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Articles by Greg Muzzillo
What Are Commemorative Metal Tickets?
Whether your clients need the perfect memento for a special event or an incentive to celebrate an employee on a job well done, metal commemorative items from Wendell August Forge (asi/37457) are just the ticket. These metal tickets are made in the USA, durable and can be customized with a hand-hammered logo, or other custom designs that perfectly represent your client’s special project.
ASI Chicago 2025: Strategies To Influence People (in a Good Way)
Key Takeaways • Speaker Mimi Brown emphasized that effective persuasion isn’t about being pushy, but rather about building trust, showing respect and guiding people collaboratively. Influence should feel empowering, not forceful. • Brown debunked the myth that people make decisions based on facts. Instead, most decisions are emotionally driven and later justified with logic. Understanding this helps sales professionals connect more authentically with clients.
ASI Chicago 2025: Counselor’s Advisory Board Shares Growth Strategies
Key Takeaways • Targeting high-value clients like Fortune 500 companies requires mastering the RFP process and tailoring communication to specific industries. Building strong relationships is crucial — clients want solutions, not just products. • Embracing AI and integrated tech stacks (like ERP and CRM systems) can significantly streamline operations. Prioritizing infrastructure and automation help scale without overwhelming teams.
Goldstar Announces Two Leadership Appointments
Key Takeaways • Goldstar (asi/73295) has appointed Alina Rubinshteyn as vice president of North American sales and Charles G. Duggan II as vice president of business development, signaling a strategic focus on expanding both domestic and global market opportunities. • These leadership changes align with Goldstar’s broader 2025 vision, which includes a refreshed brand identity and a commitment to innovation, growth and strengthening distributor relationships worldwide.
Avoiding the 'CEO Slide'
Entrepreneurial CEOs share some common traits. Among them are a bias for action and an ability and willingness to tackle problems quickly and effectively. So far, so good. However, there comes a time when this inclination can work against the growth and development of the enterprise. As the business grows, the organization takes on senior level executives, managers, and supervisors.
Overture Promotions Names Tej Shah CEO, Succeeding Jo Gilley
Key Takeaways • NEW CEO: Counselor Top 40 distributor Overture Promotions (asi/288473) has appointed Tej Shah chief executive officer. • Background: Shah has ample promo experience, having been part of Overture’s leadership team for about 15 years, the firm said. • Succession: Shah takes over the CEO role from Jo Gilley, a Counselor Power 50 member. Overture Promotions (asi/288473), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has named industry veteran Tej Shah chief executive officer.
Trump Issues Executive Order Delaying Reciprocal Tariffs to August 1
Key Takeaways • New Enforcement Date: President Trump has extended the deadline for implementing reciprocal tariffs from July 9 to August 1, giving countries more time to negotiate trade deals. • Adjusted Rates: The U.S. has issued updated reciprocal tariff rates to several countries, with some rates lowered (notably for Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar) and others increased (such as Japan and Malaysia).
From SEO to GEO - How Search is Changing for the Print Industry
There was a time when SEO was simple. In the 1990s, ranking on search engines required little more than stuffing keywords onto a page, building a few backlinks, and waiting for Google to take notice. People searched in simple ways, “flyer printing,” “local print shop,” or “business cards,” and search engines matched those queries with static, keyword-heavy content. That era is long gone! Search behavior has become significantly more sophisticated. Users now expect context-aware results.
7 Tips for Using Direct-to-Object Printing to Decorate Candle Holders
Long associated with holidays, home decor, wellness routines, and gifting, scented candles are a fast-growing market; one that is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% from 2024 to 2025 globally. The USA accounts for over a quarter of the global scented candle market, with many of the best-known scented candle brands globally having originated right here. The most popular candle format in the U.S. is the container-based or jar-based candle, which accounted for more than 58% of the market in 2023.
Consumer Research: Gender
ASI Research has spent the last few months exploring the promo preferences of end-buyers of varying industries, ages, regions and other demographics. Now, we’re taking a closer look at consumers: the final recipient of the promo items end-buyers purchase, and ultimately who companies giving out promo want to impress with unique, high-quality branded apparel and hard goods. Read the entries in our 2025 end-buyer research series.
