Recently, I saw our latest merch campaign on the corner of the (other, co-President of Brand Fuel) Danny’s desk. I was blown away by the sharpness of the brightly colored mixed glasses and its fantastic backstory. The funny introspective laser-engraved message focuses on appreciating the present: “Why limit happy to an hour?” The fact that…
If you survey bartenders and servers, they will agree that there are as many beverages as there are personalities, and your drink of choice can say a lot about you and your personality. A “go-to drink” can say just as much about you as the outfit you choose to wear. So, with a wink and…
Brand Fuelians, As we round the corner past a challenging but incredible year, I want to share some introspective thoughts with you all. When people ask me how Brand Fuel is doing, you’d think that I would reply with something expected about our how sales numbers look. Over the past several years, however, I have…
What you are about to read will rattle some cages. For the record, it’s not lost on me that we are in the business of recognition. We’ve been involved with designing and selling hundreds of thousands of awards made of acrylic, stone, crystal, gold, marble, and even custom drumsticks. These “physical high-fives” have propagated countless…
The story of Noah’s Ark is so captivating to me. Noah had an impenetrable belief system. He was pretty much the first person to get an informal degree in planning and project management. He had vision. And undeniable hope. Yet, the story of Noah’s Ark is also disturbing. As a child, I remember having nightmares…
The future of promotional marketing is bright, but it is facing a shift in values. It is time for us to plan for that shift. Here is how we see the future shaping up, coupled with some promises to you, our loyal, bold clients who are hungry for a tired industry to breathe fresh life…
With 25 years of brand merchandising experience, we hope you find some value (and humor) in these tips. We promise they’ll improve your results… 1. Promote your brand so recipients say, “Wow!” and “Smart!” and “Righteous!” 2. Protect your brand. 3. Marketing is about building real relationships. Love your clients through thick and thin. 4.…
Note: We admit that ~30% of promotional merchandise is junk. And one of our brand promises is to do all we can to ensure that what you buy from us does not end up as brandfill – your brand in the landfill. Heck, our Account Managers know that they could get fired if they sell…
At Brand Fuel, we are questioning and addressing not only how we deal with local and global sustainability but also how our industry will deal with this in coming years; and what this means from our supply chain to our own company ethics, to our end-client needs and end-consumers expectations. In the same way that…
Here are some of the things we learned along Pandemic Way. In business. In family (because nothing is more important). In Music (cause we love music!). In community (we love that too). BUSINESS Necessity is the mother of invention. New business models sprouting up like online tutoring and new job titles like “Virtual Events Manager”…
Reaching your WFH audience has never been more important. When Covid-19 blindsided the world (and the Branded Merchandise Industry), clients had to decide whether they wanted to try and stay in touch with their audience(s) during the uncertainty. But soon, as the pandemic stretched on, the question shifted from if to how. Thankfully, we were…
In our newfangled internet age, anyone can get what they need with a search engine, a finger to click, and a credit card. Harder to experience is an intimate connection and a purchase with real heart. To discover a one-of-a-kind artisanal gift that stands out from the infinite scroll of commodities. With a craving for…