• • • • • • August 20 • 2013
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Top News
Tony Hsieh, Zappos.com CEO, To Keynote The PPAI Expo 2014
PPAI today announced Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com and author of Delivering Happiness, as The PPAI Expo 2014 keynote speaker. Hsieh leads Zappos, a company that has enjoyed tremendous success for its capacity to define and instill value-based principles in an innovative way by putting one’s community first. His presentation will take place on Wednesday, January 15 from 8:30-9:50 am at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Read More The PPAI Expo 2014
Industry News
BPMA Hosts The U.K.’s First Promotional Products Week Next Month
The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) is hosting the U.K.’s first Promotional Products Week, September 16-20. The week’s activities are intended to raise the industry’s profile in the country.
Read More BPMA
IRS Works To Better Identify Independent Contractors
The IRS’ Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration has issued a report pushing for greater scrutiny of workers labeled as independent contractors.
Read More IRS
SAGE To Manage HPPA’s 2014-2016 Hot Stuff Expos
SAGE has partnered with the Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) to manage its annual Hot Stuff Expo from 2014-2016.
Read More SAGE
SwervePoint Joins QCA’s Distributor Advocacy Council
SwervePoint (UPIC: Swerve), a Danvers, Massachusetts-based distributor, has joined the Quality Certification Alliance’s (QCA) Distributor Advocacy Council (DAC), a group whose mission is to educate promotional products industry suppliers that providing safe and quality products is good for their business.
Read More SwervePoint
BDA’s Jay Deutsch Appears On ABC’s ‘Secret Millionaire’
On Sunday, August 11, Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc. (UPIC: BENS0002) CEO and President Jay Deutsch, appeared on ABC’s “Secret Millionaire” program. In his appearance on the show, Deutsch shared the story of the loss of an employee in a domestic violence incident and the work that event inspired at the company to help survivors and victims. Click here to watch the program online. To read Deutsch’s own words on the loss and BDA’s efforts, click here for his story on Entrepreneur magazine’s site.
Distributor Kimmel Media Now Artisan Marketing Group
Distributor Kimmel Media has changed its name to Artisan Marketing Group (UPIC: kmedia) and has opened a new office at 22257 Erwin Street, Woodland Hills, California 93167. The new phone number is 818-312-9994 and the new fax number is 818-312-9996. Artisan Marketing President David Kimmelman can be reached at his new email address, david@artisanmkt.com.
PPAI News
The PPAI Product Safety Summit Makes An Impact In Chicago
PPAI’s Product Safety Summit hit its third anniversary last week in Chicago, Illinois, and celebrated record attendance. Held in conjunction with the PPAI North American Leadership Conference, more than 180 industry professionals attended the two-day Summit, which took a microscope to a number of the product safety, regulatory and compliance challenges companies are dealing with today.
Read More PSS
PPAI’s NALC Gathers Industry Leaders, Experts
The PPAI North American Leadership Conference (NALC), held last week in Chicago, Illinois, in conjunction with the PPAI Product Safety Summit, drew a record number of nearly 160 industry leaders from supplier, distributor and business services companies across North America.
Read More NALC
Showcase Your Accomplishments—Enter The PPAI Suppliers Achievement Competition
Don’t miss out on this last chance to enter the 2014 PPAI Suppliers Achievement Competition. This competition recognizes suppliers for outstanding craftsmanship, exceptional creativity and impeccable service to the distributor community. With 30 categories of competition, you’re sure to find a category perfect for showcasing your expertise. The deadline to enter is August 23, 2013. Contact awards@ppai.org or click here to enter.
Vote Now In PPAI’s Supplier Star Competition
PPAI’s Supplier Star competition brings annual recognition to supplier members that offer the top-quality products, decorating and packaging that keep the promotional products industry moving. They're an integral part of distributors’ success and now it's time to return the favor. This is an opportunity for distributors to reward suppliers who consistently meet their greatest expectations and provide top-quality service each and every day. The deadline is October 4, 2013. Click here for information or contact awards@ppai.org for more information.
Vote On September 4 And Have A Say In The Future Of PPAI
It’s that time of year again. The PPAI Board of Directors election will officially begin September 4. As the industry continues to evolve and grow, its members will soon have the opportunity to make their voice heard. Voting contacts of PPAI member companies are entitled to select two qualified new directors who will represent their interests in the industry. Click here for a quick election testimonial video and to learn why it is important to vote in this election.
PPAI’s Webinars Revisit Expo East And More This Month
By the end of August, PPAI’s webinar program will have revisited Expo East 2013’s extensive education opportunities, explored CPSIA’s impact on state regulations and more.
Read More Webinars
Product Responsibility
CPSC Issues Final Rule On Lead Limits In Children’s Products
The CPSC has published a final rule regarding lead limits in children’s products as defined by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
Read More CPSC
People News
Gemline (UPIC: GEMLINE) has added two new regional sales managers to its team. Dave Andrews will represent the Lawrence, Massachusetts-based supplier in the Northeast region, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Katie Bauer will represent Gemline in the state of New York.
Jason Owens has joined KDM Point of Purchase Solutions Group (UPIC: kdmpop) as account manager. His role is a new position at the company, which is stepping up its marketing efforts to the promotional products industry.
Avenel, New Jersey-based Vantage Apparel (UPIC: vantage) has promoted Kevin Schardt (left) to vice president, operations and customer experience, and hired Sandy Martinelli as the new director of customer experience. Schardt has been with Vantage since 2010 as the director of customer experience, while Martinelli brings more than 30 years of blended experience that encompasses golf brands and inventory management.
Regional News
2013 PPAMS Road Show Draws More Than 800 Attendees
Distributors and their clients came out in big numbers for the Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South Road Show this year. The event traveled to Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee, and 290 distributors and 528 clients attended the show over its three-day run.
Read More PPAMS
Accolades
Seattle Business Magazine Names Image Source To Its 100 Best Companies To Work For List
Image Source (UPIC: IMAGESCE) has been named one of Seattle Business Magazine’s 100 Best Companies To Work For in 2013. The company was also recognized with the honor in 2011.
Read More Image Source
ImagePro Wins Addison Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award
For the second consecutive year, distributor ImagePro (UPIC: IMAGEPRO) has been recognized by Addison Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards recipient for Favorite Promotion/Specialty Product Company.
Read More ImagePro
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
SAGE Online 10.0 Is Coming Soon
What if you could seamlessly manage your research, orders, prospects, and clients all from one place? Soon you can with SAGE Online 10.0. SAGE Online 10.0 will bring complete customer relationship management, sample inventory management, product standards compliance documentation, order management enhancements, presentation publisher enhancements and faster performance. Try SAGE Online today at no additional charge through the Power of Two relationship exclusive for PPAI members.
This Month’s PPB
The Stars Have Come Out
Seasoned promotional products veterans who have brought the industry into the new millennium need not fear for its future. This year’s 13 who have been selected as PPB’s Rising Stars show great promise, proving they have the chops to lead the next generation. They are great communicators, highly adaptable to changing workplace dynamics and consummate cheerleaders for their companies and clients. These men and women combine old-school professionalism with cutting-edge creativity to deliver bigger, better and faster, day after day. Congratulations to the PPB 2013 Rising Stars.
Read More Next Generation
Sweet Centennial
It was 100 years, 5,217 weeks, 36,524 days and 876,581 hours ago that Hanover, Pennsylvania-based supplier HPC Global (UPIC: HPCG) first went into business. (These numbers are approximate and don’t figure in the odd leap year now and again.) The timeline of HPC’s vast history is dotted with ups and downs, buyouts, devastating hurricanes, products for New York Governor Mario Cuomo and Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev, and some pretty iconic pen designs.
Read More Centennial
Virtual Travel
Back in 2000, a 1950s-themed diner in a popular Wisconsin vacation spot endeavored to pack its tables with tourists during the summer season. Its plan was to partner with other local businesses in the tourism trade—think hotels, resorts and campgrounds—and attract their patrons with promotional products that would lead local visitors straight to the diner’s glowing jukebox and kitschy décor.
Read More Travel Promotions
Contribute To PPAI Publications
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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