ONCE UPON A time, in a fashion industry not-so-far away, wafer-thin models became the norm. “Heroin chic” inched its way into the cultural lexicon and Hollywood’s red carpet grew lousy with actresses the approximate width of a coat hanger. Women knew they had waists. Curves, too. But clothes that accentuated—or even acknowledged—these shapes did not exist. In an equally nonsensical dimension, promotional apparel cornered the market on the opposite end of the spectrum: the shapeless, one-size-fits-all garment. Despite the fact that “one size” fit no one particularly well, it became standard fare. And women’s curves were thwarted again. Yet, in 2008, hope
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EVER SINCE PRODUCT recalls hit the promotional and retail sectors this past summer, Proposition 65 has been the watchword on the lips of both suppliers and distributors. With the start of the 2008 trade show season, the sense of greater awareness became especially evident. “Prop 65 compliant” signage is more prominently displayed. Education programs on the law are offered. And suppliers are adopting product designations and new testing procedures to ensure they’re keeping pace with Prop 65, which is said to be the most strict product-safety law in the country. Otherwise known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986,
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STAPLE OF moms and grandmothers everywhere, “Better safe than sorry,” has proven its worth a million times over. It’s self-explanatory—no one’s more sorry than the guy who skipped the precautionary measures. Because, in that context, it usually implies being burnt to a crisp, poked with something sharp or losing an arm /finger/insert appendage here. The adage also rings true when considering the sale of safety items as promotional products. The stakes are understandably higher than those of other categories, and goods that don’t live up to expectations mean customers end up on the wrong side of a close call. On the other hand,
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THE INTRICACIES OF English vernacular are, at once, lauded and lamented. American colloquialisms have been known to trip up (often humorously) those who can’t quite navigate their ins and outs. Others, however, delight in the many turns of phrase at their disposal. Take, for instance, the cache of expressions coined to describe what one can do with a hat: keep things under it, throw it in the ring, wear more than one, and so on. And each token saying refers to a different, and markedly non-hat-related, activity. When literally dealing with the item at hand, a similar number of possibilities abound. With countless fabrics,
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FOR A BUSINESS that has traditionally been ever-so-slightly behind what’s happening in retail, using market trends to guide promotional product development and sales might seem futile. However, according to Britt Bivens, director of international trend consultancy PromoStyl, elements of the fashion world do have a place in this industry. Salespeople, “don’t have to know everything, they don’t have to be experts,” she noted. But if, for argument’s sake, all the stores have red, they should know that red is important, Bivens added. Read on for three areas that, moving forward, will have an impact on both the fashion and promotional products sectors. JACKETS Men’s wear has been
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ANY SELF-RESPECTING SHOPPER has come to terms with the fact that denim is a bit of a fair-weather friend. At first, it seems the world of jeans is a consumer’s oyster—endless washes, sizes and weights just begging to be tried on. But in the light of the dressing room, it rebuffs its would-be owner in a tug-of-war that inevitably leads to a pile on the floor and the buyer in a red-faced huff. Most of the industry’s suppliers have chosen to avoid this scene altogether, offering denim by way of button-down shirts, hats, aprons and the like. However, with the current move toward more fashion-forward
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FROM THEIR INCEPTION as appropriate-for-daytime-wear wardrobe standby (or inappropriate, depending on who’s doing the judging), T-shirts have been the put-upon younger brother of the apparel clan. Slacker. Underachiever. Slob. Uniform of the basement-dwelling video-game player, or worse, the go-to garment for sweaty work outside or on a treadmill. Yet, in the last 10 years or so, there’s been a bit of a shake-up in the hierarchy. T-shirts grew up. In fact, they became king. In an effort to emanate a more offbeat vibe, many designers began adding them to their collections, emblazoned with rock-and-roll icons and/or ironic witticisms. Likewise, in a nod toward
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OVER THE PAST few years, it’s been discussed ad nauseam, advertised to the hilt and covered extensively in the pages of this magazine and others around the globe. Everyone is aware the Green Movement has a starring role in today’s business climate, yet the abundance of jargon that comprises the revolution’s supporting cast gets very little time in the spotlight. A general understanding of the terminology can go a long way to help the sale of consumer-requested organic apparel, not to mention increase the comfort level of end-users hesitant to go the green mile. Read on for a comprehensive cheat sheet, from A
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WHEN IT COMES to the advancement of the species, mankind seems to have its finger on the fast- forward button. On a fairly regular basis, giant leaps are made in varying fields from technology to medicine. But for every move toward the next new-and-shiny improvement coming off the assembly line of progress, there is a quieter, and equally meaningful, reaction. No doubt, we like our cutting-edge toys, yet people still take comfort in and certainly continue to utilize items that are, supposedly, outmoded. Take car collectors. For every top-of-the-line Ferrari in the garage, there’s a recently rebuilt classic car waiting for its turn around the block.
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NEED A LESSON in stretching a dollar? Look no further than the nonprofit sector. Because these organizations rely so heavily on the kindness of strangers, each has become adept at making ends meet, not to mention, moving the world with precious few hands on deck. Despite meager budgets and a lack of manpower, however, many nonprofits are seeking outside help to properly position their efforts. According to Daniel Welborne, vice president, promotional products for Dayton, Ohio-based WorkflowOne, “I will say nonprofits have learned marketing plays a critical role in promoting awareness and generating financial support for their cause.” For a sector with such inherent
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