It is easy to get mired down in “what if” or “oh my” or “how am I going to,” but for me, I come to most situations looking to be optimistic. I am working to stay positive. This is easier for me, today, because my business, Sharp Ideas, is a small company. That being said, we do have overhead, we do have expectations and we do have a lot of challenges…
Read MoreWill Coronavirus Change the Way Countries Source Apparel? In the U.K., Domestic Textiles See Increased Demand
The coronavirus pandemic has upended markets all across the world, and has forced countries to make changes to the way they do business and how they source products. In the U.K., domestic textile businesses have seen an uptick in business as demand still exists for textile products, but companies are wary…
Read MoreHow One Promo Distributor Landed a Pretty Large Customer: the U.S. Census
What do you look for in a big order? You want the end-result to be worth your labor and energy, right? Maybe you want to be part of something bigger. Nick Mirabile, vice president of merchandise and licensing for Stran North America, Quincy, Mass., told us about a promotion that fit both criteria: marketing the U.S. Census…
Read More3 Common Promotional Products Disasters (and One Distributor’s Advice on Resolving Them)
Promotional products businesses face plenty of challenges, some bigger than others. Tom Levy, vice president of sales and marketing at Global Sourcing Connection, Riverwoods, Ill., shared some specific instances of disasters he’s had to overcome in his 10 years as a distributor—and how he handled them…
Read MoreWhat to Do When Things Go Wrong
The coronavirus has shut down huge swaths of the economy, putting a big dent in a lot of distributor and supplier sales. As you navigate your current situation, it can serve as an ideal time to plan for future disasters. No matter how small or large a problem may be, having a plan in place to resolve it will be a great tool for the future…
Read MoreDelta Apparel Shifts Production to Produce Cotton Face Masks to Help Fight Spread of COVID-19
Delta Apparel, Duluth, Ga., announced that it will leverage its manufacturing facilities to begin producing cotton face masks. The company has joined a coalition of iconic apparel brands that are responding to urgent calls for companies to help produce face masks during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Once fully ramped up, the coalition expects to produce…
Read MoreOur Fave 5 Promotional Products of the Week: Social Distancing Tees, DIY Nike Shoes and More
One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is the steady flow of creative promotional items like T-shirts, kits and more that we’re seeing on social media and the news. Check out five of our favorites below, including a “Just Do It Yourself” box from Nike, a couple of great tees and more…
Read MorePM Screen Time: Denielle Lue Has a Business Idea for When Promo Sales Are Slow
Welcome to PM Screen Time! In this new video series, Sean Norris and Brendan Menapace talk with promotional products professionals about their challenges, wins and creative ideas, in the hopes of sparking some ideas and inspiration for anyone who needs it. In this episode, Denielle Lue, owner of Stitch to My Lue Promotions, shares an idea involving a businesses communications platform she’s putting together for clients while promotional products sales are slow…
Read MoreCheck Out This (Free!) Digital Conference on Business Strategy for Screen Printers and Decorators
On Thursday, April 16, OmniPrint International will host its Creators Boardroom Digital Conference 2020, featuring presentations on marketing, sales, business, social media, finance and more. The free event is designed to support screen printers, decorators and related businesses and help them thrive through these difficult times…
Read MoreNFL Teams, Star Running Back Assist COVID-19 Relief Through Branded Merch, Face Mask Donations
The NFL season doesn’t start until preseason games open in August, but players and franchises aren’t sitting on the sidelines as the pandemic affects everyone’s life. Through various merchandise and a plan to distribute branded face masks, a star running back and two teams are hoping their efforts will hit pay dirt to assist various populations…
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