "sellout" brand shirts an Arrogant Brewing T-Shirt for the reduced cost of $15 – a charge that includes shipping and handling.

To encourage participation, Arrogant Brewing stays in tough-guy character with its marketing of the campaign. Its website thus sets the stage for Unworthy Beer T-Shirt Amnesty Month: "Face it, there are brands out there you used to love. They meant something to you, and you thought they stood for something. And then the rug was pulled out from under you, all for a stinkin' big fat check. What did you get for your fandom? Jack. And now wearing that sellout brand's T-shirt doesn't feel quite so cool does it? Of course not. They're sellouts. That's simple math."

While some will object to the thrust and tone of Arrogant Brewing's campaign, there's no denying that it is a potentially powerful marketing initiative. It taps into the ethos of the brand's core audience, which values drinking the American-made beers of independently owned U.S. breweries; paints competitors in a light that undercuts their credibility with that core audience; strongly promotes its own brand image; and helps stoke sales of its T-shirts.

Unworthy Beer T-Shirt Amnesty Month is the next generation of Arrogant Brewing's "Fizzy Yellow Beer T-Shirt Amnesty Program." That "program allowed those that had recently converted to real beer to turn in their old corporate fizzy yellow beer T-shirts," Arrogant Brewing says.

Despite all the chirping about sellouts, it should be noted that Stone Brewing, Arrogant Brewing's parent company, appears to have some outside capital backing itself. "In 2016, they accepted a $90 million investment from VMG, a venture capital firm that specializes in food and drink investments, although it would seem this minority ownership doesn't currently jeopardize their ability to be labeled as 'craft' beer by the Brewers Association," Paste reports.

Washington Capitals' Gravy Boat Giveaway is Promo Gold

The Washington Capitals will be doing their bit to moisten overcooked turkeys this Thanksgiving courtesy of an uncanny promotional product.

Fans attending the NHL team’s Nov. 22 game against the Ottawa Senators will receive a gravy boat in the form of a mini ice resurfacer. "Ice resurfacer" is the generic term for what fans typically call a "Zamboni" – the man-driven machine that comes out between periods in hockey games to smooth the ice. (To be a true Zamboni, the resurfacer has to be made by the Zamboni Company, but we digress.)

To the gravy boat at hand:

Fans willing to pay for theme night packages (starting at $69) on Nov. 22 will receive the unique piece of branded dinnerware just in time to grace their Turkey Day tables the next day with a showing of team pride that is sure to irk visiting family members who do evil things like root for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.

As a hockey fan, you have to love a clever one-upper like that, eh hoser? Just think of watching your Penguins-loving cousin having to decide between conceding to use the Capitals gravy boat or trying to scarf down grandma’s dry turkey without the gravy’s lubricating assistance. It’s schadenfreude as delectable as apple pie.

As a promotional initiative, the Capitals are scoring big with the gravy boat, which is being presented by Walmart. After all, it’s unique, memorable, timely, useful, and genuinely expressive of the brand – all elements of a winning promotion.

In fact, the Capitals seem to have a knack for successful game day promos. This year, other branded products fans will receive with purchases of theme night packages include a puck-shaped bottle opener and a nifty Capitals ice scraper that features the shaft of a hockey stick that ends in an ice skate at the scraping edge.

Taco Bell, Forever 21 Launch Joint Fashion Line

Promotional clothing lines are a serious marketing opportunity for brands. Need proof? Consider the latest iteration that was unveiled this week in California.

Fast fashion retail chain Forever 21 and fast food chain Taco Bell have teamed up to launch the limited-edition Forever 21 x Taco Bell Collection, which officially hit the apparel retailer’s website and select brick-and-mortar stores this week. It debuted at a fashion show in Los Angeles on Tuesday and was announced on Taco Bell’s Instagram with the hashtag #F21xTacoBell.

Among the apparel pickings are cropped hoodies with the food chain’s iconic bell logo, graphic T-shirts, shiny metallic anorak jackets, and even colorful bodysuits that mimic Taco Bell’s hot sauce packets, featuring slogans like “Fire! Don’t Wait Up.” There are also youth T-shirt, hoodie and jacket options, along with iPhone cases. The men’s styles (including an anorak jacket with major color-blocking) are already sold out.

Taco Bell says the unconventional offerings are a serious part of its marketing strategy, which has focused on social media and millennial-centric branding in recent years.

“We really took pains to make this a legitimate collection that is relevant and fun and modern,” Marisa Thalberg, Taco Bell’s CMO, said in a statement. “We’ve seen our fans get individually creative in expressing their love for Taco Bell through fashion, and we believe this collection with Forever 21 is going to be everything they would expect from us in extending the Taco Bell lifestyle to fashion: original, affordable, creative, a little quirky and definitely fun.”

Taco Bell, which operates 7,000 locations across the U.S., is no stranger to branded merch. At the food chain’s online Taco Shop, fans can shop graphic T-shirts, hoodies, jewelry, notebooks, pencils and phone cases. One of its first forays into the fashion world was in 2014, through a partnership with Los Angeles-based streetwear brand The Hundreds to offer custom socks. And in 2016, Taco Bell opened a brick-and-mortar Taco Shop in Las Vegas, which sells apparel, towels, bikinis and swim trunks, caps, tie-dyed T-shirts, taco-shaped pillows and more.

In general, fast food fashion and branded merchandise are having a moment. Pizza Hut, owned by Taco Bell parent company Yum Brands, released a Hut Swag line in 2016, featuring items like snapback caps and T-shirts with slogans, such as “My Pizza My Life.” Another Yum brand, KFC opened the KFC Ltd. ecommerce store earlier this year, offering sweatshirts, T-shirts, socks, jewelry, scarves, lapel pins and pillowcases. And this summer, McDonald’s unveiled a playful Big Mac collection featuring pajamas and pillows, among other items.

Additionally, it seems tacos in particular have major branding power. The Fresno Grizzlies, a minor league baseball team, rechristen the team as the Tacos once a week during the season, with special Taco-emblazoned jerseys and caps. The name originated from Californians’ long-time affinity for taco trucks. “It definitely targets a younger crowd,” Sam Hansen, director of marketing for the Fresno Grizzlies, told Advantages magazine earlier this year. “Or at least that was the intention – I’ve noticed a lot of older people starting to wear Tacos jerseys and hats.” 

WrestleMania Promos Take Over Orlando

A week of magic and mayhem has ended as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) presented WrestleMania 33 – professional wrestling’s annual promo-filled Super Bowl inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. And, Counselor was on the scene to see all of the promotions that sponsors and hosts were running.

An all-time Orlando Citrus Bowl attendance record of 75,245 fans from 50 states and 62 countries made the pilgrimage to witness their favorite athletes clash at the nearly seven-hour event. WrestleMania 33 gained a record 18 million social media fan engagements, up 66% from last year. Digital and social media video views reached 133 million, skyrocketing 105% from 2016. For the first time, WrestleMania was made available in China on a pay-per-view basis via PPTV’s digital platform.

“WrestleMania made a triumphant return to Orlando and again broke multiple records,” said WWE Executive Vice President of Special Events John Saboor in a press release. “This success would not have been possible without the tireless support of Mayor Dyer, the Local Organizing Committee and all of the public and private sector partners throughout Central Florida.”

WrestleMania 33 grossed $14.5 million in revenue, down from the company’s record $17.3 million for last year’s event. It also generated an estimated $125 million in economic impact for the Central Florida area. That’s why each year cities bid on hosting the pop culture extravaganza – New Orleans has been chosen over Philadelphia and Minneapolis to hold WrestleMania 34 next year as part of the city’s tricentennial celebration.

"WrestleMania Week was a tremendous success for the city of Orlando and it was an honor to host WWE and their fans back in our community," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "This is a testament to the investments we've made in our community venues that continue to attract these showcase events and solidify Orlando as the nation's leading sports and entertainment destination." Orlando is home to many WWE operations including its developmental brand NXT and its training facility the WWE Performance Center.

As soon as fans arrived at Orlando International Airport, they were greeted by WrestleMania signs at baggage claim and rental car stations. The streets of downtown Orlando were plastered in WrestleMania banners showcasing top stars such as Brock Lesnar and Goldberg. There was even a 30-foot-wide, 12-foot-high championship belt replica on display at Lake Eola.

Throughout the week, fans mobbed the Orange County Convention Centerin Orlando for WrestleMania Axxess, an annual fan fest with autograph signings, exhibits and merchandise. Attendees scooped up hats, shirts, wrist bands, posters, foam hands, and inflatable Bailey buddies, all emblazoned with the WrestleMania and WWE logos. Snickers sponsored the event for the second straight year, giving out free candy bars and sharing clips through social media and YouTube. During the WrestleMania broadcast, an ad featured WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and WWE Superstars Charlotte and James Ellsworth as part of the “You’re Not You When You're Hungry" campaign.

Coffee Mug Is Popular Promo for News Station

Los Angeles Tribune TV station’s KTLA 5 will be celebrating a milestone anniversary with an iconic item that appeals to a wide target audience.

The “Anchor Desk” drinkware, which is placed prominently on the studio desk during broadcasts, is a 15-oz. coffee mug. When the station worked with its distributor partner to develop a giveaway program celebrating 70 years of broadcasting, a special anniversary edition of this mug was the logical item. The mugs have been a coveted giveaway among viewers over the years.

Beginning on KTLA’s 70th anniversary date, the “Watch and Win” promotion gives viewers in the Los Angeles area the opportunity to text the station with a specific code word during its daily broadcast. KTLA then chooses winning viewers to receive a special-edition anniversary branded mug that matches the official Anchor Desk drinkware. The station was provided with 2,500 of the double-sided mugs. The promotion will run all year, and if the anchor mugs’ popularity is any indicator, they’ll continue to drive many viewers to enter the contest.

Surfs Up

Luxury swimwear brand Basta Surf’s identity is built on a line of conscientiously-produced beach apparel aimed at discriminating customers. Shoring up that brand identity means that even the hang tags on Basta’s products must reflect values of quality, subtlety and an environmentally conscious worldview.

So, when Basta approached its distributor partner with an idea for a seeded hangtag, the rep knew just the right product. She suggested the seeded paper hang tag, an idea that became a resounding success. “They wanted to elevate their brand,” the rep says. “They thought that this would be effective in showing their earth consciousness and organic materials.”

Basta donates a part of its profits to causes that promote clean water. The company promoted this eco-conscious initiative on the back of the letter-pressed tags. Beyond complementing Basta’s environmental efforts, the wildflower-seeded tags promote a free-and-fruitful attitude that is in keeping with Basta’s worldview. The rep adds: “It allows the business to show the customer they are thinking of them in other ways than just selling swimwear.”

Plan the Perfect Golf Outing

Hosting a company or charity golf tournament? Remember: Gifts and prizes are key to golf events, and in fact, are the reason many people play in events and return again the following year. However, experts say it’s important not to skimp on promotional items and giveaways.

Here are four popular areas for gift-giving:

  1. Tee Gifts: These are participation gifts that are given to each golfer at registration. The gift should encourage the participant to want to come back the next year. The higher the entry fee, the better the gift should be.
  2. Winner’s Gifts: In charity events, most play in teams of four. Gifts are presented to first-place, second-place and third-place finishers. For higher-end tournaments, a nice crystal gift, like a clock or trophy that will be kept and displayed is recommended. These awards help bring people back – they’re motivation to participate.
  3. Sponsor Awards: These may be the most important items. They can be crystal or utilitarian, and they don’t have to be golf-themed. For example, branded Sherpa blankets for individual sponsors. If the sponsor is corporate, a plaque or award that can be displayed on the walls of the office to demonstrate its commitment to charity.
  4. Volunteer Gifts: The volunteers work hard, and you want them to come back too. T-shirts are common choices, but food or wine could also be a good choice.

In addition to the gifts above, you’ll also need contest prizes for Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and Hole-in-One. Items to consider for these contests include a branded bicycle and a messenger bag.

No matter the use, be sure all items have high perceived value to match the exclusive feel of the tournaments. Also, consider non-golf items like can coolers, tumblers, stainless-steel bottles, sunglasses, sun screen, folding chairs, umbrellas, sport packs and even tech products. With the amount of time spent on the golf course – minimum four hours – attendees will appreciate power banks for their cellphones.

Contact your promotional products distributor for more golf outing solutions and product ideas.

Customized NFL Cleats Raise Money For Charity

The NFL was a little more colorful this past weekend, as hundreds of players wore logoed customized cleats to raise awareness and money for charity.

Players this season have been expressing their personality and fashion tastes with colorful custom cleats – shoes that would also violate the NFL dress code and draw a fine. For Week 13 of the football season, the NFL called a détente on the shoe wars and concocted “My Cause My Cleats,” a campaign designed to raise awareness for different social causes. More than a third of the league – over 500 players – donned cleats with custom designs representing a charity or cause of their choice.

“While there has always been interest and adoption at the youth level in sports, customized footwear has now taken the main stage in many verticals such as sports with the NFL’s Week 13 efforts or fashion with UGG stores offering the opportunity on their famous boots,” Josh Ellsworth, general manager of Stahls’(asi/88984) CAD-CUT Direct division, tells Counselor. Ellsworth noted the increasing demand for personalization and advances in a number of decoration techniques, including heat printing, direct-to-garment, UV printing and embroidery. “They are helping to drive quality products and, therefore, profitable new sales opportunities for businesses.”

Traditionally, NFL players must wear shoes without brand names and logos (beyond that of the shoe manufacturer) – it’s a fine of $6,076 for first-time infractions and $12,154 for subsequent ones. But the cleats sported by players last week featured all sorts of colorful logos, graphics and designs to raise awareness about issues such as domestic abuse, animal cruelty and rare diseases. NFL Auction has also allowed bidding on the shoes with 100% of the proceeds benefiting respective charities.

Ellsworth says customized footwear meshes well with the promotional product industry because it centers on memorability. “Custom branded shoes can be the next great thing that aligns with a campaign’s goals,” Ellsworth says. “Consider the following opportunities: customized footwear that supports a special cause for a charity run/walk, promotional footwear with a ‘Kick Cancer’ mantra that allows on-demand customization, promotional sneakers for a company’s event staff that will be on their feet all day or even custom shoes with a player’s name, number, or hashtag.”

However, Ellsworth warns that there are challenges to consider. “Footwear does bring in an element of sizing, so inventory risk for print on demand or in advance promotional opportunities can be costly,” he says. “The shoe fits when you have a good understanding of exactly who your customer is and what size they want.”

Here’s a look at several of the cleat designs that were worn by the players.

Promo Items for Pilgrims

In the months leading up to the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day 2016, preparations were as globe-spanning as the millions of expected attendees. First instituted in 1986 by Pope Saint John Paul II, World Youth Days (WYD) are hosted every three years by the Vatican and the incumbent Pope, and welcome droves of young people to a week-long faith celebration in a different city. The July 2016 event was held in Krakow, Poland.

Vatican representatives had a good idea of what they wanted for the attendees, known as “pilgrims,” who would eventually converge on Krakow from all over the world. For example, organizers wanted to include ponchos that could also double as ground blankets. So the organizers teamed up with their distributor partner and came up with an item made of a special fabric that not only protected wearers from the rain, but was both soft and durable enough to sit on. In addition, a dye-sublimated scarf was constructed of absorbent microfiber so that it doubled as a towel. 


Each item was color-matched, and the items came in red, blue and yellow. In addition to the ponchos and scarves, other WYD-branded items included backpacks, neck gaiters and silicone bracelets. The finished items were flown to the Polish port city of Gdansk, then trucked more than 350 miles to a warehouse in the Krakow area specially built for WYD, which also housed food and water for 2.5 million pilgrims that attended the successful event.

Interactive Alex Ovechkin Bobblehead Has Staying Power

Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin is quite a hockey player. Not only has "Ovi" amassed nearly 1,000 NHL points in just over 11 seasons, but he's internationally recognized as one of the game's most talented and popular players. So admired is the Russian-born Ovechkin that his likeness is frequently etched on bobbleheads and given away as part of Washington Capital promotions, with this season being no exception.

However, this year’s bobblehead is a little different.

Included in this bobblehead statue giveaway – part of a promotion that encourages multi-game ticket purchases – is a clever Ovi “Career Points” counter at the base that can be manually updated each time a point is scored. So as the winger draws nearer to the vaunted 1,000-point club, fans can tick off the points in real-time!

What makes this small, but not insignificant, feature brilliant is that it transforms a traditional bobblehead from a somewhat boring collectible item, usually stored in dark closets and display cases, to an interactive one that commands attention. People are going to want to display this item prominently in their home theaters, man (and woman) caves, desks and offices.

And as Ovi continues to score points well past 1,000 – he’s still in his prime at 31 and could play another 10 years – this item will prove to have far more staying power and promotional impact than any traditional bobblehead ever could.

Pets Big Part of Harley Davidson Brand

Harley-Davidson has a longstanding brand connection with pets, dating back to 1914 when Miss Della Crewe drove cross-country on a Harley accompanied by her Boston bulldog, Trouble, in the sidecar sporting a special custom sweater.

“To us, dog is family, and Harley-Davidson is a family-oriented brand,” says Jodi Politowski, motor clothes manager at the House of Harley Davidson in Milwaukee. The company also has a strong relationship with the Humane Society and sponsors many pet-oriented events and fundraisers to support that partnership.

Pets are welcome at all of the company’s showroom locations, with pet bowls and treats available for furry friends, as well as an array of themed merchandise. Initially Harley-Davidson offered collars and leashes, but eventually its exclusive supplier, Coastal Pet Products, recognized it should expand its pet product offerings, according to Politowski.

“Harley riders are passionate about our product,” she says. “Many will come in when they get a new dog to have it fitted for a Harley-Davidson collar, and some even pick Harley-related names for their animals.”

Harley-themed pet merchandise is available for sale on the company website www.houseofharley.com as well as in showrooms and at Harley-sponsored events. Its best sellers are its leather-spiked collars, pet apparel for smaller dogs and a pet fleece hoodie, according to Politowski.

Customized NFL Cleats Raise Money For Charity

The NFL was a little more colorful this past weekend, as hundreds of players wore logoed customized cleats to raise awareness and money for charity.

Players this season have been expressing their personality and fashion tastes with colorful custom cleats – shoes that would also violate the NFL dress code and draw a fine. For Week 13 of the football season, the NFL called a détente on the shoe wars and concocted “My Cause My Cleats,” a campaign designed to raise awareness for different social causes. More than a third of the league – over 500 players – donned cleats with custom designs representing a charity or cause of their choice.

“While there has always been interest and adoption at the youth level in sports, customized footwear has now taken the main stage in many verticals such as sports with the NFL’s Week 13 efforts or fashion with UGG stores offering the opportunity on their famous boots,” Josh Ellsworth, general manager of Stahls’(asi/88984) CAD-CUT Direct division, tells Counselor. Ellsworth noted the increasing demand for personalization and advances in a number of decoration techniques, including heat printing, direct-to-garment, UV printing and embroidery. “They are helping to drive quality products and, therefore, profitable new sales opportunities for businesses.”

Traditionally, NFL players must wear shoes without brand names and logos (beyond that of the shoe manufacturer) – it’s a fine of $6,076 for first-time infractions and $12,154 for subsequent ones. But the cleats sported by players last week featured all sorts of colorful logos, graphics and designs to raise awareness about issues such as domestic abuse, animal cruelty and rare diseases. NFL Auction has also allowed bidding on the shoes with 100% of the proceeds benefiting respective charities.

Ellsworth says customized footwear meshes well with the promotional product industry because it centers on memorability. “Custom branded shoes can be the next great thing that aligns with a campaign’s goals,” Ellsworth says. “Consider the following opportunities: customized footwear that supports a special cause for a charity run/walk, promotional footwear with a ‘Kick Cancer’ mantra that allows on-demand customization, promotional sneakers for a company’s event staff that will be on their feet all day or even custom shoes with a player’s name, number, or hashtag.”

However, Ellsworth warns that there are challenges to consider. “Footwear does bring in an element of sizing, so inventory risk for print on demand or in advance promotional opportunities can be costly,” he says. “The shoe fits when you have a good understanding of exactly who your customer is and what size they want.”

Here’s a look at several of the cleat designs that were worn by the players.

Netflix Recreates Lukes Diner to Promote Gilmore Girls Revival

On Wednesday, streaming giant Netflix transformed over 200 coffee shops across the country into the iconic Luke’s Diner, the fictional eatery made famous in the 2000s-era hit Gilmore Girls. Baristas donned aprons featuring the Luke’s Diner logo. Custom signage – including cardboard cutouts of Luke himself, played by actor Scott Patterson – completed the illusion.

Fans of the show lined up bright and early to nab a free cup of joe, decorated with special Luke’s Diner sleeves. Hiding under the sleeve were coffee-related quotes from the show’s fast-talking, java-loving stars. 

The effort was part of an elaborate marketing strategy to drum up interest for next month’s Netflix revival of the show, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Reuniting Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel and other cast members, the four-part series debuts November 25. Netflix’s nationwide promotion also had a social media element, with #LukesDiner trending on Twitter, and codes printed on the free custom coffee cups unlocking a special Snapchat filter for 24 hours.

This isn’t the first time Netflix has turned to promotional products to promote its original content. Earlier this year, the company gave out T-shirts, buttons and other swag bearing the slogan “FU ‘16” to promote the fourth season of House of Cards, in which corrupt politician Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, schemes his way into the Oval Office

T-Shirts Help Entice MLB Team to Stay in Town

For almost a decade, the Tampa Bay Rays have called Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL, home. However, in recent years, attendance at the stadium has steadily gone down. The stadium needs renovations, and, though they show tremendous support for their home team, the majority of Rays fans live more than 30 minutes away from Tropicana Field, making it difficult for them to attend games regularly.

