Have you ever bought a shirt online, thinking everything would be perfect once it arrives, only to find that it’s itchier than you had hoped? Researchers at NC State University have developed a way to analyze and quantify a garment’s friction using 3-D imaging in an attempt to scientifically identify fabric softness…
Read MoreOur 5 Favorite Promotional Products of the Week: Canceled Tour Tees, Turntables and More
St. Patrick’s Day is a week away, which means you still have seven days to find a green T-shirt or maybe a fun pint glass. While we wait patiently for the Most Irish Time of Year, let’s check out a batch of promotional products from this past week, including a cool gift set, to-go margarita labels and more…
Read MoreDecoration Diaries: How One Distributor Set Up a Nonprofit Customer for Branded Apparel Success
Bret Mealing, owner of SC Embroidery & Screenprinting, a promo distributor and decorator based in Columbia, S.C., explained how he expanded his apparel decoration business and helped a nonprofit create a branded merchandise program that grew into the organization’s second-largest revenue stream…
Read MoreDon’t Fall Into the Hard Seltzer Trap: How Chasing Trends Can Hurt Your Business
Reliance on a trend may yield some results in the short term, but the long-term damage of blending in with the crowd will be difficult to repair. In any creative industry, when organizations rapidly move in the same direction as their competition, it tells me that a new approach is a far better, perhaps only, approach…
Read MorePRO Act, Bill That Threatens Independent Contractor Status, Passes House
The PRO Act (H.R. 842), passed in the House with a 225-206 vote on Tuesday. The bill, intended to support workers in the gig economy by making it easier for them to unionize, would effectively eliminate independent contractor status on a nationwide level. The bill now heads to the Senate, though it is unlikely to…
Read MoreHow Brands Used Merch to Celebrate and Give Back on International Women’s Day
Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and brands seized the opportunity to celebrate inspirational women and draw attention to important issues or causes. Some of them even did it through merchandise, with clever twists on their branding or items designed to give back. Here are a few of our favorite examples…
Read MoreTwitter Is Testing an E-Commerce Shopping Feature on Tweets
Twitter is trying out a new shopping feature that would make it easier for users to shop e-commerce platforms directly from the platform. The new “Twitter Card” tweet format would include a “shop” button and product details directly embedded into the tweet itself…
Read MoreVisionUSA Teams Up With UPS to Deliver Carbon Neutral Initiative
VisionUSA, the Dallas-based designer and manufacturer of branded promotional products, today announced a collaboration with UPS to improve corporate sustainability practices. Working with UPS, VisionUSA will minimize monthly shipping emissions with voluntary or regulatory carbon credits. “Our goal is to leverage the best practices of environmental responsibility,” said Felix Soliz, president of VisionUSA. “Our mission…
Read MoreRecord Snowfall at Major FedEx Hub Caused Even More Shipping Delays in Another Setback for Shippers
FedEx is facing prolonged delays due to winter storms at its Memphis hub last month. The centrally located Memphis hub is FedEx’s largest, chosen in part due to the nearby Memphis International Airport rarely being closed due to winter weather. But, “rare” does not mean “never”…
Read MoreTrump’s Lawyers Send Cease-and-Desist to Republican Groups Using His Name and Likeness for Merchandise
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers reportedly sent cease-and-desist notices to three of the largest GOP fundraising groups, ordering them to stop using his name and likeness on merchandise and fundraising material. The three groups, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional…
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