Starting in 2022, the NCAA women’s basketball tournament will get to use the “March Madness” branding that was previously reserved for the men’s tournament. The move comes after criticism over the two tournaments in 2021, which critics say heavily favored the men in terms of branding, advertising, training facilities and even the swag that players received…
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A&W’s Super-Expensive Apparel Drop Is Designed to Break Even and Build the Brand
At this point, it’s no longer front-page news that a fast food restaurant has created merchandise that goes beyond a T-shirt here or a tote bag there. The streetwear and capsule era of food marketing is here. What does stand out among stories like this is when these products fetch enormous prices, like, say, a $715 pair of bedazzled boots from A&W…
Read MoreMore Manufacturing Slowdowns as Chinese Factories Face Power Plant Shutdowns, Electricity Rationing
With coal tripling in price and mining volumes dropping, coal-fired power plants in China are rationing electricity or shutting down—and with them the factories that depend on them for energy. A sales director at a Zhejiang cotton texting printing firm said her company ordinarily has a 15-day turnaround time to fulfill orders. That window is now 30 to 40 days…
Read MoreApparel Costs Likely to Rise as Cotton Prices Surge to Highest Level in 10 Years
Adding to the ever-growing list of pandemic-related supply chain headaches, cotton prices on Monday jumped to $1.05 per pound. That’s an 18% increase since Sept. 20 and a 35% increase on the year. It’s also the highest price per pound for cotton since November 2011. A combination of factors is driving these price increases…
Read More2021 Top Distributors: How BAMKO Nearly Doubled Sales While Facing Pandemic ‘Pressure Test’
As part of our 2021 Top Distributors list, we asked some of the top-ranked distributors about how they fared during the first year of the pandemic, their thoughts on the industry, their future plans and more. Here, we talked to Joshua White of BAMKO, the No. 9 company on this year’s list…
Read MoreArby’s Released Sweats That Were Smoked by BBQ Pitmasters
To coincide with the release of its new Country Style Rib Sandwich, Arby’s is releasing a line of sweatpants and sweatshirts that were actually smoked just like the meat and then vacuum sealed so they’ll still smell liked smoked meats when you wear them. The limited line is (of course) sold out…
Read MoreDave & Buster’s Dropped a 40 Ft. Branded Banana on the Street to Show How Big Their TV Screens Are
Dave & Buster’s, trying to make sure that we all understand just how huge their “Wow Wall” 40-foot TV screens are, took the “banana for scale” meme to new levels by placing a giant, branded, inflatable banana on Hollywood Boulevard. There’s also a virtual component for those outside of Los Angeles…
Read MoreYear-End and Holiday Promotions: Tips, Product Ideas and Advice From Suppliers
Nick Lateur, director of national accounts for specialty brands at HPG Brands, said that the best time to start thinking about year-end and holiday gifts would have been “like, a month ago.” That’s true—but there’s still time if you act fast and know what’s selling. Here are some ideas for year-end and holiday promotions…
Read MoreH&M to ‘Challenge’ the Branded Merchandise Market Via ‘Creator Studio,’ On-Demand Printing
Creator Studio, a new project by H&M, will first work with musical artists to run merchandise stores. The company will lean on its supply chain and global network, as well as its significant on-demand printing capabilities, to “challenge the market of branded merchandise around the world”…
Read MoreMerch by Amazon Sellers Say the Platform Is Full of Scammers Stealing Designs
Merch by Amazon, the tech giant’s print-on-demand merchandise platform that, among other things, allows approved artists to upload their own designs, has a scam problem. The platform has reportedly become rife with scammers downloading other people’s designs and selling them as their own work…
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