While respondent data from late October indicates that industry activity is still declining, it is doing so at a much less drastic rate when compared to the first two reports. Nearly an equal amount of companies are now saying that sales are trending upward (39.1 percent) and downward (40.9 percent), which is an improvement…
In the months since the pandemic started, we’ve all turned to various hobbies to stay sane and pass the time. Some of us started baking bread or tie-dying shirts. Others brushed up on guitar or watched all of Netflix. Roger Burnett wrote a book. Here, Burnett fills us in on how it all came together, what the book is about and why promo professionals should give it a read…
This year, the still-raging pandemic has reshaped every aspect of our personal and professional lives, changing the world on a fundamental level and dominating the social and political landscape. So, in many ways, every story from March onward—even the most mundane—has been about the pandemic. Here are some of the best stories we wrote…
Just a day after announcing their decision to rebrand, the Cleveland Indians said they will still sell Chief Wahoo merchandise into the future, with a caveat: The team will donate proceeds from sales of the merchandise to Native American groups. That’s a puzzling move given the team’s public statements and previous actions regarding the mascot…
iPROMOTEu, Wayland, Mass., announced that Dave Kneram has joined as its new vice president of information technology. Kneram has had a lengthy and successful career as an IT professional, and for the past 10 years has worked at Vistaprint and its parent company Cimpress…
Koozie Group (previously BIC Graphic North America) has announced the implementation of a “KG Factor” (Keep It. Give It.) designation identifying 510 products whose designs lessen environmental impact through longevity. The supplier conducted an impartial end-user survey to identify KG Factor items as part of Koozie Group’s larger social impact and sustainability commitment…
Looking back at what we’ve covered over the year is always an interesting trip down memory lane. This year, when things moved so fast, we’ve forgotten about plenty of headlines and stories. So please enjoy this little refresher along with us as we look back on our most-read stories of 2020…
It took years of action for the Cleveland Indians to finally get rid of the Chief Wahoo logo. But in one decisive action, the team announced that it would change its identity all together, abandoning the name it’s used since 1915. On a societal level, this has enormous implications. But it’s also a big deal in the merchandise space…
People are still bingeing their way through “Friends” for the first time or the hundredth time, so all of the jokes are still fresh in their minds. Matthew Perry, famous for playing Chandler Bing on the show, knows that. And he’s proving it by releasing a line of Chandler-themed merchandise in the aptly named “Could this BE any more of a merchandise store?”…
Although a brand awareness assessment may not always be at the top of the priority list, when done right, it can provide critical insight that can drive revenue growth and cost savings, provide a competitive advantage, reduce inefficiencies and uncover problems in their infancy before they grow into significant issues…