We recently covered the topic of LinkedIn—specifically, how a handful of promo pros are using the platform and how you can get the most out of it for your own promo business. But with so much to know and learn about LinkedIn, there’s always more to cover. So we created this list of LinkedIn do’s and don’ts…
Read MoreEditorial Type: Best Practices
How One Distributor Channels His Inner Consultant for Print and Promo Sales Success
If you ask Isaac Ormond of InfoProducts Corp., a distributor based in Sumter, S.C., he’d tell you that he’s really more of a consultant than a salesperson. Part of that means integrating print and promotional products whenever he can—a best-of-both-worlds approach that delivers the best solutions for his clients…
Read MoreCuration: The Most Underrated (and Teachable) Skill for the Promo Professional Today
You’re a professional curator. That’s a surprise to some of you, but that’s what you are. Every day, you sort, sift and select specific products from thousands of options in our industry and then assemble them into collections to present to a client. This is why it’s somewhat baffling that as an industry of professional curators, we’ve never tried to codify the craft of curation…
Read MoreWhat the New CDC Guidelines Could Mean for Mask Demand
The CDC announcement that vaccinated adults don’t have to wear masks outside and in some indoor environments came as somewhat of a surprise. For the promotional products industry, masks were a lifeline. But things are slowly returning to normal. And, now, industry companies might be left wondering how the new CDC guidance could impact mask demand…
Read MoreA Supplier’s Ambitious Interactive Game Combines Packaging, Labels and Experiential Online Marketing—and Highlights the Limitless Potential of Print
What’s the best way to showcase modern online marketing methods and the latest advances in packaging and labeling products? A fictional murder mystery set in the 1920s, of course. If that made you do a double take, well, that’s what Repacorp Inc. was counting on…
Read MoreOklahoma Shirt Company’s Justin Lawrence on Apparel Decoration for Distributors: What to Look For in a Decorator, Common Mistakes and More
Justin Lawrence, owner of Oklahoma Shirt Company, joined the show to give a decorator’s perspective on what distributors should look for in a decorator partner, how to simplify the order process and common mistakes to avoid. He also told us about the big apparel trends he’s seeing (and much more)…
Read MoreDon’t Be a Used Idea Salesperson: 5 Things to Know About the Automotive Market
While the last year has been a challenge for everyone, it has also brought many opportunities. Jumping into or expanding your business in the automotive vertical market is one of them. Dealerships have rebounded better than expected and business is projected to build back rapidly over the next two years. Don’t miss out on this market…
Read MoreFor Promo Distributors, the Key to Success in 2021 Is Changing the Conversation—by Asking the Right Questions
In 2021, the “What” matters less. “We don’t have a budget for that” or “We’re not doing that event this year” should not be the conversation. “How are you getting new customers?” and “How are you saying ‘thank you’ to your employees?” will drive more fruitful conversations. It requires a paradigm shift. We can no longer focus on low prices and…
Read More5 Suppliers Share the Most Common Order Mistakes Distributors Make (and How to Avoid Them)
To find out what the most common order mistakes are, we went to the experts—suppliers that handle your orders on a daily basis and have seen it all. Find out if you’re guilty of any of these missteps and learn how you can improve your purchase orders to make both supplier partners and end-buyers happier…
Read MoreDecoration Diaries: How IMS Executed a Complex Branded Apparel Campaign for McDonald’s Global Mobile Ordering Launch
IMS LLC worked with McDonald’s to create a variety of branded apparel to promote the international rollout of its mobile ordering technology. Read on as Mark Lenox, vice president of merchandising and design for IMS, tells us more about the launch’s success and gives advice on delivering complex branded apparel orders…
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