Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, said, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” Psychologists refer to this as the “helper’s high,” meaning those who spread joy mir...

Emotion and perceived quality shape the merch experience, and design, quality and usefulness determine whether a branded item becomes a treasured keepsake or ends up in the trash.Take a peek in the PPAI Research infographic below at what drives...

Cold calling has become complicated. Between long scripts and endless talking points, conversations don’t always feel authentic. The average cold call only lasts 2-6 minutes, which means reps don’t have time to sound robotic. The simpler and more na...

Grossman Marketing Group (PPAI 281988, Gold) has announced the acquisition of Larick Associates, a Port Washington, New York-based distributor with longstanding clientele in the education industry.Headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, Grossm...

Ball Pro (PPAI 112763, Gold) sits somewhere between catering to a specific clientele of end users and being at the edge of a rising trend in the branded merch industry. As the company has grown in recent years - it's seen a rise to No. 18 in the PPA...

Raising your rates isn’t just about numbers. It’s often a sign your business has grown or your workload has become more demanding. Maybe clients want faster turnarounds, or the economy is squeezing everything across the board. Either way, it makes s...

It's that time of year when branded merchandise companies begin releasing their environmental, social and governance or sustainability impact reports.These reports highlight merch firms’ corporate social responsibility achievements over the past...

PPAI kicked off its International Leadership Summit Monday in Brussel, Belgium. The tentpole event of PPAI’s global presence, ILS emphasizes the Association’s intent to expand its global voice, develop international alliances and support a more conn...

Working in branded merch means creativity is part of the job every day. The challenge usually isn’t coming up with ideas — it’s figuring out what to actually do with them. After a brainstorming session, it’s easy to lose momentum and forget all abou...