Los Angeles Dodgers fans celebrated when National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer signed with the team this off-season. But, thanks to a merchandise mistake, Bauer almost signed with the New York Mets. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that a link in his Instagram profile led to “LFGM” merchandise, which stands for…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
New ‘Carbon Neutral Certification’ Isn’t Perfect, But It Makes Sustainability More Accessible (and Appeals to Younger Buyers)
Carbon Neutral Certification, a distinction set up by a nonprofit that shows that a company is offsetting its greenhouse emissions, aims to be a more accessible way for brands to commit to more sustainable practices. As Gen Z and millennials age into buying positions, this is an important factor…
Read MoreGoogle, Amazon and Social Media Sites Ban Face Mask Ads, Making PPE Sales Difficult
Online platforms like Facebook, Google and Amazon have made it nearly impossible (or actually impossible) to sell or advertise face masks, creating problems for suppliers, distributors and even some end-buyers. Two distributors shared their experiences and how they’ve worked around the advertising bans…
Read MoreProposed Legislation to Protect Unionizing Rights Would Effectively Eliminate Independent Contractor Status Nationwide
The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 842) would, among other things, prevent American employers from “misclassifying” their employees, preventing them from receiving union benefits. In doing so, it would essentially eliminate independent contractor status, with major implications for promo businesses…
Read MorePromotional Totes and Bags: Product and Decoration Trends, Sales Ideas and More
With vaccine rollout underway, a return to business-as-usual (or something close to it) is coming. But the heightened safety measures brought on by the pandemic will likely remain in place for some time. Here’s where promotional totes and bags fit in the current market, and some ideas for selling them…
Read MoreGildan Bounces Back With Big Q4: Activewear Sales Strong, Imprintables Mixed
Gildan Activewear reported strong results for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020, with sales up 4.8% year over year to $690 million. For the full year, Gildan’s sales were down $225.3 million due to the pandemic’s impact in Q1 and Q2, but the company’s fourth-quarter numbers are an encouraging sign for the apparel market…
Read MoreGucci Uses ‘Detroit Vs. Everybody’ Design for T-shirt Line Featuring Major Cities
You’ve probably seen one of those “[Insert city name here] vs. Everybody” shirts. They’re a source of local pride, and carry over to a city’s sports and cultural identity. Gucci certainly noticed their popularity, and borrowed the phrase from original “Detroit vs. Everybody” designer Tommey Walker for its “Gucci vs. Everybody” line. The T-shirts are…
Read MoreJason Sudeikis Repped His Sister’s Business With Branded Hoodie at Golden Globes
Jason Sudeikis did some advertising for his sister’s New York dance and fitness studio by wearing a hoodie with its logo on it during his Golden Globes acceptance speech. When he was accused of “product placement,” he chalked it up to just being a proud brother…
Read MoreMichael Cohen Is Selling Personalized Prison Jumpsuits (and Other Merchandise) to Promote His Podcast
There’s turning lemons into lemonade, and then there’s turning a pretty serious prison sentence into a merchandising opportunity. That’s what Michael Cohen, former Trump attorney, now vocal critic, is doing after being sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion and campaign violations…
Read MoreRap Legend Nas Helped Design the ‘Coming2America’ Merchandise Line
The marketing campaign for “Coming2America,” the upcoming sequel to the classic Eddie Murphy flick, is getting some additional star power by using Nas’s HSTRY brand. The collaborative effort between the film and the rapper’s brand includes 13 items, ranging from T-shirts and sweatshirts to sweatpants and hats…
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