The PRO Act (H.R. 842), passed in the House with a 225-206 vote on Tuesday. The bill, intended to support workers in the gig economy by making it easier for them to unionize, would effectively eliminate independent contractor status on a nationwide level. The bill now heads to the Senate, though it is unlikely to…
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The Louvre Turns to E-Commerce, Branded Merchandise Partnerships Amid COVID
The Louvre, arguably the most famous museum on the planet, has lost about about $108 million as a result of the pandemic, forcing it to find new ways to generate revenue, just like anyone else. So the museum began leaning heavily on branded merchandise and e-commerce, even teaming up with Uniqlo for a…
Read MoreBAMKO’s 2020 (Non-PPE) Promotional Products Sales Increased by 11%, Overall Sales Up 88% to $202M: Analysis
We’ve watched BAMKO closely over the last year, as the distributor has been one of the promo industry’s biggest success stories during the pandemic. Now, the company’s full-year and Q4 results are in, giving us a complete picture of BAMKO’s sales and providing some valuable insights for the rest of the industry…
Read MoreTullamore Dew’s ‘O’Everyone’ Promotion Combines Personalized Print and Promo—and More If You Legally Change Your Last Name
Tullamore Dew, the Irish whiskey brand, is running a two-part St. Patrick’s Day promotion it’s calling “O’Everyone.” One part involves some fun branded merchandise. The other involves legally changing your last name in exchange for a shot at winning a trip to a pop-up Irish pub in the middle of the desert, obviously…
Read MorePPP Loan Rules Temporarily Changing to Benefit Small Businesses, Sole Proprietors, Independent Contractors
The Biden administration announced temporary changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to make it easier for small businesses to access loans. For two weeks beginning Feb. 24, the Small Business Administration will only accept PPP applications from businesses with fewer than 20 employees…
Read MoreAmazon’s Latest Acquisition Sets Up Potential E-Commerce Showdown With Shopify—and Has Branded Merchandise Implications
In January, Amazon quietly purchased Selz, a small Australian startup that, like Shopify, allows businesses to easily set up online stores. What exactly the company plans to do with Selz is still unclear, but we have some guesses—an obvious one, and a speculative one with branded merchandise implications…
Read MoreA Wu-Tang Parody T-shirt Sparked an International Incident Between China and Canada
Last year, a staffer at the Canadian embassy in Beijing reportedly designed shirts parodying the Wu-Tang Clan “W” logo, with “Wuhan” written in the middle of the logo. Months later, the shirts caught the attention of Chinese government officials, forcing Canada to apologize and explain…
Read MoreShockingly, Elon Musk’s Branded Boring Company Flamethrowers Turned Out to Be a Terrible Idea
Elon Musk’s Boring Company flamethrowers, launched in 2018, were a masterwork of promotional marketing. And yet, to the surprise of absolutely no one, the flamethrowers have been a disaster for everyone but Musk. More than 1,000 people have had their flamethrowers confiscated, with many facing legal repercussions…
Read MoreFormer Vernon Company CEO Bill Vernon Passes Away at Age 89
The Vernon Company, Newton, Iowa, shared that its former chairman and CEO William F. “Bill” Vernon passed away peacefully on Dec. 3 at the age of 89. After serving in the U.S. Army, Vernon began his career at The Vernon Company in 1956. For the next 64 years, Vernon was highly engaged in building the multi-generation family promotions and graphics business across North America…
Read MoreThe Indianapolis Colts’ Rookie-Sensation Kicker Is Already a Branded Merchandise Wizard
Rodrigo Blankenship has recognized the incredible branding potential of his signature look, leaning fully into his status as the NFL’s No. 1 Top Bespectacled Kicker. Just a few months into his rookie season, “Hot Rod” already has his own branded merchandise store (tagline: “Respect the Specs”) filled with a whole bunch of clever designs…
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