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S&P 500 Q1 2024 Buybacks Increase 8.1% from Q4 2023; 12-month Expenditure Declines 4.8% from Previous Year, Earnings Per Share Impact Reverses Showing First Gain in Five Quarters; Buybacks Tax Results in a 0.47% Reduction in Q1 Operating Earnings and 0.41% Reduction in 12-month Earnings

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S&P 500 Q1 2024 buybacks were $236.8 billion, up 8.1% from Q4 2023’s $219.1 billion and up 9.9% from Q1 2023’s $215.5 billionThe 12-month March 2024 expenditure of $816.5 billion was down 4.8% from the prior 12-month expenditure of $857.2 billion Consumer Staples increased spending by 32.7%, as Consumer Discretionary reduced spending by 44.1%; Information Technology ticked up 1.8% and Health Care jumped 93.5% The net buyback 1% tax reduced Q1 2024 operating earnings by 0.47% and As Reported GAAP by 0.54%

NEW YORK, June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) today announced the preliminary S&P 500® stock buybacks or share repurchases data for Q1 2024.

Historical data on S&P 500 buybacks is available at www.spdji.com/indices/equity/sp-500.

Key Takeaways:

Q1 2024 share repurchases were $236.8 billion, up 8.1% from Q4 2023’s $219.1 billion expenditure, and up 9.9% from Q1 2023’s $215.5 billion.For the 12-months ending March 2024, buybacks were $816.5 billion, down from $867.2 billion for the prior 12-month March 2023 period; the 12-month peak was in June 2022 with $1.005 trillion.352 companies reported buybacks of at least $5 million for the quarter, up from 313 in Q4 2023 and down from 358 in Q1 2023; 380 companies did some buybacks for the quarter, up from 373 in Q4 2023 and down from 390 in Q1 2023; 419 companies did some buybacks in the last 12-month period, down from 432 in the prior 12-month period.Buybacks concentration declined but remained top heavy, with the top 20 S&P 500 companies accounting for 50.9% of Q1 2024 buybacks, down from Q4 2023’s 54.1%, but above the historical average of 47.5%, and above the pre-COVID historical average of 44.5%.13.3% of companies reduced share counts used for earnings per share (EPS) by at least 4% year-over-year, up from Q4 2023’s 12.6% and down from Q1 2023’s 18.5%, it was the first EPS impact increase since Q3 2022; for Q1 2024 196 issues increased their shares used for EPS over Q4 2023, and 255 reduced them.S&P 500 Q1 2024 dividends decreased 1.6% to $151.6 billion from the prior Q4 2023 record of $154.1 billion and were 3.3% greater than the $146.8 billion in Q1 2023. For the 12-month’s ending March 2024, dividends set a record $593.1 billion payments, up 3.4% on an aggregate basis from the prior 12-month March 2023’s $573.7 billion.Total shareholders return of buybacks and dividends increased to $388.4 billion in Q1 2024, up 4.1% from Q4 2023’s $373.2 billion and up 7.2% from Q1 2023’s $362.3 billion. Total shareholder returns for the 12-months ending March 2024 decreased 1.5% to $1.410 trillion from the prior 12-month March 2023’s $1.431 trillion.The 1% tax on net buybacks, which started in 2023, reduced the Q1 2024 S&P 500 operating earnings by 0.47%, up from Q4 2023’s 0.44% impact, and As Reported GAAP earnings by 0.54% up from the prior 0.50%; for the 12-month March 2024 period they reduced earnings 0.41% for operating and 0.46% for As Reported.

