News

Sharpie: How an Everyday Marker Became an American Icon

Most people don't say, "Do you have a permanent marker?" They say, "Do you have a Sharpie?" That's when you know you've built something bigger than a product. For Episode...

Carhartt: A Consumer-Driven Success Story

When Tony Ambroza joined Carhartt in 2010, he arrived from a very different kind of brand environment. At Nike and Under Armour, the pace was relentless: move fast, execute, learn,...

The Secret Behind Igloo's 80-Year Success

Why curiosity about the consumer is always the winning strategy. Iconic products don't survive for nearly eight decades by standing still. The Igloo Playmate has become as recognizable as the...

Why the Most Iconic American Fashion Was Never Meant to Be Fashion

American fashion has always had a funny way of turning necessity into style. Long before luxury brands began selling distressed work jackets or designer cargo pants, American workers were wearing...

The Zippo Story Isn't About a Lighter, It's About Keeping a Promise

For nearly a century, the unmistakable click of a Zippo lighter has been woven into American history. It's been carried into war, tucked into work boots, engraved with company logos,...

More Than a Pen: How Great Brands Turn Everyday Products into Lifetime Keepsakes

Carried in a pocket, kept on a desk, tossed into a bag without a thought, a pen is one of the simplest objects we own. Most are forgotten as quickly...

Nike: An American Success Story

There are few brands that have shaped American culture the way Nike has, from the iconic Swoosh to the three words that have inspired generations: Just Do It. Along the...

The Top 3 Water Bottles of 2026

When clients ask me for drinkware, I don't send them 50 options. I usually send three. Not because they're the only good bottles out there. They're just the three I...

Can Swag Actually Improve Company Culture?

I've been in the promotional products industry for almost 15 years. Before Ink'd Stores, I started a fitness brand. It failed. At the time, that was hard to accept. Looking...

How to Size Company Apparel Correctly

Sizing seems like the easiest part of ordering apparel. Pick a size run.Place the order.Move on. That’s how most companies do it. And it’s also why most companies end up...

The Masters: One of the Biggest Networking Weeks in Business (And It Happens Off the Course)

Most people think The Masters is just a golf tournament. They’re wrong. I'm going for the week and have no tickets and given the crackdown this year on admissions, likely...

The relative cost of swag

The best swag starts with a desired outcome, not a catalog.Everyone has access to the same products.Different swag companies may send you the same catalogs. The same drinkware. The same...

Why does my logo look different on a hat vs. a hoodie?

Why does my logo look different on a hat vs. a hoodie? You’ve spent weeks perfecting your brand’s color palette and logo. But when your box of custom gear arrives,...

How do I prevent 'Swag Waste'?

Reduce swag waste with branded webstores and expert merch guidance. Give people swag they’ll actually wear, use, and appreciate.

How to Choose the Right Decoration Method?

Choosing the right decoration method matters. Learn the pros and best uses for embroidery, screen printing, laser engraving, transfers, and other popular branding techniques. How to Choose the Right Decoration...

What to include in a welcome kit?

What should go in a welcome kit? Learn how to build a simple, intentional onboarding kit employees actually like and use. What to include in a welcome kit? A...

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Company Merch

Five common mistakes companies make with branded merch, and how to avoid wasting budget. Smarter picks, better swag.

What is the best material to print shirts on?

What’s the Best Material to Print Shirts On? We talk about custom shirts a lot, but choosing the right fabric is still one of the biggest things people overlook. It’s...

What to bring to a trade show?

What to bring to a trade show? Trade shows are crowded. Everyone is shouting for attention, but only a few booths actually pull people in. The trick is being intentional...

The 10 Most On-Trend Brand Giveaways This Holiday Season (Non-Apparel)

If you want to win the holidays (really win them) start by giving people something they actually want. Not something that checks a box. Not something that gets tossed in...

How do I start a Webstore?

A custom webstore keeps all your promotional products organized, on-brand, and easy to order. Here’s how we build them and why you should have one.

Are promotional products worth it?

Are promotional products worth it? You’ve probably asked yourself: Are promo products worth the investment? If I weren’t in the industry, I probably would have asked myself that too. The...

10 Years of Ink’d Stores

Ink’d started with an idea and willingness to keep showing up. Long before we had a warehouse, or clients like Crocs or DoorDash, it was just a printer, a lot...

What is the best type of branded merch?

Branded merchandise in 2025 is more than just a promotional tool, it's a reflection of your brand's values and an extension of your identity. To stand out, it's essential to...

