Newsletter Blogs

The Story of American Apparel
March 21, 2016 at 3:56 pm

American Apparel is arguably the most well-known promotional products company in the world. Strip away the stores, the ads, the headlines: At its core, it is a wholesaler that built its business manufacturing and selling T-shirts to decorators. That’s American Apparel. Of course, American Apparel also is an internationally known retail brand. It’s impossible to…

4 Strategies to Inspire Customer-driven Innovation
March 18, 2016 at 2:44 pm

In our ever-changing world, there is naturally a lot of talk about innovation and the need to innovate to stay relevant, or even to stay alive. There is less said about how to actually do it. Below are four proven and practical strategies (plus one hidden bonus strategy) to drive continuous innovation that you can…

Skate to Where the Puck Is—Lessons from 'The Great One'
March 16, 2016 at 5:12 pm

It's up to you to create your future. Tough times require tough performances. Tough times bring out champions. The greatest hockey player in the history of the game—"The Great One," Wayne Gretzky—was deemed too small, too wiry and too slow to be a force in the NHL by the so-called "experts." But, he has a…

Have Your Designs Been Flagged?
March 16, 2016 at 12:54 pm

A flag is a symbol of unity. It’s a symbol of pride and belonging. When you put it on something, it’s the ultimate logo. At least that’s how I explain the appearance (and popularity) of the Maryland state flag on just about any product imaginable. I’ve been going to Baltimore for Orioles’ games my entire life and I went to college in Baltimore, too, so I’ve had time to see the trend of this seemingly discordant design take off...

My Ideas for NCAA Basketball Tournament Promotions
March 15, 2016 at 4:20 pm

The 2016 NCAA Basketball Tournament starts this week, and I just filled out the perfect bracket. A lot of people don't have Temple winning the whole thing, but I sure do. (OK, I picked Michigan State. But I'll still cheer for the Owls.) When people fill out their brackets, they can create any possible outcome…

3 Free and Easy-to-use Social Media Tools Perfect for the Promo Industry
March 14, 2016 at 4:13 pm

Hi there, Promo Marketing audience! I’ll get to the tools in a quick second, but I wanted to introduce myself first. My name is Mandy Kilinskis. I’m the content and social media manager for distributor Quality Logo Products, Aurora, Ill. I’ll be here monthly to share practical tips on digital marketing. Enough about me—on to the…

Should You Upgrade to QuickBooks 2016?
March 11, 2016 at 4:02 pm

Question: Is it time to upgrade to QuickBooks Premier 2016? Answer: QuickBooks Premier 2016 was released in November 2015. Every year when software comes out, it takes time for the bugs to get worked out, and Premier 2016 is no exception. It's wise to wait a few months after the initial release to upgrade. My…

Supernova Success Equals Organizational Skills
March 10, 2016 at 6:31 pm

Time to spill a few more sales secrets, kids! And these secrets are organizational in nature … This past week, I once again sat down with a multi-million-dollar producer and interviewed her, trying to uncover attributes, work habits and her secrets of success. Just call me Bernstein from The Washington Post. Wait, maybe I should…

What's the Deal with Genderless Clothing?
March 9, 2016 at 3:52 pm

Last week, Zara launched the brand's new genderless clothing line. The collection, called "Ungendered," features 10 unisex pieces, like denim, shorts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and tanks. Launched under the TRF line, the online storefront features both male and female models wearing the same basic clothing pieces. Zara, however, is not the first brand to launch a genderless clothing line.…

Shooting at the Wrong Basket
March 8, 2016 at 3:42 pm

When I was 12 or 13, I was on the basketball team. My school was small, so everyone made the team. Somehow I was still third string. When…