The Rays asked St. Petersburg’s city council to allow the Major League Baseball team to search for a new location within the Tampa/St. Petersburg region to entice fans to return to the games. However, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Chris Steinocher, president of St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, wanted to persuade the Rays to stay at Tropicana Field; so, in addition to offering renovation aid, the summer-long “Baseball Forever” campaign was born.

Kriseman and Steinocher wanted to focus the campaign – which incorporated more than 700 imprinted “Baseball Forever St. Pete” T-shirts – on the St. Petersburg community, offering opportunities for local businesses to grow.

Through word of mouth, city council members connected with a local apparel decorator to design and imprint the baseball- and St. Pete-themed tees. The designer of the shirt says he was thrilled to help promote his hometown. “The mayor used this campaign to get the community behind him and showcase the excellent market in St. Petersburg,” he says.

The screen-printed “Baseball Forever” unisex short-sleeve T-shirts were given out at Sports Bar and Fan Fest, where the mayor spoke about the campaign and its benefits to the community. Fans also garnered the tees before and during baseball games.

The shirts became so popular that St. Petersburg’s Chamber of Commerce ordered more and started selling them at its St. Pete Store & Visitor Center and best of all, it looks like the “Baseball Forever” campaign has been working – the Rays have yet to leave the city of St. Petersburg.

ASPCA Promotes APP With Branded Items

Pet owners have to be extra careful during the summer months as their furry friends are more prone to go missing, drown in backyard pools or suffer from heat exhaustion after being left in parked vehicles.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) urges pet owners to prepare for such situations by downloading the Pet Safety App, which tracks lost pets and issues emergency alerts.

To entice downloads, the ASPCA, in conjunction with fashion and lifestyle blog MyBeautyBunny.com, is giving away a summer prize package full of promotional products. The package includes a tote bag, Frisbee, beach ball and towel – all emblazoned with the ASPCA logo – and a Subaru yoga mat.

The app provides a personalized missing pet recovery kit, including step-by-step instructions on how to search for a lost animal in a variety of circumstances. You can also build a lost pet digital flyer that can be shared instantly on social media channels. Additionally, you can store and manage your pet’s critical health records and access advice on what to do with your pet before, during and after a major storm, even if there’s no WiFi or data connectivity.

In order to enter the giveaway, pet owners (18 years or older) had to download the ASPCA mobile app and then submit their information through the Rafflecopter widget.

Harry Potter Fans Load Up On Cursed Child Giveaways

The release of the latest Harry Potter book once again cast a spell on thousands of the wizard’s biggest fans, who congregated in midnight parties across the country while dressing up in costume and angling for giveaways.

They all eagerly awaited the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which (long after the series was thought to be concluded) returns to the Potter universe to follow Harry as an adult and father of three children. The book is a printed script from the London play penned by Potter author J.K. Rowling and other collaborators. With anticipation sky high – it was the most pre-ordered book in Barnes & Noble history – publisher Scholastic chose to release the book at midnight on Sunday, July 31, as was traditionally done with Rowling’s other Potter titles.

Bookstores throughout the U.S. celebrated with midnight release parties that included costume and trivia contests, readings from the series and latest book, a Hogwartsian “Sorting Ceremony” and all manners of games and activities.

Included among them was a whole host of giveaways. New York-based Books of Wonder offered a bevy of free premiums, including a set of full-color prints of each book cover, a full-color holographic Harry Potter bookmark, a lightning bolt temporary tattoo and decals for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a side book in the Potter universe penned by Rowling that is being made into a movie. Any patron that purchased two or more Harry Potter hardcover titles that night also received a free full-color mug with images of Harry from the seven book covers. More Potter prizes – including bookmarks, keychains, posters and even a signed first U.S. printing of The Prisoner of Azkaban­ – were won by customers who bought the book and then drew from the “Books of Wonder Sorting Hat.”

Others joined in with the giveaways. Skylight Books in Los Angeles offered Harry Potter tattoos and pins. Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA, was transformed into “Hogwart’s Square,” with a movie screening, Harry Potter selfie stand and giveaways that included tattoos, decals and Wizard Glasses. Target even offered an exclusive poster for people who purchased the book.

“The announcement was that it was a play in script form, [and] we weren’t sure how it was going to be received,” Bryan Samsone, manager of Austin, TX-based BooPeople, told Entertainment Weekly. “But it became pretty apparent quickly after word came out that people still wanted to congregate together to celebrate Harry Potter, dress up, and relive all these memories that formed their childhood.”

Promo Items Help Boost Employee Health

With group health-care rates spiking – some soaring by double digits in 2015 – companies are promoting healthier workplaces to help cut down on health-care claims. A Harvard University study, in fact, found that for every $1 invested in a corporate wellness program, companies could receive a $6 return on investment, a direct result of reduced medical costs and a drop in absenteeism.

Indeed, corporate wellness – which has evolved into an $8 billion industry according to IBISWorld – is clearly an important business strategy, impacting firms’ bottom lines, as well as employee productivity and culture. Promoting these initiatives, and enticing employees to participate is critical to their success.

The approach is proactive versus reactive, encouraging employees to take charge of their health and make positive changes, rather than waiting until they develop serious health problems, which are much more expensive and harder to correct. Promotional products are important tools that companies can use as perks, as well as effective items that will energize and motivate their workforces.

One large firm that features a wellness program for its employees is Aetna. Of Aetna’s 50,000 current employees, some 34,000 currently participate in its wellness programs, says communications director Ethan Slavin. About 40% of participants use a wearable device to log their healthy activities.

In addition to its year-round Healthy Lifestyles program, which uses cash incentives, Aetna also offers a “Get Active Aetna” initiative in the fall which is a team-based wellness challenge for employees. If they meet certain healthy activity requirements during this period, they have the opportunity to earn Aetna gear, like gym bags, yoga mats, water bottles and other apparel, or they can donate an equivalent to charity, Slavin says.

Incentives, no doubt, are key. “If there’s no incentive, the engagement level is low,” says Frank J. Grimm, a senior benefits adviser at LHD. “The most successful programs have multiple designs, which might be gift card programs, challenges that allow participants to enter drawings for gift cards or rewards, Web stores and promotional items. Sometimes something as simple as a water bottle gets employees excited.”

If you’re planning an employee wellness program, be sure to contact your distributor partner for expert service and the perfect promotional products to fit your needs.

DNC Donkey Scavenger Hunt Includes T-shirt Prize

A city-wide scavenger hunt planned this summer, to correspond with the Democratic National Convention (DNC) being held July 25-28 in Philadelphia, has proved a perfect opportunity for a promotional product tie-in. Some winners of the “Donkeys Around Town” hunt will win custom T-shirts to commemorate their participation in the event.

On July 1, 57 fiberglass donkeys were installed throughout the city, each painted by a local artist to represent one of the Democratic delegations coming to the convention at the end of the month. Artist Lynette Shelley, who painted the Missouri and Oklahoma donkeys, says she participated in the project because of its uniqueness and the challenge of selecting the most compelling state elements in her design.

“This project is a fun way to engage delegates coming to Philadelphia and will enable them to connect with Philadelphians and the local arts community,” said Ed Rendell, former Pennsylvania governor and chairman of the 2016 DNC host committee.

To build excitement for the “Donkeys Around Town” public art installation, the committee is planning a scavenger hunt from July 21 to 28. After downloading the free app Scavify, available here, participants will be able to complete challenges at each of the donkeys they find across the city. According to the host committee, each donkey will have a corresponding interactive challenge that can be completed with the app. Participants will be asked to answer questions, check in via GPS or take fun photos to accumulate points toward prizes. They are also encouraged to share the experience via social media using the hashtag phrase #DonkeysAroundTown.

Each donkey will be worth 10 points, and prizes will be awarded based on a tiered system. Participants who find 15 donkeys, accumulating 150 points, will receive a commemorative Visit Philadelphia magnetic photo frame or an official T-shirt. In anticipation of the event, the host committee has printed 500 of the promotional tees, using a local custom screen-printing business, according to a spokesman for the DNC host committee. Other prizes include tickets to popular museums, complimentary cheesesteaks and a raffle ticket for a grand prize of either a two-night hotel stay and restaurant gift cards or a package of tickets to Philadelphia sporting events.

The grand prize drawing will take place July 29, and all prizes can be redeemed at the Independence Visitor Center at Sixth and Market streets. The donkeys themselves will remain in the city until Sept. 9.

WrestleMania Promos Take Over Texas

A week of BBQ and bodyslams has wrapped up as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) presented WrestleMania 32 – professional wrestling's annual promo-filled Super Bowl inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

An all-time WWE attendance record of 101,763 people from 50 states and 35 countries made the pilgrimage to witness their favorite athletes clash at the nearly seven-hour event. "On behalf of the Dallas Cowboys organization, we congratulate WWE on their historic achievement," said Dallas Cowboys Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson in a press release. "WrestleMania was an incredible spectacle like none other, and we look forward to hosting it again at AT&T Stadium."

WrestleMania 32 also became the highest-grossing live event in WWE history, grossing $17.3 million. The record was set last year, as WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara, CA, grossed $12.6 million. It also generated $139 million in economic impact for the Santa Clara/San Jose area; $22 million of which was spent on hotels and accommodations. That's why cities bid on hosting the pop culture extravaganza each year – Orlando has been chosen over Philadelphia and Minneapolis to hold WrestleMania 33 next year.

"We are thrilled that we made history tonight at WrestleMania, further cementing its place as one of the top sports and entertainment events in the world," said WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon.

As soon as fans arrived at Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, they were greeted by WrestleMania signs and life-size WWE Superstar cutouts at baggage claim and rental car stations. Even the streets of downtown Dallas were plastered in WrestleMania banners showcasing top stars such as The Rock and John Cena. StubHub handed out free lanyards with plastic pouches to securely hold tickets to the event while fans scooped up hats, shirts, wristbands and posters emblazoned with the WrestleMania and WWE logos.

Throughout the week, fans mobbed the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas for WrestleMania Axxess, an annual fan fest with autograph signings, exhibits and merchandise. Snickers sponsored the event, giving out free candy bars and sharing clips through social media and YouTube. During the WrestleMania broadcast, an ad featured WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and WWE Superstars Charlotte and Zack Ryder as part of the "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign.

Hand Sanitizers, Stress Balls & More a Hit at Book Fair

Few bibliophiles could resist delving into cafeteria tables laden with more than 16,000 books, all sorted and sold for a fraction of the original sticker price. Sweetening the prospect of a used book sale, however, is the promise of ample free food and other giveaways.

The Emmaus Public Library, a community library in eastern Pennsylvania, teamed up recently with The Nutrition Group, a full-service food and utilities management company, to hold a used book sale and a Nutrition, Health and Safety Fair at Lower Macungie Middle School, one of the institutions serviced by The Nutrition Group. The school’s cafeteria was transformed into a mecca for readers of all ages, and the halls outside the book sale were stocked with booths providing free screenings and sharing information on healthy eating, the dangers of smoking and the importance of good oral hygiene.

Booth workers gave away bags of popcorn, packets of flavored raisins, and samples of fruit smoothies. But there were also a slew of promotional products at the fair. A local hospital had a basket of spray hand sanitizers set up next to a display about germs. An orthodontist gave out logoed water bottles. Other swag on site included stress balls, erasers, stickers, bumper stickers, keychains, can coolers and crayon packets with nutrition-themed coloring pages.

Plan on having your own public event or fair? Make sure you have an ample supply of fun and functional promotional items to hand out. Contact your distributor partner for great ideas and products.

Promos Help Increase Awareness for Charity

In honor of April being Autism Awareness Month, national charity Jaden’s Voice recently held the grand opening of its West Philadelphia office. The open house included supportive politicians, educational seminars and plenty of promotional products.

UnitedHealthcare gave away bags full of logoed items tailored for children with autism. Inside the bags were a giant placemat plastered with a balanced diet diagram, a plastic plate version of the diagram with a Spanish translation, a colorful informational booklet, a car charger, crayons and a cute stuffed animal named Dr. Health E. Hound.

“They say it takes a village, I say it takes the world,” said Jaden’s Voice founder Terri Matthews, whose 9-year-old son Jaden was diagnosed at age 2. “He lost his voice, so I became his voice.”

About 1 in 68 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Jaden’s Voice advocates for children with autism in underserved communities, providing financial assistance to families and teaching parents how to live with the disorder. “We need to train people so they’re accommodating and understand how our families are impacted,” Matthews said.

Pennsylvania State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown and Philadelphia City Councilman Derek Green were also in attendance, both of whom have children on the autism spectrum. Brown’s son suffers from learning differences and wasn’t properly diagnosed until he was an adult. Green’s 15-year-old son Julian was diagnosed around the same age as Jaden. He was able to get through kindergarten, Green said, but first grade was more challenging, so the councilman and his wife developed an autism support class at Julian’s elementary school, which has now grown to three classes.

“You really can’t dwell,” Green said. “You have to be an active advocate and get intervention as early as possible so it will help your child in the future.”

In addition to educating and assisting families, Jaden’s Voice hosts a Web-based business membership program listing vendors whose products, services and locations have been certified as making life with autism easier and more dignified. For more information, visit www.jadensvoice.org.

Raising Awareness for Newborns

When is a T-shirt more than a T-shirt? When it builds awareness for a special cause. That's the role specially designed T-shirts play each year at an annual softball game to raise awareness for The Asher James Heart Disease & Thrombosis Foundation.

Jennifer DeBouver founded the foundation, which raises awareness about blood clots in small children, after losing a baby girl before childbirth, and then losing a boy, Asher, six weeks after he was born due to a congenital heart disease called Aortic Stenosis. "After he passed away, the doctor told us there weren't any foundations or much research to support blood clots in children," DeBouver says.

Since Asher passed away in October of 2012, DeBouver has partnered with Mended Little Hearts, an organization that supports families with children with congenital heart defects, and has held an annual softball game between the two organizations on Asher's birthday.

Prior to his birth, Asher had had a baseball-themed baby shower which inspired DeBouver to hold the softball game in his honor. Working with a distributor partner, DeBouver created the theme, "Lions, Giraffes, Softballs, Oh My!" and tested three different designs for the event's T-shirts on Facebook. All three designs included two little birds to represent the children DeBouver had lost. The Mended Hearts' T-shirt featured a lion, and the Asher James Foundation shirts featured a giraffe, which DeBouver has always associated with her son.

The winning design was featured on the T-shirt at the softball game (held in October at a park in Schaumburg, IL), and DeBouver said they were a big hit. The event raised hundreds of dollars for DeBouver's foundation, and, most importantly, continues to raise awareness for the cause. "If this little T-shirt can make one person aware of our foundation, I've done my job," DeBouver says.

The Psychology of Rewarding VIPs

Who are the real VIPs in your organization? The answer is simple: Your highest performing salespeople and those loyal customers who consistently buy your products. It makes sense to reward these contributors, but typical gifts aren't enough. To find what really works, you need to use VIP psychology. Take the advice featured here from two experts.

Rewarding Sales VIPs: Dr. Steven Hunt, a trained psychologist and VP of customer research at Success Factors, says that when rewarding top reps, it's important to make a distinction. "Your top salespeople sell up to 400% more product than anyone else, and they can make or break a quarter," says Hunt. "Think of it in sports terms: LeBron James isn't just a little bit better than other basketball players, he's a whole lot better."

Hunt advises dividing salespeople into three groups before forming reward systems: Group 1 consists of those salespeople to whom monetary rewards are the main motivators, though Hunt says that money isn't the only motivating factor. "Reward them by removing distractions that slow their output," Hunt says. For example, offer to have an assistant help them with paperwork, and allow them to team with other high performers.

Group 2 reps care deeply about customer success. "You've got to watch it with Group 2," Hunt says, "because they're so customer oriented, they may decide to follow an account by leaving your company." He suggests keeping them happy by rewarding them with more leeway in developing and maintaining customer relationships and breaking up existing sales structures to allow them more customer involvement and more autonomy.

Group 3 consists of salespeople who are product motivated. Reward this group by asking for their opinions and input on products and services, advises Hunt. You can provide them with additional high-level product information to help them sell.

Incentive product ideas for top reps:
Group 1 – Consider high tech incentives that make this group's life easier such as electronic planners or miniature video projectors that can be used to amplify sales demos.
Group 2 – Offer this group items branded with company logos that they can pass on to their best customers such as pen sets and desk accessories.
Group 3 – Product-related incentives, such as miniature product mockups or USB drives loaded with product info that they can pass on to customers, work for this group.

Rewarding Customer VIPs:  Julie Cottineau, founder and CEO of BrandTwist, says when it comes to the psychology of rewarding your most loyal customers, you need to use rewards that will make them want to come back to you again and again. "Today's customers are interested in more than just discount points," she says. "We're dealing with millennials now. To reward them, you need to shift the focus away from transactional rewards that can be easily duplicated by your competitors and move to a reward relationship that offers both access and recognition." 

One way to do this is to use social media to encourage top customers to tell the story of their relationship with you and your brand. That step alone is enough to promote good interactions with your most loyal customers. "You can deepen these relationships by offering special access rewards such as VIP treatment at a top restaurant or admission to an anticipated event," Cottineau says. "A big part of the customer reward process is acknowledgment. Rewards should tell the customer, 'I hear you, I appreciate you and I thank you.'"

Cottineau cites the following reward programs as examples: Urban Outfitters' loyal customers received reward points when they utilized an Urban Outfitters app to upload photos of their use of the store's merchandise. This program synced with users' social media networks, and customers were able to exchange points for unique rewards such as designing their own Urban Outfitters' outfit or holding their own fashion show at a local Urban Outfitters' store.

Foggy Bottom Grocery (FoBoGro) rewarded loyal customers by allowing them to invent their own sandwich and put it on the FoBoGro menu for a week. Cottineau notes that this program reached millennials by using Twitter as a key social media channel.

A Nike campaign encouraged customers to complete "Missions" such as running, skateboarding or attending a dance class.  They then shared their event photos on Facebook to earn points for each completed Mission. Points could be exchanged for access to sporting events or for Nike merchandise. Cottineau says the program did a good job of integrating the product into the customer loyalty experience.

Incentive product ideas for loyal customers:

  • Imprinted calendars with monthly coupons that can be used for unique customer rewards
  • Handy LED flashlights, umbrellas and first-aid kits emblazoned with company logos
  • Logoed power banks that can be used to power customers' cellphones

A Very Special Reunion Tee

Captain Michael Lee from the U.S. Army was trying to locate a company to produce a small order of T-shirts for the unit’s first-ever reunion. “When someone comes to us and requests a custom T-shirt, we seldom wonder about the story behind the shirt or the weight of the memory it reflects,” says Jamie Barrus, a co-owner of a promotional products firm.

But when Barrus came across Lee’s request for shirts for a military unit that served in Afghanistan, she became intrigued. Barrus asked some questions as to the backstory of the T-shirt, and decided she had to help.

As Captain Lee tells it, he was called back to active duty in 2006, reporting to Fort Bragg, where the Army quickly assembled a team of other recalled Army troops to serve an assignment in Afghanistan. “There was a lot of drama at the time, since many folks did not want to be there,” Lee remembers. “At the first muster formation, they did a roll call of everyone who had orders to report for mobilization, and less than half of the people showed up.”

After training, the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was assigned to Farrah in West Afghanistan. The PRT’s main mission was to man a one-gun truck to assess nearby villages and schools and act as a liaison between local police. Because there was a severe manpower shortage at the time, Lee says, the Army had to borrow personnel from other branches of the military. “Our base was like a fort in the old Wild West,” Lee says of the small contingent of soldiers. As a result of their work together in such an isolated area, the crew bonded tightly.

Toward the end of deployment, Lee and his fellow troops were transported to an airfield in Afghanistan, where they received a team T-shirt for their efforts. The tees however proved to be a bit disappointing. “Unfortunately, the selection of designs was very limited,” Lee says.

For the unit’s reunion, he says, “we wanted to have an updated shirt that better reflects and improves heraldry.” The new shirts that Barrus’ company produced featured a bold logo that included a steely skull with swords and a rugged bandanna, along with the tagline “secure the victory.”

Finally, Captain Lee and his troops got the shirt that they really wanted for their reunion. “We were so happy to help,” says Barrus. “Sometimes a T-shirt is just a T-shirt. Other times, you realize it helps preserve a memory for the rest of people’s lives. That’s pretty neat.”

Africa Brings the Bling

Orchestrating a sales incentive program for more than 45 offices around the world is no easy task. “We’re in 22 countries, so whenever you’re trying to come up with an incentive item, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘OK, this will work here in the United States, but how will it play in Africa?’” says Crystal Oakes, director of branding for Trévo, a nutritional supplement company that has 200,000 sales reps worldwide.

Not only are cultural tastes and preferences different in each country, Oakes says, but many of the company’s reps work out of their homes, so logoed items like desk accessories aren’t always appropriate.

Oakes often works with a distributor to come up with unique logoed apparel items to add to Trévo’s sales incentive program and the many incentive trips it offers throughout the world. Until recently, Oakes says, the company stuck to the tried-and-true apparel basics, like black polo shirts with embroidered logos. “We decided we needed to do something different to shake things up a little,” Oakes says.



Oakes and her distributor partner teamed up and created T-shirts screen printed with the company’s brand message in metallic ink on both the front and back. The company offered the shirts to reps who paid in full for their orders by a certain date. “In many countries, our reps have to stand in line for hours and pay cash in advance for their products, so it’s important to offer an attractive incentive,” Oakes says.

Luckily, reps found the incentive very attractive. Oakes says Trévo saw a large spike in orders as a result of the incentive. But the best part? “Our sales force was so funked up about the shirts, particularly our reps in Africa. I’ve never seen any like it before,” Oakes says. Just a day or two after the company started giving out the shirts, Oakes says, reps all over the country were sending pictures of themselves wearing it, and posting photos on social media as well.

