Category: Uncategorized

$200 a Barrel Oil

Staff Writer

Light, sweet crude. This market term for oil is somehow endearing, hearkening back to a time when Hollywood glorified oil men. Wildcatters striking it rich and Jed Clampett moving his family to Beverly … Hills, that is. There was an everyman’s face put to the image of oil wealth.
Oh, how times have changed.
As of today, oil has peaked to an all-time high of more than $122 dollars a barrel as worried traders start buying on what they think the future will hold, whether it be increased demand (see China and India) or decreased supply (see OPEC). And as

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Extreme Office Makeover

Staff Writer

I’m surrounded by promotional products—and I mean that literally. For the upcoming June edition of Promo Marketing magazine, we will be doing an Extreme Office Makeover, which is very similar to the reality television home makeover shows, only on a much smaller scale (and, of course, limited to promotional products).The response from suppliers wanting to participate has been amazing and products are starting to stack up (one of the publishers started calling me Fred Sanford because of the junkyard quality of my cube as boxes roll in).
To my right are a rainbow collection of new-fangled letter openers/staple removers. At my feet, sits a

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That Pesky Flag Pin

Staff Writer

The Pennsylvania Democratic primary finally arrived, and it’s good to see the promotional products industry is so relevant on a national (and, dare I say, international) stage. I’m, of course, talking about the flag-shaped lapel pin scandal which is sweeping the nation (for a second time). Poor Senator Obama can’t seem to catch a break on this one. First it was on. Then it was off. And, now, apparently it’s back on again. People are latching onto the issue to say he isn’t patriotic. That he hates America (as if the act of running for the presidency doesn’t earn you any patriotic points). <br

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‘Til We Chat Again …

Staff Writer

I’ve got some good news and some great news. I’ll start with the great news first: After a tenure of 51⁄2 years, Friday, April 25 will be my last day at Promo Marketing magazine. I’ve accepted a new position as a writer at an ad agency. So, herein is my final entry to my three-month stint as a PromoMarketing.com blogger (well, I suppose the part about the end of the blog might be the only bad news).

But, here’s the good news: Although I will no longer be a full-time staff editor at Promo Marketing, I will, however, continue writing for the magazine

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Dress Me Up for the Ballgame

Staff Writer

It was bound to happen sooner or later. The work-life collision. I actually wrote this entire blog in my head at a baseball game. But let’s start from the beginning …

This past Friday, I went to see the Phillies play (they lost to the Mets, which was kind of a bummer, but it was the most perfect baseball-game weather ever, so I got over it pretty quickly).
Anyway. Before the game, I decided to peruse the store to get myself a new Phillies T-shirt. I’m really not picky, I just wanted something fitted and not ugly. As I made my way

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The Folly of E-mail

Staff Writer

If you’ve never taken anything I’ve blogged about to heart these three months or so, please don’t let this entry fall on deaf ears.
There is a small project I’ve been working on in the evenings, and, like most things these days, much of the correspondence with those involved has been through e-mail. Almost a month ago, I’d e-mailed the project’s financier with some specific questions related to the work. After the first week passed without receiving a response from him, I grew uneasy, but did not take action. An obvious next-step would have been to make a follow-up call, right?
It’s

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Media Manners

Staff Writer

I’ve shouted out to The Tercet Group before in this blog, but in light of recent revelations, I’ve decided to shill compliments one last time. As of May 31, 2008, the Chicago-based full-service marketing and communications agency will be closing its doors.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with these ladies for the past year, as they’ve represented industry supplier S&S Activewear. We say it all the time around here at PM—if every company in the industry dealt with the media the way this group did, we’d have a much easier time getting things done.
This industry has been blessed with

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ASI Vegas-Lag

Staff Writer

ASI Vegas-lag is kind of like jet lag, only worse. Not only are you tired and unsure of what time it really is, you start to see promotional items every time you close your eyes (maybe some of you live this way already). Admittedly, I’m a couple of days out from the show, but I still feel like I’m recovering. The 10:40 red-eye flight back to Philly didn’t help (the whole time cursing the people who just took Tylenol PM and slept the entire flight—you know who you are).
I was wondering what others thought of the show. I think the shows are

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Crimes and Misdemeanors

Staff Writer

So, Woody Allen is suing American Apparel. Huh.

It’s funny … give our industry one celeb and people go crazy. (And by crazy, I mean that in the entire history of our e-newsletter, that item had pretty much the highest click-through rate, well, ever).
I’m finding it increasingly hilarious that no one can seem to decide which of the involved parties is more distasteful: Woody Allen, for well-publicized reasons, or a company founded by a guy with, shall we say, a less-than-savory reputation.
My coworkers make fun of me because I have “views” about American Apparel. Yes, I cover the

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Music to My Ears

Staff Writer

The other day, at one of our staff meetings, our editorial director (Nikki Stella) was cheerfully humming several tunes from one of her favorite recording artists, none other than Mr. Lou Rawls. At that point, I couldn’t help but chime in with details of my recent purchase of a CD containing all the classic hits of the late, great Nat King Cole! Wooo-wee!
Admittedly, most people in my personal circle look at me kinda weird every time I talk about the CD. But, for those of you out there who really appreciate good music, you can understand why I like Nat King Cole: Consider

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