Keeping It Real Local: Small Businesses and Ethical Merchandise

A Lasting Promotional Item for a Small Business

[caption id="attachment_4667" align="alignright" width="300"] Pictured above is Ruth, Ethix's office administrator, modeling a tote from the Manchaug order. Talk about "buy local"- these bags were ordered in Massachusetts, sewn in Illinois, and printed in Rhode Island![/caption] We were happy to partner with the owners of Manchaug Mills (where our East Coast offices are based) for a recent cross-promotion. "'Tis the season to give" and they needed a promotional item for their community blood drive the week before Christmas. The consensus was that reusable bags would offer a great promotional opportunity since they have a substantial imprint area. Totes are infinitely useful. They're great reusable shopping bags and a wonderful way to publicize your organization and logo. Tote bags were also a great way to incentivize donor participation.

Winter Promotions: Warm Up with Custom Products

Fight the Winter Chill with Locally Made, Customized Winter Weather Apparel

Looking to offer employees or volunteers a way to bundle up against the cold while still promoting your brand or organization? Consider warm, union made duck jackets and workwear for outdoor projects. These durable work wear jackets (similar to the Carhartt style jackets) will look top notch with your logo embroidered on the chest or printed on the back!

‘Tis the Season to Shop Small, Shop Local.

#ShopLocal for the Holidays

Year after year Americans find themselves lured into the "Black Friday" hype. With all the bright, flashy ads around Thanksgiving, it's no wonder! As retail shoppers you feel the transition happening - sale flyers snuck into your shopping bags (as soon as Halloween!), the TV commercial spots, full page magazine spreads, and more. What message is it that we hear?:

"Wait to buy. Wait a mere few hours after giving thanks for your family, your friends, and what you have this past year...and then buy, and buy BIG!"

Instead, give something that can be useful to both the intended receiver and for your brand - utilize a term I like to call "conscious gift-giving" and shop local, shop with intent.

USA Made Promotional T-shirts: Working Overtime to Share Your Message

Making a Statement with Ethically Sourced T-Shirts

This assortment of vivid photos is a sampling of some recent promotional T-shirt orders: USA Made T-shirts, custom printed living wage Alta Gracia T-shirts, all union printed and worn with pride.Wearing your mission "on your sleeve" is a concept most of our clients are familiar with. Spending some time to make sure your message is clear is a good use of your valuable time. It's important, not only to those wearing your promotional T-shirt, but also those coming into contact with your promotional product.

Ethix & reweave: Weaving ‘USA Made’ with “Being Better”

Promotional Products that ARE a Cause

We work with a number or nonprofits and social enterprises on requests for 'sound' product purchases for their donors and most ardent advocates. These are the individuals that promotional products are geared for- your fans and supporters and those you would like to see as such. What better can you think to say a big 'Thank You' to your supporters than with high quality, ethically sourced products? Show solidarity with the labor and human rights movements while spreading the good work that your nonprofit does! 

Leave a Lasting Impression with USA Made Promotional Gifts

Send Unique Holiday Gifts that Truly Make an Impression

Most people view the holiday season as one of giving gifts, being merry, and spending quality time with family and friends. At Ethix we view the holidays in much the same way and work diligently to provide the best in quality, bulk holiday gift orders for our clients. Need a Made in the USA promotional gift? No problem. Choose which of your ethics you want to support with our handy ethical stamps, then let us guide you to the best promotional gifts for your organization or company.

Create Custom Calendars in a Jiffy with our New Guide

Skip this Guide to Creating Customized Calendars at Your Peril!

If you haven't downloaded our new guide to custom calendars yet, your life is still too complicated. We make it simple and fast to get your custom calendar orders rolling for the New Year (Yes, it's already time to start thinking about that!).

Business and Trade Show Ready: Getting Your Message Across

Converting Passerby to Client

We try to take our own advice from time to time, especially with regards to self promotions. We created this trade show booth (left) at this year's Central Mass Business Expo held at Worcester's DCU Center last week. The visual impact was strong, wouldn't you agree? Our recent blog on "The Secret to Irresistible Trade Show Promotions" lays out some basic best practices for trade show impact. Booths should convey a unified, clear message (and useful take-home giveaways don't hurt!).

Kevin W. O’Brien Interviewed by Worcester T&G – “Tragedy Puts Spotlight on Sweatshops”

Tragedy Puts Spotlight on Sweatshops

We've reached a watershed moment in the history of the international labor movement. For decades now, garment workers have been dying while toiling in unsafe factories, subcontracted by western apparel giants who deny any responsibility for these preventable tragedies. But for the first time in a generation, ethically-made options are on the upswing, and workers are regaining a sense of dignity and empowerment. Our CEO and co-founder, Kevin O'Brien, has made it his life's work to better understand domestic and global supply chains as well as responsible production. He works tirelessly to fill orders with factories that value transparency and a democratic worker voice. This is the goal of Ethix Merch, and we're very excited to be recognized for the work we do. This week we were featured by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Thanks to all those involved in spreading the word about worker safety, respect, and ethically sourced garments. You can see the interview on Worcester T&G, or read it below: