WALNUT, Calif., March 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As spring marketing campaigns begin to accelerate, GSJJ, a global supplier of custom promotional products, has published its 2026 Spring Gift Trends report. The report outlines three major seasonal marketing scenarios—Easter & Outdoor Season, Graduation & End of Semester, and “Spring Refresh” & Brand Reinvention—offering businesses practical ideas on everything from product choices to campaign planning.

Image caption: GSJJ Releases Spring Gift Trends: Targeting Easter, Graduation, and Brand Refresh.

HOW CAN BRANDS CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS DURING EASTER AND OUTDOOR SEASON?

Spring marks both the arrival of Easter celebrations and the start of peak outdoor activity. GSJJ’s internal data shows that inquiries for holiday-themed and outdoor custom gifts rise noticeably every year from March through April.

During a season associated with renewal and social gatherings, brands often look for ways to build more meaningful connections with consumers. GSJJ suggests selecting gifts that combine holiday character with everyday usability.

For instance, Custom Pins can serve as memorable souvenirs during Easter egg hunts, while Custom Patches can be attached to backpacks or jackets, bringing brand exposure into parks, hiking trails, and even social media photos.

“Easter gifting is really about shared happiness,” said Karen, Marketing Director at GSJJ. “With our AI-assisted design system, brands can generate themed design drafts in just minutes. Easter elements and brand logos can be combined quickly, making the gift feel like a natural part of the celebration.”

Among outdoor-focused products, Custom Keychains and Custom Golf Ball Markers remain especially popular for corporate golf outings and team-building activities. Despite their small size, these items allow brands to showcase visual elements through 3D embossing and laser engraving, accompanying users during various spring activities.

Market data support the growth of this category. Research from Research and Markets estimates that the global personalized gifts market will increase from $30.79 billion in 2025 to $33.49 billion in 2026, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 8.7%. Within that market, seasonal and commemorative gifts are expanding particularly quickly.

HOW CAN COMMEMORATIVES CAPTURE GRADUATION’S MEMORABLE MOMENTS?

The months of May and June traditionally bring the busiest period for graduation and end-of-semester gifts. From proms and commencement ceremonies to student leadership transitions and teacher appreciation events, the season centers on recognition and remembrance.

GSJJ has noticed growing demand for metal collectible items, especially custom Challenge Coins and Medals, in graduation-related celebrations. Schools may award medals to top-performing students, while student organizations and alumni groups often design commemorative Challenge Coin designs or Enamel Pins featuring graduation years.

These items allow graduates to keep a small but lasting reminder of their time on campus.

“Graduation gifts usually stay with people for years,” Karen said. “Even a small pin can include a school emblem, a graduation year, an inspirational message, or a student’s name. Those details turn a simple object into something meaningful.”

Graduation season is also becoming an opportunity for companies that recruit on campus. A study from Global Growth Insights notes that corporate gifts account for roughly 20–25% of the personalized gifts market.

More organizations are now creating branded graduation-themed items for campus recruitment events, using them to build early brand familiarity with potential employees. GSJJ’s production system allows orders to move into manufacturing within 24 hours, helping companies meet tight event schedules.

HOW CAN A “SPRING REFRESH” HELP BRANDS REINVENT THEMSELVES?

Beyond seasonal celebrations, spring is also a natural moment for brand updates and visual refreshes. Many companies choose this period to introduce new product lines or update their brand identity.

Custom merchandise can help communicate those changes tangibly.

For example, Custom Metal Business Cards offer a durable alternative to traditional paper cards, leaving a more memorable first impression. Personalized Lanyards frequently appear at trade shows and corporate events, acting as mobile brand displays. Meanwhile, Custom Stickers provide a simple and shareable way to engage younger audiences.

“Refreshing a brand isn’t only about changing visuals,” Karen said. “It also means rethinking how the brand appears in everyday interactions. Items like employee badges, event giveaways, or client gifts can all carry updated branding.”

Technology is also playing a role in this shift. GSJJ’s AI-assisted design tools allow customers to generate early design drafts in minutes rather than waiting days.

According to the company’s 2026 Global Custom Promotional Gifts Trends Report, AI-driven rapid customization is becoming a major factor shaping the promotional products industry.

GSJJ: FULL-SCENARIO CUSTOMIZATION FOR SPRING MARKETING

To support a variety of seasonal marketing needs, GSJJ provides a wide range of customizable products, including Custom Pins, Custom Medals, Custom PVC Patches, Custom Keychains, and Custom Stickers.

By combining AI-assisted design tools, experienced manufacturing processes, and global logistics support, the company offers a complete customization workflow—from initial concept to finished product.