Labubu-nomics & the Blind Box Boom: How the Viral Trend Could Be a Promo Opportunity
Key Takeaways • Blind Box Boom: Pop Mart has seen a surge in popularity and revenue due to the viral success of its Labubu dolls, which are sold in mystery blind boxes and have become status symbols and collectibles. • Psychology Play: The appeal of blind boxes lies in variable ratio reinforcement – a psychological reward system similar to gambling – which keeps consumers engaged and drives repeat purchases.
Make Good Habits Good Fun
We all know that good motivation gets us going, but it’s good habits that keep us going. Over the last two years I have become very focused on my health and fitness. My motivation was when I saw a picture of myself that shocked me. I was very overweight, and that picture was good motivation for me to start losing weight and building a fit body. I have done well. I am down 75 pounds and proud of the way I look when I see a picture of myself. With 10 pounds to go, I am determined to get there.
Where to Aim When You Can't Spend a Dime
As another fiscal year winds down for some printers, many are facing the same reality: rising costs, tighter budgets, and no new equipment on the horizon. You’re not alone. Many print shops are scraping by with what they have – and still producing award-winning, mission-critical work. So how do you set meaningful goals for FY26 when there’s no money to spend? You aim where dollars don’t matter: your people, your processes, your purpose.
HALO Releases Annual ESG Report
Key Takeaways • Emissions Progress: Counselor Top 40 distributor HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000) released its latest ESG report, noting that it’s on track to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative and benchmarked from a 2019 baseline. • Sustainable Products: The distributor recently launched the Conscious Choices catalog, offering carbon-offset certified products using an ISO-certified methodology.
Keep US Posted Urges Incoming Postmaster General David Steiner to Pause July Postage Rate Hike Taking Effect the Day Before He Begins
Keep US Posted, a nonprofit advocacy group of consumers, nonprofits, newspapers, greeting card publishers, magazines, catalogs, forestry and recycling interests, and small businesses dedicated to promoting the value of postal mail and protecting the long-term health of the U.S. Postal Service, sent an open letter urging incoming Postmaster General David Steiner to assess outgoing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s failed “Delivering for America” Plan.
How to Find the Right Prospects With Direct Mail
Finding the right prospects is the fastest way to gain new customers and one of the most critical elements in a successful direct mail campaign. In today’s data-rich marketing environment, audience targeting has become more precise and more powerful. One of the most effective methods? List profiling. List profiling involves analyzing your current customer base to identify patterns and characteristics, then using those insights to find similar prospects.
Is Production Inkjet Finally Within Reach?
For years, production inkjet printing has been seen as a powerful yet out-of-reach technology for many small and mid-sized print providers. High equipment costs, large footprints, and the belief that inkjet was only viable for high-volume operations created significant barriers to entry. But a recent report from NAPCO Research, “Inkjet for All! How the TASKalfa Pro 15000c is Breaking Entry Barriers to Production Inkjet Adoption,” suggests that these dynamics are starting to shift.
Promo Insiders: Totes, Tumblers, Tiny Turtles & Other Swag Gen Z Loves
Gen Z is becoming increasingly savvy about branded merchandise, and they’re more than willing to give what they deem “throwaway swag” a miss. But that doesn’t mean they turn up their nose at free stuff. Instead, college students and others in the younger generation are looking for functional pieces that fit their lifestyles, as well as aesthetically pleasing promo that tells a brand story with creativity and perhaps a dash of cuteness. One surprising hit among zoomers? Live plants.
Universal Unilink Acquires Print-Focused Organization IBSA
Key Takeaways • New Market Opportunities: Promo purchasing association Universal Unilink (asi/526000) has acquired the print-focused International Business Systems Alliance (IBSA), giving the organization access to IBSA’s healthcare print contracts and group purchasing operation relationships. • Promo Expansion: IBSA members will now also benefit from Unilink’s expertise in promotional products and its supplier network. Two print and promo member organizations are joining forces.
Perfect Print Technologies for POD Projects
Print-on-demand (POD) is seeing explosive growth, driven by easy-to-use e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, and TikTok Shop. As more and more customers want personalized and unique items in small quantities, POD makes offering these products possible. Since POD allows businesses to decorate products only when orders come in, there is no need for bulk inventory or large upfront investments.
