Editorial Notes

All humanity is one undivided and indivisible family, and each one of us is responsible for the misdeeds of all the others. I cannot detach myself from the wickedest soul. —Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi

It is true, we are all guilty. Industrialized nations on the whole have enjoyed an expansive (and ultimately, expensive) period of self-centeredness. Famed Victorian-era psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud would have diagnosed mankind as being severely orally fixated. Trapped in the earliest stages of child development, we’re stuffing ourselves with as much as our mouths can handle—we have been needy, fiscally greedy and most seriously focused on our own self-gratification, regardless of

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Alienated Yet?

Okay, I know. I’ve been bad. Really, really bad—especially considering the fact that if you want a blog to work, you should post several times a day to keep readers coming back for more.
Um, let’s not get crazy with our expectations, though.
BUT, at the very least, I should be able to get a piping-hot post on the table once a week. I fell off the blogging wagon. Sorry. I realize it’s going to take awhile to regain your trust … prove I’m not just going to cut and run when the going gets tough.
So, to start on the road

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A Room of Her own

“A woman must have money and a room of her own.” – VIRGINIA WOOLF
Now it’s time to get creative, economically speaking. When living inside a sliding economy, one where the media delivers more bad news with every passing day, it is impossible not to feel a responsibility to tighten up on spending.
So one day in the not-so-distant past, while I was driving home from work in my gas-guzzling SUV, I was challenged by an economic strategist on the radio. He explained that we care for our bodies through exercise, so why wouldn’t we do the same for our wallets. I decided

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More From Around The Industry

Now for a little rundown of what else is going on in the promotional products industry …
Do we have a Brangelina sighting? Check out who loves the Rebagz eco-line.
An award for the award makers. See who was honored at Crystal D.
Someone is on the rise at Pioneer Balloon. Find out who scored the promotion.
TPS joins the IGC… Find out what this stands for.
Green packaging is real. Curtis Packaging becoms Ceres company.

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Selco Site, Boxercraft Shorts and Emblem Sales Support

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Selco announced it has launched a new Web site as a direct link to its Abelle Promotional Time collection. This watch collection has a $15 to $50 sell price range. The site now includes a new, lower 25 piece minimum allowing mixing and matching of styles to reach the minimum.
Go to www.AbellePromotionalTime.com to visit Selco’s new Web site.
About The Selco Companies
The Selco Companies was established in 1935. A manufacturer and supplier of custom imprinted and die-struck medallion watches, clocks, compasses and high-tech products, The Selco Companies’ products are available internationally through promotional products distributors.
For more

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How was Chicago?

After catching a late-night flight back from Chicago, I can say it’s good to be home. It was a good trip in terms of meeting new people and finding exciting products that we will be showcasing in upcoming issues. While I’m not sure how the show traffic compares to last year (you tell me), there definitely were ample suppliers and distributors to talk to. Unfortunately, I won’t be in Long Beach next week but I hope everyone will stop by the booth and say hello to Anthony and Erin. It’s a good place to check out our end-buyer catalogs and if you haven’t

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June PM Style, Abridged

I have to cut short my usual written tomfoolery today (we’re working on something pretty big ‘round here … more on that later), but I wanted to be sure you caught all the good stuff the June Style section has to offer. I know I’m a little late on this, but hopefully you’re not too disappointed.
If you missed these tidbits the first time around, don’t worry. That’s what I’m here for.
Here are the highlights:

pg. 72: The Wide Euro Band Scoop Neck Hoodie from California Basics is one of the coolest sweatshirts I’ve seen in awhile. The contrast-color whipstitching channels

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See You In Chicago

With near 100 degree heat here in Philadelphia, it’s safe to say a short trip to the Windy City will be a nice break. As an editor, I always look forward to checking out what new products are out there as well as seeing some familiar faces. Hopefully I will get a chance to talk to many of you about some of the new and exciting things happening with PromoMarketing.com and get your feedback on what you need from us to run your business better. See you all there.
Other Industry News:
Top Brands Adds Lufkin Tape Measures
Oshkosh, Wisconsin-based Top Brands Inc. announced

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SAAC Records, Second Locations and New Lapel Pins

SAAC Long Beach Show Reports Record Pre-Registration
The SAAC Show, August 6-7, 2008, in Long Beach, Calif., reported a record number of distributor pre-registration—many attributed to response to the shows offer of a free $50 gas card given to distributors attending the show for both days. The SAAC Board of Directors realize high gas prices are affecting distributors, and want to help them out by subsidizing their fuel bill for the ride to Long Beach.
This year, The SAAC Show introduces an incentive pavilion on the show floor, where a group of leading incentive suppliers will teach distributors how to sell customer loyalty,

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Good Cheer

For those who have met me, this might be a surprising confession, but here goes.
I was a high-school cheerleader.
No, not a recreational-type pom-pom waver. I was entrenched in the highly athletic world of competitive cheerleading, death-defying stunts and all. In fact, my sister is now varsity coach at my old high school—a place where there are more championship trophies for cheerleading in the lobby display cases than there are for any other sport. By far. I know, it sounds weird. But believe me: As members of the only team that consistently won stuff, my teammates and I would become absolutely

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