The European Parliament has voted in favor of a complete ban of single-use plastics, including cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and more across the E.U. to prevent ocean pollution. The proposal also included a reduction in other single-use plastic items for food, like drinkware and cups. The European Commission proposed this ban back in May,…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
Promo History Lesson: How Promotional Products Took Wrigley From Small Soap Company to Chewing Gum Empire
This is the story about how Wrigley—yes, the candy company that has a baseball stadium named after it—grew to what it is today because of promotional products. It was one particular promotional product, actually: chewing gum…
Read MoreCafePress Acquisition Focus of Class Action Lawsuit
Everything seemed to be relatively wrapped up for CafePress. After setting itself up to be acquired by Snapfish, it seemed like it was pretty much the point where the credits start rolling and we assume CafePress lives happily ever after in its new life. That’s not the case just yet, though. The law firm Levi…
Read MoreNational Awards Inc.’s Lisa Greer Discusses a Client’s Anniversary Promos
Celebrating a business’ anniversary is certainly a time for celebration. Especially when a business has been around for four decades. Lisa Greer, director of sales for National Awards Inc., Jackson, Miss., remembers one particular instance where her company helped a customer kick its birthday…
Read MoreStop What You’re Doing and Watch Sylvester Stallone’s Pen Commercial
A lot of people like to debate the merits of film. Everyone has a favorite. Some people like “Gone With the Wind.” Others like “The Godfather.” Me? My favorite movie of all time is the promo ad for the Montegrappa Chaos Watch and Pens, which were designed by Sylvester Stallone. Before I go any further…
Read MoreWilco’s $448 Axe, Korn Coffee, and the Changing Landscape of Band Merch
Axes are having a weird moment right now. Yes, of course it’s Halloween time, but I’m not talking about spooky axes. I’m talking about your run-of-the-mill, lumberjacky axes. They’re design elements in boutique stores selling things I can’t afford, gentrifying neighborhoods are suddenly full of axe-throwing venues, and it seems like every groomsman is getting…
Read MoreWhat’s Trending in the Bars and Restaurants Promotional Market
Think about the last restaurant you went to. Picture the room, if you can. You likely saw plenty of advertisements for brands other than the restaurant you were in. If it’s a popular chain or hometown favorite, you might have spotted some branded merchandise for that particular establishment, but chances are you saw plenty of…
Read MoreScammers Created Thousands of Fake Women’s March Facebook Pages to Sell T-shirts
The internet gives anybody, anywhere in the world, the ability to create something without having to deal with traditional gatekeepers. That can be good or bad, depending on the situation. In the case of the nearly 2,000 fake Women’s March event pages set up to scam Facebook users into buying T-shirts, it was definitely bad…
Read MoreShowdown Displays Formally Integrates Creative Banner Displays
Showdown Displays, Brooklyn Center, Minn., announced the formal integration of its sister company, Creative Banner Displays, which will become Showdown Displays effective Jan. 1, 2019. The two companies had been run by the same management company for the last six years, and have been offering the same product lines at the same prices, but directed…
Read MoreCaps Fans Really Want Those Bud Light Shirts (And Other Promo Items)
Remember those creative Bud Light shirts that played off of Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie chugging a beer through his jersey? Well, it turns out a lot of Caps fans want to emulate Oshie’s off-ice antics, because the shirt is selling for big bucks online. Many of the shirts are listed on eBay at the…
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