Shopping Anyone? ProAdvisor Style!

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Intuit announced that one of the benefits of the new ProAdvisor Program was a new 'Merchandise Store' and we wanted to give you a preview in case you haven't already gone shopping for swag. You access the store from your ProAdvisor Benefits page within QuickBooks Online-Accountant. (You must be 'Gold tier' or higher to have access to this benefit.) The first time you click the 'log in' link you will think you are signing-up for an App with QBO because you get the all too familiar OAuth authorization credentialing authorizing the merchandise store to connect to your QuickBooks account to exchange information, this is how the store verifies your credentials to purchase merchandise.

Now the fun stuff begins as you are welcomed with the opportunity to begin your shopping experience. Rev-up your shopping motors, the merchandise is a plenty.

It's my understanding that Intuit has actually subcontracted with 'Staples' to provide the contents of this store, they have subcontracted with companies who perform the logo work according to Intuit standards. The merchandise is being sold 'at cost' to ProAdvisors as a benefit of the program, but more importantly it is a way for you to 'stand out' to your local community.  Several years ago we had a small collection of merchandise that was available to ProAdvisors but it was fairly limited, and not many ProAdvisors made use of it, so 'it went away.'  Hopefully more ProAdvisors will chose to proudly display their standing by using 'logo' merchandise; and speaking of merchandise let's look at some it.

First, 'the wearables' (OK, they call it 'apparel'). Everything from 'Polo' shirts to vests, from 'Oxford' shirts to jackets and sweaters, events vests, and tunics. This is some nice looking stuff.

What about 'do dads and such', alright already, the store calls this stuff 'office & tech'...I especially like the QB Green Mushroom Bluetooth Speaker, "isn't he just darling cute?"

Liz has been raving about 'backpacks', but there are backpacks, and then there are backpacks...there is even a 'Northface' backpack, "oh wow". "Give me a rope, a carabiner, and a cam, and I will fall down a mountain with a backpack like that...don't ya know!" Of course I would fall down a mountain even without a backpack...(that's my point).

Now we are finally getting somewhere, something to drink coffee out of like mugs and 'Himalayan tumblers' (what the heck is a 'Himalayan tumbler'....oh that's a mountain climber falling down the Himalayan mountains....)

I'd probably order myself one of those black ceramic mugs to drink coffee out of except for the fact that I shake so bad these days that I need something with a lid....maybe somebody at Intuit will feel sorry for me and get them to make a special edition 'Murph mug with a lid'. (Is that an attempt at a 'guilt trip' or what?)

And last but not least, I can't skip over this assortment of goodies (aka: Promo-items)...from the looks of them, those sunglasses appear like they should be $210.00 rather than $2.10...at first I thought that 'lip balm' was some fancy golf ball inside another a golf ball (perhaps something to confuse the TSA man), and then I found myself wondering if those 'peppermints' were sugarless or not, especially since I am allergic to NutraSweet in most sugarless mints? 

If you ask me all this stuff is just down right 'neat'. Think of all the stocking stuffers you can stuff in your own stocking this holidays seasons for just a little cash outlay. Do yourself a favor and proudly display your status as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor with any of this 'swag' that appeals to you. As for me, I suspect there is a cute little 'QB Green mushroom bluetooth speaker' in my near future.

Editor's correction:  Previously we had reported the store was a cooperative effort with Office Depot, that was in error, it is actually 'Staples'. We have corrected our story above to read correctly. This correction is provided simply to let you know your eyes were not deceiving you the first time you may have read our error.