ITR Economics’ second quarter Market Outlook Report for the promotional products industry forecasts conservative growth for suppliers and distributors through the last half of 2016 that will ramp up significantly in 2017.The economic research and consulting firm revised its supplier outlook downward from its last report due to weaker-than-expected second quarter results, and expects supplier growth of 0.6 percent over the last half of 2016. However, the report is optimistic about 2017, pointing to a rise in the U.S. Purchasing Managers Index, and forecasts growth of 6.7 percent for the year. ITR Economics’ ReportAmong distributors, growth from March to June was the weakest in 10 years, which ITR attributed to volatility from commodity prices and financial markets, but the firm expects 6.6-percent growth through the last half of 2016. Improvements in the industrial sector will take hold by late 2016, which will help support an accelerating rise in sales in late 2016 through late 2018.ITR Economics’ Report offers economic information, insight, analysis and proactive strategies, and, in collaboration with PPAI, the company produces data for the promotional products industry to help members improve their businesses. Its quarterly market outlook reports for the promotional product industry contain industry indicators, market analysis, advertising industry forecasts and a promotional products industry forecast. The second quarter Market Outlook Report is available here.In June 2015, ITR Economics’ Report held a webinar to explain how to use the information within its reports. It also looked at the methodology and terminology of information included in the report, the phases of the business cycle, how to use the information in the planning process, and provided examples of how to use this type of information within a business. The webinar is available on demand.Thanks for reading – Jean Pierre Francois – Business Development Manager – Digitized Logos Inc. – jean.pierre@DigitizedLogos.comSource:ITR Economics’ Report  PPAI.org

We live in a world which is dominated by technology and yet our lives can’t seem to function without the use of simple plastic in one form or another. Plastic products production and plastic waste are two sides of the same coin. Some of the properties that make it so useful, like its low cost, light weight and durability, also make it hard to dispose of. Plastic waste has a significant impact on our environment. Every day an enormous amount of plastic leaks into our oceans and stays there for longer period of time polluting our ecosystem.  Did you know in every km2 of water of the Mediterranean Sea, there are around 40 pieces of marine litter? An effort to reduce the use of plastics and to promote plastic recycling has occurred, but still almost 40% of plastic waste makes its way into our oceans.Let’s explore its effects on humans by taking an example of plastic water bottles. We as Americans love to go to our convenience store and buy our packaged drinking water to quench our thirst. We might think it makes us look uncool to drink out from our tap or maybe we are being a little too conscious to think that tap water might not be as healthy as packaged drinking water. Is really the case? Contrary to the popular beliefs, our tap water is safe for health and even more so when it is compared to other countries around the world. The reason you can count on it is because of the regulations in place by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for public drinking water, which is Safe Drinking Water Act in America.Whereas, the plastic water bottles that we use contains Bisphenol a (BPA) a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some food and drink packaging, e.g., water and infant bottles. Now think about the waste created by the use of these water bottles, which the lot of us uses one time and throw it out in the trash without thinking. All of which could be avoided if we limit the use of plastics, better recycling techniques, better product design, more information and stronger incentives for making the switch from plastic.Now that we have established tap water is safe for drinking, but we would still need something to carry our water around with us for our convenience.  Let’s discover some of the best alternatives to our plastic water bottles. We can do a lot for our future, environment and health by using reusable non-plastic BPA free bottles. For example Stainless Steel bottles, Glass bottles, Aluminum bottles, Rubberized bottle, Insulated bottles and much more.These products are readily available in the market and are being sold at reasonable price. Moreover, these bottles are not boring or dull exactly they come in all sorts of appealing shapes, colors and sizes which can make you look cool if that was a matter of concerns to you to make the switch.  These bottles are better designed for less toxicity, more durability and easier recycling.  So why not make a change today by putting an end to this dirty plastic and all the problems caused by it.We at Digitized Logos observed that high volume of our staff were carrying plastic water bottles with them to work. Based on our observation, we decided to have a quick group huddle and at that meeting we all agreed that plastic causes more inconvenience than good. We also pledged to ditch plastic in favor of other non-plastic BPA free bottles, which were handed to all us by our CEO.  You have got to clean your own house first before you tell other people that they aren’t doing it right.Also, from that meeting it was brought to our attention by one of our team member that water fountains in our facility does not facilitate refilling of bottles. Our facility manager made a note of that and installed improved water dispensers that allows easy refill. We are responsible for our choices and plastic is a problem to our ecosystem if we continue to let this grow soon we won’t have a planet to call it on our own. Moreover, if we don’t make a change in the use of plastics, no matter what planet we might set our foot on in the near future we’ll pollute and cause more problems there too.