In addition, the company recently hosted an incentive trip in Turks & Caicos for 30 sales reps throughout the world, and most of the recipients came off the plane wearing their new metallic shirts. “That’s when I knew this was the best promotion we’d ever done,” Oakes says. “Not only did we get lots of our salespeople super excited, but now they’re getting our name out there wherever they go. That’s pretty exciting.”

Eat Your Greens

Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of where their food comes from, whether they eat it at the dinner table or on a picnic blanket. To set their minds at ease, many people decide to join food cooperatives, which sell fresh food that’s locally made or grown.


Recently, one co-op wanted to spread the word in their community about healthy eating and the importance of supporting the local economy. They teamed up with a neighboring company that had recently implemented an employee health and wellness program, and distributed imprinted foodware to encourage the employees to bring healthy foods for their day-time meals. The co-op is located down the street from the company, and they encouraged their employees to shop at the co-op for fresh food before and after work.


One of the items employees received was the Salad/Snack Bowl Set which was decorated with the co-op’s logo. More than 275 bowls were distributed, and other decorated items were also given out as part of the campaign. The co-op’s distributor partner was able to tie the promotion to a specific health initiative, based on Affordable Care Act guidelines. 

3 Tips For A Healthier Workplace

Johnson & Johnson has one. So does Chick Fil-A. Indeed, practically every company in America has an employee wellness program in place, but how many actually measure the program’s effectiveness? Fewer than one quarter, according to a recent study by Buck Consultants. According to the study, 77% of employers in the U.S. offer at least one program to keep employees healthy (think free gym memberships and incentives to stop smoking), but only 23% actually measure the outcomes of those programs.


That’s a mistake, say health-care consultants. “By knowing what types of programs work best, you’ll be able to see how to move the needle in terms of health-care premiums and other benefits of corporate wellness, like reduced absenteeism and increased productivity,” says David Atkinson, vice president of corporate wellness for Cooper Corporate Solutions, a firm which helps companies design programs to keep employees healthy. Make no mistake: There are real benefits to be had by setting up an employee wellness program, and appropriately rewarding employees for their participation. Here are some tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of yours, and rewarding employees appropriately for participating.






Tip 1: Design a Program
Companies that are looking to wellness programs to reduce insurance premiums and absenteeism need to design programs that can be more specifically tied to those goals, Atkinson says.


As an example, when Redstone Presbyterian Care, a health-care facility with more than 400 employees, was hit with a 44% increase in health-insurance premiums, it realized it needed to do something – fast. “We weren’t paying attention to what was going on around us,” says Jim Hodge, vice president of human resources. Specifically, employee obesity, tobacco use, high blood pressure and other health risks were causing the company’s premiums to skyrocket.


Redstone initially responded with a variety of free fitness activities, like yoga and kickboxing classes, that employees could participate in. “We even offered ballroom dancing,” Hodge says. 


Employees received points for completing every activity, and those points were redeemable for cash or merchandise, like fitness equipment. “What we learned was that people didn’t necessarily equate the fact that they were doing these programs for wellness,” Hodge says. 


So Redstone adjusted its program; now, instead of simply participating in exercise classes, they also have to overcome several hurdles in order to participate in the company’s insurance program. Now, employees who want to be insured by Redstone must undergo a health-risk assessment, biometric screening and meet with a wellness coach three times annually. The result? “More of our employees are really paying attention to their wellness,” Hodge says. “Three employees have given up tobacco this year, and countless others have lost weight.” 


The upshot? The company has saved more than $440,000 in insurance premiums, and has managed to hold annual insurance-premium increases to single digits. “We found that really educating people about their health works much better than simply throwing a bunch of programs at them,” Hodge adds.


Tip 2: Offer Incentives
Most employees won’t be eager to stop smoking or lose weight without a little nudge, say wellness experts. Indeed, 56% of companies in the U.S. offer incentives like gifts, merchandise, or reduced insurance costs, for participating in wellness programs. How to find the right incentives for your group?


That depends on how big of a change you’re asking employees to make, says Rich Allen, vice president of group benefits and risk analysis for Cooper Corporate Solutions. “If you’re looking at wellness as a fun thing for employees to do, small incentives such as logoed pedometers, yoga mats, T-shirts and athletic gear will do the trick,” Allen says. “If your objective is to change costs and risk factors for employees, you have to be much more aggressive in the incentives you offer.” 


For example, companies covered by Cigna’s health plan can opt into a program that pays out bigger rewards, such as jewelry and electronics, for completing a series of health screenings or participating in a program to control their diabetes. Other companies reward employees for major lifestyle changes, such as a sustained drop in blood pressure, by reducing the amount they have to contribute to their health-care premiums. In a program Cooper created for NEI, a server company, employees who showed progress in health screenings would pay a discount on their health-care contributions. After participating in the program for four years, NEI had “almost completely eradicated high-risk blood pressure among its employees, and had a 50% reduction in employees with high-risk cholesterol,” Allen says. “That’s a pretty impressive result.”

Tip 3: Measure Results
Companies creating wellness programs to improve the work environment should be able to measure results by simply surveying the population. “Are employees having fun? Do they like what’s happening? Then good, you’re on the right track,” says Smytha Haley, a wellness consultant.


Those who want to track the effectiveness of the program on the bottom line should be prepared to wait about 18 months for a result, Haley says. For many firms, 18 months is the point at which workers’ bettering health begins to cancel out the cost of sponsoring and administering the corporate wellness program.


As a rule of thumb, the average cost to a business is about $3 to $5 per participating staff member per month. “Within three years of the launch you ought to be seeing meaningful savings,” Haley says.

Promo Items Help Raise Funds For Guide Dogs

Most charity runs and walks have a ‘no dogs allowed’ policy. Not so at the Southwestern Guide Dogs walkathons, a series of walking events in Florida that raise money for the organization.

“It’s wonderful to see people bringing their dogs to these events,” says Andy Kramer, the development director of the Palmetto, FL-based nonprofit that has trained hundreds of guide dogs. “You can’t help but see families with their dogs and not smile.”

At each of the nine events held during the summer, Kramer says, the organization’s guide dog trainers are also invited to bring their puppies and current trainee dogs to the event. The puppies, which Kramer calls “Goldadorables,” are a special cross breed of Labradors and Golden Retrievers. “This breed produces wonderful guide dogs that are able to form and nurture partnership with visually impaired individuals, facilitating their life’s journeys with mobility, independence and integrity,” he says.

Promotional items play a major part in the Southeastern Guide Dogs Walkathons, starting with fundraising awards. “For example, if someone raises $100 for an event, they get a monogrammed T-shirt,” Kramer says, “$250 gets you a branded tumbler. In addition, every attending dog gets a logoed bandana and we also bring lots of branded promotional items from our gift shop, including hats, shirts and leashes, for sale at our events.”

This year’s events raised a whopping $835,000 for the charity – a new record.

The Guide Dog Walkathons are expanding to two new locations next year. “We’ve been able to grow new events in markets where we are not as well-known via grass roots fundraising campaigns that net us more friends and sponsors and help us provide more dogs to the visually impaired,” Kramer says. “Recently, Publix and Subaru came on board, which shows that success breeds success.”

Also on tap for the 2016 season: Participants will be invited to design the logoed T-shirts that will be used as event giveaways. “We work really hard to build excitement for these events each year, and the promotional products we incorporate really help do that,” Kramer says.

Picturesque Promos

These picturesque events run through the sacred homeland of the Lakota Sioux, starting at Rochford, South Dakota and ending in the historic town of Deadwood. "Great scenery and an opportunity to tie in the runs with a vacation in the beautiful Black Hills make it a family-friendly venue," says race director Emily Wheeler of Rapid City-based Wheeler Events Management. "We had a fantastic turnout for this year's runs with over 3,400 registrations from 44 states, Canada and as far away as New Zealand."

A wide selection of branded products including hats, hoodies, shirts, badges and jackets helped make the marathons a success. "Our most popular promotional items were quarter-zip jackets emblazoned with the race logos," says Wheeler. "These are something for the racers to take back home with them and wear as a memory of the event. Participating moms and dads also bought jackets and shirts for their children."

According to Wheeler, the Half Marathon garnered the most entries, "because it's obviously shorter and mostly downhill which makes it attractive for folks who want to compete but aren't able to put in as much training time."  Wheeler also sponsors the Run Crazy Horse event in October where runners end their journey at the giant hand of the fabled Crazy Horse Monument.  This event features unique promotional items such as branded horse tank and shooter shirts. 

Gear-Up for Gift-Giving Season

Gifting clients and employees around the holidays isn't just a nice way to spread some cheer – it's a smart business tactic, according to a recent study by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI). About three-quarters of U.S. companies give holiday gifts to employees and clients, spending an average of $64 per employee and $38 per client, the study reports.

Why the generosity? Nearly 70% of the respondents said that business gifts are an important tool in developing relationships with clients and prospects. With that in mind, here are five corporate gift-giving tips to help you prep for the upcoming holiday season.

Start Early.
According to the study, 68% of businesspeople give gifts branded with the company's logo on them. But personalization takes time. Experts recommend clients start talking to their promotional products distributors about holiday gifts in August and September, and "place all of their orders by early fall," says promotional expert Marcia Gasca. "That way, there's plenty of time to be creative with personalization and packaging."

Be On-Trend.
Useful items that take up real estate on a recipient's desk or wall (think logoed pen sets and calendars) are always popular, but electronics remain the hot ticket on everyone's list, says Gasca. Think branded power banks, tablet covers and logoed microfiber screen cleaners. One hot item for this year: a portable charger leash, which has an alarm in it that sounds when you remove your device from it (great for globetrotters who are constantly leaving their travel chargers behind in hotel rooms). Other fun ideas include smart watches, apparel that monitors your heart rate and fitness-tracking wristbands. 

Think Beyond the Gift Card. 
While gift cards remain one of the most popular gifts for employees, get creative and present the card with something the recipient will hold onto much longer, suggests Gasca. For instance, put the card inside of a branded tumbler mug or water bottle, or zip it into the pocket of an embroidered fleece jacket. Another idea: Place the card inside a branded picture frame that will sit on the recipient's desk after the card is used.

Wrap It Up.
Forget plain holiday wrap for your gifts. Use packaging as another branding opportunity. As an example, you might roll up an imprinted T-shirt and slip on a logoed band that recipients can later use as a trendy accessory. Create gift tags as well. For instance, instead of a traditional paper gift tag, handwrite your recipients' names on a paper luggage tag insert; they can enjoy the branded luggage tag long after the gift is opened. Also, ask your promotional products distributor about customized gift wrap that will further showcase your company's branding.

Consider Cards.
Don't have the budget to send a gift to every client or prospect? Customized gift cards with personalized, handwritten notes are a nice touch. A growing trend is to send a "thanks for your business" in late November (just before Thanksgiving) so that your card can be the first holiday card to arrive in a recipient's mailbox. Sending cards early is "a great and affordable way to stand out from the pack," Gasca says. 

T-Shirts Highlight Fundraiser

It was a sea of white in late May for the Yonkers, NY-based Paideia School 15 annual charity event – a 1.5-mile walk followed by a spring carnival. With more than 500 elementary school students – and quite a few parents – decked out in crisp white T-shirts, the day-long event was designed to raise money to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. And that it did, in spades.

From sales of T-shirts, food and tickets to carnival games spread across the school’s playground following the walk – as well as donations and sponsorships of students for the walk – the school raised nearly $16,000 for its chosen charity of the year.

“It was really a great day that brought out the best in our school and in our community,” said Michael Shapiro, principal of Paideia School 15. “The purpose of the shirts was to demonstrate unity for the entire learning community.”

In fact, for some of the students the T-shirts even became a yearbook of sorts, as they had their friends sign the fronts, backs and sleeves. It was all-over imprinting at its most basic. The T-shirts also served a purpose to raise money, as the school sold about 100 additional shirts at $12-$15 apiece (advance sales got a discount) for a total of more than $1,000. Plus, the school gave its teachers and staff red shirts with the same imprints to help them stand out during the event.

“The fundraising aspect of the event really went great, and the T-shirts certainly helped to give the whole thing a celebratory feel,” Shapiro said. “Our impression of everything was very positive. It was a continuation of creating a culture based on the importance of civics and responsibilities.”

Raising Pints & Funds For Firefighters

Guinness USA and Diageo continued its partnership with The Leary Firefighters Foundation (LFF) this past St. Patrick’s Day to raise money in support of firefighters across the country. The Guinness brand increased the fundraising initiative by releasing a series of limited-edition, firefighter-inspired T-shirts, one of which is designed in collaboration with country music superstar Brad Paisley, as a tribute to firefighters everywhere.

The Guinness St. Patrick’s Day initiative was used to celebrate those of great character and heroism who want to be and do more – qualities firefighters showcase every day. Throughout this year’s initiative, Guinness has also been raising a pint responsibly with local community events in honor of those who make great contributions to their communities – such as community leaders, military personnel, EMS workers and, of course, firefighters.

Patrons of legal drinking age were invited to celebrate National Raise Your Glass Day on February 26, by sharing a photo of their Guinness pint on Twitter, tagging @GuinnessUS, or posting it on the Guinness US Facebook page. For each photo posted, Guinness donated $1 (up to $100,000) toward its fundraising effort in support of firefighters.

“Last year, we raised more than half a million dollars for The Leary Firefighters Foundation, and we’re looking to raise even more money this year,” said Guinness Brand Director Emma Giles. “Firefighters personify the Made of More spirit through their selfless and heroic actions and do so without the expectation of anything in return. These brave men and women carry on the same enduring character that Arthur Guinness instilled in our brand more than 250 years ago.”

This year, the Guinness brand teamed up with Paisley to add his own spin to one of the firefighter-inspired T-shirts available for purchase, with all net proceeds benefiting The LFF. Paisley comes from a family of firefighters. “My father was a volunteer firefighter and showed me at an early age the sacrifices made every day by firefighters and how important what they do is to their communities,” said Paisley, who offered artistic input on one T-shirt’s design. “I’m so excited to be a part of the Guinness initiative, knowing their work with The LFF has such an impact on the safety, effectiveness and overall lives of firefighters.

The T-shirts were available through St. Patrick’s Day for a $20 donation through more than 1,700 in-bar events held across the country and at GuinnessGivesBack.com – the online hub for all philanthropic efforts surrounding the Guinness brand’s commitment to firefighters. All net proceeds raised went toward The LFF to provide the much needed funding for fire departments nationwide to receive equipment, technology and training necessary for the continued well-being of firefighters.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Guinness for the third consecutive year to support local firefighters across the country,” said Denis Leary, actor and founder of The Leary Firefighters Foundation. (See Leary’s video on the T-shirt here: https://vimeo.com/122133791.) “The Guinness brand’s commitment to honoring these men and women who go above and beyond to help their communities has been fantastic. With the help of partners like Guinness, the LFF has been able to implement initiatives such as a First Responder leadership development program for fire departments in Boston, New York and Worcester, MA, as well as donating more than $260,000 worth of fire and safety equipment to the Detroit Fire Department. We look forward to accomplishing even more this year.”

Turtle Pins Popular With Resort's Guests

La Playa Beach and Golf Resort, a boutique beachfront resort in Naples, FL, celebrates the endangered native Loggerhead Turtles. They encourage families to go green on a family philanthropic vacation aimed at discovering and conserving the delicate ecosystems and endangered wildlife of the region.

"Sea turtle preservation is the ultimate goal in our area, and we do our part by providing guests with the knowledge to help protect the turtles," says David Martorana, director of sales and marketing at the resort.

La Playa partnered with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida's Sea Turtle Monitoring and Protection Project to educate guests on the sea turtles, which use the hotel's beaches as a nesting area, and involve guests in efforts to protect the species. Guests at La Playa receive sea turtle pins at check-in, together with an information card about the Conservancy and what can be done to protect the turtles. Last year, about 17,000 pins were distributed. 

"The sea turtle pins have been very popular with guests," says Martorana. "It's something that surprises and excites those who are staying with us for the first time, and is an added touch that returning guests look forward to receiving." In addition, it's a great souvenir that doesn't require any packing.

La Playa also provides sea turtle coloring books for children at the resort's restaurant, Baleen. Stuffed sea turtles are available for purchase in the resort boutique and in each guest room.

The resort also recently offered a package for one sea turtle season called the "Love Nesting" package. Guests who select this package when reserving will get luxury beachfront accommodations, a stuffed sea turtle and educational materials on arrival, and tickets to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center.

Plan the Perfect Golf Event

Producing a golf event takes careful organization and planning, as well as the right promotional products that will enhance the event. Check out these tips from experts Roger Caldwell, owner and founder of Kansas-based Great Golf Events; Larry Battaglia, owner of New York-based Golf Event Planning; and Kevin Ludke, PGA professional with Miami-based Professional Golf Events South Florida.

Start with a plan. Caldwell advises to plan a minimum of 120 days out. "Focus on what you're trying to accomplish and plan ways to promote both your purpose and the event," he says. "If this is a customer appreciation event, spoil them with branded gifts and awards to keep your brand in front of them."

Product Suggestions: Build interest by sending sets of branded golf balls to potential participants. Use four-color printing to enhance your logo.



Locate the best course. "Proximity is a factor, but I look at the overall facility and how the course sets up for a particular tournament, including the cart staging area, lunch and dinner arrangements, overall player room and activity setup room," Ludke says. He also advises making sure the course and greens are in good shape and that the staff can accommodate the needs of the event including competitive pricing for golf, lunches, dinners, etc.
Product Suggestions: Once you've picked a golf course, order T-shirts emblazoned with the course name and your logo. Add branded hats if the budget allows.

Design an event website. Battaglia says, "We start out by educating ourselves about the overall mission and purpose of the event. We then create custom imagery that is tailored to individual clients." He notes that capability for event marketing, accessibility to online registration and linking clients' homepages also make for great websites, as well as options for tee time reservations and social media integration.
Product Suggestions: Make participants want to register via your website by offering logoed boxes of tees to those who sign up online.

Choose fun games. "Traditional on-course contests are a must, including hole-in-one, longest drive and closest to pin," says Caldwell, "But implement some unique games as well." He suggests placing five pins on the green and making all of them hole-in-one prize holes or providing prizes for natural birdies to any flag. "In order to make this work, the jackpots must look easy to earn," Caldwell says.
Product Suggestions: Branded contest prizes range from the expensive (custom tournament jackets) to the economical (ditty bags loaded with accessories). Choose based on difficulty of winning the prize.

Present the right trophy. "It's a mistake to choose cheap trophies or something donated that most people could care less about," says Ludke. "The key is that you want your players to remember the event and you want to impress them with that wow factor from start to finish."
Product Suggestions: Pick from a vast selection of top-drawer logoed golf trophies for team prizes. For individual prizes, choose branded items that participants can use on a day-to-day basis so they will be constantly reminded of the event.


Bobbleheads Dominate MLB Promo Calendars

Garden gnomes, soap dispensers, fedoras and replica championship rings are just a few of the new promotional items MLB teams will give away at ballparks this season. Still, the promo product that remains the most collectible and universally popular in stadiums is the bobblehead. In fact, there are more than 130 bobblehead promotional nights scheduled at MLB parks in 2015, featuring replicas of current players, broadcasters and movie characters. 

"We give away a bobblehead, it automatically becomes a sellout," Rick Schlesinger, COO of the Milwaukee Brewers, recently told ESPN. "Every year we think we might have exhausted the bobblehead craze here in Wisconsin, and it doesn't happen."

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For 2015, the Brewers have sold out multiple packages of promotional tickets – entitling fans to a bobblehead of Bob Uecker's character from the film Major League and a bobblehead of catcher Jonathan Lucroy with a green light saber in his hand for Star Wars night. The Cincinnati Reds, meanwhile, have nine promotional bobblehead dates planned, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals each have eight. The Yankees are giving away four bobbleheads this year in the images of Masahiro Tanaka, Thurman Munson, Jacoby Ellsbury and Babe Ruth.


Bobblehead technology will also improve for 2015. The Brewers' Uecker figurine has a chip in it that will belt out three phrases from Major League and the Cardinals' Harry Caray bobblehead will also talk – a giveaway meant to honor the legendary voice of the rival Chicago Cubs. 

The popularity of bobbleheads is far from a fad – plans were recently announced to open a National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee. The museum will host bobblehead events, autograph signings and mascot appearances, and it will include a bobblehead-themed restaurant. Alternatively, as an ongoing display, the Miami Marlins have a collection of about 600 baseball bobbleheads inside Marlins Park.

If bobbleheads aren't what you're looking for, though, MLB teams are offering quite a list of distinctive giveaways this year. A few top picks: Hisashi Iwakuma bear hats (Mariners) on April 25; BBQ branding irons (Twins) on May 25; and Star Wars-themed Death Star balls (Red Sox) on May 4 and R2D2 can coolers (Nationals) on July 19

Football Team Scores Equipment Through Golf

Mission Viejo High School's Diablo football team needed to raise money for new training and safety equipment and facilities, and they had a small timeframe to work with. Traditional fundraising efforts taking weeks or months weren't the answer. The solution was to pump up the previous year's fundraiser – the high school's annual Diablo Classic Golf Tournament.

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California-based Mission Viejo chose one of South Orange County's finest golf courses to host the event, and used the Diablo Classic website and a variety of online and personal communication efforts to advertise it. The tourney featured a round of golf plus lunch, dinner and opportunities to win Diablo-branded promotional gifts via hole-in-one contests and other on-course events. Prizes included branded golfers' gift-packs featuring shoe bags, divot fixers and tee pouches. Diablo-branded thank-you gifts were also given to golfers to encourage them to donate to the football team.

Tournament participants and donors enjoyed the promotional gifts, and the branding helped keep the Diablos in mind well after the football season ended. The tournament itself was a success as the effort exceeded expectations, raising more than enough money to cover the season's football needs.

Are you looking to raise money for your school or sports team? Make sure to use innovative techniques to connect prospects to a school's offerings to boost school enrollment or raise funds for teams. The best methods to do this use promotional products and a strong partnership with your distributor who can show you great ways to incorporate branded items into your campaign. 

Branded Apparel Aids School In Fundraiser

When the students at South Glens Falls High School reach their 28th straight hour of dancing for charity, one could imagine their energy drained and exhaustion setting in. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The South High Marathon Dance builds to a crescendo of anticipation in its final hour. Announcements are made for how much money was raised, who raised the most and who won the event's multiple raffles. The 800 students who danced all day and night create one final flourish with the Strut Your Stuff performance as their families cheer them on in the school's packed gym. 

For 38 years, the marathon dance has helped those in need, from paying for medical expenses to sending terminally-ill patients on dream vacations. On March 6-7 the students and supporting community raised $621,680, bringing their grand total to more than $4.82 million. It helps people like Nolan Jacox, a five-year-old with an autoimmune disease that causes him to produce too many white blood cells. As a result, he is allergic to most foods and must eat through a feeding tube. 

The school works with a screen printer/embroiderer that prints multiple garments for the recipients, families, production crew, alumni, students and more, as well as a fundraiser design that, last year, rose over $7,000 through sales of hoodies and short- and long-sleeve tees. The back of the shirts feature the name of every person that benefited from the money raised through the dance. "The dance and these shirts have helped with the lives of so many people," says Rob Chadwick, a father of two South High students. 

Over 90% of the student population participates in the dance. A student committee chooses the causes to support and determines the costumes that will be worn at the dance. "The kids prepare for the dance throughout the year," says Chadwick, who also works security for the dance. "They even practice special dances in their gym classes." In this case, the power of dance is more than just a phrase.

Wearables Have Star Power

Ellen DeGeneres knows the power of promotional products. The reigning queen of afternoon talk shows is known for gifting her celebrity guests with wacky, memorable, specially designed promotional items, such as a baby carrier bearing huge angel wings for Victoria's Secret Model Miranda Kerr, complete with makeup and hair accessories.

But one of Ellen's most popular giveaways is her branded male underwear, which she presents to male celebrity guests, sometimes on air, but more often in a gift bag for appearing on the show. A number of recipients, including country singer Tim McGraw and R&B singer/songwriter Jason Derulo have been caught wearing the skivvies in candid photos, the Ellen waistband visible above their low-slung jeans. She's so well-known for the underwear giveaways that OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder turned the tables on Ellen and gifted her on the show with a pair of undies bearing his band's name on the waistband.

DeGeneres offers a wide variety of promotional items for sale on her website, too, including hoodies, socks, T-shirts, bags and many others. Smart marketers like Ellen know that branded apparel is a favorite with consumers across all segments. One promotional expert says that a reason for this is that when someone is wearing such a visible branded item, "it implies a deep level of acceptance and support for that brand."

Celebrities aren't the only ones who make use of branded apparel. Colleges and universities are one of the top markets for apparel today, says The Scarlet Marketeer's Mary Ellen Sokalsi, citing admissions, bookstores, athletic wear, fraternities and sororities as prospective niches. "They either want hip, soft comfortable fashions, hardcore workout wear or spirit-boosting pride wear with a collegiate tone," she says. "The fabrics, styling and imprint are all important. The synergy of the three can make or break a promotion."

For example, Portland State University (PSU) wanted to build branding around a program, "Portland State of Mind" that celebrated events around the Portland community and on campus. So they contacted their promotional products partner who provided the school with T-shirts. The tees had a Portlandia style and feel, and were designed by PSU student artists, which included images of a campus food cart and the "Victor Viking" school mascot. The tees were sold online and on campus, and were advertised in the school's alumni newsletter, that goes out to some 100,000 people.

The success of the first year's program led to a new program called "Fearless" in which PSU students are encouraged to be fearless in their choice of academic pursuit and lifestyle. The new Fearless e-store gives the students the ability to customize their apparel to proclaim their choice. They could be a "Fearless Architect," or a "Fearless Teacher" or "Fearless Fireman." The Fearless program is supported online by YouTube videos produced by students that explain the programs and how to order the merchandise. Both programs have been very popular in terms of orders and visibility on campus. For example, Portland State University (PSU) wanted to build branding around a program, "Portland State of Mind" that celebrated events around the Portland community and on campus. So they contacted their promotional products partner who provided the school with T-shirts. The tees had a Portlandia style and feel, and were designed by PSU student artists, which included images of a campus food cart and the "Victor Viking" school mascot. The tees were sold online and on campus, and were advertised in the school's alumni newsletter, that goes out to some 100,000 people.


The success of the first year's program led to a new program called "Fearless" in which PSU students are encouraged to be fearless in their choice of academic pursuit and lifestyle. The new Fearless e-store gives the students the ability to customize their apparel to proclaim their choice. They could be a "Fearless Architect," or a "Fearless Teacher" or "Fearless Fireman." The Fearless program is supported online by YouTube videos produced by students that explain the programs and how to order the merchandise. Both programs have been very popular in terms of orders and visibility on campus. 

Red Dress Pin Works As Powerful Reminder

The Heart Truth hosts its annual Red Dress Collection Fashion Show during New York’s Fashion Week each February to warn women of their number-one killer. The show is always a huge success with thousands of attendees, many notable celebrities, media personalities and fashion designers, and the event gets a boost with the effective use of branding elements.


The Heart Truth created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002, and each year at the fashion show, the hype and enthusiasm is tangible.


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Diet Coke sponsored the show, and its national promotional partner provided the branding. Banners and signs displaying the brand’s support of the Heart Truth could be seen throughout the venue, complete with spokespeople and reporters, all donning their brightest red garments. 


Brochures, pamphlets and other educational materials were handed out to attendees as well as the iconic Red Dress pin. According to Mariana Eberle-Blaylock, account director of social marketing at Ogilvy Washington, the Red Dress pin has become the organization’s staple promotional product throughout the years. 

“We give away pins at different campaigns year-round, but the fashion show is a big night for us,” Eberle-Blaylock says. “Each attendee gets a Red Dress pin and we always secure it to a postcard that lists facts and messages about heart disease. We change the messages to fit our audiences because every race faces different risks.”

Eberle-Blaylock notes that they translate all the materials into Spanish (heart disease hits Hispanic women especially hard). “The message is always customized to the audience, but the colors and symbols are the same in order to keep our Heart Truth brand consistent,” she says.


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Show attendees also received goodie bags of Diet Coke-branded products including a notebook, a straw and a bottle of the famous carbonated soft drink designed specifically for its partnership with the Heart Truth.


Although February is donned Heart Health Month, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute outreach continues throughout the year with social marketing campaigns and events. Red Dress pins, DVDs, cookbooks, fact sheets, posters and other marketing materials are distributed to communities worldwide and the organization grows every year with new partnerships and campaigns.

Promo Items Pump Up Album Sales

Making money through album sales is more difficult than ever, and strong radio play is no longer a guarantee of high earnings for artists. As it has gotten easier than ever to download a band’s new album, promotional products offer a way to encourage fans to buy the physical CD (or, increasingly, the vinyl record). 


In December, some major music acts used custom Christmas cards, including the card as a freebie for those who placed an order around the holidays. For DJ/rapper Diplo, those who bought his album received a custom T-shirt and pennant. For hip-hop group Three Loco, fans got a sticker and T-shirt.

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Singer/songwriter Josh Ritter worked with his distributor partner who designed lapel pins with a twist. Working off Ritter’s album art, which features a vintage aesthetic, the company created silver and bronze pins with an antique feel. Rock band Atom Strange went a more unconventional route, creating figurines of “Marv the Alien” – the band’s mascot – as well as alien stress balls to give out at shows.


Promotional products can help to enhance concerts and music festivals and attract more people to the event. Plus, a tour T-shirt or tote is kept as a memento, and for diehard fans, branded merchandise can turn into collectible items. 


During Rihanna’s 777 Tour, 150 journalists and guests who were invited on the tour plane received a swag bag packed with goodies including Skull Candy headphones, No Label watches and Rihanna’s own Nude perfume. The tote bag featured the tour’s logo, reading “7 countries 7 days 7 shows.”

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The tour itself received mixed responses from the journalists onboard, with reporters from Rolling Stone to New York Magazine complaining about lack of access to the singer and flight delays. The bags, however, got only rave reviews, with a number of journalists publishing photos of the prized promo totes.

Engage Employees With Team-Building Activities

A recent report by Gallup Inc. says that only 30% of full-time employed Americans are actively engaged and inspired at work. And yet, it’s the 30 million engaged employees in the U.S. that come up with “most of the innovative ideas, create most of a company’s new customers, and have the most entrepreneurial energy,” Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton writes in the report.

Keeping a team of employees happy, motivated and inspired can only be good for a firm’s relationships with its clients, and ultimately, its bottom line. Gallup’s survey indicates companies have a lot of room to grow in terms of engaging and inspiring their employees, and that’s where team-building activities and promotional products can play an important role.

As the economy continues to improve, the objectives of team building are evolving. In a better economy, “companies are more concerned about losing good people and the cost of replacing and training them,” says TeamBonding COO David Goldstein. “The goals of team building in this scenario are more about building balance and having fun at work. Companies want employees to like what they’re doing and feel like they have a purpose.” 

For example, Goldstein’s company works with a lot of technology-oriented events. The firm partnered with their ad specialty distributor and created a high-tech scavenger hunt using GPS technology for attendees at the Corporate Event Marketing Association Summit 2014 conference. 


The hunt consisted of 10 teams of 10, and each team leader used an iPad, iPhone or Android to get maps, messages and instructions about activities they needed to perform and upload. Activities included forming a letter of the alphabet with the team, jumping into a pool, and singing a song for points. The winning team received TeamBonding logoed Bluetooth speakers. Each team wore different neon-colored Malibu sunglasses to separate themselves and set their team apart.

Another of TeamBonding’s favorite team-building activities is charitable events. “This originated during the recession when some companies couldn’t necessarily justify team building, but could justify the concept of giving back,” says Goldstein. “Activities like assembling school supply backpacks or military care packages were good for the community as well as good for employees.”

Care Wear Provides Local Support

“Pink Heals” is a self-described “community-based health-care program” that brings its grassroots fundraising message to the door of local communities aboard bright pink fire trucks manned by firefighters in bright pink uniforms. The nonprofit outreach organization was founded in 2007 by retired fireman Dave Graybill in order to keep fundraising dollars within local communities to aid local citizens who take ill and need financial help. 


The group’s mission statement reads: “We have created a brand with our clothing line and merchandise that is sold locally and nationally to help our nonprofit. Only the sale of our merchandise sustains us.”


Pink Heals targets all cancer and other health issues that affect women and their families within their own hometowns. It encourages raising funds that benefit immediate local needs rather than sending donations to large corporate charities that have high overhead costs and whose impact is not felt where it’s needed most.


The words “Pink Heals” can be used to create fundraisers year round for different causes tailored to local needs, such as Pink Heals Diabetes, Pink Heals At-Risk Kids and Pink Heals Communities, says Graybill. “My idea was to create the world’s largest brand, which is actually a charity that can sustain itself,” he says. “We are the only nonprofit in the U.S. that doesn’t solicit donations.” Pink Heals doesn’t take any portion of local fundraising dollars or donations, but rather shows up in communities to demonstrate support and empower and encourage local businesses and organizations to raise money that will stay local and be used by its own people. 


It will provide its logo and artwork free of charge to local organizations and government agencies if they want to create their own apparel for sale in order to maintain the group’s unique symbol and tagline: “Pink Heals, ‘Cares Enough to Wear Pink.’” Pink Heals also sells merchandise on its website.


There are currently over 500 Pink Heals fire trucks carrying its message nationwide, and a new pink truck is built every three weeks, says Graybill. The trucks show up at community events, encouraging cancer patients to sign the fire engine, and selling branded apparel to raise money for local causes.


T-shirts are the best seller, particularly black and heather gray, and a new raspberry shade is becoming more popular than the traditional pink color, says Graybill. Additional apparel offerings include yoga pants, hats, beanie caps, tank tops and baby onesies. Graybill eventually plans to expand the line to include such items as sandals and towels. “We need to sell what we know they’ll wear to help promote our message,” he says.

Fans Flock To Baltimore Orioles' Promotions

When the Baltimore Orioles released their 2014 promotion schedule for its 60th anniversary season, they noted it was one of the ball club’s “most robust promotional calendars in club history, filled with many new items, as well as several returning fan favorites” slated for giveaways throughout the season.  It can’t just be coincidence that the team finished first in the America League East Division, claiming their first division championship since 1997.

“Apparel is an extremely popular giveaway, not just in Baltimore, but throughout Major League Baseball,” says Greg Bader, Orioles’ vice president of marketing and communications. He says that T-shirts, caps and other apparel have a high value for fans, as they can get multiple uses out of the giveaway items.

“Additionally, it’s good for a brand to provide apparel for fans to wear throughout the marketplace as it helps promote the brand image and identity,” he adds. Indeed, Oriole-branded apparel was distributed at 15 of the 24 home games, when merchandise was given to fans during its anniversary season.

The Orioles’ promotional schedule in 2014 featured six separate T-shirts that were provided to all fans in attendance. “We even allowed our fans to choose their sizes (medium or XL) for the first time in club history,” Bader points out.

There were six hat giveaways this year, including the Orioles’ classic floppy hat (similar to Gilligan’s hat on the famed 1960s TV series), a Father’s Day Fedora and, for the first time, a Wild Bill cowboy hat.

“All of our hats ended up being popular in 2014, but the Wild Bill hat was perhaps the most popular,” says Bader. “It was the first time we had ever given away this style hat, and since it was in honor of ‘Wild Bill’ Hagy, one of the most famous Orioles’ fans of all time, and in celebration of our 60th anniversary, the promotion was extremely well-received.” The Wild Bill hat was distributed on August 9 to the first 20,000 fans ages 15 and older.

In July, Baltimore sports reporters Zach Wilt and Jabby Burns debated the merits of the floppy hat vs. the fedora on Baltimore Sports Report. Burns called the Orioles’ fedora the “new, hip way of the future” while Wilt praised the classic floppy hat.

“When the Orioles’ promotional schedule comes out, the first thing you look for is Floppy Hat Night,” Wilt said. “When you think Orioles’ promotions, you think floppy hat!” The floppy hat promotion has been going on since at least the days of Memorial Stadium (pre-Camden Yards) – more than 25 years, says the Orioles’ Bader. He adds that Miller Lite has sponsored nearly all of the floppy hat giveaways, which are distributed to fans ages 21 and over.

Promo Postcard Scares Up Interest

A Florida-based marketing company with a soft spot for direct mail carried out a two-part Halloween campaign that consisted of a postcard, a YouTube video and a bit of mystery.

First, the company mailed a personalized postcard with their website and these five words: "They are coming for you, (Name)". They also added a "creepy" YouTube video on the landing page. "We wanted to come up with a cool Halloween campaign," says the firm's marketing director. "It's important that we come up with something innovative rather than just offer a money-off discount to drive sales. We want to impress the pants off of our customers."

Over 5,900 personalized postcards were sent to top current clients who had ordered from the company within the last six weeks, and over 97,000 e-mails were sent to their entire client database promoting the campaign. Ultimately, they received over 2,570 visits to the landing page, and new order numbers from the campaign totaled $137,748. "With this campaign, we really wanted to leave the impression with current clients that we're a fun and creative marketing company," says the marketing director. "This plays an important part in improving the affinity they feel for us, and that will hopefully translate into long-lasting client relationships for us."

If you want to scare up your own business this Halloween, follow these tips from this campaign's marketing director: "Have fun and connect with your clients. Write a fun e-mail and send out pictures of your staff dressed up, or hold a themed contest for your clients with a great prize."

Unique Teambuilding Programs

Want to take your teambuilding programs up a notch? Here are six unique programs along with sample destinations and promotional products to enhance your teambuilding experiences.

Go Underground: Groups can enjoy the spelunker experience by navigating through cave complexes using maps to reach designated destinations. In typical exploration sessions, each team member is assigned a role. Leaders are responsible for group well-being. Learning sessions promote communication skills and show how strategies can be improved as participants gain insights that can be integrated into work environments. Participants assist each other in unfamiliar situations that challenge comfort zones and bring cohesiveness into play to overcome fears. While the guides' main roles are to ensure safety, they're also on hand to interpret the cave's natural history.

Promotional Gifts: logoed headlamps and flashlights, glow sticks, gloves and whistles.

Sample Destination: Moaning Cavern Park, Vallecito, CA, www.caverntours.com

 

Fly Through The Air: Flying trapeze teambuilding programs engender feelings of involvement and team spirit as your group reaches for the heights. Programs start with safety training before anyone sets foot on the trapeze. These activities produce aerial dynamics that bolster cooperation, efficiency and courage. The objective is to build team spirit and create new bonds to face the challenges of demanding business environments. Sessions usually rotate through challenge stations with increasing levels of difficulty and can be tailored to the groups' time and budget.

Promotional Gifts: trapeze-shaped belt buckles, workout monitors, exercise clothes and headbands.

Sample Destination: Trapeze School New York, six U.S. locations, www.trapezeschool.com

 

Climb A Mountain: Rock climbing and rappelling programs are fantastic ways to create strong bonds and improve communication skills while setting and achieving goals. Courses teach the simplest forms of outdoor rock climbing and rappelling, emphasizing the skills of climbing knots, belaying, anchors and movement. These programs present teamwork as a natural solution to overcoming intense mental and physical challenges.

Promotional Gifts: carabineers, binoculars, climbing vests and hats.

Sample Destination: Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School, multiple Southeast locations,
www.foxmountainguides.com

 

Race A Yacht: These waterborne regattas are designed for sailors and non-sailors alike and physical condition is never an issue; it's about fostering teamwork through a desire to win. Team members begin by practicing crew positions and learn to work together as a cohesive team; skills that will later prove valuable in business environments. Rating systems allow for handicapping so that all boats are judged equal at the finish. There's plenty of action, tacking upwind, rounding the marks and running downwind. Before returning to the dock for the awards celebration, each team will have the duration of the regatta to pleasure sail and explore the waterway.

Promotional Gifts: boat bags, compasses, binoculars and nautical jewelry.

Sample Destination: Schooner Woodwind, Annapolis, MD, www.schoonerwoodwind.com

 

Build A House: Your team will learn building skills that improve communications and develop cooperation and camaraderie through interacting with coworkers from all levels of your corporate hierarchy. These efforts work to build morale and team spirit and forge bonds by working toward a common goal. In addition, the program fees provided to Habitat For Humanity are fully tax deductible. Habitat For Humanity can also provide access to their branding so that your company logo can be combined with Habitat's to use as a powerful marketing tool. Best of all, it's for a great cause.

Promotional Gifts: tape measures, calculators, tool kits, gloves, T-shirts and hats.

Sample Destination: Contact Habitat For Humanity to locate programs www.habitat.org

 

Join A Cattle Drive: Your group will learn cowboy management techniques when you send them on a cattle drive. Most cattle ranches are located in areas of natural beauty that offer scenic cattle work accompanied by spectacular vistas, including pine forests, alpine meadows and mountain lakes. Your teambuilding group will learn the organizational skills required to trail cattle and move herds across water and up and down hills; skills that will come in handy when it's time for your staff to round up new customers.

Promotional Gifts: Western gear including logoed cowboy hats, jewelry and belt buckles.

Sample Destination: The Hideout Lodge and Guest Ranch, Shell, WY, www.thehideout.com

Jefferson PTA Builds With Bricks

Newton, Iowa’s Thomas Jefferson Grade School faced a big back-to-school dilemma. The school had just undergone a reorganization that tripled the number of young, lower grade students. Because of that, Jefferson was badly in need of a new playground, but the question was where to get the money to fund it. 

In the past, the Jefferson PTA had taken the lead in efforts of this type and they again stepped up to the plate, organizing a joint fundraising effort in partnership with the teachers, the students and the school district. With $25,000 being the fundraising goal, the effort kicked off with a highly publicized commemorative brick sale.


The commemorative bricks were engraved with the name of the donors, offering community contributors a chance for school immortality. The bricks sold for $75 each, with the idea that they would eventually be integrated into the project. After a successful brick sale combined with a "Pennies for the Playground" fundraiser, two fun runs and assistance from TJ teachers who donated funds from the annual school carnival, the bulk of the $25,000 goal had been reached, so the playground equipment was put on order. The school district added the finishing touches by tiling the playground area and prepping the areas where the equipment was to be installed.


Now the question was where to put the commemorative bricks. It was felt that if they were placed in the playground soil, ground shift might occur. The PTA came up with a better solution – use the bricks to build playground benches. This solution proved to be a win-win for Jefferson by adding an additional playground component while providing a lasting memorial for the donors. 


Do you have a need for funds? Want a special commemorative gift to give donors? Contact your distributor partner for the best items to fulfill all your promotional needs. 

Its No Mystery: Promo Products Pump-Up Sales

Mysteryland, the longest running electronic dance music (EDM) festival in the world, made its U.S. debut over the Memorial Day weekend at the iconic Woodstock grounds in Bethel Woods, NY, by telling attendees to "take a trip down the rabbit hole." Unlike the original Woodstock concert, attendance was strictly enforced and limited to 20,000, with ticket prices starting at $179, and VIP passes going for $299. According to The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, the EDM market is estimated to be close to $20 billion and is growing by over 10% every year.

ID&T, the festival powerhouse behind Mysteryland, hosted top acts like Kaskade, Dillon Francis, Moby, Steve Aoki, Nervo, Showtek and Fedde Le Grand on the main stage. The Boat Stage, which catered to bass-hungry fans, featured Zomboy, Flosstradamus, Big Gigantic and Bro Safari. "Sunday School," a mini festival within Mysteryland, offered three stages of the sounds of techno, tech-house and vinyl-only DJs. Hardstyle fans could throw their bodies to Coone, Noisecontrollers and Brennan Heart in the Q-Dance tent. If fans needed time to rest their feet (and ears), they could venture to the "Healing Garden" for yoga, meditation or aromatherapy. Among this eclectic mix of music, dance and art, there was also an abundance of fun branded promotional products.

One of the main sponsors of Mysteryland USA was Rekorderlig Cider from Sweden. Friendly Rekorderlig vendors decked out in red logoed polos happily offered free samples of their Strawberry-Lime, Berry or Pear flavored hard cider. They also gave soaked dancers Rekorderlig branded ponchos for the intermittent downpours throughout that Saturday afternoon. One of the promoters explained that the plastic pouch the ponchos came in could act as a waterproof case for cell phones.

A popular meeting place for separated friends was the prominent Rekorderlig hot-air balloon. One of the perks to visiting the hard cider vendor was the chance to win a balloon ride over the lush fields where, 45 years earlier, concertgoers danced to Hendrix, Santana, Joplin and other top acts.

 

On the trail to the main stage, attendees were greeted by another Rekorderlig booth that sold garland crowns for $20. Many of the female guests got in touch with their inner flower child and chose from a variety of colorful blossoms to be custom-fit around their heads, staying true to the Rekorderlig slogan, "Beautifully Swedish."

Aside from Rekorderlig, there was a plethora of Mysteryland merchandise, which featured the Mysteryland and/or Woodstock ’69 logos on apparel, hats and headbands. Rookie campers were also able to buy blankets, sleeping bags and other outdoor necessities. Mysteryland offered "Holy Ground" campers their own camping survival kit, with a two-person tent, airbed and sleeping bags. Festival-goers were able to purchase unique meals and snacks from Smorgasburg Food Fest. Smorgasburg is a food market held every Saturday in the hipster Brooklyn town of Williamsburg, who partnered with Mysteryland to offer organic, vegan and other food options.  

Mysteryland was one of the first "cashless" U.S. music festivals. Attendees were able to put money onto their logoed wristbands either online or at stations throughout the festival grounds. Their credit changed into "birdie bucks" to pay for food, beverages, merchandise or showers throughout the weekend. The leftover money was then refunded back onto the provided credit card. The birdie bucks wristbands allowed for quicker service in the long lines for showers and food.

 

With the help of sponsors such as Rekorderlig and many others, Mysteryland was able to successfully offer a mecca for fans of all EDM genres to come together to explore and dance in the historical grounds that inspired a revolution of music, fashion and a state of mind back in 1969. And with logoed keepsakes, the memories from Mysteryland are guaranteed to live on.

Promotional Mug a Hit at Preakness Infield Concert

During the 139th Preakness Stakes in May, the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore not only featured some of the most renowned race horses, but also a mini festival known as the InField Fest – a venue that bills itself as "the people's race; the people's party."

InField Fest allowed for something more than betting on horses. Attendees to this multi-entertainment event could visit food and beverage vendors, and shop at the Preakness store for branded apparel, caps, cups, bags and other logoed items. Plus, there were two stages with music performances by top entertainers such as Nas, Switchfoot, Eli Young Band, Sundy Best, Go Go Gadjet, Glenn Morrison and a headliner by double Grammy-award winner Lorde.

One highlight of the festival was the Mug Club. Participants were able to prepay for their tickets online for exclusive privileges to the Mug Club, open to adults 21 and over. Privileges included access to all InField Festival party areas and Mug Club areas, and all beer was included at the Mug Club stations. Upon entering, Mug Club tickets were exchanged for a collectible, neon orange mug. The mugs were valuable commodities, since they could be refilled with beer at the filling stations; however, they could not be replaced if lost or stolen. Although the refill stations often had long lines, the keg volunteers always filled the mugs over the brim.

The mugs were imprinted with the Preakness logo on one side and the InField Fest logo on the other side. In addition to the logoed mugs, one of the concert stages was colorfully branded with the Jägermeister logo. Nearby, a giant orange Jägermeister tent offered attendees a free photo at their booth, as well as shots of Jäger for a small price.

The mugs, however, proved to be a star attraction. They were so popular in fact, that even the festival's star headliner, Lorde, wanted to be a part of the Mug Club – in the middle of her mid-day set, she yelled, "Hey, someone throw me one of those orange mugs." A friendly front-row fan quickly obliged. And, according to The Baltimore Sun's review, rap star Nas, the concert's other headliner, is quoted as saying: "Thank you, orange cups!" after performing "It Ain't Hard to Tell," another reference to the logoed mug, which attendees "kept raising to the sky in approval throughout his hour-long set."

When planning your next event, consider a commemorative item to give attendees. Depending on the venue, it can be practical, like a logoed plastic cup, or something more high-end like etched wine bottles. Your best bet is to contact your promotional products distributor for ideas and products that fit the bill. 

NFL Turns to Promo Product to Influence Advertisers

The most popular sports league in the U.S., the National Football League (NFL), has not been coy about its pursuit of the Hispanic market, the country's fastest-growing demographic. The NFL's plan was to get the game in front of the Hispanic community, and they expedited this plan by being the only major sport in the U.S. to televise all of its games in Spanish. It worked. A 2012 ESPN Sports Poll found that 25 million Hispanics in the U.S. identify themselves as NFL fans. The popularity of the league among Hispanics allowed Super Bowls XLVI and XLVII to become the most-watched TV programs (English or Spanish) on record among U.S. Hispanics. 

The NFL was also tasked with convincing advertisers and corporations to invest in the newly impassioned demographic. Many marketers have always associated the Hispanic community as soccer fans first and foremost. The NFL knew this and sought to change that perception with a direct mail piece. To prove that Hispanics are avid fans of football, the NFL tapped The Vidal Partnership to create the "Trojan Ball."

The Trojan Ball box contained what appeared to be a soccer ball, but when the recipient opened the package, it contained a limited edition NFL football with the accompanying message, "Here's the ball 28.5 million Hispanics really identify with," as well as a message with the statistics that 73% of U.S. Hispanics are NFL fans.

"The numbers were always there, but cultural perception seemed to be a much stronger factor. We were tasked with reversing that trend," said project art director, Oleg Sarkissov. "Early on we understood that to be successful, whatever the form of the communication would be, it had to be memorable. Hence, the idea of a Trojan Ball was born."

The NFL sent the Trojan Ball to 50 key decision-makers and potential partners with authority to invest their companies' marketing budgets. Eight of the mailings yielded follow-up responses in the form of a conversation or meeting with the NFL. 

"It was targeted at key deal makers and potential partners, so the volume of mail was small, but one conversion would represent a significant amount of revenue for the client," said Alberto Ferrer, Vidal's managing partner, director of direct and digital marketing.

In the end, the mailer surpassed the projected response rate, and generated a great amount of potential business partnership opportunities between the NFL and key brands within the Hispanic audience. The entire project was considered a huge success in the hotly contested battle over viewership and sponsorship between soccer and football leagues.

Enrollment Boosters

Recruiters from Northwestern College wanted something that would capture a potential applicant's attention and bring them to a decision point during the college fair. That item turned out to be free ringtones. 

To kick off the program, Northwestern offered visitors to their booth a branded digital reward card redeemable for a free ringtone. When prospective students accessed the online site printed on the back of their ringtone card, they were asked to provide information about their future education and career interests. This enabled Northwestern to gain future contacts while promoting the educational opportunities the school provides. The student info was then given to a staff member for follow-up.

The ringtone gift could only be redeemed if the prospective student answered the questionnaire. Northwestern found out students were happy to trade personal information for the ringtones. For not much more than the price of a pen, the opportunity to use branded cards to get qualified people to visit the Northwestern website and leave personal information turned out to be a great investment. What's more, the gift made Northwestern stand out from the crowd.

Use innovative techniques to connect prospects to a school's offerings to boost school enrollment. The best methods to do this use promotional products and a strong partnership with your distributor, who can show you great ways to incorporate branded items into your campaign. 

NFL Extends Warm Welcome With Promo Products

Fans at Super Bowl XLVIII scored way more than the Denver Broncos did with the “Warm Welcome” kits they received at the big game. The kits, provided by the NFL, warmed up, and lit up, the 84,000 fans in attendance, offering an array of ultra-cool gifts that were intended to keep fans comfortable in chilly Northeastern temperatures. The gift packages were housed within Super Bowl-themed seat cushions and placed on every seat in MetLife Stadium before the gates opened. 

NFL's distributor partner coordinated with League officials on ideas for upgrading the commemorative seat cushions that are typically given out to fans most years. Since this year's Super Bowl was the first to be played outdoors in a cold-weather city, the NFL wanted to guarantee fans would be comfortable even if conditions turned chilly. 

The cushions and contents got a lot of media playtime. NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman showcased the kits during a January 22 press conference, which was covered by several major media outlets. The kits got additional buzz when hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, a former player for the New York Giants, devoted a 4 ½-minute segment to the Warm Welcome kits on their morning talk show. 

The kits contained a slew of products to combat the cold: a “video ski hat,” branded ear muffs, texting gloves, a hand warmer pouch just like the quarterbacks wear, a Gator Dana neck wrap, lip balm, drink sleeves, hand-warmer packets, a small radio with earbuds and tissues. In addition to the 84,000 kits distributed at the game, 30 kits were sent to select TV, radio and print media.

The ski hats, which were beanie style and bore sponsor Pepsi's logo, took on a starring role in the halftime show. The caps contained LED lights and an infrared receiver that, when activated remotely, turned the entire stadium into a backdrop of flashing lights. A Montreal-based multimedia company called PixMob created the technology that allowed fans to become a human light display during performances by Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Brainstorming for Super Bowl XLVIII began well before the previous Super Bowl. The products that ultimately made the cut were chosen because they could be used by fans long after the game, or be displayed alongside other keepsakes.

Besides coordinating the Warm Welcome kits, the NFL's distributor partner also operated the official onsite NFL Super Bowl League Store. The store, which was inside NFL headquarters, was fully stocked with a combination of Super Bowl XLVIII and NFL Shield products. This League store was open exclusively to league employees and family members, NFL officials, NFL alumni and sponsors. There's also a client gifting program for NFL buyers and partners. Gift bags are sold, and kitted with a variety of merchandise from the Super Bowl catalog and distributed to owners, players, sponsors and network affiliates.

Logoed Scissors Highlight Ribbon Cutting

Last September, Zappos, the online clothes and accessories retailer known for its top-notch customer service and energetic company culture, moved its headquarters to Las Vegas. The transfer to glitzy Vegas was two years in the making, and it was the perfect step to indicate its relevance in a big way.

To celebrate, Zappos held a ribbon-cutting event at their new location, the refurbished former city hall in downtown Las Vegas. CEO Tony Hsieh and Mayor Carolyn Goodman spoke to the packed audience of 1,600, many of whom were Zappos employees taking a look at their new offices for the first time.

To make a splash at the grand opening, Zappos enlisted the expertise of their distributor partner for creative ideas to promote the brand. "This was a historic move, and a very big deal for both Zappos and the city," said the account manager. "Because of the importance of the occasion, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was definitely in order."

Zappos worked with their distributor to design a branded ceremonial ribbon that wound its way through the building's plaza and up several balcony levels. They also distributed 1,600 logoed scissors, one for each attendee. "Zappos has an incredible company culture," said the account manager, "so they wanted each and every employee to share that special moment of cutting the ribbon all together."

Have a company milestone, anniversary or other special ceremony on the horizon? Be sure to contact your ad specialty distributor for one-of-a-kind ideas and branded products to make the occasion especially memorable.

Fields of Green

Every March, baseball fans cheer on their favorite leprechauns in the infield and outfield, as a number of Major League Baseball (MLB) teams embrace the traditional "wearing o' the green" for St. Patrick's Day. This game has become a great niche marketing opportunity as the sports franchises sell a wide array of green T-shirts, jerseys and caps at the game, as well as at retail stores and online.

In 1978, the idea to wear specially designed green uniforms appeared to come out of the blue to Cincinnati Reds' general manager Dick Wagner. He surprised everyone, including management and players on the team, when he ordered custom emerald green uniforms, caps and catcher's gear for a spring training game on March 17. No one had any idea he had done this until game day, when green uniforms were hung on each of the player's lockers. From head to toe, any part of the uniform that was traditionally red was green in that game.

It was a publicity stunt that caught on; for the past 35 years, a number of other teams have gone green for St. Patrick's Day. According to a spokesman for the MLB, 10 teams wore green this year. Some kept it simple with green caps or batting gloves. Some, like the Mets, wore green jerseys and hats, and even used shamrock bases on the field. The Cincinnati Reds debuted this year's jersey at a fan event in December.

The Boston Red Sox, home of the Green Monster, have been wearing green hats since 1990 on St. Patrick's Day. They started wearing green jerseys in 2004, when they hosted the Cleveland Indians at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, FL. Majestic Athletic designed the green jerseys, which have become a popular St. Patrick's Day tradition for fans of Boston, well known for its strong Irish heritage.

The Detroit Tigers, hailing from another city steeped in Irish tradition, had the team bat boy dress as a leprechaun in its 2012 game. And the Philadelphia Phillies team mascot, the Philly Phanatic, has dressed up like a leprechaun and danced the Irish jig for the fans in Clearwater, FL. Some teams auction off their players' green uniforms and donate the proceeds to charity. The Boston Red Sox auctioned some of the players' jerseys after this year's game and donated the proceeds to the Red Sox Foundation.

Over the years, these uniforms have brought in plenty of green – the holiday has become a golden merchandising opportunity for fans to snap-up an array of team spirit wear. There was an assortment of green Reds' products to support St. Patrick's Day, when the Reds took on the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Field in Arizona, said Reds' vice president of event services and merchandising, Lauren Werner. "We had headwear, T-shirts and the Reds' St. Patrick's Day authentic batting practice jerseys – just like what the players wore on the field – available for sale," she said.

The Red Sox had green jerseys and hats for sale at their spring training facility in Fort Myers and in stores. "Green St. Paddy's Day items always sell," said a spokesman. Dick Wagner's St. Patrick's Day surprise has spread beyond baseball, spilling over into the NBA and NHL.

Desktop Item Promotes Company Store

Earthlink, an IT services, network and communications provider, wanted to promote a new service within the company. The provider has offices around the country as well as three subsidiaries with their own brand and management, and had launched an internal store offering branded merchandise at all three companies. A promotion was necessary to announce the store launch, encourage people to use the service and build a sense of family by incorporating all three logos.

Earthlink brainstormed with their promotional products partner to find a product that met several key criteria: It had to be a useful desk item, it had to be cost-effective and it had to have a large enough imprint area for all the logos and messaging.

The firm decided on 1,000 handy desktop books filled with sticky notes. The book cover was imprinted with the e-store's Web address and logo, as well as the logos of the three subsidiaries. A postcard tucked inside the book welcomed employees to the new store.

To drive sales immediately, a limited-time free shipping offer on all orders was offered. The sticky books were sent to users across all of Earthlink's brands and locations.

Make sure your company store is successful by using it to its fullest potential. Contact your distributor for ideas and the best promotional products to market your store, build awareness and goodwill, and get a better return on your store investment.

Marathon Runs on Dunkin and Logoed Hats

Dunkin' Donuts proved America really does run on Dunkin', as it served up coffee, comfort and cheer to runners and spectators at November's New York City Marathon. For the seventh year, Dunkin' served as an official, and highly visible, sponsor, setting up cheering hubs and "refuel" stations at Dunkin' Donut locations along the parade route.

Beginning at 1 a.m., Dunkin' started brewing 12,000 gallons of hot coffee in the Marathon's Start Village to energize the runners. In addition to the coffee, a key component of Dunkin's presence was the branded fleece beanies distributed to runners at the start of the race, a much prized and sought after souvenir of the Marathon. Some 17,000 runners received and wore the hats in the 26.2-mile race. The colors of the hat – pink and orange – left no doubt who the sponsoring brand was.

"This is the fifth year we've distributed our fleece hats at the ING New York City Marathon," says Cathy Chavenet, Dunkin' Brands senior field marketing manager, Metro New York. While the design has varied slightly over the years, the brand's signature colors never change.

Given November's chilly temperatures, the hats proved to be practical and stylish accessories.  "It's a wonderful takeaway for those attending the event, and you see people during the winter months wearing the hats all throughout the New York tri-state area," she says.

Dunkin' Donuts considers the coffee and hats it distributes to be a significant part of the Marathon. "Our presence at the starting line with the complimentary coffee for runners and volunteers, as well as the fleece hats, drives brand awareness among a key audience," she says.  The hats are exclusive to the New York City marathon and only available on race day.

Some race spectators were also able to receive free fleece caps to keep them warm on the sidelines at 14 Dunkin' "refuel" stations along the route, while supplies lasted. Team Dunkin, a running team consisting of several franchisees and employees, participated in the race for a seventh year. The team represented "everyday, hardworking people doing something extraordinary," Chavenet says.

Dunkin' also set up a station where tens of thousands of fans could create special signs to cheer on runners as they crossed into Manhattan. In addition, they partnered with the New York Mets to bring their brand mascots to this location to join in the festivities.  A long line of fans waited to have pictures taken with the mascots. It was a fun way to engage with guests as they created signs for family and friends. "I can't think of a more appropriate slogan for the New York City Marathon than 'America Runs on Dunkin'," says Chavenet. "Dunkin' coffee and baked goods keep our guests running every day, and the Marathon is the premier running event in the United States."

Hotel Celebrates With Party & Promo Products

Marriott Hotels recently hosted an interactive cocktail party to celebrate their global marketing campaign, Travel Brilliantly.

The party was designed to reflect the Travel Brilliantly manifesto, where map patterns were placed on a variety of items including cocktail glasses, coasters, napkins, servers’ aprons and gift bags.

Marriott Hotels decided to use branded material to communicate its new verbal and visual identity, which was rolled out globally in July. To signal industry change, Marriott Hotels worked with their distributor partner to develop a new look featuring a series of maps and travel-inspired patterns.

The canvas gift tote bags for the San Francisco Travel Brilliantly launch were filled with a travel charger for mobile devices, a branded USB, press materials and photos. Other branded items produced for the campaign included on-property elements such as key cards, flags, "do not disturb" hangers and in-room directories.

Want to celebrate a company milestone or other festive event? Contact your promo

Eight Earthy Marketing Ideas

Earth Day is April 22, which begs the question: Do you have what’s needed to field an eco-friendly marketing effort?  Here are eight ideas to help you develop your company’s environmental awareness into an effective Earth Day marketing campaign.

  1. Plant a Message – Say "Come Grow With Us" to customers by labeling seeded promotional products to get your Earth Day message across. Choose from a wide variety of plantable products that can be mailed or hand-delivered, including seeded postcards that customers tear off and plant to grow colorful wildflowers. Calendars printed on seeded paper can be planted at the end of each month. A business card can be produced on full color seeded paper. All of these items have the capacity to display your message in vibrant hues, and once they’re planted, the colorful results linger on.

  2. Tee Off for Earth Day – At your next golf tournament, hand out biodegradable golf tees packaged with a customized wraparound imprint that can be illustrated to "tee-off" current sales campaigns or to introduce new products. The promotional tees are made from corn which biodegrades three times faster than wooden tees, and when the tees get left behind, they won't splinter and cause blade damage when chopped up by golf-course mowers.  If you’re playing around water, add another eco-dimension by offering biodegradable golf balls that can be left in place if they land in water hazards.

  3. Bag New Customers – Experts estimate that if used once a week, four or five reusable grocery bags can replace 520 plastic bags a year. Many reusable bags are biodegradable, including ones made from woven hemp which is also resistant to mold. Add your logo and a "Shop With Us" message before handing out these reusable promotional greenies at your trade show booth.

  4. Write-Up Sales – Biodegradable pens with vividly colored barrels and striking trim will add Earth Day excitement to sales calls.  Eco-conscious customers will be anxious to accept these promotional pens from your sales team when they find out they can toss them in the trash can with impunity once they’ve outlived their usefulness. They’ll biodegrade anywhere, and their carbon imprint is 22% lower than conventional pens.

  5. Keep It Healthy – Offer health-conscious customers a recycled mouse pad with an antimicrobial surface with a sublimated "Let’s Build A Healthy Relationship" Earth Day message.  This mouse pad will attract interest by using its antimicrobial properties to keep computer areas germ-free. Health organizations, medical facilities and doctors’ offices are just a few of the health-related customers who will appreciate your campaign efforts when accompanied by this promotional gift. 

  6. Dress-Up Retention – Develop an Earth Day customer retention program by awarding recycled promotional clothing to repeat customers. Add a "We Appreciate What You Do For Us" message that lets repeat customers know you’re rewarding them with eco-friendly clothing that’s produced with less fossil fuels, creating less waste and fewer carcinogens.

  7. Grow A Customer – Try something different with a beautiful desktop terrarium that’s guaranteed to garner prime space on your client’s desk. The terrarium provides a perfect home for plants that thrive in indirect light and grow with little effort.

  8. Light the Way – Let your sales team impress potential clients with a "We’ll Light The Way For You" Earth Day message by handing out eco-friendly light-crank LED flashlights that will keep your customers safe during power outages. For extra impact, choose promotional brands that include AM/FM radios, headphone outlets, emergency sirens and cellphone chargers.  

Promo Products Help Firm Expand

When Cargotec, a cargo handling solutions provider, wanted to expand its business into Latin America, they turned to their promotional products distributor to help them focus on prospecting and targeting more business below the border. The target audience was high-level management for corporate distributions and operations companies in Argentina, Brazil and Chili, specifically the automotive, steel, paper and beverage industries.

The objective of the campaign was to reach out to prospects who were not currently using the tractors for distribution, introduce the terminal tractor and add prospects to a sales funnel for the company’s sales reps to follow up with. Since this particular type of tractor is the Mercedes Benz of heavy lifting machinery, prospects had to be shown how much time and money the tractor would save them. The motto became, “Time is money – make the most of yours,” and they utilized an existing time-lapse video to compare it to the competition.

