Proforma Kevin 1019

Professional Inspiration for Promotional Products Buyers

.PROMO

OCTOBER 2019

Featured Article:

Tariffs Take a Pause

Chicago White Socks Promo

Su m m er is Over

Produces Heartfelt Results for Cancer Survivor

But Sunscreen is Still Big

Athleisure Makes Sense for Fall/Winter People Wear Layers...Which Presents New Opportunities for Branding

It’s a wireless world Promote Your Brand on Devices Carried by Everyone

Laptop Backpacks Will Supercharge Your Promotions kevin.montecalvo@proforma.com www.proformainmotion.com 978-463-9200 x2003 207-324-0972

CONTACT YOUR PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTOR FOR QUOTES

Your Packaging

Should Be As Impressive As What’s In It.

ENOUGH P STRAWS TO WRAP A THE EARTH’S CIRCU 2.5 TIMES A DAY! US CONSUMPTION =

It’s Time We Start Taking Care of Mother Earth

Promote Your Company or Cause With Logoed Metal Straws

PLASTIC AROUND UMFERENCE

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Table of Contents October 2019

Featured Article:

Promo Bulletproof Backpacks

18

70

Tariffs Take a Pause The Promotional Products Industry Exhales with a Sigh of Temporary Relief

Summer is over But Sunscreen is STILL BIG

30 It’s a wireless world Promote Your Brand on Devices Carried by Everyone

35

Laptop Backpaks Will Supercharge Your Promotions

44

Chicago White Sox

Produce Heartful Results for Kid Cancer Survivor

48

Athleisure Makes Sense for Fall/Winter People Wear Layers...Which Presents New Opportunities for Branding

HOT SPORTS GRILLS

For more info visit: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html

SUMMER IS OVER

BUT SUNSCREEN IS STILL BIG It’s been widely reported that sunscreens in general contain chemicals that damage the environment, marine life and coral reefs.

That’s true and you have an opportunity to do something good about it.

Here’s the beef. It’s a fact that sunscreens do not stay on your skin, rather they end up in the environment after you swim, shower, and that enters our waterways.

Here are things to consider.

Promotional sunscreens come in many different qualities, varieties and styles…and some are made to be “environmentally safe” while others are not. Ask us, your Promotional Products Distributor, about the good ones. The “safe ones” don’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate which are the two chemicals most widely linked to coral reef damage.

But there’s additional news.

The trace compounds in sunscreens just might have a similar but lower effect. A chemist at the University of Cantabria in Spain, Rodriguez-Romero, wanted to find out how fast sunscreen releases metals into the seawater. Additionally, they sought to find out how this effects compounds in coastal waterways.

In this study researchers needed to determine the rate of dissipation of all the other chemicals used in making sun

screen. Here’s what they found…and it’s a big WOW. Based on the model they were able to construct, a typical day at the beach could cause the concentration of aluminum in coastal waters by four percent and titanium by 20 percent. This information was published in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology.

How serious is this issue? In Hawaii their legislature passed a law prohibiting ANY type of sunscreen that didn’t meet safe levels.

What does all of that say? It’s best to know what factories to buy sunscreens from and as your Promotional Products Distributor we’ll guide you, We have all sorts of price points.

Here’s a big factor in using sunscreens for promotions in the fall & winter. Both seasons still have sun powerful enough to cause skin ailments. Protecting your skin--and your client’s skin--is really a year round requirement. Just because people don’t sit in the sweltering summer sun doesn’t mean they stop wearing sunscreen. Most people still go outside in the winter, whether its to ski, snowmobile, to take walks, other outdoor activities and, of course there are lots of VACATIONS. Bad chemicals: Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Benzophenone-1 & 8, OD-PABA, 4 Methylbenzylidene camphor, 3 Benzylidene camphor, Nano-titanium dioxide, Nano-zinc oxide.

ITS

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STOCK SHAPES

LAPTOP BACKPACKS SUPER CHARGE YOUR PROMOTIONS There are so many different styles of backpacks you can buy promotionally. Every one has a unique design and purpose.

They come in a million colors with every strap and velcro positioned in a different way. (We even presented an overview of bulletproof backpacks in the September issue of IdentityEdge.Promo.)

funtionality. So for example if your clients are commuters you might consider their needs...places to hold pens, headphones, tablet, laptop, remote keyboard, extra batteries, phone charger and more.

But we’re reporting on a new promo craze and that’s accelerating like wildfire...laptop backpacks! Here’s the reason why.

First, let’s take a look at the market. Is there one college student we know that doesn’t have a laptop? None we can think of and some students carry multiple data devices. But that’s just one marketplace.

Business professionals, commuters and others carry laptop backpacks too. Briefcases, while cool and commonplace, are being given a run for their money against laptop backpacks. So what should you look for in terms of features?

