2013-11-13





• • • • • • November 12 • 2013

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JAMESK@PPAI.ORG • • • • • •



Top News

PPAI Announces 2014 PPAI Supplier Star Finalists

PPAI has named 23 supplier members as finalists in its annual 2014 Supplier Star competition. The competition recognizes supplier member companies who have excelled in communication, service and quality, as voted on by member distributors.

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Industry News

Latest Economic Figures A Mixed Bag

Figures released last week paint a mixed portrait of the health of the U.S. economy. The country’s GDP grew 2.8 percent in the third quarter, up from the second quarter’s 2.5 percent, according to the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its employment figures for the month of October, showing that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 204,000 that month, while the unemployment rate climbed 0.1 points to 7.3 percent.

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SBA Report Details Small Businesses’ Benefits From Tax Law Provisions

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy has published a report measuring the small-business benefits of federal tax expenditures in 2013.

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PPAI Responds To Media Coverage Of U.S. Marshals Service’s Use Of Promotional Products

Recently, a number of media outlets have reported on the U.S. Department of Justice's report on purchases of promotional products by the Marshals Service. The report mentioned spending on promotional gifts, service awards, goodwill incentives and education materials. It stated that this did not violate specific policies of the service. PPAI reached out to educate the media on the value that promotional products bring to the Marshals Service and other government agencies.

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PPAI News

PCT Introduces A Client-Safe Version; Confirm Your Subscription

PPAI’s highly popular e-daily, Promotional Consultant Today (PCT), will move to a new vendor on December 2. Among the changes, readers will notice a fresh format and a new feature element: Distributors can now forward a client-safe version to their clients. By clicking on the Client Safe forward button, the original ad is automatically replaced with a buyer-safe ad promoting the power of promotional products. It’s an easy way to share PCT’s content and send a friendly reminder to clients to let them know you are thinking about them. Ensure your email address is on the PCT mailing list by subscribing today (it’s free).

PPAI Participates In The AMA’s 2013 Symposium For The Marketing Of Higher Education

The American Marketing Association (AMA) is holding is 2013 Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education this week in Boston, Massachusetts. The event focuses on the latest practices, tools, technologies and trends in higher education marketing. PPAI is a sponsor and exhibitor at the event.

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Sign Up Today For The Final Webinar Of 2013

PPAI’s final education webinar of the year is November 19. It will look at branded corporate gifting and is a valuable opportunity for industry practitioners seeking to further their professional development. PPAI’s webinar series will return in 2014 after The PPAI Expo.

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PPAI Law

Nominate A Member Of Congress For PPAI’s Legislator Of The Year

The PPAI Legislator of the Year Award is an opportunity to recognize those who have worked to protect promotional products industry businesses, expressed an interest in learning about the industry and have fostered an environment in which it can continue to thrive. Nominate the member of Congress who best supports the industry and its initiatives for the PPAI Legislator of the Year Award. The nomination period has been extended to November 27. The award recipient will be recognized at the 2014 Legislative Education and Awareness Day (L.E.A.D.) in Washington, D.C. Go to awards.ppa.org to submit a nomination. For questions, email Seth Barnett, PPAI government relations manager, at SethB@ppai.org or call 972-258-3068.

PPAI Asks Members To Sign LAW Pledge

PPAI encourages its members to make an impact in Washington, D.C., on the promotional products industry’s behalf. There’s a lot happening in D.C. that can have a huge impact on the industry and we need our legislators to know that what they do affects us and our business. PPAI’s LAW pledge asks members to take the industry’s message to their member of Congress. More information on the pledge is available on PPAI’s website.

Product Responsibility

Joseph Mohorovic To Be Nominated For Open CPSC Commissioner Seat

President Obama announced last week that he intends to nominate Joseph P. Mohorovic to one of the open commissioner seats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Mohorovic is the senior vice president of strategic management of Intertek’s North America Consumer Goods division.

Read More CPSC

People News

Distributor Ultra Marketing (UPIC: ULTR0001) in Royal Oak, Michigan, has hired Chris Ackerman as an account executive. Ackerman brings more than 20 years of industry experience and knowledge to the team.

