Spend Summer with the Best

Holiday weekends are always bittersweet. Having the day off is nice (especially when a pool party and BBQ is involved) but these weekends always seem to fall at the most inconvenient times. For the writers at Promo Marketing, these weekends usually fall in the middle of production. Independence Day was no different. As happy as I was to don my red, white and blue and view a stellar fireworks display, our July issue was never far from my mind (partly due to the plethora of promotional items celebrating the Fourth).

Promo Marketing's July issue is a doozy with the announcement of the winners of our annual Supplier Excellence Awards and the list of the industry's top 50 suppliers. This issue has been two months in the making on our end, with the voting opening to distributors in May, and a year in the making for the winning companies and the suppliers in the top 50 (which is based on 2010 revenue).

You might wonder why I am taking the time to write a blog before the issue is out the door. It is because I am excited. I am excited that industry suppliers are showing growth since 2009. I am excited that new winners succeeded in new and old award categories, illustrating that the industry in general is growing. And I am excited that we are producing one of our largest issues to date.

July's magazine is a trove of the best-selling products from leading suppliers in the industry. The Supplier Excellence section provides you with ideas for programs in 43 different areas, and that is not even including our other sections. We have features on collegiate wear and awareness so you can get ready for the back-to-school rush and philanthropic season that is fall.

So please continue your celebration of America and freedom by showing your promotional product pride and poring over Promo Marketing's July issue. You'll be excited too.