The golden rule for responding to negative customer feedback, whether in-person or online, is to acknowledge what the complainant has to say, and to do what you can to resolve the issue quickly (and quietly).

Far too many companies, however, choose to ignore feedback. For more on why that's an awful ideal, check out our friend Erik Johnson's article, "How to Respond to a Negative Post."

And then there those are businesses that lash out at clients who have less-than-positive things to say. (As you can imagine, this never goes over well.) Case in point: Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The restaurant was recently featured on the season finale of "Kitchen Nightmares," and ticked off host Gordon Ramsay so much that he felt they were beyond help and walked out. (That's never, ever happened before. Huge red flag.)

As if that wasn't enough negative publicity for Amy's Baking Company, after receiving a string of customer backlash yesterday via social media, owners Amy and Samy Bouzaglo went off the wall. Read this Huffington Post piece to see just how bad it got. (Warning: NSFW.)

And it gets worse. Later that day, the posts disappeared, and the owners claimed that they'd been hacked: 

The moral of the story is... well, there are a couple of morals to this story.

1. If you want customers to perceive your business as thriving and well-run, you probably shouldn't agree to appear on a TV show about how badly you need help.

2. Learn to suck up your pride and take good advice.

3. Own up to your mistakes.

4. Aim to make your customers happy. (Not throwing insults at them on Facebook is a good start.)

What other tips do you have for avoiding an Amy's Baking Company-esque PR disaster?

P.S. Need help repairing your brand's reputation? We've got a few promotional ideas we think you'll love...

Parties, concerts and BBQs -- they're all better when you add beach balls to the mix. Have you thought about adding your branding to these fun summertime giveaways? Here's why it's a good idea:

1. Beach balls scream "SUMMER!"

There's no better way to kick off the summer season than by handing out beach balls at beaches and parks this Memorial Day weekend. It's the "unofficial start of summer," and people are ready to start celebrating. This promotional idea works especially well if your company is seasonal (ice cream shops, landscaping companies, etc.).

2. Beach balls add fun

No matter what the event or occasion, throw in some beach balls and it's instantly more fun. I've seen it happen at restaurants, bars and even performances. It gets the crowd pumped and improves the overall mood. Even better, when you add your company's name and logo to beach balls, recipients automatically associate your brand with the great time they're having.

3. Beach balls have a large imprint area

Without getting too technical, beach balls generally have a good-sized imprint area. What does that mean? It means that your business' logo will be easy-to-see. Plus, if you're creating beach balls for an awareness event (like a 5K, for example), you have plenty of room to add a message of support for your cause.

So get your beach balls in time for summer, and watch your brand exposure soar!

It's graduation season! Whether you're celebrating the little ones' moving up ceremony or congratulating those headed off to university, you're going to need a good gift. Let's go over what's hot right now.

1. Hoodies & t-shirts

Students love wearing their school pride; that's nothing new. But don't you want to buy apparel that's fashionable? Motivators offers trendy promotional clothing that your recipients are sure to fall in love with.  

2. Electronics

Kids these days are more tech-savvy than ever. If you want to give the graduating class something they'll really use, shop for popular electronics products and accessories. For example, at Motivators.com you'll find everything from iPad cases to microfiber cloths.

3. Kitchen & houseware

Need a little something to give to college graduates? Help them get started on life after school with gifts for the home. There are lots of options to choose from, including drinkware, measuring utensils and even ornaments.

Once you've chosen the perfect graudation present, be sure to add your school's name and logo. Students will hold onto your gift for the rest of their lives!

Whether you're holding a BBQ or promoting a sale this Memorial Day, you're going to need a lot of red, white and blue.

Did you know that Motivators offers a great selection of American promotional products? We've got everything from patriotic stress relievers to star-spangled beach balls. Let's take a look at our top three Memorial Day giveaways:

1. USA beach balls

For a patriotic twist on a classic summertime toy, choose our star-spangled beach ball. This fun product is perfect for everything from pool parties to summer sales.

2. USA maracas

You're probably thinking "in what way are maracas patriotic?" But these red, white and blue noisemakers are perfect for shaking up the annual Memorial Day barbecue.

3. Seeded paper holiday cards

Memorial Day is the perfect time to get to work on the garden. That's what makes this seed paper holiday card so great! It's got a beautiful flag design on the cover, and contains seeds that when planted will sprout in a week or less. Mail them home to customers to promote your holiday sale! 