Looking forward, the personalized gifts market is projected to continue expanding steadily. Data from Global Growth Insights suggests the industry could grow at an average annual rate of about 7% between 2026 and 2035, reaching $61.71 billion by 2035.

For brands planning spring campaigns, custom gifts are no longer just giveaways. They are becoming practical marketing tools capable of strengthening emotional connections with audiences.

ABOUT GSJJ

Headquartered in Walnut, California, GSJJ serves global businesses and individual customers as a leading provider of custom gift solutions. Product lines include Custom Stickers, Keychains, Challenge Coins, Medals, Custom Neon Sign, and more, catering to diverse personalization needs across B2B and B2C markets.

Combining AI-driven design, precision craftsmanship, and global delivery, GSJJ transforms brand concepts into lasting keepsakes. The company maintains over 53,000 verified customer reviews with a 4.9/5 rating (as of February 2026).

MEDIA CONTACT
GSJJ Marketing Department
Contact Person: Sophie Qin
Email: affiliate@gs-jj.com
Official Website: https://www.gs-jj.com/

Address: 20812 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789, USA

News Source: GSJJ

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SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation’s largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders, announced enhancements to its benchmarking platform and a rebrand from Benchmark to TMC Insight, delivering expanded dashboards and peer performance analysis for mortgage lenders.

Image caption: The Mortgage Collaborative.

TMC Insight provides participating lenders with benchmarking across operational, financial and production metrics through interactive dashboards and monthly executive summaries. The platform offers a 13-month rolling view of performance data, allowing lenders to compare current results with the previous 12 months and identify trends in their business.

The enhanced platform consolidates several reporting views into a unified dashboard where lenders can evaluate performance against peer averages across metrics, including technology costs, gain or loss on sale, loan officer compensation, warehouse operations and loan production trends.

Data can be submitted manually or integrated directly with loan origination systems to automate reporting and improve consistency.

“TMC Insight is designed to give our members a meaningful report card for their business each month,” said Jodi Hall, CEO of The Mortgage Collaborative. “When lenders can benchmark operational and financial performance against their peers, they gain insights that help them identify opportunities and make better strategic decisions.”

Future enhancements will focus on expanding available datasets and additional dashboards based on participant feedback. A planned phase of development in partnership with iEmergent will incorporate public record data to provide broader market context, enable additional benchmarking insights and support preferred partner engagement.

TMC Insight is available to participating lender members of The Mortgage Collaborative, with benchmarking insights delivered through monthly dashboards and executive summaries. Non-member lenders will have the option to subscribe to the benchmarking data in the future.

Lenders interested in participating in TMC Insight can learn more at mortgagecollaborative.com or email info@themortgagecollaborative.com.

About The Mortgage Collaborative

The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) is a membership-driven organization that empowers mortgage lenders across the United States through networking, education, and advocacy. TMC fosters an environment of collaboration and innovation, ensuring its members succeed regardless of market conditions. For more information, visit mortgagecollaborative.com.

News Source: The Mortgage Collaborative

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Source: https://www.send2press.com/wire/the-mortgage-collaborative-launches-enhanced-benchmarking-platform-under-new-tmc-insight-brand/

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., March 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Industrial SalesLeads announced today the February 2026 results of its new planned capital project spending report for the Food and Beverage industry. The Firm tracks planned industrial capital project activity across North America, including facility expansions, new plant construction, and major equipment modernization initiatives. Current research identified 50 new projects in the Food and Beverage sector during February, a slight increase from 48 projects reported in January.

Image caption: Food and Beverage Industry Posts Modest Growth with 50 New Planned Industrial Projects in February 2026.

The following are selected highlights on new Food and Beverage industry construction news.

Food and Beverage Project Type

• Processing Facilities – 36 New Projects
• Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 17 New Projects

Food and Beverage Project Scope/Activity

• New Construction – 12 New Projects
• Expansion – 14 New Projects
• Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 22 New Projects
• Plant Closing – 7 New Projects

Food and Beverage Project Location (Top 10 States)

• California – 6
• New York – 6
• Massachusetts – 5
• Virginia – 4
• Ohio – 3
• Wisconsin – 3
• Illinois – 2
• Indiana – 2
• Michigan – 2
• New Jersey – 2

LARGEST PLANNED PROJECT

During the month of February, our research team identified 4 new Food and Beverage facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more.

The largest project is owned by Smithfield Foods, Inc., who is planning to invest $1 billion for the construction of a processing facility in SIOUX FALLS, SD. They are currently seeking approval for the project. They will relocate their operations upon completion in late 2028.

