Marketing and Sales

The Vernon Company, Newton, Iowa,  recently recognized Polyconcept North America (PCNA) with the 2019 Supplier of the Year Award during the company’s annual national sales meeting. The Supplier of the Year Award is given annually to the industry supplier that provides the best overall service to The Vernon Company and its customers. The award is…

We know business will be different, but how? Will client budgets be right-sized and constricted? What will events look like? To what extent will the virtual world remain? What about hiring practices when business begins to operate again? Will businesses be eager to invest and spend money? Here are a few predictions and ruminations as we all dig out and back in...

ePromos, St. Cloud, Minn., again expanded its support for the #GivingTuesday charitable fundraising movement. This year, ePromos introduced a high-profile creative collaboration with renowned artist Chris Riggs, plus a matching gift initiative in support of COVID-19 relief...

With its theme parks shut down, Disney has had to go online-only for merch sales. That can present a challenge in itself, as the demand for limited edition merch could cause servers to freeze up like a dead Tauntaun on Hoth. Thankfully, Disney planned ahead by creating a “virtual waiting room” for shoppers to wait until its their turn to buy “Star Wars Day” merch...

We are all learning some new vocabulary during these times. Phrases like “shelter in place,” “social distancing” and “herd immunity.” Another word I strongly recommend people learn is pivot. "Pivot" simply means to “turn.” Many people reading this need to learn to pivot or turn. To pivot to new types of companies wide open for…

The Trump Campaign has been actively marketing branded merchandise that specifically appeals to people under quarantine and stay-at-home orders, and in March spent more on merch than in any month since September 2016. The Biden for President campaign store, on the other hand, has not been fulfilling orders...

AIA Corporation, Appleton, Wis., announced today that it’s board of directors has selected Nancy Schmidt as the company’s new CEO. Schmidt, a two-year veteran of AIA who most recently served as chief financial officer, is the first female CEO in AIA history...

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all walks of life in the U.S. since it commenced its late-winter assault in the country. That’s led to a mindset of helping, rather than supplying, that is gaining momentum in the promotional products industry. And Guy Achtzehn is happily playing the role of one of that mindset’s biggest advocates...

Live sports remain on an indefinite hiatus, and there’s no real definitive light at the end of the tunnel quite yet. One competition has thrived under the COVID-19 lockdown, though: e-sports. Since this is basically the extent of team sports right now, experts believe that the demand for e-sports merchandise, like apparel, is growing...

During a time of crisis, it can be hard to know how best to market your products or services to customers. With businesses having employees work from home, this certainly creates challenges for B2B marketers who use direct mail in their marketing mix...