Tag: Industry

The Way To Lead

Staff Writer

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.
« WARREN G. BENNIS
Leadership style and ability have come into question a great deal lately—most obviously on the national front, but even in the fishbowl that is our industry. For the most part, this year’s political battles have maintained a positive attitude without too much in the way of negative punches being thrown. Niceties notwithstanding, the Democratic presidential hopefuls continue to duke it out over who has more experience, who is tougher, smarter, more charismatic, ethical, and even whose moral fiber is woven more tightly. While all these elements are essential qualities in

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Fall Forward

Staff Writer

I plan ahead. For everything. So imagine my surprise at finding myself reporting on an industry that is routinely looking at, projecting on, and yes, planning for the future. Spring’s barely here and the apparel folks are hunkering down for fall? It felt like the mothership calling me home.
Besides, the current weather situation is making me supremely doubt the whole idea of spring, anyway. I’m still in my down coat, I don’t know what this “spring” is of which you speak. So I’m going to skip the disappointment at this deadbeat season and mosey on over to fall, where the fashion forecast looks

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Every Vote Counts!

Staff Writer

Here in Philadelphia, things are really starting to heat up (and it’s only March). Even though the Republican nomination is sewn up, the Democratic primary is coming to town in full force. Bus stops preach the message of hope and campaign ads talk passionately about change. It’s a different feel for a state normally an afterthought in the doldrums of late primary season. It seems that every cubicle, street corner and marketplace is buzzing with the same question, “Who will win—Barack or Hillary?
The youth vote is cited for Obama. The blue-collar vote is assured for Clinton (or so the news outlets keep saying

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Can Accessories Make Bank?

Staff Writer

I was checking out the Women’s Wear Daily Web site http://www.wwd.com/monday today and something caught my eye. According to writer Caroline Tell’s assessmentx of the most recent rash of Fashion Weeks around the globe, “the runways from New York to Paris were as much about the handbags and other accessories as they were about the clothes.” Now, I’m not a WWD subscriber, so I can’t read the rest of the article (oh technology, must you mock me so?), but it did get me thinking.
A lot of the promotional wearables news I’ve reported on in the past year has pointed to our industry taking

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Things That Are Cool

Staff Writer

I’m not an expert on this whole Internet thing, but it seems to me that the archetypical blogging equation is:
funny anecdote + industry tie-in = increased pageviews

But nothing exciting or interesting happened to me this week. I was bored. What to do about this week’s post? Well, one thing I do know a little bit about is magazines. And, when magazines need content, they make lists.
So, here goes nothing.

Five Things That Are Cool:
1) S&S Activewear always sends me images, on discs, ahead of my editorial schedule. Big ups to Terri Scales from The Tercet Group.
2)

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Tell Me Something Good!

Staff Writer

Today, I am feeling appalled. Appalled that while our media dedicates massive resources to the coverage of the excesses of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, the people of Haiti have been reduced to eating “mud cookies,” literally made of dirt; appalled that the words “ethnic cleansing” are still uttered in the present tense; and appalled that hardworking people face losing their homes because of the subprime lending mess. Globally, wealthy governments and industry leaders have the power to make a difference, but unfortunately, it seems that unless there is something “in it for them,” they choose not to.
In an era where

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Sister Speaks

Staff Writer

I’m going to be a Big Sister soon! Well, that’s not entirely true, as I’ve been ‘big sister’ to Noelina, Ephra and Andrew for the last three decades.

I’m in the process, however, of being matched with a “Little Sister” through the nation’s oldest youth mentorship program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS), headquartered in Philadelphia.

As I was walking the showroom floor at the PPAI Expo two weeks ago, I received a call from a BBBS representative informing me that she’d found a potential match for me. I paused and listened closely to the rundown of the young

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Live from Las Vegas

Staff Writer

8:37a.m. — Bright and early, here’s your loyal correspondent, blogging live from the PPAI Fashion & Accessories Show. Despite its 8:30 a.m. starting time, there’s a more-than-adequate turnout, though according to a few of my row companions, it’s considerably less than years past. The coffee hasn’t yet dispersed through my system, and I can kind of see how this could be that much more fun with cocktails instead.
8:41 — The lights dim 10 minutes late, and I can’t help but think of Marc Jacobs’ two-hours-overdue N.Y. Fashion Week opening. Good to know our industry can keep “fashionably late” from approaching diva-like proportions!
8:43

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Politics and Promotions

Staff Writer

» Be the change that you want to see in the world.
«MAHATMA GHANDI, INDIAN LEADER, 1869 – 1948
I write this editor’s note on the day of the assassination of two-time Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. Readers may ask, “What possible connection could her death have with the sales of promotional products?” Directly—I can easily cite, this being our political-promotions issue—it makes sense. Oftentimes, buttons,badges and ribbons are made to commemorate even horrific events, such as this. I can also mention the ensuing ramifications a world leader’s assassination can have on our industry economically. Already-delicate world markets and staggeringly high oil prices—which

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Giving it Away for Free

Staff Writer

Hi. Welcome back, you.
Since I got nothing but crickets from my last post’s call for comments, I am forced to do all the heavy lifting this week. But that’s the point of having one’s own blog, I suppose. It seems you’re onto the fact I’m trying very hard to not have to think of a new topic each week. Thanks reader, for always keeping me on my toes and teaching me a life lesson to boot.
Now, let’s talk a little bit about things that are free.
First up, free editorial. Suppliers, I’m going to let you in on a not-so-hidden secret:

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