Tag Archives: USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

Why I Feel Sorry for the Kardashians

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Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you have to admit that the Kardashian clan is a media, marketing and merchandising powerhouse. So brand extensions are a natural fit… until an disaster erupts like the recent Kardashian sweatshop scandal with allegations about the use of sweatshop and child labor to produce some of their branded product lines.

Haven’t we heard this story before with brands and celebs such as Nike and Kathie Lee Gifford? Same story, different day.

Here’s the problem… and why I feel sorry for the K-clan. If you’ve done any reading on foreign labor issues in the apparel industry, you’ll soon learn that it’s an absolute muddy mess. The factory that you may have contracted with may also have contracted with a not-so-up-and-up inspector to cover up unacceptable labor practices. Want an in-depth look at the global apparel markets and manufacturing that will just blow your mind? Check out this book…

The labor practices that the United States and other fair trade countries take for granted are just not the norm outside our borders.

While I don’t know their situation, I would be willing to bet that the Kardashians have an army of advisors working for them on marketing, merchandising, public relations and legal issues. It is unlikely that Kim, her mom, and stylin’ sisters personally inked deals with these less than honorable foreign companies and “bad people.” While I am for fair trade, I am also for fair reporting and fair dealing. The investigation into these allegations is now going on. And until all of these allegations can be confirmed, I will cut the family some slack and abide by another cherished value in our country: innocent until proven guilty. As well, I’m sure their advisory army will have some explaining to do.

I had to chuckle at the statement from one of the labor groups mentioned in the articles that said the Kardashians were making their products in China to make more profit… yep, them and the world’s large multinational corporations. Just to give you an idea of how much is produced in Asia and other low labor cost regions, let’s look at the promotional product industry as an example. My scan of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) product database, one of the promo industry’s largest, revealed that only about 10% of all products were identified as made in the USA. Only 10%! (With that limited selection, you can see why we opened up the USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com to accommodate our clients who demand USA made.)

SWAG How to Choose and Use Promotional Products for Marketing Your Business by Heidi ThorneWith so many contributors to most supply chains, the possibility of a dishonorable link anywhere along the line is a reality. So what should our friends the Kardashians do to help assure that this doesn’t happen again… and what can YOU do to protect your brand from an incident like this with your promotional products? First, I would suggest sticking with made in the USA products. And while the following article was written primarily for nonprofit groups, the suggestions apply to any company or organization that wants to live true to its values.

On a related note, things are changing in the China labor arena. According to a Wearables magazine article (November/December 2011) on “Rethinking Sourcing,” Chinese workers are striking for better wages and leaving the factories for better jobs. Hmm… looks like they’ve got the collective bargaining bug.

Got some advice for the K-fam or for fellow marketers on sourcing issues? Share with us in Comments below.

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The Gift You Can Send for Less than 50 Cents in Shipping

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Promotional Music Download Cards from USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

Shipping can be a significant expense for any promotional product order… especially for holiday gifts. So what if I told you there’s a gift that you could ship to your customers for less than $0.50 in freight? Here it is: Promotional download cards slipped in with your regular holiday greetings.

And you don’t have to just give music downloads. You can give ringtones, DVD movies, phone minutes, dining coupons… even pizza. The real beauty of download cards is that they offer something that people can really use.

How to Print QR Codes on Promotional Products by Heidi ThorneMarketers naturally lean towards using download cards for younger generations. It’s a natural fit for techno-savvy Generation Y. But other customer groups could also appreciate some freebies. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Family Movie Night – Give your family-oriented customers a stay-at-home fun night with a free DVD movie card and a card for a pizza coupon.
  • One for the Road – Have a market that travels a lot? Sending a dining card could help defray a bit of expense along the way.
  • Charitable Giving – With tough economic times, many are facing financial troubles and look to organizations that provide assistance. Donate free phone minutes cards to your local community support charity to distribute to those who may be struggling with phone bills. You could also use any of the download cards as a fundraising tool.

With their light weight and versatility, download cards are a cost-effective and effective promotion any time of year.

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Hurricane Irene Service Update for Promotional Products Orders

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What a wild weekend for our friends on the East Coast! We wish everyone who was affected by Hurricane Irene safety and relief in the days ahead.

While we are in the Chicago area and have been having gorgeous weather over the past week, some of our key suppliers in the Northeast may have power outages and transportation issues during recovery efforts. Primarily, a couple of our key suppliers for USA and union made and imprinted products are in the New York area. So you may need to allow additional time for production and shipping for your orders in the next couple of weeks ahead. If you have a critical order for September, we suggest ordering as soon as possible so that we can get your order into the queue for when operations return to normal.

