There are two big obstacles standing in the way of jackets and outerwear sales: a changing market still rebounding from the pandemic, and a shaky supply chain that’s making product pricier and harder to find. Let’s take a look at both of those challenges and explore some ways to address them…
Read MoreEditorial Type: Tips and Tools
2021 Top Distributors: How HALO Branded Solutions Took the No. 1 Spot
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 Marc Simon of HALO Branded Solutions, the No. 1 company on this year’s list…
Read More2 Shifts You Should Make in Your Marketing to Grow Existing Clients
Since selling has shifted to digital-first and digital (mostly) interaction, we need to not make the mistake with our marketing by relegating it to lead-gen only or reduce it to branding, image and identity. Marketing is the key driver of new business and existing client sales. Here are two shifts we should make in our marketing to grow sales…
Read More5 Reasons to Start Your Own Promo Business Podcast (Plus Tips and Advice)
Starting a podcast is easier than you think—and it can have big benefits for your distributor business. It takes commitment and dedication, and if you feel you don’t have the time, consider being a guest on other people’s podcasts. But if you’re ready to do your own show, here’s how you can get started…
Read More5 Things to Know About Selling Promotional Socks and Footwear
To get a toehold on what customers and end-users are looking for in promotional footwear, we spoke with Chloe Ayres, marketing manager for Sock Club, Austin, Texas, and Kaydee Walter, marketing specialist for Strideline, Seattle. Here are five big things to know…
Read MoreAre Your Client Relationships Profitable? Take the 10-Question Test
Whether it’s a self-check that you do on your own or a process you do quarterly with your team, you need concrete answers to the broad question: “How are we doing with Client A?” To evaluate the health of your client relationship, here are 10 questions that will act as a guide for you and your team…
Read MoreHow to Tell Your Clients’ Brand Stories Better by Using Print and Promo Together
Promotional products alone can go a long way with lasting brand awareness, but Paul Keely, owner of King Print & Promo, remembers two instances where adding print to a promotional campaign helped his clients deliver a deeper, more thoughtful message and tell a complete story…
Read MoreApparel Contract Decorator Partnerships Series, Part 3: Contract Pricing Refresher (and How to Not Annoy Your Decorator)
A distributor works directly with a client to determine every detail of the order and relays that to a decorator, who completes the technical aspect of the project. Decorators acknowledge the distributor’s role when creating their contract pricing. But what should distributors expect out of that relationship?…
Read MoreApparel Contract Decorator Partnerships Series, Part 2: Building Relationships (and How Many Decorators Do You Need?)
Just like you have different promotional suppliers for different products, you’ll need the same for different decoration methods or geographic locations to reduce transit from your preferred supplier warehouse or to the order’s final destination. So you’ll want to have solid relationships with more than one contract decorator…
Read MoreApparel Contract Decorator Partnerships Series, Part 1: Boost Business With a Sales-Focused Mindset
Distributors sometimes opt to bring decoration in-house, and there are some good reasons to go this route. However, leaning on a contract decorator has one major perk: The distributor can focus on selling while relying on contract decorators who know a thing or two about decorating apparel already…
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