A custom USB in the shape of the terminal tractor was created. When the recipient plugged in the flash drive, they were taken to a custom landing page and shown the time-lapse video. Registered viewers were then entered for a chance to win a Swiss Army watch, and the website was able to collect the data that the sales team needed to follow up.

The USB was packaged in a U-line box with custom stickers to display the client’s messaging and branding. Over 130 mailings were sent to key contacts in Latin America via FedEx International. During the time of the program there were 253 unique page views and 97% of the traffic came as a direct result of the campaign with only 15.85% bounce rate (average bounce rate is 40%-50%). A translator and a webpage designer that had an international lawyer were consulted to insure accuracy and efficiency.

Shirts & Selfies Spark Interest In CRM Firm

Customer relationship management firm SugarCRM produced a fun "disruptive" campaign for Dreamforce, the biggest cloud computing event of the year, which took place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco in November. The program, named Escape Dreamforce, promoted its CRM tool for businesses, and an Escape from Dreamforce sweepstakes offered a chance to win a $5,000 Hawaiian vacation.

In addition to taxi-top ads and mobile banners, SugarCRM street teams engaged with Dreamforce attendees, distributing SugarCRM T-shirts and encouraging everyone to tweet a “selfie” with #SugarSelfie and #DF13 while wearing the shirt. Those without a SugarCRM shirt could create their own shirt or sign. Dreamforce participants could win additional on-the-spot prizes if seen wearing their SugarCRM shirt during the conference.

“Escape from Dreamforce is a great opportunity for attendees to take a break from the convention’s packed schedule and share a selfie with their friends,” says Jennifer Stagnaro, senior vice president of marketing with SugarCRM. “We’re focused on the individual. This fun campaign provokes individuals to think about CRM from their perspective: ‘This is How I CRM.’”

There were 4,000 T-shirts, 14 street team members and one SugarCRM branded truck as part of the event. The street team handed out fliers with the shirts explaining the program. Participants had a chance to win additional on-the-spot prizes if seen wearing their SugarCRM shirt during Dreamforce.

Have an event coming up in which you’d like to make an impression? Experts suggest you use bold colors to stand out at a conference or trade show. “The bright red T-shirts stood out from the blue of Dreamforce,” says Stagnaro. Make sure you contact your distributor partner to give you great ideas and help you find the best products to make a splash.

Promo Products Go 10 Rounds for Boxing Event

Tecate beer, a prominent sponsor of the sport of boxing recently had the opportunity to sponsor a special match in Macau, China.

The highly anticipated Pacquiao vs. Rio match featured two great boxing stars facing each other and also provided the Tecate brand a way to be active as a sponsor and “make the consumer feel completely engaged in creative ways,” says Tecate’s brand manager Gustavo Guerra. “This fight had been generating buzz since it was first announced, so we jumped at the chance to provide legendary moments for the fans.”

To engage fans, Tecate focused on boxing fans and utilized both Hispanic and general market outlets to spread the message. The brand sent special mailers for the media contacts that were travelling to China to see the fight live. It also created a Tecate Hombre Travel Kit to be received as they picked up their credentials in China. The kit included red a T-shirt with Tecate’s signature hashtag #ConCaracter, personalized wooden chopsticks, a logoed boxing keychain, sleep mask, and customized fortune cookies that contained Tecate taglines inside. “We wanted the contacts to have the Tecate swag with them on their journey,” says Guerra.

For media that were unable to attend, Tecate sent the Tecate Hombre Fight Night Kit to arrive at their homes one week before the fight. This kit included a Tecate branded cap, beer bucket, T-shirt, beer banner, beer opener, beer pitcher and a full-size Tecate girl cut out. “This same kit was given out to several fans who participated in media giveaways that we coordinated with top-tier outlets,” says Guerra. “We worked with a third-party company to provide the items to make sure the recipients had everything they needed for hosting their own viewing party.”

In addition to the media kits and targeted promotions, Tecate hosted a watch party in Las Vegas and asked fans to join them to get in on the action of the fight. “The watch party gave us another opportunity to engage with media by providing VIP access and orchestrating media giveaways for fans,” Guerra says. “The promotions garnered 29 media placements with over 5 million gross impressions; 10 Tecate Hombre Fight Night Kits and 10 Tecate Hombre Travel Kits were sent out to key media and fans.”

Caped Crusade at Comic-Con

Warner Bros. Entertainment was flying high at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) last summer, when it gave away branded backpacks with a detachable cape that allowed every attendee at the convention to be a superhero. It was the “must-have” accessory of the show, and fans with capes bearing titles from the media monolith’s TV, motion picture and animated movie offerings could be spotted throughout the convention center.

"Con is a huge showcase for us. It's the one time where Warner Bros. TV is front and center with the fans and with our brands," says Lisa Gregorian, chief marketing officer of Warner Bros. Television Group.  "At Comic- Con, we all stand together and the entire company is represented – the power of the shield."

SDCC is the world's largest gathering of pop culture fans under one roof, a four-day event that draws some 150,000 passionate fans of a wide variety of pop culture mediums. Many of the attendees show their enthusiasm for the event by wearing costumes honoring their favorite characters of comic books, movies and TV series.

Warner Bros. has been making the official Comic-Con bag since 2008, and its booth at the convention sparks a frenzy of fans. "We give away the bags as a thank you to our fans," says Gregorian. "There is always complete insanity at our booth." Fans use the Warner Bros. bags to tote all the swag and licensed merchandise they pick up at the convention. Over 130,000 bags were distributed at last year's convention.

Each year, Warner Bros. offers something unique. Last year, it changed its bag style to a backpack, to make it easier to carry. Gregorian has been lobbying for a cape for years, and finally, at the 2013 SDCC she got her wish. The capes, which were easily detached from the backpacks, were a big hit.

Each of the backpacks featured double-sided artwork:  One side carried the official Comic-Con design, and the other showcased titles from the Warner Bros. entertainment stable. Warner Bros. usually offers 10 designs per convention, and incorporates all of the company's divisions, including DC Comics, WB Gaming, Theatrical and Television, says Gregorian. The planning process for the artwork and the bag starts about 8 months ahead of SDCC, held annually in June.

Gregorian estimates some 40% of convention goers of all ages were wearing the capes. "We know it's a hit when our stuff ends up on eBay," she says. There is also an active aftermarket for the bags, as fans trade among themselves to get the show or movie they follow. Attendees were tweeting each other, seeking to trade bags. Some of the stars of the Warner Bros. shows were tweeting links to the bags. When Warner Bros. posted the cape backpacks on its "Media To Go" press site, they got so much traffic the site went down for a half hour.     

The company also distributed a host of other products at Comic Con, including T-shirts, hats, books, masks, figurines, iPhone covers and medallions, as well as nearly 40,000 branded hotel key cards that provided Warner Bros. TV points of interest to the top hotels in the area.

Promo Products Rock at Trade Show

Boost Rewards hit the top of the charts with its “Recognize Your Rock Star” program, which it showcased at the Society for Human Resources and Management Conference and Exposition (SHRM) in Chicago this summer. Boost debuted the campaign at SHRM a year earlier, and it was so successful that the company continued and built upon its rock star theme at the 2013 show.

Boost’s goal at SHRM, which typically draws about 12,000 people, was to engage new customers by encouraging companies to adopt employee recognition programs. The company hired look-alike talent to resemble rockers, but kept the identity of the rocker a mystery until the day of the event. This year’s talent was “Bono,” and he so closely resembled and acted like the U2 front man that some attendees actually thought it was him.

In addition to Bono, the booth featured umbrella-style photography lights and visitors could get their picture taken with the faux rocker. They were then given a “Bono” star business card which directed them to the company’s Facebook page. By posting their pictures and liking Boost on Facebook, visitors could enter a Red Carpet Rollout giveaway that featured chances to win a Yamaha guitar, SpaFinder gift card, home accessories from Whispers Home and beauty products from Preen Apothecary.

Boost distributed an array of branded promotional merchandise that struck solid gold with trade show attendees. Among the giveaways were guitar-shaped sunglasses, Bono-style sunglasses, custom tattoo sleeves and guitar-shaped carabiners to hang from attendees’ trade show bags.

At the show, Boost showcased its Boost on Demand Cogz Rewards, an employee incentive and recognition program that allows for on-the-spot employee recognition, allowing companies to reward exceptional performance as it happens. The company also highlighted its Boost Wellness Program, which encourages employees to participate in specific wellness initiatives and features its Wellness Cogz Rewards.

“We had people from competing booths tell us, ‘your booth is fantastic,’” said a company spokesman. “Some competitors even came and asked if they could have a tattoo sleeve – logoed with our company’s name – and they wore them home on the plane.”

Commemorative Ticket Builds Buzz for Movie

To increase advertising visibility and build buzz around the release of Man of Steel, Warner Bros. teamed up with Walmart before the release of the film and formed a first-ever studio/retailer partnership.

Out of this came a campaign unlike any other, in which Walmart stores nationwide would sell a limited supply of tickets to the exclusive pre-release screening of the film.

Warner Bros. worked with their promotional products partner to design and manufacture the tickets for sale in the Walmart stores. The confidential campaign included the work of seven design artists who created the final product: a color-printed commemorative ticket.

The oversized tickets were imprinted with the film’s cover photo and logo, and cut to mimic VIP or backstage passes. In the end, one million tickets had been sold nationwide to the exclusive event. The commemorative promotional ticket campaign worked as it advertised the film, which did well at the box office.

Need a creative spin on your next campaign? Why not tie it into a new film or some other entertainment industry-related event? Contact your ad specialties partner to guide you on the best promotional products and ideas to make your campaign a success.

Art and Ad Specialties Connects Tequila Brand with Consumers

The U.S. is the largest tequila market in the world, and for a premium tequila brand like Tequila Herradura, successfully positioning itself for continuous long-term growth is paramount in the battle for shelf space. Consumers are becoming more educated and beginning to choose 100% agave brands and ultra-premium offerings.

In an effort to increase brand awareness, the company held the “Tequila Herradura Barrel Art Collection” contest, challenging artists from eight U.S. cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Austin, Miami and Santa Fe – to transform a Tequila Herradura barrel into a work of art. “Since handcrafted oak barrels play a key role in the process of creating what many consider to be the finest tequila in the world, Tequila Herradura decided to share its heritage and passion for crafting the tequila with artists,” says Valdemar Cantu, brand manager at Herradura.

The brand team distributed a press release and followed up with a unique mailer to top-tier media contacts. Each mailer included a two-liter barrel of American oak engraved with the program logo, an art supplies kit in a wooden box, a sample of Herradura Silver 750 ml. in a branded black gift box, a barrel-shaped, logoed USB which featured program and brand information, and a postcard with barrel artwork imagery and a description of the program including social media information.

Nearly 1,000 artists submitted to the open call, and 80 were chosen to compete. In each city, art critics, gallery owners, notable collectors and media editors served on the judging panels to select the regional winner that would compete in the grand finale event, says Cantu. “All works of art were judged on originality, creativity, overall quality, and the inclusion of elements that represented Tequila Herradura,” he says. “Art fans also had the opportunity to vote for their favorites online to crown the Fan Choice Award winner in each city, all of whom will be guaranteed a spot in a Creative Capital professional development workshop.”

Herradura donated $70,000 to arts organization Creative Capital, which supports artists nationwide through funding and career development services. Creative Capital will use these funds to bring its Professional Development Program workshops to artists in the participating cities free of charge.

“Tequila Herradura awarded a $100,000 cash prize to Micah and Whitney Stansell from Atlanta,” says Cantu. “Art lovers in the eight cities will have the opportunity to see the winning piece and all the participating pieces firsthand as they will be showcased at select venues in each city in early 2014.”

Promo Items Add Buzz to Conference

When Inner Circle Labs hired Kennedy Events Circle to manage its first social discovery conference, Glimpse 2012, the event management company faced the daunting task of taking a standard hotel conference room and infusing it with a vibrant spirit to match that of its entrepreneurial and forward-thinking audience.

"The audience was a ‘who's who' of the media and technology communities," says Kennedy Events' partner Paige Buck. Companies and products in the social discovery space seek to connect people with new places, people and products based on their social interactions and interests.

"The Glimpse stage is meant to bring to life conversations that would happen over drinks – casual, unique, unrehearsed and valuable," according to the Glimpse conference website. Glimpse 2012 covered a wide array of subjects, including social discovery in lifestyle and entertainment, dating, and building of new social discovery products.

The conference brought together company founders, executives and industry experts at the forefront of creating new technologies for social networking and mobile apps. The speakers and panel discussions revolved around "anything and everything online," says Buck. "Speeches and panel discussions were insightful, making for an engaging conference."

The result was a one-day event that generated a huge social media buzz. "Glimpse trended nationally on Twitter, among top national headlines," says Buck.

Despite the digital focus, many of the companies that presented turned to promotional products to help convey or reinforce their brand message to the approximately 250 people who attended. Attendees received a conference cross-body bag which contained the Glimpse logo on one side, and the San Francisco cityscape silkscreened in red on the other. "The bag was just a simple, canvas tote, gender-neutral and useful," says Buck, adding, "I use it all the time." One conference attendee said people came up to him on the street to ask where he got the bag and what the event was, notes Buck.

Other top sponsors at the conference offered clever giveaways. "Sometimes it wasn't just the items themselves, but their placement," says Buck. MeetMe, a social platform, collaborated with the conference venue to have branded MeetMe coffee mugs stacked by the coffee machine all day, and to wash and return the clean mugs to attendees' place settings so they could reuse them and take them home. The stacks of mugs repeated the MeetMe logo over and over, reinforcing the brand name.

TripIt, a social and mobile app for keeping travel plans together and accessible, gave branded passport holders to conference guests who visited their booth. And Waze, a traffic and navigation app, gave attendees a branded iPhone stand that mounts to the car window a safe, visible distance from the driver, so the phone can function as a GPS device. Schemer, a Google spinoff that helps users share and discover things to do (like exploring a new city), offered cookies glazed with the Schemer logo at the dessert table.

Attendees were encouraged to pose in front of a "step and repeat" backdrop bearing the conference and sponsors' logos. "At the end of the day, after cocktails, people grouped together and took fun photos, which resulted in great images of people connected with the brand, and great publicity for the conference," says Buck.

As people posted their photos to their own networking sites, the images showed people who hadn't been there what they missed. "Also, creating inexpensive vinyl wall decals with the client's logo is a great way to make your mark on an event space without busting the budget," Buck adds.

Promotional products added to the buzz and energy of the conference, says Buck, adding, "The sponsors at this conference hit the nail on the head in their selection of promotional items."

Logoed Golf Cap Generates Support

KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory services firm, worked with their ad specialty distributor to develop a brand-boosting marketing campaign. Together, they created a tagline – “The Right Team” – and recognized that it was a natural segue to a sports marketing effort.

 

They decided to link it with golf to create impact and brand awareness through the game. Through the collaboration, they produced a navy blue imprinted cap and established a website at www.golf-kpmg.com. A charitable aspect with a link to their Family for Literacy program (KFFL) was also added. They connected the marketing effort with both KFFL and First Book, a nonprofit that supports childhood literacy through book donations, and named it Blue for Books.

As the program developed, pro golfer Phil Mickelson lent his support to the effort and began to wear the hat, which was dubbed "Phil's Blue Hat" at tournaments and media events. It quickly became a popular item among fans.

Now, for every piece sold, Blue for Books donates three brand-new books to kids in need. In the past two years, they've sold over 10,000 hats and donated 30,000 books. KPMG has also signed golfer Stacy Lewis, who wears her own cap style that's now for sale on the website.

Sponsorships & Ad Specialties Bring Big Names to Georgia Film Festival

To ensure that Hispanic filmmakers have a platform to network and promote their work, Jose Marquez, CEO of Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LIST), and Lance Robertson, CMO of the Black Latino Council, created the Georgia Latino Film Festival during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2012.

“In just one year our footprint has expanded exponentially,” says Robertson. “We have film submissions from Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and we see attendees from all over.”

To kick off the festival, Hispanicize HX, the regional Latino events platform of the annual Hispanicize event, held a special edition red carpet event, gathering the city’s top Latino influencers in journalism, blogging, marketing, technology and entertainment with “TED Talks”-type presentations, networking and a musical performance.

With the help of sponsors such as Coca Cola, Hispanicize Wire, OVN Latino, Being Latino and Sofrito for Your Soul, the festival provides an opportunity for corporations to target the fastest growing movie-going audience and promote their products and services. Companies and organizations were equipped with branded signage and banners, giveaways such as T-shirts, stickers and other marketing items to help consumers keep their brand front of mind.

Other sponsors for this year’s Georgia Latino Film Festival were PMPublicidad, Georgia Pacific, AeroMexico, Mundo Hispanico, SBC, Mi Amiga Magazine, InTouch Financials, Pase La Voz and Verizon. “We make 15, 30 and 60 second PSA audio, video and script in English and Spanish and provide local main stream, urban and Latino Media with content they can use,” says Robertson. “Plus we form media partnerships so the event will have great coverage and continue to grow.”

This year, several television channels, radio stations and newspapers picked up the story, including CBS News, Telemundo, OVNLatino, La Mega and Univision. GaLFF also set up a blogger lounge and promoted sponsors through social media channels Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and more. “Our HX events will bring greater media, social media and marketing recognition to talented presenters and Latino music artists that deserve to be better known,” said Manny Ruiz, founder of the Hispanicize platforms, in a press release. “Through the HX events and our Hispanicize Wire press release distribution platform we will change the game for influential thought leaders and Latin music artists.”

Umbrellas Reign at Cannes Film Festival

The stars were out, despite a torrential downpour, at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The Great Gatsby opened the festival, and all eyes were on Leonardo Di Caprio, Carey Mulligan and the rest of the cast as they navigated the rain-soaked red carpet in tuxedos and evening gowns. But as luck would have it, the real stars of the evening proved to be the logoed umbrellas that each of the cast members carried to protect their designer clothing.

The humble umbrella typically is a low-profile accessory. But at Cannes, it took center stage, appearing in every picture the paparazzi took of Hollywood’s most glamorous and beautiful matinee idols. The Great Gatsby umbrellas carried by the film’s stars were provided by an international promotional products distributor, who works with communication agencies all over the world. Typically the agency orders promotional products as part of a full marketing package for the movie companies.

Though umbrellas typically don’t play a leading role in a brand’s marketing budget, all bets were off when the Gatsby umbrellas ended up in the hands of the film’s leading man.

“When someone like Leonardo Di Caprio touches a promotional product, it turns into gold at once because the item will be seen on TV and in many magazines,” a distributor spokesperson said. And indeed, nearly every photo of every star that walked the red carpet at Cannes features celebrities carrying large black umbrellas with their branded logo prominently displayed.

As for the umbrellas, one word of caution: Carey Mulligan reportedly got hit on the head by one of the umbrellas as she got out of her car – although that also got press coverage and was recorded by TV cameras, garnering additional attention for the umbrellas.

Raising Awareness With Thumb Socks

Dosomething.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to causes that affect young people across the nation. Among these issues is texting and driving: a fatal habit that led to 1.3 million crashes in 2011 alone.

Dosomething.org recognized a need for enhanced youth awareness and developed a campaign – a call to action for its members to address the problem of texting and driving. “We were thinking: How do you stop people from texting? Well, you use your thumbs,” says Naomi Hirabayashi, chief marketing officer at Dosomething.org. “Then the idea came: thumb socks. We realized they could be a lot of fun and were also really visual, so they would serve an awareness purpose.”

The socks function as a reminder of the dangers of texting while driving. “We’re giving young people the tools to start a conversation around safe driving with their friends in a fun and unique way,” says Hirabayashi.

Dubbed “Thumb Wars,” the idea behind the campaign was simple: Give away “thumb socks” to interested participants and encourage them to share their photos. The socks are given to young people, ages 13-25, who sign up to participate in the campaign through the nonprofit's website. Participants who share their photos are entered into a drawing for the chance to qualify for a college scholarship.

So far, the campaign has received an unexpectedly large public response. Last year, over 223,000 people participated in “Thumb Wars,” and over 127,000 pairs of socks were given away. The success of the Thumb Wars campaign is largely due to the simplicity of the giveaway. “It makes the story clear, simple and impactful,” says Hirabayashi. “Make sure you’re offering something of clear value to your target market.”

Contact your ad specialty distributor to help with your next campaign, and for all your promotional needs.

Promo Products Are a Hit at Latin American Festival

For 22 years, Latinos of all ages have traveled across the region to attend the area’s largest Latino event, the Charlotte Latin American Festival. Organized by the Latin American Coalition, the festival is held at Symphony Park, an outdoor venue with ample space for music, vendors, sponsors, and the growing number of attendees. It’s the coalition’s biggest annual fundraiser, and allows the organization to continue offering free and affordable services such as ESL classes, advocacy programs, and immigration clinics to the city’s Hispanic population.

“We see about 20,000 people come through the day of the festival,” says Tony Arreaza, cultural events director at the Latin American Coalition. “We have a lot of space in the park and also utilize the parking lot for the growing crowds.”

The coalition strives to preserve the authenticity of the event, bringing in popular musicians from Spain, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico and Uruguay, this year with pop star Julieta Venegas and rock sensation No Te Va Gustar. In addition to musical performances, the festival offers authentic Latin American cuisine, a marketplace of local artisans, art demonstrations, dance performances children’s activities.

Every year, more corporations get involved with the festival, capitalizing on the popularity by setting up booths and selling their products and services. Representatives bring giveaways for the attendees, as they know people need a way to recall the sponsors. “Companies do a lot of promotions, throwing T-shirts from the stage into the crowd or handing them out as people walk by,” Arreaza says. “Tech items like iPads and iPhones are also big.”

