• • • • • • August 13 • 2013
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Top News
PPAI Announces Candidates For 2014 Board Of Directors
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PPAI has announced four nominees for election to the Board of Directors Class of 2018—distributor candidates Jon Levine, president of the Image Group (UPIC: IMAGEGRP), and Mary Jo Tomasini, CAS, CEO of CE Competitive Edge, LLC (UPIC: COMPEDG); and supplier candidates Rick Mouty, CEO of TSC Apparel (UPIC: TEES), and Bruce Perryman, MAS+, CEO of Embroidery Unlimited, Inc. (UPIC: EUINC).
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PPAI Hosts NALC This Week In Chicago
The PPAI North American Leadership Conference, being held this week in Chicago, got under way on Sunday evening with a reception, dinner and presentation honoring the 2013 PPB Rising Stars. The conference, now in its fifth year, has drawn a record number of nearly 160 industry leaders from supplier, distributor and business services companies across North America.
Read More NALC
Industry News
iPROMOTEu Introduces iPROMOTEu Express Single Order Financing Service
iPROMOTEu has announced the formation of iPROMOTEu Express, a service that allows industry distributors who are not affiliated with iPROMOTEu to use iPROMOTEu for individual order financing.
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Trimark Powered By Leed’s Names New President And VP
As reported last week in a PPB Newslink Breaking News alert, Polyconcept North America has announced two key promotions within its Trimark Powered by Leed’s (UPIC: TRIMARK) organization: Sharon Willochell has been promoted to president of Trimark Powered by Leed’s, and Michael Snyder has been promoted to vice president of merchandising and national accounts.
Read More Trimark
Bullpen Marketing, Maestas Recognition Merge
Bullpen Marketing (UPIC: BULLPEN), a distributor in Houston, Texas, and Katy, Texas-based Maestas Recognition, a consulting company in the recognition and promotional products industry, have merged under the Bullpen Marketing name.
Read More Bullpen
Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant To Offer Greyston Bakery Products
Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant has partnered with Yonkers, New York-based Greyston Bakery to offer the bakery’s goods in the promotional products market.
Read More Chocolate Inn
In Memoriam: Tom Macy
Tom Macy, graphics manager for Hub Pen Company, passed away August 4 at his home in Kingston, Massachusetts. He was 57.
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Sonic Promos Visited By Shark In Discovery Channel Promotion
Gaithersburg, Maryland-based distributor Sonic Promos (UPIC: sonicpro) was one of five local businesses visited by Chompie The Shark in a campaign run by Discovery Communications and California Tortilla to promote Shark Week 2013.
Read More Sonic Promos
PPAI News
Economist Goolsbee Shares Optimistic Views In NALC General Session
NALC attendees packed the ballroom on Tuesday morning to hear Austan Goolsbee, one of the world’s leading economists and a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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NALC’s Opening Speakers Explore Industry Innovation And Change
PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference (NALC) got off to a strong start with opening sessions from Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Show, and Frank Mulhern, professor and associate dean at The Medill School at Northwestern University. Both speakers shared their perspectives on innovation and change in the modern business marketplace.
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PPAI Names 2014 Hall Of Fame, Distinguished Service Award Honorees
At this week’s PPAI North American Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois, the Association announced the 2014 recipients of two of its most prestigious awards, the PPAI Hall of Fame and the Distinguished Service Awards. Don Lafferre, owner of St. Louis, Missouri-based distributor Priority Promotions, was named the 2014 Hall of Fame inductee, while Mike Schenker, MAS, Dard Products, Inc. regional sales manager, is the 2014 PPAI Distinguished Service Award honoree.
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PPAI, ASI Join Forces On ADvocate Education Program
PPAI and the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) have announced that they are joining forces through an expanded ADvocate education program to help industry professionals demonstrate the power of promotional products to buyers.
Read More ADvocate
In Memoriam: Kenneth Davis
PPAI lost a member of its family over the weekend. Kenneth Davis, part of the Association’s member care team, passed away on Saturday, August 10, due to a heart condition. He was 29. Davis had been with PPAI as a member care specialist for the past three years. For many members, he was the first point of contact with the Association when they would call in for help or questions, or to learn about their membership.
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PPAI’s Lisa Beck Promoted To Member Engagement Programs Manager
PPAI’s Member Engagement and Regional Relations team recently welcomed Lisa Beck as the Association’s member engagement programs manager. Beck is a 27-year veteran of PPAI, having served most recently as executive offices manager and a member of the public affairs department. In her new position she will be involved in volunteer programs and engagement strategies as well as supporting PPAI’s live events for the awards program.
Read More Beck
PPB Names Best Bosses Of 2013
This summer, PPB asked its readers to help identify the promotional products industry’s best bosses. More than 70 nominations were received, recommending bosses at all levels and in supplier, distributor and businesses services companies of all sizes. This is the fourth consecutive year in which PPB sought to spotlight the industry’s best bosses—those who lead by example, are generous with inspiration and empower their employees to succeed.
Read More Best Bosses
Nominate Your Service Superhero
PPB is working to spotlight the industry’s Service Superheroes, those who deliver top customer service—in your company or a vendor company—even if the person is not working in a typical “customer service” role. If you know a Service Superhero who proves over and over again that service does still exist, PPB magazine wants to hear about them. Nominate your Service Superhero by August 15. If your nominee is selected, he or she will be included in a feature story in PPB’s November issue. Click here to nominate. All nominees must be employed by a PPAI member company and previous winners are not eligible.