“The share count impact on EPS increased for the first time after five consecutive quarters of declines as companies increased their overall buyback expenditure by 8%, which countered the impact of both share issuance and employee options being exercised. While buybacks supported share price, 13.3% of the issues saw a significant increase (of at least 4%) in their EPS due to share count reduction, compared to 18.5% in Q1 2023. For Q1 2024, more issues did buybacks and spent more. While the 13.3% remains lower than the 17.5% average and pales compared to the almost 25% rate posted in Q1 2019, the increase comes after five quarters of declines, and hints to a forward upswing. Companies with strong cashflows continued to aggressively do buybacks, as the top 20 issues accounted for 50.9% of the buybacks in Q1 2024,” said Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

“Given the market’s current expectations for interest rates to decline later in the year and the continued uncertainty over geopolitical and domestic issues, companies may be shy to finance buybacks going forward as discretionary buybacks, which reduce share count, may need to be financed from ongoing operations. Top-tier cash-flow issues however are seen as continuing their buybacks and positively impacting their EPS.”

1% Buyback Excise Tax:

The 1% excise tax on net buybacks reduced Q1 2024 operating earnings by 0.47%, up from Q4 2023’s 0.44% and up from the 0.45% for Q1 2023. The 12-month impact was 0.41%, up from 2023’s 40% and down from the proforma 2022 of 0.51%. The tax on As Reported GAAP earnings impact increased to 0.54%, up from the Q4 2023 0.50% and up from the Q1 2023 0.49%. The 12-month impact was 0.46%, up from 2023’s 0.45% and down from the proforma 2022 0.58%.

Silverblatt added: “The 1% tax remains an expense but has not impacted overall buybacks at this point. However, given the initial 1% buyback tax had bipartisan support and remains an attractive cash generator for the government, there is an expectation that some increase or potential change to the type of buybacks that are taxed will remain on the table following the election cycle. Given the current corporate sensitivity to costs, a buyback tax rate of 2%-to-2.5% was seen as impacting both buybacks and the EPS impact of share-count-reduction (which is already at a lower level due to high stock prices). This is because some of the expenditures may shift from buybacks to dividends. However, any shift would not be on a-dollar-for-dollar basis as dividends remain a long-term pure cash-flow item which must be incorporated into corporate budgets.”

Q1 2024 GICS® Sector Analysis:

Information Technology maintained its lead in buybacks, representing 24.2% of all buybacks for the quarter. Q1 2024 expenditures increased 1.8% to $57.3 billion, compared to Q4 2023’s $56.3 billion, it was up 24.8% from Q1 2023’s $45.9 billion expenditure. For the 12-months ending March 2024, the sector decreased their expenditure 11.4% to $209.3 billion, representing 25.6% of all S&P 500 buybacks, compared to $236.3 billion spent in the prior 12-month period ending March 2023, which represented 27.6% of all buybacks.

Financials increased their buybacks by 46.5% for Q1 2024 as they spent $43.1 billion on buybacks, accounting for 18.2% of all S&P 500 buybacks. This was up for the quarter compared to Q4 2023’s expenditure of $29.4 billion, but down from Q1 2023’s $46.9 billion. For the 12-month March 2024 period, Financials spent $134.5 billion, up from $113.6 billion for the prior 12-month period.

Healthcare significantly increased their Q1 2024 expenditure by 93.5%, spending $25.5 billion, compared to the Q4 2023 expenditure of $13.2 billion and up 10.0% from the Q1 2023 $23.2 billion expenditure. For the 12-months ending March 2024, the sector spent $67.1 billion, down from the prior period’s expenditure of $84.9 billion.

Consumer Staples increased their spending in Q1 2024 by 32.7% to $12.0 billion, up from the prior $9.0 billion and up 90.9% from the Q1 2023 expenditure of $6.3 billion.

Consumer Discretionary decreased their spending by 44.1% to $16.1 billion from Q4 2023’s $28.7 billion and was 12.3% lower than the $18.3 billion spent in Q1 2023.

