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#008 | 04.11.23
Newsletter #008
Good morning, PromoPepper readers! We have BIG NEWS:
We launched our new site over the weekend and want you to check it out and provide feedback. Click here to see our new site. We’re going to begin building something special over there and want you to be involved. We will keep you updated as things progress.
Today’s newsletter rundown:
Merch around the Internet
Deep Dive: Taylor Swift's Gone Bad
It’s a-me, a-Mario
Interview with Vincent from ASI
Promo Job Postings
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Crocs Takes Personalization to the Next Level with New Customization Capabilities
Brand launches digital program to customize bulk orders of Classic Clogs and Jibbitz™ Charms.
Learn more about how you can Customize Your Crocs by visiting crocs.com/custom-crocs.
Honor Earth Day With These Sustainable Swag Ideas
Why not take a moment to educate yourself about sustainability and consider how your company and its swag can be more eco-friendly?
Nod to the 60s: Gerald R. Ford International Airport launches online merch
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport kicked off its 60th-anniversary celebration with limited-edition merchandise.
Elton John’s UK tour merch includes $300 candles, $600 rugs, $2000 handbags
If you’re upset at having to pay 50 bucks for a Taylor Swift tour t-shirt, this will make you feel better: Some of Elton John‘s tour merchandise is going for more than $2,000 a pop.
Whataburger drops new merch collab with Academy's Magellan brand
Being the trendy fast food trailblazer that it is, Whataburger has gotten in on the merchandise fun with all kinds of collaborative drops, including James Avery charms and Yeti tumblers.
Wear your Whataburger on your sleeves!
SPOTTED: ShopDisney Launches May the 4th Star Wars Collection
This year’s collection for the fan holiday highlights the iconic Tatooine cantina, where you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy! The collection pays homage to the gallery of nefarious characters we see in the cantina throughout the Star Wars movies.
The Ultimate Deadhead Merch Gift Guide
The Deadhead fandom lives on, if not in an intergenerational obsession with the iconic rock band but in ongoing collaborations and products that celebrate their legacy.
Shop the Best King Charles Coronation Merch
To celebrate the coronation of King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, why not buy some merch? There are mugs, plates, t-shirts, and tea towels galore created to mark the historic coronation, and there are designs that range from traditional to modern.
Bobbie Expands into Lifestyle with Industry-First Merch Store as Mom-Founded Company Continues to Change the Cultural Conversation for Modern Parents
Bobbie Shoppie, the Merch Store is a Natural Extension of the Bobbie Mission to Shake the Stigma Around How We Feed Our Babies
Warner Brothers Celebrates its 100-Year Anniversary with a New Swag Collection
Wizard of Oz, DC superheroes, and the Looney Tunes feature in special centennial collections.
Tyler, the Creator Drops ‘Wolf’ Instrumentals and Merch to Celebrate Ten-Year Anniversary
To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of his second studio album Wolf, Tyler, the Creator has dropped new merch and the instrumentals for the record.
The Oddest Rick & Morty Merch & Tie-Ins
When a show comes along that grabs the attention of a viewing public and forms a cult fanbase, the inevitable wave of related products comes with it.
Wear the critters of New York City with new NYP Concrete Jungle merch
Pizza rat. Bodega cats. Too-friendly Central Park pigeons and squirrels. These are the creatures of New York City, living amongst the melting pot of people in the city that never sleeps.
Dubbed the Concrete Jungle Collection, the items include some new critter characters you need to meet.
If you follow us on Twitter, you might have seen one of our threads circulating late last week.
If you missed it, here’s the scoop:
Taylor Swift’s concert tour merch rollout has been a disaster, to put it frankly.
To start things off…at stops in Arizona and Texas, hundreds of people lined up for hours-long waits at the merch trucks before the start of the concert. Not great, but it happens. To combat this, her camp announced that on future stops, the merch truck would arrive early. Problem solved? Not quite.
The big issue was that the merch faded so much after one wash, Swift’s face was completely unrecognizable. After many complaints on social media, her team came out with the following message:
“This slight fade is related to the product’s distressed, vintage look. Please also note it is important to follow product care instructions as listed on the product label when washing and drying your items."
They also tried to claim that the fading effects were on purpose, and it was supposed to look “vintage".
But elsewhere, fans noticed other defects in their Eras Tour merch of the same design. Someone found several large stains on her shirt and then another fan found a straight line of holes near the bottom of her tee. Yikes.
@raighsunshine this is really unfortunate, and to everyone saying I should have pressed it on with parchment paper beforehand, why should we be the ones ... See more
@through_tylis_eyes if they had given me a refund i was just gonna buy a new shirt so this is a win! (i also am never wearing or washing the new one) 💅🏼 #swif... See more
Lush, the mall-centric British cosmetics retailer, teamed up with the Super Mario Bros. Movie marketing team to release a limited-edition line of branded products. Included are the Princess Peach Body Spray and Luigi/Mario Shower Gels!
Editor’s Note: This week, I interviewed Vincent Driscoll, Digital Content Director, of ASI. ASI stands for Advertising Specialty Institute.
Vincent has been really helpful with his feedback on PromoPepper so far and I was excited to share his thoughts on the industry below!
If you'd like to be interviewed for a future PromoPepper, reply to this email and we'll get you on the schedule.
What is ASI?
ASI is a leader in providing technology, information, education, advertising opportunities, trade shows, and events to the $25.8 billion promo industry.
What is your role at ASI?
I am the Digital Content Director at ASI, which means I oversee the production of news and information on our website as well as its distribution on our social media channels. I also host a podcast, called The Social Angle, which provides helpful tips and information for promo pros looking to gain an edge with social media.
What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on at ASI?
So many exciting projects, but I’d have to say that our Product Video Contest based on March Madness was my favorite. It generated a lot of buzz, engagement, and votes and lasted an entire month!
What do you love about the promo industry?
The people. I’ve spent time in several industries in my career, but none is more nurturing, collaborative, and genuine than the promo industry. Everyone seems willing to help their peers, even if they’re competitors, and I’ve heard the phrase “A rising tide lifts all boats” multiple times to describe the benefits that come with everyone’s success. A win for you is a win for me!
How do you think the promo industry evolves over the next 5 years?Immediacy. Cybersecurity. AR. AI. Those who embrace technology will move forward while those who shun it will fall behind.
How do people find you / what sales channels are most effective for you?
I can be found on Twitter at @asicentral and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vindriscoll/
Click on each link to see the application/job description page:
We have so much more to say but we're saving some for next time. Reply back with your comments and/or questions and we’ll utilize them for the next issue!
Have a great rest of your week,
J.