VIDEO: Entrance and display mats from FS Matting
Read MoreVIDEO: Entrance and display mats from FS Matting
The Wonderful World of Color
HERE ARE GROUPS of people today who make much ado about color. Not for the purpose of fighting social injustices, but for the pleasure of dressing up for social events. Every year, those on the pulse of fashion stand with bated breath to learn what colors are hot and which are not. As can well be seen by retailers’ stock, this spring, fashion designers have opted for “surprising neutrals with innovative splashes of corals, yellows and purples to create a spring in bloom” [www.fashiontrendsetter.com]. Just who decides these things? Apparently, Cincinnati, Ohio-based Color Marketing Group (CMG) is one in an elite group of professionals
Read MoreHit the Floor RUNNING
THERE ARE A myriad of conventions and trade shows for every industry and hobby imaginable. Whether one’s checking out the latest gadgets and innovations from Silicon Valley or taste-testing a variety of maple syrups from New England, trade shows and conventions are fertile ground for promoters. With large crowds of both dedicated and casual attendees, conventions and trade shows offer a unique opportunity for promoters and their products. “I love trade shows,” said Charley Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing at SnugZ USA, Salt Lake City. “A lot of people complain that there’s too many, but where else are you going to see five
Read Moreyou think THAT’S funny?
Who doesn’t like a good laugh? In product promotion, funny presenters, humorous commercials, novelty items and even clowns are among the most reliable and memorable devices. Solemn speakers, teachers and preachers often open presentations with a joke. But apparently, the climate change that accompanies global warming has left us with thinner skins. People are not so easily amused by marketers’ jocular antics these days—many answering back with angry blogs, anti-advertiser Web sites, press releases dripping with indignant outrage and a spokesperson for every occasion camped in at CNN. You don’t think that ad is funny? Tell the advertiser what you think and, while you’re
Read MoreLiquid Success
TO GET AN idea of how much coffee is consumed by Americans, consider the case of researchers in the Seattle area. Thinking they could trace the flow of pollutants in the Puget Sound and the currents that carried them, scientists began taking caffeine samples. Unfortunately, the amount of caffeine proved so great it made the data unusable. According to an Associated Press article, caffeine was found in more than 160 of 216 samples in water as deep as 640 feet. Where did all the caffeine come from? Human bladders and coffee spilled on the street. Meanwhile, the Web site coffeereasearch.org reports “The National Coffee Association
Read MoreCut to the Chase
A WELL DESIGNED piece of apparel with equally eye-catching embellishments is what today’s consumers tend to seek. While embellishment and printing techniques, such as embroidery, rhinestones and silk screening are widely known and used, less is known about the cutting-edge technology of laser etching—on apparel, that is. When this process is considered, generally products such as plaques and nameplates come to mind. However, Craig Warnimont, regional account manager at Colorado Timberline, Denver, said laser etching is as useful and effective on apparel as it is on other surfaces. According to Warnimont, laser etching is the process of “carving an image or a logo onto a
Read MoreTips of the Trade: Pre-Proposal Questions
By Ilise Benun, Marketing Mentor Do you ever meet with a prospect to discuss a project then, when it’s time to write the proposal, you realize there is critical information missing? That’s one reason it’s essential to ask as many questions up front as possible; it also positions you as an expert who really knows the industry and can think beyond the project scope. But sometimes you don’t think of all the questions at the right moment. So here is a not-at-all comprehensive checklist of questions to ask, besides the usual timeframe and budget parameters, to create a proposal that will get you the
Read MoreAlpha Shirt, Broder Re-launches Web sites
Alpha Shirt and Broder, both of Trevose, Pa., have announced the re-launch of their individual Web sites—a move that makes both sites more customer-friendly. “We have updated the sites with new and enhanced features that will prove easy for our customers to use and will ultimately help to drive their business,” said Mike Fabrico, vice president of information technology for both companies. The updated Web sites feature a variety of conveinent options including: •Express ordering •Real-time inventory •An Order Optimize option that helps customers avoid split shipments •A “Save order” function that makes re-ordering faster than ever •More product views and information •Product
Read MoreOuter Banks Outfits Student Solar House Team
Outer Banks, Winston-Salem, N.C., has announced its continued promotional sportswear sponsorship of the University of Missouri Solar House project team, in which the company outfitted the student engineering team with matching Essential Pique polo shirts in pine green. The University of Missouri-Rolla is one of 20 teams selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to compete in the bi-annual Solar Decathlon that will be held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Oct. 12-20. The competition requires participants to design, build and operate the most extravagant and energy-efficient, 800 sq. ft. solar-powered homes. In 2005, the team finished in 7th place, including a first
Read MoreGAME Sportswear Sponsors LPGA Tour Winner
GAME Sportswear, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., an apparel supplier specializing in athletic jackets, teamwear and workwear, recently announced Meaghan Francella, who GAME is sponsoring on the LPGA Tour, has won the MasterCard Classic in Mexico, beating world-famous golfer Annika Sorenstam in a tie-breaker earlier this month. “We are both happy and proud of what Meaghan has accomplished at 24 years of age and in the very beginning of her tour career,” noted Rico Genovese, president. “It’s rewarding to be part of giving a local young woman a chance to compete and succeed on an international stage. I was also gratified to see her wearing
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