Which patriotic giveaway is your favorite?

If you want to start your week out on an emotional note (and who wouldn't?), you've got to check out Apple's latest iPhone 5 ad. Because it gives us feels, and in the best way possible.

The TV spot shows people across the world using the iPhone 5's popular camera for a variety of reasons, from recording a live concert to sharing photos of custom food products on Instagram.

Apple's new commercial makes you feel like the camera, and indeed the iPhone 5, was designed with you in mind. And there's something about the soft piano playing in the background that reeks of nostalgia.

Watch it below:

P.S. Don't you think the video is vaguely reminiscent of our custom cell phone cases commercial?

Have you ever participated in the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)'s Day of Silence? It's an annual awareness initiative that invites students to take a 24-hour vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and its supporters.

The event takes place each year on April 20, but because it fell on a Saturday this year, schools recognized the Day of Silence on Friday, April 19 instead.

I'd never heard about the GLSEN's campaign until I noticed my sister's wristband on Friday morning before I left for work. She explained to me that she'd be participating in the Day of Silence in support of a few of her friends. I couldn't resist taking a few photos of the awesome silicon wristbands, which I often see used as trade show giveaways. Check them out below: 

It goes to show that even a simple awareness bracelet can spark important discussion. The best part is that custom silicone bracelets can be used for any cause! Will you use one to promote your next campaign?

Although it was released last week to musicians, Twitter's new music app is officially available to all iPhone users today.

According to CNN, "Twitter's new app, which is separate from its primary social network, helps users find music based on the bands and artists they follow." It suggests artists a user might like, making it easy to discover new music. Plus, it even shows users what music the people they're following are listening to. (Look at a screenshot below, courtesy of Twitter.) 

So where does the music come from? The folks at Twitter say it's a mishmash of Spotify, Rdio and iTunes. In fact, iTunes previews will even play automatically within the app. Nice!

Twitter is clearly looking to expand its reach, first with Vine and now with #Music, both of which are separate from the main Twitter app.

It's time to whip out the headphones and start exploring new tunes!

Most people knew Pat Summerall for his iconic voice. After all, the former New York Giants kicker's broadcast career spanned six decades. But Summerall holds a special place in our hearts here at Motivators (and not just because we love football).

In 2008, the broadcaster signed on as a spokesperson for Motivators. Summerall greeted visitors to Motivators.com with that famous voice. "Put your trust in Motivators for quality products, excellent pricing and the highest level of service," he said.

We'll never forget Summerall and his commitment to football, sports broadcasting and the Motivators brand. May he rest in peace.

Life has been good to Alicia Keys over the past year, and now the singer is ready to give back.

On Monday, the Grammy Award-winning artist flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of an HIV program at United Medical Center. According to the AP, the women opened up to Keys, sharing "their experiences with the virus, including the fear and stigma associated with the disease."

Keys, who has met with women with HIV across the world, says it's time to connect conversations about the virus, both here and abroad. With the help of the Kaiser Family Foundation, Keys supports "Empowered," a campaign that aims to raise awareness about HIV, especially among women. "Empowered" also provides funding to community-based organizations with the same goal. 

Way to go, Alicia! We love that you're part of such an important awareness initiative.

P.S. I couldn't help but notice that the 'Empowered' logo would look great on a custom printed pen. Just sayin'!

Did you know that over the past three years, approximately 500,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs were created? Sure, the American economy still isn't what it used to be, but an increase in products made in the USA is a trend that can only help.

Time reports that some of our nation's most successful companies have jumped on board:

"Apple, famous for the city-size factories in China that produce its gadgets, decided to assemble one of its Mac computer lines in the U.S. Walmart, which pioneered global sourcing to find the lowest-priced goods for customers, said it would pump up spending with American suppliers by $50 billion over the next decade — and save money by doing so. And Airbus will build JetBlue’s new jets in Alabama."

Not too shabby. And if the trend continues, America certainly could make an impressive comeback. According to Time, for every $1 of manufacturing activity, the American economy gets $1.48 in return. That's amazing.

Buying U.S-made is easier than you think, too. In fact, Motivators offers a vast selection of promotional products made in the USA, which includes everything from promotional diaries to mugs.