OnFulfillment Blog | Promotional Swag (3)

It’s December. The holidays are upon us. The new year is looming. We all know what that means.

Time to start planning your 2024 budget.

Actually, if you’ve waited this long to start thinking about next year’s budget, you’re probably already behind the eight ball a bit. While there is no real “best” time to start planning next year's budget, the ideal timeframe is to start the process several months ahead—perhaps as early as six months prior.

Why so early? It allows sufficient time for thorough planning, comprehensive analysis, and critical collaboration with all relevant stakeholders across the company.

If you happen to pay close attention to manufacturing regulations, you might have heard that many states across the U.S., as well as federal, tribal, and local governments, retailers, and popular brands are acting quickly to address the PFAS crisis.

PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals that are widely used in various industrial and consumer products. Introduced in the 1940s, these chemicals are known for their unique properties, particularly resistance to heat, water, and oil—all of which have made them valuable in a range of applications, including firefighting foam, electronics, food packaging, and—of particular interest to OnFulfillment—manufacturing.

“Buy locally, distribute globally” is a sound business strategy. It provides a level of control that allows you to maintain consistency across products or materials, manage the brand, and take advantage of bulk pricing.

That’s the theory, anyway. In practice, however, it’s not quite that simple or straightforward.

Most countries, and many manufacturers, have customs rules and other regulations designed to prevent materials produced in a foreign country from being imported and distributed in different locations. Generally, these rules are designed to protect local businesses from unfair labor practices, and the penalties can be harsh, both economically and in terms of wasted time and resources.

No one should be surprised to learn that expressing appreciation for a job well done is critical to creating a positive work environment, ensuring employee satisfaction, and contributing to company success.

According to a March 2022 survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Bonusly, nearly half of U.S. workers (46%) have left a job because they felt unappreciated, while 65% said they would work harder if their contributions were acknowledged by management. The importance of recognition isn’t limited to management; 65% of respondents said they would remain in a position with an unappreciative boss if their co-workers appreciated their work.

Today more than ever, environmental concerns and social responsibility are driving business decisions and behavior around the world.

One way in which these values have manifested themselves is the way companies engage in gift giving, particularly with prospects and customers. The types and quality of gifts have evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from inexpensive, generic, and often wasteful items to more thoughtful and considerate offerings designed to project a more conscientious and impactful image.