Issues:

The five issues with the highest total buybacks for Q1 2024 were:

Apple (AAPL): continued to dominate the issue level buybacks, as it again spent the most of any issue with its Q1 2024 expenditure ranking as the 6th highest in S&P 500 history. For the quarter, the company spent $23.5 billion, up from Q4 2023’s $22.7 billion (the 10th largest in index history). Apple holds 18 of the top 20 record quarters (Meta Platforms holds #14 and QUALCOMM holds #16). For the 12-months ending March 2024, Apple spent $87.4 billion on buybacks, down from the prior 12-month period’s $91.1 billion. Over the five-year period Apple has spent $429 billion, and $664 billion over the ten-year period.Meta Platforms (META): $18.2 billion for Q1 2024, up from the $8.2 billion in Q4 2023; the 12-month expenditure was $34.6 billion versus the prior expenditure of $31.5 billion.Alphabet (GOOG/L): $15.7 billion for Q1 2024, down from $16.2 billion in Q4 2023; the 12-month expenditure was $62.6 billion versus $60.6 billion.NVIDA (NVDA): $9.5 billion for Q1 2024, up from $3.5 billion in Q4 2023; the 12-month expenditure was $21.3 billion versus $9.5 billion.Wells Fargo (WFC): $6.0 billion for Q1 2024, up from $2.4 billion in Q4 2023; the 12-month expenditure was $13.8 billion versus 2022’s $4.0 billion.

For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit  https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/.

S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P 500 proforma net buyback tax impact

TAX

TAX % OF

TAX % OF

$ BILLIONS

OPERATING

AS REPORTED

12 Mo Mar,’24

$7.44

0.41 %

0.46 %

12 Mo Mar,’23

$7.88

0.47 %

0.54 %

Q1 2024

$2.18

0.47 %

0.54 %

Q4 2023

$2.02

0.44 %

0.50 %

Q3 2023

$1.70

0.39 %

0.42 %

Q2 2023

$1.55

0.34 %

0.38 %

Q1 2023

$1.98

0.45 %

0.49 %

2023

$7.47

0.40 %

0.45 %

2022 proforma

$8.47

0.51 %

0.58 %

2021 proforma

$7.93

0.45 %

0.47 %

 

S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P 500, $ U.S. BILLIONS

(preliminary in bold)

PERIOD

MARKET

OPERATING

AS REPORTED

DIVIDEND &

VALUE

EARNINGS

EARNINGS

DIVIDENDS

BUYBACKS

DIVIDEND 

BUYBACK 

BUYBACK 

$ BILLIONS

$ BILLIONS

$ BILLIONS

$ BILLIONS

$ BILLIONS

YIELD

YIELD

YIELD

12 Mo Mar,’24 Prelim.

$44,078

$1,808.90

$1,606.39

$593.08

$816.45

1.35 %

1.85 %

3.20 %

12 Mo Mar,’23

$34,342

$1,678.59

$1,469.32

$573.73

$857.20

1.67 %

2.50 %

4.17 %

2023

$40,039

$1,787.36

$1,610.73

$588.23

$795.16

1.47 %

1.99 %

3.46 %

2022

$32,133

$1,656.66

$1,453.43

$564.57

$922.68

1.76 %

2.87 %

4.63 %

2021

$40,356

$1,762.75

$1,675.22

$511.23

$881.72

1.27 %

2.18 %

3.45 %

2020

$31,659

$1,019.04

$784.21

$483.18

$519.76

1.53 %

1.64 %

3.17 %

2019

$26,760

$1,304.76

$1,158.22

$485.48

$728.74

1.81 %

2.72 %

4.54 %

2018

$21,027

$1,281.66

$1,119.43

$456.31

$806.41

2.17 %

3.84 %

6.01 %

3/28/2024 Prelim.

$44,078

$460.63

$400.23

$151.61

$236.82

1.35 %

1.85 %

3.20 %

12/31/2023

$40,039

$452.44

$401.16

$154.10

$219.09

1.47 %

1.99 %

3.46 %

9/30/2023

$35,938

$437.90

$399.35

$144.18

$185.62

1.61 %

2.19 %

3.81 %

6/30/2023

$37,162

$457.93

$405.66

$143.20

$174.92

1.55 %

2.19 %

3.74 %

3/31/2023

$34,342

$439.08

$404.57

$146.76

$215.53

1.67 %

2.50 %

4.17 %

12/31/2022

$32,133

$421.55

$331.50

$146.07

$211.19

1.76 %

2.87 %

4.63 %

9/30/2022

$30,119

$422.94

$373.04

$140.34

$210.84

1.83 %

3.26 %

5.09 %

6/30/2022

$31,903

$395.02

$360.21

$140.56

$219.64

1.70 %

3.15 %

4.85 %

3/31/2022

$38,288

$417.16

$388.68

$137.60

$281.01

1.37 %

2.57 %

3.94 %

12/31/2021

$40,356

$480.35

$456.72

$133.90

$270.10

1.27 %

2.18 %

3.45 %

9/30/2021

$36,538

$441.26

$420.64

$130.04

$234.64

1.37 %

2.03 %

3.40 %

6/30/2021

$36,325

$439.95

$409.02

$123.38

$198.84

1.33 %

1.68 %

3.01 %

3/31/2021

$33,619

$401.19

$388.84

$123.91

$178.13

1.43 %

1.48 %

2.91 %

12/31/2020

$31,659

$321.81

$265.00

$121.62

$130.59

1.53 %

1.64 %

3.17 %

9/30/2020

$27,868

$314.06

$273.29

$115.54

$101.79

1.75 %

2.05 %

3.80 %

6/30/2020

$25,637

$221.53

$147.44

$119.04

$88.66

1.93 %

2.52 %

4.45 %

3/31/2020

$21,424

$161.64

$98.48

$126.98

$198.72

2.31 %

3.37 %

5.68 %

 