Fall 2025: Gift Trends

As fall comes, gifting shifts toward items that are warm, useful, and built to last. This season, the focus is on versatile pieces that blend everyday practicality with premium comfort....

Team Apparel Trends for Fall 2025

Fall isn’t just about cooler weather; it’s about teams looking polished, staying comfortable, and being equipped for the season ahead.

Custom Apparel Trends for Fall 2025

This fall, custom apparel is all about blending function, comfort, and modern style. Fall 2025 trends bring fresh takes on fabrics, silhouettes, and finishes that work as hard as they...

Gift Ideas for New Hires

Labor Day’s almost here. The last long weekend before fall hits, kids go back to school, and business cranks back up.

What is company swag?

We talk a lot about swag at Ink’d Stores. But let’s back up, what actually is company swag?

Best school swag ideas

You’ve seen it happen, the tee that gets worn twice, the pen that barely writes. The greatest swag? It’s high quality. It’s keepable. It’s loved.

The Story of Commun-A-Tee

When the world shut down in March 2020, we felt it hard. Orders stopped. Events dried up. Our machines were quiet. I spent the first week just trying to make...

Our longest-time client

When Ink'd first opened, we had retail hours. I mean 9a-9p 6 days a week and 12p-6p Sunday retail hours.

The Making of Ink’d

I've written a few times on how Ink'd Stores was created and each of those stories focused on the hard facts of "what happened" and "when". The facts. If you'd...

Why We Priced Our Millionth Tee at $3

At Ink’d Stores, we just crossed a big milestone: our one-millionth printed shirt. That’s a number I never imagined when we started pressing shirts one at a time, order by...

Summer swag ideas

It’s already hot out. People are outside again. Events are on. Teams are gathering. This is your chance to show up with swag that actually gets used.

Ink’d Stores Celebrates One Millionth Print Milestone with $3 Tee Promotion

From pop-up shop to promo powerhouse, Massachusetts-based Ink’d Stores hits a major manufacturing milestone, and says thank you the only way they know how.

Product Spotlight: Owala Tumbler

Remember BlenderBottle? Well, the same folks that had that hit are behind the new craze in Owala The #1 question in promo: What’s new? Well, the Stanley Tumbler continues to...

Take The Stress Out Of Ordering Stress Relievers

You go online and want to order a stress reliever for an upcoming trade show. Fine, it’s a nice enough handout - but price is driving the decision and not...

PPAI Expo 2024: What Stood Out

In the world of promotional products, no event stirs up excitement quite like the PPAI Expo. This annual convention which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada is a hub for...

Not Your Everyday Swag

In the world of corporate swag, the thrill of generic pens and plain logo tees are long gone. Companies are now realizing the importance of employee excitement and satisfaction, and...

Brand Spotlight: Carhartt

In the dynamic world of custom apparel and promotional products, finding a reliable and durable material is crucial for gifting your employees branded pieces that stand the test of time....

Mental Health is Wealth

With the holiday season over and winter time among us, it’s hard not to face the fact that maintaining mental health has just gotten a whole lot more difficult. In...

Stay Warm This Winter

The chilly winds of winter have made their way in and are here to stay, at least for a few months. In this frigid weather, it's crucial to be prepared...

New Years Resolutions: Don't Quit, Get Fit!

New year, new chance to make your New Year’s resolution of a more active and healthy lifestyle last more than a week right? If you’ve convinced yourself that 2024 is...

It's Never Too Late To Give

Is it too late for the holidays?! is the season for that question - everyday and in every way. The short answer is, NO! First of all, you can make...

The Psychology of Gifting is Real

It's gift giving season again and love it or hate it, we're wired as humans to both desire to give and receive gifts. So in case you need more motivation...

The Stanley Mug has become a cultural phenomena.

Don't believe me? Google it - you'll get no less than 13m results and it seems everyone - and when I write, it means everyone - has weighed in on...

Product of the Day: POCKET ME SHIRTS

This holiday season, try something your team would never image. POCKET ME SHIRTS "We Go Where No Pocket Shirt Has Gone Before!" I first saw this company at Impressions Expo...

5 Things You Should Know About US-Made Apparel Products

Made in the USA products can be a hornets' nest of deception and if you don't know the right questions to ask, will leave you disappointed in the end result. ...

Product of the Day: Carhartt Detroit Duck Jacket - Legendary Toughness and Timeless Style

Carhartt is the best. It commands respect and admiration among both workwear and fashion mavens alike. Founded in a small loft in Detroit, at age 34, Hamilton Carhartt moto was...

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