PPAI’s Webinars Revisit Expo East, Look At Competing Media And More This Month
Over the coming month, PPAI’s webinar program revisits Expo East 2013’s extensive education opportunities, explores multi-generational marketing, takes a closer look at digital media, and more. This August, PPAI will present an extensive schedule of education webinars, each a great opportunity for industry practitioners seeking to further their professional development.
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PPAI Law
PPAI Staff Meets With Congress During The August Recess
PPAI staff are taking advantage of the U.S. Congress’ August recess, setting appointments and meeting with their representatives.
Read More August Recess
People News
Visstun and Digispec (UPIC: DIGISPEC) have brought Lindsay Conti on as a sales counselor. Conti, who has nine years of sales experience, worked previously at the Las Vegas, Nevada-based supplier. In her new role, she will be responsible for cultivating and servicing new and ongoing accounts, building relationships with her client base of distributors and assisting customers in their product selection.
Valley Cottage, New York-based Stromberg Brand Umbrellas (UPIC 1ASTRMBG) has appointed Paul Suyetsugu and Ron Smith of PS Sales and Marketing (UPIC: P408879) to be the supplier’s sales representatives for Arizona, Ca lifornia, Hawaii and Nevada.
Mastercraft Decorators (UPIC: Maste844) has promoted Stan Breckenridge, MAS, to chief marketing and sales officer at the Fairport, New York, supplier. Breckenridge, who served as chair of the PPAI Board in 2008, will be fully responsible for the company’s promotional products division. Mastercraft has also appointed new multi-line reps to connect it with distributors— Carson and Josh Brooks in the Northeast; Bill McDonald in the Southeast; and Jack, Mike and Mark Witte in the Midwest.
Delray Beach, Florida-based The Book Company (UPIC: BOOKCO) has promoted Missy Salaam to account manager. In her new role, Salaam will oversee all aspects of her dedicated account base, including creative research on specific distributor opportunities, proactive education on book and journal applications and attending industry events. Salaam returned to The Book Company and South Florida in 2012, after a short stint with distributor Hotlink and several years living in Texas.
Paperclip Promotions (UPIC: pclip) in Austin, Texas, has added Shannon Bowyer as an office administrator and Lyssa Roberts as an account coordinator. Bowyer will be coordinating the production of orders and maintaining the distributor's customer loyalty program, while Roberts will be working with customers from idea generation to the shipping of orders.
Regional News
The Promotional Products Industry Comes To Long Beach For The SAAC Show
Last week, the Specialty Advertising Association of California (SAAC) held its annual SAAC Show in Long Beach, California. The 2013 SAAC Show, the 34th running of the association’s annual show, was held August 7-8 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Read More SAAC Show
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
Did you know…
Did you know 85 percent of current catalogs are verified by the supplier in SAGE Online? There was a 53-percent increase from 2011 to 2012 in verified products, and the 2013 pace continues to increase. When a product is marked as “verified by supplier,” distributors know the product information they are viewing is accurate and up-to-date. To learn more about Verified products in SAGE Online or if you don’t already have SAGE Online, give SAGE a call at 800-925-7243 or visit them at www.sageworld.com to find out how you can get SAGE at no additional charge through the Power of Two relationship exclusive for PPAI members.
This Month’s PPB
Selling High-Touch In A Digital World
Remember back in the day when you were not always connected? Remember when you used to talk to other people face to face and on the phone? Remember when your phone was just a phone?
Read More Digital
Summer Sizzlers
Why waste the month of August cleaning your office? Make the most of your summer by seizing new business opportunities while your competition plays miniature golf. Most business owners and salespeople assume making calls in August is pointless because decision makers are on vacation. While it’s true that most people do vacation in August, I don’t know anyone who goes away for four weeks straight. What does this mean for you? It means people are at their desks, often in good moods and are more likely to pick up their phones to speak with you. Seize this valuable opportunity and boost your business by following these seven key strategies in August.
Read More Summer
Staying Silent Can Cost You
In fall 2002, head of the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Ann Brown proclaimed that San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma was “leading the way on recall effectiveness” as she honored the company with her prestigious Chairman’s Commendation. “Williams-Sonoma has demonstrated their commitment to consumer safety by ensuring that customers were properly notified of a dangerous recalled product,” she said.
Read More Silence
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Avon Calling
October's Market to Market examines the direct-sales industry. How can promotional products help direct-sales entrepreneurs? Send your case studies and examples of products that fit this booming industry by August 15 to Jen Alexander McCall. Images should be at least 300 dpi and 1 MB in size.
Mobile Empowerment
Editor's Picks in the October PPB looks at the mobile accessories we need to stay powered up at home and on the road. Send images and product descriptions of your mobile device accessories to Jen Alexander McCall by August 15. Images should be at least 300 dpi and 1 MB in size.
T-Shirts, T-Shirts, T-Shirts!
November is PPB's t-shirt issue, and we're filling it with crisp, fresh tees. Suppliers: Send us your case studies, high-resolution images and product descriptions. Distributors: We want your case studies, t-shirt recommendations, and questions and advice about selecting, selling or decorating this category. Please send all submissions to Tama Underwood by August 30.
What Would You Do?
A Multi-line Rep Asks: Holding the attention of distributor sales reps during product demonstrations is a lot like herding cats. They're using their cell phones, talking with each other and going in and out of the room. What can I do to attract and hold their attention during presentations?
What's Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by August 30 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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