The Dish

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Every week there are articles published that are of interest to promotional products industry professionals across the land. To save you time, a rotating group of PromoKitchen chefs have culled the internet for the ones you should read and the ones you should skip. This week’s Dish was authored by Chef Bill Petrie.

Judge Suspends Rule Expanding Overtime for Millions of Workers – “Must Read” Article of the Week

With businesses small and large bracing for impact of a new federal law raising the salary limit below which workers automatically qualified for overtime pay to $47,476 from $23,660, this is absolutely a must read this week. The rule was set to take effect on December 1, 2016 but a judge in Texas ruled that the Obama administration had exceeded its authority by more than doubling the threshold. The judge, who was appointed by Obama, agreed with a case filed by a coalition of 21 states who felt the new threshold would not only hurt business owners, but also the workers the rule was designed to protect as organizations would likely cut hours to avoid the overtime pay. It will be interesting to watch how this shakes out over the coming months.

Cheetos Introduces Very Cheesy Merchandise

Cheetos + Merchandise = Yes please! There is MUCH to love about this article which shares a few of the fantastic products available at shop.cheetosstore.com including cuff links (I’m looking at YOU Dana Zezzo), toilet “pawper,” and “cheetau” perfume. When a favorite snack treat and promotional products collide, awesomeness ensues.

5 Ways to Get to Know Your Brand Better (and Why You Should Do That)

I love this article – so much so that if it weren’t for the impact of the judge blocking the overtime rule it would be the must read this week. So many in business – including our very own promotional products – simply don’t understand their own brand. This article talks about why it matters than proceeds to share the five ways to really understand your brand. From knowing your audience to the oft-forgotten knowing your culture, this article will help any business owner leverage their own brand for growth.

Autographed Trump Hats and Books Sold on His Website Were Signed by Machine – “Don’t Waste Your Time Reading” Article of the Week

How does this qualify as “news?” I never ONCE thought the president-elect sat around stately Trump Manor personally placing his John Hancock on Make America Great Again hats. However, according to this article, a large group of people who were hoping to score a nice profit from autographed merchandise once Mr. Trump was elected feel duped. Let me be a little clearer: they feel duped even though there is a disclosure on the website that a “limited supply of hats which include an auto penned Donald J. Trump signature.” These are likely the same people that feel duped learning that the “Santa” at the Secaucus Mall isn’t the real Jolly Old St. Nick.