Omaha, Nebraska rapper Bo Bo Bread Boy, perhaps more commonly known by his government name Brody Thompson, is without the 100 T-shirts he ordered from a printing business after it took his money and abruptly shut down. He’s also out 500 bucks. “[T-shirts are] a main source of income for independent artists,” Thompson told NBC…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
My Best Promotion Rewind: Revisiting a Summer of Distributor Advice and Success Stories
It always seems like summer flies by. As we celebrate the approach of fall, let’s look back at some helpful stories and advice we gleaned from our distributor friends as part of our ongoing My Best Promotion feature. We talked handling mistakes, landing long-term accounts and more. Let’s hit the rewind! Our first highlight is…
Read MoreWhy the U.K.’s Brexit Party Is In Some Trouble Over Merch
The Brexit Party in the U.K. is anything but subtle. Its leader, Nigel Farage, has thrown himself in front of every microphone or camera with a red light on to espouse his beliefs of U.K. independence from the EU and dependence on international relations. That’d be all well and good if it didn’t come out…
Read MorePuma Joins Nike, Adidas in E-Sports Apparel World
E-sports is still sort of polarizing, despite the ample proof of its success all over the world. There are still some people who might think that “professional video gaming” would never take off. Those people should see the crowds that fill arenas like Madison Square Garden to watch tournaments. They’re even building arenas in major cities…
Read MoreGrumpy Cat Is Gone But Her Peeps Are Grumpy About Knockoff Merchandise
Even in death, Grumpy Cat is still grumpy. There’s something comforting about that, isn’t there? Even from the little kitty cat afterlife, Grumpy Cat (OK, actually her owner) is suing people for selling knockoff Grumpy Cat merchandise. Grumpy Cat Limited, the business set up for all things GC, is going after online retailers selling items…
Read MoreSnugZ USA Recapitalizes With Tower Arch Capital
SnugZ USA, West Jordan, Utah, announced that it has undergone a recapitalization with Tower Arch Capital. “SnugZ has grown to become a leading player in the promotional products industry, starting with lanyards and identification products, and expanding into personal care and premium gifting,” Brandon Mackay, president and CEO of SnugZ USA, said in a press…
Read MoreStar Wars Fans Are Upset About Merchandise Lacking Female Character (Again)
Disney, the “Star Wars” franchise’s new intergalactic overlords, held its third annual “Force Friday” merchandising event. This time it was to hype up the upcoming “Rise of Skywalker” movie, “The Mandalorian” streaming series and the “Jedi: Fallen Order” video game. The merchandise haul was huge, but there was one glaring omission that reminded fans of…
Read MoreLakers Fan Responds to NBA China Controversy With Planned T-shirt Giveaway at Staples Center
One LA Lakers fan is fighting back against the NBA’s bizarre China controversy by starting a GoFundMe campaign for T-shirts that say “Stand With Hong Kong,” which he wants to hand out before the Lakers-Clippers game on Oct. 22. Sun Lared, the campaign’s founder, set an initial goal of $20,000 for the shirts. He’s already hit $40,000 in donations…
Read MoreSlayer’s Retirement Plan Is to Become a Lifestyle Brand
Metal pioneers Slayer are in the final stages of a farewell tour that’s already seen the band move $10 million in merch. Where the story gets really interesting, though, is Slayer’s real-time transition from a working band to what its merchandising people are calling a “legacy” band. And also the idea of a Slayer-themed restaurant in the style of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville brand…
Read MoreBella+Canvas Introduces Direct-to-Consumer Retail Channel
Bella+Canvas announced that it launched a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform. Previously, Bella+Canvas apparel was only available via wholesale channels, but now end-buyers can directly purchase blank men’s and women’s styles from a curated assortment of products. The company said it will start online, but plans to open pop-up physical stores starting next year…
Read More