• • • • • • July 2 • 2013
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Top News
Distributor Sales Grow To $18.4 Billion In 2012
PPAI’s 2012 Estimate of Promotional Products Distributor Sales, the annual study of promotional products sales, reports that distributor sales in the U.S. in 2012 climbed 4.4 percent, raising industry sales to $18.4 billion. While the increase was relatively modest, the industry turned in its third-best sales year ever.
Read More Sales Volume
Industry News
Vernon Announces Retirements, Staff Changes
The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon) has announced the retirement of two of its corporate officers and the subsequent promotion of internal staff.
Read More Vernon
Zebra Marketing’s Laura Forbes, MAS, Retires; New Officers Announced
After 33 years in the promotional products business, Laura Forbes, MAS, president of Memphis, Tennessee distributor Zebra Marketing Corp. (UPIC: ZEBRAMC), is retiring. Forbes grew her company from a single location in Jackson, Mississippi, to an organization with almost 30 representatives in eight states.
Read More Forbes
SAGE Announces SAGE Mobile For Kindle Fire Devices
SAGE has launched a version of its SAGE Mobile application for Kindle Fire devices. Customers can download the app from the Amazon App Store.
Read More SAGE
Sweda Announces iPad Mini Contest Winners
Sweda Company, LLC (UPIC: SWEDA) has announced the winners of its iPad mini giveaway contest. They are Angela Quevado of Cetera Marketing (UPIC: getbiz1), Laura Rosenfield of Buffalo Specialties, Inc. (UPIC: BUFF0003) and Leslie Adams of L.A. Promotions (UPIC: LAPR0001).
Read More Sweda
PPAI News
Valorie Burton To Speak On Work/Life Balance At WLC
Next week at the PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) in San Diego, California, audiences will hear author, speaker and life coach Valorie Burton speak on energizing one’s life and excelling at work.
Read More WLC
The PPAI Image Awards Competition Is Now Open
A strong brand image has the ability to inspire staff and clients. From developing a color palette to introducing new marketing initiatives, building a brand image requires a lot of hard work, dedication and ingenuity. The PPAI Image Awards recognize member companies who differentiate their services by effectively branding and marketing their business with a touch of creativity. Put your best on display and enter today. Image Award submissions can be sent now through July 19. For additional details, including eligibility requirements, click here. Questions? Contact awards@ppai.org or call 972-258-3070.
PPB Accepting Best Bosses Nominations Through July 12
On the heels of releasing the 2013 PPB Rising Stars, PPB is starting its annual search for the industry’s best bosses. The magazine is looking for the most respected people managers out there—those who listen, set good examples and help their subordinates achieve top-level performance. If you consider your boss among the industry’s best, send in your nomination before the July 12 deadline. Please note that all nominees must be employed by PPAI member companies and previous winners are not eligible. Click here for the nomination form.
Enter Your Greatest Campaigns In The 2014 PPAI Pyramids Awards Competition
The 2014 PPAI Pyramid Awards Competition is now open. The highly regarded Pyramids are awarded to the top promotional campaigns carved out by the hands of creativity and ingenuity. The 17 competitive categories spotlight the best-executed promotional products campaigns of the year. Tell us about the campaign that left your clients in awe. The competition is open to all PPAI distributor members and regional associations. Submission period is now through July 19. Show us you’re the best of the best and enter today. For additional details, including eligibility requirements, click here.
Learn About Virtual Partnering In Next Tuesday’s PPAI Webinar
Register today for a July 9 webinar on how virtual partnering can give you the advantages of a larger organization. And be sure to check out the rest of this July’s schedule of educational webinars. They are a great opportunity for industry practitioners seeking to further their professional development.
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PPAI Law
Represent The Industry Next Month During Congress’ August Recess
Both houses of the U.S. Congress go on recess August 5. Members of Congress spend this time in their districts connecting with constituents and learning about issues important to voters. The recess is a valuable opportunity for you to connect with legislators and ensure the industry’s voice continues to be heard by the federal government. Click here for more information on industry advocacy during the August recess.
Product Responsibility
Marietta Robinson, Ann Marie Buerkle Confirmed As CPSC Commissioners
On June 27, the U.S. Senate confirmed Marietta Robinson and Ann Marie Buerkle as Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) commissioners. They were confirmed by unanimous consent before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Read More CPSC
Crowell & Moring’s Fuson To Speak On FDA Regulations At PPAI Product Safety Summit
John Fuson, a partner at Crowell & Moring, LLP will be joining PPAI’s Product Safety Summit in Chicago, Illinois, August 14-15, to discuss the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) requirements, regulations and challenges.
