Category: Uncategorized

Time For Homegrown Goods?

Staff Writer

After seeing some news from Neely Manufacturing, I was wondering if a larger trend was going to start to emerge. Neely announced sales have tripled (see below) since making the switch to all domestic-made products. With gas and transportation prices skyrocketing, will it become more affordable to make products locally—which would cut shipping costs, development costs (and probably a hundred different costs that I don’t even know exist), while supporting local economies that in and of themselves are being weakened by the same high energy costs? I guess what I’m wondering is if it’s time to start thinking about becoming a homegrown society (again),

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The End of Norman Rockwell

Staff Writer

» Americans have discovered the fragility of life, that ominous fragility that the rest of the world either already experienced or is experiencing now with terrible intensity. « JOSÉ SARAMAGO

Our lives as Americans are changing. I remember vividly, as a child, visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum. I was enthralled with the “charmed” lives of the people in his artwork, the simplicity, the joy. His work captured the innocence and mores of post-WWII America.
But even as a child, I knew these pieces of work did not depict my America. Twenty-five years later, I can say with great certainty, there will be

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No Sweat

Staff Writer

I’m confused. While I do realize that, for me, being slightly discombobulated simply means all cylinders are firing per usual, I have reason to believe today’s mental state is in response to an actual set of circumstances, which I will explain in a second.
My job is to write about apparel, we know this. And over the course of the past year covering style for PM, a few truths have unceremoniously revealed themselves to me:
1) Our industry can’t (and quite possibly, won’t) catch up to retail.
2) Moisture-wicking shirts are the next big thing.
3) When presented with cookies from Fresh Beginnings, I

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A Caring Industry

Staff Writer

As people have probably seen from both this week’s and last’s newsletter, there is no end to the compassion shown by the suppliers and distributors of this industry. With the two tragedies, the earthquake in China and the continuing flooding in the Midwest, came news of devastation that needs no elaboration. What also came was a true outpouring of support. Journalbooks, Norwood, PPAI amd Hub Pen are just a few of the companies and organizations providing support and relief efforts. I hope everyone will consider donating to help make their efforts a success. Below are links to articles from last week’s newsletter.
Journalbooks Aims

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A Little Goes A Long Way

Staff Writer

If the recent primary campaigns have taught us anything, it is that a little bit can go a long way. Barack Obama didn’t just break, he shattered every single fundraising effort, with the bulk of his funding coming from small online donations. By collecting $10 or $20 at a time he was able to stuff a multimillion dollar war chest, a chest that in no small part helped him get the nomination.
It strikes me that this approach should be applied to charitable giving as well. Charities shouldn’t discount campaigns aimed at smaller donors, and likewise people should trust that even if they

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Look for the Silver Lining

Staff Writer

I had the pleasure of attending an open house and media dinner this past week in Chicago. By all accounts, it was a fantastic event which included spending time with some of the industry’s nicest folks, lots of laughs, a great Moroccan restaurant, a professional belly dancer (as well as some not-so-professional belly dancers, you know who you are) and even a tarot card reader.
I am quite the skeptic and when I sat down for my reading I thought to myself, “Hmm, I am sure this will be way off the mark.” In actuality she was pretty much on target, even if

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The Big Picture

Staff Writer

Today I decided to step back and attempt to see “the big picture.” It is not always an easy task, but over these last few weeks of economic crises and natural disasters, it would be self-indulgent and inhumane to not take pause. As the death tolls from the earthquake and cyclone in China and Myanmar, respectively, surpass a staggering 130,000, the suffering of the survivors in these two nations is unfathomable.
To put the numbers of this human loss into perspective, lives lost from September 11, 2001 and for Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana were less than 5,000, and still the devastating effects of

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Best Dressed

Staff Writer

I once saw this completely forgettable movie with Salma Hayek and Matthew Perry called “Fools Rush In.” (Don’t judge, I usually have better taste).
Strangely, the only thing I can recall is that, in describing Vegas, one of the characters says (and I paraphrase) that they might as well have built the city on the surface of the sun.
These days, the same can hold true of Philly. It. Is. Oppressive.
Like, kids are being sent home from school, roads are buckling and I can’t even walk around my apartment without breaking a sweat. Not okay.
Yesterday, to capitalize on a little free

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Five Things More Expensive Than Gas

Staff Writer

It’s really an exciting time for water-cooler talk. Hillary calls it quits, a heat wave hits the East Coast, and gas prices are doing their very own imitation of that Mountain Climber game from the Price is Right. Of the three, I think gas prices truly have the staying power to be part of office chatter for quite some time.
Gas prices have risen from $1.34 just under eight years ago, (Hmm, what happened eight years ago?) to a staggering nationwide average of just more than $4—an pproximate 64 percent increase. In an effort to help everyone cope, I’ve put together a

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$10 Million Lead Paint Fine and Other Industry News

Staff Writer

Though the topic has been out of the news spotlight, we shouldn’t forget about the lead paint issue that effects the promotional products industry. While no one knows how wide-spread the problem is, it is nice to see companies are beginning to be held responsible for their actions.

Producer of Give-Away Lunchboxes Ordered to Pay $10 Million

L.A.-based lunchbox maker sold 100,000 lead-tainted lunchboxes to the state.
Oakland, CA -In San Francisco Superior Court yesterday, Judge Richard A. Kramer ordered L.A.-based T A Creations to pay $10,071,500 for the company’s violation of California law when it sold lead-tainted lunchboxes to

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