Genumark, Toronto, announced that it has acquired Rightsleeve to strengthen its position in the Canadian branded merchandise market. "Although both companies are based in Toronto, there is virtually no overlap in client accounts," said Mark Freed, president and CEO of...
Brendan Menapace
It seems like just yesterday we were scraping New Year’s Eve confetti off our shoes and checking the weather for snowstorms. But, thanks to time’s ability to fly, 2019 is almost over. And many distributors are deep in the throes of planning for their fourth quarter sales...
Staples Inc., Framingham, Mass., announced that it has named Matt Eckhouse head of Staples Promotional Products and Print as vice president and general manager. Eckhouse, who has been with the company since 2013, takes over for Rich Witaszak, who is no longer with the company. Eckhouse, a graduate of Harvard University with an MBA from…
If you came up to me and asked, “Brendan, I’m a print and promotional product distributor, and I’m looking to know more about the folders and brochures category of the industry. Can you give me some information about the benefits, applications and new developments in that sector?” I would look at you and...
It was a volatile weekend for the U.S. and China's economic relationship. On Friday, following China's announcement that it will retaliate with tariffs on about $75 billion in U.S. goods, President Trump said that the U.S. would impose an additional 5 percent on Chinese imports...
Every year, we look forward to combing through the Inc. 5000 list to see which of our friends in the promotional products industry made it among the esteemed ranks. This year, more than 60 companies related to promotional products made the list...
It's been a few weeks without news regarding the ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China. In a series of tweets yesterday, however, President Donald Trump reported that U.S. trade representatives returned from China talks with disappointing results, and that he would add a "small additional tariff of 10 percent" on $300 billion in Chinese imports, effective Sept. 1...
The Tokyo Olympics in 2020 are noteworthy for their addition of sports like skateboarding, but that’…
If you're not aware by now, there's a meme that's spread across the world about storming Area 51 to finally free the aliens that the U.S. government has supposedly been hiding from us for decades. It's a plan that's destined to fail, and if anyone tries...
Gennex Media LLC (aka Brandnex.com and PMGOA) pleaded guilty to price fixing in the promotional products industry. The company's president, Akil Kurji, was sentenced to eight months in custody, a $20,000 fine and three years of supervised...
Almost exactly one year ago, Amazon expanded its Merch by Amazon print-on-demand service with new items, like PopSockets, to go with the standard assortment of apparel offerings already available. Now, the company is quietly expanding its...
Acquisitions are finicky. When you’re on the buyer side, it’s almost like playing a game of poker, or like buying a used car. You don’t want to show all of your cards to the other players. You don’t want to let on exactly what you’re doing or hint at your next move...
Heritage Sportswear, Hebron, Ohio, announced in a recent email that it will close its doors after 37 years in business. The wholesale apparel supplier will undergo a complete inventory liquidation, and announced that it will drop prices in every category as part of the liquidation. Heritage Sportswear will offer T-shirts, fleece...
Days after the U.S. raised existing tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent, President Trump announced that an additional $300 billion in imports from China would soon be subject to 25 percent tariffs. That $500 billion total would represent virtually all...
President Trump announced yesterday that the U.S. will increase tariffs to 25 percent on $200 billion in Chinese imports, effective Friday. The tariff rate was originally 10 percent, but during trade talks at the end of 2018, Trump promised that the number could increase if the sides couldn't reach a deal by March 1. That deadline was extended once, but with the sides still unable to come to terms, it appears the long-threatened 25 percent rate will now go into effect...