Future-Proofing Customer Communications: Navigating Data, Personalization & AI
The marketing and communications landscape has transformed dramatically over the past decade. Today’s consumers – whether at home or on the go – are bombarded with messaging across countless channels. For print providers, the challenge is clear: how do you cut through the noise and stay relevant? That question took center stage during the recent webinar, “Future-Proofing Customer Communications,” hosted by Printing Impressions and In-plant Impressions – two PRINTING United Alliance brands.
Looking Ahead to PRINTING United Expo 2025
If 2025 is any indication of the economic conditions to unfold, one thing is certain: The most successful label and package manufacturers will be those that build agility into their business models. When PRINTING United Expo returns to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, on Oct.
Local Businesses Give Out Promo at Pride Celebration in Philly Suburbs
Key Takeaways • Community Celebration: Over 100 vendors and 800 to 1,000 attendees gathered at the Abington Art Center in suburban Philadelphia to mark the end of Pride Month with giveaways, performances and community engagement. • Inclusive Messaging: Organizations like IKEA, Flow Wellness Center and Moment Counseling Center distributed Pride-themed promo products, including tote bags, fans, stickers and keychains.
World Emblem To Open Larger Factory in Houston, Bringing Up to 150 Jobs
Key Takeaways • Factory Expansion: World Emblem (asi/98264) is opening a 72,000-square-foot facility in Houston, growing its manufacturing footprint in the city and reshoring 50 jobs from China with plans to add up to 100 more to meet growing U.S. demand. • Reshoring Strategy: The move will help World Emblem reduce tariff costs, improve supply chain efficiency and also enhance ability to provide same-day production and delivery, according to CEO Randy Carr.
The Rise of the 'Dark Funnel' – Why Showing Up Matters - Print & Promo Marketing
Here’s what I’ve learned after decades of selling: Your customers aren’t progressing in an orderly manner through a carefully crafted sales funnel. They don’t moving predictably from awareness to consideration to purchase, as we were taught in Marketing 101. The harsh reality? Most early decision-making for your leads doesn’t involve you at all, which is why selling often feels like you are screaming into the void.
Apparelist Live! Apparel Decorating Tips for Beginners
For anyone new to apparel decorating, it can be difficult to determine where to start. Everything from what kind of equipment to invest in, to putting together a business and marketing plan, and everything in between, must be evaluated. There are plenty of decisions that also must be made once a business if off and running. To help answers many of the questions that beginner apparel decorators have, four seasoned decorators took to the Apparelist Live! Theatre stage at PRINTING United Expo 2024.
Translate Gen Z’s Love of ‘Grandma-Core’ Hobbies Into Promo
Key Takeaways • “Grandma-core”: Gen Z is increasingly embracing offline crafting hobbies like crocheting, embroidery and scrapbooking to unplug from digital life. • Promo Opportunity: Craft-themed events and giveaways such as “Stitch & Shop” pop-ups or campus scrapbooking stations could be effective opportunities to engage younger audiences with creative branded items. Knitting. Crocheting. Embroidery.
Consumer Research: Generations
ASI Research has spent the last three months exploring the promo preferences of end-buyers of varying industries, ages, regions and other demographics. End-buyers are, after all, the people distributors work with most closely, making their values and opinions vital to the sales process – but they’re not the final step in the promo supply chain.
Tabletop UV Printers and Your Wide-Format Business
Why small UV printers make sense for wide-format shops, plus a glimpse at what’s on the market. Print service providers (PSPs) are always looking for new ways to innovate and increase their value to customers, which in turn helps boost their own bottom lines. Sometimes, this comes in the form of investing in new equipment to broaden capabilities. There may come a time when you think you’ve maxed out on equipment — that you have no more space, money, or time to train staff on something else.
DHL Express Canada Reaches Tentative Agreement With Workers Union
Key Takeaways • Tentative Agreement Reached: DHL Express Canada and Unifor have reached a tentative agreement after a prolonged labour dispute involving over 2,100 workers. Despite this progress, operations remain suspended and workers are still on strike until the deal is ratified. • Industry-Wide Impact: The strike has disrupted logistics for many companies, prompting a shift to other services like FedEx for deliveries.
