Ask the Accountant… Question: I get frequent requests for names of accounting or legal professionals “who know our industry.” They are few and far between. I was recently introduced to an attorney who indeed “knows our industry,” and you might want to meet her. Answer: Amy Williams is an attorney who is also an ad…
Read MoreLast month, the newly formed Congressional Printing Caucus was announced, marking a “first-of-its kind bipartisan Caucus dedicated to advancing a public policy agenda that benefits and protects America’s printing industry and its rich, diverse, and varied communities,” according to a press release. “The Caucus will provide the Alliance with regular opportunities to educate a core group of lawmakers and their staff about the issues, legislation, and regulations that have a potential effect on the printing industry,” the release continued. But what is a Printing Caucus and what does it mean…
Read MoreSupply chain and labor challenges are getting a lot of press right now, and for good reason. But one not-so-publicized challenge facing the industry is technology security that protects companies and customers. Security threats are real, and not going away. Those in the industry that make the necessary investments will pick up market share and ultimately enjoy the financial benefits…
Read MoreThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires certain businesses to make accommodations for people with disabilities. That applies to physical spaces, but also to online spaces. And failure to create an ADA-compliant website could open a business to lawsuits, financial liabilities and damage to your brand reputation…
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Ask the Accountant… Question: I have sales in several states. Do I have to collect sales tax in states other than my own? Answer: Sales tax has always been a complicated issue, and it was made infinitely more complicated by the Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair in 2018. The decision means that…
Read MoreTaking the initiative to ensure safety and responsibility throughout the entire supply chain not only protects the brand equity of end-buyers, but also secures our livelihood in the promotional products industry. Sure, you could continue to gamble by ignoring product safety and responsible sourcing in order to achieve short-term gains, but the safe bet is to invest in the policies and procedures to protect the entire supply chain…
Read MoreTo justify taking the easy way out and not having the harder, more educational conversations with their customers, both suppliers and distributors tell themselves all kinds of lies: “My customers aren’t asking for it,” “My competitors aren’t doing it,” “It’s too expensive” and “No one has been caught.” What they may not realize is that these lies are costing them business…
Read MoreWhat do promo buyers want? Like really want? That’s the $64,000 question. Since there’s no magic potion to drink so we can hear what others are thinking (that’s only on the silver screen, thankfully), we not only have to listen to what customers are saying, but we also must interpret their often unvocalized expectations. Case…
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If you had to increase your prices 20 percent tomorrow, how would your customers react? After you absorbed unflattering comments and disappointment, your customers would buy fewer products, if they bought any at all. Beyond our industry, consider what we buy every day: clothing, footwear, housewares, electronics and so on. How would you feel the…
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The U.S. House Republican tax reform proposal includes a recommendation to adopt a Border Adjustment Tax (BAT). If it passes in any form, it will increase the cost of promotional products significantly. The BAT will have a negative overall impact to the promotional products industry. You must start learning about BAT, and how it is…
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