S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P 500 SECTOR BUYBACKS

SECTOR $ MILLIONS

Q1,’24

Q4,’23

Q1,’23

12MoMar,’24

12MoMar,’23

5-YEARS

10-YEARS

Consumer Discretionary

$16,059

$28,716

$18,301

$81,248

$84,301

$360,610

$793,279

Consumer Staples

$11,998

$9,042

$6,284

$30,318

$35,294

$157,523

$370,235

Energy

$14,157

$16,060

$19,304

$64,703

$74,534

$179,256

$275,563

Financials

$43,087

$29,418

$46,891

$134,549

$113,632

$710,002

$1,283,424

Healthcare

$25,522

$13,188

$23,194

$67,077

$84,941

$376,507

$783,092

Industrials

$16,854

$27,112

$14,239

$70,837

$71,589

$304,040

$656,239

Information Technology

$57,290

$56,283

$45,923

$209,260

$236,303

$1,135,899

$1,976,566

Materials

$5,241

$2,963

$3,773

$16,636

$24,725

$91,030

$159,612

Real Estate

$620

$243

$526

$1,787

$3,174

$11,962

$20,741

Communication Services

$45,126

$34,715

$35,797

$137,232

$126,691

$538,868

$573,389

Utilities

$868

$1,353

$1,299

$2,806

$2,018

$13,374

$21,088

TOTAL

$236,823

$219,091

$215,532

$816,454

$857,202

$3,879,073

$6,913,228

SECTOR BUYBACK MAKEUP %

Q1,’24

Q4,’23

Q1,’23

12MoMar,’24

12MoMar,’23

5-YEARS

10-YEARS

Consumer Discretionary

6.78 %

13.11 %

8.49 %

9.95 %

9.83 %

9.30 %

11.47 %

Consumer Staples

5.07 %

4.13 %

2.92 %

3.71 %

4.12 %

4.06 %

5.36 %

Energy

5.98 %

7.33 %

8.96 %

7.92 %

8.70 %

4.62 %

3.99 %

Financials

18.19 %

13.43 %

21.76 %

16.48 %

13.26 %

18.30 %

18.56 %

Healthcare

10.78 %

6.02 %

10.76 %

8.22 %

9.91 %

9.71 %

11.33 %

Industrials

7.12 %

12.37 %

6.61 %

8.68 %

8.35 %

7.84 %

9.49 %

Information Technology

24.19 %

25.69 %

21.31 %

25.63 %

27.57 %

29.28 %

28.59 %

Materials

2.21 %

1.35 %

1.75 %

2.04 %

2.88 %

2.35 %

2.31 %

Real Estate

0.26 %

0.11 %

0.24 %

0.22 %

0.37 %

0.31 %

0.30 %

Communication Services

19.05 %

15.85 %

16.61 %

16.81 %

14.78 %

13.89 %

8.29 %

Utilities

0.37 %

0.62 %

0.60 %

0.34 %

0.24 %

0.34 %

0.31 %

TOTAL

100.00 %

100.00 %

100.00 %

100.00 %

100.00 %

100.00 %

100.00 %

 

S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P 500 20 LARGEST Q1 2024 BUYBACKS, $ MILLIONS 

