Greetings, loyal browsers of the Promo Marketing blogs. I’m Mike, the new associate editor on the magazine, and as of today I’ll be joining Chrissie and Charles with their weekly blog updates.
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Tag: Product
Guilt Trip
We travel a lot as an industry, I’ve come to learn. And being that I just finished my first-ever promotional products trade-show cycle, I feel a little trepidation at the thought of starting all over come January. I just booked my flights for ASI Orlando and I’m tired already.
I realize making face-to-face connections is invaluable, particularly with you party animals, and maybe that alone is worth the price of admission (flights, booths/accoutrement, shipping, client dinners, etc.). But in terms of ROI, at what point do they stop being valuable and start becoming “same old, same old”? How many times a year do
Selco Introduces True North Compass Collection
The Selco Companies, based in Tulsa, Okla., announced the introduction of its True North Compass Collection. The collection contains a variety of wooden, boxed desk compasses that have proven popular for a variety of promotional programs. Mentioned programs include corporate training, mergers and acquisitions, travel incentives, and new product launches. The compasses come with imprinting and engraving options.
About the Selco Companies:
As a manufacturer and supplier of custom imprinted and die-struck medallion watches, clocks, compasses and high-tech products, Selco products are available internationally through promotional products distributors. The company was established in 1935.
For more information on The Selco Companies, visit www.selcocompanies.com
Alienated Yet?
Okay, I know. I’ve been bad. Really, really bad—especially considering the fact that if you want a blog to work, you should post several times a day to keep readers coming back for more.
Um, let’s not get crazy with our expectations, though.
BUT, at the very least, I should be able to get a piping-hot post on the table once a week. I fell off the blogging wagon. Sorry. I realize it’s going to take awhile to regain your trust … prove I’m not just going to cut and run when the going gets tough.
So, to start on the road
Time For Homegrown Goods?
After seeing some news from Neely Manufacturing, I was wondering if a larger trend was going to start to emerge. Neely announced sales have tripled (see below) since making the switch to all domestic-made products. With gas and transportation prices skyrocketing, will it become more affordable to make products locally—which would cut shipping costs, development costs (and probably a hundred different costs that I don’t even know exist), while supporting local economies that in and of themselves are being weakened by the same high energy costs? I guess what I’m wondering is if it’s time to start thinking about becoming a homegrown society (again),
Read More$10 Million Lead Paint Fine and Other Industry News
Though the topic has been out of the news spotlight, we shouldn’t forget about the lead paint issue that effects the promotional products industry. While no one knows how wide-spread the problem is, it is nice to see companies are beginning to be held responsible for their actions.
Producer of Give-Away Lunchboxes Ordered to Pay $10 Million
L.A.-based lunchbox maker sold 100,000 lead-tainted lunchboxes to the state.
Oakland, CA -In San Francisco Superior Court yesterday, Judge Richard A. Kramer ordered L.A.-based T A Creations to pay $10,071,500 for the company’s violation of California law when it sold lead-tainted lunchboxes to
ASI Vegas-Lag
ASI Vegas-lag is kind of like jet lag, only worse. Not only are you tired and unsure of what time it really is, you start to see promotional items every time you close your eyes (maybe some of you live this way already). Admittedly, I’m a couple of days out from the show, but I still feel like I’m recovering. The 10:40 red-eye flight back to Philly didn’t help (the whole time cursing the people who just took Tylenol PM and slept the entire flight—you know who you are).
I was wondering what others thought of the show. I think the shows are
Here Comes the Bridal Promotion
Bridal showers are funny things. The invitees all hem and haw about going, but it’s really just like pulling off a Band-aid. It’s never quite as bad as you anticipate.
Just add a mimosa and you can up the fun quotient on pretty much anything.
So this weekend I headed back home to Long Island for my best friend’s shower. As a member of the wedding party, I was charged with creating the centerpieces and favors for the blessed event. And as an editor at Promo Marketing magazine, I, of course, began thinking of whether or not promotional products could somehow find a niche
Awards With Character
I just had a nice conversation with Leo Kennedy from Awards With Character. I’m doing a product showcase for the magazine on sports teams and was looking for products a little more off-the-beaten-path than cups, seat cushions and caps (not that there is anything wrong with any of those items).
Leo’s company provides trophies and other products as incentives to schools for both sports teams and academic programs. The difference is, his trophies aren’t brassy figures or silver cups, they are small (adorable, some would say) bear figurines talking part in various sports. Girl soccer bear. Boy baseball bear. Hockey bear (there is a
Trade Show Hangover
It’s not a literal hangover, but I have to say three trade shows in five weeks really takes a toll on one. The latest and greatest trip was to Dallas, where I did not get to visit Dealy Plaza, but where I did get to meet a ton of people and add to our growing product video library. Keep an eye on the Web site for new videos from companies like Pro Towels (who all call me Chaz) and Snugz (starring national sales manager Sydra Newell). By the end of the third day both the camera and myself had enough. Ugh.<br
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