Newsletter Blogs

The 4th of July is when we Americans celebrate our independence, our freedom. As you prepare your celebrations, let me encourage you to reflect on these two questions: Are you truly independent? Are you truly free? Most distributors with whom I speak don’t seem very independent. They seem to be bound by all of the…

Question: Do I need to make changes to my supplier’s PO to match the supplier invoice? Answer: Yes, and making this adjustment is a standard and absolute best practice in our industry. The supplier’s invoice almost always differs from the original purchase order, and it is the final invoice numbers that need to be correctly…

With more and more millennials tossing their paychecks toward fast fashion brands like Zara, H&M, Forever 21 and ASOS, and abandoning the allure of brand names, it’s shocking that luxury fashion brand Gucci even has any skin left in the game. And yet, today’s teens are lining up to spend $590 on the company’s iconic…

The #Online18 most influential people consists of industry influencers who use online tools and strategies to benefit their business and the overall promotional products industry. Each year gets tougher to identify the #Online18, as the online marketplace continues to evolve. One important note about the #Online18 is that this is primarily based on a personal…

If you are seeking to elevate your success and happiness in your life and in your business, I recommend you evaluate the chart below and find more time to do those things you enjoy. We all have things we enjoy doing. Some we do well, and others may require more learning and practice. As seen…

Question: Why do I have supplier purchase orders that show as open in QuickBooks Premier even though I know I have paid them? Answer: There could be two explanations. First, there are times that your supplier purchase order does not mark all items as closed even though they are paid. To check this, open the…

A look at the history of cotton, from its explosive growth in the Civil War-era U.S. to its increased production worldwide to its current status as king of the apparel industry. Also, the lowdown on cotton's place in the promotional apparel market and the trends to expect for fall 2018 and beyond...

Most of my articles for “Million Dollar Mindset” are about creating financial wealth. But having just attended the funeral and celebration of life for a good friend of mine, and a good friend to the entire industry, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the wealth that really matters. It seems to me that…

Question: My accountant wants me to buy some business insurance. Is that something I should have? Answer: I, too, advise my clients to purchase business liability insurance. It can protect you and your assets in the event of a lawsuit. If you are a sole proprietor, your personal assets are at risk with a lawsuit.…

Gmail launched in 2004, and was immediately a hit largely because they offered more free storage than anyone. It was more than storage that kept Gmail the leader in email, it was powerful features that were easy to use overall. Gmail was one of the first major applications to use AJAX (if you really want…