Even for those suppliers who are not on the coast, we may be experiencing shipping delays while the major carriers such as UPS and FedEx deal with backlog and re-routing issues.

Adding to the situation is the fact that we have the Labor Day holiday weekend coming up. So most, if not all, plants will be closed on Monday, September 5. Add at least one extra day to your production time to allow for the holiday.

If you have any particular concerns about your order, please click here to contact us.

Take care everyone!

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Lots of Made in USA Products Featured at ASI Show Chicago 2011

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Heidi Thorne at ASI Show Chicago 2011I love going to the ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) Show in Chicago every summer at McCormick Place. It’s the ramp up to the fall and holiday buying season with the launch of some new products. And it’s always great to chat with my supplier partner friends.

I was really impressed at the number of selections made in the United States that were on display this year. In fact, there was a special showcase of USA made promotional products at the show’s entrance. Here’s just a few of the exciting offerings I found…

Soy Lip Balms. For those who are concerned about using petroleum-based personal care products, we now can offer soy and beeswax based lip balms. Several packaging options are available including standard tubes, tins, and a cute little soda can shape. Plus, the soy lip balms we feature are Made in the USA.

USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com Super Value USA Made Promotional ProductsSuperheroes, Super Value. Who says superheroes don’t exist? I found one at the ASI Show Chicago! “MegaMan” is from a supplier that really can be a superhero for both distributors and their clients. A huge segment of their product offerings are Made in the USA. They get superhero points from me for that alone. But they also help save the world with items that are more environmentally conscious. With a couple exceptions (the solid stadium cups and straws/lids), their plastic items that we feature on the USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com contain a formula which helps them biodegrade to make them landfill friendly. And for those who are trying to save green, these selections are reasonably priced and have unheard of mini minimums, some as few as 25 pieces. Yes, 25 pieces! So for that little event you have where you need some giveaways, our Super Values collection to the rescue! Look for the Super Value! button as shown at the right and click to see all available products in the collection.

Libbey Promotional Glassware from USAandUnionMadePromoShop.comLibbey® Glass. Yes, it’s the glassware brand you recognize from retail. Did you know it is Made in the USA? So for that event or holiday party where you want to give a keepsake, check out this collection of promotional stemware, steins, beverage glasses and mugs. And since these selections are from our Super Value offerings, you’ll also enjoy the low minimums, budget-friendly pricing and short 5-day in-factory production time, too.

JournalBooks® Journals, Diaries and Planners. Looking for a totally original notepad to distribute at your next conference or seminar? JournalBooks® brand journals, diaries and planners are it! Talk about options… die-cut windows on the cover, custom printed insert pages, textures, metallic covers, the list goes on. And they’re made to order right here in the USA. But you really have to see some of them to see why they’re so special. So I made a quick video showing some samples…

BioAd® Wheat Straw Desk Items. We’re proud to include several BioAd® biodegradable drinkware, houseware and desk products on both our PromoWithPurposeShop.com and USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com shopsites. When exposed to landfill or compost conditions, the BioAd® plastic is designed to safely degrade within a few years. New this year are items which contain wheat straw in the plastic. A very back-to-nature look. Available for letter openers and rulers. And they’re Made in the USA.

Of course, one of the highlights from the show was the opportunity to hear “Da Coach” Mike Ditka of the 1985 Chicago Super Bowl Bears for the Thursday keynote. Definitely a Made in the USA original. What a treat!

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Heidi Thorne to Speak on Social Media at PAMCANI Education Event

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Promotional products marketing expert Heidi Thorne, Thorne Communications, will be speaking at the PAMCANI (Plumbing And Mechanical Contractors Authority of Northern Illinois) “Get Together” education event for affiliated contractors, associate members and guests in July 2011. Heidi’s presentation, titled Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Social Media (But Were Afraid to Ask Your Teenager) will be an overview of the major social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Getting started strategies will also be discussed.

PAMCANI is comprised of industry professionals dedicated to providing the safest and highest quality plumbing, heating and cooling services available in Northern Illinois. Members employ trained and licensed journeymen plumbers, pipefitters and mechanical contractors belonging to the United Association Local 93 (Lake and McHenry Counties) and Local 501 (DuPage, DeKalb, Kane and Kendall Counties). These contractors work throughout Northern Illinois.

Members of the Authority are committed to the promotion, advancement, education and training of the industry for the protection of our environment and the health, safety and comfort of society. Another main goal of the Authority is to provide support for the community by helping to locate and hire licensed plumbing and mechanical contractors for residential, commercial and industrial new construction, remodeling and service. For more information on PAMCANI and its programs, visit their website at www.pamcani.org.