How To Create the Ultimate Print-on-Demand Experience for Customers
When someone asks me what I do, I no longer say I’m a printer or in printing tech or even in print-on-demand (POD). I tell them M.i.A Merchandise is a fulfillment solutions provider, which sounds like an opaque answer; however, in reality, I think it’s what we all do. It’s time to elevate our collective status and our offering to customers. M.i.A started manufacturing on-demand surfboards in Australia, taking CAD onto the web (and later got our break on Shark Tank).
Brian Urlacher Previews ASI Show Chicago Keynote With Talk on Grit & Overcoming Obstacles
Brian Urlacher was blessed with physical gifts – size, strength, speed. Still, it was his rock-solid character and mental toughness that transformed him from a talented young player into a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker – and one of the most beloved Chicago Bears of all time. In this Promo Insiders podcast with ASI Media’s Christopher Ruvo, Urlacher shares sharp insights into the outlook and strategic approach that made him a bona fide NFL legend.
Study: Plastic Bag Bans Are Working To Reduce Litter
Key Takeaways • Policy Impact: A new study in the journal Science found that plastic bag bans and fees have led to a 25% to 47% reduction in shoreline plastic bag litter. • Ongoing Challenge: Despite improvements, plastic bags still make up a growing share of shoreline litter overall. • Promo Opportunity: Timed with the onset of Plastic Free July, promo products distributors can offer clients high-quality totes and other reusable items to replace single-use plastics.
Seattle’s ‘Birthplace of Grunge’ Brings Screen Printing In-House To Meet Merchandise Demand
Key Takeaways • Strategic In-House Merchandising: Central Saloon, known as the “birthplace of grunge,” brought its T-shirt printing operation in-house using professional screen-printing equipment, allowing for greater control over branding and inventory. • Significant Revenue Growth: Since managing its own merchandise production, the bar increased monthly T-shirt sales from $2,000 to over $10,000 by aligning production with local events and tourist demand.
Chocolate Chocolate Names Justin Walford President & CEO
Key Takeaways • Leadership Transition: Justin Walford has become president and CEO of Chocolate Chocolate (asi/44897), succeeding Ken Strong, who retired after 18 years but remains as adviser and board member. • Strategic Focus: The company said Walford’s appointment marks a renewed commitment to the promotional products industry. • Experienced Leadership: Walford brings over 20 years of executive experience and an Oxford EMBA to help drive growth and innovation.
ASI Research Exclusive: European Distributors’ Annual Sales Rise in 2024, Topping $14.24B
Key Takeaways • Modest Growth Despite Challenges: European promo distributors’ sales rose 1.22% to about $14.24B, mirroring North American industry growth trends, despite downturns in major markets like Germany and France. • On the Up: European growth was driven, in part, by Spain, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. • Sustainability & Quality: Clients are increasingly favoring high-quality, eco-friendly and, in cases, locally made items over low-value, bulk products.
Companies Hand Out Promo to the Thousands of Attendees at Philadelphia’s Juneteenth Event
Key Takeaways • Cultural Celebration: The Juneteenth event in Philadelphia featured a parade, live music and community activities to honor the end of slavery in the U.S., drawing thousands to Malcolm X Park for a day of remembrance and celebration. • Promo Outreach: Companies like NRG Energy, T-Mobile and PSA Airlines distributed branded items such as blankets, shirts, swag bags and travel pouches to engage attendees and promote their services during the celebration.
Koozie Group Pens Are One of the Products in the Running for Florida Competition
Key Takeaways • Statewide Recognition: Koozie Group (asi/40480) has entered its digital widebody message pens (DCWBUMS) into the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s “Coolest Thing Made in Florida” competition. • Domestic Manufacturing: The supplier’s entry highlights the fact that it manufactures 40 of its writing instruments in-state. A pen collection from the Clearwater, FL-based Koozie Group (asi/40480) could be named the “Coolest Thing Made in Florida” by the state’s Chamber of Commerce.
How to Sell More Print Without Selling
If you’re in sales, you’ve heard this before: The best way to sell is by not selling at all. When it comes to the print industry, this holds true as well. But for those not familiar with it, this can sound counterintuitive. Or, it may simply spark the question, “How do you actually do that?” I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to sell, without directly selling, is by using targeted lead generation strategies.