The Latin American coalition also uses imprinted apparel, and designs an event shirt for the staff and volunteers so people can identify them if they have questions or need assistance.

“We use different forms of Hispanic media to get the word out to sponsors and attendees, and since we don’t have a budget for marketing, we do a lot of trading,” Arreaza says. “We’ll give the Hispanic newspaper the sponsorship benefits of setting up a booth and handing out promotional items at the event, and in turn, they give us ads.”

Now in its 23rd year, Arreaza is proud of the event’s growth and hopes it continues to gain momentum as people of other cultures and backgrounds learn more about their Latin community members. “I started out as a musician, trying to get a spot playing at this festival because I knew it’d lead to exposure,” he says. “Then one day I found myself helping with the music organization and band choices. Now, seven years after joining the coalition, here I am helping to organize the entire event. I would have never guessed.”

T-Shirts Help Promote Healthy Message

Akron General Health System wants to be known for its listening skills and recently launched a marketing and consumer-engagement campaign titled, “My Health. My Life.”

“Because Akron General’s goal is to understand the health-care needs of each member of the community, the campaign was launched to communicate this,” says Gina Page, senior account manager/PR with Hitchcock Fleming & Associates (hfa).

Research conducted by Akron General and hfa showed that individuals in the community want a health-care system that listens closely to what they have to say and works collaboratively with them to share important information about their health. The campaign is helping start conversations to achieve the health-care system’s goal. “Our new campaign revolves around education, empathy, collaboration and meeting the wellness needs of everyone at any age,” says Thomas Stover, M.D., president and CEO of the Akron General Health System.

Akron General has thousands of employees and T-shirts were given to them to leverage the staff as brand advocates and to promote the new tagline. “It’s been a huge momentum builder as the positioning is something that every Akron General associate truly believes in,” says Page.

Marketing teams at Akron General and hfa designed the multi-tier campaign that included print, local and cable TV, social media, radio, online, outdoor, paid search and sponsorships. The initial TV spot debuted in April, but some elements of the campaign began in late March.

Be sure to contact your distributor partner to develop your own effective campaign that will lead to successful results.

Thinking Outside the Lunchbox

Wholly Guacamole, America ’s top-selling brand of pre-made guacamole, was looking to spice things up like a jalapeno pepper.

Last summer they sent “Boring Lunch Survival Kits” to promote the brand’s 100-calorie snack packs as a back-to-school lunch idea. “This was the first big event we’ve done highlighting the snack packs,” which have been on the market for a couple of years, says Jennifer Sawyer, Wholly Guacamole marketing manager. “We wanted to refresh brand awareness for moms looking for alternatives for their kids’ lunches as an option for sneaking good food into kids’ bellies.”

The survival kits were meant to highlight the versatility of the guacamole snack packs, which encourage consumers to “Dip It, Top It, Spread It, Love It.” The packs freeze well, defrost easily and are great as a spread on sandwiches or a dip with veggies and chips, Sawyer explains.

Wholly Guacamole overnighted about 500 metal retro lunchbox kits with cold packs to trade and consumer media and bloggers. The back of the lunchbox was a dry-erase board, which contained the message, “Out To Lunch, Be Back at _____________.” The lunchbox contained a dry-erase marker, two varieties of 100-calorie snack packs, an avocado shaped squeeze ball, branded chip clip and coupons.

The lunchbox theme was a natural fit with lunch, says Sawyer. “We’re big believers in making an immediate impact,” she says. “We have people that still talk about the avocado-shaped coolers we sent out three years ago.”

An editor recently told Sawyer that she keeps the cooler on her desk and decorates it with the seasons and for holidays. “We wanted that kind of impact with the lunchbox. We hope people will display it on a long-term basis,” she says.

Wholly Guacamole got great feedback from the promotion. Some requested additional samples, and suggested additional media and bloggers to send kits to. Bloggers posted pictures of the lunchboxes on their sites, and Wholly Guacamole gave some away on Facebook. “Bloggers are important in getting across our brand messages to moms,” says Sawyer. “Prizes are important in delivering a brand message, and we take it seriously. Promotional goods are way more strategic than some people give them credit for. It’s about impact.

“We have been a leader in our category for the past 10 years, and promotional products are tools that help generate interest and create intrigue about our brand,” she adds. “It’s a way to interrupt people in their day, and gives us 5, 10, 15 more minutes than we’d get with conventional ads.”

 

Bakery Brand Gains Exposure With Logoed Jerseys

Bimbo Bakeries USA, the U.S. Division of Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo, is one of the world’s largest baking companies, with over 126,000 associates and operations in 19 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Well-known brands such as Sara Lee, Entemann’s, Boboli and Thomas’ are just a few under the Bimbo umbrella.

Grupo Bimbo is heavily involved with the Mexican Soccer League, sponsoring teams like Chivas de Guadalajara, the most successful team in Mexico, and Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica. The corporation’s logo has donned the jerseys of their sponsored teams for years, and international fans have come to expect the iconic red, white and blue Bimbo across the chest of their favorite players.

Now, Bimbo is bringing the exposure to the states, starting with its title sponsorship of the 2013 Copa Univision, the fastest growing amateur soccer tournament in the U.S. This year, 12 cities will host the tournament: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Antonio, Sacramento, Austin and Fresno. Strategically, Bimbo will be front and center on the soccer jerseys all the way.

Every time a player is photographed, videotaped or televised, the name of the company appears, too, carried in newspapers, magazines, websites and broadcasts. Every purchase of a team jersey pushes the company into the public consciousness. And every fan who dons a jersey becomes a walking billboard.

“The tournament supports the youth in the Los Angeles area,” said Rafael Velez, marketing manager at Bimbo Bakeries USA in an interview with PR Newswire. “We support initiatives that get youth exercising, teach important skills such as teamwork and help our local community.”

During Copa Univision attendees can participate in interactive soccer activities and have access to entertainment stage areas as well as client and community organization booths. Soccer teams can compete using a five-on-five, six-on-six or eight-on-eight format on smaller fields that create exciting competition.

Winners of each category will receive great prizes, trophies and medals and are recognized on the radio for their achievement. “Of all the community events organized by Univision 34, Copa Univision L.A. is one of the most entertaining and exciting,” said Esther Mendoza Brown, promotions manager at KMEX-TV says of the event. “Our community looks forward to this soccer tournament year after year, and the day is filled with fun for our clients, partners, volunteers, players and their families.”

Wristbands Improve Fan Experience

The Dallas Mavericks scored big when they partnered with Big PlayAR to offer Mavs fans a new augmented reality (AR) experience on 11 collectible player slap bands.

"In 2011, the year we won the NBA championship, we tied in with Big PlayAR and introduced AR on the front side of our playoff tickets (all four rounds)," says Gina Calvert, corporate communications/community relations director for the Dallas Mavericks. "It was a big success, and fans enjoyed the interactive game tied into their game day ticket. We decided to use it in a collector series of slap bands."

Each Mavs AR slap band was designed with a different Mavs player and was handed out at select home games. All told, the Mavericks gave away 40,000 slap bands to the first 5,000 fans at eight home games. "The Mavs ‘Tip-Off' program has staying power because fans are competing throughout the season," says John Robison, CEO of Big PlayAR.

Fans could download the Mavs Tip-Off app and use a smartphone or tablet device to scan the logo located on the front of the slap band. This allowed fans to watch interviews, highlights and previews of the player on their particular slap band. Fans were also able to compete in virtual games with others wearing the slap band to win prizes including home game tickets and autographed player jerseys.

Interested in items that you can use with smartphone apps and other mobile marketing efforts? Contact your ad specialty distributor to help with ideas and the perfect promo products that will make your campaign a success.

Promo Products Help Beer Brand Kick Off Campaign

Memorial Day isn’t always about heading to the beach. For popular beer brand, Indio, and its fans, May 24 kicked off the first weekend of CASA Indio, a new multi-city event series where art, music and culture live under the same roof, encouraging consumers to “Do Their Thing” and interact with talented artists from Mexico and the U.S.

Indio, the dark lager Mexican beer, joined forces with VICE Media for the events, which began in Los Angeles and will continue into Chicago, Austin and San Francisco through November. The events are private and help to raise funds for the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA).

“We worked with all of our agencies to bring CASA Indio to life, including the event producers VICE Media, our PR agency FORMULATIN, creative agencies iNSPIRE and Olabuenaga Chemistri, and our media agency MediaVest,” says Gustavo Guerra, brand director for Indio. “Together, we’ve developed a strong, multi-prong promotional campaign in support of CASA Indio and the brand.”

The brand engaged with independent bloggers who are relevant to the target consumer – Hispanic millennials 21 and older. To encourage these media contacts to spread the word about the events, Indio gave them the “key” to CASA Indio: key-shaped, branded USBs that were loaded with everything they needed to promote, including press materials, artist lineups, flyers, photos and videos.

“We distributed the USBs in several ways, including a pre-event mailer to key bloggers as well as to contacts who attended the events,” says Guerra. “We leveraged VICE’s media networks and other digital networks like Townsquare Media, YouTube, Facebook, etc. to share artist lineups, while targeted PR efforts helped us secure editorial coverage and media attendance to the events.”

Each city will leave its CASA Indio doors open for up to two weeks, allowing guests to RSVP and make the most of the unique event. At each happening, guests are treated to live music from bands like I Can Chase Dragons!, Elis Paprika and Los Macuanos, as well as art workshops and Indio beer samples.

Also as part of the PR strategy, the team outreached to blogs like L.A. Taco and Galería Alternativa to give their readers the opportunity to have a VIP experience at CASA Indio and win screen-printed posters autographed by participating artists.  

L.A. Taco offered two winners (plus one guest each) VIP access to a special happy hour on May 24, where they could meet the artists who were performing that night. Once the events began, the winners had access to a VIP area where they received free Indio beer and food, and they were guaranteed spots on the guest list to all the events listed on the flyers.

“We are very pleased with how CASA Indio turned out in LA, and are looking forward to connecting with our consumers in Chicago, Austin and San Francisco in the next few months,” says Guerra. “The essence of CASA Indio will remain the same in each market; however, we’re taking great pride in tailoring as much as we can to the host city, from the artists that we showcase, to the type of workshops, and even the type of venue we select.”

No Request Too Looney

The State University of New York's (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) had its work cut out when it took ownership of the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC), an outdoor science and educational center, two years ago. "The AIC had no budget or staff. We had to incorporate it into our own educational outreach, using existing budget," says Paul Hai, program coordinator at ESF's Newcomb campus, where AIC is located. He knew some sort of creative fundraising was needed to support this newest addition to SUNY's environmental education and outreach efforts.

"I wanted to do something different and creative," says Hai. He came up with the idea of a duck race, given the facility's location on a stretch of Rich Lake, which formed a natural racecourse. Two bridges comprised a perfect start and finish line for the race, which would also help commemorate the Adirondacks' history of spring log drives on the lake, which took place annually in the early 1800s to mid-1900s.

Rather than using typical rubber ducks, Hai wanted to float rubber loons, aquatic birds that are a beloved symbol of the Adirondacks. Also, he wanted the loons to be USA-made to further connect the event to the local environment. "Many people come to the Adirondacks just to see the loons," Hai says. He never expected that it would be so difficult to find rubber versions. He was finally able to locate a promotional products company that could supply him with custom-made ducks.

The company delivered 1,000 rubber loons in time for the AIC's maiden "Loon Drive," held last year on Memorial Day. The AIC's second loon drive kicked off summer again this past Memorial Day. "We were extremely happy with the finished product," Hai says. "The loons helped us garner attention as a unique entity and helped to highlight that the AIC has a special mission of education and research. We are a nature center, tied to the local environment, and the loons fit in nicely and added to the uniqueness of the race."

Startup Gets the Party Started

SpareFoot brought the crowd to its feet at its "Spare Beats" dance party, held in Austin last year at the South by Southwest festival (SXSW), an annual event widely considered to be the ultimate breeding ground for new music, independent films and emerging technologies. SpareFoot, based in Austin, is an online marketplace for self-storage facilities, founded in 2008 by two UCLA students. It now employs 74 people.

"People at SXSW are looking for a good time. We decided the best way for us to get our name out there was to throw a party," says Jenny Zhang, junior editor at SpareFoot. Spare Beats was an all-day party that went into the evening hours. It featured a variety of local and nationally known DJs, as well as dinner and drinks for the packed audience, which included SpareFoot employees and friends, investors and journalists.

"One of our main goals was to show we are a fun, dynamic and wacky company, despite the fact that we're in an industry that may be perceived as boring," says Zhang. This was SpareFoot's first appearance at the festival, which Zhang calls a "mecca for startups." The company marketed the event as a crazy, day-to-night party, and encouraged people to hydrate before they arrived. The event drew a capacity crowd and generated 42 PR mentions with links, 261 Twitter mentions, 46 Facebook mentions and 9,290 RSVPs, according to a blog post by Rachel Greenfield, SpareFoot marketing manager and editor of The Storage Facilitator.

They distributed logoed T-shirts and mini SpareFoot tape-measure keychains to Spare Beats party guests. "Branded items are a perk of being our customer," says Zhang, who says the company typically offers branded items at trade shows and other promotional and networking events.

SpareFoot T-shirts and towels are popular giveaways at self-storage trade shows, which number 10 or more a year. Zhang says these shows are great networking opportunities. "We're about to enter trade show season again, so we're preparing to distribute even more swag this time around," she says. The company is currently distributing logoed can coolers at shows including ISS World Expo and other trade shows around the country.

Earlier this year, SpareFoot sponsored a "Declutter SpareFoot's Swag Closet" on its Facebook page. The company gave away its signature tee and towels to anyone who asked, and if recipients tweeted a picture of themselves wearing the swag, they were entered in a contest to win a $100 Visa gift card.

The company is not afraid to toe, or perhaps even cross the line when selecting promotional merchandise. In January they sent out a calendar featuring employees to about 300 customers. "It was a scandalous storage pin-up calendar. It was definitely weird and completely inappropriate, and we love the reactions – from horrified to gleeful – that we've gotten so far," says Zhang. The calendar was so popular, the company had to order more copies.

The takeaway, according to Zhang, is that the industry of self-storage doesn't immediately seem exciting or fun. "But the truth is we have a blast doing what we do, and we try to make the rest of the industry, as well as the public, see that. We're a tech startup in Austin, after all – it's in our blood!"

Promo Products Spice Up Agency's Anniversary

Hollywood’s first Hispanic marketing agency celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, and with it, a huge sense of accomplishment, having grown from a one-man show to the leading agency for marketing Hollywood entertainment to U.S. Latinos.

Santiago Pozo, CEO and founder, believed in the power of marketing to Latinos, and used this vision to create the company. “Marketing specifically to Latinos is very important these days,” says Ana Matonte, publicity manager at Arenas. “If you’re not focusing on them directly, you at least need to include them in your thought process ofhow to run a campaign. Furthermore, if you’re not giving anything out in the way of promotional items or collateral, you’re really missing out on a lot of potential consumers.”

Hollywood has embraced the Latino market, which makes up 17% of the U.S. population but accounts for an impressive 25% of all movie tickets sold. Arenas Entertainment has been able to increase this average on film releases such as Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Apocalypto and Empire.

For many film releases, the agency works with the studio to determine the best promotional items for each campaign and has used a multitude of imprinted specialties such as tote bags, T-shirts and key chains. “You can’t go wrong with commodity items like thisbecause in the end, it’s free for the end-user,” says Matonte. “I think giveaways are the best way to engage consumers; you have to execute it the right way and that means being organized on all other channels,” she says.

Arenas Marketing, located in Los Angeles and Madrid, Spain, specializes in publicity, promotions, media, creative services as well as film production and distribution. With all its success, Arenas has used its 25th birthday to thank clients for their business. “We are planning a celebration for the end of the year. Right now, we’re creating goodie bags for our clients that have our Arenas logo and the 25th Anniversary logo on them,” says Matonte. “We’ve given current clients tote bags and some other items to say ‘thank you,’ and we always do our Christmas card campaign, so it’s just something tangible that they can enjoy.”

Use Promo Products to Pump Up Your Picnic

Company picnics are great for employee participation; forgo the same old hot dogs and potato chips, and add pizzazz to your picnic with the help of a theme that will increase excitement and encourage participants to get involved. Check out these popular theme ideas, and be sure to ask your ad specialty distributor about obtaining the best products for your picnic and all your promotional events.

County Fair
Have employees bring their favorite dessert, garden produce and homemade crafts for judging and award ribbons to all. Sponsor pie eating, egg juggling, apple bobbing and watermelon seed-spitting contests. Make sure to decorate your picnic tables in country prints. Arrange games such as three-legged races and tug of wars; have team members wear logoed bandannas in their team’s color. Finally, set up hay rides around the picnic area. Keep plenty of logoed water bottles and sunscreen on hand for the long day outside.

Mexican Fiesta
Provide a set of Mexican hats and serapes and photograph your guests wearing them. String colored lights from poles or trees and add colorful streamers. Decorate picnic tables with colorful Mexican blankets and cacti centerpieces. Engage a mariachi band or use recorded music, and give employees logoed maracas to shake. Hang piñatas filled with candy and treats and let attendees take their best shot.

Hawaiian Luau
Encourage guests to arrive in costume and have hula girls and hula boys greet them with leis to the accompaniment of Hawaiian music. Have a pig roast and put accompanying food items in large seashells or logoed beach pails. Arrange for hula lessons and sponsor hula contests. Whip up a tasteful floral combo that mixes island blooms, fruits and foliage. Provide temporary Hawaiian warrior tattoos and hold coconut passing contests.

Way Out West
Provide vests and Stetsons for your guests and encourage them to add to the ensemble. Serve Western party foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, pork, beans, chips and peanuts. Arrange for a steady supply of country music for your cowgirls and cowboys to dance to and enjoy. Take digital photos of your costumed guests and Photoshop them with sepia tones and faded edges to give them an old-timey look. In addition to Western gear, provide guests with branded boot-shape drinking glasses, take-home cactus centerpieces, flashing marshals’ badges, miniature horseshoes, belt buckles, bolo ties and stuffed-animal horses for the children.

Resorts Five-Star Swag Bag a Hit With Guests

When the legendary Greenbriar resort hosted its inaugural Women in Leadership conference last year, there was significant attention paid to detail, as the speakers included a star-studded array of high-profile women in business, media and government. The event was organized by media power player Cathie Black, former president and chair of Hearst magazines, and a regular on the list of the 50 most powerful women in business.

"To say Cathie is particular is quite an understatement," says Greenbriar director of digital media and branding Chelsea Hover, noting that Black's exacting standards were evident in every aspect of the conference, including the gift bags that were handed out to speakers and attendees. Martha Stewart was the keynote speaker, and presenters included such luminaries as ABC News White House correspondent Ann Compton and Mikki Taylor, Essence magazine editor-at-large and stylist to First Lady Michelle Obama.

"Cathie had very specific guidelines. The bags needed weight and had to include high-quality products with a focus on beauty," says Hover. The bags also needed to have a particular fit over the arm and be able to hold a laptop or an iPad. Many of the speakers were close friends of Black and traveled great distances to participate, making it even more important to Black that these women really enjoy the gift bags.

Hover began researching items for the bags six months before the conference took place, and the feedback from recipients suggests the end-result was five-star. The 300 stylish bags were made of reusable burlap. Greenbriar hotel-branded items in the bags included bedroom slippers, lip balm and wooden serving spoons. Birchbox, a beauty subscription service, supplied Hover with samples of high-end beauty products to try out for possible inclusion. "In one week I sent out 100 requests for donations to the gift bags – and 75% said yes," she notes.

The swag bag was so full that Vera Bradley's donation of 300 purses had to be distributed separately. Attendees received the purses at dinner, as a second gift bag. Imprinted silver business-card cases were included in all of the Vera Bradley bags. Plus, black leather boxes containing three Napa champagnes were given as VIP gifts to 25 of the speakers. "Everyone loved the bags; we got great feedback," Hover says. "If swag is done right, it's a jewel."

Promo Products Power-Up Yogurt Launch

Yogurt has always been advertised toward females with its feminine-colored packaging and commercials featuring thin women. Remember the itsy-bitsy-teenie-weenie-yellow-polka-dot-bikini Yoplait ad? It summed up the message: yogurt helps women lose weight. Carlos Ramirez, CEO and founder of Powerful Yogurt, recognized the need for a yogurt for men in the food industry, and developed a high-protein, all-natural Greek yogurt in a larger package for the active male.

Expo West, the world's largest natural foods trade show, was the perfect place to launch the new product, and Powerful Yogurt's team made sure it would stand out from the crowd.  The team, which consists of employees from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, created an ab-o-gram, an ultrasound machine that allowed attendees to "find your inner" abs when they stopped by the booth. "We hired a model to play a nurse and speak about the product while she showed men their inner abs on the ab-o-gram screen," says Sarah Goldthwait Shoemaker, marketing and communications manager at Powerful Yogurt. "We gave branded hats, T-shirts and rubber USB drives to attendees who stayed at the booth and showed a deep interest in the yogurt. Plus, we gave out thousands of samples throughout the show and people went wild."

The booth also featured a media reel, where visitors could see the attention that Powerful Yogurt had earned in such a short amount of time, adding credibility to the brand. "We pitched proactively, but most happened organically as word of the product got around," says Shoemaker. "Once it was picked up by one outlet, others caught on and soon we were getting mentions on Anderson Cooper, Conan O'Brien, CNN, Today Show, etc."

The protein-packed product was awarded one of the top five most creative U.S. Hispanic ideas by Circulo Creativo, a nonprofit association that promotes creative excellence and communication between professionals working in the U.S. Latino market. And, although the idea caters to all cultures – it's just another sign of how integrated Hispanics have become in what marketing executives are calling the new mainstream. "Our goal is to target men who lead active lifestyles and are conscious about what they're putting into their bodies, and we've had a tremendous response from a diverse group of consumers," says Shoemaker.

