Newsletter Blogs

Is This Bookkeeper Right for You?
April 22, 2016 at 3:42 pm

Question: A bookkeeper has been recommended to me. What should I ask to learn if this person can help me as well? Answer: A bookkeeper who works well for another type of company may or may not be suitable to you as a promotional products distributor. In addition to the common bookkeeper concerns for all…

The Power of Unisex Uniforms
April 20, 2016 at 2:59 pm

In a previous blog post, I delved into the details and advancements of several "genderless" clothing lines in the retail world. Now, it seems the military also is looking into creating "genderless" uniforms. Recently, the Navy has used uniforms as…

7 Reasons to Switch from Evernote to OneNote
April 19, 2016 at 3:58 pm

I’ve been a user of Evernote for more than three years, but I’ve become fonder of OneNote lately. In case you don’t use either, both do a great job keeping notes organized without multiple Microsoft Word documents. Most Microsoft Word documents end up cluttering your hard drives and the content is hard to find, especially…

The Importance of a Stop-doing List
April 14, 2016 at 7:04 pm

If you are going to thrive in any economy, you must commit yourself to a laser-like focus on doing first-things first and a ferocious understanding of what you are not going to do. For me, having a "stop-doing list" has become more important than my to-do list.  Here’s what works for me: After 23 years of…

5 Curling-inspired Lessons in Apparel
April 13, 2016 at 6:28 pm

This month marks my two-year anniversary of curling. Every Tuesday night, I head to Bucks County Curling Club, put on the proper footwear, grab my broom, stretch, catch up with fellow club members and take the ice. Strangely enough, there’s plenty to be learned from what curlers wear on the ice. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind for your future apparel campaigns, and how to reach out to markets that may seem more specialized than others...

Opening Day for Promos
April 12, 2016 at 5:48 pm

Yesterday was the Philadelphia Phillies home opener, and, of course, they lost because they know that I have my heart invested in them and they just want to disappoint me. Sorry, did I say that last part out loud? Anyway, because I live in the city, I saw plenty of people who obviously were coming…

5 Tips for Better Product Videos, Ranked from Least to Most Expensive
April 11, 2016 at 2:58 pm

It’s no secret that video marketing totally has exploded. It’s pretty much become an absolute necessity for all businesses, even if they are traditional brick-and-mortar stores. A few years ago, you could get away with any kind of video quality because you might be only one of three companies on YouTube or Vimeo. Now that…

Keeping Art Files to Find Them Later
April 8, 2016 at 6:03 pm

Question: Is there an easy way to keep art files so I can find them later? Answer: While this technically is not an accounting question, cataloging your art files is important for keeping your order management organized. During my distributor days, I kept a folder in my documents called "Art." I would keep all my…

13 Green Promotions to Celebrate Earth Day
April 6, 2016 at 2:59 pm

While it's been uncharacteristically cold here in Philadelphia, the first week of April still has brought chirping birds and blooming cherry blossoms. The start of spring also signifies that Earth Day is almost here, and if you're anything like us, you love the opportunity to give back to Mother Earth. Whether it's with eco-friendly products…