A Van Gogh exhibit in London has received criticism over souvenirs that some feel are insensitive. The Courtauld Gallery’s merchandise offering includes an ear-shaped eraser, a bar of soap whose description says “for the tortured artist who enjoys fluffy bubbles,” and an “emotional first aid kit for 20 key psychological situations”…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
Chinese Banks Already Sold 95% of Commemorative Olympics Coins
Customers in Beijing have been fighting to get their hands on merchandise featuring the games’ mascot, an adorable panda named Bing Dwen Dwen. Shoppers have been clearing shelves of plush toys and other products with the panda’s face on it. But another product is getting the attention of shoppers around the Olympic Village—commemorative coins. According…
Read MoreShipping Industry Experts Say Backlog Might Finally Be Letting Up
Maersk CEO Soren Skou told Bloomberg last week that he believes the shipping crisis, wreaking havoc in international trade across the world, may return to normal in the coming months. In the interview, Skou said that the shipping backlogs will begin to let up in the second half of the year, easing some of the…
Read MoreThe Rams Won the Super Bowl, But Who Won the Merch Bowl?
At the final whistle last night, the Los Angeles Rams were named the Super Bowl Champions in front of a hometown crowd. Naturally, Rams fans in LA wanted to commemorate the win through merchandise, but don’t assume that the winning team is the one with the strongest merch sales leading up to the game…
Read MoreHow One Distributor Seamlessly Combines Print and Promotional Products for Customers’ Online Store Programs
Jacki Suckow, president of NorthStar Printing and Promotions, Flowery Branch, Georgia, told us how she handles online store programs that include both printed and promotional products, and how she makes sure her customers get exactly what they want. Here, she takes us through a particularly successful project…
Read MoreMichelob Ultra’s Star-Studded Super Bowl Ad Has a Full Line of Tie-In Merch (With Some Fun Interactive Features)
Michelob Ultra’s three-part Super Bowl ad brings celebrity endorsements, social media contests, a full branded merchandise collection and the call for fans to pay close attention to minute details, creating a multi-platform branding experience. The bowling alley-themed merchandise includes a T-shirt imprinted with a phone number that fans can actually call for a surprise…
Read MoreTony Hawk Auctions Off His (Slightly NSFW) ‘Jackass Forever’ Promo Box
For the “Jackass” crew’s latest big-screen venture, “Jackass Forever,” participants and fans got a special promotional kit, including things like a specialized jacket, shot glasses and a moderately NSFW toy. Tony Hawk, who makes a brief cameo in the movie, is auctioning off not only his whole promo haul from the set, but also the T-shirt he wore and skateboard he used for his cameo…
Read MoreJason Lucash Steps Down as HPG Chief Development Officer, Looks Back on Promo Career
HPG, Braintree, Mass., announced today that Jason Lucash will step down from his role as chief development officer in order to pursue other career endeavors. Lucash will stay on in an advisory role as part of HPG’s board of directors. Lucash looked back on his time with HPG, and attributed the supplier’s success to its ability to stay current with customer trends and…
Read MoreSeller Turns Misprinted Queen Elizabeth ‘Platinum Jubbly’ Merchandise Into Opportunity
The U.K. is celebrating 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign this year, otherwise known as the Platinum Jubilee. Or, if you bought some commemorative plates or drinkware, the “Platinum Jubbly.” Instead of throwing all of the misprinted merchandise away, Karl Baxter, who runs a clearance website, is selling the more than 10,000 misprinted pieces as limited-edition souvenirs…
Read MoreBe an Inbox Hero With These Simple Tips for Better Sales and Prospecting Emails
Writing a good email is an art form. In business, it’s often the only time you have “in front” of a prospect, and you need to fight amongst countless others and junk mail to get that person’s attention. So, how do you do it right? If you ask Farquharson, president of Aspire For Inc. and chief creator of content for his own site full of industry sales training tools, it’s pretty much the same way you get to Carnegie Hall…
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