An internal memo from Starbucks said that employees were not permitted to wear pins that read “Black Lives Matter,” stating that it could be “divisive” or harmful to the brand’s image. This morning, the company reversed its stance and not only allowed the pins, but made its own “Black Lives Matter” uniform shirts…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
NASCAR Prohibits Confederate Flag at Events and Property, But Will It Apply to Merchandise?
Yesterday, NASCAR released a statement that it is prohibiting the Confederate battle flag from events. The question now is whether this rule applies to merchandise, or just the display of the actual flag. The Confederate battle flag is used for a plethora of items, like T-shirts, hats, bathing suits, coolers…
Read MoreBaltimore Apparel Company Packs Positive Messages in Reusable Bottles
A Baltimore apparel company is giving everyone a little bit of fun and positivity, as well as a reusable bottle, through a new line of apparel. Mess in a Bottle was started by Kalilah Wright in 2016, shortly after the Freddie Gray riots in Baltimore. Wright, who used to work at Under Armour, wanted to use apparel as a way to spread a positive message…
Read MoreFDA Temporarily Relaxes Hand Sanitizer Ethanol Restrictions to Increase Supply
In order to keep up with demand for hand sanitizer, particularly in the health care space, the FDA has temporarily relaxed its restrictions on fuel- and technical-grade ethanol, and the amount of certain impurities present in the production process. These are temporary rules aimed at increasing hand sanitizer availability while demand remains sky high…
Read MoreEPA Says Tennessee’s Face Masks Are Safe to Use After All
Yesterday, we reported that the Tennessee government had told everyone to wait to wear the free masks it spent $8.2 million on, after concerns arose that an antimicrobial material used in production could be harmful to people. Thankfully, the pause didn’t take too long, and the result is that the masks are, in fact, safe to wear…
Read MoreTennessee Suspends Distribution of $8.2M in Face Masks That May Contain Harmful Material
The Tennessee government spent $8.2 million dollars in May on face masks manufactured by a sock company. A month later, they state is telling citizens to stop using them for now, as they may contain a harmful amount of an antimicrobial material…
Read MoreBay Area Screen Printer Says Authorities Seized Mask Shipment Intended for Protestors
An Oakland screen printer said that authorities seized a shipment of branded face masks intended for those protesting police brutality and the killing of George Floyd. The masks, which read “Stop Killing Black People,” were purchased by the nonprofit Movement for Black Lives for protestors in four cities, but reportedly never made it that far…
Read MoreUpdate 6/5: New Paycheck Protection Program Guidelines to Allow Spending Flexibility, Extend Rehiring Deadlines
This week, the Senate passed a bill that would change the way small businesses can spend federal loans they received during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as extending deadlines relating to rehiring and loan forgiveness. Today, the president signed the legislation into law. The legislation, amends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), giving small-business recipients the…
Read MorePM Screen Time: How Versa Printing Struck Gold With Its Quarantine-Themed Loteria Game
With business slowed to a near-stop at the start of the coronavirus shutdowns, Versa Printing created its own quarantine-themed version of Loteria, the game of chance. A few weeks later, the company has sold 20,000 units, keeping the lights on, the presses running and its staff at work…
Read MoreParades and Celebrations May Be Canceled, But Pride Month Merch Is Booming
This year’s Pride Month looks a little different, as parades and celebrations in cities all over the U.S. will have to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and safety concerns. But it hasn’t stopped spirit and shows of support from home. Apparel and footwear companies big and small have been selling a…
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