Children's Book Made from Recycled Coffee Cups Brings Sustainability to Storytime
A charming new children’s book is turning pages – and heads – in the publishing world. Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise, the debut title from author and sustainability advocate Hayley Slack, is a children’s book to be printed on paper made from recycled coffee cups. Blending imagination with innovation, this heartwarming tale introduces young readers to Little Coffee Cup, a spirited character who leaves the comfort of a café to discover the big, wide world.
Chain Stitch Embroidery Reflects Rising Demand for Retro, Vintage Products
Key Takeaways • Retro Appeal: Chain stitch embroidery is gaining popularity due to its textured, handsewn look that complements the rising demand for vintage and retro fashion. • Sustainable Trend: The technique is frequently used on repurposed vintage apparel, aligning with the growing interest in upcycling and sustainable fashion practices.
Decorating Roundup: Culture Studio Introduces Curated Line of Apparel Blanks
Key Takeaways • Product Launch: Culture Studio (asi/532911) has launched COLLECXION, a customizable apparel line offering core styles and private label services for creators and brands. • Training Event: Stahls’ (asi/88984) and Lane Seven Apparel (asi/66246) will host Heat Press Pro Day on July 17 to provide hands-on heat printing training and business growth strategies.
Explore ASI Research’s Full Set of 2025 End-Buyer Data
Over the past three months, ASI Research has explored exclusive data on promotional products end-buyers, breaking down several new industry markets and demographic data by age, region and more. Each week, we released a new infographic that highlights a given segment and offers insight into their habits and priorities when buying promo. Read the previous entries in our End-Buyer research series.
A Comprehensive Guide To Pricing Screen-Printing Jobs for Decorators
Setting the right price for screen-printing jobs is crucial for the success of any apparel decorator. Determining the right balance between covering costs, ensuring profitability and offering competitive pricing requires balancing various factors. While every shop has operating costs, those can differ depending on your locale. For instance, prevailing wages and rent for someone in St. Louis, MI, differs greatly from a shop in Los Angeles.
Does Oasis Reunion Tour Merch Have Takeaways for Promo Pros? Definitely Maybe
Key Takeaways • Oasis Reunion Sparks Merch Boom: The Gallagher brothers have reunited for a 41-date tour, igniting massive excitement and demand for the band’s new branded merchandise. • Soccer Style Meets ‘90s Nostalgia: Oasis’ collaboration with Adidas exudes vintage Euro-sporty fashion, tapping into retro trends perfect for modern promo campaigns.
Industry Outlook Slowly Rebounds Even as May Sales Sluggish
Key Takeaways • Tariff Uncertainty Impacts Sales: Despite a temporary pause in tariffs and some legal clarity, year-over-year sales in May were slow or stagnant for most promo suppliers and distributors. • Confidence Rebounds Slightly: The Counselor Confidence Index rose in May, with suppliers showing increased optimism for 2025 sales. Concerns about tariffs, while still high, dropped compared to the previous month.
Key Vertical Trends for 2025
While trends impacting the print and graphics industry as a whole is often discussed, it would be a mistake to discount the trends that impact the sector on a more granular, segment-level basis. With that in mind, five executives weigh in some of the top vertical spaces print service providers (PSPs) serve today, sharing what the trends are right now — and what they expect the next year to look like.
Best in Branding: Promo Lessons From a Viral Hot Pink Tote Bag
The majority of promo campaigns are for companies to show a little extra appreciation to their employees with branded merch or to attract new customers with a giveaway at an event – but when a brand goes above and beyond with creative products, clever design or something that’s just plain funny, they deserve an extra little bit of recognition. Welcome to Best in Branding, a new series from ASI Media that spotlights merch initiatives that have made a real impact.
Hot Ideas To Heat Up Summer Promo Sales
The summer months usher in a season full of outdoor events and bustling vacation spots, with promotional products often playing a starring role.
Discounts: Are They Good or Bad for Your Apparel Decorating Business?
Join Apparelist podcast host Cassie Green as she sits down with Jesse Poteet of Startup Screen Printing. They discuss Jesse’s journey into the screen printing industry, starting from his initial work as a graphic designer. Jesse shares insights on the pitfalls and benefits of offering discounts in the decorated apparel business. The conversation explores how discounts can create customer value but also how they can be detrimental if overused.
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