FedEx is facing prolonged delays due to winter storms at its Memphis hub last month. The centrally located Memphis hub is FedEx’s largest, chosen in part due to the nearby Memphis International Airport rarely being closed due to winter weather. But, “rare” does not mean “never”…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
Trump’s Lawyers Send Cease-and-Desist to Republican Groups Using His Name and Likeness for Merchandise
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers reportedly sent cease-and-desist notices to three of the largest GOP fundraising groups, ordering them to stop using his name and likeness on merchandise and fundraising material. The three groups, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional…
Read MoreThe Louvre Turns to E-Commerce, Branded Merchandise Partnerships Amid COVID
The Louvre, arguably the most famous museum on the planet, has lost about about $108 million as a result of the pandemic, forcing it to find new ways to generate revenue, just like anyone else. So the museum began leaning heavily on branded merchandise and e-commerce, even teaming up with Uniqlo for a…
Read MoreTrevor Bauer Almost Chose the Mets Over the Dodgers Because of a Merchandise Mistake
Los Angeles Dodgers fans celebrated when National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer signed with the team this off-season. But, thanks to a merchandise mistake, Bauer almost signed with the New York Mets. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that a link in his Instagram profile led to “LFGM” merchandise, which stands for…
Read MoreNew ‘Carbon Neutral Certification’ Isn’t Perfect, But It Makes Sustainability More Accessible (and Appeals to Younger Buyers)
Carbon Neutral Certification, a distinction set up by a nonprofit that shows that a company is offsetting its greenhouse emissions, aims to be a more accessible way for brands to commit to more sustainable practices. As Gen Z and millennials age into buying positions, this is an important factor…
Read MoreGoogle, Amazon and Social Media Sites Ban Face Mask Ads, Making PPE Sales Difficult
Online platforms like Facebook, Google and Amazon have made it nearly impossible (or actually impossible) to sell or advertise face masks, creating problems for suppliers, distributors and even some end-buyers. Two distributors shared their experiences and how they’ve worked around the advertising bans…
Read MoreProposed Legislation to Protect Unionizing Rights Would Effectively Eliminate Independent Contractor Status Nationwide
The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 842) would, among other things, prevent American employers from “misclassifying” their employees, preventing them from receiving union benefits. In doing so, it would essentially eliminate independent contractor status, with major implications for promo businesses…
Read MorePromotional Totes and Bags: Product and Decoration Trends, Sales Ideas and More
With vaccine rollout underway, a return to business-as-usual (or something close to it) is coming. But the heightened safety measures brought on by the pandemic will likely remain in place for some time. Here’s where promotional totes and bags fit in the current market, and some ideas for selling them…
Read MoreGildan Bounces Back With Big Q4: Activewear Sales Strong, Imprintables Mixed
Gildan Activewear reported strong results for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020, with sales up 4.8% year over year to $690 million. For the full year, Gildan’s sales were down $225.3 million due to the pandemic’s impact in Q1 and Q2, but the company’s fourth-quarter numbers are an encouraging sign for the apparel market…
Read MoreGucci Uses ‘Detroit Vs. Everybody’ Design for T-shirt Line Featuring Major Cities
You’ve probably seen one of those “[Insert city name here] vs. Everybody” shirts. They’re a source of local pride, and carry over to a city’s sports and cultural identity. Gucci certainly noticed their popularity, and borrowed the phrase from original “Detroit vs. Everybody” designer Tommey Walker for its “Gucci vs. Everybody” line. The T-shirts are…
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