The latest installment of our ongoing Promotional Products Industry Recovery Research found a number of reasons for optimism. It also captured some revealing product demand trends—almost all of them positive. Let’s take a look at four of those trends and dig a little deeper into what each means…
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What the SCOTUS NCAA Ruling Means for Branded Student-Athlete Sports Apparel and Promos
A U.S. Supreme Court decision is bringing the idea of college athletes being able to profit from their name, image and likeness closer to reality. That could present new business opportunities for branded merchandise companies, though the rules—and the path forward—are still fairly unclear…
Read MoreOlympic Hurdler’s Doritos Earrings Stole the Show During Qualification
After Christina Clemons finished in third place in the 100-meter hurdle at the final Olympic Trials and secured the last spot on the U.S. Olympic team, cameras zoomed in to reveal that she had been wearing dangly earrings shaped like bags of Cool Ranch Doritos. This, of course, went viral…
Read MoreGrossman Marketing Group Acquires PCI Creative Group
Global print management and brand marketing company Grossman Marketing Group, Somerville, Mass., has acquired PCI Creative Group, Stamford, Conn. The two companies had a number of similar services, as well as distinct offerings that will provide customers of both firms access to an expanded service portfolio. Grossman Marketing Group is a 111-year-old, fourth-generation family-owned company…
Read MoreGeneral Mills’ Co-Brand With Buzzfeed’s Tasty Underscores Kitting Value and Packaging Appeal
Teaming up with a well-known home meal kit allows General Mills to renew interest in the Hamburger Helper brand by getting in front of potential customers who are now doing more home cooking. Attaching itself to a brand like Tasty and doing something as simple as putting its logo on the packaging creates a deeper effect…
Read MoreStaples CEO Steps Down as Office Depot Merger Remains in Limbo
Effective today, Staples CEO Sandy Douglas has stepped down from his position, and will be temporarily replaced by chairman John Lederer. According to Bloomberg, Staples and Douglas mutually agreed to part ways, and Staples did not provide any further details about why the split occurred…
Read MoreCoors Light’s ‘Hold My Coors’ Collection Rivals Miller Lite’s Beer Promo Dominance
Miller Lite has been off to a hot promotional-products start with items like beer can video game controllers, beer can antennas, bar-scented candles and more. But, look at that, it’s Coors Light coming around the outside and making this race close with its “Hold My Coors” collection of products…
Read MoreHow ‘Digital Merchandise’ Can Complement Real-World Branded Items
In the world of video games, you want your digital alter ego to look like you, or at least a version of you. That’s why apparel companies and retailers are starting to make “digital merchandise,” i.e. clothes for your video game character online. PacSun just rolled out a whole line of branded “apparel” in Roblox…
Read MoreFerrari Introduces High Fashion Line While Trimming Licensed Merchandise by 50%
Ferrari debuted its first in-house fashion collection, part of a plan to invest outside of its automobile business, with the goal of non-auto revenue accounting for 10% of its revenue within the next decade. “We want to attract young people and women,” Rocco Iannone, Ferrari creative director, said…
Read MoreDecoration Diaries: How One Distributor Handled a Complex Uniform Revamp With a Company Store and Fulfillment Program
Here’s how one distributor overcame a yearlong pandemic-related delay, and utilized both its branded apparel and e-commerce capabilities to design a food service uniform program with a company store component that successfully outfitted everyone from chefs to corporate employees…
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