Wicked knows about popular. After months of buildup, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the smash Broadway musical hit theaters across the United States on Nov. 22 in a pink and green cloud of movie merch and marketing buzz – to…
Category: Technology
Trump Tariffs: 5 Big Questions on How Promo Will Be Impacted
The incoming president has promised to raise tariffs across the board – compelling promo companies to consider adjustments to their sourcing and pricing strategies. And just like that, everyone is talking tariffs again. Import levies were one of the signature…
The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of Fidget Toys
At the height of the “pop fidget” craze of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 400,000 poppers were ordered– a fidget toy made with silicone bumps that can be pushed in and out like never-ending Bubble Wrap – for a national drugstore…
Our Favorite Eclipse Glasses from the Solar Eclipse
Those of us in the path of the “totality” got a pretty spectacular view of the solar eclipse— that is, of course, as long as we viewed it through special “eclipse glasses,” rather than staring directly into the sun. Eye…
Navigating the Chinese New Year in the Manufacturing Industry
As the 2023 U.S. holiday season rolls into full gear, it’s impossible not to also think about the 2024 Chinese New Year (CNY). Maybe it’s because the U.S. holidays are busy not only at work but personally as well, for…
Drake Projected Giant QR Codes at Concerts for Branded Merchandise Drops
If a marketing method is good enough for Drake, one of the most marketable and famous people on the planet, it’s good enough for any business or commercial entity. Drake is really hitting all of the sweet spots of modern-day…
Top 10 ESP Searches: End-Buyers Bullish on Events in Q1
The industry has left COVID behind. That’s according to just-released Q1 2023 ESP search data from ASI Research, which found that among the Top 10 search terms for the quarter, “lanyards,” a common event item, gained in frequency, while searches…
Survey: In Fact, People Love Promo Products
Turns out people do indeed dig promo products. A new survey from a Top 40 distributor, polled about 2,000 American consumers and found that 53% “love receiving promotional products,” while 76% share that their perception of a brand has changed…
Promo’s Strong 2022
The typical thinking is that when the broader economy suffers, so do sales in the promotional products industry. But that hasn’t been the case so far in 2022. Despite rampant inflation, gross domestic product declines and sagging consumer sentiment, the…
NFL Players Can’t Endorse Beer, So Patrick Mahomes Sold ‘Coors Light’ Flashlights (for a Good Cause)
As one of the biggest sports stars on the planet, Patrick Mahomes has all kinds of endorsement deals. But you won’t see the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback promoting beer. That’s because the NFL has (complicated) rules that (mostly) prevent active…