Company  

Ticker

Sector

Q1 2024

Q4 2023

Q1 2023

12-Months

12-Months

5-Year

10-Year

Indicated

Buybacks

Buybacks

Buybacks

Mar,’24

Mar,’23

Buybacks

Buybacks

Dividend

$ Million

$ Million

$ Million

$ Million

$ Million

$ Million

$ Million

$ Million

Apple

AAPL

Information Technology

$23,489

$22,730

$20,012

$87,397

$91,101

$429,133

$663,869

$14,515

Meta Platforms

META

Communication Services

$18,170

$8,165

$10,374

$34,582

$31,494

$141,809

$164,319

$4,400

Alphabet

GOOGL

Communication Services

$15,696

$16,191

$14,557

$62,643

$60,553

$233,290

$255,709

$4,714

NVIDIA 

NVDA

Information Technology

$9,492

$3,500

$507

$21,301

$9,493

$36,508

$42,667

$988

Wells Fargo 

WFC

Financials

$6,001

$2,350

$4,016

$13,836

$4,031

$62,351

$124,396

$5,038

Caterpillar

CAT

Industrials

$4,455

$2,790

$400

$9,054

$3,812

$20,781

$29,856

$2,647

Microsoft 

MSFT

Information Technology

$4,213

$4,000

$5,509

$18,748

$25,298

$122,971

$191,972

$22,291

Cigna Group 

CI

Health Care

$4,022

$544

$962

$5,344

$7,201

$27,222

$32,558

$1,638

T-Mobile US

TMUS

Communication Services

$3,786

$2,213

$4,806

$12,351

$7,877

$40,747

$43,007

$1,358

UnitedHealth Group 

UNH

Health Care

$3,072

$1,500

$2,000

$9,072

$6,500

$29,820

$44,399

$7,769

CVS Health 

CVS

Health Care

$3,058

$5

$2,052

$3,199

$3,860

$9,432

$25,539

$3,347

Exxon Mobil

XOM

Energy

$3,011

$4,656

$4,340

$16,419

$17,428

$36,647

$52,781

$17,152

Thermo Fisher Scientific 

TMO

Health Care

$3,000

$0

$3,000

$3,000

$4,000

$13,358

$17,111

$603

Chevron 

CVX

Energy

$2,891

$3,397

$3,607

$13,962

$12,410

$31,483

$36,332

$11,309

JPMorgan Chase 

JPM

Financials

$2,832

$2,275

$2,690

$9,966

$3,397

$59,653

$119,209

$13,299

Visa

V

Financials

$2,767

$3,752

$2,200

$13,323

$9,967

$51,837

$82,702

$3,290

Goldman Sachs 

GS

Financials

$2,752

$1,001

$3,825

$6,068

$6,889

$28,031

$58,509

$3,587

Comcast 

CMCSA

Communication Services

$2,664

$3,521

$2,176

$11,779

$12,281

$32,746

$59,351

$4,913

Berkshire Hathaway

BRK.b

Financials

$2,562

$2,193

$4,450

$7,283

$9,124

$74,619

$77,550

$0

Bank of America 

BAC

Financials

$2,500

$811

$2,215

$4,861

$4,638

$66,181

$113,071

$6,610

Top 20   

$120,433

$85,594

$93,698

$364,188

$331,354

$1,548,619

$2,234,907

$129,470

S&P 500

$236,823

$219,091

$215,532

$816,454

$857,202

$3,879,073

$6,913,228

$617,469

Top 20 % of S&P 500

50.85 %

39.07 %

43.47 %

44.61 %

38.66 %

39.92 %

32.33 %

20.97 %

   Gross values are not adjusted for float

 

S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P 500 Q1 2024 Buyback Report

SECTOR

DIVIDEND

BUYBACK 

COMBINED

YIELD

YIELD

YIELD

Consumer Discretionary

0.79 %

1.87 %

2.67 %

Consumer Staples

2.59 %

1.20 %

3.79 %

Energy

3.19 %

3.89 %

7.08 %

Financials

1.70 %

2.40 %

4.11 %

HealthCare

1.65 %

1.23 %

2.88 %

Industrials

1.47 %

1.92 %

3.39 %

Information Technology

0.66 %

1.46 %

2.12 %

Materials

1.86 %

1.66 %

3.52 %

Real Estate

3.70 %

0.19 %

3.88 %

Communications Services

1.13 %

4.10 %

5.23 %

Utilities

3.24 %

0.35 %

3.59 %

S&P 500

1.40 %

1.86 %

3.25 %

   Uses full values (unadjusted for float)

   Dividends based on indicated; buybacks based on the last 12-months ending Q1,’24

 

Share Count Changes

(Y/Y diluted shares used for EPS)

>=4%

<=-4%

Q1 2024

4.62 %

13.25 %

Q4 2023

3.81 %

12.63 %

Q3 2023

4.60 %

13.80 %

Q2 2023

4.22 %

16.27 %

Q1 2023

4.02 %

18.47 %

Q4 2022

5.01 %

19.44 %

Q3 2022

7.21 %

21.24 %

Q2 2022

8.42 %

19.84 %

Q1 2022

7.62 %

17.64 %

Q4 2021

10.06 %

14.89 %

Q3 2021

10.22 %

7.41 %

Q2 2021

11.02 %

5.41 %

Q1 2021

10.40 %

5.80 %

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P Dow Jones Indices has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit: https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/.

S&P Dow Jones Indices Media Contacts:
April Kabahar
(+1) 917 796 3121
april.kabahar@spglobal.com

Alyssa Augustyn
(+1) 773 919 4732
alyssa.augustyn@spglobal.com

S&P Dow Jones Indices Index Services:
Howard Silverblatt
Senior Index Analyst
(+1) 973 769 2306
howard.silverblatt@spglobal.com 

 

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Technology

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More Ends 2024 With Steady Growth and Major Innovations

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January 15, 2025

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Big Frog celebrates a year of progress with five new locations, the launch of an e-commerce solution and additional initiatives to enhance franchisee success nationwide.

DUNEDIN, Fla.  , Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, a leader in custom apparel franchising with over 75 locations across the U.S., is celebrating a successful 2024 full of new initiatives and growth.

“Our focus in 2024 was on launching and refining our new point-of-sale system, a critical investment in the future of our franchisees,” said Tina Bacon-DeFrece, founder and CEO of Big Frog. “This initiative laid the foundation for even greater success as we continue to enhance operations and support our stores.”

Revenue growth for the year was approximately 5%, supported by robust digital marketing efforts and the introduction of Big Frog’s Success Program, which encourages franchisees to engage more actively in marketing planning. Stores that followed their plans closely experienced notable growth, showcasing the program’s potential.

