The current state of tariffs is still in flux. One week they’re on; the next week they’re off, reduced, or delayed. At any given moment, it’s not clear what the economic impact will be on promotional items purchased overseas.

One way around this situation—or at least a way to avoid it altogether—is to purchase promotional items made in the U.S.A. This blog is the second in a series offering suggestions on some branded merchandise either assembled or produced entirely in the U.S. (remember, a product labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” may be composed of pieces produced overseas but assembled domestically).

Due to the volatility and uncertainty surrounding the current tariff situation, there has been an increased demand for promotional items made in the U.S.A.

Until recently, lower production costs have generally made giveaways produced overseas a better overall value, helping organizations stretch their marketing dollars. Newly imposed (or pending) tariffs, however, threaten to push those costs higher than domestically produced items, driving companies to seek out products made in the U.S.A.

To assist in these efforts, OnFulfillment has identified a number of branded promotional giveaways that meet this requirement. Designed to fit every budget, these items help you avoid the extra costs imposed by tariffs without compromising on quality.

Gift kits have become the preferred vehicle for recognizing, rewarding, and communicating with different audiences.

Previously popular paper- and text-based methods such as flyers, mailers, and e-mails have fallen out of favor as the sheer level of material rose, leading to messages being tossed or deleted before they were even read.

Gift kits, on the other hand, have a significantly higher open rate and lifespan than paper-based communications. Unlike e-mails and letters, receiving an unexpected package delivers a welcome and memorable boost of serotonin.

Over the past decade or two, it has become increasingly common for marketing organizations to outsource the bulk of their writing, design, and fulfillment services to outside vendors.

From a business perspective, it makes a lot of sense. It’s typically more cost-effective to bring in outside help only when needed rather than hire—and pay for—full-time staff. It’s largely a transactional relationship that lasts only as long as the project in question, and it works well for both sides.

Managing those relationships so that they continue to benefit both sides, however, requires some work. It’s natural to grow comfortable with the vendors you’ve carefully groomed over the years, steeping them in your corporate culture. They know you; you trust them. It’s comfortable. It’s…easy.

That’s when it’s time to take a close and critical look at the relationship.

Since ChatGPT was publicly launched in late 2022, businesses across all industries have employed the site and other AI-driven tools to assist in everything from content creation to data analysis, decision making, workflow automation, even legal compliance.

The latest trend is to use AI to help them understand spreadsheet-based reports. ChatGPT for Excel, a powerful AI-powered add-on for the Microsoft Excel application, leverages OpenAI's ChatGPT to automate tasks, extract insights, and streamline data management with features like AI-powered tables, data translation, and formula generation.