Insights

With the presidential election just weeks away, many Americans feel dissatisfied with the economic state of their nation. For those in the business community, the outlook remains uncertain, and continuous slow growth only adds to the unease. And as Andrew D. Paparozzi, chief economist and senior vice president of Idealliance, Alexandria, Va., pointed out in our March State of the Industry report, when there’s uncertainty, fear isn’t far behind...

When Brian Burlace and Jon Brothers first met on the lacrosse field at the University of Maryland, they never expected their friendship to influence their business game. But that all changed when the former teammates went on to head two different companies with similar product and service offerings. As president of the Glen Burnie, Maryland-based distributorship Tray Inc...

In this fast-paced, connected business landscape, it can be challenging to stay on top of every internet trend and App Store addition. However, there’s one constant that should not be ignored: social media. According to We Are Social, there are currently 3.17 billion social media users, and according to Social Media Today, there are 1 million new mobile social users added every day...

With roots dating back to 1984, CE Printed Products, a trade-only envelope printer, has learned a few tricks along the way. But with success comes challenges. Like so many others, the Carol Stream, Illinois-based company has survived in an industry where hungry conglomerates, protracted economic growth and technology continue to threaten its livelihood. As a result of the new normal, competition has never been higher, so when obstacles show up in the day-to-day, it becomes even more crucial to succeed, and CE Printed Products knows that...

Let’s face it: Being mobile-centric is no longer a trend reserved for Millennials. (Case in point: Just yesterday, I received a text message from my 82-year-old grandma.) For businesses, this shift means mobile marketing no longer can take a backseat to a company’s workflow...

Coca-Cola, Dove, McDonald’s—what do these big-name brands have in common? They are the masters of feel-good marketing campaigns. From #MakeItHappy and #SpeakBeautiful to “Pay With Lovin’,” consumers watched these household names attempt to make the world a happier place throughout 2015. Money may have been the end-goal here, but the added perk of happiness positioned Coca-Cola, Dove and McDonald’s for greater engagement with their target markets, particularly the millennial demographic...

It’s an exciting time to occupy the print and promo space. Now driven by service-based approaches, the industry is filled with fresh ideas and, yes, cutting-edge solutions. At the forefront of this change is a group of young men and women—who are all younger than 40—with their own stories to tell. This month, Print+Promo is showcasing just a few of them. So, sit back with your beverage of choice as these rising stars explain why they love this industry, offer advice to newcomers and more...

On March 12, 2015, Standard Register Co. rocked the industry with some startling news: The Dayton, Ohio-based printing giant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy-court protection, with a $275 million buyout offer from existing lender Silver Point Capital L.P. The story took several surprising turns...

The decision to target a particular vertical market isn’t simple. Some have likened it to making a financial investment—if the timing is right, your efforts could reap significant benefits. On the other hand, if the market of choice is regulated or easily influenced by outside sources, your losses could be substantial. Because a single technology or product line doesn’t necessarily measure success in the supply-chain market, you might be wondering if it’s better to be everything to everyone. Broadening your focus across multiple markets might not pay off as big upfront, but it could be a safer investment in the end.

David Bowie penned a song about it, Ralph Lauren made a career out of it and, most importantly, your customers want more of it. We’re talking about fashion—a welcome addition to the $5.51 billion promotional apparel sector, where beefy tees once ruled. Interested in dressing up a little business of your own? Our sister publication, Promo Marketing (PM), has been hard at work reporting on this industry over the last year. From sizing demands to color trends, check out PM’s bargain bin of tips.