Daniel Estrada has been promoted by Phoenix, Arizona-based Graphcoline (UPIC: GRAPHCO) as its new graphic designer and head of media. He brings a degree in economics from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and a history working as an art director in the advertising industry.

Image Source (UPIC: IMAGESCE), a distributor in Kirkland, Washington, has hired Bob Conley (left) as senior account executive and Laura Slagle as account coordinator. A 23-year industry veteran, Conley will provide clients with ideas and products to help them promote their brands. New to the promotional products industry, Slagle will handle account coordination for large clients, creating purchase orders, sending quotes, processes sample orders and any day-to-day duties for clients and vendor relationships.

Supplier World Emblem International, Inc. (UPIC: WORLP003), based in North Miami, Florida, has introduced the territory account manager position into its sales structure and geographically divided its customer base into two sections, each led by a regional vice president of sales. Tony Morando has been appointed the western regional VP, and Nicolas Restrepo will be the eastern regional VP. Paola Soler will serve as the northeast territory account manager, while Jorge Saez is the southeast territory manager. Derek Noonan joins the company as the Canada territory account manager. West coast territory account managers will be named soon.

Accolades

Imprint Plus Recognized With Four Awards At The 2013 SGIA Expo

Supplier Imprint Plus (UPIC: imp8687) won multiple awards in the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s (SGIA) Golden Image Award Competition. The awards were announced at the SGIA Expo, held October 23-25, 2013, at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Read More Imprint Plus

Charitable Contributions

Crystal D Staff Packs 22,032 Meals For Charity

Crystal D (UPIC: CRYSTALD) packed 22,032 meals for hungry children around the world on Oct 3. This is a new record for the St. Paul, Minnesota, supplier, exceeding its 2012 number by 4,752 meals.

Read More Crystal D

PPAChicago 2013 Charity Golf Outing Raises Funds For Comfort Dog Ministries, WSSRA

PPAChicago recently presented checks to the recipients of its 2013 Annual Charity Golf Outing. The chosen charities were West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA), submitted by John Paolucci, and Lutheran Charities – K9 Comfort Dog Ministries, submitted by Jim Dunne.

Read More PPAChicago

SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK

SAGE Online 10.0 Adds New CRM Module

Studies have shown that website customer relationship management (CRM) modules help to increase a sales person’s revenue by up to 41 percent per salesperson. SAGE Online 10.0 introduces a new CRM module that allows distributors to manage all of their client relationships, schedule follow ups, tasks and other functions. To learn more about the new CRM Module in SAGE Online 10.0 or to subscribe to SAGE Online today, 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

From One Generation To The Next

Letters from exceptional industry women to their younger selves.                             

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A Fine Yarn

Brothers Scott and Jared Opper share the story of ClothPromotions Plus, a supplier specializing in microfiber business cards.

Read More ClothPromotions

Speak With Authority

Eight steps to create and deliver dynamic presentations.                                                   

Read More Authority

Contribute To PPAI Publications

Keep Your Cleats On

Editor's Picks in January will showcase golf products. Distributors should send case studies of programs that featured golf products, and suppliers should send 1 MB images and product descriptions of golf products to Jen Alexander McCall by Wednesday, November 15.

Green Scene

January's Market To Market examines the environmental sector and how it can use promotional products to deliver messages, promote advocacy and raise money for eco-friendly causes. Distributors should share case studies from clients in this field and suppliers should send 1 MB images and product descriptions for eco-friendly products to Jen Alexander McCall by Wednesday, November 15.

Sand, Sun And Ocean Waves

If you can't be in a tropical place, then you can at least dream about it in February's PPB featuring beachwear. Suppliers: Get your beach items in PPB's apparel section by submitting shorts, sandals, sunglasses, visors, tank tops, swim wear and other keep-cool apparel for consideration. Send us your case studies, too. Distributors: We want your take on beachwear trends and favorite products in the category. Send product descriptions and high-resolution images to Tama Underwood by November 30 for a chance to be featured in the February issue.

What Would You Do?

A Distributor Asks: I like to show actual samples to clients as much as possible, as I feel it helps close sales and manage expectations of the final order. Why don't more suppliers offer free samples? Or at least deduct the price of samples from the final order?

What's Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by November 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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