My name is Christen Gruebel and I have Computer Rage.
Though I can keep it at an appropriate-for-the-office level (hence, I tap the mouse irritatedly without throwing and breaking it), I have had my moments.
A Site for Sore Eyes
Category: Uncategorized
I’m Switzerland
A morning trip to the eye doctor means I can’t technically see that well right now, which should make this blog post extremely interesting for everyone involved, particularly the poor soul who has to proofread this.
Anyway, so I’m working on a feature for our upcoming issue on products made in the USA, and that old Dave Mason song just kept going through my head: “There ain’t no good guys, there ain’t no bad guys, it’s only you and me and we just disagree.”
Shape Up or Ship Out
Something very exciting is happening. Or, at this point, it’s already happened, but on the first day of PPAI, when it hadn’t happened yet, I had that static electricity feeling that something big was about to happen. My esteemed colleagues and I were on tap to help announce the creation of the industry’s first Quality Certification Alliance. And I was excited.
Read MoreU.S. Postal Service Price Changes Go Into Effect
With all the excitement surrounding the Inauguration, we just wanted to take a minute to remind everyone as of January 18, 2009, U.S. Postal Service domestic and international shipping rate increases will take effect.
From the USPS:
U.S. Postal Service to Change Shipping Prices in January
New Annual January Price Change Consistent with Industry Practices
WASHINGTON, DC —Pricing for shipping services will change on Sunday, Jan. 18, the Postal Service announced today following a vote by its Board of Governors.
“The move to annual January price changes for shipping services products is consistent with industry-wide practice, and provides a clear picture of
Mike’s First Blog Post
Greetings, loyal browsers of the Promo Marketing blogs. I’m Mike, the new associate editor on the magazine, and as of today I’ll be joining Chrissie and Charles with their weekly blog updates.
Read MoreArtistic Toy Launches Giving and Awareness Program
Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Artistic Toy announced it will donate tens of thousands of stuffed animal plush toys to community organizations over the next 30 days. This act of philanthropy was inspired by the need to promote the U.S. Government’s new standards on toy safety and restore public confidence in the international supply chain.
To learn more about this campaign, visit www.artistictoysmfg.com/globalgiving.html
HPPA Awards Lifetime Membership to DeGreeff
Dave DeGreeff, of Flagship Promotional Services, Houston, was presented the Houston Promotional Products Association’s (HPPA) most prestigious award, Honorary Life Member. The award recognizes a member who has made significant contributions to HPPA.
During his 25 years
Attitude Adjustment
Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working 24 hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force. « Irving Berlin, composer and lyricist (1888 – 1989)
Brace yourselves. It is going to happen. Things are going to get better. While I am well aware of the doom and gloom constantly being
reported on both network and cable news—that 2009 is just going to continue the economic slide—I have decided to toss the fear aside and take a different approach to the new year. This is
Boy, Are My Arms Tired
Just got back from ASI Orlando and I’m grudgingly accepting that it is indeed still winter. The show was great, and unlike last year (when global warming played a nasty little trick on us and made it 40 degrees), the weather was just gorgeous.
It was a nice way to ease back into the traveling whirlwind that is January and February—my feet are now primed and ready for PPAI next week, that’s for sure. I’m still a little foggy from the lack of weekend (you can’t have everything, I guess), so I’m a little short on repartee. I hope you understand.
Instead, let
American Apparel Keeps Credit Options Open
Love them or hate them, there is apparently no denying (or perhaps even slowing) the clothing juggernaut that is American Apparel. In a tight credit market, in a state that may be bankrupt in two months, Dov Charney finds a way to move forward:
From American Apparel:
Dov Charney, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, “We are pleased to have secured these extensions to our loan maturities given the current difficulties in the credit markets. We have also had discussions with our lenders about the possibility of lengthening the maturity of our debt into 2010, and we will continue these discussions while we
2008 Editors Picks
To wrap up the year, I wanted to take a minute to share the promotional products that the team at Promo Marketing found to be the most desirable. With each of us having reviewed hundreds of products for the magazine and seen hundreds more at trade shows, I thought the choice might be difficult. But, to my surprise, within five seconds of the asking, each of my co-workers had an answer they were sure of. Their choices (and mine) are as follows:
Michael Cornnell: Symphony Handmade Paper—Recipe Bookmarks
“What’s not to like about handmade paper?”
Kyle Richardson: Minya International—The Butt Station
“I don’t