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.

A Retrospective Look at Brand Trends for 2017 – “Must Read” Article of the Week

As 2016 enters its final weeks, we begin to look forward to 2017. In the world of branding, this means predicting the trends brands will follow in the coming year. This article is a must read for the simple fact that we, as brand marketers, need to be in tune with how our clients will position their brands. There are some fantastic takeaways including the fact consumers will no longer wait, that brands need to truly prove themselves, and unfulfilled expectations will lead to a consumer rebellion. This article provides a very handy guide to how clients will position their brand in 2017.

The Role of Color in Branding (Infographic)

I’ll admit it – I’m a sucker for a quality infographic. So, while this technically not an article, it does provide some very valuable insight into the role colors play in everyday brands. From the youthful bold passion of red to the balance, calm, and perception of premium for neutral colors like silver and black, this infographic shows how a brand’s logo has the ability to drive purchasing decisions. It might even give you some insight to your clients view their brand.

MLB Announces Uniform Deal with Under Armour

Sports uniforms are big business and Under Armour has been very aggressive in their pursuit of high-profile relationships. Beginning in 2020, Under Armour will take over for Majestic and Nike as the official uniform partners for Major League Baseball. Under Armour has been on the feet of major leaguers for quite some time, but now they will have the opportunity to dress – and promote their brand – across all aspects of the uniform. From a branding perspective, the most interesting part of this is that the Under Armour logo will appear on the front – not the sleeves – of all MLB jerseys. We are getting closer and closer to that “NASCAR look” for the big 4 sports leagues in the United States and this is only the beginning.

Study Shows That 99% of Fake Chargers Are Not Safe – “Don’t Waste Your Time Reading” Article of the Week

In this week’s shocking headline that shouldn’t be a shock to anyone, we find that knockoff Apple chargers aren’t safe. That’s right kids, those $3.99 neon green chargers you get on eBay might melt your phone. In the study referenced in the article, the investigators purchased and tested 400 different Apple chargers and only three out of the 400 passed a “basic safety test.” Moral of the story: spring a little extra cash to ensure that you get a true Apple Certified accessory.