Thorne Communications is a promotional products marketing company operating multiple online shopsites including: PromoWithPurposeShop.com, USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com, and GiftsImprinted.com. The company also offers mobile text message marketing services through PWPMobile.com. Heidi Thorne is editor and founder of the PromoWithPurposeToday.com blog which discusses purposeful strategies for using promotional products, primarily for events, tradeshows, and branding.

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Heidi Thorne and USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com Featured in Fox Valley Labor News

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Promotional products marketing expert Heidi Thorne and her company, Thorne Communications, were featured in the June 23, 2011 issue of the Fox Valley Labor News in an article titled, “Company helps you find US and union made goods.” The feature discussed her company’s commitment to American workers through their USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com shopsite. The shopsite only sells goods that are, at minimum, USA made, with many items also made in union factories.

“We were certainly honored to be included in this publication,” says Heidi. “Union made American goods are becoming tougher and tougher to source. And with one of our company’s core values being support of the local community, we want to make it easy for our customers to stay true to their own community values in how their market themselves. That’s why we launched this dedicated, one-stop shopsite for promotional items made in the USA.”

The USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com shopsite categorizes products by their union-made status: USA made (non-union); USA made (non-union), Union Imprinted; and, USA & Union Made & Imprinted. A union bug is a available on request for USA made (non-union), Union Imprinted and USA & Union Made & Imprinted items.

Click Here to Read the Fox Valley Labor News Feature Online

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Promotional Sunscreen | New FDA Labeling Requirements

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Made in the USA sunscreen from USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

Keep sun protection handy with this Made in the USA sunscreen on a carabiner from USA and Union Made Promo Shop.com

Though I’ve never had skin cancer, I have had actinic keratosis which is a pre-cancerous skin condition from sun damage… just like my dad, although his was pretty severe. It typically affects light-skinned folks. Treatments are not that bad, but it is a long process (over several weeks or months) if you do the light therapy option which may need repeating. You can imagine I’m slathering on the sunblock during the summer to avoid wasting my life at the dermatologist.

So if I can get some sunscreen for free, all the better. I know I’m not alone. Many of your clients may be similarly appreciative, making promotional sunscreen a great giveaway for golf outings, running events, and other outdoor activities during the summer.

SWAG How to Choose and Use Promotional Products for Marketing Your Business by Heidi ThornePreviously, all we cared about was the SPF factor, the higher the better (although after about SPF 50, it doesn’t provide much additional protection). There are two types of rays that can cause damage: UVA and UVB (Click here for great information from the Skin Cancer Institute on the issue). Really, SPF is more concerned with the UVB side of the equation. It’s the UVA rays that are more tricky since they penetrate clouds and glass, are more prevalent, and penetrate skin more deeply . So you need protection from both. Sunscreens that protect from both are called multi-spectrum, UVA/UVB protection, or broad spectrum.

Beginning in summer of 2012, the FDA will be changing their sunscreen labeling rules that have been in effect for over 33 years (yow!). Here’s a summary of key changes:

Click Here to Watch Promotional Sunscreen Video on YouTube

  • The product must specify whether it is a broad spectrum product which covers both UVA/UVB rays.
  • Manufacturers will be banned from claiming their products are waterproof or sweatproof, but they will be able to claim how long their product is resistant to water based on test results.
  • Only sunscreens of with ratings of SPF 15 or above will be able to claim that their products help reduce risk of cancer or onset of skin aging.
Gilligan style hat from PromoWithPurposeShop.com

Release your inner “Gilligan” (and save your face!) with this bucket-style hat from Promo With Purpose Shop.com

Looking for a non-chemical way to protect yourself? I was surprised to find from the Skin Cancer Institute that bright or dark color, lustrous finish, tightly woven, and loose fitting clothes reflect more UV rays than bleached cotton or pastels. Go figure. Broad brimmed hats and, of course, UV-blocking sunglasses are a must. So as dorky as they might look sometimes, those Gilligan bucket hats are probably a better choice (okay, I admit I’ve got one I wear a lot).

So watch for new labeling next summer. But don’t forget that it’s always sunscreen season. Even in winter it’s a good idea to adopt a “cover me” policy.

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What Does Made in the USA Really Mean?

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What does Made in the USA really mean? Sounds like a simple claim, right? But it’s a little more tricky that you might think. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “Made in USA” means that ”all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. Again, doesn’t that sound simple?

