• • • • • • November 5 • 2013
SEND NEWS TO
JAMESK@PPAI.ORG • • • • • •
Top News
Factory Orders Up 1.7 Percent In September
Factory orders climbed in September by 1.7 percent compared to the previous month, according to The U.S. Commerce Department. This report follows 0.1 and 2.8 percent contractions in August and July, respectively.
Read More Economics
Industry News
HALO Reports Strong Turnout At End-Buyer Showcases
Sterling, Illinois-based distributor HALO Branded Solutions (UPIC: HBS) reports record buyer attendance for the fourth consecutive year as it wraps up “Rockin’ PromoFest,” a series of end-user shows in 10 key markets.
Read More HALO
UPIC Credit Group Benchmarking Survey Finds DSO Improved In Second Quarter
The UPIC Promotional Products Credit Group has announced the results of its recently completed third-quarter 2013 benchmarking survey. Its analysis found that daily sales outstanding (DSO), measuring the efficiency of AR collections in the industry, bad debt write-offs of the participating suppliers, as well as staffing and outside collection service statistics, improved in second quarter 2013.
Read More UPIC Promotional Products Credit Group
American Dragon TV To Spotlight U.S. Manufacturers
Michael Woody, CAS, president of International Marketing Advantages (UPIC: CONSULT), and a writer and consultant, is teaming with Animus Studios in Rumford, Rhode Island, to launch a television show that will highlight U.S. manufacturers successfully competing against overseas companies.
Read More American Dragon
PPEF’s Brown Bag & Give Green Campaign Nears $9,000 Mark
In the three months since its launch, industry companies have raised almost $9,000 to fund college scholarships for the industry through PPEF’s Brown Bag & Give Green fundraising campaign. Launched in August, Brown Bag & Give Green gives industry companies the opportunity to support college scholarships at the grassroots level.
Read More PPEF
PPAI News
Gordon Glenister, BPMA Director General, Visits PPAI Headquarters
This week, PPAI is hosting a visit from Gordon Glenister, director general of the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA), at its headquarters in Irving, Texas.
Read More Glenister
Tim Brown, MAS, Joins PPAI As Product Responsibility Manager
Tim Brown, MAS, has joined PPAI as product responsibility manager, a new role within the Association. A long-time member and an active volunteer on the regional level, Brown brings his product responsibility experience to PPAI, playing a key role in its member education, resource development and Product Safety Summit efforts. His first day with the Association was November 1.
Read More Brown
PPAI Names 2014 PPAI Suppliers Achievement Competition Finalists
PPAI announces 37 finalists for the 2014 PPAI Suppliers Achievement Competition. These annual awards recognize industry suppliers for outstanding craftsmanship, creativity and service to distributors.
Read More Suppliers Achievement
PPB Selected As Awards Finalist
PPB magazine has been named a finalist in FOLIO: magazine’s Eddie & Ozzie Awards program in the category Association/Non-Profit/B-to-B/Single Article for its May 2013 cover story “Take A Bite Out Of The Other Media.” The story, by Paul Kiewiet, MAS, CIP, CPC, was the first in a five-part series teaching distributors how to sell against other media.
Read More Awards
Three Industry Practitioners Earn PPAI Certifications In October
Industry professionals who earn PPAI professional development designations signify that they have invested in their skills and careers. Highly respected and recognized credentials in the promotional products industry, the designations establish a recipient’s professional credibility to colleagues, clients, employers and peers.
Read More Certification
November’s Webinar Lineup Includes Character Branding, Copywriting And More
This month, take advantage of the diverse lineup of education opportunities PPAI has prepared for industry practitioners seeking to further their professional development. The Association’s webinar series looks at branding, copywriting and corporate gifting, among other subjects this month.
Read More Webinars
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 awards@ppai.org or call 972-258-3070.
People News
Sergio Vippolis has joined Stromberg Brand Umbrellas (UPIC: 1ASTRMBG) in Valley Cottage, New York, as its new graphic designer. He brings a degree in graphic and interactive communications from Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida, and a history working as an art directory in the advertising industry to the supplier.