Just about anything you can afford. There are so many different feature rich versions in the market today. First, filter by material and department. Materials include nylon, leather, canvas, and combinations of those materials. Department wise, choose between men’s, women’s or unisex.

Next, choose from the type of straps (padded or not), number of pockets, and

Although each person has their own criteria for what makes a perfect backpack, every bag we recommend holds a laptop and its power supply, remains comfortable to wear for an entire commute, and looks stylish. We have backpacks that are great for riding on tight subway cars or biking in downpours. For ultra-organized tech wranglers and for people who want a black hole. For the fashion-forward, who want something small and super stylish or leather and luxe. For road warriors who fly regularly, and for fitness-minded folks who bring their gym gear to work.

Bringing You the Best fo

or Over 25 Years

Stain Imaging

All Over Print

CHICAGO WHITE SO

OCKS PROMO DEPARTMENT Asks Youth Cancer Survior to Design T-Shirt What a great promo!

The White Socks choose a nine year old diehard fan and cancer survivor to design its promo t-shirt.

The story starts with Bradly Godish who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age four.

Great news: He’s healthy today at nine because his sister donated stem cells.

The shirt has a big meaning...Kopech is a pitcher and his number is 34...and the “K” is what they call a strike out on the score card in baseball. Then the gold ribbon is to note its related to cancer cures.

What a heartstring puller!

The White Soxs are not going to be in the penant this year but the connection between Bradly and Kopech stands as a great advertisement for diligence. Most people take their good health for granted, and that’s something Bradley will never do. He has persisted in seeking a full life and he loves having baseball as a key component.

Can you imagine how exceptional it must have felt for Bradley to design the shirt?

And also now he has Kopech as a friend for life. This story is all over twitter...

New Trend

Just before press time we saw this really great item and wanted to share it with you.

Imagine this: A sweatshirt that is reversible with two different materials and two different logos on each side.

How cool is that? It is.

The product is very well made. If there’s any product that deserves a special mention, it’s this one.

New Craze Reversable

Sweatshirts

ATHLE

ATHLEISURE PERFO

EISURE WINTER WEAR

ORMANCE WEAR FOR FALL & WINTER MAKES GREAT PROMO SENSE Just because the cold sets in doesn’t mean you should slow down on your promo wearables purchases in the athleisure world. Why? Athleisure wear is now worn year-round in everything from leggings, shirts and sweats. Style is everything. The cooler they look the more your logo will be seen.

And don’t worry, they are warm, comfortable and in general very fashionable.

Almost everybody layers their clothing when the cold weather comes. This gives you many branding opportunities you might have overlooked because you traditionally slow down on wearables purchases in the fall and winter.

Work out tops, leggings, shirts and sweats are particularly appreciated because people exercise year round. They make tons of ad impressions. What else?

There are dozens of wearables that fit into the fall and winter category. From lightweight coats, to scarves, ear warmers, gloves, hoodies & fleece. There’s even a version called monochrome...all grayish black that looks super high tech. These help you get the number of ad impressions up during the colder seasons.

Another great opportunity to get your logo winter exposure is for you to use winter-style hats. There are many versions including ones with very fashionably cool built-in flashlites on them! No kidding.

Great for shoveling snow...

Some final thoughts about fall/winter promos using wearables.

Think about this: There are really few heavy-duty outer winter wear garments used promotionally because of their high cost. You just don’t see a lot of overcoats with logos on them.

But why give up precious ad time you’ll lose by not being proactive in your buying of wearables for the cooler seasons?

People have to take off their coats some time during the day...why not grab hold of that ad time?

YOUR PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTOR

creative packaging beautifully designed

available through your promotional products distributor

A sigh of relief was felt all around the promo products industry when Trump pressed “pause” on increasing tariffs again on October 1, 2019.

The tarrifs have already totalled over $6.8 billion with a “B”; which is the burden placed on Americans in July. So far that’s the most in US history in a single month.

GREAT N TARIFF I

MANY PROM

In a recent tweet, the President pushed back the newly planned $250 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports from 25 to 30 percent until October 15th. This is a gesture of goodwill to the negotiations that will take place in mid-October. Its in exchange for the Chinese goverment’s choice to grant 16 US products a one year exemption from retaliatory tariffs.

come up with a solution and fast because tariffs wars have no winners and lots of losers. We understand that tariffs were meant to tamp down on Chinese theft of intellectural property and more...but all of our industry associations are releasing data on how harmful the tariffs are to promo products.

Tariffs increases hurt and cause great uncertainty for American employers that depend on imports. Companies can’t plan a business when its being affected tweet by tweet. The Administration needs to

Here’s some good news. Many promo products Suppliers are scrambling to find other countries to manufacture your goods...and relief is not far off in the future.

NEWS! TRUMP PAUSES NCREASE OCTOBER 1

MO ITEMS INCLUDED IN PAUSE