Eco Friendly Promotional Product Guide by Heidi ThorneLet’s look at the example of a promotional pen. What is it made of? Plastics, some metal, ink. Let’s say the plastic parts are made and metal is formed in United States’ factories. The ink is brewed up here, too. But both the plastics and the inks could be composed of petroleum that was drilled from overseas. So it is still made in the USA?

This is always tricky, especially for people like me that are retailers. We’re totally dependent on our supply chains to provide us with accurate sourcing info to pass on to our customers. Not only that, in some cases, particularly for goods such as T-shirts, the country of origin could change with each batch.

As a company who is looking to support our American workers, we work with only those suppliers that can assure us of Made in the USA status. And we ask! We were just in the process of building our shopping site that only features products that are made in the USA, including holiday food gifts. It got really tricky when it comes down to the details such as bows and decorations. In some cases, the box, treat inside, and other packaging was American made, but the bow was not. For some groups, that’s enough to be called “made in the USA” because it technically passes the “virtually all” test. But for other groups who are sensitive to these issues, a product like that must be rejected.

USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

Here are some guidelines to follow if your organization is sensitive to domestic sourcing issues:

  • Ditch the Decorations. Because people don’t usually want to pay lots of money for packaging decorations that could be trashed immediately upon opening, the tendency is to source bows and artificial floral items globally for least cost. If that might disturb your clients or membership, go with a product that does not include or require it to be presentation ready. For example, Made in USA wooden gift crates with treats are a great alternative.
  • Buy from Retailers Who Identify Country of Origin. Most retailers, particularly in the promotional products arena, rarely identify country of origin. Don’t guess! Seek out sources that make it clear if it’s important to your group. From our research of a major promotional industry database, we found only about 10% of available products are sourced domestically.

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Spanish Promotional Products Added to USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

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Spanish promotional products calendar from USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

Spanish promotional products from USA and Union Made Promo Shop.com include calendars, cookbooks, and coloring books.

In response to some recent requests, Thorne Communications has added a selection of Spanish promotional products to their USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com offerings. All products are made in the USA.

According to a U.S. Census Bureau 2009 survey, Spanish is the primary language spoken at home by more than 35.5 million people over the age of five. “With Spanish being the second most commonly used language in the United States, we saw a need,” says Heidi Thorne, president of Thorne Communications. “While we just have some basic items at present, we will be adding products as we locate them.” Currently offered products include Spanish language calendars, cookbooks, children’s coloring books, and memo boards.

Thorne Communications is a promotional products marketing company with multiple shopsites to address specific marketing needs including: PromoWithPurposeShop.com (tradeshow and event, green, golf, sports, and apparel products); USAandUnionMadePromoShop (all products are made in the USA with many selections also union made or imprinted); and, PWPMobile.com (text message marketing services).

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Thorne Communications Launches Dedicated USA and Union Made Promotional Products Shopsite

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To assist promotional product buyers who require domestic sourcing, Thorne Communications has launched the dedicated USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com shopsite which, as the name implies, carries only products that are manufactured in USA and/or union environments.

“Since we serve clients in trade and union environments, we became very aware how difficult it is to not only find products that met our clients’ sourcing requirements, but documentation as well. Yes, as members of the Advertising Specialty Institute, we have access to extensive research databases. But online, our clients really had very few places to go for just USA sourced products. It was rare to find promotional product sites that even hinted at the country of origin. So our goal in creating the USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com was to offer one destination where associations, non-profits, unions, events, colleges, schools, political groups and teams can go to get items that meet their USA domestic sourcing requirements. And with yesterday being Flag Day and the July 4th holiday coming up next month, we thought this was perfect timing,” says Heidi Thorne, president of Thorne Communications.

USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com

USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com offers hundreds of products, all categorized by their USA and union manufacturing status. These statuses include: USA Made (non-Union); USA Made (non-Union), Union Imprinted; and, USA & Union Made & Imprinted. For products that are either union manufactured or imprinted, a union bug imprint (a small seal designating the factory’s union local) is available upon request (some additional fees may apply). The left-hand navigation bar of the site segments products by USA/union status for quick linking to product information.

“The distinctions are subtle, but significant,” says Heidi. “For pro-union environments, the ability to add the union bug to the imprint is often a necessity to demonstrate solidarity or support. In other situations, simply that the product was made by American workers is enough. But at least buyers will easily know what their options are in these categories.”

Like Thorne Communications’ main shopsite, PromoWithPurposeShop.com, the USAandUnionMadePromoShop.com offers easy online ordering and verified PayPal processing for credit card or bank account payments.

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