What was everyone reading in 2018? These stories, apparently! By page views, these were our most-read promo industry (or promo industry-related) stories of the year. If you missed them, don’t worry. You have until the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to get caught up. After that, they all turn back into a pumpkin, or something. Thanks for reading, everyone!
1. 2018 Top 50 Distributors: Stats, Trends and Analysis
Always a big hit, our Top 50 Distributors list topped the charts for 2018. (Several prior years’ lists also placed high up in the traffic report.) Everyone wants to know what their peers are doing, and everyone wants to see who the industry’s top dogs are.
2. Colorado Timberline Abruptly Closes, Cites Ransomware Attack
This was a real stunner, as supplier Colorado Timberline suddenly announced it was closing its doors. The reason? A malware attack that left its systems stricken with ransomware. The unfortunate news served as a reminder to other industry companies that IT security should not be overlooked.
3. The 2018 Top 50 Promotional Products Suppliers
Our annual compilation of the top promo suppliers is typically a top performer, and this year’s was no exception.
4. YETI Sues Walmart Again, Proving It Is Not Messing Around
After a prolonged flurry of litigation to protect its intellectual property, YETI has been quiet for most of 2018—but only after filing this lawsuit in January. This particular dispute alleged that Walmart had violated a previous settlement over tumbler designs that YETI deemed too similar to its own.
5. We Have More Golf Ball Drama as Golf’s Governing Body Gears Up to Take on Major Manufacturers
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last couple of years, it’s that people love golf ball drama. In the grand tradition of a 2017 spat between Costco and Achusnet, parent company of golf brand Titleist, the U.S. Golf Association decided to pick a fight with pretty much every golf ball manufacturer, claiming that ball technology improvements were ruining the game. It was only tangentially promo-related, but boy was it fun!
6. New USPS Rule Would Limit Marketing Mail to Paper Products Only (No More Merchandise)
The U.S. Postal Service proposed changes that, if passed, would significantly impact businesses and organizations sending premiums and other promotional marketing products through the mail. People were not thrilled with the news.
7. McDonald’s Will Phase Out Styrofoam Cups and Packaging
The fast-food giant announced it will do away with Styrofoam cups and food packaging for good. More than anything, it was a sign of the changing times as major companies move toward more sustainable options.
8. Amazon Is Expanding Its On-Demand Merchandise Service
Merch by Amazon, the company’s little-known but widely-used on-demand merchandise division, quietly rolled out more hard goods options, including PopSocket phone grips, as it looked to expand beyond apparel.
9. What the Heck Is Going on With CafePress?
Before it was acquired by Snapfish later in 2018, CafePress had been struggling mightily, jettisoning executives and staff as its revenues continued to dive. We looked at the reasons behind the company’s fall from online custom merch dominance.
10. ‘Deadpool 2’ Marketing Team Wants Him to Be the Star of Every Movie
In a massive promotional win, the marketing team behind ‘Deadpool 2’ inserted their antihero star onto the covers of a bunch of classic movies sold at Walmart. The creative display and concept grabbed a ton of headlines and generated huge buzz for the R-rated, hit sequel.
