Politicians love promotional products when they are running for office, and mid-term elections are right around the corner. Yet the politicians don’t really understand the value of our industry (does anyone?), and that can be dangerous, as they pass laws that can negatively impact us. For example, language has been proposed in the past that…
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Question: I use QuickBooks Premier for my distributorship. I also run another small business. Can I use my QuickBooks program for that, too, or do I have to buy Premier again? Answer: You can set up another company or companies in QuickBooks Premier at no additional charge from QuickBooks. You do not have to purchase…
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Many years ago, when my company entered the promotional products marketplace, we were told that every style of apparel we introduced must have a women’s companion piece. This women’s apparel companion style should be manufactured with the exact same fabric as the men’s styling—but be distinctly “women’s” in make and silhouette. The theory and logic…
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How do you spend your lunchtime? Many distributors and sales reps think lunch is a great time to eat a sandwich at their desk and catch up on their work. In my view, this is an incredibly bad use of the potentially most valuable part of your day. We are all in the relationship business.…
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I’m always excited when I come across great promos in the wild. This week, I saw so many amazing promotions that it was hard to pick just five. But, I managed to hunker down and make my top picks, and this week it is all about the T-shirt. Keep reading for my five. 1. New…
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We’ve all heard the definition of insanity: Repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. May I ask if this describes your typical day? Repeating the same thing over and over again and getting the same results? I have had the opportunity to speak with thousands of distributors and reps in…
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Long thought to be untouchable for our marketplace, retail-style patterned plaid flannel shirts were rarely found in promotional products channels because there was always that nagging question of embroidery…
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“Irregardless” means regardless, so why do some say “irregardless?” In fact, most dictionaries state that “irregardless” is nonstardard or incorrect use, yet I hear so many colleagues use the phrase. So what, you say? Why does it matter? Perhaps it doesn’t matter to most people, but it always makes me pause to contemplate the speaker’s…
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Do you sometimes hesitate to ask for what you want? The truth is we all do. We hesitate to ask for the appointment. We hesitate to ask for the order. We hesitate to ask for referrals. We hesitate out of a fear of “loss.” A fear of hearing “no.” Here’s a bit of wisdom a…
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Roger Bannister passed away a few weeks ago. His life holds a powerful lesson for all of us. In the early 1950’s it was considered physically and mentally impossible for any human to run a four-minute mile. But in 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier. Within months, another…
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