Shoemaker credits much of the initial success to a strong online presence. "We had our website set up and it included a coupon, background info about the company, store finder app and high resolution images available to the media, plus we had Facebook and Twitter presence," she says. "When people searched Powerful Yogurt and found all this, they knew it was legitimate. We're now in 350 stores and counting."

Star Power

When Sandra Alexander, a marketing rep for cosmetic firm darci by Di Caprio, sent out a press release announcing the firm's new makeup brush cleaner in September 2011, she never dreamed that the product would find itself in the Oscar gift bags of Hollywood's elite at last year's Oscar ceremony.

Upon reading the press release, a representative from an agency that specializes in the entertainment industry reached out to Darci Henry and Lisa Di Caprio, to see if they would be interested in contributing their new brush cleaner to the gift bags for Oscar nominees in the top five categories of the 2012 Oscars.

At first the pair ignored the call, but after receiving a second call telling them their product would be great for the celebrity swag bag, they decided to get involved. "Make it as unique as you can," was the only request the agency made. The women brainstormed about how best to build around this opportunity, and ultimately won raves and press coverage, including mentions in Lucky magazine and Philadelphia Business Journal for the cleverly designed gift packaging, which centered on the founders' mission statement, "The Beauty of Believing in Yourself." Henry and Di Caprio, divorced mothers who overcame personal adversity, became best friends and started darci by Di Caprio to support themselves, become independent and inspire others to do the same.

The women chose boxes that looked like hollowed-out books bearing the tagline, "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover." The box contained the brand's signature brush cleaner, with limited-edition Kabuki brushes (no animal hair was used and the product was cruelty free-certified by PETA) as well as a towel with the brand's logo to dry off the brushes.

A card insert read,  "You can't summarize your career with one performance, define a character with a single facial expression or take one look at someone and understand who they are or how far they've come. On the surface, your makeup brushes may seem clean. But look a little closer and you may find a different story." The gift box also contained a mini movie script and a short video on a USB drive telling the story behind the brand.

Appearances on talk shows and morning shows to discuss the Oscar gift bags reached almost 3 million viewers. The press that darci by Di Caprio received resulted in increased traffic in their PA-based store, plus the addition of four new wholesale accounts, including Beauty Cirque, New Beauty at Fred Segal, and two major online retailers, www.beautysak.com and www.dermstore.com.

Logoed Cutting Board Is A Brand Booster

Alberta Pork wanted chefs to share their passion for pork, as well as their recipes on how to prepare this meat. The Passion for Pork campaign, which began in April 2012, included a website and over 900 television spots. This created major awareness for the website with 300-400 visits a day. However, as soon as the television campaign stopped, the daily hits dropped to 50-70 visits a day.

To reinvigorate the interest in pork at the consumer level, Alberta Pork reps contacted their distributor partner, who suggested an embroidered chef coat and flexible cutting boards imprinted with the Passion for Pork logo to be given away at various events. As distribution of the cutting boards was underway, a few people provided feedback that they planned to use the cutting boards as place mats.

One event was a high-profile dinner in Edmonton that attracted more than 1,400 diners where chefs clad in their logoed chef coats prepared favorite dishes from the region. The Passion for Pork cutting boards were set out as place mats so people could take them home afterward. The promotion went over extremely well.

The campaign also went viral. Alberta Pork started receiving fun and crazy photographs of people posing with the pig cutting boards in a variety of costumes and locations. Alberta Pork is using the photos on its websites and promoting them through social media to increase demand for the boards. Website visits have again increased and at a much lower cost than buying television spots.

Do you have a campaign that needs a boost? Your distributor partner can help you utilize products that may have more than one application, like the cutting boards doubling as place mats. This will give your company logo greater exposure.

Beer Brand Uses Promo Products To Reach Hot Market

Most major beer corporations know if they want to rule the market, it’s about time they begin catering to Hispanic consumers. After all, the buying power of Hispanics has reached $1.2 trillion, which in 2012, was larger than the entire economies of all but 13 countries in the world, according to the UGA Selig Center Multicultural Economy study.

So, employees in Miller’s Hispanic marketing department reached out to Dean Schwartz, owner of Miami-based SOBO Concepts to create authentic tangible campaign elements. Schwartz, who has worked in the Latin American sector his entire career, also runs a popular Latino fashion merchandise store. “They came to us and said that we seemed to have our finger on the pulse of this Hispanic market, so they wanted our help,” Schwartz says.

Miller needed a design for a soccer jersey in honor of the World Cup, so SOBO’s team of artists went to work. They created an Aztec-like emblem for the front of the jersey and a playful name for the back: Ben Frias. “We’re all about figuring out ways to relate to the target audience,” says Schwartz. “One of the most important things is being relevant to consumers.”

After the jersey was a success, Miller came back for more. This time, they wanted a product that celebrated the Hispanics’ love for wrestling. Since soccer is a large part of the Hispanic culture as well, Miller planned to give the item out at soccer games in West Coast cities with heavy Hispanic populations.

SOBO created a “luchalibre” Mexican wrestling mask in the form of a “chivas” to promote Miller’s sponsorship of the Chivas Guadalajara soccer club, whose mascot is a goat. Luchalibre, a term used in Mexico for professional wrestling, is characterized by colorful masks, so the product had to be authentic. “The key was understanding the roles wrestling and soccer play in the community,” says Schwartz. “They wanted to target males, ages 21-35, so we created a recognizable, but creative product. In the Hispanic market, you can talk the talk, but you also have to walk the walk when it comes to knowing what consumers want.”

Miller also supports education in the Latino community, contributing a portion of its Texas and Oklahoma sales to Adelante, a national nonprofit organization committed to providing resources to Latinos seeking to achieve a higher education.

Promotional Items Help Drive Multicultural Growth

NASCAR is expanding its outreach by building the star power of individual drivers, attracting a multicultural fan base, executing more social-media strategies and improving the racetrack experience for fans. Its new Diversity Program is going strong and is set to continue this mission with Hispanic-themed events and advertising campaigns this year.

Alejandra Diaz-Labrecque, manager of NASCAR Multicultural Development, is a driving force behind the initiative, and she believes that education and awareness are equally important in the quest to gain more Hispanic fans and drivers. “There are two main components of the Hispanic push,” Diaz-Labrecque says. “The first is raising awareness and the second is making the race experience welcoming to fans.”

The diversity program, Bienvenidos a NASCAR, formed partnerships with tracks and race series across the country to promote the movement. The program offered bilingual ambassadors, a bilingual broadcast, Spanish-language signage, concerts including Los Lobos in Phoenix and Chino and Nacho in Miami, branded merchandise, discounted tickets and more.

“In conjunction with each track, we set up branded tents and booths and handed out T-shirts, cups, keychains, lanyards, all with the Bienvenidos a NASCAR logo on them,” Diaz-Labrecque says. “We had sweepstakes going on in each of the markets, in which the track donated items with its logo, and we offered VIP tickets as well as ran TV and radio ads.”

Bienvenidos a NASCAR also developed a Spanish-language landing page for its site and a Spanish call center for ticket purchases. Hispanic fans were offered ticket packages that included bilingual brochures, track maps and advice for race day. “If you’ve never been to a race before, it can be very overwhelming,” says Diaz-Labrecque. “We wanted every attendee to feel comfortable and welcome, so the literature included tips such as where and when to see fireworks, flyovers and driver introductions.”

Handbooks featuring QR codes linked to NASCAR garage videos were distributed, so fans could learn what goes on under the hood of a racecar and familiarize themselves even more with the sport. Headsets were also included in the ticket package, which allowed onlookers to hear the drivers and crews, and listen to broadcasts in Spanish.

Helping to promote the ongoing cause are a handful of well-known Hispanic drivers, including Juan Pablo Montoya of Columbia, Aric Almirola from Cuba, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo of Brazil, Victor Gonzalez of Puerto Rico and Jorge Arteaga of Mexico.

Bienvenidos a NASCAR has continued to grow and become involved with more events and races such as NASCAR Championship Drive in South Beach, Miami. “We know it’s going to be an investment before we see huge results,” says Diaz-Labrecque, “but it’s all about raising awareness and educating Hispanics on the sport.”

With momentum gaining from its efforts toward the Hispanic community, NASCAR is excited for 2013, when the NASCAR Toyota Series will compete for the first time ever in the U.S. in Phoenix on March 1. “We will be there in full force,” says Diaz-Labrecque. “It will be an over-the-top, blowout event.”

Gifts are the Icing on the Wedding Cake

Engaging Concepts, strategic consultants to the wedding industry, gather the top tastemakers in wedding planning twice a year at the Engage! luxury wedding business summits. The events are famous for beautifully wrapped gift bags and branded merchandise, which incorporate function, fashion and fun. Attendees receive gifts before and during the three-day affair, including pre-arrival gifts that build buzz.

Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce are the masterminds behind Engaging Concepts. "There are lots of wedding and event conferences, but most are targeted to specific groups like caterers, photographers or florists," says Grinnals, company founder and president. "At Engage! we bring together everyone who touches the luxury wedding market."

Wedding and event planners mingle and network with high-end wedding personalities, including party planner Colin Cowie, bridal fashion designer Monique Lhuillier and cake maker Sylvia Weinstock. Gift planning begins five to six months out, since many products are custom designed. "We are willing to invest in our gift bags to keep the brand, event and story consistent," says Grinnals.

Alison Howard, a San Diego-based wedding planner, was so impressed by the gift bags that she devoted a 10-minute videoblog to the bag she received at Engage! Las Vegas last summer. "This was the first time I'd done a swag bag blog," she says. It was one of her most popular posts.

Each Engage! event has its own color story and logo, coordinated with the location. Engage!12 Palm Beach took place in December at The Breakers hotel. Its signature colors were "Tangerine Tango," silver and white. Two months before the event, Engaging Concepts sent out "countdown cubes" (photo cubes) to generate enthusiasm and mark the days until the conference. Three weeks before, guests received shoe bags and packing tags with suggested items to pack.

The "bling ball," a signature giveaway at Engage! events, is a name tag bearing a silver chain with Swarovski crystal balls that indicate how many of the Engage! events you've attended. Orange Lucite clipboards, pens and notepads were given out at the opening session. Male and female guests received separate gift totes with gender-specific items. For example, men received shaving items, while women got makeup, nail polish, accessories and orange pashminas. Everyone's bag contained other items too, including a Tango Trio cocktail kit in a branded suitcase, snack tins and an assortment of cleverly labeled products such as a clear vinyl luggage tag with shoe shine wipes for men, makeup remover for women, sunscreen and stain-remover wipes.

On day two, guests got a "Vitamin E!12" meeting kit in a customized orange juice box, with a custom USB drive, logo journal, eboost packet, logo microfiber screen cloth, and lip balm and striped pencil as a straw for the carton and more.

The events generate lots of social media feedback, as guests blog, tweet and post photos that may be relevant and useful to their clients. Grinnals notes a boost in attendees' use of Instagram, with over 700 Instagram photos transmitted from the Las Vegas Engage!.

Stuffed Dragon Drives Consumers to Enter Sweepstakes

Valpak, a leader in print and digital coupons, targeted families and savings in a national campaign, which aired in September nationwide. Valpak's traditional Blue Envelope, Valpak.com andValpak savings app all took center stage in the new Valpak consumer commercial, Coming Home. The commercial showed the story of a dad-daughter duo that used Valpak to find savings in unexpected places. The commercial was featured on digital and social messaging through October 31 and ran on Valpak-partnered television stations TNT and TBS in October.

The commercial also drove viewers to Valpak.com where they could watch "The Dragon Balthazar," a video that completed the commercial's story. Consumers could enter a sweepstakes to win the five-foot stuffed Balthazar dragon that appeared in the commercial. "There was a chance to win the mini Balthazar dragon and a $25 gift card each week, along with the grand prize of a life-sized dragon," says Marsha Strickhouser, public relations manager for Valpak. A total of 15 first-prize winners received the mini dragon and gift card.

Valpak also sent out a direct-mail piece to media, which included a press release and mini Balthazar dragon. "The smaller versions of the dragons were produced for the sweepstakes," says Strickhouser. "We also shared them with our employees and about 1,000 franchise owners and sales reps from around the U.S. and Canada at our national convention."

When done correctly, direct mail can be a highly effective resource for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Make sure to provide real incentives. Direct mail works by getting your prospect to respond to an offer. Whether that is a coupon, a sweepstakes entry or a special deal, make sure you're including an incentive. Contact your distributor for help.

Reality Show Ramp-Up

Mun2, a Hispanic youth-focused cable channel owned by NBC Universal, was looking for items to promote the launching of a new reality TV show called “Larrymania,” based on the life of Mexican singer Larry Hernandez.

They needed two products, one geared toward advertisers and the second toward consumers. Ideas were presented for both the ad agencies and Mun2 viewers. They settled on a bobble head and a leather wristband. Mun2 sent their distributor partner a photo of Larry Hernandez for the bobble head design. He made sure everything matched, even Hernandez’s goatee, which was very important for the artist.

For the wristband, Mun2 wanted to include the show logo and the Mun2 name, but they didn’t just want to do a straight logo. They decided on a custom leather bracelet with the show's logo and a custom-debossed pattern.

They produced 250 bobble heads and 2,000 wristbands. Both items were a huge success. Sarah Castellvi, marketing coordinator at Mun2, was pleased with the results.

Need some unique items to promote a special event or product? Speak to your distributor partner for cool ideas and creative designs that can help you launch a successful ad campaign or product launch.

Boo Boo the Bear Boosts Awareness

When children become ill or injured, one of the first things they reach for while they're on the mend is a favorite stuffed animal. Leaders at The Canadian Association for Wound Care (CAWC) decided to capitalize on patients' need for comfort toys, and together with their distributor partner, designed a custom teddy bear mascot named Boo Boo to raise awareness of the organization's mission and elements of the core brand: caregiving, comfort and security.

The main undertaking of CAWC, a nonprofit organization of health-care professionals, researchers, corporate supporters, patients and caregivers, is to advance wound care in Canada. "The teddy bears were created to aid in CAWC's efforts to improve the health of Canadians living with wounds or at high risk of preventable wounds," says a company spokesperson. The plush mascot featured a paw in a sling and a leg in a cast with a CAWC logo and a matching red ribbon.

The initial target audience was young children and the elderly, both prone to injury, and over 1,000 bears were given to patients and attendees at trade shows and conferences. Because of Boo Boo's popularity, he was eventually used to enhance professional education, support investments in wound management, inform and educate the public and empower patients to speak effectively about the importance of wound prevention and care. Plans are also in the works for distribution at the retail level, and they are currently for sale at CAWC gift shops.

According to a distributor spokesperson, it's important not to limit what one product can do to increase brand awareness for your company. "Boo Boo expanded from what he was made for originally, which was as a distribution item for wounded patients," she explains. "He became an ambassador for education and investment in CAWC."

Be sure to contact your distributor partner to help you find the right product to raise awareness, launch a new campaign or for any special event.

Cookie Jar Is Centerpiece for Iconic Brand's Anniversary Promo

This year, the food industry celebrated a significant milestone – the 100th birthday of the famous Oreo cookie. Since 1912, Oreos, originally a knockoff of Hydrox biscuits, have become the best-selling cookie in the United States; over 362 billion have been sold since they were first released. Over the past century, the detail on the chocolate disks has changed slightly, but the Oreo has remained unaltered since it was introduced to the public.

To commemorate its centennial anniversary, Kraft Foods, the distributor of the Oreo, launched a major nationwide promotional campaign which involved a consumer on-pack offer. A limited-edition, custom Oreo 100th Birthday Cookie Jar was chosen as the premium item to be distributed. According to a company spokesperson who worked on the campaign, the cookie jar made sense from a promotional standpoint, and the lid design also reinforced the core equity of the brand.

The offer was placed on 16 million packages across the country and, as of this writing, actual redemptions were still being calculated. By mid-October, 69,000 jars had been distributed.

Have a milestone you’d like to promote? Contact your distributor partner for ideas and products that will make the celebration last longer than a one-day event. Like the Oreo cookie jar, your logo on a special promo item will be a pleasant reminder to customers who will want to hold onto it as a keepsake for years.

Bag That Hangover

San Francisco-based wine producer Cameron Hughes recently sponsored a booth at the Aspen Food and Wine Festival, a not-to-be-missed annual event for foodies, wine and culinary celebrities and industry leaders, held high up in the Rockies.

“It was the first time we attended the festival,” says Jessica Hughes, co-founder and chief marketing officer at Cameron Hughes. This year marked the company’s 10th anniversary as well as the 30th anniversary of the Aspen festival.

“We offered festival guests 12 different wines from around the world. Since we source wines globally, the wines hailed from Bordeaux to Napa, all under the Cameron Hughes label,” she says. “We are little people, and we wanted to have the greatest presence possible there.”

Wine trade tasting events are very intense; sometimes there can be 1,000 wines under one tent, Hughes notes, adding, “If we didn’t spit, we wouldn’t be able to get through the first hour.” Also, it’s easy to get inebriated more quickly in a location like Aspen due to its high elevation and lower oxygen levels. “You can get a ferocious hangover if you’re not careful,” says Hughes.

To combat the perils of tasting at high elevation, Cameron Hughes created a “wine-tasting survival kit” to promote its brand to event VIPs. The reusable red pouch, bearing the name of the winery and its website address, included such essentials as Aleve, teeth whitening strips, Emergen-C vitamins, breath mints, Blistex and Wet Ones.

The items were carefully thought out. For example, Blistex soothes the inevitable chapped lips that result from tasting red wine. Alka Seltzer helps tackle the acidity of wine tannins that can cause an upset stomach, and Emergen-C provides a vitamin infusion. “In the wine industry, we all take Aleve with Emergen-C in the evening, combined with a big glass of water. This guarantees no hangover,” Hughes says.

The versatile pouch had a hook and eye to attach to belt loops, and was small enough to fit into a back pocket. It also had a zipper piece that allowed it to be hung from a lanyard, worn by many attendees at the festival for identification. The pouch also contained a slit for credit cards and a license, and could be used as a wallet.

It was the first time the wine merchant had ever done a giveaway like this, and Hughes wanted the kit to be “smart, innovative and well thought out.” Cameron Hughes distributed 450 pouches to industry VIPs, and an additional 4,500 Chapsticks were distributed in the event’s registration bags, as well as at its booth. “People loved the pouches,” Hughes says. “Some said it was ‘genius,’ and the Chapsticks were also hugely popular.”

Get Students' Attention

Each year, SandRidge Energy visits college campuses across Oklahoma and neighboring states in search of talent to keep their company competitive.

In the spring and fall, SandRidge recruiters attend career fairs to talk with students majoring in engineering, IT, accounting and other business specialties about internships at the company. To stand out amid a crowded auditorium, SandRidge knew that they needed to have something special to give attendees. “The students swarm to the cool items,” says Ashley McDaniel, a recruiter for SandRidge. “We’ve used water bottles the last couple of years, so I wanted to do something different this year ... something we haven’t seen before.”

The SandRidge Communications Department worked with its distributor partner to design a new, double-walled tumbler that works for both hot and cold beverages. They selected a Triton 16-oz. tumbler. What really sets it apart, though, is the custom-woven patch with the SandRidge logo encapsulated inside the tumbler. A rep for the distributor firm says they used a woven patch to make a really sharp logo. It was the company’s first order of this particular product and with over 1,000 tumblers already sent, the rep says SandRidge is extremely pleased with the product and is planning to order more in the fall when they start attending career fairs again.

 

Promotional Products

The most significant findings of the impressions study show advertising specialties are less expensive per impression than most other media and are very affordable and effective when compared to other forms of media.

Key findings of the study include:

  • Cost per Impression. In the U.S., the cost per impression of a promotional product stayed virtually the same from 2008 to 2010, at .005 cents.
  • Identifying the Advertiser. Eighty-three percent in the U.S. say they can identify the advertiser on a promotional item they own.
  • Product Usage. Bags have the highest number of impressions in a month, over 1,000, and over one-third (36%) of those with incomes under $50,000 own bags.
  • Gender Preferences. Males are more likely than females to own shirts and caps, while females are more likely to have bags, writing instruments, calendars and health and safety products.
  • Ethnic Preferences. African Americans have more promotional products on average (11.3) than any other group.
  • Positive Reinforcement. Seventy-five percent of independent voters prefer consumer-branded products; nearly 1.5 times more than Democrats or Republicans.
  • Influencing User Opinions. Forty-one percent of U.S. respondents say their opinion of the advertiser is more favorable after receiving a promotional product.
  • Global Reach. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents from Great Britain have received and kept a pen in the last 12 months. In the U.S., writing instruments are used the most often, an average of 18.2 times per month.
  • Superior Pass Along. After receiving a promotional product they don’t plan to keep, nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents in the U.S. say they give the item to someone else.
  • Popular Products. The most commonly owned promotional products among U.S. respondents are writing instruments (46%), followed by shirts (38%) and calendars (24%).

At $0.005, the average cost-per-impression (CPI) of an advertising specialty item is less than nearly any other media. According to data obtained by ASI the CPI for a national magazine ad is $0.045; for a newspaper ad, $0.029; for a prime-time TV ad, $0.018; for a cable prime-time TV ad, $0.005; for a syndicated daytime TV ad, $0.005; and for a spot radio ad, $0.058.

To complete its research, ASI conducted a total of 3,332 online and in-person surveys, including interviews with businesspeople in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, London, Sydney, Toronto and Montreal metro areas.

The 2.0 study, a follow-up to the definitive 2008 survey, includes new demographic information on politics, ethnicity, gender and age, since knowing the likely recipient of products is paramount for an advertiser. This year, the comprehensive report also adds global markets and includes more products, such as automotive accessories and food.