TOP 10 TRACKED FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROJECTS

UTAH:

Dairy product mfr. is planning to invest $165 million for the expansion and equipment upgrades on their processing facility in LOGAN, UT. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

ARKANSAS:

Food products mfr. is planning to invest $105 million for the construction of a 175,000 sf processing facility in JONESBORO, AR. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

FLORIDA:

Animal feed mfr. is planning to invest $35 million for the construction of a 57,000 sf processing facility in MADISON, FL. They have recently received approval for the project.

DELAWARE:

Foodservice redistributor is planning to invest $33 million for the expansion of their distribution center in BEAR, DE by 150,000 sf. Construction is expected to start in Spring 2026, with completion slated for Summer 2027.

ALABAMA:

Food product mfr. is planning to invest $27 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on their processing facility in MCCALLA, AL. They have recently received approval for the project.

TEXAS:

Food processing company is planning to invest $26 million for the construction of a 50,000 sf warehouse and processing facility at 3289 Eberhardt Rd. in TEMPLE, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for Summer 2027.

OHIO:

Global retail chain is planning for the renovations and equipment upgrades on a recently acquired 1.8 million sf distribution center at 760 Encore Drive at TURTLECREEK TOWNSHIP, OH. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

MISSOURI:

Farm, ranch, and home store retailer is planning for a 465,000 sf expansion and equipment upgrades on their distribution center in LEES SUMMIT, MO. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

KANSAS:

Food product mfr. is planning to invest $21 million for the expansion and equipment upgrades on their processing facility in TOPEKA, KS. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

ILLINOIS:

Food products mfr. is planning for the construction of a 140,000 sf processing facility in WINFIELD, IL. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in early Spring 2026, with completion slated for Spring 2027.

ABOUT INDUSTRIAL SALESLEADS, INC.

Since 1959, Industrial SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team. Visit us at https://salesleadsinc.com.

Each month, our team provides hundreds of industrial reports within a variety of industries, including:

• Industrial Manufacturing
• Plastics
• Food and Beverage
• Metals
• Power Generation
• Pulp Paper and Wood
• Oil and Gas
• Mining and Aggregates
• Chemical
• Research and Development
• Distribution and Supply Chain
• Pipelines
• Pharmaceutical
• Industrial Buildings
• Waste Water Treatment
• Data Centers

LEARN MORE:

https://www.salesleadsinc.com/industry/food-and-beverage/

https://www.salesleadsinc.com/data-solutions/industrial-project-reports/

BLOG: https://www.salesleadsinc.com/blog/

News Source: Industrial SalesLeads Inc

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Source: https://www.send2press.com/wire/food-and-beverage-industry-posts-modest-growth-with-50-new-planned-industrial-projects-in-february-2026/

SEATTLE, Wash., March 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — 3rd3rd Marketing, the nation’s leading “Un-Senior Living Agency,” is kicking off its 2026 conference season, sharing insights into how senior living communities connect with older adults. Led by CEO and President Cynthia Thurlow, the 3rd3rd team will highlight senior living marketing strategies that challenge assumptions about aging as more adults enter the “third third” of their lives.

Image caption: 3rd3rd Marketing, the nation’s leading “Un-Senior Living Agency,” is kicking off its 2026 conference season, sharing insights into how senior living communities connect with older adults and tell their stories to stand out as community benefit organizations.

“Senior living nonprofit communities face more scrutiny than ever from the press and taxing entities,” says Thurlow. “We look forward to sharing practical strategies that help mission-driven organizations celebrate aging with authenticity and tell their stories to stand out as community benefit organizations.”

The team will share key concepts, including aligning marketing with mission to strengthen brand reputation, deepen resident engagement and communicate community impact, at the following conferences:

AJAS Annual Conference | March 15-18 | San Francisco

3rd3rd’s Thurlow will join AJAS CEO Ruth Katz at the organization’s “Creating Tomorrow, Together” conference, which brings together leaders who are shaping what’s next in the Jewish aging services community. In addition, 3rd3rd’s business partners will be presenting: Stuart Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Amba, will discuss personalized care and data-driven insights; and Susan Ryan, CEO of AgingIN, will present “Empowering Leaders, Empowering Care: Building Culture” at The New Jewish Home-Manhattan, respectively.

LeadingAge SC | March 16-18 | Kiawah Island

At LeadingAge South Carolina, Amy Estridge of 3rd3rd Marketing will join Ezra Hall and Richelle Grimes of The Woodlands at Furman for “From Nonprofit to Community Benefit Organization: How Powerful Community Engagement Builds Your Brand and Protects Your Tax Status.” They’ll cover the successful launch of the Max and Trude Heller Center for Community Engagement, which helped create a structured, measurable way to connect residents and volunteers with 10 Greenville-area nonprofit organizations, including local food banks and schools.