Five new franchise locations opened in 2024, including exciting expansions into Stockton, California, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Although two additional locations were delayed due to permitting issues, they are set to open in early 2025.

“This year marked exciting expansion for Big Frog, including our first locations in Northern California and New Mexico,” said Bacon-DeFrece. “Our growth strategy, under the leadership of our new chief development officer, David Braun, is heavily focused on leveraging broker networks, digital initiatives, public relations, and organic search. It really has ignited interest across the country in our brand. We’re thrilled to expand into new regions while also strengthening our presence in areas like Florida, where local support is right in our backyard.”

Complementing these development efforts have been Big Frog’s existing franchisees, which have proven to be an excellent referral source and point of validation for prospective owners interested in the brand.

“We’ve refined our process over the years and now set up formal calls, which have been really nice for candidates because it sets expectations and dedicated times for them to speak one-on-one with our franchisees,” Bacon-DeFrece said. “That’s really made the validation process a lot easier for everyone since there is less back and forth.”

Big Frog is also taking a major step forward in leveraging technology to enhance its services and support franchisees. This year, the company focused on developing an innovative e-commerce platform that combines the convenience of online shopping with the personal touch of local fulfillment, setting the stage for its beta launch.

“Our e-commerce initiative has been one of the most exciting projects for Big Frog this year,” said Bacon-DeFrece. “We’re in the process of launching a national platform where customers can design and purchase custom apparel online, with fulfillment handled by our local stores. A key priority for us is ensuring fair revenue distribution across all locations, so every franchisee benefits whether they’re in a major metro area or a smaller market.”

In custom apparel trends, the brand saw increased demand for high-end corporate products like Carhartt and North Face items, as well as continued interest in promotional products. These offerings cater to clients seeking premium-quality branded merchandise.

“We now have access to a lot of those types of blank apparel to decorate,” said Bacon-DeFrece. “Our B2B customers really like that they get some really high end products, either for corporate gifts or for their team.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Big Frog aims to achieve double-digit revenue growth for its stores while exploring advancements in artificial intelligence to simplify store operations. The e-commerce solution, once fully launched, is expected to play a pivotal role in boosting franchisee revenue.

ABOUT BIG FROG CUSTOM T-SHIRTS & MORE:
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Dunedin, Florida, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More, Inc. is an international franchise system with over 75 independently owned and operated stores serving consumers and businesses across the U.S. and Canada. Big Frog specializes in direct to garment printing (DTG) and is a one-stop shop for all custom apparel decorating techniques, as well as branded promotional products. Big Frog offers free design help, no minimums, no art/setup fees, and fast turnaround. Find a store at BIGFROG.COM, U.S. franchise opportunities at BIGFROGFRANCHISE.COM, Canadian franchise opportunities at BIGFROG.CA, and Big Frog on YouTube.

Media Contact

Chad Cohen, Mainland, 3125263996, ccohen@hellomainland.com, www.hellomainland.com 

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/big-frog-custom-t-shirts–more-ends-2024-with-steady-growth-and-major-innovations-302351517.html

SOURCE Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More

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Technology

New Website Helps Consumers Navigate an Important Battery Choice for their EV or Hybrid Vehicle

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January 15, 2025

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East Penn has developed a new website to help navigate through the new ways batteries are being used in EV and Hybrid vehicles.

LYON STATION, Pa., Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — East Penn has developed a new website to help navigate through the new ways batteries are being used in EV and Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are more complex with different battery voltage systems within the same vehicle. They use both lithium and lead battery solutions, which are dependent on each other to operate a vehicle.

The lithium batteries that power the high voltage system are designed by the automotive manufacturer and most likely last for the life of the vehicle. However, the battery for the low voltage system will eventually need to be replaced. Making the right choice when replacing the 12-volt battery will protect both voltage systems. The battery that’s chosen could either enhance or hinder the overall performance and safety of the EV or Hybrid vehicle over time.