Read More PSS
People News
Grossman Marketing Group (UPIC: jonah), a distributor in Somerville, Massachusetts, has added two new additions to its staff: Al Maloney (left) has joined the company as an account executive throughout the Northeast, including western Massachusetts and Upstate New York; Heidi Quigley is its new special projects associate responsible for marketing collateral development, online marketing, social media management and other related duties.
Hub Pen Company (UPIC: HUBPEN) has hired Nick Chipcase (left) to represent the Braintree, Massachusetts-based supplier in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The company has also brought on Melissa Bettua (center) as a sales support assistant and Lisa Eosue as a customer service representative.
Gregg Kraus has been appointed senior vice president of operations at Gaffney, South Carolina-based supplier Jetline (UPIC: jetline). Kraus has more than 20 years of progressive manufacturing and operations experience in the promotional industry, and will be responsible for driving and overseeing all facets of manufacturing, shipping, warehousing and facilities management.
St. Louis, Missouri, supplier Alexander Manufacturing has hired Key Account Manager Ken Morrison. He comes to Alexander with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, customer development and key account management in the promotional products industry and will be handling a number of important accounts for the firm.
Nancy Long has joined Greenville, South Carolina, supplier Aprons, Etc. (UPIC: APRONS) as major accounts manager. Long will be responsible for the development of customer relationships with major distributor accounts.
CounterPoint (UPIC: DOYOUPOP), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, has hired Ira Rubin as a product specialist in the supplier’s sales team. Rubin brings more than 30 years of sales experience in the manufacturing industry to the position.
Lisa Parker, MAS, has joined Quick Point, Inc. (UPIC: QUICKPT) in a role with national responsibilities at the Fenton, Missouri, supplier. Parker is an industry veteran starting as a distributor and is now adding to more than a dozen years on the supplier side.
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
What Is In A Rating …
Did you know 72 percent of rated suppliers in SAGE Online have an A or A+ rating for 2012? You can rate industry suppliers using SAGE’s instant supplier rating service via SAGE Online, SAGE Mobile, or sageworld.com using the “Rate us now” link. Each rating is based on five categories: Customer Service, Delivery, Product Quality, Decoration Quality and Problem Resolution. We all view consumer ratings at one point or another to help with those tough decisions. SAGE’s supplier ratings offer that extra measure of comfort before you make a purchase.If you don’t already have SAGE Online, contact SAGE to find out how you can get it at no additional charge through the Power of Two relationship exclusive for PPAI members.
This Month’s PPB
Dial Up More Sales
Which advertising medium is growing the fastest—television or promotional products? Which advertising medium is larger—radio or promotional products? I hope you didn’t bet against promotional products. Sales in our industry grew by 7.8 percent in 2011 (the most recent year for data) compared to a negative slide for television and an anemic one-percent uptick in growth for radio. Promotional products industry sales ($17.7 billion in 2011) surpassed total advertising revenue for radio advertising ($17.4 billion in 2011) as well.
Read More Sales
The Young Ones
Selling decorated children’s apparel works much the same way as anything else involving kids—it requires significantly more planning and more patience.
Read More Kids' Apparel
Avoid The “Big Black Hole” Of Business Proposals
Have you experienced this? You receive a well-earned request for a proposal, spend precious time crafting it, hit “send” and anxiously await a response. And then surprise, surprise, you’re rewarded with nothing but silence. You follow up with an email. Nothing. You leave a voicemail. Nada. You send another email. Nope, nothing doing. Welcome to what I call the “Big Black Hole” where business proposals go to curl up and die.
Read More Business Proposals
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Faster Than A Speeding Freight Truck
Do you offer items that ship in 72 hours or less? What qualities make them ideal for express shipping? Send product images and descriptions, as well as case studies in which express shipping played a crucial role, to Jen Alexander McCall by Monday, July 15.
Taking Stock In Promotional Campaigns
Have you built successful promotional campaigns for a client in the financial sector? Share your stories, and send images and descriptions of products that work well for clients in finance, to Jen Alexander McCall by Monday, July 15.
Accessories Report
PPB’s October issue spotlights accessories: scarves, ties, gloves, socks, eyewear, headwear, jewelry, pins, temporary tattoos and any other items that encourage end users to adorn themselves with a brand. Suppliers: Send product descriptions and high-resolution images. Distributors: Tell us your favorite accessories trends, how you coach end users to use them and any questions you may have about selling this broad category. Please send all submissions to Tama Underwood by July 31 for a chance to be featured.
What Would You Do?
A Supplier Asks: Product safety is an increasingly important issue for the industry, especially for distributors with larger clients. But we wonder what percentage of all clients are asking for products that have been tested. Are end buyers asking for safer products?
What’s Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by July 31 for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of PPB magazine.
Need peer advice on a sticky situation? Send your question to Question@ppai.org.
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