We’ve covered supply chain issues in detail, but until recently, they’ve mostly impacted promotional hard goods. The apparel supply chain tends to have more country diversification, insulating it from some of the issues facing hard goods, which are mostly made in China. That’s no longer the case…
Read MoreEditorial Type: Trends/Analysis
As the Pandemic Subsides, What Comes Next for Kitting?
Over the last year, kitting has become all the rage, especially for companies and brands looking to reach at-home workforces or host virtual events. But as the pandemic subsides, what comes next for kitting—and where does it fit in the promo distributor’s toolkit moving forward?…
Read MoreOur 5 Favorite Promotional Products of the Week: Xbox Anniversary Gear, USPS Sneakers and More
Are you ready to be halfway through 2021? You know when you accidentally make your podcast play at 1.5 speed? That’s what life feels like right now. Let’s slow it down with this week’s edition of our five favorite promotional products, featuring Xbox 20th anniversary gear, some very flashy basketballs and more…
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 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 More2021 Top Trending Promotional Products
The COVID-19 crisis presents marketers with a unique environment to market their organizations. The unique challenges require creative solutions. Promotional products can play a significant role in several ways. By studying and understanding current trends, marketers have the chance to be creative enough to increase their organization’s presence…
Read MoreApparel Orders Tick Back Up (and Other Promotional Products Sales Trends)
Apparel has been battered since the start of the pandemic, with various sources reporting that overall apparel shipments have fallen dramatically compared to 2019. But there are some signs of life. Apparel was the third best performing promotional products category for the June-July period…
Read More2020 Top Distributors List: Stats, Trends and Analysis
Our Top 50 Distributors totaled $6.18 billion in 2019 promotional products sales. That’s up from last year’s Top 50, which totaled $5.96 billion in 2018 sales. Overall, 44 of this year’s Top 50 distributors (88 percent) grew sales over the prior year. Elsewhere on the list, some other significant jumps took place…
Read MoreNew Opportunities for Selling Disposable Drinkware as the Economy Reopens
Businesses from coffee shops to bars to high-end restaurants may need to adjust their operating models as the country begins to reopen. With sanitary concerns and an increased demand for to-go orders, there is a critical role distributors can play as food and drink companies navigate the new normal…
Read MoreHow Promotional Products Can Create a Powerful Brand Experience for Customers (and Why It Matters)
The promotional products space plays an important role in creating a powerful brand experience. For distributors and suppliers, it’s offering products that carry perceived value to be used by companies for corporate gifting or rewards programs, or at special events. Here are the four main building blocks of creating an exceptional brand experience…
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