PPB September 2021

ramp walker manufactured in the 1870s by Ives Toy Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, using discarded Civil War bullet casings. Being one of BCCCM’s oldest toys, an original is hard to find on the marketplace, but now toy collectors and fans alike can purchase their own digital version (NFT), aptly named “The Ramp Walker,” complete with music and animation to add to the experience. An NFT created by the company soon after, showcasing Barker Specialty Co.’s logo, can be found at bit.ly/3jgAzsD, the promotional products distributor has grown to a staff of 100, and serves as a one-stop resource for all promotional- and marketing-based solutions, including custom graphic design, webstore capabilities, warehousing, fulfillment, in-house decoration services and overseas sourcing capabilities. Its office includes an impressive 6,000-square- foot showroomwith a meeting area that was purposely designed with a relaxed feel. The showroom includes a bar space complete with barstools and a large- screen TV for viewing products, and now NFTs. Serrano’s plan was for clients to meet with salespeople in a comfortable environment—and comfortable, it surely is. Barker and his business remain focused on continuing to offer advanced tech solutions for clients. To educate them and fellow promotional products professionals alike, the company created a webpage dedicated to NFTs, their purpose and how they are being used today: promoNFTS.com. Currently, Barker is partnering with Craig Wolfe, owner of Celebriducks, a line of collectible NFTs featuring these iconic ducks, which can be viewed at bit.ly/3AdKLsC. “We may be wrong in our vision, but many ideas in our country take time to evolve, which is exactly why I have been speaking out on this subject (NFTs),” says Barker. “I often think of the creation of the microwave oven as an example of an innovation to accelerate cooking time. However, most people don’t use their microwave often to cook food but everyone has one, as people recognized the value of reheating and defrosting, which was never the original intention. Our latest project is the creation of a business to use NFTs to help charities expand their fundraising as these exclusive digital assets can be marketed to a large audience, even a universal one. I have teamed up with Lisa Fosdick [a business leader and early adopter of crypto currency and blockchain] to build NFTs4Charity (www.nfts4charity.io) and we expect this to be an exciting venture.” For more on NFTs, read Barker’s “NFTs: The Next Revolution In Promo” in the May 2021 issue of PPB. Danielle Renda is associate editor of PPB. PPAI: 111248 | ASI: 35375 | SAGE: 50327 | UPIC: ACCENTS | DC:101273 888.287.7883 | customerservice@americanaccents.com www.americanaccents.com 3 day turnaround Made & printed in the USA Multiple print methods available Great for hot & cold beverages No need for double cupping or sleeves CFC Free 10 sizes to choose from 25 piece minimum Need Foam Cups? | SEPTEMBER 2021 | 71