Freeport, New York-based supplier Chocolate Inn / Taylor & Grant (UPIC: CHOCINN) has hired Elizabeth Cortes as the new product development manager. Previously, she spent 11 years at Nassau Candy in the same role. At CITG, Cortes will work to create custom products while introducing new ideas to the supplier’s product line.
Supplier Crystal D (UPIC: CRYSTALD), headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, has hired two new production artists and one supply chain professional. Michael Blees (left) will be responsible for assisting with art output and preparing artwork for the production process while Kyle Nordby (center) will prepare artwork for the production process. John Mingo will serve the supply chain department as a purchasing coordinator. His primary job responsibilities include securing stock and supplies as well as maintaining inventory accuracy.
Supplier Eversole Run (UPIC: EVERSOLE), in Columbus, Ohio, has hired Eric Withaar Sales & Associates to represent the company to promotional product distributors in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
United Franchise Group, parent of industry companies EmbroidMe and Plan Ahead Events, among others, has announced that Alex Wai-Choon Butt is its new regional area developer for the Signarama brand in Southeast Asia.
Elyse Strauss has joined Jornik Manufacturing Corp. (UPIC: JORNIK) as a sales executive. Strauss brings extensive experience working on the distributor side of the industry to the Stamford, Connecticut, supplier.
Regional News
PPAMS, SPPA, GAPPP Collaborate On Show Schedules In 2014
Three regional associations—the Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South (PPAMS), the Sunbelt Promotional Products Association (SPPA) and Georgia Association of Promotional Products Professionals (GAPPP)—have co-scheduled their shows to provide suppliers with a convenient way to see customers in the South. During the eight-day run of the PPAMS, SPPA and GAPPP shows, exhibitors will meet with attendees from approximately eight different states. The shows kick off with the SPPA Tradeshow in Birmingham, Alabama, on January 28-29; followed by the PPAMS MidSouth PromoShow in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 30-31; and conclude in Atlanta, Georgia, with the GAPPP University and Expo on February 3-4.
Charitable Contributions
PPAI Staff, Industry Companies Put Down Their Razors For Movember
This November, a number of PPAI staff members have donated their faces to Movember, an annual, month-long event in which participants grow mustaches to raise awareness about prostate cancer, men’s health and related charities.
Read More Movember
Charles River Apparel Staff Don Pink Hair Extensions For Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In conjunction with the Hair For Hope Foundation, supplier Charles River Apparel (UPIC: CRA) hosted a local stylist who stopped by the company’s headquarters to outfit participating staff members, including president Barry Lipsett, with pink hair extensions in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Read More Charles River Apparel
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
Feature Spotlight: Emailing In CRM
The new SAGE Online 10.0 update, enables users to email clients directly from the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module.
Read More SAGE
This Month’s PPB
Serving Clients With More Than A Smile
Diane Sakowicz, MAS, brings more to her work in the promotional products industry than just a friendly countenance. The founder of Naperville, Illinois-based distributor Service with a Smile, Inc., also displays a sales savvy that’s so refined, she could sell t-shirts to nudists—and, in fact, she has.
Read More Sakowicz
Service Superheroes
What drives this year’s service champions? It’s not pay or recognition but the sheer satisfaction of a job well done.
Read More Service
Four-Legged Fortune
Promotional products are the perfect companion to pet-related campaigns.
Read More Pets
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 6.
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 6.
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.
Industry Job Listings
PPAI Website
PPAI Publications
Subscribe To PPB Newslink
Advertise In PPB
PPAI LAW
PPAI Product Safety
Promotional Consultant Today
PPPC (Canada)
Paul Bellantone’s Connections
Don’t want to receive these newsletters anymore? Manage your email preferences here.
PPAI | 3125 Skyway Circle North, Irving, Texas 75038-3526 | 888-I-AM-PPAI (426-7724) | <a href="http://www.magnet10