Everyone has a story to tell, including brands. Whether it’s one that conveys encouragement like Nike’s “just do it” slogan, or one that inspires individuality like Apple’s “think different” campaign, stories are the messages that connect us. They make people, products and brands more approachable and relatable. And while brand storytelling may be a relatively…
Read MoreSouthern Plus Acquires Aqua Sheen Brand, Assets
Southern Plus, Hartwell, Ga., announced that it has acquired the Aqua Sheen brand and its assets for an undisclosed amount, and will sell Aqua Sheen’s rainwear products as an extension of Southern Plus’s current product offering. “We’re excited to continue the legacy of the Aqua Sheen brand and to be able to offer customers rain…
Read MoreHoly Cow There Is So Much Game of Thrones Tie-In Merch
Its knack for gripping storytelling and cast of “roughly 12 zillion characters,” as Vox wrote, have made “Game of Thrones” a can’t-miss component of contemporary pop culture. The public’s fascination with the show, which secured 17.4 million viewers for Sunday’s season eight opener, has bred considerable branding opportunities, and it seems that the amount of…
Read MorePro Towels Donates to the Abbeville Promise Program
The Pro Towels Family of companies, including Pro Towels, Kanata Blanket Company, Superior and Neet Feet, has donated $1,000 to the Abbeville Promise Program, a higher education scholarship program committed to helping students in the Abbeville County, S.C., area. The scholarship program was established by the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation to help bring access to…
Read MoreAriana Grande’s Limited-Edition NASA Merch Was a Hit at Coachella
If you were too busy checking out all of the cool Coachella pics popping up on your Instagram feed, then you probably missed the news that Ariana Grande debuted a limited-edition, eight-piece, NASA-themed Coachella merch collection. It includes pieces like T-shirts, sweatshirts and a pair of glasses, and fans of Grande’s newest album will be happy to hear it features elements from her song “NASA” throughout…
Read More10 Apparel Trends That Were Huge at Coachella
Another year, another Coachella weekend. As you could see in your social media feeds, thousands of music-obsessed patrons made their way down to the desert to soak up some rays and listen to their favorite musicians at the first weekend of Coachella. As usual, it was the must-attend event of the year—even Ariana Grande released…
Read MoreDietz & Watson Pop-Up Store to Sell Insane, Awesome Branded Merch (Like ‘Dietz Nuts’ Boxers)
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, Dietz & Watson certainly made up for a boring matchup between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams by airing its Dietz Nuts meat snacks commercial. Come May 1, nearly three months after the hysterical television spot, the Philly business will open a pop-up store that pays tribute to the product through eponymous boxers, while also selling other irresistible branded goods…
Read MorePromotional Product Price Fixing Investigation Yields Fifth Guilty Plea
A fifth promotional products professional has entered a guilty plea in an ongoing investigation of price fixing. The companies involved had conspired to fix the prices of branded items such as wristbands, lanyards, temporary tattoos and buttons. The latest guilty plea came from Akil Kurji, owner and president of Gennex Media. According to the U.S.…
Read MoreQuality Certification Alliance’s Tim Brown on Why Brand Safety Is Smart Business, Big Changes at QCA
Tim Brown, executive director for Quality Certification Alliance, joined the show to tell us why brand safety matters to modern promo buyers (and why it’s a big opportunity for business), and give us more details on QCA’s new participation model and recent rebrand. Plus, Sean and Brendan discuss how Disney’s latest Star Wars theme parks merchandise might lead to a cup-holder crisis!…
Read MoreThe Koozie Brand Celebrates 40 Years With New Logo, Refreshed Brand Identity
In celebration of the Koozie brand’s 40th birthday, BIC Graphic North America, Clearwater, Fla., has debuted a new logo and updated identity for the iconic brand. This year marks 40 years since the Koozie brand was born on April 16, 1979, when a construction worker found that piping insulation kept his sodas cool and his…
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