The FDA published its first list of medical device shortages on August 14. Nine of the 20 items fall under the PPE category, with data including item type, reason for interruption and other information. But the most telling information is the “estimated shortage duration” column, in which all nine PPE items are listed as “duration of COVID-19 public health emergency”…
Read MoreAuthor: Sean Norris
‘If Anything, We’re Worse Off’: What’s Going On With America’s PPE Supply Chain? (and How the Market Has Changed in Promo)
After shortages early in the coronavirus pandemic, America’s PPE supply seems to have caught up. But why do so many hospitals and frontline health workers say they still don’t have enough? In this story, we look at the disconnect between supply and demand, plus revisit PPE in the promotional products industry to see how the market has changed and where it might go…
Read MoreApparel Orders Tick Back Up (and Other Promotional Products Sales Trends)
Apparel has been battered since the start of the pandemic, with various sources reporting that overall apparel shipments have fallen dramatically compared to 2019. But there are some signs of life. Apparel was the third best performing promotional products category for the June-July period…
Read MoreThese Are the Most Effective Face Mask Types (According to New Study)
There has been little debate among public health professionals that widespread mask use is crucial to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Where there has been some debate, though, is over the most effective face mask types outside of the approved medical-grade varieties. Which of the many available face coverings protects most against transmission of the virus? We finally have some data…
Read MoreReconnect at the Back to Business Virtual Power Meeting (Starts This Week!)
The pandemic has brought in-person interactions, business or otherwise, to a near standstill. Distributors can no longer meet face-to-face with customers. Colleagues can no longer meet up for lunch. There are no trade show networking events. Our scheduled Power Meetings have all been pushed back. Honestly, we miss everyone. And we know everyone misses everyone. So, after months of planning, we decided to take Power Meetings online…
Read MoreHow BAMKO Increased Q2 Revenue by 218%
Superior Group of Companies, parent of Los Angeles-based distributor BAMKO, announced record operating results for the second quarter 2020, including a 73 percent increase in net sales to $159.4 million. BAMKO was largely responsible for that growth, reporting that its Q2 2020 sales increased by 218 percent year over year to $75.5 million. Much of that was PPE, but not all…
Read MoreTaylor Swift Probably Didn’t Write a New Song Specifically to Sell a Branded Cardigan, But It Doesn’t Hurt
On Taylor Swift’s surprise new full-length album, released last week, there’s a song called “cardigan.” Swift just so happens to have a brand new branded cardigan available at her merch store. She also happens to wear this exact cardigan toward the end of the music video for the song “cardigan,” which already has more than 29 million views on YouTube…
Read MoreOverture Promotions Named to List of 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies
Overture Promotions, the distributor based in Waukegan, Ill., was named to the Women Presidents’ Organization’s 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list for 2020. To qualify, companies must have annual sales revenues of at least $500,000. Overture ranked No. 38 on the list with 73.5 percent sales growth from 2017 to 2019…
Read MoreIKEA Launched Its First-Ever Branded Merch Collection (But You Can Only Get It at One Store)
IKEA is best known for its modern furniture and home furnishings with names like “Mlalmgörn” and “Slüfstaflargen.” But the retailer has also dabbled in branded merchandise and apparel, previously turning its iconic shopping bags into bucket hats and launching a limited streetwear line. Now, it’s making more of an official foray into branded merchandise…
Read MoreFlorida’s Palm Beach County Is Mailing Four Branded Masks to Each of Its 659,000 Residences
With coronavirus infection surging in Florida, Palm Beach County, the state’s third most-populous county, enacted a mandatory mask order in June. To reinforce the message with residents, the county has undertaken an ambitious program to send four branded masks to each of its nearly 659,000 residential addresses…
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