Sam Isaacson, founder of Gemline, passed away on Jan. 27 after a short illness. He was 89. Always the entrepreneur, in 1957 he left his family’s business and founded Gem Giftwares. Beginning as a distributor, he sold promotional items to school photographers until the mid-1960s, when he started selling gas station premiums. He was one…
Read MoreFinally, a Face Mask With Built-In Bluetooth Earbuds
We’re not sure how it took so long to figure out, but finally someone thought of putting Bluetooth earbuds into a face mask. MaskFone, a face mask that not only features a Bluetooth headset and earbuds, but a five-layer filtration system. In short, it’s stylish and extremely functional…
Read MorePPEF Scholarship Application Period Open Through March 15, 2021
Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), has announced that the 2021 PPEF scholarship program is now taking applications for the 2021-2022 school year with $278,750 in scholarships available. Since its inception in 1989, PPEF has awarded more than $2.4 million in financial assistance. Funded by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) and donations from the promotional products…
Read MorePhiladelphia Man Charged With Failing to Deliver on PPE Order Worth $7M
Another person is being charged with fraud after failing to deliver on a large PPE order. This time, it’s a Philadelphia man accused of scamming more than $700,000 from two New York companies. Guaravjit Singh reportedly said that his business had connections to a Chinese medical gown manufacturer, and agreed to sell 1.5 medical gowns totaling about $7.125 million…
Read MorePCNA Appoints Holly Brown as Chief Revenue Officer
Polyconcept North America, Pittsburgh, announced that Holly Brown has been appointed to the position of chief revenue officer, a new position responsible for leading the company’s sales and marketing operations across North America. In addition to decades of global experiences building and leading world class commercial teams…
Read MoreBudweiser Skips Super Bowl Ads for First Time in 37 Years, But Launches Co-Branded Apparel Line With Starter
Budweiser announced that, for the first time in nearly 40 years, it won’t be airing any commercials during the Super Bowl. It will, however, team up with beloved apparel brand Starter for some Big Game-themed apparel. The brands will release an apparel capsule that celebrates the “Bud Bowl” ads, which first aired in 1989. The line will include T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats…
Read MoreZappos Lands Exclusive Deal to Manufacture and Distribute UFC Apparel, Merchandise
Zappos announced that it will be the exclusive wholesaler of UFC merchandise in the U.S. The company that started as an online shoe retailer will manufacture and distribute licensed UFC merchandise like footwear, headwear, T-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, training attire and more. One interesting tidbit of information here is that Zappos is a subsidiary of Amazon…
Read MoreTSC Apparel Expanding to Larger Distribution Center in Southern CA
TSC Apparel is expanding to a larger distribution center in Moreno Valley, California. In an announcement made this month, the Cincinnati-headquartered company said it plans to relocate its Fullerton location to a state-of-the-art, 125,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Moreno Valley, Calif. TSC expects the center to open by the end of February 2021…
Read MoreOur 5 Favorite Promotional Products of the Week: Mario Clocks, ‘WandaVision’ Watch and More
How are everyone’s New Year’s Resolutions going? It’s tough, we know. Regardless of whether you’ve been sticking to your plan every day or lapsing a little here and there, every day is a chance to keep working toward a goal. And promotional products, like the five we’ve highlighted here today, can help. This Mario clock, for example, helps you start waking up on time…
Read MoreBrand Fuel’s Danny Rosin on the Future of Promotional Marketing—Digital Experiences, Great Design and ‘Promo Tinder’
Brand Fuel’s Danny Rosin joined the show to dig into three of his big ideas for the future of promotional marketing: merging digital activation with in-person brand experience, design beyond the logo and hyper-customization. Plus, “Promo Tinder,” Macho Man Randy Savage impressions, bringing your branded flamethrower on an Italian vacation, S&S’s private equity infusion and more!…
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