An independent laboratory tested 260 hand sanitizer products from manufacturers given interim FDA approval and found that 44 contained benzene, which the CDC says can cause blood cancers like leukemia. Of the 44, none were from suppliers associated with the promo industry, but two were Star Wars branded sanitizers sold at retail by Disney…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
Miller Lite Released a Line of Branded Candles That Smell Like Bars (and They Sold Out Fast)
Sure, you can enjoy your favorite drinks from home, and you can watch sports on TV. But does your home entertainment area smell like your favorite sports bar? Thanks to three scented candles from Miller Lite, it can. The beverage brand released “Game Day Bar,” “Dive Bar” and “Beer Garden” candles, with proceeds going to the hospitality industry…
Read MoreSBA Increases Small Business COVID Relief Loan Limit From $150,000 to $500,000
Small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic will now be able to apply for up to 24 months of relief totaling $500,000. Previously, the Small Business Administration limited the relief to six months worth $150,000. SBA administrator Isabella Casillas said the decision came down to the pandemic extending longer than…
Read MoreNFL to Start Selling Licensed Merchandise Via Amazon Storefront Operated by Fanatics
Amazon will begin selling more officially licensed NFL merchandise, such as replica jerseys, tailgating products and more, thanks to a new agreement between the company and the league. Effective yesterday, Amazon can now sell licensed NFL products from brands like Fanatics, New Era and more. Nike, however, will not be included…
Read MoreThe NCAA Is Taking Heat for Women’s Tournament Swag Bags (and Missing ‘March Madness’ Branding)
At the start of the NCAA Tournament, we got a look at the impressive gift set players received to help them get settled and stay sane while they’re in the bubble in Indianapolis. It came to light, however, that the Women’s NCAA Tournament did not have these same perks, or even the same branding on the products…
Read MoreIn Potential Sustainable Apparel Breakthrough, MIT Scientists Find Way to Make Wearable (and Comfortable) Fabric From Fibers Used in Plastic Bags
MIT scientists think they found a way to turn polyethylene (PE) fibers, the same material used for single-use shopping bags, into a wearable (and most importantly comfortable) fiber. This development could be huge as society moves away from single-use plastics and toward more environmentally-friendly materials…
Read MoreIt’s No Surprise Chipotle’s Branded Makeup Kit Sold Out in Minutes
Chipotle is once again pushing the boundaries of what a fast food restaurant can do to market itself by releasing food-themed makeup kits. The collaborative release with e.l.f. Cosmetics includes a limited-edition line of vegan, cruelty free cosmetics (and a sponge shaped like an avocado)…
Read MoreHidden Valley Ranch’s Month-Long Promo Is the Result of Years of Outside-the-Box Thinking
We’ve seen so many promotional campaigns from Hidden Valley Ranch, and yet it still finds ways to surprise us. After stockings full of dressing, inflatable bottles for the holidays, the brand’s latest month-long promo campaign ends with a branded refrigerator…
Read MoreHow One Distributor Used Print and Promo Mailers for an Effective Self-Promo
Finding solutions that incorporate both print and promo takes creativity, but when done well can yield big wins for your customers and your own bottom line. Marty Bear, president of PMSI Promos, remembers one instance where a mixture of print and promo served as an effective self-promo…
Read MoreThe Utah Jazz/Snowbird Ski Resort Co-Branded Apparel Collab Is Something Every Sports Franchise Should Copy
If you’ve gone skiing or snowboarding within the last decade or so, you’ve probably seen at least one person wearing a sports jersey. Specifically, NBA jerseys are strangely tied to modern ski fashion. Knowing this, the Utah Jazz partnered with nearby Snowbird Resort to create co-branded Jazz/Snowbird apparel…
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