MHS Association’s The Gathering | March 24-26

Indianapolis – At this conference, which brings together human service leaders from five faith traditions: Presbyterian, Mennonite, Quaker, Methodist and United Church of Christ, Thurlow will address how nonprofit organizations benefit from becoming known as Community Benefit Organizations along with Colleen Ryan Mallon, Frasier Life Plan Community, Chief Growth Officer and Aaron Rulnick, HJ Sims, Managing Principal.

ABOUT 3RD3RD MARKETING

3rd3rd Marketing is the “Un-Senior Living Agency,” partnering with senior living communities and mission-driven aging services organizations globally. By dismantling stereotypes and replacing them with aspirational narratives, 3rd3rd helps organizations build authentic connections, increase engagement, and achieve lasting impact. For more information, visit: https://3rd3rd.com/.

MULTIMEDIA

Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0312-s2p-3^rd3rd-300dpi.webp

Image caption: 3rd3rd Marketing, the nation’s leading “Un-Senior Living Agency,” is kicking off its 2026 conference season, sharing insights into how senior living communities connect with older adults and tell their stories to stand out as community benefit organizations.

News Source: 3rd3rd Marketing

To view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/3rd3rd-marketing-shares-the-stage-at-national-conferences-to-redefine-senior-living-engagement/.

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Source: https://www.send2press.com/wire/3rd3rd-marketing-shares-the-stage-at-national-conferences-to-redefine-senior-living-engagement/

AUSTIN, Texas, March 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced the rebrand of its point-of-sale (POS) experience as XpressEquity, along with a refreshed Encompass® by ICE Mortgage Technology® integration that delivers a streamlined, end-to-end digital workflow for home equity originations. Together, the platform is designed to help Encompass lenders close home equity loans in as little as 5–10 days.

Image caption: FirstClose Unveils XpressEquity with Enhanced Encompass Integration.

Purpose-built around the loan origination system (LOS) as the system of record, FirstClose’s Encompass-integrated platform combines a borrower-facing digital application and borrower portal with a back-end Order Management System (OMS) for valuation and settlement services, so lenders can deliver a consistent experience from application through closing. Lenders can deploy the full platform end-to-end or implement standalone components based on their specific needs.

Notable results from lenders using these three platforms include up to a 77% reduction in time to close from application to funding, a 35% increase in online applications submitted and a 25% improvement in conversion and pull-through rates.

“Today’s borrowers expect speed and simplicity when accessing home equity,” said Tedd Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of FirstClose. “With XpressEquity as an anchor front-end experience and our refreshed Encompass integration connecting the operational workflow on the back end, we’re helping lenders automate key steps, improve operational consistency and deliver a more efficient experience from application through closing.”

XpressEquity provides immediate feedback on home valuation, available equity and loan options to help build borrower confidence early in the process. It supports rapid credit decisions and feeds data directly to the lender’s pricing engine, enabling instant pre-approved offers with complete documentation. As part of the Encompass integration, loan information is populated directly into Encompass, eliminating manual data re-entry and streamlining the workflow.

FirstClose’s OMS streamlines fulfillment by connecting lenders with providers that offer critical settlement services, including valuation, flood and title. Using intelligent automation and an order logic flow based on lender-defined business rules, the system can automatically select vendors, and administrators can also auto-assign by product, loan type and geography, while supporting flexible ordering options ranging from one-click à la carte ordering to fully automated ordering. All documents flow to the LOS eFolder, while data automatically populates the appropriate fields, including custom fields, and is supported by dashboards and standard reports to monitor statuses, score providers and improve vendor relationships.

The platform also includes a secure borrower portal that connects loan data and files from the digital application, LOS and OMS to simplify interactions between borrowers, providers and the lender’s team. Driven by the loan number assigned from the LOS, borrowers can complete initial disclosures, track to-do items and upload documents.

FirstClose will demonstrate the enhanced Encompass integration at ICE Experience 2026 this March. Encompass users can learn more by visiting https://www.firstclose.com/integrations-ice/ or calling 877-677-3282 to schedule a demonstration.

About FirstClose

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, FirstClose, Inc. provides fintech solutions to HELOC and mortgage lenders nationwide. The company’s mission is to increase profitability and reduce costs for mortgage lenders. FirstClose makes this possible through offering systems and relationships that enable lenders to assist their borrowers more effectively, reduce closing costs, and ultimately shorten closing times. For more information, visit firstclose.com.

News Source: FirstClose

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