Traditional vehicles use a 12-volt battery to start the engine and to stabilize the electronics. Electric and Hybrid vehicles use the 12-volt battery for all types of safety critical and auxiliary power reasons. Here are a few:

Start-stop functions in micro hybridsStarting assistPowering cabin accessoriesSteer-by-wire power backupBrake-by-wire power backupOther smart controls or enhanced functions

It is more important than ever that the consumer understands the capabilities of the replacement battery for their EV or Hybrid. Battery manufacturers and distributors are beginning to designate their products so that the consumer has the reassurance that they have the right type of replacement battery to meet these safety-critical demands. East Penn has designated its Deka Intimidator line of AGM batteries with the EHP symbol that stands for Electric Hybrid Performance to help give the consumer added reassurance. It’s also important to note, that these lead batteries have achieved the highest Recycled Content (98%) Environmental validation from UL further accrediting them as one of the most sustainable products in the world.

East Penn is a leading manufacturer of high-quality lead batteries and accessories for the automotive, commercial, marine, motive power, UPS, and telecommunication markets. The company’s quality and environmental systems for its entire 520-acre complex have been certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO/TS 16949:2016, and ISO 14001:2015 requirements. To learn more about the company visit https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com. To learn more about the power you have to recycle visit https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/power2recycle.

Media Contact

Joel Brady, East Penn Manufacturing, Co., 1 610-682-6361 2740, jbrady@dekabatteries.com, https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/

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SOURCE East Penn Manufacturing, Co.

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Technology

Get Covered Welcomes Dharmesh Shroff as VP of Engineering

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January 15, 2025

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NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Get Covered, a leading renters insurance technology company, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dharmesh Shroff as VP of Engineering. Dharmesh brings over 18 years of experience driving technology innovation in the PropTech space, where he has consistently delivered scalable platforms and seamless integrations.

“We are excited to welcome Dharmesh to the Get Covered family,” said CEO, Brandon Tobman. “His deep expertise in building robust integrations and API ecosystems will be instrumental as we continue to redefine the renter’s insurance experience for our customers and partners and expand our offering.”

Proven Expertise in Technology Leadership

Dharmesh joins Get Covered following a distinguished career that includes serving as SVP of Engineering at Entrata and other leading Property Management Systems companies. “I’m excited about the opportunity to bring transformative technology to the insurance industry, much like I did in the PropTech space,” Dharmesh said. “The parallels between PropTech and InsurTech—both dealing with highly fragmented data and the need for seamless integrations—make this an exciting new challenge.”

Vision for the Future

As VP of Engineering, Dharmesh aims to enhance the customer experience by advancing real-time data integration, incorporating AI-driven capabilities for smarter interactions, and setting new standards for API security and interoperability. His goal is to help create a highly adaptable integration framework that empowers partners and developers while delivering faster, more personalized insurance solutions.

“APIs are more than just tools; they’re the backbone of connected, smarter customer experiences,” Dharmesh explained.

Building on a Culture of Excellence

In addition to his technical expertise, Dharmesh is known for his leadership in building world-class engineering teams. At Pattern he hired over 95 employees across development roles, while at Entrata, he built a robust operation which grew to over 800 employees.

“Attracting and retaining top talent starts with creating a culture of innovation, ownership, and growth,” Dharmesh said.

Dharmesh’s leadership style is also influenced by his commitment to mindfulness, which helps him stay empathetic, focused, and resilient in high-pressure situations.

About Get Covered

Get Covered is revolutionizing the renters insurance industry with cutting-edge technology that simplifies the insurance process for tenants, landlords, and property managers. By combining innovative solutions with a customer-centric approach, Get Covered is setting a new standard for insurance technology.

For more information about Get Covered and its leadership team, visit www.getcovered.io

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SOURCE Get Covered

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