Boy, Are My Arms Tired

Just got back from ASI Orlando and I’m grudgingly accepting that it is indeed still winter. The show was great, and unlike last year (when global warming played a nasty little trick on us and made it 40 degrees), the weather was just gorgeous.
It was a nice way to ease back into the traveling whirlwind that is January and February—my feet are now primed and ready for PPAI next week, that’s for sure. I’m still a little foggy from the lack of weekend (you can’t have everything, I guess), so I’m a little short on repartee. I hope you understand.
Instead, let

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American Apparel Keeps Credit Options Open

Love them or hate them, there is apparently no denying (or perhaps even slowing) the clothing juggernaut that is American Apparel. In a tight credit market, in a state that may be bankrupt in two months, Dov Charney finds a way to move forward:
From American Apparel:
Dov Charney, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, “We are pleased to have secured these extensions to our loan maturities given the current difficulties in the credit markets. We have also had discussions with our lenders about the possibility of lengthening the maturity of our debt into 2010, and we will continue these discussions while we

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2008 Editors Picks

To wrap up the year, I wanted to take a minute to share the promotional products that the team at Promo Marketing found to be the most desirable. With each of us having reviewed hundreds of products for the magazine and seen hundreds more at trade shows, I thought the choice might be difficult. But, to my surprise, within five seconds of the asking, each of my co-workers had an answer they were sure of. Their choices (and mine) are as follows:
Michael Cornnell: Symphony Handmade Paper—Recipe Bookmarks
“What’s not to like about handmade paper?”
Kyle Richardson: Minya International—The Butt Station
“I don’t

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Disaster Relief Program From U.S. Small Business Administration

Unfortunately, it seems that more and more businesses in the Promotional Industry (and elsewhere) have been hard hit by natural disaster. With a flood-, hurricane-, tornado- and ice storm-ravaged industry, it’s at least a little comforting to know help is available. If you know a business affected, then you should check out the disaster relief program sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
From the U.S. Small Business Administration:
“Whether you rent or own your own home, own your own business, or own a small agricultural cooperative located in a declared disaster area, and are the victim of a disaster, you may be

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Are You Ready To Tangle?

If you’ve ever picked up a Tangle, then you know the following information is important. We have two in our office and they are constantly being carried around and fiddled with. It’s kind of addicting, really. And, if you don’t know what the Tangle is, I’m going to make you Google it to find out.
In any case, CleggPromo, a leading supplier in sound, light and fun promotional products, announced it signed a deal with Tangle Creations, the originators of the Tangle. Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, CleggPromo will be the exclusive supplier of Tangle in the promotional products industry.
For more information on

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Three Cheers for Roy

Remember when you were a kid in elementary school and you learned about colors? I always loved the “Roy G. Biv” acronym, because it made me think of a gentleman wearing a rainbow suit. Then again, maybe he was someone who just hung out under a rainbow or in the general vicinity of one. Actually, I can’t exactly recall what I thought, but I was clearly preoccupied with rainbows.
In honor of my old friend Mr. Biv, I was really psyched to write December’s color trend preview. This is the second year in a row that I snagged the assignment, and it’s kinda

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Big 5-0 Coming For Bursel

Bursel Promotional Products Manufacturer, a Montreal Quebec based firm, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009. Bursel, under the leadership of its president Raymond Brodeur, has grown from a one-man operation into a large, viable entity employing close to 100 people. To celebrate its anniversary, Bursel is launching its new Web site in the first quarter of 2009.

McIntosh Promoted at Many Mini Toys
Many Mini Toys, based in Jericho, N.Y., announced the promotion of Lauren McIntosh to customer service supervisor. McIntosh joined The WOW Line in January 2006 as a customer service representative and her contributions have been a key component

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American Apparel Issues Statement in Response to Lawsuit

Los Angeles-based American Apparel Inc. issued the following statement in response to news reports of a lawsuit filed by a former employee:
“American Apparel denies all of the allegations in Mr. Hernandez’s lawsuit and will vigorously defend itself and its shareholders in this contemptible action. Mr. Hernandez was a non-accounting employee in the information technology department who was terminated for legitimate reasons. The allegations in this lawsuit are fictional, which the company believes represents a cynical attempt to extract phony leverage by Mr. Hernandez’s counsel, Keith Fink, who has been engaged with the company in other litigation for over three years. The facts are

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Go Ballistic

Here’s a little news you can use: A few months ago, London retail giant Harrods began selling a new line of bulletproof clothing from designer Miguel Caballero. Talk about performance benefits! Move over, moisture-wicking. This is so James Bond.

It can resist Uzi shots. I have nothing more to say about that special feature, other than to emphasize: It can resist Uzi shots.

The catch? The polo costs $12,000. But something tells me that if you’re in the position to be shot at more than once—predicaments which would necessitate the use of a bulletproof polo shirt—it might be worth it. Think price-per-wear.

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Make Mine a BPA

Like lead before it (and we all know how that turned out), bisphenol A is taking its turn in the spotlight, decked out in misinformation and escorted by ongoing controversy. Welcome to the party.
Before last week, it would seem the FDA had pretty much put this one to rest. But it didn’t really go away. In fact, it was really only a matter of time before someone brought this up again, and courtesy of The Washington Post, bring it up they did. Though I realize that, as a reporter, I “dig” for a living, it doesn’t take a backhoe to unearth that the

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