I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on you social networkers out there; it’s great to see the connections and creativity within the industry. Recent examples include:

>>Charley Johnson over at SnugZ started an education-based Facebook group called Promo35. At just about a month old, it’s already got more than 700 members – with no end in sight.

This group focuses on the next generation of promo product professionals, along with the back office people who most likely will never attend a trade show (nor do they receive a monthly educational publication such as Corporate Logo).

“I believe the more we can get the next generation involved, along with the back office people, the better,” Johnson says. “The more engaged employees are, the more they support their company. More support equals a stronger company – and stronger companies make for a stronger industry.”

>>On the product side, I’ve enjoyed watching the antics of Gold Bond’s X-One mug, also attracting its share of fans on Facebook. Not only are followers posting photos of their X-One mugs on the go, but the life and times of the little mug that could are also part of the landscape. If you think I’m kidding, check out the details of last week’s sinister mugnapping.

I’d say for an industry that thrives on creativity and word-of-mouth, these folks are right on the money with their efforts. Browse by and see what you think. Also, let me know which other industry-related Facebook (and Twitter or other) Web pages are grabbing your attention.

God bless,

Karen

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Coming soon to an NFL practice jersey near you ... corporate logos! That’s right, Timex is making every second count in its $35 million, 15-year deal with the New York Giants. Having their logo on the front of the players’ practice jerseys is just part of the negotiated advertising package.

This spring, NFL owners approved the addition of logos to practice jerseys, but game-day uniforms are still off limits (as of this moment). It’ll be interesting to see which teams – and sponsors – follow suit in the logo game.

God bless,

Karen

Source:

nydailynews.com: Giants approve corporate logo on practice jersey

If you’ve been in the industry any amount of time, you’ve probably become cynical about “new” products. After all, it’s a rarity that truly never-before-seen products actually emerge. And I’m not just talking about a new pen style or flavor of brownie – I’m talking bona fide attention-getters.

The “As Seen on TV” folks caught my eye with one, though – Swiggies. Have you seen them? “Invented as an alternative to fanny packs and having to carry water bottles while exercising,” these hands-free water “bottles” strap to your wrists, resembling an ambitious yet misplaced water wing/floatie. Granted, they’re both in the life-sustaining business, so to speak.

Believe it or not, the product’s inventor, Julie Austin, has sold more than 300,000 Swiggies in the last three years – and that doesn’t include the knock-offs other companies have peddled. An article from Inventors Digest chronicles Austin’s frustrations of finding unauthorized imitations of her U.S.-patented product for sale online (see link below). Of course, the industry’s legitimate promotional products suppliers encounter this form of infringement all the time.

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s illegal – and it puts distributors and their customers at risk for getting inferior products. If Austin is already having a battle over Swiggies, I can only imagine what Logomark goes through in a year.

God bless,

Karen

Source:

Inventors Digest: Imitation - the Sincerest Form of Forgery

I saw an article on the Chicago Tribune site in which CEO Nicole Loftus, a former employee at a distributorship, gloated about since breaking the traditional industry sales model. She founded brand agency Zorch International seven years ago and has done well for herself. Accolades include:

•Being named Chicago’s No. 1 fastest-growing company on Crain’s 2008 Fast 50 List (based on four-year revenue growth of just more than $45,000 – 2007 average revenue came in at $22.6 million)

•Earning “No. 1 women-led company” honors from Inc. magazine in 2008

•Serving as the exclusive promotional products source for several of the largest companies in the nation

•Ranking No. 8 on Inc. magazine’s 2008 “Inc. 500” list

•Coming in at No. 23 in the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2007 Top 50 fastest-growing women-owned/women-led privately-owned businesses in the United States and Canada

I’m sure Loftus is very talented and was able to gain ground thanks to her early years of training in the industry. And I imagine that being a woman-owned business has its advantages, let alone one that deals exclusively with Fortune 200 companies. It’s just unfortunate that her company model sheds a negative light on the traditional model – she claims to have “developed an innovative supply chain model that eliminates redundancy at the distributor level.” The company also boasts its international efforts provide “clients with warehousing and distribution in more than 120 countries.” Hm.

Breaking the chain is nothing new, but I tend to see more about it on the supplier side – particularly boasting these kinds of successful sales numbers. It’s great that the industry continues to thrive, despite this type of competition and the misinformed publicity it draws.

God bless,

Karen

Source:

chicagotribune.com: Technology helps firms take offerings to higher level, compete with larger rivals: Companies see growth by developing low-cost solutions for customers

Promotions East was held earlier this month in Atlantic City, N.J. The show has a rich history and is a staple for many in the region.

Late last year, the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York Inc. (SAAGNY) announced a four-year agreement to have Promo Marketing – and its parent company, North American Publishing Co. – conduct the sales and marketing program for the show. The new partnership replaces that of SAAGNY’s former three-year pairing with PPAI.

Industry veteran Don Sanders (sellpromoproducts.com) has attended the event the last eight years, and notes many changes have occurred, including the partnerships in show production. However, he is disappointed that none of the trade shows are changing their formats as the years go by. “There are so many things they could do to spice these events up,” he comments.

All in all, Sanders shares, the traffic was good and many suppliers expressed their satisfaction with the gathering. The organization reported attendance of nearly 3,600 distributors from 1,735 companies – up more than 16 percent from last year.

Were you at the show? What was your impression? What changes – if any – would you like to see from the industry’s trade shows?

Don Sanders with Vonco’s Jim Porto test out their new Rally Hawk and Rally Hair at Promotions East.

God bless,

Karen